Tree News

A new tool called Kanmaps lets teams build product roadmaps laid out like videogame skill trees, with features branching off one another instead of a linear timeline. The project was shared on Hacker News by its maker, drawing early attention and upvotes from the developer community. Commenters are reacting to the unusual visual metaphor for planning software work.

Volunteers are working to remove invasive ivy in California ahead of predicted El Niño storms. English ivy can smother trees and vegetation, weakening root systems and increasing the risk of falling trees and landslides when heavy rain arrives. Local news coverage highlights the community effort to clear the fast-spreading plant before winter weather tests the region's slopes and green spaces.

A blog post argues that New York City should take careful measurements before planting a new tree, though the headline alone offers little detail on which tree, where, or why. The piece has drawn modest attention on Hacker News, with readers evidently interested in the idea that urban tree planting should be approached with precise measurement.