Tech Radar

Comic Chat is probably the weirdest piece of Microsoft history to hit GitHub recently. Back in 1996, while the rest of us were staring at endless walls of scrolling monochrome text, this thing was turning conversations into actual comic strips. It gave us speech bubbles and gestures, and yes, it's the reason Comic Sans became a thing. The original code is a mess of 28-year-old C++ and MFC. If you tried to compile it on a modern machine yesterday, it wouldn't work. But that's the interesting part. The release includes AI-driven updates specifically designed to bridge the gap between the mid-90s and today's version of Windows. I'm not sure if we actually need more Comic Sans in our lives, but seeing how LLMs can be used to resurrect ancient, brittle software is genuinely cool. It makes me wonder how many other dead-end research projects are sitting in basements, just waiting for a prompt to make them runnable again. The 1996 Vision of Conversational UI Com...

Hey there! So, imagine this — you're using a piece of software that seems absolutely fantastic, right? It’s free, it does everything you need, and everyone raves about how great it is. But have you ever stopped to think about what those "free" labels really mean? I mean, let's face it — there's no such thing as a completely free lunch (or software). While the initial installation might be gratis, the real cost can sneak up on you in ways that are pretty sneaky. Think of it like this: when you use open-source software, you're not just buying simplicity and low upfront costs; you're also potentially paying with data collection, potential legal issues, and other hidden burdens that aren’t immediately obvious. Now, here’s the thing — these hidden costs can really stack up. They might not be as headline-grabbing as some shiny new feature, but they sure are something to keep an eye on if you're running a business or relying heavily on software for y...

Here is everything you need to know about RustDesk: an open-source remote desktop app designed for self-hosting, as an alternative to TeamViewer. It lets you control your computer from anywhere, with your own server. No third-party cloud needed. You keep your data under your own roof. The app is built with Rust, which means it's fast and secure. You can run it in Docker for easy setup. The project supports multiple languages—Ukrainian, Czech, Chinese, Hungarian, Spanish, Persian, French, German, Polish, Indonesian, Finnish, Malayalam, Japanese, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Esperanto, Korean, and Arabic. The developers clearly state they don't support misuse. Unauthorized access or privacy invasion is against their rules. They want the tool used responsibly. And they make that clear upfront. So, if you're looking for a self-hosted remote desktop solution that's transparent and community-driven, RustDesk is worth checking out. It's not per...

Stop just learning syntax and start understanding systems by rebuilding your favorite technologies from scratch. Many developers focus on memorizing keywords and frameworks without grasping the underlying mechanics that make them work. This approach often leaves gaps in knowledge that become apparent when debugging complex issues or optimizing performance. By shifting focus from surface-level usage to foundational implementation, you gain a deeper appreciation for how software architectures truly function. This repository is a compilation of well-written, step-by-step guides for re-creating our favorite technologies from scratch. Each project breaks down intricate concepts into manageable tasks, allowing you to build knowledge incrementally without feeling overwhelmed. Whether you are aiming to understand memory management, rendering pipelines, or event loops, these guides provide the practical context necessary to bridge the gap between theory and application. C# / TypeScript / Ja...