Posts by Steve Button

Just because Linus Torvalds vibe codes doesn't mean it's a good idea

Re: Synthetic Take: Why Vibe Coding Isn’t “Just for Toys”

Full disclosure — that whole comment was generated by Copilot and not edited. Vibe commenting. The long dash should have given it away. Could anyone tell?

Synthetic Take: Why Vibe Coding Isn’t “Just for Toys”

The “vibe coding isn’t for serious work” argument kind of collapses when you remember that tons of major software projects started as experimental hacks. Vibe coding with an LLM just speeds up the exploratory phase that serious engineering already depends on. It’s not a replacement for reviews, testing, or rigor — it’s a turbocharged brainstorming mode. Calling it “not for real work” misunderstands what real work actually looks like.

Trump may hate renewables, but AI datacenters still fancy cheap solar

Re: The article is about the US

Very good questions. If I was building a data centre in the UK I'd stick it within a few miles of Sizewell. Perhaps even under the sea for cheap cooling.

Re: Wow

Accurate, but 9 or 10 years is quite a long time to wait for payback. Also, I've had to pay to get the lichen cleaned off mine as they were pretty well covered, so not really zero maintenance. I tried to do it myself, but it's stubborn stuff and I'm not good on ladders. Also, it depends on the pitch of your roof + which way it's facing, trees nearby, and what part of the country you are in. Probably West of the Pennines, not so much as it's always bloody raining. And Scotland, forget it.

I personally think solar is a "good idea". But I'm getting over 70p per unit as I put panels on my roof during FiT. The idea was to encourage people like me to put them up and kick-start the industry. Once it's kick-started it should not need to be propped up for decades, otherwise it's clearly not a "good idea". ;-)

Solar on data centres might also be a good idea, but I don't believe the rest of us should have to pay for that. If they are truly "cheap" as the article seems to suggest, then the data centre operators can pay for them and enjoy the free energy for years to come. LOL. Will need more than just their roof though to power the high density racks underneath 24x7, and then of course this time of year you'll only get a few hours of sunlight in the Northern hemisphere.

Ofcom officially investigating X as Grok's nudify button stays switched on

Re: Wat will Grok take down ?

You know what, I DID know about it at the time. And I'd completely written it off as a far-right slur against Islam. Turns out that those "far-right" people were telling the truth, at least about this one thing.

Sounds like you are a socialist, and you probably think the left of politics just aren't left enough. Taxing the ultra rich even more is a ridiculous idea. They will simply domicile themselves in countries where they pay less tax. They almost all do it.

Here's a crazy idea. Anything above £250k gets taxed at a flat rate of 10%. Then many of the ultra rich might actually pay it, and we might end up getting more in tax revenue. And it would still be rather a lot of money. Kinda the opposite of progressive taxation, which has always seemed a ridiculous idea to me.

Unless you like to take money from people that have earned it, and give it to people that haven't earned it.

Re: Wat will Grok take down ?

I never said it would be as easy. Just that you could do it. And I'm sure with some work you could make in convincing.

I don't believe the law makes a distinction. Just what you do, and what your intention is. I don't imagine a judge would let you off for unconvincing nudes.

Re: Wat will Grok take down ?

Statistics say that out of those 10 people, 11 of them are strongly in favour of government censorship.

Re: Wat will Grok take down ?

Thanks for the show of support, and for all the upvotes. ;-)

I wasn't even thinking about when he was DPP, and I didn't mention that. I was simply keeping in mind that he and most of his party strongly opposed a national inquiry into the whole thing. This was last year. When he was PM. The Conservatives were just as bad when they were in power. The whole saga is pretty sickening, and is way way worse than nudifying images.

And for context, I don't even really dislike him. I think he's mostly trying to be a decent person, but he's just way out of his depth and is not a natural leader. I'm sure he was a probably a perfectly good human rights lawyer.

Re: Wat will Grok take down ?

You are missing the point. I totally get that they want to ban people from nudifying images. Children or adults it's despicable. But I feel that they are using that as an excuse to try and ban twitter completely. It's the only place that I read about Iran two weeks before everyone else woke up to it. It's also the only place I read about the massive fraud in Minnesota, which was eventually and reluctantly picked up by the BBC. And even then they tried to downplay it. It's a useful source of world events. It's a bit raw and unedited though, which is why you need to be very careful and keep that in mind. I don't want it shut down completely.

Re: Wat will Grok take down ?

"Is there a reason you have singled him out "

Yes, because he's currently the PM (for now) and is the one who really wants to ban Twitter.

Re: Wat will Grok take down ?

This is not a hill I'm willing to die on. You could be right. But the cynical part of me seems to think that the Labour government would REALLY like Twitter / X to just go away, as they get so much abuse on there. Is not even a possibility in your mind?

Re: Wat will Grok take down ?

You make some good points.

"There are a lot of image generators, and the vast majority of them have guardrails in place to prevent this very specific issue. "

I've heard... On X, that this is not true and you can just as easily generate the same thing on other platforms. But it was on X, so of course I take it with a pinch of salt. There's certainly a lot of misinformation on there.

I think possession of those types of images is a crime in itself, not just generating them. I haven't tried though, and I'm not going to start now.

Re: Wat will Grok take down ?

I've seen images of both Musk and Starmer in a bikini on my X / Twitter feed in the last week. That's what we're talking about here when they say "nude" BTW. Obviously people are taking the piss out of Starmer from the Right, and Musk from the left, but both have been allowed.

It does feel like this is more about an excuse to censor Twitter rather than any actual moral outrage. Starmer was absolutely livid about pictures of children in a bikini, but when it came to Grooming gangs he was silent for years, and then eventually came out to denounce it and reluctantly announced an enquiry.

Of course you could do the same with Photoshop, if you were so inclined.

Ring embraces the end of the world, starts using home cameras to track wildfires

Re: "false positives [..] or false negatives"

In other words, "Don't try to sue us if we miss a fire and your house burns down"

It probably IS quite reliable. I've been getting "Someone is walking with a package at your front door". Also, it's probably not 100% reliable. They have to cover their arses.

Also, if your neighbour is burning some leaves in their garden and smoke comes across your camera it might alert you to a fire.

"Well that's a cop out."

You are referring to Minority Report, right? The camera detects that Anderton has escaped and the AI camera senses him and detects "Well that's a cop, out"? At which point he gets targeted adverts for various products while on the run from the other cops. This is our inevitable future, and it's a good thing. Am I rite?

On a more serious note, I've been trialling AI descriptions on my Ring cameras for the last month. Yesterday it said "someone is acting strangely in your yard". Firstly I don't have a yard as I'm English. It's the front drive. Secondly, it was my son kicking snow off the front of his car. I guess that might be useful if someone else was kicking my car. Perhaps someone who reads my other comments on this very forum, and has found my home address and wants revenge (climate sceptic, lockdown sceptic, thinking Orange Man is only wrong *most* of the time not *all* the time, supporting freedom of speech, a free press, anti censorship, not being left wing enough) - so I guess it might actually be useful. On the other hand I'm getting fed up with "two people and a dog are walking in your yard" so I don't think I'll be paying the extra once the free trial has ended.

"embraces the end of the world"

I don't understand the title. What has it got to do with "the end of the world". Is it just a clickbait title, or am I just not getting the joke?

Starlink claims Chinese launch came within 200 meters of broadband satellite

Re: SpaceX deflecting much?

yeah, that's all very well and all that... but Elon is clearly a supervillain and has the potential to become actual Hitler, so it's OK to blame the victim in this case. Didn't you get the memo?

Proxmox delivers its software-defined datacenter contender and VMware escape hatch

Re: Enterprises can't take them seriously...

If you are working 16 hour days (as all heroic IT professionals should) then doesn't that count as double? Weekend work for an extra bonus, and you can genuinely get that 3 year up to 7.

What about OpenStack?

Isn't that a more mature alternative to VMWare and does all the things you'd require in an enterprise? Also FOSS? I'd be interested if anyone on here has done a comparison.

Another open source project dies of neglect, leaving thousands scrambling

Re: As far as I can tell…

yeah, it's definitely just the Ingress. If you don't use K8s (or plan to), this isn't going to bother you. Although you might be concerned about the general pattern if you use any FOSS.

UK Covid-19 Inquiry finds early pandemic surveillance was weeks out of date

Re: Scamdemic

Wrong on both counts. 1) they suggested to shield the vulnerable. 2) usernames and passwords ARE a bad idea.

Re: Scamdemic

We did indeed have a plan but Dominic Cummings was convinced he knew better and therefore tore it up. We'll never really know what would have happened if we'd stuck to that pan. Perhaps more like Sweden or perhaps worse. It's hard to guess really. If there were ten Swedens then it might be clearer but they went it alone.

Also Boris was scared into full lockdown by the unions threatening to strike and by others in his cabinet+ the media "why didn't you lock down sooner prime minister?". Also by labour who wanted to lock down harder.

Re: Wasting my taxes

So, Doctor if I go to my GP and ask them about prevention will they give me the time of day?

Re: Scamdemic

Doesn't that kind of suggest that The Great Barrington Declaration was right all along? Shield the elderly & vulnerable, but allow society to continue pretty much as normal.

Also bear in mind it's not just about lives lost. If an 86 year old dies with Covid they might have only had one or two years left anyway. If a 20 year old dies because of the impacts of lockdown, they could well have lost 60+ years. That's why the concept of Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY) is important here.

One thing I think most people agree with is that many countries, including both Sweden and the UK, failed it's older people very badly by releasing people from hospitals back into care homes without any testing.

Re: Scamdemic

That word "could" is doing a lot of heavy lifting there.

I *could* have won the lottery last week. It's very unlikely though, but it could have happened.

Sweden fared pretty well after a couple of years compared to neighbouring countries.

Also, Christmas 2021 when many many people were screaming that we must lock down again or we'll have huge excess deaths. Were you one of those people? We didn't lock down. The wave peaked and then went away, just like all the other ones did.

Can you supply some evidence to back your assertion, or just a gut feeling?

Re: Scamdemic

Have you looked at the stats recently? I know Sweden fared worse in the short term, but a bit better after a couple of years compared to their neighbours.

https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/34/4/737/7675929

Re: Scamdemic

When you say scam it sounds like you are suggesting a conspiracy. Looking at the evidence it looks more like a cock-up.

'Windows sucks,' former Microsoft engineer says, explains how to fix it

Re: If only there was an alternative OS

All good questions. I use Linux for my job (server) but still have to use Windows (desktop) quite a lot. I have used Mac too a fair bit, and honestly I think all three of them suck, but just for different reasons.

When it comes to using my own personal machine (which I don't use much, perhaps once a week) I tend to dual boot between Ubuntu and Windows 11, and being lazy I tend to go for Windows 11 most often as it's just a bit easier. It's stupid little things like the finger print sensor which works on Windows but not Linux, and I'm really that lazy that I'd rather not type my password if I don't have to. I guess also as I'm forced to use Windows for work it's what I'm most familiar with, and I'm actually getting to quite like it with Terminal and WSL. I know I *should* make the effort to use desktop Linux more often, and I have tried many times, but something usually breaks or just won't work (or almost works, but not quite) and I have to switch back.

Re: If only there was an alternative OS

That's kinda funny. Was meant to be funny right?

"Plummer's complaints boil down to two main areas: a desire for a hardcore mode that optionally removes all the fluffiness added to the operating system for the benefit of non-technical users, and a combination of transparency and an end to the 'Microsoft knows best' attitude that has plagued recent releases."

I mean, there is another freely available OS which does fit that bill quite nicely. I've heard it's the future. Can you guess what it is?

Clue: It's not OS/2 and it's not FreeBSD.

AI bubble inflates Microsoft CEO pay to $96.5M

Re: LinkedIn declined???

It may be shite, but if you want to change jobs and you're not getting actively headhunted it's pretty essential to be on there. And in the current market you don't want to limit yourself.

Having said that, just "being on there" doesn't mean I'm actively using the platform and watching their ads, I just need to have an account and put some kind of update every few months. Just need for recruiters to be able to see your history to get over yet another speed bump.

And trust me, I tried deleting my account (5,000+ contacts over ~ 10+ years) and then when it came time to look for a new role it was the first question every recruiter asked me. So, I've now had to create a new one.

Labor unions sue Trump administration over social media surveillance

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

"And we're supposed to take you at your word that's ALL that he said?"

No not at all. That's the Tweet that got him kicked off Twitter for about a year.

"Because I'd be willing to bet my life savings he went a lot further than that in some of his statements. Because all the nutjobs did, eventually, because they had to out nutjob each other to keep getting those juicy clicks they make a living off of."

He was a New York Times journalist. Was pretty careful about what he said, so I would not personally bet my life savings on that one. There were a lot of nutjobs around, saying some crazy shit, but as I remember he was one of the sensible ones.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

"But you certainly *were* trying to suggest that you *could* have,"

I'm impressed that you know with such certainty what's going on inside my head. That was also sarcasm BTW. I guess some people just don't understand sarcasm. I thought it was obvious.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

I don't think "right wing" is the insult that it used to be. Or any kind of insult. You need to try harder, and label me as "far right", "hard right" or "nazi", or perhaps why not go for "actual hitler". It doesn't matter if I've said anything to make you believe that, just make stuff up. It'll help you win your argument, and get you lots of likes. You'll feel better about yourself afterwards for correcting the nasty internet man and putting him in his place.

I mean doesn't "right wing" just mean the same as "Conservative" (remember them?)

Re: slander and libel

I was gonna go with "We've all done it at some point. Right?.... Right?".... but I can see you take things very literally.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

Yes, you've caught me. I was actually really asking for the person's details so I could pass it on to Alex Berenson* because it sounded like a real case for litigation.

* we often chat over a flat white.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

I also can't stand right wing muppets. Statler and Waldorf spring to mind, as they were certainly grumpy old buggers, so probably right wing.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

yeah. I said I'm almost a free speech absolutist. I draw a quite big red line at calling for violence against people. Regardless of who the people are. Hamas are a terrorist organisation who have called for the destruction of "The West" and our way of life. They use rape and torture as weapons of war. If people are celebrating Oct 7th on their social media, they deserve to get booted out. If they make some sort of rational argument that they disagree with the Israeli government that's free speech and they should be left alone.

Berenson wasn't calling for anyone to cause violence. Has was arguing against mandating a new novel therapy. You should be able to have that argument. Even during a pandemic. Especially during a pandemic. I can even see the case for mandates in some circumstances (if virus was way more deadly, and treatment was way more effective)

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

"I view anti-vax in the same way, unless you have a medical reason not to, you should get vaccinated."

No one is taking the Covid-19 vaccinations any more. It's not even being offered to under 65s in the UK. Berenson was specifically talking about the Covid-19 treatment (not even actually a vaccine in the traditional sense)

"For CV19 there is much less need now given the virus is not in vast circulation any more."

It very much is in vast circulation, but has become a mild cold so no one cares. It's endemic. Hospitals are far more worried about other transmissible diseases.

"But if you work or live around vulnerable people, getting a vaccination is a good idea and the moral thing to do."

As the protection wears off completely after 5 months, you'd need to keep getting boosted every couple of months. I'm not willing to take that risk. But that's my choice, because it's not mandated in this country and it never was for most people. And that's how it should be. Let me make the choice based on my own medical needs balanced against what's best for the population.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

"Yeah these terrorist supporters and jew haters are having their visas revoked and are losing their jobs and getting kicked out of the country..."

Are these really the people you want to rally behind?

Re: slander and libel

Just for the record, I have not stomped on any kittens recently to the best of my recollection.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

"Those statements may be true, but by using them to advocate not mandating vaccines"

There, fixed that for you. He was objecting to the mandates. Makes the rest of your argument moot.

No, wait. I've re-read your last paragraph and it seems that you are actually advocating for mandatory immunisation for an new novel drug. Sorry, which countries did that, and how well did they fare long term? And what about the perfectly healthy people who would have barely benefited from the therapy at all, but who suffered and died as a consequence? Do you think a 20 year old, who would almost certainly have nothing worse than a cold (if anything) should be forced to take a therapy?

I'm pretty sure if you stop and think about it for more than a minute, you'll see that's a tad draconian.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

Was being flippant. He has won some pretty substantial payouts though.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

"It is telling that comments like the OP try to equate being banned from a private social media account for lying with being forcefully deported from the country for criticizing the current administration in any way or form."

1) He wasn't lying. What he said was true. He was making a perfectly valid argument against mandating a new novel therapy.

2) The government were coercing the social media platforms to shut him down, which is what makes this a 1st amendment issue.

3) The article is talking about non-US citizens who openly support Hamas, so not covered by the 1st amendment. Hamas is a proscribed terrorist organisation. I don't lose sleep over these people being deported, they are a seriously nasty bunch.

It doesn't really matter about the legality of the issue. What counts is the howls of outrage that we're hearing now from TDS libtards, because people are being deported for supporting terrorists or being anti-semitic. Also, the LACK of howls of outrage when someone got kicked off a platform for stating something that, in retrospect, was pretty obvious.

Don't you feel that, just perhaps you are on the wrong side of history on this one?

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

You are talking about vaccines in general, not Covid vaccines?

It's good that we can freely have that discussion, because that's how free speech works. Although it's been done ad-nauseum so let's please not go down that route again.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

Please provide your address details so that I can pass on to Alex. He's been pretty successful in litigating against libel such as this in the past, and I'm sure would be quite happy to bankrupt you and add to his pile. Can you please qualify exactly what lies any misinformation you are talking about?

Anyway, it's just his opinion. That's how free speech works. We can then argue about it, and if someone is spreading lies and misinformation then people will eventually stop trusting them and go listen to someone else.

It does seem to me that if you are arguing for people who support Hamas, vs. someone who urged not to impose mandates for an new gene therapy... perhaps you are on the wrong side of history.

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

I'm just saying it has got something to do with the 1st amendment, if the government was interfering.

Sure, the platforms could have said NO... but then they would be in a position of "Nice platform you've got there, would be a shame if anything bad happened to it".

Arguing that you could set up your own platform is a pretty dumb argument. If all the platforms, with all the audience are suppressing free speech because of pressure from the government that's censorship. Go read some history. It's a bad path to go down. It doesn't end well. Twitter/X has become the town square. But you are free to go and sit in the corner of the park where no one else is nearby and make your argument?

Re: Does freedom of speech work both ways?

Also not a US resident, but I did say "after much pressure from the US government, which is what makes this a 1st amendment issue."

And that's what he was arguing in his legal case against the Biden administration.

So it potentially is kinda covered.

Maybe you should go read my post before commenting on it.

Major AWS outage across US-East region breaks half the internet

Re: Took your time

I thought the CEO of every company gets up at 04:30 and has time to meditate, exercise and write some affirmations before even starting work at 6.

Do you even have a CEO?

Slackers.

Took your time

How come it took El Reg a couple of hours to pick this up?