Issue 285: One query to rule them all

This week, we're thinking about the unsimple things in life. For instance, what are we supposed to do with a "dream machine" when its dreaming turns into hallucinations? How are 256 electrodes placed on the brain able to create perfect speech? Can you replace several cables with a single fiber line and still have internet? Are Ghibli breads real, and if so, where can I get one? You know, just everyday ponderings. XX

Over on the pod, Stack Overflow legend Jon Skeet joined us to impart some of the tech wisdom that garnered him a million rep points, including the complexities of timezones (very Y2K problem). Plus, Matt DeBergalis from Apollo GraphQL jumped on to to talk the evolution of API orchestration and what it means for modern development stacks. And if you too are pondering about those peskily unreliable "dream machines," you'll be excited to know there are ways to base those dreams in reality. XX

And in a world of unsimple things, we'll leave you with a few overly simplified answers: Is using your brain REALLY better for coding than an LLM? (Yes.) What kind of exception should you be throwing in C++? (Trick question, you shouldn't all the time.) Will T.S. Eliot get me fired from Apple? (Almost.) If you want to know more, the full answers are down below. XX

From the blog

Why call one API when you can use GraphQL to call them all?

Ryan welcomes Matt DeBergalis, CTO at Apollo GraphQL, to discuss the evolution and future of API orchestration, the benefits of GraphQL in managing API complexity, its seamless integration with AI and modern development stacks, and how it enhances developer experience through better tooling and infrastructure.

Programming problems that seem easy, but aren't, featuring Jon Skeet

Jon Skeet, the first Stack Overflow user with a million reputation, sits down with Ryan to share his wealth of knowledge on all things development: the deceptively simple but actually complicated problem of timezones, the importance of clear documentation for programmers, handling breaking changes and upgrading legacy systems, and the need for improved communication skills among developers.

Reliability for unreliable LLMs

Large language models are non-deterministic by design. Here's how you can inject a little bit of determinism into GenAI workflows.

Interesting questions

What's a good way to use exceptions in a C++ project?

Only catch an exception if you can use it.

My proposals for introducing a new technology keep getting turned down

"Naval architecture is by nature very conservative. It has to be. Too many lives have been lost due to mistakes in naval architecture."

Does this bread exist in real life?

A good reminder that, while bread is nearly universal, its form isn't.

Can you replace several ethernet cables with a single fiber line?

Trick question: you're not using Ethernet.