HPKV is a new key-value store boasting faster performance than Redis, achieved through a novel lock-free B+ tree implementation. It's bi-directional, allowing efficient retrieval by both key and value, and offers persistence to disk. Designed for embedded and server-side use cases, HPKV supports multiple languages (C, C++, Python, Java, Go, and JavaScript) and provides various features like range scans, prefix scans, and TTL. It's available under the Apache 2.0 license, promoting open-source contribution and adoption.
This blog post details how to use Nix to manage persistent software installations on a Steam Deck, separate from the read-only SteamOS filesystem. The author leverages a separate ext4 partition formatted and mounted at /opt, where Nix stores its packages. This setup allows users to install and manage software without affecting the integrity of the core system, offering a robust and reproducible environment. The guide covers partitioning, mounting, installing Nix, configuring the system to recognize the Nix store, and provides practical examples for installing and running applications like Discord and installing desktop environments like KDE Plasma. This approach offers a significant advantage for users seeking a more flexible and powerful software management solution on their Steam Deck.
Several commenters on Hacker News expressed skepticism about the practicality of using Nix on the Steam Deck, citing complexity, limited storage space, and potential performance impacts. Some suggested alternative solutions like using Flatpak or simply managing game installations through Steam directly. Others questioned the need for persistent packages at all for gaming. However, a few commenters found the approach interesting and appreciated the author's exploration of Nix on a non-traditional platform, showcasing its flexibility. Some acknowledged the potential benefits of reproducible environments, especially for development or modding. The discussion also touched on the steep learning curve of Nix and the need for better documentation and tooling to make it more accessible.
Even if no one reads your blog, it's still valuable. Writing clarifies your thinking, solidifies your understanding of a topic, and acts as a personal record of your intellectual journey. It can serve as a sandbox for experimenting with ideas, a portfolio to showcase skills, and a springboard for future projects. Essentially, blogging is an act of learning and self-improvement, with the potential bonus of connecting with an audience down the line.
HN commenters largely agree with the author's premise that blogging, even without a large audience, has value. Several highlight the benefits of writing as a way to clarify thinking, consolidate knowledge, and improve writing skills. Some suggest that a blog can serve as a personal knowledge base, searchable archive, or a way to track personal growth. A few practical suggestions include focusing on niche topics and promoting the blog through relevant communities. The idea of writing primarily for oneself, with the potential for an audience as a secondary benefit, is a recurring theme. Some commenters share their own experiences of low-traffic blogs providing unexpected value, like attracting job offers or connecting with like-minded individuals. The overall sentiment is that the intrinsic rewards of blogging often outweigh the pressure of building a large readership.
Ron Garrett reflects on six failed startup attempts, rejecting the label of "failure" and instead focusing on the valuable lessons learned. He emphasizes the importance of choosing the right co-founder, validating ideas early and often, building a minimum viable product (MVP) quickly, and iterating based on user feedback. Marketing and distribution proved crucial, and while passion is essential, it must be coupled with a realistic market and sustainable business model. Ultimately, he learned that "failing fast" and adapting are key to entrepreneurial growth, viewing each setback as a stepping stone toward future success.
HN commenters largely praised the author's vulnerability and honesty in sharing their startup failures. Several highlighted the importance of recognizing sunk cost fallacy and knowing when to pivot or quit. Some questioned the framing of the experiences as "failures," arguing that valuable lessons and growth emerged from them. A few commenters shared their own similar experiences, emphasizing the emotional toll of startup struggles. Others offered practical advice, such as validating ideas early and prioritizing distribution. The prevailing sentiment was one of empathy and encouragement, acknowledging the difficulty of entrepreneurship and the courage it takes to try repeatedly.
Summary of Comments ( 9 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43387834
Hacker News users discussed the performance claims of hpkv, questioning the benchmark methodology and the choice of Redis as a comparison point. Several commenters pointed out that using
redis-benchmarkwith a pipeline size of 1 is unfair to Redis, significantly hindering its performance. Others suggested alternative benchmarking tools and emphasized the importance of real-world workload simulations. The lack of detail about hpkv's persistence mechanism and data safety guarantees also drew scrutiny. Some expressed interest in the project but desired more information about its architecture and use cases. A few users pointed out potential bugs in the benchmarking script itself, further questioning the validity of the presented results.The Hacker News post "Show HN: A bi-directional, persisted KV store that is faster than Redis" linking to hpkv.io generated a moderate number of comments, primarily focusing on technical aspects and comparisons to existing solutions.
Several commenters expressed skepticism regarding the performance claims, particularly the assertion of being "faster than Redis." They pointed out the need for more rigorous benchmarking and detailed methodology to substantiate such a claim. Specific concerns included the lack of clarity on the types of benchmarks run, the hardware used, and the specific Redis configuration being compared against. Some users requested benchmark results using established tools like
redis-benchmarkto provide a more standardized comparison.Discussion also arose around the choice of language (Rust) and its impact on performance. While some lauded Rust's speed and memory safety, others questioned whether these advantages alone could justify the performance claims, suggesting that algorithmic optimizations and data structures likely played a more significant role.
The project's novelty and potential use cases were also points of discussion. Some commenters saw value in the bi-directional nature of the key-value store, exploring potential applications in areas like graph databases and indexing. Others questioned the practical benefits of bi-directionality, suggesting that existing solutions with appropriate indexing could achieve similar functionality.
The persistence aspect of hpkv also drew some attention, with queries about the specific mechanisms employed for data persistence and the potential performance implications of these choices. Commenters also inquired about data durability guarantees and crash recovery capabilities.
A few commenters shared their own experiences with similar projects and offered alternative approaches to achieving high-performance key-value storage. They mentioned existing databases and libraries known for their speed and efficiency, suggesting that the author explore these for potential inspiration or comparison.
Overall, the comments reflect a cautious but curious reception to the project. While acknowledging the potential of hpkv, many commenters highlighted the need for more robust evidence to support the performance claims and a more in-depth explanation of the technical details. The discussion ultimately centered around the importance of thorough benchmarking, clear documentation, and careful consideration of existing solutions when introducing a new database technology.