I tried vibe coding for free to save $1,200 a year - and it was a total disaster

I really wanted to believe in this free AI coding tool could replace Claude Code. But it isn't ready for prime time unless you're willing to babysit.

I tried a Claude Code rival that's local, open source, and completely free - how it went

I was curious if Block's Goose agent, paired with Ollama and the Qwen3-coder model, could really replace Claude Code. Here's how it worked.
IEEE Spectrum on MSN

Low-vision programmers can now design 3D models independently

A11yShape lets blind coders design and verify models on their own ...
VTDigger

Final Reading: Should Vermont end its first-of-a-kind PCB testing program in schools?

Committee chair Rep. Peter Conlon, D-Cornwall, speaks during a meeting of the House Education Committee at the Statehouse in Montpelier on Thursday, Jan. 8. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger I’d venture ...
IEEE

Hybrid Genetic Algorithm-Constraint Programming Framework for Multi-Zone PCB Production Scheduling with Sequence-Dependent Setups

Abstract: Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing involves complex scheduling due to multi-zone production constraints and sequence-dependent setup times (SDST). Traditional optimization methods ...