Alvaro Lopez Ortega / 2026-07-01 Briefing

Created Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:05:13 +0000 Modified Wed, 01 Jul 2026 14:05:45 +0000
3699 Words

Box3D, an open-source 3D physics engine forked from Box2D, launched on GitHub, adding gyroscopic torque and triangle mesh collision, originally built for game The Legend of California. Zig moved package management from its compiler to the build system, reducing binary size by 4% and enabling safety checks. Hanami 3.0 arrived with integrated mailers and built-in internationalization, marking a major release for the Ruby web framework.

⚙️ Tech & Engineering

Announcing Box3D

Box3D is an open-source 3D physics engine forked from Box2D, now available on GitHub. It was developed to address issues with Unreal Engine’s native physics for the game The Legend of California, adding features such as gyroscopic torque support, triangle mesh collision, and improved broad-phase performance. The engine retains Box2D’s core architecture while extending it with 3D-specific capabilities.

Optimizing an Algorithm That’s Quadratic by Design

WhatChord’s chord-naming engine treats naming as a ranking problem, scoring multiple candidate names and ordering them using a deliberately non-transitive comparator that includes hard rules and tie-breakers. Because this comparator can create cyclic preferences, the engine does not sort but instead linearizes the pairwise preference matrix, first picking unbeaten candidates and breaking cycles via Copeland win-count.

All Package Management Functionality Moved from Compiler to Build System

Zig’s package management functionality has been moved from the compiler executable to the build system (maker process), reducing the compiler binary size by 4% and enabling safety checks, easier patching, and CPU-specific optimizations. The process hierarchy was restructured so that the maker process remains the parent, avoiding reconnection issues for the upcoming build server protocol. The devlog also briefly notes progress on the SPIR-V backend.

Low-level Haskell: The cursed way to emulate inline assembly in Haskell/GHC

The article explores methods to invoke obscure CPU instructions from Haskell by emulating inline assembly, focusing on returning multiple values like the high and low halves of a 128-bit product. It contrasts Haskell’s limitations with C’s ability to use __int128 or inline assembly, noting that GHC’s C FFI does not support returning structs by value, and uses widening multiply as an example to compare alternatives to GHC’s built-in timesWord2# intrinsic.

Building a passive Ethernet tap

A passive Ethernet tap was built on a mini breadboard using RJ45 breakout boards and capacitors to force 100 Mbps, allowing monitoring of a smart TV’s traffic. It captured 2,769 packets in 7.5 minutes, mostly SSDP and mDNS announcements, with zero CRC errors. The tap worked reliably despite breadboard parasitics and cost about €10 for the connectors.

Which GitHub features are needed in a code forge before you can migrate?

A developer is building a new code forge called juju.bi, emphasizing offline collaboration, GitHub API compatibility, and change-id based features. Currently, they are improving the experience for small teams using private repositories before expanding to public repos, and they are seeking input on which GitHub features are essential blockers for migration.

Hanami 3.0: In full bloom

Hanami 3.0 launches with three major features: integrated mailers, built-in internationalization using the i18n gem, and first-class Minitest support alongside existing RSpec. The release also delivers faster default performance and a sharper developer experience.

HackerNows – Native iOS HN Client

HackerNows is a reimagined iOS client for Hacker News that offers category filtering, fluid scrolling, upvoting, and personal collections. It features a clean reading experience with collapsible comment threads, iCloud-based cross-device syncing, and allows users to submit stories and provide feedback via GitHub.

Asahi Linux 7.1 Progress Report

Asahi Linux 7.1 addresses two macOS 27 issues: a missing APFS metadata flag causes the boot picker to hide Asahi, fixable via the installer or a Linux tool; and a changed SMC firmware triggers false battery failure readings and emergency shutdowns, patched in kernel 7.0.12 onward.

Pine64 launch $50 smart speaker for Home Assistant tinkerers

Pine64 has launched the PineVoice, a $50 smart speaker powered by a RISC-V chip and open-source software, designed for local, self-hosted Home Assistant setups. It features dual microphones, local wake-word detection, and runs on Alibaba’s YoC platform, but has limited memory (32 MiB pSRAM) and is intended for developers, not consumers. Unlike proprietary cloud-based speakers, PineVoice prioritizes affordability and open-source networking.

Register Korea’s First PC ‘SE-8001’ as a National Important Material

Korea’s first personal computer, the SE-8001 (launched in 1981), is being registered under a new National Registration System for Important Scientific and Technological Materials. This system, managed by the National Science Museum, will preserve historically significant items that demonstrate key achievements in Korea’s scientific and technological development. The SE-8001, which marked the start of the home computer era, is one of the first materials to be registered.

Single header Parser Combinators for C

CParseC is a single-header C99 library offering composable parser combinators inspired by Haskell’s Parsec, with zero-copy parsing, no hidden allocations, and user-supplied arenas. In a CSV parsing benchmark, it is about 1.25 times faster than BurntSushi/rust-csv and roughly 20 times faster than attoparsec-csv.

Forestiere Underground Gardens

The Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno, California, are a 10-acre complex of hand-dug subterranean rooms and courtyards created by Sicilian immigrant Baldassare Forestiere from 1906 to 1946 to escape heat and cultivate citrus. The site features 65 rooms across three levels, with skylights and catch basins, and includes grafted fruit trees. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, it is now operated by the Forestiere family as a historical center.

Why Jet Engines Aren’t “Made in China”

China’s decades-long effort to produce competitive jet engines has failed because the industry’s demands for long-term reliability, slow iteration cycles, and strict international regulation neutralize the country’s usual advantages in labor, capital, and scaling. The extreme manufacturing challenges, such as producing turbine blades that withstand extreme heat and stress for thousands of hours, highlight the limits of China’s industrial policy in this high-tech sector.

ZTE honored with two GeSI DWP Global Awards for Signal Reach Program in Africa

ZTE has received two GeSI DWP Global Awards for its Signal Reach Program in Africa, recognizing the company’s Rural Ecosystem initiative. This effort bridges the digital divide across more than 20 nations by delivering green connectivity and inclusive services.

Portuguese restaurant kiosk software gives Windows indigestion

A Portuguese restaurant kiosk software is causing issues on Windows due to an unverified publisher identity. The article humorously suggests fixing the problem by adding a fried egg, though the underlying technical glitch remains unresolved.

Boeing confirms unplanned IT outage affecting computer systems and applications

Boeing confirmed an unplanned IT outage that significantly disrupted its commercial and military production. The company stated the cause is understood and is not believed to be a cyberattack. While some deliveries were completed, final inspections and paperwork were largely halted.

💼 Business & Finance

Who’s hiring? Q3 2026

The article provides a template for companies to list open positions for Q3 2026, including fields for company name, website, roles, location, description, tech stack, compensation, and contacts.

Wayve files to sell shares on LSE’s new private market, first major test, staff sell $85M

Wayve Technologies Ltd. has filed to sell shares on the London Stock Exchange’s new Private Securities Market, becoming the first major company to use the platform. The autonomous driving startup will hold a closed auction on July 8 and separately announced a tender offer allowing employees to sell $85 million worth of stock.

Manifest convention: purists worry Kalshi, Polymarket undermine prediction markets’ public good

At Manifest, a convention for prediction market purists, attendees expressed concern that platforms like Kalshi and Polymarket are undermining the technology’s societal benefits by focusing on sports betting. One notable attendee, Eliezer Yudkowsky, dismissed a sports championship as trivial, highlighting the tension between betting for profit and using markets for collective knowledge.

Getty Images ends Shutterstock merger after UK CMA demands editorial business sale

Getty Images plans to end its merger agreement with Shutterstock after the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority conditioned approval on Shutterstock selling its editorial business. Getty stated this condition was not required under the merger agreement.

SpaceX is offering 50% discounts on Starlink internet plans in Memphis, Tennessee, following opposition and legal challenges to its data centers in the area. Monthly prices now range from $55 to $130, and new users will have no upfront hardware costs.

Lime raised $174M in US IPO, valuing company at $1.6B

Lime raised $174 million in its US IPO by selling 6.68 million shares at $25 each, the midpoint of the marketed range, giving the company a market value of $1.6 billion. The Uber-backed electric scooter and bike rental firm also had shareholders, including executives, offload 276,731 shares.

Vimeo owner Bending Spoons raised $1.68B in one of largest US IPOs by Euro company in 2026

Bending Spoons SpA and its backers raised $1.68 billion in a US IPO, selling 57.97 million shares at $29 each—above the marketed range of $26 to $28. The offering, one of the largest US IPOs by a European company in 2026, values the Milan-based firm at approximately $18.4 billion.

Nintendo has raised its employees base salary by 10%

Nintendo has increased base salaries for employees by 10% to retain talent, as announced by president Shuntaro Furukawa. This move contrasts with broader industry trends of layoffs and price increases at other companies.

We pay engineers to cut our infra bill

Rootly implemented a “Save & Share” program that awards engineers a cash bounty (tiered percentage of verified annualized savings, capped at 15% of salary or $50K per year) for discovering and implementing cost-saving infrastructure changes. The program requires pre-merge submission, a 90-day verification window, and joint CTO/Finance sign-off, replacing a broken incentive system where engineers received only minor recognition for significant savings.

Citrix says it’s back as a mainstream server virtualization player that won’t send scary bills

Citrix announced its return as a mainstream server virtualization player, promising customers no surprise bills. The company also touted XenServer 9 as leading in the desktop-as-a-service (DaaS) niche, a market it had retreated to a decade ago.

T-Mobile quits VMware, fights familiar support rights battle

T-Mobile appears to be ending its use of VMware, migrating 303,000 cores that power its internal networks away from the platform. The departure also involves a familiar dispute over support rights.

🔒 Security & Privacy

Apple Hide My Email flaw reveals real addresses; reported June 2025, unfixed

A vulnerability in Apple’s Hide My Email tool allows attackers to discover users’ real email addresses, and Apple has not fixed it despite being reported over a year ago. Tests confirmed the issue works on 100% of addresses, and the researcher warns that users relying on the feature for privacy may be at risk.

Anthropic rolls back covert Claude Code tracking for Chinese users after backlash

Tesla and SpaceX are effectively operating as one entity through the Terafab semiconductor project, with senior leaders like Charlie Kuehmann holding roles at both companies, fueling speculation of a formal merger.

Purism launches supersized 16-inch laptop for buyers who put privacy before price

Purism has released a new 16-inch laptop that prioritizes user privacy and security, featuring kill switches, Coreboot firmware, and the PureOS operating system. The device is aimed at security-conscious consumers who are willing to pay a premium for enhanced privacy protections.

NPM receiving major security overhaul in July, but some security pros say it’s not enough

NPM v12, launching in July, will block automatic install scripts and unauthorized third-party dependencies to prevent auto-running malware. However, security experts warn it fails to address account takeovers, allowing compromised accounts to ship malicious code that executes when imported, leaving supply chain attacks unresolved.

🔬 Science & Health

Single Dose of Frog-Derived Gut Bacterium Eradicates 100% of Tumors in Mice

A single dose of the naturally occurring bacterium Ewingella americana, isolated from amphibian gut, eradicated 100% of colorectal tumors in mice with no toxicity, outperforming chemotherapy and immunotherapy. The bacterium selectively targets hypoxic tumors, directly killing cells while activating a broad immune response, and induced durable immunity with no recurrence. These preclinical results await human trials.

Matrix Orthogonalization Improves Memory in Recurrent Models

Orthogonalizing the mLSTM memory matrix during reads, inspired by the Muon optimizer, improves performance on noisy associative recall tasks, particularly in difficult regimes where raw mLSTMs struggle. The method boosts success rate and accuracy across various vocabulary sizes and sequence lengths, though results are limited to small models and synthetic benchmarks.

ArXiv’s Next Chapter

arXiv will spin out from Cornell University on July 1, 2026, becoming an independent nonprofit organization while remaining free to access and submit. The transition is expected to bring flexibility and growth without major changes for users. A dedicated FAQ page and upcoming blog series will keep the community informed.

Boffins peg narcissistic leadership as the real driver behind ‘return to office’ demands

Research indicates that narcissistic leadership, not productivity, is the real driver behind “return to office” demands, as bosses miss their daily ego fix.

🌐 Internet & Culture

The Internet’s Lost Era

The author, born in the late 1990s, reflects on the internet’s shift from an optional destination accessed via dial-up to an essential utility integrated into daily life through constant connectivity. Today, activities like banking and smart home devices depend on the internet, marking a profound technological transformation over the past two to three decades.

Uruky - The Paid European Search Engine

Uruky is a paid European search engine that prioritizes privacy and uses only European providers, with easy account creation and customization. However, its search results currently lag behind alternatives like Ecosia, though the service is affordable and expected to improve over time.

Internet pioneer Vint Cerf to step down as Google VP, retire next week

Vint Cerf will step down as Google’s chief internet evangelist next week, retiring after more than 20 years at the company. Cerf, 83, is a co-creator of the TCP/IP protocols that underpin the internet. During his final public appearance, he predicted that the rise of AI agents will drive a need for new interoperability standards.

Why I Stopped Arguing with People

A software engineer stopped arguing after realizing that being correct often harms relationships, as most arguments are ego-driven rather than idea-driven. He found that people are emotional first and rational second, making logical arguments ineffective at changing minds.

Stop handwaving away nearly every petition that gains traction on this website

A petition criticizing the UK government for dismissing high-signature petitions, such as the Digital ID one, without genuine consideration was rejected. It called for a legal requirement for substantive responses, but officials deemed the request unclear and unspecified on how to change existing processes.

Americans see their country’s past, present and future

An Economist/YouGov poll of over 1,500 Americans, conducted for the America at 250 project, reveals a nation that is anxious and divided about its past, present, and future. The survey asked about America’s biggest failures, its chances of lasting another 250 years, and the greatest president in history. The results provide a snapshot of American opinion as the republic approaches its 250th birthday.

🏛️ Government & Policy

EU-Apple Siri AI Talks

Apple CEO Tim Cook and EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen held “constructive” talks over the delayed rollout of Siri AI in Europe, which Apple attributes to EU competition rules while the Commission cites unmet interoperability requirements. The discussions aim to resolve the deadlock and avoid potential fines, as Europe accounts for nearly 27% of Apple’s sales.

FOIA docs: White House used auto-deleting Signal after Trump warning, raising recordkeeping concerns

Even after President Trump advised against using Signal in April 2025, top officials including Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth, and Dan Caine continued using auto-deleting Signal chats, according to newly released FOIA records. The chats, which included groups labeled “Iran/Ukraine Planning,” raise concerns about potential violations of federal recordkeeping laws.

The DC Bar Is Refusing to Investigate Chief Justice Roberts over a $10M Scandal

The DC Bar declined to investigate an ethics complaint against Chief Justice John Roberts, who allegedly failed to recuse himself despite his wife receiving over $10 million in commissions from law firms arguing before the Supreme Court. The Bar cited a federal statute as grounds for lacking jurisdiction over Roberts as a Supreme Court justice, though the complaint’s filer argues the Bar’s own rules grant authority over all its members, including Roberts.

ESA declares private Minecraft servers ‘illegal’ in StopKillingGames hearing

The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) declared private servers for games like Minecraft and Call of Duty illegal and akin to piracy during a California hearing on the Protect Our Games Act, despite Minecraft officially allowing private servers. The ESA claimed these servers infringe on intellectual property and cited pending lawsuits, though the bill ultimately failed to pass but remains under reconsideration.

Supersonic flight returning to US after half-century ban

The FAA has lifted the decades-long ban on supersonic flight over land, paving the way for commercial supersonic aircraft to return to US skies. The rule change, announced by the Trump administration’s transportation secretary, updates noise standards and certification processes to enable quieter, next-generation supersonic jets. This marks the first significant regulatory shift since the ban was enacted in 1973.

White House picks Avi Loeb with polarizing alien theories to lead UFO council

President Donald Trump appointed Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb, known for his controversial alien theories, to lead a new scientific advisory council investigating the national security risks of UFOs. Loeb’s team will report to a White House panel focused on unidentified anomalous phenomena as part of Trump’s push for transparency. Critics question his methods, but Loeb promises a grounded approach starting with human explanations.

Brit competition cops fast-track £2B borging of Netomnia into Openreach challenger

UK competition regulators have fast-tracked a £2 billion merger of fiber network builder Netomnia into a challenger to Openreach, backed by Liberty Global, Telefónica, and InfraVia. The deal aims to bolster competition in the UK fiber market.

UK.gov vows to cut consultancy spending, then hands up to £350M to consultancies

The UK government pledged to reduce consultancy spending, yet the Home Office awarded contracts worth up to £350 million to Deloitte and PA Consulting. These deals raise questions about the effectiveness of Cabinet Office spending controls.

Can government AI actually scrub UAP footage from the internet?

A Reddit theory suggests a government AI called Immaculate Constellation automatically deletes high-quality UAP footage from the internet, based on an alleged Pentagon program and a 2025 whistleblower dossier describing a “digital quarantine zone.” The article notes a distinction between internal government data controls and public internet scrubbing, while some users claim personal UAP photos are being deleted.