Google Open Source Blog·2yGoogle Blocks is now Open Source
Google Blocks, a tool for creating 3D objects and scenes via VR headsets, is now open source. This allows developers to use, distribute, and modify the code under the Apache 2.0 License. The existing version remains available for supported VR headsets, but the product is no longer actively developed. Enthusiasts are encouraged to innovate and develop new experiences with it.
Community Picks·2yIf Google No Longer supports Golang
Recent layoffs at Google have sparked concerns about the future of the Go programming language. With Google laying off key developers from other projects, there's speculation about Go's fate. Potential scenarios include the dissolution of the Go core team, rebranding by Google, or a transition to an external foundation like CNCF. Despite these concerns, Go’s current attachment to Google Cloud and its focus on customer success suggest that immediate shutdown is unlikely. The language might transition to a nonprofit organization, drawing parallels to Rust's journey from Mozilla.
ThePrimeTime·2yNew Privacy Keyboard By Rossmann
Rossmann discusses the unsettling discovery of Google logging and transcribing all voice data from his phone since 2009. He suggests using a new privacy-focused keyboard, developed by Futo, which employs local AI to avoid internet data transfer while maintaining high accuracy in voice-to-text conversion. The keyboard aims to reduce privacy invasions from big tech companies, offering an alternative to Google's services.
Frontend Masters·2yWeb Performance Guide – Frontend Masters Boost
Improving web performance aligns well with enhancing accessibility and boosting conversion rates. SpeedCurve and Google have published comprehensive guides, while a dedicated Web Performance Fundamentals course offers a thorough walkthrough of key aspects.
InfoWorld·2y8 reasons developers love Go—and 8 reasons they don't
Go, also known as Golang, was created by Google to address challenges like race cases and concurrency in managing massive codebases for web infrastructure. The language, which climbed into the top 10 of the Tiobe index, balances simplicity and power, offering easy learning and robust error handling. While praised for its minimalistic syntax and extensive standard library, Go also faces criticism for its large executable size and strict coding rules. Despite these drawbacks, its strong association with Google remains both a strength and a potential concern for developers.
Community Picks·2yservices/thunk.js
Google Chrome includes a default extension that provides extra services to code running on *.google.com domains. This extension has been available since October 2013. It enables features like Google Meet's CPU utilization review. The post explains how to trigger the extension using Chrome DevTools and discusses the potential security and fairness implications.