The Changelog: Software Development, Open Source The tech monoculture is finally breaking (News)
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Feb 2, 2026 Discussion about the end of tech monoculture as VR, AR, wearables, and 3D printers bring device diversity. A hijacked Notepad++ update and the urgent remediation steps that followed are covered. A transparent downtime apology from Tailscale and lessons on incident response are highlighted. Conversation about why deep coding peaks at four hours and risks of comprehension debt when relying on AI.
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Tech Monoculture Is Reversing
- The tech monoculture that centralized devices and experiences is beginning to fragment into diverse, purpose-driven hardware ecosystems.
- New device classes (VR, AR, wearables, 3D printers) and niche form factors signal a renewed era of device diversity and experimentation.
Personal Device Surge In 2025
- Jerod recounts acquiring more devices in 2025 than the prior five years combined as evidence of diversification.
- He cautions that SaaS and centralized platforms remain dominant even as hardware variety grows.
Notepad++ Update Hijack
- Don Ho discovered a hosting-level compromise that allowed attackers to intercept and redirect Notepad++ updates.
- He recommends downloading version 8.9 and running the installer to get the security enhancement and restore safety.