Stories with Tag build

• ninjavis – generate visualization from ninja build logs

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  Posted: 2025-02-28 18:00:52

  Verbose tl;dr

  Ninjavis is a tool that visualizes Ninja build logs, providing insights into build processes. It parses the log file to create an interactive HTML visualization displaying the dependencies between build targets and their execution times. This allows developers to quickly identify bottlenecks, parallelisms, and dependencies within their builds, facilitating optimization and debugging. The visualization includes features like zooming, panning, and searching, making it easier to navigate complex build graphs and understand the flow of the build process.

  ninjavis is a command-line tool designed to parse Ninja build logs and generate insightful visualizations of the build process. These visualizations, rendered as HTML files containing interactive SVG diagrams, provide a detailed graphical representation of the build dependencies and timings. The tool aims to aid developers in understanding and optimizing their build processes by clearly illustrating how long each build step takes and how these steps relate to one another.

  The generated visualization displays nodes representing individual build targets, connected by edges that signify dependencies. The size of each node correlates with the time taken for that specific target to build, allowing for immediate visual identification of performance bottlenecks. The tool also employs color-coding to highlight critical paths within the build, further assisting in pinpointing areas for optimization. By hovering over a node, users can access detailed information about the corresponding build target, including its exact build time and the command executed.

  ninjavis boasts several useful features, including support for filtering the visualization to focus on specific targets or sub-projects. It also offers the capability to adjust the layout of the graph for optimal readability, and the ability to export the visualization in various formats, including SVG and PNG. The tool's command-line interface allows for flexible integration into existing build pipelines and supports specifying different log file formats. Furthermore, ninjavis itself is built using the Ninja build system, showcasing its capabilities. By providing a visual and interactive representation of the build process, ninjavis empowers developers to identify and address performance issues, ultimately leading to faster and more efficient builds.

  • ninja
  • build
  • Visualization
  • build logs
  • build analysis
  • Performance Analysis
  • Software Development
  • developer tools
  • Open Source
  • GitHub
  • ninjavis

  Summary of Comments ( 4 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43208507

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users generally praised ninjavis for its potential usefulness in debugging and optimizing build processes. Several commenters pointed out the difficulty of parsing Ninja logs and appreciated a tool that could provide a visual representation. Some suggested desired features like the ability to filter by target or to integrate with existing build visualization tools like Chrome's tracing. One commenter expressed concern about the project's reliance on Python's regular expressions for parsing, suggesting it might be brittle. Another mentioned potential for improvement by leveraging Ninja's -t query functionality for more robust data extraction. Overall, the comments reflect a positive reception to the tool, with an emphasis on its practical applications for developers.

  The Hacker News post for "ninjavis – generate visualization from ninja build logs" has a modest number of comments, sparking a brief but focused discussion around the tool's utility and potential alternatives.

  One commenter expresses appreciation for the tool, highlighting its value in understanding complex build processes, especially when dealing with large projects and unfamiliar codebases. They mention how visualizing the build dependencies can help identify bottlenecks and optimize the build process. This commenter doesn't mention any specific alternatives but focuses on the general benefit of build visualization.

  Another commenter suggests Chrome's "about:tracing" as a potential alternative for visualizing build processes. They don't elaborate on the specifics of how it compares to ninjavis, leaving it as a suggestion for those familiar with Chrome's tracing tools to explore.

  A third commenter mentions the utility of ninja -t graph for visualizing dependencies and suggests combining it with dot. They further explain how they use sed to filter the output for specific targets, making the visualization more manageable and focused. This commenter provides a practical example of an alternative approach for achieving similar visualization.

  Another individual mentions having previously used ninja -t graph with dot and having written custom tooling on top of this to generate visualizations. This underscores the recurring theme of developers creating custom solutions for build visualization before tools like ninjavis became available. They further suggest filtering the graph output to target specific areas of interest, reinforcing the advice of the previous commenter.

  Finally, a commenter mentions buildbuddy, a commercial service offering similar functionality for build analysis and visualization. This introduces a commercial alternative to the open-source ninjavis and other DIY solutions discussed in the thread.

  In summary, the comments section primarily explores alternative methods for visualizing build processes, ranging from existing Ninja features combined with command-line tools to a commercial service. The overall sentiment is positive towards build visualization as a helpful tool for understanding and optimizing complex projects. The commenters offer practical tips and suggestions for those interested in exploring various options based on their needs and preferences.

• Storytelling lessons I learned from Steve Jobs (2022)

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  Posted: 2025-02-09 11:53:31

  Verbose tl;dr

  Tony Fadell, in an excerpt from his book "Build," reveals storytelling lessons learned from Steve Jobs while working on the iPod and iPhone. Jobs emphasized creating a simple, almost reductive narrative focused on a singular core message, avoiding feature lists. He believed in crafting an emotional connection with the audience by focusing on the "why" – how the product improves lives – rather than just the "what" – its technical specifications. Jobs also meticulously rehearsed presentations and product demos, controlling every detail to ensure a compelling and persuasive narrative. Finally, he insisted on empowering others to tell the story too, ensuring consistent messaging across the organization.

  In a 2022 Fast Company article excerpt from Tony Fadell's book Build, entitled "Storytelling lessons I learned from Steve Jobs," the author meticulously details the profound impact Steve Jobs had on his understanding and execution of storytelling, particularly in the context of product presentations. Fadell, a prominent engineer and designer who collaborated closely with Jobs on the iPod and iPhone, elucidates how Jobs transformed product launches from mundane technical overviews into captivating narratives that resonated deeply with audiences.

  Jobs' philosophy, as described by Fadell, revolved around crafting a compelling narrative arc, akin to a three-act play, complete with a discernible protagonist, antagonist, and resolution. He meticulously ensured that every product presentation adhered to this structure. The "protagonist" was invariably the user, faced with an "antagonist" in the form of a frustrating problem or limitation in existing technology. The presented product, then, emerged as the hero, the resolution that elegantly vanquished the antagonist and empowered the user. This narrative framework, according to Fadell, was instrumental in establishing an emotional connection with the audience, transcending mere feature recitations and fostering a sense of shared understanding and aspiration.

  Beyond the overarching narrative structure, Jobs also emphasized the importance of meticulous preparation and rehearsal. He painstakingly reviewed every slide, every word, and every transition, demanding clarity, conciseness, and impact. He believed in "zooming in" on key details while simultaneously maintaining a clear "zoom out" perspective that kept the overarching narrative in focus. This meticulous attention to detail extended to the physical presentation itself, encompassing everything from the stage lighting and backdrop to the presenter's attire and body language.

  Furthermore, Jobs stressed the significance of simplicity and clarity in communication. He championed the elimination of jargon and technical complexities, instead opting for accessible language that resonated with a broad audience. This commitment to simplicity wasn't merely about dumbing down the message; it was about distilling the essence of the product and its benefits into a form that was easily digestible and readily understandable.

  Fadell also notes that Jobs possessed an innate understanding of the power of anticipation and surprise. He meticulously crafted his presentations to build suspense, culminating in a dramatic reveal that left the audience captivated. This element of surprise, carefully orchestrated and strategically deployed, served to amplify the emotional impact of the presentation and further solidify the product's position in the audience's minds.

  In conclusion, Fadell's account provides a rich and detailed exploration of Steve Jobs' mastery of storytelling, highlighting not just the structural elements of his presentations but also the underlying philosophy that drove his approach. Jobs, according to Fadell, understood that effective communication wasn't simply about conveying information; it was about forging a connection, inspiring a vision, and ultimately, telling a story that resonated on an emotional level.

  • storytelling
  • Steve Jobs
  • Presentation Skills
  • Communication
  • Public Speaking
  • leadership
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Apple
  • Marketing
  • Tony Fadell
  • build
  • Book Excerpt
  • 2022

  Summary of Comments ( 98 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42990103

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters largely discussed the value of storytelling, particularly in a business context. Some were skeptical of the excerpt's framing of Jobs as a "master storyteller," arguing that his success stemmed more from product vision and marketing savvy. Others pointed out the importance of substance over storytelling, suggesting that a compelling narrative can't mask a mediocre product. A few commenters shared personal anecdotes about effective storytelling in their own careers, while others debated the ethics of manipulating emotions through narrative. One highly upvoted comment highlighted the difference between manipulative and inspirational storytelling, emphasizing the importance of authenticity and genuine belief in the message.

  The Hacker News post titled "Storytelling lessons I learned from Steve Jobs (2022)" has generated a modest number of comments, sparking a discussion around the effectiveness of Steve Jobs' storytelling techniques and the broader context of leadership and presentation skills.

  Several commenters delve into the nuances of Jobs' approach, highlighting its focus on narrative and emotional connection. One commenter argues that while Jobs was undoubtedly a master storyteller, his success wasn't solely attributable to this skill. They emphasize the importance of Jobs' deep understanding of product and technology, suggesting that his stories were effective because they were grounded in genuine expertise and passion. This commenter posits that attempting to emulate Jobs' style without possessing a similar level of product knowledge can come across as inauthentic and manipulative.

  Another commenter expands on this idea, drawing a parallel to the concept of "thought leadership." They contend that true thought leaders, like Jobs, earn their credibility through demonstrated expertise and innovation, which then allows their stories to resonate more powerfully. They caution against simply mimicking superficial storytelling techniques, arguing that genuine leadership comes from substance, not style.

  Further discussion revolves around the practicality of applying these storytelling principles in different contexts. One commenter questions whether the narrative-driven approach is always appropriate, especially in technical fields where clarity and precision are paramount. They propose that while storytelling can be effective for high-level presentations, it might not be suitable for detailed technical discussions or internal communications.

  The concept of "simplicity" as presented in the original article also receives attention. A commenter challenges the notion that Jobs' presentations were always simple, pointing to instances where technical details were necessary and included. They argue that true simplicity lies in communicating effectively for the given audience, which sometimes requires incorporating complexity rather than avoiding it entirely.

  A different commenter offers a more cynical perspective, suggesting that Jobs' "reality distortion field" played a significant role in his storytelling success. They imply that Jobs' charisma and persuasive abilities allowed him to present narratives that weren't entirely grounded in reality, yet still captivated audiences.

  Finally, some comments offer alternative perspectives on effective communication, referencing resources and techniques beyond the scope of Jobs' approach. They highlight the importance of adapting communication styles to suit specific situations and audiences.

  In summary, the comments on the Hacker News post offer a varied and nuanced perspective on Steve Jobs' storytelling techniques. While acknowledging Jobs' mastery of narrative and emotional connection, the discussion also emphasizes the importance of substance, context, and authenticity in effective communication. The commenters caution against blindly emulating Jobs' style without understanding the underlying principles that made it successful.

• Wild – A Fast Linker for Linux

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  Posted: 2025-01-24 16:25:53

  Verbose tl;dr

  Wild is a new, fast linker for Linux designed for significantly faster linking than traditional linkers like ld. It leverages parallelization and a novel approach to symbol resolution, claiming to be up to 4x faster for large projects like Firefox and Chromium. Wild aims to be drop-in compatible with existing workflows, requiring no changes to source code or build systems. It also offers advanced features like incremental linking and link-time optimization, further enhancing development speed. While still under development, Wild shows promise as a powerful tool to accelerate the build process for complex C++ projects.

  David Lattimore has introduced "wild," a new linker designed specifically for Linux systems, aiming to significantly accelerate the linking process. Lattimore posits that linking is often a performance bottleneck in software development, especially noticeable in large projects or during iterative development cycles. Wild aims to address this by employing several optimization strategies.

  The core principle behind wild's speed is its extensive use of parallelization. The linker leverages multi-core processors to perform linking operations concurrently, dividing the workload across available cores to minimize overall linking time. This parallel approach is applied to various stages of the linking process, enhancing efficiency. Furthermore, wild utilizes memory mapping techniques to efficiently handle large files and reduce I/O overhead, further contributing to its speed.

  Beyond parallelization and memory mapping, wild incorporates additional optimizations. It employs a carefully designed internal data structure to facilitate fast lookups and operations, minimizing processing time. The linker also implements incremental linking, allowing it to reuse previously linked outputs, dramatically reducing redundant work when only minor changes are made to the codebase. This incremental approach is particularly beneficial in iterative development workflows, where small code modifications are frequently linked. Lattimore claims substantial performance improvements compared to traditional linkers, showcasing wild's potential to streamline the development process.

  While presented as a fast linker, wild is also designed with compatibility in mind. It aims to support a wide range of object file formats, ensuring its usability with existing projects and libraries. This broad compatibility makes it a potential drop-in replacement for slower linkers, simplifying adoption for developers.

  The project is open-source, hosted on GitHub, encouraging community involvement and contributions. While the current focus is on Linux, future development might explore expanding support to other operating systems. Lattimore's work represents a promising advance in linker technology, potentially offering substantial benefits for developers working on Linux by reducing build times and enhancing productivity.

  • Linux
  • linker
  • performance
  • elf
  • executable
  • linking
  • development
  • tools
  • Open Source
  • Software
  • wild
  • fast
  • build
  • build tools
  • Systems Programming

  Summary of Comments ( 35 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42814683

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN commenters generally praised Wild's speed and innovative approach to linking. Several expressed excitement about its potential to significantly improve build times, particularly for large C++ projects. Some questioned its compatibility and maturity, noting it's still early in development. A few users shared their experiences testing Wild, reporting positive results but also mentioning some limitations and areas for improvement, like debugging support and handling of complex linking scenarios. There was also discussion about the technical details behind Wild's performance gains, including its use of parallelization and caching. A few commenters drew comparisons to other linkers like mold and lld, discussing their relative strengths and weaknesses.

  The Hacker News post titled "Wild – A Fast Linker for Linux" (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42814683) has generated a fair amount of discussion, with a focus on the performance benefits and potential of the Wild linker.

  Several commenters express excitement about the speed improvements Wild offers compared to traditional linkers like ld. Some share anecdotal evidence or express anticipation of trying it out in their own projects to see the real-world impact on build times. The potential for significantly reducing link times, particularly in large projects, is a recurring theme and a key driver of interest.

  One commenter notes the importance of fast linking, particularly in iterative development cycles where frequent recompilation and linking can be a significant bottleneck. They highlight how improvements in this area can lead to more productive development.

  Another commenter points out the project's utilization of Mold's design. They mention this as a positive aspect, suggesting the project benefits from a proven architecture and can further build upon it.

  There's a discussion around specific technical details. One comment thread delves into the implementation details of parsing and handling debug information, which appears to be a contributing factor to Wild's speed. The decision to avoid using regular expressions for this task is highlighted as a potentially smart performance optimization.

  There are also comments acknowledging the challenges of linker development. One commenter mentions that writing a linker is complex, implying that creating a fast and robust one like Wild is a significant achievement.

  The overall sentiment is positive and optimistic. Many commenters see Wild as a promising development in the linking space, with the potential to significantly improve build times for Linux developers. There's a clear interest in its future development and adoption.