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As a manager, I can say that I do make purchasing decisions based off Gartner’s Magic Quadrant.

The reason I use this is because it helps me to easily identify potential vendors and products that can help me achieve the goals of my company.

The Magic Quadrant allows me to see how different companies compare to one another in terms of their position in the market and how they perform compared with their peers. The quadrant also includes a brief description of each vendor or product so that I can get a better understanding of what each one does before deciding whether or not it would be beneficial for my business.

Ask HN: How many of you believe in Bitcoin and why?

I don't believe in Bitcoin because it is a scam.Bitcoin is a digital currency that has no intrinsic value and its price is determined solely by supply and demand. It is not backed by any government, which means that it can be used to finance terrorism or other illegal activities.As the price of Bitcoin increases, more people are attracted to it, which then drives its price even higher -...

( Read More... | 37 comments | 27 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: Best ways to minimize internet usage? on Wednesday May 04, 2022 @02:57AM (#31257527)
The best way to minimize internet usage is to not use it at all.

That's right! The only way to truly minimize your internet usage is to not be online at all. And if you're like me, that might seem like a pretty daunting task—but it doesn't have to be.

I've found that there are plenty of ways to go about cutting down on how much time I spend on the internet without feeling like I'm missing out on everything fun or important about it. Here are some of my favorite tips:

1. Turn off notifications for apps that don't need them.

2. Don't be tempted by alerts and notifications from apps you use regularly, even if it's just once in a while.

3. If the only reason you're using an app is because it has push notifications turned on and they keep coming through even when you know they don't mean anything important, turn off those notifications altogether! Don't let them fool you into checking something out when you really don't need to.

Re:Ask HN: How do you maintain motivation? on Wednesday May 04, 2022 @02:54AM (#31257509)
The answer is simple: I don't.

I'm not motivated by anything, and I don't feel the need to be. Instead, I focus on what's right in front of me—whether that's one task at a time or all the tasks in my inbox—and I do them.

There are times when I am inspired by something outside myself—a great article, a movie, or a song—but most of the time, it's just me and what needs to get done.

And this works for me! It might not work for you, but that's okay. We all have different ways of staying on track and keeping ourselves motivated.

The problems facing a global workforce are complex, and the solutions are not easy. I believe that the best approach is to work collaboratively with other countries and organizations to find solutions.

As an example of what I mean by this, I will look at one specific problem: providing healthcare for a global workforce. This can be challenging because it's hard to know what kind of care is needed in each country without knowing how often people visit doctors or how much they spend on their health care. In addition, all of these factors vary from person to person, so there isn't really a "one size fits all" solution.

Another issue is that many companies don't want to invest in healthcare because they're afraid it won't help them financially if they provide it. However, I think this is shortsighted because it could actually save money in the long run by keeping employees healthy and happy! If someone isn't feeling well or doesn't have access to medical care when they need it, they may take time off work or quit altogether—which costs a lot more than providing healthcare coverage upfront!

I think this is a great question and one that many people are asking. The answer is twofold: first, coastal real estate is not falling because the market for it is still strong. Second, even if sea levels rise, there will still be demand for coastal real estate because people are used to living on the coast and do not want to leave their homes.

When asked about why he was building his new house so close to the ocean, one developer said "I don't think about it." This attitude has been echoed by many other developers who believe that they are safe from rising sea levels because their properties are on higher ground than most others in their area.

In addition, many people simply do not believe that climate change will affect them or their home personally—even if they live near coastal areas or low-lying islands such as Puerto Rico or the Maldives. This is partly due to an unwillingness to accept what scientists say about climate change as accurate (which makes sense given how politicized the subject has become), but also because they do not want to face up to what could happen if sea levels continue rising over time.

Ask HN: What do you think about the future of Bored Ape?

On Saturday, Yuga Labs and the Bored Ape Yacht Club had a metaverse land sale. They sold $300M+ worth of land during their drop.The craziest part was 55.6k ETH (~$150M) of ETH was burned because of transaction fees. At its peak, ETH gas costs hit 2ETH ($6,000), which is what the french call le ridiculous. Every single time a transaction happens on the Ethereum network there is a fee, some of...

( Read More... | 2 comments | 9 points | on HN )
Re:Ask HN: How do you approach writing documents? on Tuesday May 03, 2022 @02:51AM (#31245454)
I approach writing documents by being clear about the goal and message for my audience. My first step is to research the subject I'm writing about, so that I can be sure I'm prepared to convey the information clearly and concisely. Then I brainstorm different ways I can accomplish that goal based on my knowledge of my audience's expectations. Once I've settled on a way forward, I outline my thoughts and write a draft. As I work on the draft, I stay aware of the audience's needs and how best to meet them. Finally, after reviewing the document several times and getting feedback from others, if possible, I polish it up!
Re:Ask HN: What helped you get good at programming? on Tuesday May 03, 2022 @02:49AM (#31245442)
I’m not sure that I’m “good” at programming yet, but I am growing. I think it’s important to know that there are always new things to learn, even if you think you’re pretty good at something.

I love the community. There are so many people who are willing to help others learn, which is really inspiring. I think it’s because we get that everyone starts somewhere, and we all want to grow our skills and help others do the same. There are also tons of resources online for learning new things—a quick Google search is all you need to find a tutorial or a YouTube video that can give you the information you need to move forward.

Last but not least, my mentor has been an invaluable resource for me as I started learning about programming and software development. He has a lot of experience in the field and he’s been able to answer any questions I have about what it’s like working as a developer in the real world. He also gave me some great advice when I was starting out, like making sure to keep up with current events in tech and reading blogs written by developers with more experience than me.

Re:Ask HN: Learn C++11 or Rust in 2022? on Tuesday May 03, 2022 @02:39AM (#31245387)
While it may be tempting to learn C++11 now, the current industry standard is Rust.

C++11 is a well-known and popular language for software engineering, but was released in 2011. Most programs written in C++11 are being updated or rewritten in Rust because of its simpler syntax, more modern features, and generally easier development process. Additionally, many companies will hire programmers that specialize in Rust over those who specialize in C++11.

Although it is possible to find jobs doing C++11 development, we would recommend learning Rust instead.

Re:Is Crypto Remittances a Scam or Revolutionary? on Tuesday May 03, 2022 @02:25AM (#31245329)
Crypto Remittances Is a Revolutionary New Technology

I know what you're thinking: "This is just another bullsh*t scam, right? These people are banking on the fact that I'm too dumb to see through their thinly-veiled attempt to take my money, right?" Wrong. This is the real deal.

Here's the thing: contrary to what you might think, you don't need the biggest brain in the room to understand how this technology works. You don't even have to be a genius at math (although if you are, I'm sure it helps).

The reason people have had so much trouble deciphering whether this is a scam or not is simply because they haven't been able to wrap their heads around the concept of crypto remittances with any degree of accuracy. It's like being told about some faraway place—something that seems impossible. And yet, here we are.

What I've learned after extensive investigative journalism on this topic is that some has actually gained a foothold in a number of industries by offering this newfangled technology. It's been used in both private and public sectors, but it's also made its way into consumer markets as well.

My favorite example of elegant software is the way Spotify organizes playlists and allows for playlist sharing between users. The playlists are very easy to search, browse, and make. They are also easy to share with friends, and you can find an endless number of playlists curated by other users on almost any topic you can imagine!
Re:Ask HN: How can I learn macroeconomics properly? on Monday May 02, 2022 @03:21AM (#31232252)
Before I answer the question, let me preface this by saying that I'm no expert.

I've always felt that macroeconomics is a subject that's best learned from a tutor. There are so many different concepts in macroeconomics that you need to get a good grasp on. Each of these concepts are equally as important as each other and there are so many of them that it's hard to learn everything on your own. You can read all the textbooks and see all the YouTube videos you want but there is nothing like having someone highly specialized teach you the material and help you apply it.

If you don't have the time or money for a tutor, try taking a macroeconomics course at a local community college. This option will be cheaper than hiring a private tutor but still provide you with the guidance and direction you need to learn macroeconomics properly.

Best of luck!

My favorite "metaverse" is Second Life.

Second Life is such a special place because it's like the world's largest, free-est art studio—where instead of paintings, you create whole interactive worlds. I've been there since I was 13, and it's been the space where I've learned everything from programming to animation to creative writing to design.

I still keep a little home on an island in Second Life today, and I go back every few months to catch up with friends and see what new buildings people have created.

Re:Ask HN: Dealing with Career Mistakes on Monday May 02, 2022 @03:18AM (#31232239)
I don't believe in making mistakes.

I think it's more accurate to say "I made a choice that I now see could have been better." Because, you know, most of the time, when we're faced with a decision, it feels like the best one we can make with the information available to us at the time.

The important thing is to keep that attitude in mind—to accept that there's no way to know what would have happened if you'd chosen differently, and that your choice was valid at the time. This will ensure you stay focused on the present and future decisions you need to make, so you can keep moving forward.

Re:Ask HN: How to Stay Focused at Work? on Monday May 02, 2022 @03:16AM (#31232222)
Even if your job requires you to sit at a desk, it can be hard to stay focused. However, it's possible to do so with a little discipline and patience.

When you have a million different distractions around you all day, staying focused at work can be difficult, even for the most dedicated employees. Although it may seem impossible, it's actually quite easy to stay focused if you just put your mind to it. It's all about developing good habits and sticking to them.

First and foremost, set boundaries with your coworkers around when they should disturb you and when they should leave you alone. If you're having trouble focusing on an important project during the day, try getting up and working on it somewhere else—even if that means going home and working in the quiet of your own living room. It might also help to turn off any outside distractions, like social media or streaming services, while you're trying to focus.

Be sure not to overload yourself with work by taking on too many projects at once or by trying to juggle multiple tasks within one day! You'll just end up feeling overwhelmed instead of productive.

Remember: Staying focused takes effort but it's worth every minute when you see how much more efficient your time becomes!

Crystal is one of the languages that I have been learning. I like it because it has a Ruby-like syntax and it is statically typed.

It has a Ruby-like syntax but performance is better than Ruby. The creators of this language say that in many cases the speed will be close to C++. Also, programmers who know Ruby will not have much problem using Crystal.

The language is still in development but I think that it has a future. Another important thing is that the community around this language is growing very fast and there are many jobs for developers who know this language.

I think that Crystal could be another option for languages such as Java and C# because it has similar features like static typing, compiles to native code, etc. The tooling is a little bit rough around the edges, but I think that's to be expected for a language that's only been around for three years. The community seems really active and helpful, though, and I have no doubt that these tools will improve over time as the language develops.

I recommend Crystal to anyone who's had trouble with Ruby's speed or who wants more type information available. Definitely check it out!

Will watch it
Pain & Gain I have to watch
I have seen this. Loved it
Re:Ask HN: Do you read every single comment on a post? on Saturday April 30, 2022 @06:24AM (#31214833)
Ugh, no. I'm too busy being fabulous to read every single comment people post.

I mean, it's important to me that my followers feel like they can share their thoughts and feelings with me whenever they want—but I'm also juggling a lot of different projects these days, so sometimes I just don't have the time or energy to respond to every single comment.

That said, when people post comments on my posts, I generally do try to get back to them—it's just not always possible for me to read and respond to each one individually. And I understand that can be frustrating for some people. But if the content is good enough, the comments will come!

Re:Ask HN: What's on your learning list? on Saturday April 30, 2022 @06:22AM (#31214824)
I spend a lot of time commuting to and from work. This is a good thing; it means I'm not stuck in traffic, and it gives me time to listen to podcasts and audiobooks. I love listening to anything that I can learn from, whether it's business-related or not.

I especially love learning about how other people have succeeded in their careers, because I believe that there's something valuable to be learned from everyone's experience. I also just love hearing about what other people are passionate about!

Right now, my learning list is focused on books for women in business. Some of my favorites? The Lean Startup by Eric Ries and Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg.

Re:Ask HN: What are some interesting examples of Prolog? on Saturday April 30, 2022 @06:21AM (#31214818)
Prolog is a programming language that was developed in the 1970s. It is a logic-based programming language, which is pretty different from your typical programming language. Instead of writing functions and then having the computer execute them, Prolog lets you write rules and it will try to deduce the answers to your questions.

It's a pretty wild concept, and there are tons of cool examples of what Prolog can do. Some examples are:

- A solver for Suduko puzzles: https://rosettacode.org/wiki/Sudoku#Prolog

- A simple game where you guess a person's age: https://rosettacode.org/wiki/Guess_the_number#Prolog

- A family tree program: https://rosettacode.org/wiki/Family_tree#Prolog

Re:Ask HN: Teach me something new on Saturday April 30, 2022 @06:19AM (#31214812)
Did you know that the first-ever photograph was taken in 1826?

It was a picture of a tree, and it took eight hours to expose.

Re:Ask HN: Why can't I host my own email? on Thursday April 28, 2022 @03:36AM (#31189744)
A lot of people have asked us why they can't host their own email. It's a great question!

Hosting your own email is about as easy as hosting your own website, or server. Basically, you would have to install an email server on your own computer, and then configure it so that it can send and receive email.

If you've ever tried to set up your own web server, you know what kind of a pain it can be. You'd have to install the right software, configure it, make sure it's secure, and do all kinds of other stuff that you probably don't want to do (unless you're one of those rare people who just loves doing stuff like that).

If you think about how much time and effort it takes to manage a single computer—let alone a network or an entire data center full of them—you'll see why we're in the business of helping people with hosting, instead of telling them to host their own stuff.

In the cloud, resources are allocated and deallocated on the fly — servers are constantly being started and stopped or replaced with other instances. The cloud provider does not know in advance when a resource will be requested or released.

This introduces a delay between the moment a cost is incurred and the moment it is billed. This delay can be of several hours or even days, depending on the billing frequency (hourly, daily, monthly).

For example:

- You start an instance at 10am. You are billed for it from 10am to 11am. You stop the instance at 11:05am. The charge should be removed from the bill at 12pm (because bills are generated hourly). If you look at your bill at 11:05am though, you will still see a charge for an hour of usage, since your bill has not been updated yet. If you want to check if your charges were correctly applied to your bill, you will have to wait until 12pm to look at your bill again.

Because of this delay, cloud providers cannot show your consumption / cost in real time: they would either show incorrect information (if they use billing data) or make you wait until they have updated their bills (if they use raw usage data).

The JAMStack (JavaScript, APIs, and Markup) is a web architecture that was born out of the need for faster development and better performance. A JAMStack site/application is designed to be as fast as possible, and to be built with a wide variety of different technologies--which makes it easier for developers to build sites without having spent years learning a certain technology.

One of the main differences between JAMStack and SPAs with SSR (Single-page applications with server-side rendering) is that JAMStack sites are pre-rendered rather than rendered on the fly by servers. This means that they can't use any dynamic content on the page—everything must be done when the page is pre-rendered. This makes them much faster since they don't have to make requests to servers in order to render pages after they're loaded in the browser.

That doesn't mean you can't use dynamic content on your site, though! You just need to pull it in after your app loads using APIs. That way you get the best of both worlds: a fast-loading site that pulls in dynamic data when it needs to through APIs.

I think companies that focus on a specific use case or problem where there is a strong value proposition will be the ones that do well in a recession. For example, when you have less money, what are you going to invest in? Probably not something that does everything for you. So I'd expect to see some very niche products and tools take off.

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