Externum compiler launches: one typed Python source targets CPython, Bash, and bytecode

·8 views

Externum, a statically typed programming language, launched today on Show HN and DevHunt, allowing a single source file to compile into readable CPython, a standalone Bash script, or a bytecode artifact. The self-hosted compiler is bootstrapped from a 6.4 KB Python stub and is available via pip under an MIT license. Benchmarks show the transpiled Python path runs about 1.6 times slower than hand-written CPython, while the bytecode VM is roughly 30 times slower and is intended for source-less distribution rather than performance. The project includes around 380 tests with a differential CI harness that runs all backends against the same suite, which uncovered three VM bugs that unit tests had missed. A paid Pro Pack with exercises and a production guide is available at a launch-week discount, though the core compiler remains free.

Read the full story at DEV Community

This is an AI-generated summary. ShortSingh links to the original source for the complete article.

Discussion (0)

How DBAs Safely Identify and Remove Unused SQL Server Indexes

Unused database indexes accumulate over time as application features change, queries are replaced, or workloads evolve, leaving tables burdened with indexes that no longer serve their original purpose. While SQL Server's sys.dm_db_index_usage_stats can flag indexes with no recorded reads, experts caution that usage counters reset on server restart and some indexes only support periodic workloads like month-end reporting or annual audits. Even an unread index continues to impose a performance cost, as SQL Server must update every relevant index on each insert, update, or delete operation, increasing write overhead and maintenance workload. A 2023 DBA Stack Exchange discussion highlighted cases where tables had accumulated over 70 indexes, illustrating how incremental fixes can linger long after the original problem is resolved. The recommended approach is to gather evidence across multiple business cycles, remove indexes one at a time, monitor workload impact, and maintain rollback scripts before making any permanent changes.

0 comments Read more at DEV Community

ProgrammingDEV Community ·

Developer uses Claude AI to rebuild portfolio, stresses human judgment remains essential

A developer rebuilt their personal portfolio using Claude Code, an AI coding assistant, while retaining full control over all key design and technical decisions. The project used a modern stack including TypeScript, React 19, Next.js 16, Tailwind CSS 4, and Framer Motion, deployed on Vercel. Rather than jumping straight to new features, the developer prioritized an audit of SEO, accessibility, and performance before making any changes. Accessibility improvements included pause controls for carousels and properly sized touch targets, while SEO work covered canonical metadata, a sitemap, and Google Search Console verification. The finished site scored near-perfect Lighthouse ratings, and the developer emphasized that AI tools require human direction, measurement, and critical review to be genuinely effective.

0 comments Read more at DEV Community

ProgrammingDEV Community ·

How Docker Compose Can Create Reproducible AI Agent Evaluation Environments

Inconsistent AI agent evaluation results between local and CI environments are often caused by differences in tool responses, database state, clock settings, and dependency versions rather than the model itself. A Docker Compose-based evaluation lab can eliminate much of this accidental variability by providing a versioned, controlled environment for replaying synthetic test cases. The setup uses Compose profiles to separate core services from optional components like fault injectors, telemetry collectors, and local model runners, keeping baseline runs lightweight. Container images are pinned by digest, dependencies locked, and a JSON manifest records all attempted conditions — including seed, clock, prompt, and policy revisions — for each evaluation run. Structured evidence artifacts are written to a mounted directory after each run, making behavioral regressions easier to identify and distinguish from infrastructure-level changes.

0 comments Read more at DEV Community

ProgrammingDEV Community ·

VMware Quietly Retreats from SmartNIC-Based Distributed Firewall Sales

Broadcom VP Umesh Mahajan confirmed at VMware Explore this month that VMware has stepped back from SmartNIC-based network offload, the technology underpinning its Distributed Services Engine's distributed firewall. VMware has stopped actively selling the SmartNIC-resident distributed firewall, which was designed to enforce micro-segmentation at line rate without consuming host CPU resources. While the Distributed Services Engine itself remains part of VMware Cloud Foundation and continues to be supported, the core commercial proposition has been withdrawn. Broadcom's lifecycle documentation further confirms that Network Introspection for Security, a related SmartNIC security capability, will be discontinued after the final NSX 4.2.x release or by October 11, 2027. The retreat reflects a market reality where the hardware dependency, added firmware lifecycle, and new failure domains the technology introduced failed to justify its value broadly enough to sustain sales.

0 comments Read more at DEV Community