Topic: Digitalization

Today we review the top stories from Hacker News for December 30, 2025, covering a broad spectrum of technical and systemic challenges. We start with a deep dive into the RAW photo processing chain, where the author demonstrates how 14-bit ADC data is transformed through demosaicing and white balance to overcome the sensor's linear limitations. The collection also highlights a 40KB mini-AI model achieving dialogue on Z80 hardware through extreme quantization, proving that compact AI remains a viable frontier. Furthermore, we examine the systemic failure of Deutsche Bahn, where rigid adherence to protocols led to passengers being treated like 'cargo,' reflecting a broader crisis of humanity in modern logistics. Finally, we look at the software landscape, specifically the performance gap between Unity’s Mono and modern .NET, and the departure of Mockito’s lead maintainer after a decade of service.