Stories with Tag Typing

• Japanese Toshiba Typewriter Model BW-2112 (2020) [video]

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  Posted: 2025-02-28 20:51:34

  Verbose tl;dr

  This YouTube video showcases a Toshiba BW-2112, a Japanese typewriter from the 1980s. The video demonstrates the typewriter's various functions, including typing in Japanese using katakana and hiragana, as well as English letters and numbers. The presenter highlights the machine's unique features like the half-space key, margin settings, and correction capabilities. They also demonstrate changing the ribbon and the overall operation of the typewriter, emphasizing its compact and portable design.

  This YouTube video, titled "Japanese Toshiba Typewriter Model BW-2112 (2020)," presents a comprehensive and loving exploration of a vintage Toshiba BW-2112 electric typewriter, likely manufactured in the late 1970s or early 1980s. The video showcases the typewriter's unique features and functionality in meticulous detail, demonstrating the elegant design and engineering characteristic of Japanese industrial output during that period. The presenter begins by exhibiting the typewriter's external appearance, highlighting its compact and robust build, the distinctive two-tone grey color scheme, and the clearly labeled controls.

  The demonstration proceeds with an in-depth examination of the typewriter's various mechanical components and their operation. This includes a close-up view of the typebars and their striking action, the carriage return and line feed mechanism, the ribbon cartridge system, and the paper feed rollers. The presenter carefully elucidates the function of each element, explaining how they contribute to the overall typing experience. Particular attention is given to the typewriter's correction capabilities, showcasing both the lift-off correction tape and the traditional backspace/overstrike method.

  The video then transitions to a practical demonstration of the typewriter in action. The presenter types a sample document, allowing viewers to appreciate the tactile feedback, the distinctive sound of the keys, and the overall smoothness of the typing process. The clarity and precision of the printed output are also emphasized, demonstrating the typewriter's ability to produce crisp and professional-looking documents.

  Throughout the video, the presenter's reverence for the machine is evident. The careful handling, detailed explanations, and focus on the typewriter's aesthetic and functional qualities suggest a deep appreciation for its historical significance and enduring appeal. The video serves not only as a technical overview of the Toshiba BW-2112 but also as a tribute to the craftsmanship and ingenuity embodied in these vintage machines. The absence of spoken commentary allows the viewer to focus entirely on the visual and auditory experience of the typewriter, further enhancing the sense of intimacy and connection with the machine. The video concludes with a final, lingering shot of the typewriter, allowing viewers to fully appreciate its design and contemplate its place in the history of technology.

  • Toshiba
  • Typewriter
  • BW-2112
  • Japanese Typewriter
  • Vintage Typewriter
  • Mechanical Typewriter
  • Typing
  • ASMR
  • Office Equipment
  • 2020
  • video
  • Review
  • demonstration
  • Technology
  • retro
  • Collectible
  • Japan

  Summary of Comments ( 8 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43210537

  Verbose tl;dr

  HN users generally enjoyed the video showcasing the Toshiba BW-2112 typewriter, praising its design, sound, and the creator's obvious enthusiasm. Several commenters reminisced about using typewriters, highlighting the satisfying tactile experience and the focus they demanded. Some discussed the typewriter's specific features, like the unique key spacing and the half-space key. A few users expressed interest in finding a similar model, and others shared links to resources for typewriter enthusiasts. One compelling comment thread debated the practicality of using vintage typewriters today, considering factors like maintenance, ribbon availability, and the lack of editing capabilities.

  The Hacker News post linking to a YouTube video showcasing a Toshiba BW-2112 typewriter has a modest number of comments, offering a mix of appreciation for the machine, personal anecdotes, and technical observations.

  Several commenters express admiration for the typewriter's design and functionality. One user praises the "satisfying chunk" of the machine, highlighting the tactile pleasure derived from its mechanical operation. Another describes it as "a beast," acknowledging its robust construction and powerful action. The general sentiment reflects a nostalgia for older, well-built technology.

  Some comments focus on specific features of the BW-2112. One user notes the impressive print quality, particularly the sharpness of the characters. Another mentions the typewriter's unique "snap-in" ribbon cartridges, contrasting them with the more common spooled ribbons and highlighting their convenience. The discussion also touches upon the relative rarity of the machine, adding to its appeal among collectors and enthusiasts.

  Personal anecdotes add a human dimension to the discussion. One commenter fondly recalls using a similar model during their time in Japan, evoking a sense of nostalgia for both the machine and the associated period. Another shares a memory of encountering Toshiba typewriters in East Germany, suggesting the brand's global reach during that era.

  A few comments offer technical insights. One user speculates on the potential for converting the typewriter into a computer keyboard, suggesting a way to repurpose the machine for modern use. Another highlights the engineering challenge of designing a reliable type slug mechanism, demonstrating an appreciation for the complexity of the technology.

  Overall, the comments on Hacker News reflect a positive reception towards the Toshiba BW-2112 typewriter. They combine aesthetic appreciation, technical curiosity, and personal experiences to create a rich discussion around this vintage piece of technology. While not an extensive discussion, it provides a glimpse into the enduring fascination with mechanical typewriters.

• Astral – "We're building a new static type checker for Python"

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  Posted: 2025-01-29 17:56:51

  Verbose tl;dr

  Astral is a new static type checker being developed for Python that aims to be faster and more ergonomic than existing options like MyPy. It leverages a new type inference algorithm designed for performance and boasts features like auto-completion, goto-definition, and an improved developer experience. The project is still early in development but claims significant speed improvements, with a goal of being at least 5x faster than MyPy on real-world codebases. Astral also intends to offer seamless integration with existing Python tooling and provide enhanced support for popular libraries like NumPy and Pandas.

  Charlie Marsh, developer of the Ruff linter for Python, has announced on Twitter the development of a new static type checker for Python called "Astral." This project aims to not just be another type checker in the already existing ecosystem, which includes MyPy, Pyright, and others, but to significantly advance the state of the art in Python type checking. Marsh highlights several key areas where Astral aims to differentiate itself and push boundaries:

  • Performance: Astral is being built with a strong emphasis on speed and efficiency, aiming to outperform existing type checkers, making the type checking process less disruptive to the development workflow. This focus on performance is a core design principle of the project.

  • Type Inference: Astral is designed to have advanced type inference capabilities. This means it will be able to automatically deduce the types of variables and expressions in more complex and nuanced situations, requiring fewer explicit type annotations from the developer while still providing the benefits of static typing.

  • Improved Error Messages: User experience is a key consideration. Astral aims to provide more helpful and informative error messages than existing tools. This will aid developers in understanding and resolving type errors more quickly and efficiently.

  • New Type System Features: Astral is not just focused on performance and usability improvements within the existing Python type system. It also aims to explore and implement new features within the type system itself. This suggests the possibility of introducing novel type checking concepts or extending the expressiveness of type annotations in Python.

  Marsh positions Astral not as a mere incremental improvement, but as a potential paradigm shift in how type checking is performed in Python. The tweet emphasizes the project's ambitious goals and suggests it is a significant undertaking aimed at substantially improving the developer experience and capabilities of static typing in the Python language. He invites interested developers to follow him for updates on the project's progress.

  • Python
  • Static Typing
  • Type Checker
  • Astral
  • Programming Languages
  • Software Development
  • compiler design
  • Typing
  • Type Hints
  • static analysis

  Summary of Comments ( 53 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42868576

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users discuss Astral's potential, drawing parallels to MyPy but with a focus on performance. Some express skepticism about static typing in Python, questioning its necessity and impact on the language's flexibility. Others are interested in Astral's approach to gradual typing and its ability to handle complex codebases. Performance improvements over MyPy are frequently mentioned as a key benefit. Several commenters inquire about specific features, such as handling metaclasses and integration with existing tools. Overall, there's a mix of cautious optimism and interest in seeing how Astral develops.

  The Hacker News post titled "Astral – 'We're building a new static type checker for Python'" generated a moderate discussion with a mix of skepticism, cautious optimism, and technical inquiries. Several commenters expressed concern over the perceived complexity and slow adoption of type hinting in Python, citing their own experiences or anecdotal evidence. One user recounted their frustration with the type checker mypy getting bogged down on large code bases, highlighting performance as a potential barrier. Another user questioned the value proposition of yet another type checker, given the existing options.

  Some commenters expressed interest in Astral's specific features, particularly its incremental checking capabilities and the potential for improved performance compared to existing tools. They hoped that these features might address some of the existing pain points associated with static typing in Python. There was also a brief discussion on the merits of different approaches to type checking, including the potential benefits of a ground-up rewrite like Astral compared to iterative improvements on existing tools.

  Several users asked clarifying questions about Astral's implementation details, like its relationship with the Python runtime and whether it introduces any runtime dependencies. The author of the post engaged with these inquiries, providing further context and addressing specific concerns. They clarified that Astral aims to be a drop-in replacement for mypy and discussed the trade-offs involved in supporting different Python versions.

  Overall, the sentiment was cautiously optimistic, with many commenters expressing interest in seeing how Astral evolves but remaining somewhat skeptical until real-world performance and usability can be demonstrated. The discussion did not delve into highly technical details but rather focused on the high-level goals, potential benefits, and common concerns surrounding static typing in Python.