Welcome to issue 114 of Hacker Bits!
We have a great selection of articles this month covering complex systems, modelling, generative AI, critical thinking, agents, craftsmanship, bad managers, and so much more!
As always, please don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any suggestions or feedback! 🙂
– Ray and Maureen
Learn more
- Cognitive Behaviors That Enable Self-Improving Reasoners
This study teaches language models to think like humans – verifying, backtracking, and setting subgoals – to unlock smarter, self-improving AI without perfect answers.
Author(s): Kanishk Gandhi, Ayush Chakravarthy, Anikait Singh, Nathan Lile, Noah D. Goodman - For algorithms, a little memory outweighs a lot of time
This article proves that a bit of memory can beat massive computation, challenging decades of algorithmic assumptions and unlocking new paths in complexity theory.
Author(s): Ben Brubaker - Prompt engineering playbook for programmers
This playbook shows how to turn AI coding tools into reliable dev partners using expert prompts, rich context, examples, chaining, debugging, and anti-pattern avoidance.
Author(s): Addy Osmani - Frequent reauth doesn’t make you more secure
Tailscale reveals how frequent reauthentication can frustrate users and inadvertently weaken security, advocating for smarter, real-time access management that enhances protection without the hassle.
Author(s): Avery Pennarun - Model Once, Represent Everywhere: UDA (Unified Data Architecture) at Netflix
Netflix’s Unified Data Architecture lets teams define data once and use it everywhere, boosting consistency, automation, and discovery.
Author(s): Alex Hutter, Alexandre Bertails, Claire Wang, Haoyuan He, Kishore Banala, Peter Royal, Shervin Afshar
Work less
- The Google Willow Thing
Google’s Willow chip showcases a leap in quantum fault tolerance with 105 qubits and error correction, pushing past classical limits and into true quantum supremacy.
Author(s): Scott Aaronson - The Impact of Generative AI on Critical Thinking
A survey of 319 workers shows generative AI saves time but often dulls critical thinking, shifting focus from doing to overseeing.
Author(s): Hao-Ping (Hank) Lee, Advait Sarkar, Lev Tankelevitch, Ian Drosos, Sean Rintel, Richard Banks, Nicholas Wilson - The Myth of Developer Obsolescence
AI isn’t replacing developers—it’s transforming them into architects of complex systems, as every tech revolution from NoCode to cloud to AI has shifted roles, not erased them.
Author(s): Danilo Alonso - AI Changes Everything
Reveals how AI reshapes coding and society, turning developers into overseers amid irreversible global shifts.
Author(s): Armin Ronacher - How I program with agents
Shows how AI agents, armed with tools and autonomy, evolve from helpers to active, self-directed developers.
Author(s): David Crawshaw
Stay current
- Just Fucking Code
Slams lazy AI coding and urges developers to ditch shortcuts and take pride in writing real, thoughtful code.
Author(s): Lane Wagner - The Case for Software Craftsmanship in the Era of Vibes
Warns that vibe-driven, prompt-first coding may boost speed, but true mastery demands sweat, rigor, and intentional architecture – not just riding the AI wave.
Author(s): Nathan Sobo - Breaking My Security Assignments
Student subverts their VM-based security assignments by gaming token checks, exposing how performative security can leave students clueless and learning hollow.
Author(s): Abigail Pain - Writing Toy Software Is a Joy
Toy projects – small, fun builds like regex engines or emulators – ignite deep learning, spark joy, and sharpen dev skills by forcing hands-on exploration and resisting over-reliance on AI.
Author(s): Joshua Barretto - Ask HN: How to Deal with a Bad Manager?
A talented engineer battles toxic management after a surprise demotion, sparking fierce advice on when to fight, flee, or endure.
Tell us what you think. Leave a comment below, email us or find us on Twitter @hackerbits.
Like what you read?