Larry Tesler, inventor of the cut, copy, and paste commands, dies at 74

I don’t believe any AI has the ability to do what you’re asking. AI often fails at the simplest of programming tasks, and even when the output runs, it usually has some major flaws.

Even if the AI could do what you want, it would take more effort to find the right prompt than to just do the work, and the prompt would be longer than the resulting YAML code.

You can ask for advice on specific home assistant features, or offer to hire someone to build the interface for you.

My personal recommendation is to just give it a try. Make a few interfaces and automations, and try downloading and modifying other publicly accessible interfaces and automations until you’re happy with them. The YAML code makes it easy to copy other people’s work, and the non-YAML UI makes it relatively easy to try things without programming knowledge.

I tried to use an LLM to write a script for me. It confidently told me I could split a string in OpenSCAD with the [1:] operator. It works in Python, but isn’t an OpenSCAD feature.

Fortunately, programming has a good way of letting you know when the LLM is completely wrong.

The worrying part is that the LLMs can sometimes produce code that runs, but has massive security issues that you don’t notice if you just run the code and don’t closely analyse it.

All time favourite.

Depressing, but great vocals.

Definitely metal, absolute banger, debatably a song.

Anything by Starset.

The aviation industry has a mental health crisis. Pilots are (rightfully) so scared of losing their jobs that they won’t seek the help that would make them safer pilots.

No human will ever be perfect, and unfortunately the aviation industry doesn’t account for this when dealing with short periods of reduced mental health. Any pilot deemed unsafe to fly may never get their licence back again, even if the situation causing their mental health issues is gone.

Mentour Pilot has a video about this specific incident where he highlights these specific issues. Xyla Foxlin has made a video about a different incident that highlights the same issues from a different perspective.

Just as Crew Resource Management has saved many lives since it was introduced, a new mental health management system is needed to assist, not punish, pilots who are going through tough times.

There were no planets before telescopes either.

It was the best option at the time, and I didn’t feel like setting up Windows more than once as I gradually added new software and removed other software.

That particular VM doesn’t get booted very often anymore.

I use it in a VM because it’s better than Windows 10, some programs refuse to run on Linux, and I don’t need to provide the VM with an internet connection.

My actual server is an old laptop and it does not run Windows.

Even my friend who insists that Windows is superior still uses Linux for his gaming server because it’s easier to set up and manage.

Google removed their motto “don’t be evil”. I think that alone will answer your question.

If they get one angry message they’ll ignore it. If they get 10,000 angry messages they might start worrying about what the people who haven’t sent messages will do if they proceed.

Public outcry doesn’t always work, but it has worked enough times to try again. It takes minimal effort for a significant potential gain.

Something similar to the way files (and bank transaction records) are modified on a drive. A first message indicating that a specific transaction is starting, a second message with the transaction, and a third message indicating the transaction is complete.

If any message is not acknowledged, it can be resent (with an ID so it’s recognized as a duplicate), and if all else fails, flag a human.

The system doesn’t need to be 100% accurate, just good enough that only a few humans are needed to fix the problems.

The Byzantine Generals problem is only a problem if you need 100% certainty from both sides. If you’re willing to put up with 99.99% certainty, then network engineers have solved this problem many years ago.

I guess this is the last kick I needed to buy a new phone and move away from Google permanently.

If you have multiple banks, you can have multiple copies of the same database. If any one bank modifies their copy, it is obvious who modified it and what was changed. No blockchain needed.

If you want really cheap and low power, a Raspberry Pi will do for most tasks.

If you want more processing power, an old Thinkpad laptop is reliable and has a built-in UPS (a laptop battery).

Any desktop computer will give you the customisation and upgradability you want, but you’ll need to decide on each part individually. I don’t have any specific recommendations here.

Clippy never sold your data or demanded a subscription fee for something you already bought. Clippy just tried to help.

The clippy movement is not about clippy as a program, but as an idea that companies need to be held accountable, and that we will hold them accountable.
If a company tries to make a feature a paid subscription after you paid for the product, or releases and update that removes your privacy, we will be watching and we will hold them accountable.

Companies can lie to one person or hide changes from a few people, but they can’t handle all of us. Samsung has already reversed their added subscription fee for a smart TV as a result of community action.

If you still want (or need) to use Windows, I’ve found Ninite to be a great time saver.

I really need to try Ventoy. I’ve had 3 people recommend it to me so far.

The common factor found in all Nazis was a lack of empathy. Without empathy, we are capable of unimaginable cruelty.

I watched my father go through that. MND is horrible for the person and everyone around them.