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Spotify HiFi was announced four years ago, and it’s almost here — maybe

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Spotify’s Long-Delayed HiFi Feature: A Saga of Setbacks and Revisions

The Delayed Debut of Spotify HiFi

I’m hard-pressed to find another example of a tech company announcing something and then waiting over four years to actually ship it, but that’s exactly the situation we’ve reached with Spotify and its long-delayed HiFi feature. The latest reports indicate it’s finally coming in a matter of months as part of a Music Pro package that Spotify hopes will ensure the service’s continued profitability.

The Saga of Spotify HiFi

By all accounts, this aggressive approach from both companies totally derailed Spotify HiFi, which was always going to demand an upcharge over the service’s regular Premium subscription. The company went radio silent on the feature, and Spotify spokespeople never provided any meaningful updates on its status.

Rethinking the Plan

But I think Spotify also came to realize that higher-bitrate music streams alone wouldn’t be enough to prop up an "ultimate" subscription tier. A lot of people simply can’t hear the difference between lossy audio (like Spotify offers today) and CD-quality streams — or they lack the kind of headphone/speaker hardware that would highlight such an upgrade.

The Evolution of Music Pro

So the company has been reworking the plan into a broader "Music Pro" add-on that extends far beyond audio quality. It’s still unclear exactly what this will end up looking like: past reports have mentioned everything from early-access concert ticketing to DJ remixing tools. It’s also been rumored that Music Pro could offer an "optimization" trick for specific models of earbuds, headphones, and speakers. Spotify’s user surveys have hinted at other possibilities including karaoke — another thing Apple Music is already doing — and the option to add an additional user account to any Music Pro subscription.

The Uncertainty Surrounding Music Pro

Spotify itself might be undecided on just what Music Pro should entail: Bloomberg reported that the company "plans to roll out the plan in phases, adding tools and features over time" and is still planning to test new capabilities throughout 2025. But the surest sign that Music Pro is actually happening is that Spotify is talking about the project again. CEO Daniel Ek has mentioned an upcoming deluxe tier on multiple occasions. Last year, he said it would offer "all of the benefits that the normal Spotify version has, but a lot more control, a lot higher quality across the board, and some other things that I’m not ready to talk about just yet." And only a few weeks ago, Ek claimed Spotify plans to "double down on music in 2025."

Conclusion

Whenever it does eventually arrive, Music Pro will tack an extra $5 or $6 onto a standard Spotify Premium subscription, which currently starts at $11.99 per month. I’ve already made the switch to Apple Music, as I like knowing I’m getting the best quality possible for my money. But even I’ll be tempted to try Spotify’s ultimate plan once it’s ready. I don’t particularly miss Spotify Wrapped anymore, but it’s still the platform where most of my friends do their listening. If the company can string together an enticing bundle of perks, there’s always a chance I’d go back. It’d be a tough pill to swallow after using the far less bloated Apple Music app for so long, though.

FAQs

Q: When will Music Pro be available?
A: Reports suggest it will be available in a matter of months.

Q: What will Music Pro offer?
A: The exact features and capabilities of Music Pro are still unclear, but it will likely include higher-bitrate music streams, as well as additional tools and features.

Q: How much will Music Pro cost?
A: Music Pro will likely cost an extra $5 or $6 per month on top of a standard Spotify Premium subscription.

Q: Will Music Pro be worth it?
A: It’s unclear, but the combination of features and capabilities could make it an attractive option for some users.

Beyond the Algorithm: Generating Reasoning Enhanced Podcasts with Open Source AI Agents

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Unlock the Power of AI-Powered Solutions with NVIDIA Technologies

Are you ready to harness the potential of AI to transform your business and personal projects? Join us for an exciting livestream event where we’ll explore the latest NVIDIA technologies and open-source blueprints to build and deploy AI-powered solutions.

Transform PDF to AI Podcast with NVIDIA’s AI Blueprint

In this livestream, you’ll learn how to create your own customizable podcast using NVIDIA’s AI Blueprint for transforming PDF to AI podcast. Discover how to convert your favorite books, articles, or documents into engaging audio content with ease. Our expert instructors will guide you through the process step-by-step, from setting up your project to publishing your podcast on popular platforms.

What You’ll Learn

  • How to create a custom podcast using NVIDIA’s AI Blueprint for PDF to AI podcast
  • Best practices for setting up your project and optimizing performance
  • Tips for converting your favorite content into engaging audio stories

Explore Reasoning Models and AI Agent Deployment

Take your AI skills to the next level by learning about reasoning models and AI agent deployment. Our experts will dive into the world of natural language processing, computer vision, and machine learning, showing you how to develop your own research assistant and deploy AI agents to solve complex problems.

What You’ll Learn

  • Introduction to reasoning models and AI agent deployment
  • How to develop your own research assistant using NVIDIA’s AI technology
  • Tips for deploying AI agents to solve real-world problems

Conclusion

Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the latest AI innovations and take your skills to the next level. Join our livestream event to learn how to create your own AI-powered solutions, transform your favorite content into engaging audio stories, and develop your own research assistant. Register now and get ready to unlock the full potential of AI technology.

FAQs

Q: What is the duration of the livestream event?

A: The livestream event will last for approximately 2 hours, including Q&A sessions and breaks.

Q: What is the format of the event?

A: The event will be a live, interactive session, featuring expert instructors, demos, and Q&A sessions.

Q: Do I need to have prior knowledge of AI or programming to participate?

A: No, this event is designed for anyone interested in learning about AI and its applications. No prior knowledge of AI or programming is required.

Q: Will I receive any materials or resources after the event?

A: Yes, participants will receive access to supporting materials, including slides, code samples, and resources, after the event.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says market got it wrong about DeepSeek’s impact

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Nvidia CEO: DeepSeek’s R1 Open-Source Reasoning Model is a Game-Changer for AI

Market Misunderstood DeepSeek’s Impact on Nvidia’s Business

Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang has spoken out about the impact of DeepSeek’s R1 open-source reasoning model on the company’s business, saying that the market got it wrong. In a pre-recorded interview with Alex Bouzari, CEO of DataDirect Networks, Huang described the model as "incredibly exciting" and believes it will accelerate the adoption of AI, rather than making computational resources like Nvidia’s obsolete.

Huang’s Perspective on R1

"I think the market responded to R1, as in, ‘Oh my gosh. AI is finished,’" Huang said. "You know, it dropped out of the sky. We don’t need to do any computing anymore. It’s exactly the opposite. It’s [the] complete opposite." He emphasized that the release of R1 is inherently good for the AI market, expanding opportunities for more efficient models and accelerating adoption.

Post-Training AI Remains Resource-Intensive

Huang noted that, despite advancements in pre-training AI models, post-training will remain important and resource-intensive. "Reasoning is a fairly compute-intensive part of it," he added. This means that Nvidia’s business will continue to be relevant, even with the rise of R1.

Nvidia’s Stock Performance

Nvidia’s stock price plummeted 16.9% in one market day following the release of DeepSeek’s R1 model, wiping out $600 billion from the company’s market capitalization. However, the stock has almost fully recovered since then, with a market opening price of $140 a share.

DeepSeek’s Open-Source Week

DeepSeek announced plans to open source five code repositories as part of an "open source week" event next week. This move is likely to further accelerate the development of AI models and applications.

Conclusion

Jensen Huang’s comments offer a more optimistic perspective on the impact of DeepSeek’s R1 model on Nvidia’s business. Rather than signaling the end of computational resources, R1 is seen as a catalyst for further innovation and growth in the AI market.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did Jensen Huang say about R1?
A: Huang described R1 as "incredibly exciting" and believes it will accelerate the adoption of AI, rather than making computational resources like Nvidia’s obsolete.

Q: How did Nvidia’s stock perform after the release of R1?
A: Nvidia’s stock price plummeted 16.9% in one market day, wiping out $600 billion from the company’s market capitalization. However, the stock has almost fully recovered since then.

Q: What is DeepSeek’s plan for open-sourcing its code?
A: DeepSeek announced plans to open source five code repositories as part of an "open source week" event next week.

Sorry HBO, this isn’t the MAX rebrand we wanted

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Article

HBO Max May Bring Back the ‘HBO’ Brand, But Not in the Way You’d Expect

We still haven’t gotten over the last HBO MAX rebrand, which controversially dropped the ‘HBO’ part of the name, leaving us with ‘Max’ alone. But reports now suggest that the streaming service may be planning to put a bit more HBO back into its branding – just not in the way that would make most sense.

The Controversial Rebrand

The idea of dropping the HBO from Max was to communicate that the streaming platform is more than one network’s library alone – it also hosts the libraries of Warner Bros, Discovery, Cartoon Network, TBS, TNT. But the move lost it a lot of brand recognition, which the latest rumoured change might not be able to make up for.

A Change to the Color Palette

Bloomberg’s Screentime newsletter claims that the current blue will be "replaced by something more neutral, likely some combination of black and white". So Apple TV then?

A New Direction

Bloomberg says the plans aren’t final, but suggests that the new chief marketing officer, former Netflix executive Shauna Spenley, is keen to make the change, which would bring the MAX brand in line with HBO’s own black and white palette. So it’s not HBO MAX anymore, but it will have HBO’s colors in addition to the dot from the HBO ‘O’…. why not just get it over with and call it HBO Max?

The Reactions

The rebrand to Max got roasted on social media back in 2023. Peacock even threatened to call itself Cock. And it seems adopting HBO’s color palette isn’t going to make people forgive.

Public Reaction

"Nothing will ever undo the massive, hilarious, extremely dumb and unforced error of deliberately giving up the well-known, loved and powerful HBO branding. onw person wrote on BlueSky. "Just go back to being HBO. Why waste decades of brand recognition? ‘Max’ looks like a dog treat subscription service," someone else wrote. "Why are companies so obsessed with being so boring?" another person wants to know.

Conclusion

It seems that the latest rumors about HBO Max’s rebranding efforts are met with skepticism and frustration from the public. While the change may bring some cohesion to the brand’s visual identity, it’s hard to see how it will make up for the loss of brand recognition. For now, it seems that the public is still waiting for a more significant change – namely, the return of the familiar HBO name.

FAQs

Q: Why is HBO Max changing its branding?
A: The reasons behind the change are unclear, but it’s likely an attempt to rebrand the service and distance itself from the controversy surrounding the original rebrand.

Q: Will the change be permanent?
A: The plans are still in development, and it’s unclear if the change will ultimately be implemented.

Q: Will the change be popular with fans?
A: Judging from the public reaction, it seems unlikely that the change will be well-received by fans of the service.

Microsoft’s Quantum Chip Majorana 1

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Microsoft Achieves Breakthrough in Quantum Computing with Topological Qubits

What is a Topological Qubit?

A topological qubit is the equivalent of a transistor for ordinary chips, a revolutionary concept in quantum computing. Microsoft has successfully created a topological qubit, marking a significant milestone in the development of practical quantum computing.

Microsoft’s Majorana 1: A Quantum Chip

Microsoft’s quantum computing scientists have been working on a project called Majorana 1, a quantum chip that contains eight topological qubits. This achievement is a major breakthrough, as it paves the way for the development of a million-qubit quantum computer, which could be used for a wide range of applications, from medicine to finance.

Skepticism Surrounds Microsoft’s Claims

However, some experts have raised doubts about the veracity of Microsoft’s claims. The company’s announcement may be premature, and the technology is still in its early stages. The topological qubit is not even a beta product, and it cannot perform any useful work until it is extended with many more qubits, known as "scaling" the device.

The Science Behind Topological Qubits

The topological qubit is based on an exotic particle called the Majorana fermion, which was discovered in the past 20 years. This particle has the property of being both matter and anti-matter, making it an ideal candidate for quantum computing. The topological qubit is unlike other quantum devices because it leverages this unique property to create a more stable and reliable quantum computer.

Challenges Ahead

Despite the significance of Microsoft’s achievement, there are still many challenges to overcome before the technology can be widely adopted. The topological qubit is still a prototype, and it needs to be scaled up to a million qubits to be of practical use. Additionally, the technology is still in its early stages, and it will take time to overcome the challenges of noise, errors, and control.

Conclusion

Microsoft’s achievement in creating a topological qubit is a significant step forward in the development of practical quantum computing. However, the journey is far from over, and there are many challenges to overcome before this technology can be widely adopted. As with any emerging technology, it is essential to be cautious and not to overhype the potential of topological qubits. Only time will tell if Microsoft’s claims will be validated and if topological qubits will become a reality.

FAQs

Q: What is a topological qubit?
A: A topological qubit is the equivalent of a transistor for ordinary chips, a revolutionary concept in quantum computing.

Q: What is Majorana 1?
A: Majorana 1 is a quantum chip developed by Microsoft that contains eight topological qubits.

Q: Is the topological qubit ready for practical use?
A: No, the topological qubit is still a prototype and needs to be scaled up to a million qubits to be of practical use.

Q: What are the challenges ahead for topological qubits?
A: The technology is still in its early stages, and it will take time to overcome the challenges of noise, errors, and control.

Q: Is Microsoft’s achievement significant?
A: Yes, Microsoft’s achievement is a significant step forward in the development of practical quantum computing, but it is essential to be cautious and not to overhype the potential of topological qubits.

Here is the rephrased title: Best Phones Under 500

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What I’m Looking For

Strong Software Support

At least a couple of years of OS upgrades and, ideally, three years of security updates. There’s no point in buying even a cheap phone if you have to replace it after just a couple of years because it stopped getting security patches.

A Good Screen

Since you look at it roughly two thousand times a day, your phone’s screen is one place you shouldn’t compromise. An OLED has richer contrast and color than an LCD, and the big screens on today’s phones really need at least a 1080p resolution. Faster refresh rates like 90Hz and even 120Hz are becoming more common on budget phone screens, but for my money, a smooth-scrolling LCD doesn’t look as nice as an OLED with a standard refresh rate.

Serviceable Storage Space

If you plan to hang onto your phone for a while, you’ll want enough storage space to accommodate all the system files, photos, and videos you’ll accumulate over the years. Ideally, you’ll get at least 128GB built-in, but at a minimum, I look for 64GB with the option to expand space via a MicroSD card.

One Good Rear Camera, Not Four Mediocre Ones

Upgrades like telephoto cameras and optical image stabilization are rare in the under-$500 class, but you can still expect good, basic performance in good lighting from any modern smartphone. Low light is trickier. Phones in this class should offer a night mode to help with non-moving subjects in very dim light. And there are no bonus points awarded for adding extra macro and depth cameras to pad out the rear camera array – those 2- and 5-megapixel sensors are pretty much useless.

The Best iPhone Under $500

The A35 5G comes with a water-resistance rating and software support policy that are unusually strong for its class. Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

Unfortunately, the camera is lackluster; it’s fine in bright light but struggles in dim and mixed indoor lighting. It doesn’t have the strongest processing performance you can find under $500, either, and the Samsung-made Exynos processor occasionally stutters when quickly bouncing between tasks. I was horrified – horrified! – when I accidentally texted my husband one of the automatically generated replies because it popped up at the last moment as I was trying to tap on something else. These things don’t happen when everything loads quickly.

But overall, it’s a compelling package – especially with a big, crowd-pleasing OLED display and strong battery performance. If you’re a light user and not fussy about camera quality, the A35 5G offers some upgrades that make a real difference in the long term.

Other Budget Phones We Tested

The 2024 Motorola Moto G Power has all the makings of a good budget phone, including a lovely vegan leather exterior and wireless charging. But it’s loaded with bloatware of the worst kind, and that alone disqualifies it from our recommendations. Read our impressions.

We also tested the OnePlus Nord N300, which doesn’t make an appearance among our recommendations. The N300 is very affordable at $228 but cuts too many corners to include fast charging. The pricier 12R that snags our recommendation above offers much better overall performance. Read our review.

The Samsung Galaxy S24 FE is another perfectly capable phone that doesn’t quite earn a recommendation here. It’s a little outside the scope of this guide at $649 anyway, but you do get a telephoto lens and a nice, big screen for that price. Still, you’re better off saving a bunch and picking up the Pixel 8A or trying to score a trade-in promo for the new Galaxy S25. Read our review.

Finally, if you’re looking for something quite different, the Nothing Phone 2 is an option with its sleek appearance and flashy interface (literally, it flashes) – just know that it’s not fully compatible with Verizon’s network.

Conclusion

If you’re in the market for a budget phone, you don’t have to sacrifice too much to get a good one. With a little compromise, you can get a phone that will serve you well for years to come. Look for a phone with a good screen, strong software support, and enough storage space, and you’ll be set.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are the key features to look for in a budget phone?

A: Look for a phone with a good screen, strong software support, and enough storage space.

Q: What are some compromises I can expect to make with a budget phone?

A: You may have to compromise on camera quality, processing power, and additional features like wireless charging or water resistance.

Q: Can I get a good budget phone for under $500?

A: Yes, there are many good options available for under $500. Look for phones with a good screen, strong software support, and enough storage space.

Q: What is the best budget phone for someone who is a light user?

A: For a light user, the A35 5G is a good option. It has a big, crowd-pleasing OLED display and strong battery performance, and it’s a great value for the price.

How to Try DeepSeek R1 Without Censorship or Security Risk

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Access the Uncensored Model Weights

DeepSeek AI and its open-source language models have taken over the news cycle this week, raising concerns about data privacy, security, and Chinese-government-enforced censorship within their training.

Try R1 via AI Platforms

Perplexity, an AI search platform, has open-sourced the model weights for R1 1776, an uncensored version of R1 that has been post-trained to provide unbiased, accurate, and factual information. Perplexity notes that its decensoring training process did not negatively impact other parts of the model’s performance, including math and reasoning.

Results from Perplexity’s benchmark training comparing their uncensored version of R1 with the original model.

Access R1 on HuggingFace or Perplexity’s Sonar API

The standard (and thus presumably still censored) version of DeepSeek R1 is available on platforms including Azure and Github, AWS, and Nvidia.

DeepSeek R1 on Perplexity

As of last month, Perplexity now hosts DeepSeek R1. The free plan gives users three Pro-level queries per day, which you could use with R1, but you’ll need the $20 per month Pro plan to access the model more than that.

Try R1 on Perplexity

In another post, the company confirmed that it hosts DeepSeek "in US/EU data centers — your data never leaves Western servers," assuring users that their data would be safe if using the open-source models on Perplexity.

Get R1 on You.com

You.com, an AI assistant, offers V3 and R1, similarly only through its Pro tier, which is $15 per month (discounted from the usual $20) without any free queries.

R1 and V3 on You.com

Bryan McCann, You.com cofounder and CTO, explained in an email to ZDNET that users can access R1 and V3 via the platform in three ways, all of which use "an unmodified, open-source version of the DeepSeek models hosted entirely within the United States to ensure user privacy."

Conclusion

In conclusion, Perplexity and You.com have found a way to access the uncensored model weights of R1, providing users with a more accurate and unbiased version of the model. By using the uncensored model, users can access a more comprehensive and accurate source of information, free from censorship.

FAQs

Q: What is DeepSeek AI?
A: DeepSeek AI is a Chinese startup that has developed an open-source language model that has raised concerns about data privacy, security, and Chinese-government-enforced censorship within their training.

Q: What is Perplexity?
A: Perplexity is an AI search platform that has open-sourced the model weights for R1 1776, an uncensored version of R1.

Q: How do I access R1 on Perplexity?
A: You can access R1 on Perplexity’s Sonar API or HuggingFace.

Q: What are the differences between the censored and uncensored versions of R1?
A: The uncensored version of R1 has been post-trained to provide unbiased, accurate, and factual information, while the censored version has been trained to follow Chinese-government-enforced censorship.

US AI Safety Institute could face big cuts

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Mass Layoffs Threaten AI Safety Organization at National Institute of Standards and Technology

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is considering laying off as many as 500 staffers, according to multiple reports. This news has significant implications for the US AI Safety Institute (AISI), which is part of NIST and is dedicated to studying risks and developing standards around AI development.

AI Safety Institute Under Threat

AISI was established in 2021 as part of then-President Joe Biden’s executive order on AI safety. However, President Donald Trump repealed this order on his first day back in office, and the AISI director departed in February. Despite this, the organization has continued to operate, albeit with a reduced capacity.

Probationary Employees in Jeopardy

According to reports, the layoffs will target probationary employees, who are typically in their first year or two on the job. This has already led to some employees receiving verbal notice of upcoming terminations. The exact number of employees affected is unknown, but it’s estimated to be as high as 500.

Experts Speak Out

The reported layoffs have been met with criticism from AI safety and policy organizations. Jason Green-Lowe, executive director of the Center for AI Policy, stated, “These cuts, if confirmed, would severely impact the government’s capacity to research and address critical AI safety concerns at a time when such expertise is more vital than ever.”

Conclusion

The potential layoffs at NIST and the resulting impact on AISI are concerning, especially given the growing importance of AI development and its potential risks. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on AI, it’s crucial that organizations like AISI are adequately resourced to study and mitigate these risks.

FAQs

Q: What is the US AI Safety Institute?

A: The US AI Safety Institute is a part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) dedicated to studying risks and developing standards around AI development.

Q: What is the purpose of the US AI Safety Institute?

A: The US AI Safety Institute aims to research and develop standards for AI development to ensure the safe and responsible use of AI in various industries and applications.

Q: What is the current status of the US AI Safety Institute?

A: The US AI Safety Institute is currently facing potential layoffs, which could severely impact its ability to operate and conduct research.

Q: What is the significance of AI safety research?

A: AI safety research is crucial for understanding and mitigating the potential risks associated with AI development, such as bias, job displacement, and societal impact.

Build Web Apps with AI

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AI Democratizes Entrepreneurship

In the early days of the Internet, it seemed like people with backgrounds from Stanford University and Harvard Business School had access to the resources and connections necessary to turn ideas into functioning web apps. Over time, platforms like WordPress lowered the barrier to entry for starting and running online businesses, enabling virtually anyone to compete toe to toe with bigger brands. But there was still one last barrier: the ability to create web apps, the functionalities that power the biggest ideas on the Internet. Hostinger Horizons lowers that barrier, enabling anyone to turn their idea into a working app and putting entrepreneurial success within reach of anyone with a good idea. The significance of this cannot be overstated.

AI Powered Web App Builder

Hostinger Horizons is an AI-powered no-code platform created specifically for individuals and small businesses that enables them to create and publish interactive web applications without having to use third-party integrations or requiring programming knowledge.

The new platform works through an AI chat interface that creates what users are asking for while also showing a preview of the web app. A user basically prompts what they want, makes feature requests, tells it what to change and preview the results in real-time.

How Hostinger Horizons Works

The new service combines AI-powered chat, with real-time previews and the ability to instantly publish the app to the web. Hostinger provides all the necessary elements to get the work done:

  • Domain name registration
  • Email services
  • Multilingual support (80+ languages)
  • Supports image uploads
  • Supports user-provided sketches and screenshots
  • Voice prompting
  • Web hosting

Four reasons that make this a breakthrough service:

  1. Rapid Prototyping: Create, modify, and deploy interactive apps in real-time, including rapid revisions after the app is published.
  2. Integrated Services: Hosting and other essential tools are built in, eliminating reliance on third-party providers.
  3. Democratized Development: Hostinger Horizons enables anyone to turn their ideas into an online business without technical barriers.
  4. Supports 80+ languages

Creating Complex Websites With AI

What can you do with Hostinger Horizons? It seems like the right question to ask is what can’t you do with it. I asked Hostinger if the following applications of the technology was possible and they affirmed that the short answer is yes but that some of the ideas that I suggested may not be 100% straightforward to implement but that they were indeed possible to create.

Conclusion

Hostinger Horizons is an AI-powered no-code platform that is specifically designed to enable individuals and small businesses to build and publish fully functional web apps with no coding experience or external integrations needed. Users can just prompt what they want through an AI chat interface with real-time previews. It even allows uploading screenshots and sketches.

FAQs

Q: What can I do with Hostinger Horizons?
A: You can create, modify, and deploy interactive apps in real-time, including rapid revisions after the app is published.

Q: Can I use Hostinger Horizons for complex web apps?
A: Yes, you can use it to create complex web apps, such as interactive comparison tools, product reviews, and more.

Q: What languages does Hostinger Horizons support?
A: Hostinger Horizons supports 80+ languages.

Q: Can I use Hostinger Horizons for my restaurant, law office, or product review site?
A: Yes, you can use Hostinger Horizons for any type of business, including restaurants, law offices, or product review sites.

NestJS Distributed Systems with Service Bus Messaging

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Get Started with Messaging in NestJS

In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, building scalable and resilient applications is paramount. As systems grow in complexity, the need for efficient communication between various services becomes crucial. Enter NestJS, a powerful Node.js framework that leverages TypeScript to help developers create modular and maintainable server-side applications.

What is a Service Bus?

A service bus is a messaging infrastructure that facilitates communication between different components or services/microservices in a distributed system. It enables the decoupling of services, allowing them to communicate with each other asynchronously through messages instead of direct calls. This decoupling helps improve applications’ scalability, fault tolerance, and maintainability.

Introducing @nestjstools/messaging

Instead of wiring and configuring everything manually, what if you could have a single library that simplifies asynchronous and synchronous message handling? @nestjstools/messaging – offering an all-in-one solution with built-in support for buses, handlers, channels, and consumers. No need to build everything from scratch – just focus on your business logic while the library takes care of the rest!

Define Messaging Module

To get started, define a messaging module in your NestJS application. This module will provide the necessary configuration for your messaging infrastructure.

@Module({
  imports: [
    MessagingModule.forRoot({
      buses: [
        {
          name: 'command.bus',
          channels: ['name-of-channel'],
        },
        {
          name: 'event.bus',
          channels: ['name-of-channel'],
        },
      ],
      channels: [
        new InMemoryChannelConfig({
          name: 'name-of-channel',
        }),
      ],
      debug: true,
    }),
  ],
  controllers: [AppController],
  providers: [CreateUserHandler, SendEmailOnUserCreatedHandler],
})
export class AppModule {}

Create Message and Message Handlers

Create a message and message handlers to process the messages. In this example, we’ll create a CreateUserHandler and a SendEmailOnUserCreatedHandler to process the messages.

class CreateUserHandler {
  async handle(message: CreateUserMessage) {
    // Process the message
  }
}

class SendEmailOnUserCreatedHandler {
  async handle(message: CreateUserMessage) {
    // Process the message
  }
}

Message Handling

Now, by sending the message, you can see the results in the console:

[Result AMQPCli]

As demonstrated, the consumers are actively processing messages from the RabbitMQ queue, ensuring seamless message handling within the system. The architecture allows for effortless expansion – additional services can be easily defined, and messages can be routed directly to dedicated handlers, enabling a highly scalable and decoupled microservices ecosystem.

Conclusion

I’m excited to share this library with you and help simplify distributed messaging in NestJS. With everything built in one place, handling asynchronous and synchronous messages has never been easier. I look forward to seeing how it enhances your microservices architecture – happy coding!

FAQs

Q: What is the purpose of a service bus in a distributed system?
A: A service bus is a messaging infrastructure that facilitates communication between different components or services/microservices in a distributed system, enabling decoupling and improving scalability, fault tolerance, and maintainability.

Q: What is @nestjstools/messaging, and how does it simplify messaging in NestJS?
A: @nestjstools/messaging is a library that simplifies asynchronous and synchronous message handling in NestJS, providing built-in support for buses, handlers, channels, and consumers, making it easy to create scalable and decoupled microservices.

Q: How does @nestjstools/messaging improve message handling in NestJS?
A: @nestjstools/messaging allows for seamless message handling in NestJS, enabling effortless expansion and routing of messages to dedicated handlers, ensuring scalable and decoupled microservices ecosystems.