padraigf (u/padraigf)

padraigf commented on AI Mode in Search gets new agentic features and expands globally blog.google/products/sear... · Posted by u/meetpateltech

tymonPartyLate · 9 days ago

We used to have private bridges and private roads, and that was an expensive travel situation for everyone. Now, internet search is kind of like a bridge that leads clients to businesses and Google is deciding on the tolls. Government-controlled Internet search would definitely be horrible. But I'm thinking if there is a path towards more competitiveness in this landscape, maybe the ISPs could somehow provide free search as part of the Internet service fee? Can we have more specialized, niche search engines? Can governments be asked to break up the Google search monopoly?

padraigf · 9 days ago

Definitely seems to have exacerbated the anti-trust issue. Search was search, but now they can insert AI and short-circuit the route to other products.

padraigf commented on Ask HN: What trick of the trade took you too long to learn? · Posted by u/unsupp0rted

padraigf · 25 days ago

Don't worry about impostor-syndrome (everyone has it).

It seemed like around the time I was graduating college, there was this kind of culture of hotshot programmers, which looking back was kind of toxic.

It was all this "he's good", "he's not good", and it kind made you afraid to admit you didn't know things (for me anyway).

And for a long time I went around with this imposter-syndrome, thinking I should know everything (and knowing that I didn't).

And now, with a bit more experience, I realise, not-knowing is the default. Things change so quickly, no-one can know everything. One person might be better in one area, a different person in another. There is no absolute ranking.

Better to admit this. We're all continual learners.

padraigf commented on Writing toy software is a joy blog.jsbarretto.com/post/... · Posted by u/bundie

hu3 · 2 months ago

I've written a ton of throwaway toy applications for personal use.

The tip I can share is: publish them on GitHub.

You'll find out some of them are useful to a lot of people.

I have multiple toy repos with 20+ stars and one with 200+ stars.

Just put one screenshot and simple instructions to run on README.md, no need to write a manual.

As simple as `npm install && npm run start` is enough instruction for most.

The screenshot is important tho.

padraigf · 2 months ago

Thanks, I'll try it. I have a few things knocking around.

padraigf commented on Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things · Posted by u/zachlatta

readyplayernull · 8 months ago

The Soul of a New Machine:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Soul_of_a_New_Machine

padraigf · 8 months ago

Yes, very memorable prologue:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-New-Machine-Tracy-Kidder-ebook...

padraigf commented on The quiet art of attention billwear.github.io/art-of... · Posted by u/billwear

desertraven · a year ago

In regard to watching the mind, one thing I’ve observed is a little strange, and I was hoping to get other’s experiences.

I like to watch the movement of my attention. Nothing abstract, just to observe where attention is aimed - it takes a mere 30 seconds of watching.

What I’ve noticed, is it moves around, seemingly without my input, and lacking any conscious intent (a concept the blog post makes a point to reclaim).

The light of attention shines throughout the physical scene, but it is sensorily multidimensional. It might move to the pain in my back, or the sound of the frogs, or the mug on my desk, a random memory, or more relevant to the article, the latest arising thought.

I am watching this movement of ‘my’ attention, and yet I seem to be playing no part in the neither the objects of attention, or the movement of attention itself.

This isn’t to say I cannot decide right now to move my hand in front of my face and observe it, but this arising of intention is itself mysterious too.

padraigf · a year ago

I meditate a good bit, an hour a day, and it doesn't stop thoughts arising, so I've had some time to think about this.

My guess is, it's just an evolutionarily useful thing, for your brain to keep pinging you about various things.

It doesn't mean of course that meditation is not useful. But you want to have control over these thoughts. Without a meditative practice, it's all too easy to allow your consciousness to be consumed by these impulses (which can lead you astray).

padraigf commented on Ask HN: What are you working on (September 2024)? · Posted by u/david927

CalRobert · a year ago

Real estate search for homes in Ireland where you can travel by bike, train, and walking. Most Irish (and other) property websites just give you a road map, this starts off with a public transport and biking map, and has color-coded rail commute times, etc.

It was something I built for myself years and years ago and then ignored, but when I put it online so my wife could use it, other people started to as well. I lost my job a few months ago and decided to overhaul it. It's how we got a house on a few acres a 15 minute bike ride from the train an hour from Dublin with gigabit fibre under €100,000 in 2019.

www.gaffologist.com. Let me know you saw me on HN!

padraigf · a year ago

Some feedback: looks nice, but an instant turn-off for me is the requirement to sign up before I try it out. It meant I didn't try it out, and seems unnecessary.

padraigf commented on Ask HN: What are you working on (September 2024)? · Posted by u/david927

padraigf · a year ago

I'm working on https://www.americanfootballinsights.com

Its a hobby project, to play around with American Football statistics.

I'm trying to do a few innovative things with it. e.g. I generate an excitement-rating per-game. Here are the excitement ratings from yesterday's games:

https://www.americanfootballinsights.com/excitement/2024/4/

I've used that feature already today. It tells me the big Sunday Night Football game last night, between the Ravens and Bills, was not worth watching!

I'm planning to develop more as the season goes on. For updates:

https://americanfootballinsights.substack.com/

padraigf commented on Ask HN: What are you working on (August 2024)? · Posted by u/david927

padraigf · a year ago

Working on an NFL stats & visualisation project, the working title is American Football Insights. It's a hobby project, I'm not planning to charge for. I did a bit of work on this a few years ago, and I found that analysing the stats, you can gain insights, which you can't really from just watching the games. It was prompted by the upcoming NFL season.

Things I'm thinking about...I had an idea for a centralised local DB where I collected all kinds of stats on my life, all in one place. They're already being collected on various platforms, I thought 'why not make them my own, and maybe there's something to gain by pulling them together?'.

padraigf commented on Ask HN: What are you working on (August 2024)? · Posted by u/david927

g4zj · a year ago

Myself.

More specifically, my mental health. I'm a bit of a mess, and I'm not sure I'll be able to properly commit to any external endeavors until I'm feeling better inside.

padraigf · a year ago

That's a good project.