Istio 1.28.0 introduces Gateway API Inference Extension support with InferencePool v1 for managing AI inference workloads, enhanced ambient multicluster capabilities with waypoint routing across remote networks, and native nftables support in ambient mode. The release promotes dual-stack networking to beta, adds security improvements including enhanced JWT authentication with custom claims and NetworkPolicy support for istiod, and provides full Gateway API v1.4 compatibility with BackendTLSPolicy v1. Additional enhancements include ServiceEntry wildcard host support with DYNAMIC_DNS resolution, persona-based installations with resourceScope options, and improved telemetry with dual B3/W3C header propagation.

Anime.js is a versatile JavaScript animation library offering several features, including rotating objects, creating motion paths, and animating SVG paths. Users can create timelines, apply staggered animations, and make elements draggable with customizable easing options. The library also supports advanced configurations like spring physics and media query-based animations.

BaseX is a lightweight XML database that stores, queries, and manipulates XML data using XQuery and XPath. It offers multiple interfaces including a GUI, command-line tool, and HTTP REST API. The tutorial covers installation requirements (Java 17+), basic database operations (creating, opening, dropping databases), resource management (adding, deleting XML files), querying with XQuery, and HTTP server setup with authentication. The REST API enables programmatic access to databases and resources, supporting CRUD operations through standard HTTP methods.

Sync engines are poised to revolutionize the way we handle data in web development by collapsing the database and server into a single entity. This approach simplifies the tech stack, ensuring data is consistently synchronized and reducing dependency on traditional database servers. This essay discusses the complexities of data synchronization, the limitations of existing tools like SQL, and the potential of sync engines to streamline backend and frontend operations.

instantdb.com

The TypeScript team provides a major update on TypeScript 7.0 (Project Corsa), their native code rewrite of the compiler and language service. The native preview is now stable and production-ready, featuring 10x faster builds through parallelism, complete editor support including auto-imports and refactoring, and high type-checking compatibility with existing versions. TypeScript 6.0 will be the final JavaScript-based release, serving as a bridge to 7.0 with deprecations like removing ES5 support and enabling strict mode by default. The native preview is available today via VS Code extension and npm package, though some features like full emit pipeline and watch mode need refinement.

Unosend is an email API service designed for developers to send transactional and marketing emails. It offers 99.9% deliverability, a REST API interface, competitive pricing with 5,000 free emails per month, and positions itself as an alternative to established services like Resend and SendGrid.

A detailed comparison of migrating from Logseq to Obsidian after 3 years, covering the migration process using the LogSeqToObsidian script, performance improvements (especially on mobile), and feature tradeoffs. Key advantages include better editing experience, snappier performance, and richer plugin ecosystem. Notable losses include namespace organization, journal timeline views, and inline metadata. Both tools use local markdown files, making migration straightforward, with sync plans starting at $5/month.

Sentry open-sourced Reaper, an SDK for detecting dead code in iOS and Android apps through runtime analysis. Unlike static analysis tools, Reaper monitors actual user sessions to identify code that's never executed in production. The iOS version leverages Objective-C and Swift runtime metadata to track type initialization with zero runtime overhead. The Android version instruments bytecode at build time, injecting tracking calls into class initializers. Both implementations allow teams to aggregate usage data across app versions and safely identify unused code for deletion, helping manage codebase complexity and technical debt.

UX 3.0 represents a paradigm shift from interface-centered design to intelligent ecosystem orchestration, where designers create experiences spanning interconnected devices and AI-powered systems. This evolution introduces four core pillars: ecosystem-based experiences across product lifecycles and platforms, human-AI symbiosis enabling predictive and contextual interactions, ethical considerations around transparency and fairness in AI systems, and co-creation methodologies that democratize the design process. Companies like Google, Netflix, and Spotify exemplify this approach by building adaptive systems that anticipate user needs, personalize experiences through machine learning, and maintain consistency across complex technological ecosystems while addressing challenges of algorithmic bias, privacy, and digital well-being.

SQL remains the fundamental language for data work, evolving from its 1970s origins to dominate modern data landscapes. Despite challenges from NoSQL and big data technologies, SQL has absorbed their capabilities—streaming, transformations, geospatial, and machine learning. The language continues expanding with modern features like window functions and analytics semantics, while Python serves as the complementary tooling language for data engineering workflows. SQL's declarative nature and widespread adoption across cloud services like BigQuery and Snowflake cement its position as the gravitational center of data processing.

Spring Boot 4 and the Spring portfolio now provide null-safe APIs using JSpecify annotations to help prevent NullPointerExceptions. The Spring team has annotated most major projects including Spring Framework 7, Spring Data 4, and Spring Security 7 with explicit nullability information. Developers can leverage this through IDE support (IntelliJ IDEA 2025.3+) for warnings, or use build-time checkers like NullAway for stricter enforcement. Kotlin 2 automatically translates these annotations to native Kotlin nullability. This allows teams to choose their level of null-safety adoption, from simple IDE warnings to fully null-safe applications, without breaking existing APIs.

Paul Hudson built Hacktivate, a capture-the-flag game teaching cybersecurity fundamentals to teens through 240 challenges covering SQL injection, cryptography, networking, and steganography. The app runs entirely locally on Apple devices using Swift and SwiftUI, featuring a sandboxed environment with simulated servers, terminals, and networks. Inspired by classic games like Syndicate and Command & Conquer, it combines retro aesthetics with practical skills like packet sniffing, hash cracking, and digital forensics. The 45,000+ lines of code include a Linux terminal emulator, web server, and various security tools, all designed to provide structured, privacy-preserving learning without external dependencies.

Vibe coding with AI agents is effective for shipping side projects quickly, but removes the satisfaction and learning that comes from hands-on development. While tools like GitHub Copilot and Spec Kit can automate implementation from specifications, watching agents write code is tedious and lacks the joy of problem-solving. The author reserves AI-assisted coding for projects where only the final output matters, preferring to manually build applications where the tech stack or implementation details are interesting.