We’ve all been there: you hand an AI agent a massive, detailed document—something — only for the model to hallucinate, ignore half your instructions, or collapse under the weight of its own context.

Simply put, more context doesn’t always mean better results. To get the most out of tools like Claude Code or Gemini, you need a framework that respects the “attention budget” of the model.

Here is how to write smart, executable specs that keep your agents on track.

1. Start Small and Co-Create
Don’t overengineer on day one. Start with a high-level vision (your “Product Brief”) and ask the AI to draft the detailed technical specification (SPEC.md).
– The Workflow: Use “Plan Mode” (read-only) to iterate on the document first.
– The Benefit: This turns the spec into a shared “source of truth” that both you and the AI helped build, ensuring the model actually “understands” the mission before it writes a single line of code.

2. Structure Like a Professional PRD (Product Requirement Document)
AI agents are literal-minded. They thrive on structure. According to research into thousands of successful agent configurations, your spec should focus on these six core areas:
- Command: Exact executable strings (e.g., npm test, pytest -v).
- Testing: Frameworks, locations, and coverage expectations.
- Structure: Explicit file paths (e.g., src/ for code, tests/ for QA).
- Style: Provide one code snippet rather than three paragraphs of description.
- Workflow: Branch naming and commit message formats.
- Boundaries: Hard “No-Go” zones (e.g., “Never touch .env files”).

3. Modularize to Avoid the “Curse of Instructions”
Research shows that as you pile on rules, an LLM’s ability to follow any of them drops. Divide and conquer is the only way to scale.
– Break it down: Feed the agent only the relevant section of the spec for the task at hand (e.g., just the “Database Schema” section when building the API).
– Use an Index: For large projects, have the AI create a “Spec Summary” or Table of Contents. This acts as a bird’s-eye view that stays in the prompt while the heavy details stay in the file.

4. Implement Three-Tier Boundaries
Don’t just give the AI a list of “Don’ts.” Use a tiered approach to balance autonomy with safety:
– Always Do: Actions the agent takes without asking (e.g., “Always run linting before committing”).
– Ask First: High-impact changes (e.g., “Ask before adding a new library”).
– Never Do: Hard stops (e.g., “Never commit secrets or API keys”).

5. Treat the Spec as a Living Artifact
A spec isn’t “write once, run forever.” It’s an iterative loop. If the agent discovers a better data model or hits a technical wall, update the SPEC.md first, then resync the agent.
– Self-Verification: Instruct the agent to compare its output against the spec checklist before it considers a task “done.”
– The Human Filter: Remember the “House of Cards” rule—AI code can look perfect but collapse under edge cases. Never commit code you couldn’t explain to someone else.

The Bottom Line

Effective “Agent Experience” (AX) is about providing a clear “what” and “why” while setting firm guardrails on the “how.” By treating your spec as an executable artifact rather than just a notes file, you move from “vibe coding” to genuine AI-assisted engineering.

For more information read full article to get into the details:
How to Write a Good Spec for AI Agents
https://www.oreilly.com/radar/how-to-write-a-good-spec-for-ai-agents/

In 2026 the best programming language or technology stack to learn really depends on your personal aims, hobbies, and apps you are going to create.

The use of AI is increasing. AI as a “Pair Programmer” is becoming the default. Code completion, refactoring, and boilerplate generation are used often. Devs spend more time reviewing and steering code than typing it. “Explain this error” and “why is this slow?” prompts are useful.

In prompt-Driven Development programmers describe the intent in natural language and then let AI generate first drafts of functions, APIs, or configs. Iterate by refining prompts rather than rewriting code. Trend: Knowing how to ask is becoming as important as syntax.

Strong growth in: Auto-generated unit and integration tests and edge-case discovery. Trend: “Test-first” is easier when AI writes the boring parts.

AI is moving up the stack. Trend: AI as a junior architect or reviewer, not the final decider.

AI comes to Security & Code Quality Scanning. Rapid adoption in: Static analysis and vulnerability detection, secret leakage and dependency risk checks. AI can give secure-by-default code suggestions. Trend: AI shifts security earlier in the SDLC (“shift left”).

Instead of one-off prompts: AI agents that plan → code → test → fix → retry. Multi-step autonomous tasks (e.g., “add feature X and update docs”) can be done in best cases. Trend: Still supervised, but moving toward semi-autonomous dev loops.

AI is heavily used for explaining large, unfamiliar codebases and translating between languages/frameworks. It helps onboarding new engineers faster.

What’s changing: Less manual boilerplate work
More focus on problem definition, review, and decision-making. There is stronger emphasis on fundamentals, architecture, and domain knowledge. Trend: Devs become editors, designers, and orchestrators.

AI usage policies and audit trails is necessary. Trend: “Use AI, but safely.”

Likely directions:
Deeper IDE + CI/CD integration
AI maintaining legacy systems
Natural-language → production-ready features
AI copilots customized to your codebase

1. Generative AI Continues to Mature

Generative AI (text, image, video, code) will become more advanced and mainstream, with notable growth in:
* Generative video creation
* Gaming and entertainment content generation
* Advanced synthetic data for simulations and analytics
This trend will bring new creative possibilities — and intensify debates around authenticity and copyright.

2. AI Agents Move From Tools to Autonomous Workers

Rather than just answering questions or generating content, AI systems will increasingly act autonomously, performing complex, multi-step workflows and interacting with apps and processes on behalf of users — a shift sometimes called agentic AI. These agents will become part of enterprise operations, not just assistant features.

3. Smaller, Efficient & Domain-Specific Models

Instead of “bigger is always better,” specialized AI models tailored to specific industries (healthcare, finance, legal, telecom, manufacturing) will start to dominate in many enterprise applications. These models are more accurate, legally compliant, and cost-efficient than general models.

4. AI Embedded Everywhere

AI won’t be an add-on feature — it will be built into everyday software and devices:
* Office apps with intelligent drafting, summarization, and task insights
* Operating systems with native AI
* Edge devices processing AI tasks locally
This makes AI pervasive in both work and consumer contexts.

5. AI Infrastructure Evolves: Inference & Efficiency Focus

More investment is going into inference infrastructure — the real-time decision-making step where models run in production — thereby optimizing costs, latency, and scalability. Enterprises are also consolidating AI stacks for better governance and compliance.

6. AI in Healthcare, Research, and Sustainability

AI is spreading beyond diagnostics into treatment planning, global health access, environmental modeling, and scientific discovery. These applications could help address personnel shortages and speed up research breakthroughs.

7. Security, Ethics & Governance Become Critical

With AI handling more sensitive tasks, organizations will prioritize:
* Ethical use frameworks
* Governance policies
* AI risk management
This trend reflects broader concerns about trust, compliance, and responsible deployment.

8. Multimodal AI Goes Mainstream

AI systems that understand and generate across text, images, audio, and video will grow rapidly, enabling richer interactions and more powerful applications in search, creative work, and interfaces.

9. On-Device and Edge AI Growth

Processing AI tasks locally on phones, wearables, or edge devices will increase, helping with privacy, lower latency, and offline capabilities — especially crucial for real-time scenarios (e.g., IoT, healthcare, automotive).

10. New Roles: AI Manager & Human-Agent Collaboration

Instead of replacing humans, AI will shift job roles:
* People will manage, supervise, and orchestrate AI agents
* Human expertise will focus on strategy, oversight, and creative judgment
This human-in-the-loop model becomes the norm.

Sources:
[1]: https://www.brilworks.com/blog/ai-trends-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “7 AI Trends to Look for in 2026″
[2]: https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2025/10/13/10-generative-ai-trends-in-2026-that-will-transform-work-and-life/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “10 Generative AI Trends In 2026 That Will Transform Work And Life”
[3]: https://millipixels.com/blog/ai-trends-2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com “AI Trends 2026: The Key Enterprise Shifts You Must Know | Millipixels”
[4]: https://www.digitalregenesys.com/blog/top-10-ai-trends-for-2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Digital Regenesys | Top 10 AI Trends for 2026″
[5]: https://www.n-ix.com/ai-trends/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “7 AI trends to watch in 2026 – N-iX”
[6]: https://news.microsoft.com/source/asia/2025/12/11/microsoft-unveils-7-ai-trends-for-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Microsoft unveils 7 AI trends for 2026 – Source Asia”
[7]: https://www.risingtrends.co/blog/generative-ai-trends-2026?utm_source=chatgpt.com “7 Generative AI Trends to Watch In 2026″
[8]: https://www.fool.com/investing/2025/12/24/artificial-intelligence-ai-trends-to-watch-in-2026/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “3 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Trends to Watch in 2026 and How to Invest in Them | The Motley Fool”
[9]: https://www.reddit.com//r/AI_Agents/comments/1q3ka8o/i_read_google_clouds_ai_agent_trends_2026_report/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “I read Google Cloud’s “AI Agent Trends 2026” report, here are 10 takeaways that actually matter”

CES 2026 will feature the latest and greatest in TVs, robotics and AI. Expect to see (at least claimed to be be) innovative products from the biggest names in tech (Nvidia, Samsung, LG) to wacky, futuristic and surprising less known innovators.

To mark the occasion, founder Bill Gates has released the original code that launched the entire technology company — the Altair BASIC interpreter. According to Gates, it was “the coolest code I’ve ever written.”

The source code is now available at the celebration page at https://www.gatesnotes.com/microsoft-original-source-code

In 1975, a young Harvard student named Gates and his friend Paul Allen were intrigued by an article in Popular Electronics magazine that introduced a new microcomputer called the Altair 8800.

They saw that personal computers could be a reality — if only someone would write software for them. They contacted the Altair’s manufacturer, Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems (MITS). Gates and Allen thought promised to deliver a ready-to-use version of the popular BASIC programming language. There was just one problem — they had never even seen an Altair computer in person, let alone wrote any code for one. Gates and Allen worked for two months, almost without sleep, developing the program on Harvard’s PDP-10 computer, simulating the operation of the Altair’s 8080 processor. The result was a 4-kilobyte interpreter.

This Altair BASIC was Microsoft’s first product – and the beginning of the software giant’s journey.

Sources:
https://www.vintagecomputer.net/altair-poptronics.cfm
https://www.gatesnotes.com/microsoft-original-source-code
https://hackaday.com/2025/04/03/a-very-trippy-look-at-microsofts-beginnings/
https://etn.fi/index.php/13-news/17361-microsoft-laehti-liikkeelle-50-vuotta-sitten-basic-tulkista

President Donald Trump’s administration in the United States has shown in a short time that it is not very careful about protecting even the sensitive data of its own citizens and even their own military secrets.

More than 80% of Europe’s digital technologies and infrastructures are imported, and 70% of the foundational AI models used globally originate in the United States. Meanwhile, European companies account for just 7% of global research spending on software and the internet. These figures alone highlight Europe’s heavy reliance on other economic powers in the digital sector.

We have long assumed in Finland and Europe that the physical location of the data is essential. Now there has been a lot of discussion about which country’s legislation the entity that stores the data is subject to. Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Apple are large American cloud service providers. EU laws of course oblige them somewhat but US laws even more. The new Doge agency has sought broad access to, for example, Americans’ social security data. At the same time, experts know that critical health data of Finns is also stored on American servers.

European companies are looking for replacements for cloud services from Amazon, Google and Microsoft, among others, as trust in the US administration has eroded. The search for European alternatives for popular services from USA has started. Millions are visiting the European Alternatives siteMillions are visiting the European Alternatives site for most popular top 5 categories:
- Email providers
- Search Engines
- Cloud Computing Platforms
- Navigation Apps
- Web Analytics Services

Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure, which dominate the cloud services market, may lose their market share as European companies increasingly turn their attention to cloud services within the eurozone.

https://european-alternatives.eu/ is a site is created to help to find European alternatives for digital service and products, like cloud services and SaaS products. The european-alternatives.edu site has no ratings, but the different categories and what is in them are discussed widely

There are six Euro alternative search engines listed:
Qwant (French, uses Bing search index + their own; separate search engine for kids)
Ecosia (Germany, uses Bing or Google, depending on your preferences, has advertising but donates 80% of surplus revenue to conservation projects)
Startpage (Netherlands, uses Google & Bing results, but with focus on privacy)
Good (non-profit search engine from Germany, uses Brave search index)
Swisscows (Swiss search engine uses Bing index + self-made one)
metaGer (German metasearch combining search results from other providers)

Boycott USA: List of products to boycott, and alternative products is another site that lists European alternatives for digital products. It will help you find European alternatives for digital service and products, like email providers, search engines, cloud services and web browsers.

Europe is running the risk of falling even further behind global digital market leaders like the United States and China. The EuroStack initiative aims to counter this trend by developing Europe’s own comprehensive digital infrastructure. This industrial policy framework integrates technology, financing, economic development, political governance, sustainability and public interest considerations.

EU OS is a Community-led Proof-of-Concept for a free Operating System for the EU public sector. It is a a Fedora-based Linux operating system with a KDE Plasma desktop environment.The added value of EU OS is a common Linux OS as a base for all EU OS users with options to layer on top modifications (national layer, regional or sector-specific layer, organsation-specific layer).

Sources:

https://www.storagereview.com/news/proxmox-ve-8-3-enhanced-features-for-enterprise-virtualization

https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/1ifr95c/european_alternatives_for_popular_services_from/

https://news.itsfoss.com/eu-os/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14538621/EU-ww3-ukraine-russia-europe-war-survival-kit-global-conflict.html

https://www.is.fi/digitoday/tietoturva/art-2000011108658.html

https://european-alternatives.eu/

https://www.is.fi/digitoday/tietoturva/art-2000011108658.html

https://euro-stackletter.eu/

https://www.tivi.fi/uutiset/luottamus-usahan-rakoilee-yhtiot-etsivat-amazonille-microsoftille-ja-googlelle-eurooppalaisia-vaihtoehtoja/ddcc0e43-1fac-4274-bb0b-0da80a07b4ae

Sinäkin joudut nyt valinnan eteen – syynä Trumpin ja Muskin toiminta

https://www.is.fi/digitoday/tietoturva/art-2000011106183.html

https://talk.tidbits.com/t/european-alternatives-for-digital-products-services/30609/2

https://forum.vivaldi.net/topic/106324/european-alternatives-for-digital-products

https://european-alternatives.eu/

https://github.com/happysegfault/boycottusa

European alternatives for popular services

https://european-alternatives.eu/alternatives-to

https://euro-stackletter.eu/

https://www.bertelsmann-stiftung.de/en/our-projects/reframetech-algorithmen-fuers-gemeinwohl/project-news/eurostack-a-european-alternative-for-digital-sovereignty

https://eu-os.gitlab.io

The interest in Java is dropping. February 2025 TIOBE programming community index. C++, which has long been the cornerstone of system programming and performance-critical applications, has officially overtaken Java to take second place in the TIOBE programming language popularity index. A new report from the Java vendor Azul claims that 88% of companies are considering moving off of Oracle Java to another alternative as a result of rising costs and restrictive policies from Oracle, among other issues.

The growing trend in the world of software development: speed matters. C++, Go, and Rust are gaining popularity because the need for computing power increases faster than speed of CPUs is increasing, sothere is a growing interest to the fast programming languages. While C++ is establishing itself, other fast languages ​​are making significant strides. Go continues its top 10 ranking, while Rust has reached an all-time high.

Python still holds its place at the top of the programming world. Since the number of trained experts in the software industry is not enough to cover the growing need, professionals from many other fields are taking over programming skills with the help of Python. This ensures that Python maintains its position even as speed continues to be emphasized in programming language choices. Programs written with Python are often notoriously slow and inefficient. Python 3.14, due out later this year, is set to receive a new type of interpreter that can boost performance by up to 30% with no changes to existing code. Write Python like it’s 2025 and check Python Libraries That Will Make You Feel Like a Data Wizard.

There are also innovative alternatives to the popular languages are gaining steam—and one of them could be the perfect fit for your next project. Top programming languages to learn in 2025: Python, JavaScript, Rust, and more – maybe also Go. Check out also those 11 cutting-edge programming languages to learn now or decide it is better for you to not going to learn a new programming language this year.

Microsoft is actively pushing Visual Studio Code extensions for many uses and even replacing existing separate tools. GitHub Copilot is advertised as your AI pair programmer tool in Visual Studio Code. Check the Best VS Code Extensions to Boost Your Productivity.

Best Backend Frameworks for 2025: A Developer’s Guide to Making the Right Choice The stakes for choosing the right backend framework have never been higher. With the explosion of AI-powered applications, real-time processing requirements, and microservices architectures, your framework choice can make or break your project’s success.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is accelerating at an astonishing pace, quickly moving from emerging technologies to impacting coding a lot AI tools have come heavily to the coding. Coders use AI to help their coding in many ways. You can write code quickly. How to refactor code with GitHub Copilot. How To Build Web Components Using ChatGPT. There are also warnings that Using GitHub Copilot is one sure-fire way to never actually learn how to do coding.

The web has come a long way from static HTML pages to dynamic and highly interactive applications. When traditional JavaScript-based web apps struggle with performance-intensive tasks, WebAssembly (WASM) promises to enable near-native performance on the web. Read Why WebAssembly (WASM) is the Future of High-Performance Web Apps.

JavaScript in 2025 will see advancements in serverless architectures, integration with WebAssembly, adoption of microfrontends, and more. JavaScript is also a fighting field. Deno filed a petition with the United States Patent and Trademark Office to cancel Oracle’s trademark in November 2024. Oracle will not voluntarily release its trademark on the word “JavaScript”. Building Modern React Apps in 2025 – A Guide to Cutting-Edge Tools and Tech Stacks

The open source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment Node.js will soon support TypeScript by default, without extra configuration. Node 23 will be able to run TypeScript files without any extra configuration. Express is an extremely commonly used web server application framework in Node.js.

Open Source in 2025: Strap In, Disruption Straight Ahead article takes a look for new tensions to arise in the New Year over licensing, the open source AI definition, security and compliance, and how to pay volunteer maintainers. For good news check out Top Open Source Projects to Watch in 2025 and 13 top open-source tools you must use for your next big project in 2025.

The Mobile Development Tech Stack for 2025 selection is important because the right tech stack can make or break your mobile app. The mobile development tech stack for 2025 is rich with opportunities.

Must-Know 2025 Developer’s Roadmap and Key Programming Trends article says that in the world of coding trends, one thing is clear: classic languages like Java, Python, and JavaScript are still important, but they’re being joined by new favorites such as Go and Rust. And when you ask “Is JavaScript or Python 2025?” the answer is rarely simple – and could be that you need both.
Here are some points:
Python’s Growth in Data Work and AI: Python continues to lead because of its easy-to-read style and the huge number of libraries available for tasks from data work to artificial intelligence. Tools like TensorFlow and PyTorch make it a must-have.
JavaScript and Its Ongoing Role in Building Website: JavaScript (and by extension, TypeScript) is the basic building block. JavaScript is still essential for web work, running both the parts you see on a site and the behind-the-scenes work, but many coders are now preferring TypeScript for business projects. Try building a small web app using React.
The Rise of Go and Rust: For those looking at future coding languages 2025, Go and Rust are getting a lot of attention.
Java, C++, and C#: The Reliable Favorites: Even in 2025, there’s no ignoring that languages like Java, C++, and C# are still important. Java continues to be a top choice for large business applications and Android app development, while C++ is key in systems work and game development.
There are several shifts that every aspiring coder should keep in mind:
Adding Artificial Intelligence to Coding: The future of coding is closely linked with AI
Building for the Cloud: With cloud computing becoming common, languages that handle many tasks at once and run fast (like Go and Rust) are more important than ever.
The Need for Full-Stack Skills: Coders today are expected to handle both the front part of websites and the back-end work. JavaScript, along with tools like Node.js and modern front-end libraries, is key.
Focus on Safety and Speed: With online security becoming a big issue, languages that help avoid mistakes are getting more attention. Rust’s features that prevent memory errors and Go’s straightforward style are good examples.
Keep Learning and Stay Flexible: One thing that never changes in tech is change itself. What is popular in 2024 might be different in 2025.

Here’s a simple table that sums up some facts in plain language:

Best Dev Stacks to Learn in 2025lists the top development stacks for 2025 to be:
1. MERN Stack (MongoDB, Express.js, React, Node.js)
2. MEVN Stack (MongoDB, Express.js, Vue.js, Node.js)
3. JAMstack (JavaScript, APIs, Markup)
4. T3 Stack (Next.js, TypeScript, tRPC, Tailwind CSS, Prisma)
5. Flutter Stack (Flutter, Firebase)
6. PERN Stack (PostgreSQL, Express.js, React, Node.js)
7. Django Stack (Django, PostgreSQL, React/Angular)
8. DevOps Stack (Docker, Kubernetes, Jenkins, Terraform)
9. AI/ML Stack (Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, FastAPI)
10. Blockchain Development Stack (Solidity, Ethereum, Hardhat)
11. Spring Boot + React Stack

10 hot programming trends — and 10 going cold
Hot: Repatriation
Not: Cloud bills
Hot: AI partners
Not: Human pair programming
Hot: Rust
Not: C/C++
Hot: Wasm
Not: Interpreters
Hot: CPUs
Not: GPUs
Hot: Zero-knowledge proofs
Not: Digital signatures
Hot: Trustworthy ledgers
Not: Turing-complete ledgers
Hot: GraphQL
Not: REST
Hot: Static site generators
Not: Single-page apps
Hot: Database configuration
Not: Software programming

What’s trending in Software-driven Automation (SDA) in 2025? Here are some predictions:
1. Virtual Safe Control – A new and novel concept introduced by CODESYS and SILista, making it possible to implement Functional Safety controller reaching SIL2 or even SIL3 level, using generic hardware with help of software virtualisation. This will significantly decrease cost of hardware and speed up development cycle.
2. Open platforms – This trend started already last year, and now we’re seeing more and more automation vendors coming this way. #ctrlXOS opened the game, and there are other vendors like Phoenix coming the same way with their PLCnext Virtualised.
3. Model-based Design (MBD) – An old concept but not yet fully utilised in development. Maybe because lack of well integrated toolchains in the past. But now we’re seeing more and more industrial players adopting the methodology in their product development.
4. AI, of course, but how? Naturally AI can assist in efficient software development and testing. Also some algorithm optimisation and condition monitoring with AI and ML has been seen.

LGR – Evolution of PC Audio – As Told by Secret of Monkey Island

Evolution of PC Graphics and Sound as told by The Secret of Monkey Island

Before sound cards

Before Soundcards were common place, many of us had to make do with the PC Speaker for sound effects on our IBM PC Compatibles.

PC Speaker Wizardry: The History of Sound Before Soundcards

PCM Playback Via PC Speaker in DOS Games – NintendoComplete
Recording the IBM PC’s internal speaker: MS-DOS gaming at its loudest

Windows Audio Before Soundcards (Sounds Terrible) | Nostalgia Nerd

Some games utilised this limited medium to good effect, but Windows was always still lacking in sound. That is, until Microsoft developed the PC Speaker Audio driver for Windows. This allows Waveform sound to be played through the PC Speaker in Windows, so you could hear the fabulous startup sounds of Windows 3.1 and Windows 95.

Covox Speech Thing was a small hardware that was plugged to PC parallel port. It allowed to play back sounds at much better quality that PC speaker could ever do.

LGR Oddware – Covox Speech Thing LPT Sound Device
How the Covox and Disney Sound Source Worked.
IBM-PC COVOX Speech Thing Test

Sound cards era

Sound Blaster is a family of sound cards designed by Singaporean technology company Creative Technology (known in the US as Creative Labs). Sound Blaster sound cards were the de facto standard for consumer audio on the IBM PC compatible system platform, until the widespread transition to Microsoft Windows 95.

The Original Sound Blaster : A Retrospective

The History of Creative Labs | 8Bit/16bit Sound card collection | JoeteckTips

30 Year old Sound Blaster Sound Cards from Creative Labs

ISA sound cards for DOS gaming (featuring Crystal, ESS and Aztech)

Massive OPL (FM) ISA Sound Card comparison

OPL2/3 Music on a NEW Yamaha FM Chip (YMF825)

The Gravis UltraSound or GUS is a sound card for the IBM PC compatible system platform, made by Canada-based Advanced Gravis Computer Technology Ltd. The Gravis UltraSound was notable at the time of its 1992 launch for providing the IBM PC platform with sample-based music synthesis technology (marketed as “wavetable”), that is the ability to use real-world sound recordings rather than artificial computer-generated waveforms as the basis of a musical instrument. It was very popular in the demoscene during the 1990s.

LGR – Gravis UltraSound: 1992 Sound Card Retrospective
Review and Demonstration of the Gravis Ultrasound
Second Reality by Future Crew (pc demo) (Captured from 486DX2-66 Overdrive, TSENG ET6000, Gravis Ultrasound ACE)

After sound cards era

Where Did SOUND CARDS Go?

Firefox web browser turned 20 years old just few days ago.

Frederic Lardinois / TechCrunch:
An interview with Mozilla interim CEO Laura Chambers about Firefox’s 20th birthday, growth due to the EU’s DMA, privacy, the Google search deal, AI, and more
As Firefox turns 20, Mozilla ponders how to restore it to its former glory
https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/09/as-firefox-turns-20-mozilla-ponders-how-to-restore-it-to-its-former-glory/

Exactly 20 years ago, Mozilla started shipping version 1.0 of its Firefox browser. At the time, you could download it or buy a CD-ROM with a guidebook from Mozilla. Born out of the ashes of Netscape, Firefox would go on to gain well over 30% of global market share. But that was followed by a period of stagnation, and after the arrival of the faster and lighter Google Chrome, Firefox slowly but surely lost market share.

Firefox is still going strong, and it is a better browser today than it ever was. Now, Mozilla, which recently said that it wants to refocus on the browser, needs to figure out how to get it back on a growth path.

“What I love about Firefox is that it really provides users with an alternative choice of a browser that is just genuinely designed for them”

How The CD-ROM Lost The Multimedia Dream To The Internet
https://hackaday.com/2024/06/24/how-the-cd-rom-lost-the-multimedia-dream-to-the-internet/

The short, happy reign of CD-ROM
https://www.fastcompany.com/91128052/history-of-cd-roms-encarta-myst
In 1994, multimedia discs—from encyclopedias to magazines—flooded the market, and felt like the future. It was fun while it lasted. In terms of pure mindshare, 1994 might have been the year of Peak CD, with 17.5 million CD-ROM drives and $590 million in discs sold, according to research firms Dataquest and Link Resources.

Videos:
How does a CD work? (AKIO TV)
How a CD ROM Works Animation

DVD+R and DVD-R; What was that about?

CD-R
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-R

The end of an era has been reached now…
The general trend shows a decrease in demand for optical discs. Optical disk drives (ODD) have long ceased to be an important component of desktop computers and laptops, and users are increasingly choosing external hard drives, SSDs, memory cards, flash drives, network storage (NAS) and cloud services for data backup.

Sony Shuts Down Production Of Recordable CD-R, DVD-R And BD-R Discs
https://menafn.com/1108395600/Sony-Shuts-Down-Production-Of-Recordable-CD-R-DVD-R-And-BD-R-Discs?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3Janr8AiEsv4b5nFC_axFAaa50FLyWCI20t0GxNb_AIrWXHNvhY8-N4GU_aem_WWApsB78cwXeu9rbkPB8Tw
Sony has announced the reduction of 250 jobs at its optical disc manufacturing plant in Tagaze, Japan, as part of an initiative to completely phase out the production of recordable optical media. All because of the decrease in demand for these products – consumers prefer other media, Azernews reports. Sony will gradually cease production of media on optical discs, including Blu-ray discs, at its plant in northeastern Japan.