260 posts

TIL: Terminal File Managers, ELF Format, Responsible Web Apps, Cat Computer Debugging, and Ink Narrative Language

Today I learned about modern terminal file managers, ELF executable format internals, principles of responsible web applications, hilarious computer debugging involving cats, and Ink narrative scripting language for interactive storytelling.

February 18, 2021 · 6 min

TIL: GitHubtop Real-time Activity Monitor and GoAccess Web Log Analyzer

Today I learned about ghtop for monitoring GitHub activity in real-time and GoAccess, a powerful visual web log analyzer for understanding website traffic patterns.

February 16, 2021 · 4 min

TIL: Build Your Own X Repository and Web Dev Junkie YouTube Channel

Today I learned about the comprehensive 'Build Your Own X' repository containing tutorials for building everything from operating systems to databases, and discovered the Web Dev Junkie YouTube channel for modern web development tutorials.

January 31, 2021 · 5 min

TIL: Gary Bernhardt's 'It's Fine' Talk, pstrings for Process Memory, and pytest Collection Techniques

Today I learned about Gary Bernhardt's humorous take on software development culture, the pstrings tool for examining process memory strings, and pytest's powerful test collection and filtering capabilities.

January 30, 2021 · 6 min

TIL: Kubernetes Environment Variables, Gitsome CLI, and Monkeytype

Kubernetes Configuration Management Environment Variables in Kubernetes Define Environment Variables for a Container | Kubernetes Official guide for configuring environment variables in Kubernetes pods Essential for application configuration in containerized environments Covers direct values, ConfigMaps, and Secrets as environment variable sources Critical for twelve-factor app compliance and configuration management Kubernetes Environment Variable Methods Direct Values: Simple key-value pairs defined in pod specifications ConfigMaps: Shared configuration data across multiple pods Secrets: Sensitive data like passwords and API keys Field References: Dynamic values from pod or container metadata Configuration Best Practices Separation of Concerns: Keep configuration separate from application code Environment Parity: Consistent configuration across development, staging, and production Security: Use Secrets for sensitive data, ConfigMaps for non-sensitive configuration Observability: Log configuration loading and validation for debugging Git and GitHub Productivity Tools Gitsome - Enhanced Git CLI GitHub - donnemartin/gitsome: A supercharged Git/GitHub command line interface (CLI). An official integration for GitHub and GitHub Enterprise: https://github.com/works-with/category/desktop-tools Supercharged command-line interface for Git and GitHub Integrates Git commands with GitHub functionality Provides enhanced features like auto-completion and syntax highlighting Official GitHub integration for desktop tools Gitsome Features GitHub Integration: Seamless interaction with GitHub API from command line Enhanced CLI: Improved command-line experience with modern features Productivity Boost: Faster workflows for common Git/GitHub operations Official Recognition: Listed as official GitHub desktop tool integration SSH and Network Security SSH Host Key Management HowTo: Disable SSH Host Key Checking - ShellHacks Guide for disabling SSH host key verification Useful for automated scripts and testing environments Important security consideration - should be used carefully Balances convenience with security requirements SSH Security Considerations Host Key Verification: Prevents man-in-the-middle attacks Known Hosts: SSH maintains database of verified host keys Automated Systems: Scripts may need to bypass interactive key verification Security Trade-offs: Convenience vs. security in different environments Productivity and Skill Development Monkeytype - Typing Practice Monkeytype Modern typing practice and speed testing website Clean, minimalist interface focused on typing improvement Customizable practice sessions with different text types Community features and progress tracking Typing Skills for Developers Coding Efficiency: Faster typing directly impacts programming productivity Keyboard Shortcuts: Good typing skills enable better use of shortcuts Communication: Faster writing improves documentation and communication Career Development: Typing speed can impact overall professional efficiency Monkeytype Features Customizable Tests: Different languages, lengths, and difficulty levels Real-time Feedback: Accuracy and speed metrics during typing Progress Tracking: Historical performance data and improvement trends Modern Design: Clean, distraction-free interface optimized for focus Key Takeaways Configuration Management: Proper environment variable handling is crucial for Kubernetes applications CLI Enhancement: Tools like Gitsome demonstrate how traditional command-line tools can be improved Security Awareness: Understanding SSH security implications is important for automation and scripting Skill Investment: Basic skills like typing speed have outsized impact on daily productivity Tool Selection: Modern alternatives often provide better user experience than traditional tools Official Integration: Using officially recognized tools provides better long-term support and compatibility Balance Trade-offs: Security, convenience, and productivity often require careful balancing These resources highlight the intersection of infrastructure management (Kubernetes), development productivity (enhanced Git tools), security considerations (SSH), and fundamental skills (typing) that contribute to effective software development workflows. ...

January 29, 2021 · 3 min

TIL: Kubernetes Environment Variables, kubectl tree, Git CLI, SSH, and Typing Practice

Today I learned about Kubernetes environment variable injection, kubectl tree plugin for object hierarchy visualization, enhanced Git CLI tools, SSH host key management, and online typing practice.

January 29, 2021 · 2 min

TIL: Kubernetes Tools, Split Keyboards, and Camera Recovery

Kubernetes Tools and Management Kubernetes Context and Namespace Management GitHub - ahmetb/kubectx: Faster way to switch between clusters and namespaces in kubectl Essential tool for managing multiple Kubernetes clusters and namespaces Provides kubectx for switching between clusters and kubens for switching namespaces Significantly improves productivity when working with multiple Kubernetes environments Must-have tool for Kubernetes developers and administrators Kubernetes Tree Visualization GitHub - ahmetb/kubectl-tree: kubectl plugin to browse Kubernetes object hierarchies as a tree 🎄 (star the repo if you are using) kubectl plugin that shows Kubernetes resource relationships as a tree structure Helps understand object ownership and dependencies Useful for debugging and understanding complex deployments Visual representation of Kubernetes resource hierarchies Kubernetes Application Lens GitHub - kubelens/kubelens: A lightweight lens for applications running in Kubernetes Lightweight tool for monitoring applications in Kubernetes Provides insights into application performance and health Alternative to heavier monitoring solutions for simple use cases Focused on application-level observability Serverless Computing on Kubernetes Kubeless - Kubernetes-Native FaaS Kubeless Kubernetes-native serverless framework Enables running serverless functions on Kubernetes clusters Supports multiple programming languages (Python, Node.js, Go, etc.) Integrates with Kubernetes ecosystem and tooling Kui - Kubernetes UI in Terminal Kui Hybrid command-line/GUI tool for Kubernetes Combines kubectl functionality with visual elements Provides graphical insights while maintaining command-line workflow Novel approach to Kubernetes interaction and visualization Kubernetes Security and Configuration Pull an Image from a Private Registry | Kubernetes Official guide for using private container registries Essential for production Kubernetes deployments Covers image pull secrets and authentication Critical security consideration for container deployments Hardware and Ergonomics Split Keyboards and Ergonomics GitHub - diimdeep/awesome-split-keyboards: A collection of ergonomic split keyboards ⌨ Comprehensive resource for ergonomic split keyboard options Covers various layouts, switches, and build options Important for developers who spend long hours typing Growing community around ergonomic keyboard design Kinesis Keyboard Controller GitHub - kinx-project/kint: kinT keyboard controller (Kinesis controller replacement) Open-source replacement controller for Kinesis keyboards Enables modern features like USB-C, QMK firmware support Community-driven hardware improvement project Demonstrates intersection of open source software and hardware Ergonomic Considerations for Developers Repetitive Strain Injury Prevention: Proper keyboard and mouse positioning Long-term Health: Investment in ergonomic equipment pays health dividends Productivity: Comfortable setups can improve typing speed and accuracy Customization: Programmable keyboards allow personalized workflows Photography and Security Stolen Camera Recovery Stolen Camera Finder - find your photos, find your camera Service that helps recover stolen cameras using EXIF data Uses serial numbers embedded in photo metadata Community-driven approach to camera theft recovery Demonstrates practical applications of photo metadata Photo Metadata Applications Theft Recovery: Using EXIF data to identify stolen equipment Organization: Automatic photo cataloging and sorting Forensics: Digital evidence and authenticity verification Privacy: Understanding what information photos contain Key Takeaways Kubernetes Ecosystem: Rich ecosystem of tools improves Kubernetes productivity and observability Developer Productivity: Context switching tools like kubectx are essential for multi-environment work Ergonomic Investment: Hardware investments in keyboards and workspace setup prevent long-term health issues Open Source Hardware: Community-driven hardware improvements complement software projects Serverless Evolution: Kubernetes-native serverless solutions provide alternatives to cloud provider offerings Visual Tools: Hybrid command-line/GUI tools like Kui represent evolution in developer interfaces Metadata Applications: Photo metadata has practical applications beyond technical specifications Community Resources: Curated lists and community projects provide valuable resources for specialized interests These resources demonstrate the breadth of tools and considerations in modern software development, from Kubernetes management to developer health and hardware customization. ...

January 28, 2021 · 3 min

TIL: Kubernetes Tools, Split Keyboards, and Stolen Camera Finder

Today I learned about various Kubernetes productivity tools, discovered the world of ergonomic split keyboards, and found an interesting service for tracking stolen cameras through EXIF data.

January 28, 2021 · 2 min

TIL: Amazon Writing Culture, Flask Development, Redis, and Team Collaboration Tools

Corporate Culture and Communication Amazon’s Writing-Driven Culture How Jeff Bezos Turned Narrative into Amazon’s Competitive Advantage - Knock Down Silos What might Amazon’s 6 page narrative structure look like? White Papers At Amazon. How to write a business document the… | by Andrea Marchiotto | Medium Amazon’s famous 6-page narrative documents replace PowerPoint presentations Structured approach to business communication and decision-making Emphasizes deep thinking and clear communication over flashy presentations Amazon’s Writing Structure Problem Statement: Clear definition of the issue being addressed Context and Background: Historical information and current situation Analysis: Data-driven examination of the problem Options Considered: Alternative approaches and their trade-offs Recommendation: Specific course of action with rationale Implementation Plan: Concrete steps and timeline Benefits of Writing-First Culture Deep Thinking: Writing forces clearer thought processes Asynchronous Review: Documents can be reviewed independently Persistent Knowledge: Written records outlast meetings and presentations Democratic Participation: Reduces impact of presentation skills on idea evaluation Team Collaboration and Meetings Silent Meetings Can Silent Meetings Make Your Team More Collaborative? - Knock Down Silos Meeting format where participants read documents silently before discussion Allows for deeper preparation and more thoughtful responses Reduces dominance by quick speakers and helps introverted team members Used in conjunction with Amazon’s narrative document approach Workplace Writing Culture Why Everyone on Your Team Should Strive for Good Writing - Knock Down Silos Writing skills as essential professional development Clear communication improves team efficiency and decision-making Written documentation reduces misunderstandings and improves knowledge sharing Investment in writing skills pays long-term dividends for teams Python Web Development Flask Development Flask by Example – Project Setup – Real Python Comprehensive Flask tutorial series from Real Python Covers project structure, configuration, and best practices Step-by-step approach to building production-ready Flask applications Includes deployment considerations and modern development practices Redis with Python How to Use Redis With Python – Real Python Guide to integrating Redis with Python applications Covers caching, session storage, and data structures Performance optimization techniques for web applications Essential knowledge for scalable Python web development Redis Applications Caching: Improve application performance with fast data access Session Storage: Scalable session management for web applications Message Queues: Asynchronous task processing and communication Real-time Features: Support for live updates and notifications System Administration Tools duf - Better Disk Usage Tool GitHub - muesli/duf: Disk Usage/Free Utility - a better ‘df’ alternative Modern replacement for the traditional df command Colorized output with better formatting and readability Additional information like filesystem types and mount points Cross-platform support with consistent interface duf Features Visual Design: Color-coded output for quick understanding Comprehensive Information: More details than traditional df Modern Interface: Clean, easy-to-read formatting Cross-Platform: Works consistently across different operating systems Knowledge Management Tools Outline - Team Wiki Platform GitHub - outline/outline: The fastest wiki and knowledge base for growing teams. Beautiful, feature rich, and markdown compatible. Open-source knowledge base and wiki platform Markdown-compatible with modern editing experience Designed for growing teams and collaborative documentation Alternative to proprietary wiki and documentation platforms Knowledge Management Benefits Centralized Information: Single source of truth for team knowledge Collaborative Editing: Multiple team members can contribute and edit Search and Discovery: Easy to find relevant information Version Control: Track changes and document evolution Key Takeaways Writing as Competitive Advantage: Companies can gain significant advantages through superior written communication Process Innovation: Amazon’s meeting and document processes represent significant management innovation Tool Modernization: Traditional command-line tools continue to be improved and modernized Open Source Alternatives: Quality open-source alternatives exist for most proprietary tools Collaborative Culture: Effective teams invest in communication skills and processes Technical Skills Integration: Modern development requires understanding of multiple technologies (Flask, Redis, etc.) Knowledge Management: Systematic approaches to capturing and sharing knowledge are essential for team effectiveness These resources demonstrate how technical skills (Python development, system administration) intersect with organizational effectiveness (writing culture, collaboration tools) in modern software development environments. ...

January 27, 2021 · 3 min

TIL: Silent Meetings, Flask Development, Redis, Amazon's Narrative Strategy, and Better CLI Tools

Today I learned about silent meetings for team collaboration, Flask project setup, Redis with Python, Amazon's famous 6-page narrative structure, and useful CLI utilities.

January 27, 2021 · 2 min