Techreport blog

Engineering Insights & Guides

The best problem-solving writing in software engineering — databases, performance, security, frontend and distributed systems, in one feed.

11,670 articles
AI & ML — An example of LLM prompting for programming

An example of LLM prompting for programming

My account of an internal chat with Xu Hao, where he shows how he drives ChatGPT to produce useful self-tested code. His initial prompt primes the LLM with an implementation strategy (chain of thought prompting). His prompt also asks for an implementation plan rather than code (general knowledge prompting). Once he has the plan he uses it to refine the implementation and generate useful sections o

MFMartin Fowler·April 13, 2023AI & ML
Frontend — Deploying key transparency at WhatsApp

Deploying key transparency at WhatsApp

WhatsApp has launched a new cryptographic security feature to automatically verify a secured connection based on key transparency. The feature requires no additional actions or steps from users and helps ensure that a conversation is secure. Key transparency solutions help strengthen the guarantee that end-to-end encryption provides to private, personal messaging applications in a transparent

CWChris Wiltz·April 13, 2023Frontend
Frontend — How Device Verification protects your WhatsApp account

How Device Verification protects your WhatsApp account

WhatsApp has launched a new security feature that further helps prevent attackers from using vectors like on-device malware. This security feature, called Device Verification, requires no action or additional steps from users and helps protect your account. This feature is part of our broader work to increase security for our users from the growing threat […]

CWChris Wiltz·April 13, 2023Frontend
Engineering — Internet disruptions overview for Q1 2023

Internet disruptions overview for Q1 2023

In this post, we review selected Internet disruptions observed by Cloudflare during the first quarter of 2023, supported by traffic graphs from Cloudflare Radar and other internal Cloudflare tools, and grouped by associated cause or common geography

DBDavid BelsonDavid Belson·April 12, 2023Engineering
Security — DDoS threat report for 2023 Q1

DDoS threat report for 2023 Q1

Threat actors kicked off 2023 with a bang. The start of the year was characterized by a series of hacktivist campaigns against Western targets, and record-breaking hyper volumetric attacks

OJOmer, JorgeOmer, Jorge·April 11, 2023Security
Frontend — Why xHE-AAC is being embraced at Meta

Why xHE-AAC is being embraced at Meta

We’re sharing how Meta delivers high-quality audio at scale with the xHE-AAC audio codec. xHE-AAC has already been deployed on Facebook and Instagram to provide enhanced audio for features like Reels and Stories. At Meta, we serve every media use case imaginable for billions of people across the world — from short-form, user-generated content, such […]

CWChris Wiltz·April 11, 2023Frontend
Engineering — Real-time Messaging

Real-time Messaging

Did you know that ground stations transmit signals to satellites 22,236 miles above the equator in geostationary orbits, and that those signals are then beamed down to the entire North American subcontinent? Satellite radios today serve hundreds of channels across 9,540,000 square miles. Unless you’re working at a secret military facility, deep underground, you can…

STSameera Thangudu·April 11, 2023Engineering
Engineering — Game Bytes

Game Bytes

Game Bytes is our monthly series taking a peek at the world of gamedev on GitHub—featuring game engine updates, game jam details, open source games, mods, maps, and more. Game on!

LRLee ReillyLee Reilly·April 7, 2023Engineering