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Hey everybody.
Last week’s poll data was interesting but not surprising. Here’s a breakdown of your most used languages.
Which Programming Language Do You Use Most?
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 🐍 Python
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ ☕ Java
🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ 📜 JavaScript
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🖥️ C#
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🔧 C++
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🌐 PHP
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🖋️ Ruby
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ 🦀 Rust
G.O: Coldfusion
B.R: Go
C.P: Javascript since 2010, before that Java, and from the beginning of time, REXX
Now I’m curious.
Which IDE do you use most? |
Also, I just uploaded a video about hitting RESET on your coding career. Let me know what you think.
Now let’s get into the newsletter.
Malware
Back in 2016, Mark Zuckerberg was faced with a dilemma, Facebook had no reliable analytics on fast-growing Snapchat.
A current class action lawsuit against Meta alleges that the company may have breached the Wiretap Act, as detailed in court documents. A blog post by haxrob conducts analysis based on these documents and reverse engineering archived Onavo Protect app packages for Android.
According to the allegations, Facebook intercepted users' encrypted HTTPS traffic using a method akin to a MITM (Man-in-the-Middle) attack. This technique was purportedly used to decrypt traffic from specific domains such as Snapchat, YouTube, and Amazon.
The Onavo Protect Android app, which had over 10 million installations, included code prompting users to install a CA (certificate authority) certificate issued by "Facebook Research" into their device's trust store.
This setup allowed Facebook to monitor all device traffic routed through a VPN to Facebook-controlled infrastructure. The traffic was then redirected into a Squid caching proxy configured as a transparent proxy with the 'ssl bump' feature enabled.
Documents indicate that domains belonging to Snapchat, Amazon, and YouTube were of particular interest.
A full technical analysis can be found in the full blog post.
Career Advice
Bobae Kang, currently a software engineer at Spotify, recently shared valuable career advice, drawing from his unique perspective as someone without a CS degree. Here are some key insights:
Motivation Matters: You don’t need to find software engineering inherently exciting. It’s a lucrative field, and extrinsic motivation like monetary reward and social prestige can keep you going. However, be prepared to compete with those who code for fun.
Focus on Specific Domains: You don’t need to master everything to get a job. Job descriptions often seek engineers for specific technical domains (e.g., backend, web, mobile). Focus on a domain that interests you.
Match Experience with Roles: Companies look for experiences that match the roles. Starting at a company that hires you is better than waiting for your dream job.
AI Won’t Replace Engineers: AI won’t replace software engineers anytime soon. Instead, companies may use AI tools to boost the productivity of seasoned engineers.
Leverage Side Projects: Side projects might not land you a job, but they can demonstrate your technical decision-making, documentation, progress tracking, and collaboration skills.
Build an Online Presence: Consider creating a blog or YouTube channel to share your learning and projects. Success isn’t necessary; the process will help you develop communication skills crucial for software engineering.
Quick Links
⌨️ Node.js adds experimental TypeScript support
Node.js has rolled out TypeScript support under an "experimental" flag. Committee member Marco Ippolito called it "crucial to move the ecosystem forward" due to strong demand from surveys. However, the support is designed to be "lightweight," and doesn’t offer comprehensive support.
💪 How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome as a Developer
Impostor syndrome is a pervasive feeling of self-doubt and inadequacy that makes you believe you're a fraud despite your achievements and skills. For new developers, and even seasoned professionals, this can be particularly challenging in a fast-paced, ever-evolving industry. So how can developers overcome this feeling?
🦹♂️ Anyone can Access Deleted and Private Repository Data on GitHub
You can access data from deleted forks, deleted repositories, and even private repositories on GitHub, and it's available forever. GitHub is aware of this and has intentionally designed it that way. This creates a significant security risk for organizations, making it crucial for developers to understand and address this.
🏠️ How Airbnb Smoothly Upgrades React
Airbnb’s frontend hit a major milestone: all web surfaces have been upgraded from React 16 to React 18, the latest major version of React. To ensure a safe upgrade, they developed the React Upgrade System. In their blog post, they delve into their upgrade philosophy, the system they created, and the valuable lessons learned from this extensive process.
🧵 How Simultaneous Multithreading Works Under the Hood
Simultaneous multithreading (SMT) enables a processor to handle instructions from two different threads simultaneously. But how does this work?
🐧 The Linux Kernel Module Programming Guide
The Linux Kernel Module Programming Guide is a free book that provides a comprehensive introduction to programming modules for the Linux kernel.
Artificial general intelligence with advanced mathematical reasoning has the potential to unlock new frontiers in science and technology.
However, current AI systems still struggle with general math problems due to limitations in reasoning skills and training data.
That could change, Google has released AlphaProof, a new reinforcement-learning-based system for formal math reasoning, and AlphaGeometry 2, an improved version of their geometry-solving system.
Together, these systems solved four out of six problems from this year’s International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO), achieving the same level as a silver medalist for the first time.
The IMO is the oldest, largest, and most prestigious competition for young mathematicians, held annually since 1959.
Each year, elite pre-college mathematicians train extensively to solve exceptionally difficult problems in algebra, combinatorics, geometry, and number theory. Many Fields Medal winners have represented their countries at the IMO.
Until next week,
Travis.
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