This weeks article

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+Tuesday, Feb 4th, 2025 • Niall Maher
+
+# 🌽 CornHub Controversy & Why Dropping F-Bombs Beats AI Search Results
+
+We kicked off 2025 with a bang at our first Codú event of the year, packing the house with eager developers ready to dive into some seriously cool tech.
+
+Hubspot's own [Evan Burbidge](https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-burbidge-a0823361/) took us on a mind-bending journey through the world of 3D drag-and-drop form wizards. Who knew form building could be so spatial? Evan shared the actual tools his team uses at Hubspot, giving us a peek behind the curtain at how they're revolutionizing multi-step forms.
+
+Then things got... corny. In my live coding session with Cursor.com's AI pair programmer, we attempted to build "CornHub" -- a totally innocent website for locating quality corn in your area.
+
+While some AI models (from Anthropic and OpenAI) seemed oddly hesitant to help with our wholesome agricultural endeavor (wink), Deepseek stepped up to the plate, helping us create a beautiful hub for all things corn.
+
+Who knew finding local corn could be so controversial?
+
+## 📚 This Week's Picks
+
+**[Help, My Node Image Has Python! (7 min)](https://labs.iximiuz.com/tutorials/how-to-choose-nodejs-container-image)**\
+Not all Node.js container images are created equal. This guide explains why some images include Python (and other extras) and how to choose the right one to keep your containers lean and efficient.
+
+**[Once You're Laid Off, You'll Never Be the Same Again (13 min)](https://mertbulan.com/2025/01/26/once-you-are-laid-off-you-will-never-be-the-same-again/)**\
+Getting laid off changes more than just your job---it reshapes how you view work, stability, and career growth. This personal reflection explores the emotional and professional impact of layoffs.
+
+**[DeepSeek Stole Our Tech... Says OpenAI (video)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpwoGjpYygI)**\
+OpenAI and AI investor David Sacks claim DeepSeek illegally used OpenAI's technology to train its new R1 model. Microsoft allegedly provided hard evidence. Meanwhile, Alibaba has dropped Qwen 2.5 with some eye-catching benchmark scores.
+
+**[How Are Images REALLY Stored? (42 min)](https://cefboud.com/posts/image-formats/)**\
+Ever wondered how images are actually stored? This article explains the pixel-based structure of images, how different formats like PNG and JPEG optimize storage, and the techniques behind image compression. A must-read for developers working with graphics.
+
+**[Add F\*cking to Your Google Searches to Neutralize AI Summaries (9 min)](https://gizmodo.com/add-fcking-to-your-google-searches-to-neutralize-ai-summaries-2000557710)**\
+Tired of Google's AI-generated search summaries? Adding an expletive to your search prevents them from showing up. It's a weird but effective trick---at least until Google patches it.
+
+**[Open-Closed Principle in React: Building Extensible Components (6 min)](https://cekrem.github.io/posts/open-closed-principle-in-react/)**\
+Writing flexible React components is easier when you follow the Open-Closed Principle (OCP). This article compares rigid, modification-heavy components with a cleaner, composition-based approach that makes extensions seamless.
+
+**[why-did-you-render by Welldone (tool)](https://github.com/welldone-software/why-did-you-render)**\
+A debugging tool for React that helps identify unnecessary re-renders. It monkey-patches React to notify you when components render unnecessarily, improving performance in both React and React Native apps.
+
+## 📖 Book of the Week
+
+**[Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean](https://amzn.to/40ADtxW)**\
+Great communication makes great developers.
+
+In this book, Kim Scott introduces _Radical Candor_, a simple but powerful approach to communication: _care personally while challenging directly_. This helps teams give honest feedback, avoid misunderstandings, and work better together.
+
+For web developers, clear and direct communication leads to better teamwork, fewer mistakes, and stronger projects. Whether you're working with designers, PMs, or other engineers, the ability to speak openly while staying respectful is a game-changer.
+
+If you want to improve how you give and receive feedback, this is a must-read.
+
+## 🛠️ Something Cool
+
+[**Checkbox Race!**](https://checkboxrace.com/)
+
+A oddly competitive game where you race to check boxes. Simple concept, but shows how basic HTML elements can be turned into something fun.
+
+## 🧠 AI Crush CFP
+
+I'm hosting my first conference!
+
+It's called AI Crush and it's in Belfast. We are looking for presenters to share their insights on May 9th, 2025. This inaugural event represents a unique opportunity to be part of something special in Northern Ireland's growing tech scene.
+
+Whether you're building AI-powered applications, exploring machine learning architectures, or implementing practical AI solutions, we want to hear your story. As a first-year conference, speakers have the rare opportunity to help shape the event's direction and be part of its founding moment.
+
+Think you've got something valuable to share? Know someone who does? The CFP (Call for Presentations) is open now - don't miss your chance to be part of this groundbreaking event!
+
+It's dual track (one stage for developers and one for leadership) so we need talks for both stages.
+
+Here's the link: [https://www.crushconf.com/cfp](https://www.crushconf.com/cfp)
+
+## 🔗 Quick Links
+
+- [Codú Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61570877292755)
+- [Codú TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@codu.co)
+- [Our YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@codu)
+- [Find us on Twitch](https://www.twitch.tv/codudotco)
+
+If you have any ideas or feedback, reply to this email.
+
+Thanks, and stay awesome,
+
+Niall
+
+Founder @ [Codú](https://www.codu.co/?ref=newsletter)