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I’m 25, way too many exams still to take. My classmates graduated two years ago, and here I am…still stuck in the same place.

Not long ago, through a friend, I received an offer for a regular 9-5 job, average salary, 30-minute drive to the office and all the usual perks. It seemed like a solid offer.

Everyone told me to accept it: my friends, my family. The idea was simple—I could start working, save some money, keep studying in the meantime, and finally finish my degree as soon as possible. After that, I could move to a bigger city, get a better paying job, and follow the usual path everyone expects.

But I said no.

I turned it down to create Describify.

Describify is a platform that uses AI to analyze an image of an item someone wants to sell and generates a complete, tailored listing for platforms like Vinted, eBay, or Wallapop.

Alright, you’re probably thinking, “What an idiot!” And maybe you’re right. I know that Describify isn’t a rocket headed for Mars or the next groundbreaking innovation in AI, but it’s my first public project—the first one I’ve poured my time (and sometimes my sanity) into, coding almost every day in my bedroom (don’t believe me? Check out my GitHub) while the rest of the world judged me. It’s like the Macintosh for Jobs. (Okay, I know that’s an over-the-top comparison, but you get the idea.)

The point is, I believe in my idea and in the future ones that will come. And if you believe in it too, sign up for the waitlist and be among the first to access the platform—as soon as I squash a few bugs!

www.describify.it

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165294

Points: 1

# Comments: 1

Article URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/23/style/gen-z-aging.html

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165293

Points: 2

# Comments: 0

It’s no secret that social media companies strive to maximize time spent in their apps — in other words, how much attention we give them. That's why I've created Atten - a screen time control app that helps safeguard your attention. Atten lets you schedule app blocking and set daily time limits for apps.

I’ve always been curious about how people defend themselves against these attention-grabbing algorithms. Do you have systems in place to protect your time? Do you rely on self-discipline, or do you use screen-time control apps like Atten, AppBlock, Jomo, Opal, or something else?

In a world where attention is commoditized, could having these apps enabled by default be as essential as locking your doors at night? If we all agree you shouldn’t go grocery shopping on an empty stomach, should using screen time control tools become a hard-and-fast rule for our devices?

I’d love to hear your thoughts:

- Do you find these apps genuinely helpful? - What strategies do you use to avoid falling prey to social media algorithms? Let me know what you think! Check out Atten here: https://apple.co/4dZIfKa https://www.atten.app (Free Lifetime Access Promo For This Month)

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165291

Points: 4

# Comments: 0

Location: Dhaka, Bangladesh Remote: Okay Willing to Relocate: Yes

Technologies:

Proficient: TypeScript, JavaScript, C#, C++, Python Familiar: PHP, C, Java Stacks & Tools: ASP.NET, React.js, React Native, FastAPI, AWS, Docker, CI/CD, Redis, MySQL, NoSQL Frameworks & Libraries: Express.js, MediatR, Entity Framework, LINQ, Spring.Net Version Control: Git Testing: XUnit, Mocha, Chai Observability: Azure AppInsights Server: Nginx Résumé/CV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NyiIFYUGNBqVuaP5rPE1yVwgj5qeA_S6/view?usp=sharing

Email: evanshareef@gmail.com

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165285

Points: 1

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Article URL: https://www.twobirds.com/en/insights/2024/china/a-deep-dive-into-chinas-network-id-proposal

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165280

Points: 1

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Article URL: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/17/technology/bluesky-growing-pains.html

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165277

Points: 2

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Article URL: https://gethealthspan.com/science/article/urolithin-a-and-mitophagy

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165243

Points: 1

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Article URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/04/chips_act_repeal/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165221

Points: 1

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I've been thinking about developing an AI bot that could help manage WhatsApp groups through automated moderation. Here's the concept:

*Key Features:* - Admins set custom rules and policies - Auto-removal of off-topic messages and unauthorized links - Spam detection and filtering - Option to flag suspicious content for human review - Customizable warning system before taking action

*Questions:* 1. What features would you want in such a bot? 2. How would you balance automated moderation with user experience? 3. What potential issues do you see with automated WhatsApp moderation? 4. Have you used similar bots in other platforms (Discord/Telegram)? How do they compare?

As WhatsApp groups get larger, manual moderation becomes increasingly challenging. Would an AI assistant make group management more efficient, or would it create new problems?

Looking for insights from both group admins and members. Especially interested in hearing about experiences with other chat moderation bots.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165215

Points: 1

# Comments: 1

I've been using Linux (mainly Fedora + KDE) as my main OS for the past few years. I love it, but also I have no other viable option: Mac's multitasking model and all Apple anti-competitive measures, and as person with ADHD, Windows can be too distracting.

As a seasoned Linux user, what are some of your "secrets"?

Some examples: Switching to Terminator + Zsh + Oh-My-Zsh makes a really approachable Terminal experience and great defaults. Well, even switching to KDE for someone who does not like how Gnome works is a game changer.

In one old company I remember we were advised to increase some default limits right after installing our workstations.

One developer in my team had a combination of commands that let him debug code on his machine, but tunnelling network traffic from a K8s pod in staging.

All such recommendations (and others) would be appreciated.

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165214

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

Focal is a browser extension that helps you stay focused while browsing. You state your intent when you browse, and focal will dynamically block distracting content by analyzing webpages using AI.

Traditional website blockers that use URL block lists do not work for me, and I felt with recent progress in AI, something better can be built. Here is mainly why:

- All or nothing approach: The classic example I think of is youtube. There is a lot of brain rot on youtube and it is a classic url thrown in block lists. It also has a lot of educational content. I want to see my educational content and not the brain rot. With current website blockers, the only solution is to block youtube completely. Focal solves this, so that you can dynamically block content on websites instead of blocking the whole website. - Distraction is contextual: My sources of distraction are not only from the typical sources like social media, news, etc. and usually contextual to what I’m doing. If I intend to write documentation for an afternoon, then working on developing a new feature is considered a distraction in that context. Focal solves this by letting you setting an intent when you browse and then using that as the context to determine what is a distraction. - Managing a block list: I don’t want to manage a block list, and have the mental burden of determining whether a website is considered distracting or not. -

Some remarks:

- I do not obfuscate the extension code so anyone can inspect it in the browser if they have privacy concerns. - The extension by default does not run on a bunch of websites that may contain sensitive info (banks, email, etc.). Full list is stated here: https://www.focalbrowse.com/privacy - I’m considering open sourcing it fully but the code is full on fettuccine at this point so need to clean things up.

Hoping to get feedback on this new intention based browsing with the usage of AI. The extension is still in an early stage so there is still lots to work on. If you try it out, would love to hear your thoughts and experiences!

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165209

Points: 1

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Article URL: https://greatcode.dev/snippets/36

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165196

Points: 1

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Article URL: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tax-cuts-rich-50-years-no-trickle-down/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165190

Points: 2

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Article URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/williamarruda/2024/11/05/why-polyworking-is-the-future-of-work-and-how-to-become-a-polyworker/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165186

Points: 1

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Article URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-03724-4

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165179

Points: 3

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Article URL: https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/fake-ai-video-generators-infect-windows-macos-with-infostealers/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165168

Points: 2

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Article URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/11/15/microsoft_exchange_buggy_patch/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42165164

Points: 3

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Article URL: https://thenewstack.io/what-comes-after-open-source-bruce-perens-has-some-ideas/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42164875

Points: 1

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Article URL: https://media.defense.gov/2024/Nov/14/2003583603/-1/-1/0/FY24-CONSOLIDATED-ANNUAL-REPORT-ON-UAP-508.PDF

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42164861

Points: 1

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Article URL: https://jlcollinsnh.com/2023/03/02/why-your-house-is-a-terrible-investment/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42164828

Points: 2

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