●● IRC: #techbytes @ Techrights IRC Network: Sunday, July 26, 2026 ●● ● Jul 26 [04:15] *psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has left #techbytes [04:47] *psydruid (~psydruid@jevhxkzmtrbww.irc) has joined #techbytes ● Jul 26 [05:05] schestowitz[TR2] https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?__goaway_challenge=js-refresh&__goaway_id=7b5209ba91bba49bbf569da54adc4020&__goaway_referer=https%3A%2F%2Finv.nadeko.net%2F&v=l9SqQNgDrgg [05:05] schestowitz[TR2] gee i wonder what article of yours i just read... ;) [05:05] schestowitz[TR2] Monty Python - Bruce's Philosophers Song (Bruce's Song) {Official Lyric Video] [05:05] -TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 418 @ https://inv.nadeko.net/watch?__goaway_challenge=js-refresh&__goaway_id=7b5209ba91bba49bbf569da54adc4020&__goaway_referer=https%3A%2F%2Finv.nadeko.net%2F&v=l9SqQNgDrgg ) ● Jul 26 [08:34] *parsifal (~parsifal@p6xa9q76w3hfu.irc) has joined #techbytes ● Jul 26 [12:02] *TechBytesBot has quit (connection closed) [12:02] *Disconnected (Remote host closed socket). [12:03] *Now talking on #techbytes [12:03] *Topic for #techbytes is: Welcome to the official channel of the TechBytes Audiocast [12:03] *Topic for #techbytes set by schestowitz!~roy@haii6za73zabc.irc at Tue Jun 1 20:21:34 2021 [12:03] *rianne (~rianne@agjs4m3wtva2n.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:03] *XFaCE_ (~XFaCE@uzfeivw9fp6ba.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:04] *asm (~asm@nwue8k2xkhuhe.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:04] *techrights-sec2 (~quassel@agjs4m3wtva2n.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:04] *pi (~quassel@agjs4m3wtva2n.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:04] *pi__ (~quassel@agjs4m3wtva2n.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:04] *pi_ (~quassel@agjs4m3wtva2n.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:04] *pi___ (~quassel@agjs4m3wtva2n.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:04] *pi____ (~quassel@agjs4m3wtva2n.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:06] *x-amarsh04 (~amarsh04@xk49uzi5amp4u.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:07] *thiel3 (~thiel3@u8mz5ab9qj5ra.irc) has joined #techbytes [12:07] *MinceR (~mincer@bringer.of.light) has joined #techbytes [12:07] *irc.techrights.org sets mode +a #techbytes MinceR [12:08] *pi__ is now known as techrights-sec6 [12:54] *psydroid3 (~psydroid@kcvnmgbxt8eqq.irc) has joined #techbytes ● Jul 26 [13:34] *parsifal has quit (Quit: Leaving) ● Jul 26 [14:28] *psydroid3 has quit (Ping timeout: 2m30s) ● Jul 26 [15:15] schestowitz[TR2] " I will remember Dan bringing a smile to every conversation, no matter how challenging. He was kind and compassionate. I have often thought how Dan would approach a situation I was struggling to bring a positive light to. I will miss him, and I'll try to bring a few more smiles in his honor." [15:16] schestowitz[TR2] " For the complete picture Dan mentioned to me in a message unfortunately not on lore.kernel.org that he worked on the Intel XScale IXP4xx StrongARM-based embedded network processors as well, probably in the early 2000s. I think he worked both on the Microcode for the embedded Network Processing Engine and the corresponding Ethernet driver." ● Jul 26 [17:11] schestowitz[TR2] "The fight over AI coding, in Open Source, continues to escalate. [17:11] schestowitz[TR2] On the one side, some of the largest Linux corporations and foundations are heavily promoting AI "vibe coding": [17:11] schestowitz[TR2] - The Linux Foundation: Working with Anthropic, encouraging kernel developers to use AI. [17:11] schestowitz[TR2] - Red Hat / IBM: Tying employee pay to how much they use AI (or add AI to open source projects). [17:11] schestowitz[TR2] - Microsoft / GitHub: AI everything. All the time. (And they sit on the Linux Foundation board.) [17:11] schestowitz[TR2] On the other side, noteworthy Open Source projects and organizations are opposing AI usage: [17:11] schestowitz[TR2] - Flathub, Codeberg, Zig, NetBSD, QEMU, Gentoo, Debian (and many others) have some form of "AI Ban" either already in place or being voted on. [17:11] schestowitz[TR2] This conflict is ramping up. [17:11] schestowitz[TR2] As one side increases usage and promotion of AI... the other side responds by adding new "AI Bans". [17:11] schestowitz[TR2] "AI Bans" which are difficult (if not practically impossible) to effectively enforce. Especially with the significant amount of AI generated code in the Linux kernel." [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] "If you have a long-standing, well tested, critical piece of software replacing that software with something new and shiny is, 99% of the time, a terrible idea. [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] The problems with replacing that old software are significant, including (but not, by any means, limited to): [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] - The loss of (often) decades worth of edge cases being handled in the existing code. [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] - Unforeseen compatibility issues (with hardware, other reliant software, etc.). [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] - The creation of new bugs (because we have new code), at the same time as the loss of old fixes (because we tossed out the existing code). [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] Replacing legacy code with something new and shiny is a common mistake, often proposed by engineers with limited, real world experience (lass than a decade) or by management with limited understanding of engineering. [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] Here, @BrianRoemmele [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] is talking about attempts to replace several decades old COBOL systems with something new and shiny backfiring (in a big way). Including performance issues. [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] This same exact mistake happens in every major project. [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] Repeated over and over again by inexperienced engineers, and managers, who think they understand computer programming better than the old developers who built the foundation they are now standing upon. [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] A great example is the current rush to replace battle tested, decades old, critical C code (sudo, coreutils, etc.) with Rust clones. [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] Same basic engineering mistake. [17:12] schestowitz[TR2] And our computer systems are buggier because of it. [17:30] schestowitz[TR2] "Another option presented in the LLM usage in Debian General Resolution vote is to allow AI / LLM contributions to Debian but with some curious requirements. [17:30] schestowitz[TR2] Notably, that the AI generated code (etc.), submitted to Debian, must be verified for legality, licensing, and attribution. [17:30] schestowitz[TR2] This is a fascinating inclusion, as this language would effectively prohibit ~100% of all AI generated code from being used in Debian (as the primary LLM systems are trained on code of widely variable licensing and copyright, without any means to effectively verify that information). [17:30] schestowitz[TR2] So its a vote to include AI which would exclude AI. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1kyczappy [17:38] -TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1kyczappy ) [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] " [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Did you know, 73% of IBMers who were placed on a PIP from 2023 to today successfully accomplished their PIP and continued to grow at IBM. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] How is IBM able to maintain such a consistent track record - This would also mean for every 4 people who get assigned a PIP, only 1 would fail and be terminated. With the increase in number of PIPs that are being assigned to avoid WARN notice and save on the severance packages, the number of employees who continue to grow at IBM should also increase. Is that happening? [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] " [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] " [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] This is how it works in software: Managers have to mark 15% of their teams as low performers, with an exit target of 5%, this means that 67% will pass the pip and 33 will fail. This is simply a way to layoff 5% of the workforce disguised as performance management. Most ppl end unfairly on these list because the percentages are not negotiable, the ones to be saved will pass the pip, the ones to be sacked will be terminated regardles [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] s of the actual outcome (managers can use any excuse to fail them), so the 73% is simply by design not a proof that PIPs work. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] 35 minutes ago by Anonymous [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] | 3 reactions (+3/-0) | Reply [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @ej+1kyczappy [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] +5 [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Totally false... PIP = layoff [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] 2 hours ago by Anonymous [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] | 5 reactions (+5/-0) | Reply [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @e6+1kyczappy [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] +4 [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] If get piped you are marked. Doesnt matter what you do. Best to plan you exit stat [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] 3 hours ago by Anonymous [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] | 4 reactions (+4/-0) | Reply [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @e0+1kyczappy [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] +3 [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] So do yoi think its no coincidence team members suddenly got PIPs a week or so after the stock crash? Surprise pips no prior issues? Is it pointless to try to recover internally at the company at this point? I doesnt seem like good faulty attempts to growth, more like convenient attempts at stealth layoffs to cut budgets? Dont mean to be naive this is just first time Ive seen this happening on our team. RAs in past year [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] s. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] 4 hours ago by Anonymous [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] | 3 reactions (+3/-0) | Reply [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @dr+1kyczappy [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] +13 [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Let me start by stating the obvious: do NOT get su-kered into IBM propaganda. It has one purpose - make you work more for less money until IBM find you to be an inconvenience. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] With that in mind, key thing about that BS PIP statement (assume it's even true) is that its from 2023. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] That is when IBM consulting started 'bench PIP' in full swing. Those who is not familiar, it is generally when your utilization dips below certain percentage (e.g., 75%) of your year end target. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Obvious problem is that a consultant not a project is mostly due to Partners (or IBM exec) inability to sell enough work. Because IBM consulting has been shrinking, PIP is used to remove 'excess capacity' (or consultants) without paying respectable severance. Because of such BS, the people around the consultants who get PIPed staffs them first. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] In other word, most of that BS 73% PIP should not even be in PIP in the first place. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Don't get fooled by IBM's branding or history. It is an amoral company that will maximize the benefit for its executives at the expense of its employees every day of the week (e.g., no 401k match). With the Q2 sh-t show, Arvind and its board don't seem to care much about shareholder either. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] 18 hours ago by Anonymous [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] | 13 reactions (+13/-0) | Reply [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @b8+1kyczappy [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] +7 [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] @am when will McKinsey jobs go abroad or to AI [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] 20 hours ago by Anonymous [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] | 7 reactions (+7/-0) | Reply [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @aw+1kyczappy [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] +10 [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] @aj what a ridiculous question ! You can bet that once the 3 US jobs have gone to India and assigned to 10 Indians, those jobs are not coming back to the US. If those jobs are likely to shift to AI, Arvind and his crooks in IBM India HR will cook up some BS story to ensure that the Indians retain their jobs. It's a job protection scheme they have there. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] A pity that the US Dept Of Labor doesn't have any such protections to Americans losing their jobs to these unfair and potentially illegal job transfer practices. Blame McKinsey as well for this state of things (globalization garbage). [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] 21 hours ago by Anonymous [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] | 10 reactions (+10/-0) | Reply [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @am+1kyczappy [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] -9 [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] @ag : is there an assurance that none of these 10 offshore employees would be piped out in next 6 months? [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] 21 hours ago by Anonymous [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] | 11 reactions (+1/-10) | Reply [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @aj+1kyczappy [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] +11 [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Recently, 3 decent developers from the team I lead have been put on PIP by the useless POS manager without consulting my opinion. After a month, they were fired, again without my knowledge. I am offered 10 Indians immediately instead of the 3 US based employees, I need to train them. Management is agreeing to a 6 month delay in solution delivery, as long as, we agree to train an Indian army of "engineers". [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] 22 hours ago by Anonymous [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] | 11 reactions (+11/-0) | Reply [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @ag+1kyczappy [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] +14 [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] @OP The PIP is just a way to show you the door at IBM. I knew at least 8 folks who were put on PIPS in various divisions in the past 15 years. If you pass the PIP, then IBM management simply looks for another way to get rid of you - and voila, the layoff happens to you. There is no escape from IBM management brutality. Once they have your ID number, the management is relentless is cutting you down and out. A pity that they don't di [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] splay the same level of competence when it comes to producing superior business results. Arvind comes to mind as one such incompetent manager and you just have to see the Q2 2026 results to know how much he is out of touch with reality. Maybe he should be put on a PIP by the IBM board of trustees and it would be well deserved punishment for his failures. [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] That quoted 73% pass rate is a fake number - it might have been from 20 years ago, not recently (in the past 3 years). [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] 22 hours ago by Anonymous [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] | 14 reactions (+14/-0) | Reply [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @ac+1kyczappy [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] +5 [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] I always wondered how we calculate this? Do we count people who leave? Do they count people were laid off? [17:38] schestowitz[TR2] " [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1kycdkzhr [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] "you su-k! [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] 1 hour ago by Anonymous [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] | 3 reactions (+2/-1) | Reply [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @fd+1kycdkzhr [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] 0 [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] @bh the reason partners are used has nothing to do with skill. IBM doesnt want to hire more people and partners get the work. [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] 1 hour ago by Anonymous [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] | 2 reactions (+1/-1) | Reply [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @fa+1kycdkzhr [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] -2 [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] @cs you should leave. [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] 2 hours ago by Anonymous [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] | 2 reactions (+0/-2) | Reply [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @f9+1kycdkzhr [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] +2 [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] @bd can you point to any success that they have had? Not the bullsh-t hype they tell us - actual ROI that justifies their existence? Actual money they generated (revenue) for IBM? [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] 15 hours ago by Anonymous [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] | 4 reactions (+3/-1) | Reply [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @cs+1kycdkzhr [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] -1 [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] TEL is missing deep expertise at scale that is worth their day rates, so they involve partners to do the expert work. [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] So why not go directly to the partners and save the markup [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] 22 hours ago by Anonymous [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] | 5 reactions (+2/-3) | Reply [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @bh+1kycdkzhr [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] +4 [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] @bd I hate all of IBM, including Expert Labs and Tech Sales. [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] 22 hours ago by Anonymous [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] | 6 reactions (+5/-1) | Reply [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @bf+1kycdkzhr [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] -2 [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] So, just curious here... only negative comments... What org/dept are you guys in to hate Expert Labs so much? And for the record, I am not in Expert Labs, I am in Tech Sales. [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] 22 hours ago by Anonymous [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] | 6 reactions (+2/-4) | Reply [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @bd+1kycdkzhr [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] +4 [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] @aj They are Experts In Bullshi--ing ! [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] But the clients have started to get wise about them, and stopped using them. [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] 22 hours ago by Anonymous [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] | 4 reactions (+4/-0) | Reply [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @bc+1kycdkzhr [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] +4 [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] @as : ouch....it must be a painful realization that they can't use gen ai to generate a revenue paying client [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] 1 day ago by Anonymous [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] | 4 reactions (+4/-0) | Reply [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @ay+1kycdkzhr [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] +4 [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] @aj They are in fact the world's leading experts in PPGT (PowerPoint Generation Technology). [17:40] schestowitz[TR2] " [17:41] -TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1kycdkzhr ) [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1kyd1abg2 [17:46] -TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1kyd1abg2 ) [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] " [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] Correct, bonus was paid, and he was higher than usual for most. No pay raises though for most. [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] 6 hours ago by Anonymous [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] | 4 reactions (+3/-1) | Reply [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @de+1kyd1abg2 [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] 0 [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] They had bonuses this year for most [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] 22 hours ago by Anonymous [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] | 4 reactions (+2/-2) | Reply [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @ab+1kyd1abg2 [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] +3 [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] "IBMs board faced an uncomfortable decision after learning that the companys second quarter had fallen well short of expectations." [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] It is common knowledge that there would be no bonus or increments for IBM employees in 2026. When company does not make money, it is unable to offer any incentives to the employees. So it was already known to the IBM board that they are not making any money. Nothing new that they learned, but it is actually the market that made an uncomfortable decision after learning that the companys second quarter had fallen well short of exp [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] ectations. [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] And how does the market react after learning that operating earnings of $2.93 per share is below the expectation of $3.02 per share. That is a shortfall of about 3% but it resulted in actual decline of 25% of the stock value i.e. almost 8 times. That is astonishing and speaks volumes about how over leveraged this company really is. [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] " [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1ky9cgv4m [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] " [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] First of many stated tuned [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] 13 hours ago by Anonymous [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] | 1 reaction (+1/-0) | Reply [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @jb+1ky9cgv4m [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] +1 [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] Wait. As per the post Starbucks spends 400 million a year on software and AK mentions multiple times in multiple interviews that the Starbucks contract to IBM is only 2 million a year? That seems pretty low. I wonder if its only 2 million [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] 20 hours ago by Anonymous [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] | 1 reaction (+1/-0) | Reply [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @h2+1ky9cgv4m [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] -2 [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] Bob won't be selling coffee anymore at Starbucks...hmmmmmn [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] 23 hours ago by Anonymous [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] | 4 reactions (+1/-3) | Reply [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] Post ID: @gn+1ky9cgv4m [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] +8 [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] @OP Yeah, why do you need to use IBM and Microsoft for an expensive solution ? Both are run by CEOs who are looking more incompetent with every passing day. [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] And these CEOs have one thing in common - both originate from the same country where corruption is a way of life. Particularly true in the way IBM is run and managed. [17:46] schestowitz[TR2] " [17:47] -TechBytesBot/#techbytes- ( status 403 @ https://www.thelayoff.com/t/1ky9cgv4m ) ● Jul 26 [18:23] *agentcas2y (~dracos@8pzu2fcsusfzc.irc) has joined #techbytes [18:24] *agentcas2y is now known as agentcasey ● Jul 26 [20:49] *psydroid3 (~psydroid@kcvnmgbxt8eqq.irc) has joined #techbytes ● Jul 26 [21:13] schestowitz[TR2] just caught your aquarium equipment search, have you checked your local clubs? they may have a swap/flea market type event to raise money for their group, if not i'm sure that they can put you in touch with members that have surplus to sell. (not sure if that was the gist of your article) [21:13] schestowitz[TR2] that is where i went [21:13] schestowitz[TR2] sort of ● Jul 26 [22:04] *psydroid3 has quit (Quit: KVIrc 5.2.10 Quasar http://www.kvirc.net/) [22:24] schestowitz[TR2] sort of? [22:24] schestowitz[TR2] yes [22:24] schestowitz[TR2] sunday [22:24] schestowitz[TR2] sunday market