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by: Bill Dyer

By: Janus Atienza Thu, 09 Jan 2025 17:34:55 +0000 QR codes have revolutionized how we share information, offering a fast and efficient way to connect physical and digital worlds. In the Linux ecosystem, the adaptability of QR codes aligns seamlessly with the open-source philosophy, enabling developers, administrators, and users to integrate QR code functionality into various workflows. Leveraging a qr code generator free can simplify this process, making it accessible even for those new to the technology. From system administration to enhancing user interfaces, using QR codes in Linux environments is both practical and innovative. QR Codes on Linux: Where and How They Are Used QR codes serve diverse purposes in Linux systems, providing solutions that enhance functionality and user experience. For instance, Linux administrators can generate QR codes to link to system logs or troubleshooting guides, offering easy access during remote sessions. In secure file sharing, QR codes can embed links to files, enabling safe resource sharing without exposing the system to vulnerabilities. Additionally, Linux’s prevalence in IoT device management is complemented by QR codes, which simplify pairing and configuring devices. Teachers and learners attach QR codes to scripts, tutorials, or resources in education, ensuring quick access to valuable materials. These examples demonstrate how QR codes integrate seamlessly into Linux workflows to improve efficiency and usability. How to Generate QR Codes on Linux Linux users have several methods to create QR codes, from terminal-based commands to online tools like me-qr.com, which offer user-friendly interfaces. Here’s a list of ways to generate QR codes within Linux environments: Automate QR code generation with cron jobs for time-sensitive data. Encode secure access tokens or one-time passwords in QR codes. Store Linux commands in QR codes for quick scanning and execution. Use QR codes for encrypted messages using tools. Create QR codes linking to installation scripts or system resources. In Linux environments, QR codes are not limited to traditional uses. For instance, remote server management becomes more secure with QR codes containing SSH keys or login credentials, allowing encrypted device connections. Similarly, QR codes can be used in disaster recovery processes to store encryption keys or recovery instructions. For Linux-based applications, developers embed QR codes into app interfaces to direct users to support pages or additional features, decluttering the UI. Additionally, collaborative workflows benefit from QR codes directly linking to Git repositories, enabling seamless project sharing among teams. These creative applications illustrate the versatility of QR codes in enhancing functionality and security within Linux systems. The Open-Source Potential of QR Codes on Linux As Linux continues to power diverse applications, from servers to IoT devices, QR codes add a layer of simplicity and connectivity. Whether you’re looking to generate QR code free for file sharing or embed codes into an application, Linux users have a wealth of options at their fingertips. Platforms like me-qr.com provide an intuitive and accessible way to create QR codes, while command-line tools offer flexibility for advanced users. With their ability to streamline workflows and enhance user experiences, QR codes are an indispensable asset in the Linux ecosystem. Let the power of open-source meet the versatility of QR codes, and watch your Linux environment transform into a hub of connectivity and innovation. The post QR Codes and Linux: Bridging Open-Source Technology with Seamless Connectivity appeared first on Unixmen.

by: Geoff Graham Thu, 09 Jan 2025 16:16:15 +0000 I wrote a post for Smashing Magazine that was published today about this thing that Chrome and Safari have called “Tight Mode” and how it impacts page performance. I’d never heard the term until DebugBear’s Matt Zeunert mentioned it in a passing conversation, but it’s a not-so-new deal and yet there’s precious little documentation about it anywhere. So, Matt shared a couple of resources with me and I used those to put some notes together that wound up becoming the article that was published. In short: The implications are huge, as it means resources are not treated equally at face value. And yet the way Chrome and Safari approach it is wildly different, meaning the implications are wildly different depending on which browser is being evaluated. Firefox doesn’t enforce it, so we’re effectively looking at three distinct flavors of how resources are fetched and rendered on the page. It’s no wonder web performance is a hard discipline when we have these moving targets. Sure, it’s great that we now have a consistent set of metrics for evaluating, diagnosing, and discussing performance in the form of Core Web Vitals — but those metrics will never be consistent from browser to browser when the way resources are accessed and prioritized varies. Tight Mode: Why Browsers Produce Different Performance Results originally published on CSS-Tricks, which is part of the DigitalOcean family. You should get the newsletter.

by: Abhishek Prakash

As a tech-enthusiast content creator, I'm always on the lookout for innovative ways to connect with my audience and share my passion for technology and self-sufficiency. But as my newsletter grew in popularity, I found myself struggling with the financial burden of relying on external services like Mailgun - a problem many creators face when trying to scale their outreach efforts without sacrificing quality. That's when I discovered Listmonk, a free and open-source mailing list manager that not only promises high performance but also gives me complete control over my data. In this article, I'll walk you through how I successfully installed and deployed Listmonk locally using Docker, sharing my experiences and lessons learned along the way. I used Linode's cloud server to test the scenario. You may try either of Linode or DigitalOcean or your own servers. Customer Referral Landing Page - $100Cut Your Cloud Bills in Half Deploy more with Linux virtual machines, global infrastructure, and simple pricing. No surprise bills, no lock-in, and theLinodeGet started on Linode with a $100, 60-day credit for new users. DigitalOcean – The developer cloudHelping millions of developers easily build, test, manage, and scale applications of any size – faster than ever before.Explore our productsGet started on DigitalOcean with a $100, 60-day credit for new users. PrerequisitesBefore diving into the setup process, make sure you have the following: Docker and Docker Compose installed on your server.A custom domain that you want to use for Listmonk.Basic knowledge of shell commands and editing configuration files.If you are absolutely new to Docker, we have a course just for you: Learn Docker: Complete Beginner’s CourseLearn Docker, an important skill to have for any DevOps and modern sysadmin. Learn all the essentials of Docker in this series.Linux HandbookAbdullah TarekStep 1: Set up the project directoryThe first thing you need to do is create the directory where you'll store all the necessary files for Listmonk, I like an organized setup (helps in troubleshooting). In your terminal, run: mkdir listmonk cd listmonk This will set up a dedicated directory for Listmonk’s files. Step 2: Create the Docker compose fileListmonk has made it incredibly easy to get started with Docker. Their official documentation provides a detailed guide and even a sample docker-compose.yml file to help you get up and running quickly. Download the sample file to the current directory: curl -LO https://github.com/knadh/listmonk/raw/master/docker-compose.yml Here is the sample docker-compose.yml file, I tweaked some default environment variables: 💡It's crucial to keep your credentials safe! Store them in a separate .env file, not hardcoded in your docker-compose.yml. I know, I know, I did it for this tutorial... but you're smarter than that, right? 😉For most users, this setup should be sufficient but you can always tweak settings to your own needs. then run the container in the background: docker compose up -dOnce you've run these commands, you can access Listmonk by navigating to http://localhost:9000 in your browser. Setting up SSLBy default, Listmonk runs over HTTP and doesn’t include built-in SSL support. It is kinda important if you are running any service these days. So the next thing we need to do is to set up SSL support. While I personally prefer using Cloudflare Tunnels for SSL and remote access, this tutorial will focus on Caddy for its straightforward integration with Docker. Start by creating a folder named caddy in the same directory as your docker-compose.yml file: mkdir caddyInside the caddy folder, create a file named Caddyfile with the following content:th the following contents: listmonk.example.com { reverse_proxy app:9000 }Replace listmonk.example.com with your actual domain name. This tells Caddy to proxy requests from your domain to the Listmonk service running on port 9000. Ensure your domain is correctly configured in DNS. Add an A record pointing to your server's IP address (in my case, the Linode server's IP). If you’re using Cloudflare, set the proxy status to DNS only during the initial setup to let Caddy handle SSL certificates. Next, add the Caddy service to your docker-compose.yml file. Here’s the configuration to include: caddy: image: caddy:latest restart: unless-stopped container_name: caddy ports: - 80:80 - 443:443 volumes: - ./caddy/Caddyfile:/etc/caddy/Caddyfile - ./caddy/caddy_data:/data - ./caddy/caddy_config:/config networks: - listmonkThis configuration sets up Caddy to handle HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) traffic, automatically obtain SSL certificates, and reverse proxy requests to the Listmonk container. Finally, restart your containers to apply the new settings: docker-compose restartOnce the containers are up and running, navigate to your domain (e.g., https://listmonk.example.com) in a browser. Caddy will handle the SSL certificate issuance and proxy the traffic to Listmonk seamlessly. Step 3: Accessing Listmonk webUIOnce Listmonk is up and running, it’s time to access the web interface and complete the initial setup. Open your browser and navigate to your domain or IP address where Listmonk is hosted. If you’ve configured HTTPS, the URL should look something like this: https://listmonk.yourdomain.com and you’ll be greeted with the login page. Click Login to proceed. Creating the admin userOn the login screen, you’ll be prompted to create an administrator account. Enter your email address, a username, and a secure password, then click Continue. This account will serve as the primary admin for managing Listmonk. Configure general settingsOnce logged in, navigate to Settings > Settings in the left sidebar. Under the General tab, customize the following: Site Name: Enter a name for your Listmonk instance.Root URL: Replace the default http://localhost:9000 with your domain (e.g., https://listmonk.yourdomain.com).Admin Email: Add an email address for administrative notifications.Click Save to apply these changes. Configure SMTP settingsTo send emails, you’ll need to configure SMTP settings: Click on the SMTP tab in the settings.Fill in the details:Host: smtp.emailhost.comPort: 465Auth Protocol: LoginUsername: Your email addressPassword: Your email password (or Gmail App password, generated via Google’s security settings)TLS: SSL/TLSClick Save to confirm the settings.Create a new campaign listNow, let’s create a list to manage your subscribers: Go to All Lists in the left sidebar and click + New.Give your list a name, set it to Public, and choose between Single Opt-In or Double Opt-In.Add a description, then click Save.Your newsletter subscription form will now be available at: https://listmonk.yourdomain.com/subscription/form With everything set up and running smoothly, it’s time to put Listmonk to work. You can easily import your existing subscribers, customize the look and feel of your emails, and even change the logo to match your brand. Final thoughtsAnd that’s it! You’ve successfully set up Listmonk, configured SMTP, and created your first campaign list. From here, you can start sending newsletters and growing your audience. I’m currently testing Listmonk for my own newsletter solution on my website, and while it’s a robust solution, I’m curious to see how it performs in a production environment. That said, I’m genuinely impressed by the thought and effort that Kailash Nadh and the contributors have put into this software, it’s a remarkable achievement. For any questions or challenges you encounter, the Listmonk GitHub page is an excellent resource and the developers are highly responsive. Finally, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Share your feedback, comments, or suggestions below. I’d love to hear about your experience with Listmonk and how you’re using it for your projects. Happy emailing! 📨 https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2025/01/listmon-self-hosting.png

by: Chris Coyier Mon, 06 Jan 2025 20:47:37 +0000 Like Miriam Suzanne says: I like the idea of controlling my own experience when browsing and using the web. Bump up that default font size, you’re worth it. Here’s another version of control. If you publish a truncated RSS feed on your site, but the site itself has more content, I reserve the right to go fetch that content and read it through a custom RSS feed. I feel like that’s essentially the same thing as if I had an elaborate user stylesheet that I applied just to that website that made it look how I wanted it to look. It would be weird to be anti user-stylesheet. I probably don’t take enough control over my own experience on sites, really. Sometimes it’s just a time constraint where I don’t have the spoons to do a bunch of customization. But the spoon math changes when it has to do with doing my job better. I was thinking about this when someone poked me that an article I published had a wrong link in it. As I was writing it in WordPress, somehow I linked the link to some internal admin screen URL instead of where I was trying to link to. Worse, I bet I’ve made that same mistake 10 times this year. I don’t know what the heck the problem is (some kinda fat finger issue, probably) but the same problem is happening too much. What can help? User stylesheets can help! I love it when CSS helps me do my job in weird subtle ways better. I’ve applied this CSS now: .editor-visual-editor a[href*="/wp-admin/"]::after { content: " DERP!"; color: red; } That first class is just something to scope down the editor area in WordPress, then I select any links that have “wp-admin” in them, which I almost certainly do not want to be linking to, and show a visual warning. It’s a little silly, but it will literally work to stop this mistake I keep making. I find it surprising that only Safari has entirely native support for a linking up your own user CSS, but there are ways to do it via extension or other features in all browsers. Welp now that we’re talking about CSS I can’t help but share some of my favorite links in that area now. Dave put his finger on an idea I’m wildly jealous of: CSS wants to be a system. Yes! It so does! CSS wants to be a system! Alone, it’s just selectors, key/value pairs, and a smattering of other features. It doesn’t tell you how to do it, it is lumber and hardware saying build me into a tower! And also: do it your way! And the people do. Some people’s personality is: I have made this system, follow me, disciples, and embrace me. Other people’s personality is: I have also made a system, it is mine, my own, my prec… please step back behind the rope. Annnnnnd more. CSS Surprise Manga Lines from Alvaro are fun and weird and clever. Whirl: “CSS loading animations with minimal effort!” Jhey’s got 108 of them open sourced so far (like, 5 years ago, but I’m just seeing it.) Next-level frosted glass with backdrop-filter. Josh covers ideas (with credit all the way back to Jamie Gray) related to the “blur the stuff behind it” look. Yes, backdrop-filter does the heavy lifting, but there are SO MANY DETAILS to juice it up. Custom Top and Bottom CSS Container Masks from Andrew is a nice technique. I like the idea of a “safe” way to build non-rectangular containers where the content you put inside is actually placed safely.

by: Andy Bell Mon, 06 Jan 2025 14:58:46 +0000 I’ll set out my stall and let you know I am still an AI skeptic. Heck, I still wrap “AI” in quotes a lot of the time I talk about it. I am, however, skeptical of the present, rather than the future. I wouldn’t say I’m positive or even excited about where AI is going, but there’s an inevitability that in development circles, it will be further engrained in our work. We joke in the industry that the suggestions that AI gives us are more often than not, terrible, but that will only improve in time. A good basis for that theory is how fast generative AI has improved with image and video generation. Sure, generated images still have that “shrink-wrapped” look about them, and generated images of people have extra… um… limbs, but consider how much generated AI images have improved, even in the last 12 months. There’s also the case that VC money is seemingly exclusively being invested in AI, industry-wide. Pair that with a continuously turbulent tech recruitment situation, with endless major layoffs and even a skeptic like myself can see the writing on the wall with how our jobs as developers are going to be affected. The biggest risk factor I can foresee is that if your sole responsibility is to write code, your job is almost certainly at risk. I don’t think this is an imminent risk in a lot of cases, but as generative AI improves its code output — just like it has for images and video — it’s only a matter of time before it becomes a redundancy risk for actual human developers. Do I think this is right? Absolutely not. Do I think it’s time to panic? Not yet, but I do see a lot of value in evolving your skillset beyond writing code. I especially see the value in improving your soft skills. What are soft skills? A good way to think of soft skills is that they are life skills. Soft skills include: communicating with others, organizing yourself and others, making decisions, and adapting to difficult situations. I believe so much in soft skills that I call them core skills and for the rest of this article, I’ll refer to them as core skills, to underline their importance. The path to becoming a truly great developer is down to more than just coding. It comes down to how you approach everything else, like communication, giving and receiving feedback, finding a pragmatic solution, planning — and even thinking like a web developer. I’ve been working with CSS for over 15 years at this point and a lot has changed in its capabilities. What hasn’t changed though, is the core skills — often called “soft skills” — that are required to push you to the next level. I’ve spent a large chunk of those 15 years as a consultant, helping organizations — both global corporations and small startups — write better CSS. In almost every single case, an improvement of the organization’s core skills was the overarching difference. The main reason for this is a lot of the time, the organizations I worked with coded themselves into a corner. They’d done that because they just plowed through — Jira ticket after Jira ticket — rather than step back and question, “is our approach actually working?” By focusing on their team’s core skills, we were often — and very quickly — able to identify problem areas and come up with pragmatic solutions that were almost never development solutions. These solutions were instead: Improving communication and collaboration between design and development teams Reducing design “hand-off” and instead, making the web-based output the source of truth Moving slowly and methodically to move fast Putting a sharp focus on planning and collaboration between developers and designers, way in advance of production work being started Changing the mindset of “plow on” to taking a step back, thoroughly evaluating the problem, and then developing a collaborative and by proxy, much simpler solution Will improving my core skills actually help? One thing AI cannot do — and (hopefully) never will be able to do — is be human. Core skills — especially communication skills — are very difficult for AI to recreate well because the way we communicate is uniquely human. I’ve been doing this job a long time and something that’s certainly propelled my career is the fact I’ve always been versatile. Having a multifaceted skillset — like in my case, learning CSS and HTML to improve my design work — will only benefit you. It opens up other opportunities for you too, which is especially important with the way the tech industry currently is. If you’re wondering how to get started on improving your core skills, I’ve got you. I produced a course called Complete CSS this year but it’s a slight rug-pull because it’s actually a core skills course that uses CSS as a context. You get to learn some iron-clad CSS skills alongside those core skills too, as a bonus. It’s definitely worth checking out if you are interested in developing your core skills, especially so if you receive a training budget from your employer. Wrapping up The main message I want to get across is developing your core skills is as important — if not more important — than keeping up to date with the latest CSS or JavaScript thing. It might be uncomfortable for you to do that, but trust me, being able to stand yourself out over AI is only going to be a good thing, and improving your core skills is a sure-fire way to do exactly that. The Importance of Investing in Soft Skills in the Age of AI originally published on CSS-Tricks, which is part of the DigitalOcean family. You should get the newsletter.

by: Abhishek Prakash

File descriptors are a core concept in Linux and other Unix-like operating systems. They provide a way for programs to interact with files, devices, and other input/output (I/O) resources. Simply put, a file descriptor is like a "ticket" or "handle" that a program uses to access these resources. Every time a program opens a file or creates an I/O resource (like a socket or pipe), the operating system assigns it a unique number called a file descriptor. This number allows the program to read, write, or perform other operations on the resource. And as we all know, in Linux, almost everything is treated as a file—whether it's a text file, a keyboard input, or even network communication. File descriptors make it possible to handle all these resources in a consistent and efficient way. What Are File Descriptors?A file descriptor is a non-negative integer assigned by your operating system whenever a program opens a file or another I/O resource. It acts as an identifier that the program uses to interact with the resource. For example: When you open a text file, the operating system assigns it a file descriptor (e.g., 3).If you open another file, it gets the next available file descriptor (e.g., 4).These numbers are used internally by the program to perform operations like reading from or writing to the resource. This simple mechanism allows programs to interact with different resources without needing to worry about how these resources are implemented underneath. For instance, whether you're reading from a keyboard or writing to a network socket, you use file descriptors in the same way! The three standard file descriptorsEvery process in Linux starts with three predefined file descriptors: Standard Input (stdin), Standard Output (stdout), and Standard Error (stderr). Here's a brief summary of their use: Descriptor Integer Value Symbolic Constant Purpose stdin 0 STDIN_FILENO Standard input (keyboard input by default) stdout 1 STDOUT_FILENO Standard output (screen output by default) stderr 2 STDERR_FILENO Standard error (error messages by default) Now, let's address each file descriptor with details. 1. Standard Input (stdin)- Descriptor: 0The purpose of the standard input stream is to receive input data. By default, it reads input from the keyboard unless redirected to another source like a file or pipe. Programs use stdin to accept user input interactively or process data from external sources. When you type something into the terminal and press Enter, the data is sent to the program's stdin. This stream can also be redirected to read from files or other programs using shell redirection operators (<). One simple example of stdin would be a script that takes input from the user and prints it: #!/bin/bash # Prompt the user to enter their name echo -n "Enter your name: " # Read the input from the user read name # Print a greeting message echo "Hello, $name!" Here's what the output looks like: But there is another way of using the input stream–redirecting the input itself. You can create a text file and redirect the input stream. For example, here I have created a sample text file named input.txt which contains my name Satoshi. Later I redirected the input stream using <: As you can see, rather than waiting for my input, it took data from the text file and we somewhat automated this. 2. Standard Output (stdout)- Descriptor: 1The standard output stream is used for displaying normal output generated by programs. By default, it writes output to the terminal screen unless redirected elsewhere. In simple terms, programs use stdout to print results or messages. This stream can be redirected to write output to files or other programs using shell operators (> or |). Let's take a simple script that prints a greeting message: #!/bin/bash # Print a message to standard output echo "This is standard output." Here's the simple output (nothing crazy but a decent example): Now, if I want to redirect the output to a file, rather than showing it on the terminal screen, then I can use > as shown here: ./stdout.sh > output.txtAnother good example can be the redirecting output of a command to a text file: ls > output.txt3. Standard Error (stderr)- Descriptor: 2The standard error stream is used for displaying error messages and diagnostics. It is separate from stdout so that errors can be handled independently of normal program output. For better understanding, I wrote a script that will trigger the stderr signal as I have used the exit 1 to mimic a faulty execution: #!/bin/bash # Print a message to standard output echo "This is standard output." # Print an error message to standard error echo "This is an error message." >&2 # Exit with a non-zero status to indicate an error exit 1 But if you were to execute this script, it would simply print "This is an error message." To understand better, you can redirect the output and error to different files. For example, here, I have redirected the error message to stderr.log and the normal output will go into stdout.log: ./stderr.sh > stdout.log 2> stderr.logBonus: Types of limits on file descriptorsLinux kernel puts a limit on the number of file descriptors a process can use. These limits help manage system resources and prevent any single process from using too many. There are different types of limits, each serving a specific purpose. Soft Limits: The default maximum number of file descriptors a process can open. Users can temporarily increase this limit up to the hard limit for their session.Hard Limits: The absolute maximum number of file descriptors a process can open. Only the system admin can increase this limit to ensure system stability.Process-Level Limits: Each process has its own set of file descriptor limits, inherited from its parent process, to prevent any single process from overusing resources.System-Level Limits: The total number of file descriptors available across all processes on the system. This ensures fairness and prevents global resource exhaustion.User-Level Limits: Custom limits set for specific users or groups to allocate resources differently based on their needs.Wrapping Up...In this explainer, I went through what file descriptors are in Linux and shared some practical examples to explain their function. I tried to cover the types of limits in detail but then I had to drop the "detail" to stick to the main idea of this article. But if you want, I can surely write a detailed article on the types of limits on file descriptors. Also, if you have any questions or suggestions, leave us a comment. https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2025/01/file-descriptor-in-linux.png

by: Abhishek Prakash

I don’t like my prompt, i want to change it. it has my username and host, but the formatting is not what i want. This blog will get you started quickly on doing exactly that. This is my current prompt below: To change the prompt you will update .bashrc and set the PS1 environment variable to a new value. Here is a cheatsheet of the prompt options: You can use these placeholders for customization: \u – Username \h – Hostname \w – Current working directory \W – Basename of the current working directory \$ – Shows $ for a normal user and # for the root user \t – Current time (HH:MM:SS) \d – Date (e.g., "Mon Jan 05") \! – History number of the command \# – Command number I want to change my prompt to say Here is my new prompt I am going to use: export PS1="linuxhint@mybox \w: " Can you guess what that does? Yes for my article writing this is exactly what i want. Here is the screenshot: A lot of people will want the Username, Hostname, for my example i don’t! But you can use \u and \h for that. I used \w to show what directory i am in. You can also show date and time, etc. You can also play with setting colors in the prompt with these variables: Foreground Colors: \e[30m – Black \e[31m – Red \e[32m – Green \e[33m – Yellow \e[34m – Blue \e[35m – Magenta \e[36m – Cyan \e[37m – White Background Colors: \e[40m – Black \e[41m – Red \e[42m – Green \e[43m – Yellow \e[44m – Blue \e[45m – Magenta \e[46m – Cyan \e[47m – White Reset Color: \e[0m – Reset to default Here is my colorful version. The backslashes are primarily needed to ensure proper formatting of the prompt and avoid breaking its functionality. export PS1="\[\e[35m\]linuxhint\[\e[0m\]@\[\e[34m\]mybox\[\e[0m\] \[\e[31m\]\w\[\e[0m\]: " This uses Magenta, Blue and Red coloring for different parts of the prompt. Conclusion You can see how to customize your bash prompt with PS1 environment in Ubuntu. Hope this helps you be happy with your environment in linux.

by: Abhishek Prakash

by: Geoff Graham Mon, 30 Dec 2024 16:15:37 +0000 I’ll be honest: writing this post feels like a chore some years. Rounding up and reflecting on what’s happened throughout the year is somewhat obligatory for a site like this, especially when it’s a tradition that goes back as far as 2007. “Hey, look at all the cool things we did!” This year is different. Much different. I’m more thankful this time around because, last year, I didn’t even get to write this post. At this time last year, I was a full-time student bent on earning a master’s degree while doing part-time contract work. But now that I’m back, writing this feels so, so, so good. There’s a lot more gusto going into my writing when I say: thank you so very much! It’s because of you and your support for this site that I’m back at my regular job. I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that, so please accept my sincerest gratitude and appreciation. Thank you! Let’s tie a bow on this year and round up what happened around here in 2024. Overall traffic Is it worth saying anything about traffic? This site’s pageviews had been trending down since 2020 as it has for just about any blog about front-end dev, but it absolutely cratered when the site was on pause for over a year. Things began moving again in late May, but it was probably closer to mid-June when the engine fully turned over and we resumed regular publishing. And, yes. With regular publishing came a fresh influx of pageviews. Funny how much difference it makes just turning on the lights. All said and done, we had 26 million unique pageviews in 2024. That’s exactly what we had in 2023 as traffic went into a tailspin, so I call it a win that we stopped the bleeding and broke even this year. Publishing A little bit of history when it comes to how many articles we publish each year: 2020: 1,183 articles 2021: 890 articles (site acquired by DigitalOcean) 2022: 390 articles 2023: 0 articles (site paused) 2024: 153 articles (site resumed in late June) Going from 0 articles to 153 (including this one) in six months was no small task. I was the only writer on the team until about October. There are only three of us right now; even then, we’re all extremely part-time workers. Between us and 19 guest authors, I’d say that we outperformed expectations as far as quantity goes — but I’m even more proud of the effort and quality that goes into each one. It’s easy to imagine publishing upwards of 400 articles in 2025 if we maintain the momentum. Case in point: we published a whopping three guides in six months: CSS Anchor Positioning CSS Length Units CSS Selectors That might not sound like a lot, so I’ll put it in context. We published just one guide in 2022 and our goal was to write three in all of 2021. We got three this year alone, and they’re all just plain great. I visit Juan’s Anchor Positioning guide as much as — if not more than — I do the ol’ Flexbox and Grid guides. On top of that, we garnered 34 new additions to the CSS-Tricks Almanac! That includes all of the features for Anchor Positioning and View Transitions, as well as other new features like @starting-style. And the reason spent so much time in the Almanac is because we made some significant… Site updates This is where the bulk of the year was spent, so let’s break things out into digestible chunks. Almanac We refreshed the entire thing! It used to be just selectors and properties, but now we can write about everything from at-rules and functions to pseudos and everything in between. We still need a lot of help in there, so maybe consider guesting writing with us. 😉 Table of Contents We’ve been embedding anchor links to section headings in articles for several years, but it required using a WordPress block and it was fairly limiting as far as placement and customization. Now we generate those links automatically and include a conditional that allows us to toggle it on and off for specific articles. I’m working on an article about how it came together that we’ll publish after the holiday break. Notes There’s a new section where we take notes on what other people are writing about and share our takeaways with you. The motivation was to lower the barrier to writing more freely. Technical writing takes a lot of care and planning that’s at odds with openly learning and sharing. This way, we have a central spot where you can see what we’re learning and join us along the way — such as this set of notes I took from Bramus’ amazing free course on scroll-driven animations. Links This is another area of the site that got a fresh coat of paint. Well, more than paint. It used to be that links were in the same stream as the rest of the articles, tutorials, and guides we publish. Links are meant to be snappy, sharable bits — conversation starters if you will. Breaking them out of the main feed into their own distinguished section helps reduce the noise on this site while giving links a brighter spotlight with a quicker path to get to the original article. Like when there’s a new resource for learning Anchor Positioning, we can shoot that out a lot more easily. Quick Hits We introduced another new piece of content in the form of brief one-liners that you might typically find us posting on Mastodon or Bluesky. We still post to those platforms but now we can write them here on the site and push them out when needed. There’s a lot more flexibility there, even if we haven’t given it a great deal of love just yet. Picks There’s a new feed of the articles we’re reading. It might seem a lot like Links, but the idea is that we can simply “star” something from our RSS reader and it’ll show up in the feed. They’re simply interesting articles that catch our attention that we want to spotlight and share, even if we don’t have any commentary to contribute. This was Chris’ brainchild a few years ago and it feels so good to bring it to fruition. I’ll write something up about it after the break, but you can already head over there. Baseline Status Ooo, this one’s fun! I saw that the Chrome team put out a new web component for embedding web platform browser support information on a page so I set out to make it into a WordPress block we can use throughout the Almanac, which we’re already starting to roll out as content is published or refreshed (such as here in the anchor-name property). I’m still working on a write-up about it, but it’s I’ve already made it available in the WordPress Plugin Directory if you want to grab it for your WordPress site. Or, here… I can simply drop it in and show you. Post Slider This was one of the first things I made when re-joining the team. We wanted to surface a greater number of articles on the homepage so that it’s easier to find specific types of content, whether it’s the latest five articles, the 10 most recently updated Almanac items or guides, classic CSS tricks from ages ago… that sort of thing. So, we got away from merely showing the 10 most recent articles and developed a series of post sliders that pull from different areas of the site. Converting our existing post slider component into a WordPress block made it more portable and a heckuva lot easier to update the homepage — and any other page or post where we might need a post slider. In fact, that’s another one I can demo for you right here… Classic Tricks Timeless CSS gems Article on Oct 6, 2021 Scroll Animation Chris Coyier Article on Oct 6, 2021 Yellow Flash Chris Coyier Article on Oct 6, 2021 Self-Drawing Shapes Chris Coyier Article on Oct 6, 2021 Scroll Shadows Chris Coyier Article on May 20, 2020 Editable Style Blocks Chris Coyier Article on Oct 6, 2021 Scroll Indicator Chris Coyier Article on Mar 15, 2020 Border Triangles Chris Coyier Article on Oct 3, 2021 Pin Scrolling to Bottom Chris Coyier Article on Jul 5, 2021 Infinite Scrolling Background Image Chris Coyier So, yeah. This year was heavier on development than many past years. But everything was done with the mindset of making content easier to find, publish, and share. I hope that this is like a little punch on the gas pedal that accelerates our ability to get fresh content out to you. 2025 Goals I’m quite reluctant to articulate new goals when there are so many things still in flux, but the planner in me can’t help myself. If I can imagine a day at the end of next year when I’m reflecting on things exactly like this, I’d be happy, nay stoked, if I was able to say we did these things: Publish 1-2 new guides. We already have two in the works! That said, the bar for quality is set very high on these, so it’s still a journey to get from planning to publishing two stellar and chunky guides. Fill in the Almanac. My oh my, there is SO much work to do in this little corner of the site. We’ve only got a few pages in the at-rules and functions sections that we recently created and could use all the help we can get. Restart the newsletter. This is something I’ve been itching to do. I know I miss reading the newsletter (especially when Robin was writing it) and this community feels so much smaller and quieter without it. The last issue went out in December 2022 and it’s high time we get it going again. The nuts and bolts are still in place. All we need is a little extra resourcing and the will to do it, and we’ve got at least half of that covered. More guest authors. I mentioned earlier that we’ve worked with 19 guest authors since June of this year. That’s great but also not nearly enough given that this site thrives on bringing in outside voices that we can all learn from. We were clearly busy with development and all kinds of other site updates but I’d like to re-emphasize our writing program this year, with the highest priority going into making it as smooth as possible to submit ideas, receive timely feedback on them, and get paid for what gets published. There’s a lot of invisible work that goes into that but it’s worth everyone’s while because it’s a win-win-win-win (authors win, readers win, CSS-Tricks wins, and DigitalOcean wins). Here’s to 2025! Thank you. That’s the most important thing I want to say. And special thanks to Juan Diego Rodriguez and Ryan Trimble. You may not know it, but they joined the team this Fall and have been so gosh-dang incredibly helpful. I wish every team had a Juan and Ryan just like I do — we’d all be better for it, that’s for sure. I know I learn a heckuva lot from them and I’m sure you will (or are!) as well. Juan Diego Rodriguez Ryan Trimble Give them high-fives when you see them because they deserve it. ✋ Thank You (2024 Edition) originally published on CSS-Tricks, which is part of the DigitalOcean family. You should get the newsletter.

by: Bill Dyer During a weekend of tidying up - you know, the kind of chore where you’re knee-deep in old boxes before you realize it. Digging through the dusty cables and old, outdated user manuals, I found something that I had long forgotten: an old Plan9 distribution. Judging by the faded ink and slight warping of the disk sleeve, it had to be from around 1994 or 1995. I couldn’t help but wonder: why had I kept this? Back then, I was curious about Plan9. It was a forward-thinking OS that never quite reached full potential. Holding that disk, however, it felt more like a time capsule, a real reminder of computing’s advancements and adventurous spirit in the 1990s. What Made Plan9 So Intriguing Back Then?In the 1990s, Bell Labs carried an almost mythical reputation for me. I was a C programmer and Unix system administrator and the people at Bell Labs were the minds behind Unix and C, after all. When Plan9 was announced, it felt like the next big thing. Plan9 was an operating system that promised to rethink Unix, not just patch it up. The nerd in me couldn’t resist playing with it. A Peek Inside the DistroBooting up Plan9 wasn’t like loading any other OS. From the minimalist Rio interface to the “everything is a file” philosophy taken to its extreme, it was clear this was something different. Some standout features that left an impression: 9P Protocol: I didn’t grasp its full potential back then, but the idea of treating every resource as part of a unified namespace was extraordinary.Custom Namespaces: The concept of every user having their own view of the system wasn’t just revolutionary; it was downright empowering.Simplicity and Elegance: Even as a die-hard Unix user, I admired Plan9's ability to strip away the cruft without losing functionality.Looking at Plan9 TodayCuriosity got the better of me, and I decided to see if the disk still worked. Spoiler: it didn’t. But thanks to projects like 9front, Plan9 is far from dead. I was able to download and image and fire it up in a VM. The interface hasn't aged well compared to modern GUIs, but its philosophy and design still feels ahead of its time. As a seasoned (read: older) developer, I’ve come to appreciate things I might have overlooked in the 1990s: Efficiency over bloat: In today’s world of resource-hungry systems, Plan9’s lightweight design is like a breath of fresh air.Academic appeal: Its clarity and modularity makes Plan9 and outstanding teaching tool for operating system concepts.Timeless innovations: Ideas like distributed computing and namespace customization feels even more pertinent in this era of cloud computing.Why didn’t Plan9 take off?Plan9 was ahead of its time, which often spells doom for innovative tech. Its radical departure from Unix made it incompatible with existing software. And let’s face it - developers were (and still are) reluctant to ditch well-established ecosystems. Moreover, by the 1990s, Unix clones, such as Linux, were gaining traction. Open-source communities rallied around Linux, leaving Plan9 with a smaller, academic-focused user base. It just didn't have the commercial/user backup. Plan9’s place in the retro-computing sceneI admit it: I can get sappy and nostalgic over tech history. Plan9 is more than a relic; it’s a reminder of a time when operating systems dared to dream big. It never achieved the widespread adoption of Unix or Linux, but it still has a strong following among retro-computing enthusiasts. Here’s why it continues to matter: For Developers: It’s a masterclass in clean, efficient design.For Historians: It’s a snapshot of what computing could have been.For Hobbyists: It’s a fun, low-resource system to tinker with.Check out the 9front project. It’s a maintained fork that modernizes Plan9 while staying true to its roots. Plan9 can run on modern hardware. It is lightweight enough to run on old machines, but I suggest using a VM; it is the easiest route. Lessons from years pastHow a person uses Plan9 is up to them, naturally, but I don't think that Plan9 is practical for everyday use. Plan9, I believe, is better suited as an experimental or educational platform rather than a daily driver. However, that doesn't mean that it wasn't special. Finding that old Plan9 disk wasn’t just a trip down memory lane; it was a reminder of why I was so drawn to computing. Plan9’s ambition and elegance is still inspiring to me, even decades later. So, whether you’re a retro-computing nerd, like me, or just curious about alternative OS designs, give Plan9 a run. Who knows? You might find a little magic in its simplicity, just like I did.

by: aiparabellum.com Mon, 30 Dec 2024 02:06:14 +0000 BugFree.ai is a cutting-edge platform designed to help professionals and aspiring candidates prepare for system design and behavioral interviews. Much like Leetcode prepares users for technical coding challenges, BugFree.ai focuses on enhancing your skills in system design and behavioral interviews, making it an indispensable tool for anyone aiming to succeed in technical interviews. This platform offers a unique approach by combining guided learning, real-world scenarios, and hands-on practice to ensure users are well-prepared for their next big interview opportunity. Features of BugFree AI Comprehensive System Design Practice: BugFree.ai provides an extensive range of system design problems that mimic real-world scenarios, helping you understand and implement scalable and efficient system architectures. Behavioral Interview Preparation: The platform helps users articulate their experiences, challenges, and achievements while preparing for behavioral interviews, ensuring confidence in presenting your story. Interactive Environment: The platform simulates a real interview environment, allowing users to practice and refine their responses dynamically. Expertly Curated Content: All interview questions and exercises are designed and reviewed by industry experts, ensuring relevance and quality. Progress Tracking: BugFree.ai provides detailed feedback and progress tracking, enabling users to identify their strengths and areas for improvement. Personalized Feedback: The platform offers tailored feedback to help you refine your solutions and responses to both technical and behavioral questions. Mock Interviews: Engage in mock interviews to practice under realistic conditions and receive performance reviews. How It Works Sign Up: Create an account to access the features and resources available on BugFree.ai. Choose Your Path: Select from system design or behavioral interview modules based on your preparation needs. Practice Questions: Start solving system design problems or explore behavioral interview scenarios provided on the platform. Mock Interviews: Participate in mock interviews to simulate real-world interview experiences with expert feedback. Review Feedback and Progress: Review detailed performance feedback after each session to track your improvements over time. Refine and Repeat: Revisit areas of difficulty, refine your approach, and continue practicing until you feel confident. Benefits of BugFree AI Holistic Preparation: BugFree.ai covers both technical and non-technical aspects of interviews, ensuring well-rounded preparation. Industry-Relevant Content: Questions and scenarios are aligned with current industry trends and challenges. Confidence Building: Gain confidence with regular practice, mock interviews, and constructive feedback. Time-Efficient: Focused modules save time by targeting key areas of improvement directly. Career Advancement: Well-prepared candidates stand out in interviews, increasing their chances of landing their dream job. User-Friendly Interface: The platform is intuitive and easy to use, providing a seamless learning experience. Pricing BugFree.ai offers pricing plans tailored to different needs: Free Trial: A limited version to explore the platform and its features. Basic Plan: Ideal for beginners with access to core features. Pro Plan: Includes advanced system design problems, comprehensive behavioral modules, and mock interviews. Enterprise Plan: Designed for organizations seeking to train multiple candidates at scale with custom solutions. Specific pricing details are available upon signing up or contacting BugFree.ai. Review BugFree.ai has received positive feedback for its innovative approach to interview preparation. Users appreciate the combination of system design and behavioral modules, which cater to both technical and interpersonal skills. The personalized feedback and mock interview features have been highlighted as particularly useful. However, some users suggest adding more diverse problem sets to further enhance the learning experience. Overall, BugFree.ai is highly recommended for anyone looking to excel in their system design and behavioral interviews. Conclusion BugFree.ai is a comprehensive platform that equips users with the skills and confidence needed to excel in system design and behavioral interviews. Its unique approach, expert-curated content, and personalized feedback make it a valuable resource for job seekers and professionals aiming to advance their careers. With BugFree.ai, you can practice, refine, and succeed in your next big interview. Visit Website The post BugFree appeared first on AI Tools Directory | Browse & Find Best AI Tools.

imageIn Bash version 4, associative arrays were introduced, and from that point, they solved my biggest problem with arrays in Bash—indexing. Associative arrays allow you to create key-value pairs, offering a more flexible way to handle data compared to indexed arrays. In simple terms, you can store and retrieve data using string keys, rather than numeric indices as in traditional indexed arrays. But before we begin, make sure you are running the bash version 4 or above by checking the bash version: echo $BASH_VERSIONIf you are running bash version 4 or above, you can access the associative array feature. Using Associative arrays in bash Before I walk you through the examples of using associative arrays, I would like to mention the key differences between Associative and indexed arrays: Feature Indexed Arrays Associative Arrays Index Type Numeric (e.g., 0, 1, 2) String (e.g., "name", "email") Declaration Syntax declare -a array_name declare -A array_name Access Syntax ${array_name[index]} ${array_name["key"]} Use Case Sequential or numeric data Key-value pair data Now, let's take a look at what you are going to learn in this tutorial on using Associative arrays: Declaring an Associative arrayAssigning values to an arrayAccessing values of an arrayIterating over an array's elements1. How to declare an Associative array in bashTo declare an associative array in bash, all you have to do is use the declare command with the -A flag along with the name of the array as shown here: declare -A Array_nameFor example, if I want to declare an associative array named LHB, then I would use the following command: declare -A LHB2. How to add elements to an Associative arrayThere are two ways you can add elements to an Associative array: You can either add elements after declaring an array or you can add elements while declaring an array. I will show you both. Adding elements after declaring an arrayThis is quite easy and recommended if you are getting started with bash scripting. In this method, you add elements to the already declared array one by one. To do so, you have to use the following syntax: my_array[key1]="value1"In my case, I have assigned two values using two key pairs to the LHB array: LHB[name]="Satoshi" LHB[age]="25"Adding elements while declaring an arrayIf you want to add elements while declaring the associative array itself, you can follow the given command syntax: declare -A my_array=( [key1]="value1" [key2]="value2" [key3]="value3" )For example, here, I created a new associated array and added three elements: declare -A myarray=( [Name]="Satoshi" [Age]="25" [email]="satoshi@xyz.com" )3. Create a read-only Associative arrayIf you want to create a read-only array (for some reason), you'd have to use the -r flag while creating an array: declare -rA my_array=( [key1]="value1" [key2]="value2" [key3]="value3" )Here, I created a read-only Associative array named MYarray: declare -rA MYarray=( [City]="Tokyo" [System]="Ubuntu" [email]="satoshi@xyz.com" )Now, if I try to add a new element to this array, it will throw an error saying "MYarray: read-only variable": 4. Print keys and values of an Associative arrayIf you want to print the value of a specific key (similar to printing the value of a specific indexed element), you can simply use the following syntax for that purpose: echo ${my_array[key1]}For example, if I want to print the value of email key from the myarray array, I would use the following: echo ${myarray[email]}Print the value of all keys and elements at onceThe method of printing all the keys and elements of an Associative array is mostly the same. To print all keys at once, use ${!my_array[@]} which will retrieve all the keys in the associative array: echo "Keys: ${!my_array[@]}"If I want to print all the keys of myarray, then I would use the following: echo "Keys: ${!myarray[@]}"On the other hand, if you want to print all the values of an Associative array, use ${my_array[@]} as shown here: echo "Values: ${my_array[@]}"To print values of the myarray, I used the below command: echo "Values: ${myarray[@]}"5. Find the Length of the Associative ArrayThe method for finding the length of the associative array is exactly the same as you do with the indexed arrays. You can use the ${#array_name[@]} syntax to find this count as shown here: echo "Length: ${#my_array[@]}"If I want to find a length of myarray array, then I would use the following: echo "Length: ${#myarray[@]}"6. Iterate over an Associative arrayIterating over an associative array allows you to process each key-value pair. In Bash, you can loop through: The keys using ${!array_name[@]}.The corresponding values using ${array_name[$key]}.This is useful for tasks like displaying data, modifying values, or performing computations. For example, here I wrote a simple for loop to print the keys and elements accordingly: for key in "${!myarray[@]}"; do echo "Key: $key, Value: ${myarray[$key]}" done7. Check if a key exists in the Associative arraySometimes, you need to verify whether a specific key exists in an associative array. Bash provides the -v operator for this purpose. Here, I wrote a simple if else script that uses the -v flag to check if a key exists in the myarray array: if [[ -v myarray["username"] ]]; then echo "Key 'username' exists" else echo "Key 'username' does not exist" fi8. Clear Associative arrayIf you want to remove specific keys from the associative array, then you can use the unset command along with a key you want to remove: unset my_array["key1"]For example, if I want to remove the email key from the myarray array, then I will use the following: unset myarray["email"]9. Delete the Associative arrayIf you want to delete the associative array, all you have to do is use the unset command along with the array name as shown here: unset my_arrayFor example, if I want to delete the myarray array, then I would use the following: unset myarrayWrapping Up...In this tutorial, I went through the basics of the associative array with multiple examples. I hope you will find this guide helpful. If you have any questions or suggestions, leave us a comment. https://linuxhandbook.com/content/images/2024/12/associative-array-bash.png

by: Abhishek Kumar I host nearly all the services I use on a bunch of Raspberry Pis and other hardware scattered across my little network. From media servers to automation tools, it's all there. But let me tell you, the more services you run, the more chaotic it gets. Trying to remember which server is running what, and keeping tabs on their status, can quickly turn into a nightmare. That's where dashboards come to the rescue. They're not just eye candy; they're sanity savers. These handy tools bring everything together in one neat interface, so you know what's running, where, and how it's doing. If you’re in the same boat, here’s a curated list of some excellent dashboards that can be the control center of your homelab. 1. HomerIt’s essentially a static homepage that uses a simple YAML file for configuration. It’s lightweight, fast, and great for organizing bookmarks to your services. Customizing Homer is a breeze, with options for grouping services, applying themes, and even offline health checks. You can check out the demo yourself: While it’s not as feature-rich as some of the other dashboards here, that’s part of its charm, it’s easy to set up and doesn’t bog you down with unnecessary complexity. Deploy it using Docker, or just serve it from any web server. The downside? It’s too basic for those who want features like real-time monitoring or authentication. ✅ Easy YAML-based configuration, ideal for beginners. ✅ Lightweight and fast, with offline health checks for services. ✅ Supports theme customization and keyboard shortcuts. ❌ Limited to static links—lacks advanced monitoring or dynamic widgets. Homer2. DashyIf you’re the kind of person who loves tinkering with every detail, Dashy will feel like a playground. Its highly customizable interface lets you organize services, monitor their status, and even integrate widgets for extra functionality. Dashy supports multiple themes, custom icons, and dynamic content from your other tools. You can check out the live demo of Dashy yourself: However, its extensive customization options can be overwhelming at first. It’s also more resource-intensive than simpler dashboards, but the trade-off is worth it for the sheer flexibility it offers. Install Dashy with Docker, or go bare metal if you’re feeling adventurous. ✅ Highly customizable with themes, layouts, and UI elements. ✅ Supports status monitoring and dynamic widgets for real-time updates. ✅ Easy setup via Docker, with YAML or GUI configuration options. ❌ Feature-heavy, which may feel overwhelming for users seeking simplicity. ❌ Can be resource-intensive on low-powered hardware. Dashy3. HeimdallHeimdall keeps things clean and simple while offering a touch of intelligence. You can add services with optional API integrations, enabling Heimdall to display real-time information like server stats or media progress. It doesn’t try to do everything, which makes it an excellent choice for those who just want an app launcher that works. It’s quick to set up, runs on Docker, and doesn’t demand much in terms of resources. Source: HeimdallThat said, the lack of advanced features like widgets or multi-user support might feel limiting for some. ✅ Clean and intuitive interface with support for dynamic API-based widgets. ✅ Straightforward installation via Docker or bare-metal setup. ✅ Highly extensible, with the ability to add links to non-application services. ❌ Limited customization compared to Dashy or Organizr. ❌ No built-in user authentication or multi-user support. Heimdall4. OrganizrOrganizr is like a Swiss Army knife for homelab enthusiasts. It’s more than a dashboard, it’s a full-fledged service organizer that lets you manage multiple applications within a single web interface. Tabs are the core of Organizr, allowing you to categorize and access services with ease. You can experiment yourself with their demo website. It also supports multi-user environments, guest access, and integration with tools like Plex or Emby. This Organizr dashboard is shared by a user on Reddit | Source: r/organizrSetting it up requires some work, as it’s PHP-based, but once you’re up and running, it’s an incredibly powerful tool. The downside? It’s resource-heavy and overkill if you’re just looking for a simple homepage. ✅ Tab-based interface with support for custom tabs and user access control. ✅ Extensive customization options for themes and layouts. ✅ Multi-user and guest access support with user group management. ❌ Setup can be complex for first-time users, especially on bare metal. ❌ Interface may feel cluttered if too many tabs are added. Organizr5. UmbrelUmbrel is more like a platform, since they offer their own umbrelOS and devices like Umbrel Home. Initially built for running Bitcoin and Lightning nodes, Umbrel has grown into a robust self-hosting environment. It offers a slick interface and an app store where you can one-click install tools like Nextcloud, Home Assistant, or Jellyfin, making it perfect for beginners or anyone wanting a “plug-and-play” homelab experience. The user interface is incredibly polished, with a design that feels like it belongs on a consumer-grade device (Umbrel Home) rather than a DIY server. While it’s heavily focused on ease of use, it’s also open-source and completely customizable for advanced users. The only downside? It’s not as lightweight as some of the simpler dashboards, and power users might feel limited by its curated ecosystem. ✅ One-click app installation with a curated app store. ✅ Optimized for Raspberry Pi and other low-powered devices. ✅ User-friendly interface with minimal setup requirements. ❌ Limited to the apps available in its ecosystem. ❌ Less customizable compared to other dashboards like Dashy. Umbrel6. FlameFlame walks a fine line between simplicity and functionality. It gives you a modern start page for your server, where you can manage bookmarks, applications, and even Docker containers with ease. Source: FlameThe built-in GUI editor is fantastic for creating and editing bookmarks without touching a single file. Plus, the ability to pin your favorites, customize themes, and add a weather widget makes Flame feel personal and interactive. Source: FlameHowever, it lacks advanced monitoring features, so if you’re looking for detailed stats on your services, this might not be the right fit. Installing Flame is as simple as pulling a Docker image or cloning its GitHub repository. ✅ Built-in GUI editors for creating, updating, and deleting applications and bookmarks. ✅ Supports pinning favorites, local search, and weather widgets. ✅ Easy Docker-based setup with minimal configuration required. ❌ Limited dynamic features compared to Dashy or Heimdall. ❌ Lacks advanced monitoring or user authentication features. Flame7. UCS Server (Univention Corporate Server)If your homelab leans towards enterprise-grade capabilities, UCS Server is worth exploring. It’s more than just a dashboard, it’s a full-fledged server management system with integrated identity and access management. UCS is especially appealing for those running hybrid setups that mix self-hosted services with external cloud environments. Its intuitive web interface simplifies the management of users, permissions, and services. Plus, it supports Docker containers and virtual machines, making it a versatile choice. Source: UniventionThe learning curve is steeper compared to more minimal dashboards like Homer or Heimdall, but it’s rewarding if you’re managing a complex environment. Setting it up involves downloading the ISO, installing it on your preferred hardware or virtual machine, and then diving into its modular app ecosystem. One drawback is its resource intensity, this isn’t something you’ll run comfortably on a Raspberry Pi. It’s best suited for those with dedicated homelab hardware. ✅ Enterprise-grade solution with robust user and service management. ✅ Supports LDAP integration and multi-server setups. ✅ Extensive app catalog for deploying various services. ❌ Overkill for smaller homelabs or basic setups. ❌ Requires more resources and knowledge to configure effectively. Univention8. DashMachineDash Machine is a fantastic lightweight dashboard designed for those who prefer simplicity with a touch of elegance. It offers a tile-based interface, where each tile represents a self-hosted application or a URL you want quick access to. Source: DashMachineOne of the standout features is its search functionality, which allows you to find and access services faster. Installing Dash Machine is straightforward. It’s available as a Docker container, so you can have it up and running in minutes. However, it doesn’t offer multi-user functionality or detailed service monitoring, which might be a limitation for more complex setups. ✅ Clean, tile-based design for quick and easy navigation. ✅ Lightweight and perfect for resource-constrained devices. ✅ Quick setup via Docker. ❌ Limited to static links—no advanced monitoring or multi-user support. DashMachine9 Hiccup (newbie)Hiccup is a newer entry in the self-hosted dashboard space, offering a clean and modern interface with a focus on user-friendliness. It provides a simple way to categorize and access your services while keeping everything visually appealing. Source: HiccupWhat makes Hiccup unique is its emphasis on simplicity. It’s built to be lightweight and responsive, ensuring it runs smoothly even on resource-constrained hardware like Raspberry Pis. The setup process is easy, with Docker being the recommended method. On the downside, it’s still relatively new and it lacks some of the advanced features found in more established dashboards like Dashy or Heimdall. ✅ Sleek, responsive design optimized for smooth performance. ✅ Easy categorization and Docker-based installation. ✅ Minimalistic and beginner-friendly. ❌ Lacks advanced features and monitoring tools found in more mature dashboards. HiccupBonus: SmashingSmashing is a dashboard like no other. Formerly known as Dashing, it’s designed for those who want a widget-based experience with real-time updates. Whether you’re tracking server metrics, weather, or even financial data, Smashing makes it visually stunning. Its modular design allows you to add widgets for anything you can imagine, making it incredibly versatile. Source: SmashingHowever, it’s not for the faint of heart, Smashing requires some coding skills, as it’s built with Ruby and depends on your ability to configure its widgets. Installing Smashing involves cloning its repository and setting up a Ruby environment. While this might sound daunting, the results are worth it if you’re aiming for a highly personalized dashboard. ✅ Modular design with support for tracking metrics, weather, and more. ✅ Visually stunning and highly customizable with Ruby-based widgets. ✅ Perfect for users looking for a unique, dynamic dashboard. ❌ Requires coding skills and familiarity with Ruby. ❌ More complex installation process compared to Docker-based solutions. SmashingWrapping It UpDashboards are the heart and soul of a well-organized homelab. From the plug-and-play simplicity of Umbrel to the enterprise-grade capabilities of UCS Server, there’s something here for every setup and skill level. Personally, I find myself switching between Homer for quick and clean setups and Dashy when I’m in the mood to customize. But that’s just me! Your perfect dashboard might be completely different, and that’s the beauty of the homelab community. So, which one will you choose? Or do you have a hidden gem I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to feature your recommendations in the next round!

by: aiparabellum.com Wed, 25 Dec 2024 10:23:04 +0000 Welcome to your deep dive into the fascinating world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). In this in-depth guide, you’ll discover exactly what AI is, why it matters, how it works, and where it’s headed. So if you want to learn about AI from the ground up—and gain a clear picture of its impact on everything from tech startups to our daily lives—you’re in the right place. Let’s get started! Chapter 1: Introduction to AI Fundamentals Defining AI Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a branch of computer science focused on creating machines that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence. Tasks like understanding language, recognizing images, making decisions, or even driving a car no longer rest solely on human shoulders—today, advanced algorithms can do them, often at lightning speed. At its core, AI is about building systems that learn from data and adapt their actions based on what they learn. These systems can be relatively simple—like a program that labels emails as spam—or incredibly complex, like ones that generate human-like text or automate entire factories. Essentially, AI attempts to replicate or augment the cognitive capabilities that humans possess. But unlike humans, AI can process massive volumes of data in seconds—a remarkable advantage in our information-driven world. Narrow vs. General Intelligence Part of the confusion around AI is how broad the term can be. You might have heard of concepts like Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI), Artificial General Intelligence (AGI), and even Artificial Superintelligence (ASI). • ANI (Artificial Narrow Intelligence): Focuses on performing one specific task extremely well. Examples include spam filters in your email, facial recognition software on social media, or recommendation algorithms suggesting which video you should watch next. • AGI (Artificial General Intelligence): Refers to a still-hypothetical AI that could match and potentially surpass the general cognitive functions of a human being. This means it can learn any intellectual task that a human can, from solving math problems to composing music. • ASI (Artificial Superintelligence): The concept of ASI describes an intelligence that goes far beyond the human level in virtually every field, from arts to sciences. For some, it remains a sci-fi possibility; for others, it’s a real concern about our technological future. Currently, almost all AI in use falls under the “narrow” category. That’s the reason your voice assistant can find you a local pizza place but can’t simultaneously engage in a philosophical debate. AI is incredibly powerful, but also specialized. Why AI Is a Big Deal AI stands at the heart of today’s technological revolution. Because AI systems can learn from data autonomously, they can uncover patterns or relationships that humans might miss. This leads to breakthroughs in healthcare, finance, transportation, and more. And considering the enormous volume of data produced daily—think trillions of social media posts, billions of searches, endless streams of sensors—AI is the key to making sense of it all. In short, AI isn’t just an emerging technology. It’s becoming the lens through which we interpret, analyze, and decide on the world’s vast tsunami of information. Chapter 2: A Brief History of AI Early Concepts and Visionaries The idea of machines that can “think” goes back centuries, often existing in mythology and speculative fiction. However, the formal field of AI research kicked off in the mid-20th century with pioneers like Alan Turing, who famously posed the question of whether machines could “think,” and John McCarthy, who coined the term “Artificial Intelligence” in 1955. Turing’s landmark paper, published in 1950, discussed how to test a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from a human (the Turing Test). He set the stage for decades of questions about the line between human intelligence and that of machines. The Dartmouth Workshop In 1956, the Dartmouth Workshop is considered by many as “the birth of AI,” bringing together leading thinkers who laid out the foundational goals of creating machines that can reason, learn, and represent knowledge. Enthusiasm soared. Futurists believed machines would rival human intelligence in a matter of decades, if not sooner. Booms and Winters AI research saw its ups and downs. Periods of intense excitement and funding were often followed by “AI winters,” times when slow progress and overblown promises led to cuts in funding and a decline in public interest. Key AI Winters: First Winter (1970s): Early projects fell short of lofty goals, especially in natural language processing and expert systems. Second Winter (1980s-1990s): AI once again overpromised and underdelivered, particularly on commercial systems that were expensive and unpredictable. Despite these setbacks, progress didn’t stop. Researchers continued refining algorithms, while the rapidly growing computing power supplied a fresh wind in AI’s sails. Rise of Machine Learning By the 1990s and early 2000s, a branch called Machine Learning (ML) began taking center stage. ML algorithms that “learned” from examples rather than strictly following pre-coded rules showed immense promise in tasks like handwriting recognition and data classification. The Deep Learning Revolution Fuelled by faster GPUs and massive amounts of data, Deep Learning soared into the spotlight in the early 2010s. Achievements like superhuman image recognition and defeating Go grandmasters by software (e.g., AlphaGo) captured public attention. Suddenly, AI was more than academic speculation—it was driving commercial applications, guiding tech giants, and shaping global policy discussions. Today, AI is mainstream, and its capabilities grow at an almost dizzying pace. From self-driving cars to customer service chatbots, it’s no longer a question of if AI will change the world, but how—and how fast. Chapter 3: Core Components of AI Data AI thrives on data. Whether you’re using AI to forecast weather patterns or detect fraudulent credit card transactions, your algorithms need relevant training data to identify patterns or anomalies. Data can come in countless forms—text logs, images, videos, or sensor readings. The more diversified and clean the data, the better your AI system performs. Algorithms At the heart of every AI system are algorithms—step-by-step procedures designed to solve specific problems or make predictions. Classical algorithms might include Decision Trees or Support Vector Machines. More complex tasks, especially those involving unstructured data (like images), often rely on neural networks. Neural Networks Inspired by the structure of the human brain, neural networks are algorithms designed to detect underlying relationships in data. They’re made of layers of interconnected “neurons.” When data passes through these layers, each neuron assigns a weight to the input it receives, gradually adjusting those weights over many rounds of training to minimize errors. Subsets of neural networks: Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs): Primarily used for image analysis. Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs): Useful for sequential data like text or speech. LSTMs (Long Short-Term Memory): A specialized form of RNN that handles longer context in sequences. Training and Validation Developing an AI model isn’t just a matter of plugging data into an algorithm. You split your data into training sets (to “teach” the algorithm) and validation or testing sets (to check how well it’s learned). AI gets better with practice: the more it trains using example data, the more refined it becomes. However, there’s always a risk of overfitting—when a model memorizes the training data too closely and fails to generalize to unseen data. Proper validation helps you walk that thin line between learning enough details and not memorizing every quirk of your training set. Computing Power To train advanced models, you need robust computing resources. The exponential growth in GPU/TPU technology has helped push AI forward. Today, even smaller labs have access to cloud-based services that can power large-scale AI experiments at relatively manageable costs. Chapter 4: How AI Models Learn Machine Learning Basics Machine Learning is the backbone of most AI solutions today. Rather than being explicitly coded to perform a task, an ML system learns from examples: Supervised Learning: Learns from labeled data. If you want to teach an algorithm to recognize dog pictures, you provide examples labeled “dog” or “not dog.” Unsupervised Learning: Finds abstract patterns in unlabeled data. Techniques like clustering group similar items together without explicit categories. Reinforcement Learning: The AI “agent” learns by trial and error, receiving positive or negative rewards as it interacts with its environment (like how AlphaGo learned to play Go). Feature Engineering Before Deep Learning became mainstream, data scientists spent a lot of time on “feature engineering,” manually selecting which factors (features) were relevant. For instance, if you were building a model to predict house prices, you might feed it features like number of rooms, location, and square footage. Deep Learning changes the game by automating much of this feature extraction. However, domain knowledge remains valuable. Even the best Deep Learning stacks benefit from well-chosen inputs and data that’s meticulously cleaned and structured. Iteration and Optimization After each training round, the AI model makes predictions on the training set. Then it calculates how different its predictions were from the true labels and adjusts the internal parameters to minimize that error. This loop—train, compare, adjust—repeats until the model reaches a level of accuracy or error rate you find acceptable. The Power of Feedback Ongoing feedback loops also matter outside the lab environment. For instance, recommendation systems on streaming platforms track what you watch and like, using that new data to improve future suggestions. Over time, your experience on these platforms becomes more refined because of continuous learning. Chapter 5: Real-World Applications of AI AI is not confined to research labs and university courses. It’s embedded into countless day-to-day services, sometimes so seamlessly that people barely realize it. 1. Healthcare AI-driven diagnostics can analyze medical images to identify conditions like tumors or fractures more quickly and accurately than some traditional methods. Predictive analytics can forecast patient risks based on medical histories. Telemedicine platforms, powered by AI chat systems, can handle initial patient inquiries, reducing strain on healthcare workers. Personalized Treatment • Genomics and Precision Medicine: Check your DNA markers, combine that data with population studies, and AI can recommend the best treatment plans for you. • Virtual Health Assistants: Provide reminders for medications or symptom checks, ensuring patients stick to their treatment regimen. 2. Finance and Banking Fraud detection models monitor credit card transactions for unusual spending patterns in real time, flagging suspicious activity. Automated trading algorithms respond to market data in microseconds, executing deals at near-instantaneous speeds. Additionally, many banks deploy AI chatbots to handle basic customer inquiries and cut down wait times. 3. Marketing and Retail Recommendation engines have transformed how we shop, watch, and listen. Retailers leverage AI to predict inventory needs, personalize product suggestions, and even manage dynamic pricing. Chatbots also assist with customer queries, while sophisticated analytics help marketers segment audiences and design hyper-targeted ad campaigns. 4. Transportation Self-driving cars might be the most prominent example, but AI is also in rideshare apps calculating estimated arrival times or traffic management systems synchronizing stoplights to improve traffic flow. Advanced navigation systems, combined with real-time data, can optimize routes for better fuel efficiency and shorter travel times. 5. Natural Language Processing (NLP) Voice assistants like Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri use NLP to parse your spoken words, translate them into text, and generate an appropriate response. Machine translation services, like Google Translate, learn to convert text between languages. Sentiment analysis tools help organizations gauge public opinion in real time by scanning social media or customer feedback. 6. Robotics Industrial robots guided by machine vision can spot defects on assembly lines or handle delicate tasks in microchip manufacturing. Collaborative robots (“cobots”) work alongside human employees, lifting heavy objects or performing repetitive motion tasks without needing a full cage barrier. 7. Education Adaptive learning platforms use AI to personalize coursework, adjusting quizzes and lessons to each student’s pace. AI also enables automated grading for multiple-choice and even some essay questions, speeding up the feedback cycle for teachers and students alike. These examples represent just a slice of how AI operates in the real world. As algorithms grow more powerful and data becomes more accessible, we’re likely to see entire industries reinvented around AI’s capabilities. Chapter 6: AI in Business and Marketing Enhancing Decision-Making Businesses generate huge amounts of data—everything from sales figures to website analytics. AI helps convert raw numbers into actionable insights. By detecting correlations and patterns, AI can guide strategic choices, like which new product lines to launch or which markets to expand into before the competition. Cost Reduction and Process Automation Robotic Process Automation (RPA) uses software bots that mimic repetitive tasks normally handled by human employees—like data entry or invoice processing. It’s an entry-level form of AI, but massively valuable for routine operations. Meanwhile, advanced AI solutions can handle more complex tasks, like writing financial summaries or triaging support tickets. Personalized Marketing Modern marketing thrives on delivering the right message to the right consumer at the right time. AI-driven analytics blend data from multiple sources (social media, emails, site visits) to paint a more detailed profile of each prospect. This in-depth understanding unlocks hyper-personalized ads or product recommendations, which usually mean higher conversion rates. Common AI Tools in Marketing • Predictive Analytics: Analyze who’s most likely to buy, unsubscribe, or respond to an offer. • Personalized Email Campaigns: AI can tailor email content to each subscriber. • Chatbots: Provide 24/7 customer interactions for immediate support or product guidance. • Programmatic Advertising: Remove guesswork from ad buying; AI systems bid on ad placements in real time, optimizing for performance. AI-Driven Product Development Going beyond marketing alone, AI helps shape the very products businesses offer. By analyzing user feedback logs, reviews, or even how customers engage with a prototype, AI can suggest design modifications or entirely new features. This early guidance can save organizations considerable time and money by focusing resources on ideas most likely to succeed. Culture Shift and Training AI adoption often requires a cultural change within organizations. Employees across departments must learn how to interpret AI insights and work with AI-driven systems. Upskilling workers to handle more strategic, less repetitive tasks often goes hand in hand with adopting AI. Companies that invest time in training enjoy smoother AI integration and better overall success. Chapter 7: AI’s Impact on Society Education and Skill Gaps AI’s rapid deployment is reshaping the job market. While new roles in data science or AI ethics arise, traditional roles can become automated. This shift demands a workforce that can continuously upskill. Educational curricula are also evolving to focus on programming, data analysis, and digital literacy starting from an early age. Healthcare Access Rural or underserved areas may benefit significantly if telemedicine and AI-assisted tools become widespread. Even without a local specialist, a patient’s images or scans could be uploaded to an AI system for preliminary analysis, ensuring that early detection flags issues that would otherwise go unnoticed. Environmental Conservation AI helps scientists track deforestation, poaching, or pollution levels by analyzing satellite imagery in real time. In agriculture, AI-driven sensors track soil health and predict the best times for planting or harvesting. By automating much of the data analysis, AI frees researchers to focus on devising actionable climate solutions. Cultural Shifts Beyond the workforce and environment, AI is influencing everyday culture. Personalized recommendation feeds shape our entertainment choices, while AI-generated art and music challenge our definition of creativity. AI even plays a role in complex social environments—like content moderation on social media—impacting how online communities are shaped and policed. Potential for Inequality Despite AI’s perks, there’s a risk of creating or deepening socio-economic divides. Wealthier nations or large corporations might more easily marshal the resources (computing power, data, talent) to develop cutting-edge AI, while smaller or poorer entities lag behind. This disparity could lead to digital “haves” and “have-nots,” emphasizing the importance of international cooperation and fair resource allocation. Chapter 8: Ethical and Regulatory Challenges Algorithmic Bias One of the biggest issues with AI is the potential for bias. If your data is skewed—such as underrepresenting certain demographics—your AI model will likely deliver flawed results. This can lead to discriminatory loan granting, hiring, or policing practices. Efforts to mitigate bias require: Collecting more balanced datasets. Making AI model decisions more transparent. Encouraging diverse development teams that question assumptions built into algorithms. Transparency and Explainability Many advanced AI models, particularly Deep Learning neural networks, are considered “black boxes.” They can provide highly accurate results, yet even their creators might struggle to explain precisely how the AI arrived at a specific decision. This lack of transparency becomes problematic in fields like healthcare or law, where explainability might be legally or ethically mandated. Privacy Concerns AI systems often rely on personal data, from your browsing habits to your voice recordings. As AI applications scale, they collect more and more detailed information about individuals. Regulations like the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) are steps toward ensuring companies handle personal data responsibly. But real-world enforcement is still a challenge. Regulation and Governance Government bodies across the globe are grappling with how to regulate AI without stifling innovation. Policies around data ownership, liability for AI-driven decisions, and freedom from algorithmic discrimination need continuous refinement. Some experts advocate for a licensing approach, similar to how pharmaceuticals are governed, particularly for AI systems that could significantly influence public welfare. Ethical AI and Best Practices • Fairness: Provide equal treatment across demographic groups. • Accountability: Identify who is responsible when AI errors or harm occurs. • Reliability: Ensure the model maintains consistent performance under normal and unexpected conditions. • Human-Centric: Always consider the human impact—on jobs, well-being, and personal freedoms. These aren’t mere suggestions but increasingly becoming essential pillars of any robust AI initiative. Chapter 9: The Future of AI Smarter Personal Assistants Voice-based personal assistants (like Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant) have improved leaps and bounds from their early days of confusion over relatively simple questions. Future iterations will become more context-aware, discerning subtle changes in your voice or noticing patterns in your daily routine. They might schedule appointments or reorder groceries before you even realize you’re out. Hybrid Human-AI Collaboration In many industries, especially healthcare and law, we’re moving toward a hybrid approach. Instead of replacing professionals, AI amplifies their capabilities—sifting through charts, scanning legal precedents, or analyzing test results. Humans supply the nuanced judgment and empathy machines currently lack. This synergy of man and machine could well become the standard approach, especially in high-stakes fields. AI in Limited Resource Settings As hardware becomes cheaper and more robust, AI solutions developed for wealthy countries could become more accessible globally. For instance, straightforward medical diagnostics powered by AI could revolutionize care in rural environments. Even for farmers with limited connectivity, offline AI apps might handle weather predictions or crop disease identification without needing a robust internet connection. Edge Computing and AI Not all AI processing has to happen in large data centers. Edge computing—processing data locally on devices like smartphones, IoT sensors, or cameras—reduces latency and bandwidth needs. We’re already seeing AI-driven features, like real-time language translation, run directly on mobile devices without roundtrips to the cloud. This concept will only expand, enabling a new generation of responsive, efficient AI solutions. AGI Speculations Artificial General Intelligence, the holy grail of AI, remains an open frontier. While some experts believe we’re inching closer, others argue we lack a foundational breakthrough that would let machines truly “understand” the world in a human sense. Nevertheless, the possibility of AGI—where machines handle any intellectual task as well as or better than humans—fuels ongoing debate about existential risk vs. enormous potential. Regulation and Global Cooperation As AI becomes more widespread, multinational efforts and global treaties might be necessary to manage the technology’s risks. This could involve setting standards for AI safety testing, global data-sharing partnerships for medical breakthroughs, or frameworks that protect smaller nations from AI-driven exploitation. The global conversation around AI policy has only just begun. Chapter 10: Conclusion Artificial Intelligence is no longer just the domain of computer scientists in academic labs. It’s the force behind everyday convenience features—like curated news feeds or recommended playlists—and the driver of major breakthroughs across industries spanning from healthcare to autonomous vehicles. We’re living in an era where algorithms can outplay chess grandmasters, diagnose obscure medical conditions, and optimize entire supply chains with minimal human input. Yet, like all powerful technologies, AI comes with complexities and challenges. Concerns about bias, privacy, and accountability loom large. Governments and industry leaders are under increasing pressure to develop fair, transparent, and sensible guidelines. And while we’re making incredible leaps in specialized, narrow AI, the quest for AGI remains both inspiring and unsettling to many. So what should you do with all this information? If you’re an entrepreneur, consider how AI might solve a problem your customers face. If you’re a student or professional, think about which AI-related skills to learn or refine to stay competitive. Even as an everyday consumer, stay curious about which AI services you use and how your data is handled. The future of AI is being written right now—by researchers, business owners, legislators, and yes, all of us who use AI-powered products. By learning more about the technology, you’re better positioned to join the conversation and help shape how AI unfolds in the years to come. Chapter 11: FAQ 1. How does AI differ from traditional programming? Traditional programming operates on explicit instructions: “If this, then that.” AI, especially Machine Learning, learns from data rather than following fixed rules. In other words, it trains on examples and infers its own logic. 2. Will AI take over all human jobs? AI tends to automate specific tasks, not entire jobs. Historical trends show new technologies create jobs as well. Mundane or repetitive tasks might vanish, but new roles—like data scientists, AI ethicists, or robot maintenance professionals—emerge. 3. Can AI truly be unbiased? While the aim is to reduce bias, it’s impossible to guarantee total neutrality. AI models learn from data, which can be influenced by human prejudices or systemic imbalances. Ongoing audits and thoughtful design can help mitigate these issues. 4. What skills do I need to work in AI? It depends on your focus. For technical roles, a background in programming (Python, R), statistics, math, and data science is essential. Non-technical roles might focus on AI ethics, policy, or user experience. Communication skills and domain expertise remain invaluable across the board. 5. Is AI safe? Mostly, yes. But there are risks: incorrect diagnoses, flawed financial decisions, or privacy invasions. That’s why experts emphasize regulatory oversight, best practices for data security, and testing AI in real-world conditions to minimize harm. 6. How can smaller businesses afford AI? Thanks to cloud services, smaller organizations can rent AI computing power and access open-source frameworks without massive upfront investment. Start with pilot projects, measure ROI, then scale up when it’s proven cost-effective. 7. Is AI the same as Machine Learning? Machine Learning is a subset of AI. All ML is AI, but not all AI is ML. AI is a broader concept, and ML focuses specifically on algorithms that learn from data. 8. Where can I see AI’s impact in the near future? Healthcare diagnostics, agriculture optimization, climate modeling, supply chain logistics, and advanced robotics are all growth areas where AI might have a transformative impact over the next decade. 9. Who regulates AI? There’s no single global regulator—each country approaches AI governance differently. The EU, for instance, often leads in digital and data protection regulations, while the U.S. has a more fragmented approach. Over time, you can expect more international discussions and possibly collaborative frameworks. 10. How do I learn AI on my own? Plenty of online courses and tutorials are available (including free ones). Start by learning basic Python and delve into introductory data science concepts. Platforms like Coursera, edX, or even YouTube channels can guide you from fundamentals to advanced topics such as Deep Learning or Reinforcement Learning. That wraps up our extensive look at AI—what it is, how it works, its real-world applications, and the future directions it might take. Whether you’re setting out to create an AI-powered startup, investing in AI solutions for your enterprise, or simply curious about the forces shaping our digital landscape, understanding AI’s fundamental pieces puts you ahead of the curve. Now that you know what AI can do—and some of the pitfalls to watch out for—there’s never been a better time to explore, experiment, and help shape a technology that truly defines our era. The post What is AI? The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence appeared first on AI Tools Directory | Browse & Find Best AI Tools.

In this post I will show you how to install the ZSH shell on Rocky Linux. ZSH is an alternate shell that some people prefer instead of BASH shell. Some people say ZSH has better auto-completion, theme support, and plugin system. If you want to give ZSH a try its quite easy to install and give it a try. This post is focused on the Rocky Linux user and how to install ZSH and get started with its usage. Before installing anything new, it’s good practice to update your system packages: sudo dnf update It might be easier than you think to install and use a new shell. First install the package like this: sudo dnf install zsh Now you can enter a session of zsh be invoking the shell’s name ‘zsh’. zsh You might not be sure if it succeeded, how you can verify which sell you are using now? echo $0 You should see some output like the following: [root@mypc]~# echo $0: zsh: [root@mypc]~# ok good, if it says bash or something other than zsh you have a problem with your setup. Now lets run a couple basic commands Example 1: Print all numbers from 1 to 10. In Zsh, you can use a for loop to do this: for i in {1..10}; do echo $i; done Example 2: Create a variable to store your username and then print it. You can use the $USER environment variable which automatically contains your username: my_username=$USER echo $my_username Example 3: Echo a string that says “I love $0”. The $0 variable in a shell script or interactive shell session refers to the name of the script or shell being run. Here’s how to use it: echo "I love $0" When run in an interactive Zsh session, this will output something like “I love -zsh” if you’re in a login shell, or “I love zsh” if not. Conclusion Switching shells in a linux system is easy due to the modularity. Now that you see how to install ZSH you may like it and decide to use it as your preferred shell.

by: Juan Diego Rodríguez Mon, 23 Dec 2024 15:07:41 +0000 2024 has been one of the greatest years for CSS: cross-document view transitions, scroll-driven animations, anchor positioning, animate to height: auto, and many others. It seems out of touch to ask, but what else do we want from CSS? Well, many things! We put our heads together and came up with a few ideas… including several of yours. Geoff’s wishlist I’m of the mind that we already have a BUNCH of wonderful CSS goodies these days. We have so many wonderful — and new! — things that I’m still wrapping my head around many of them. But! There’s always room for one more good thing, right? Or maybe room for four new things. If I could ask for any new CSS features, these are the ones I’d go for. 1. A conditional if() statement It’s coming! Or it’s already here if you consider that the CSS Working Group (CSSWG) resolved to add an if() conditional to the CSS Values Module Level 5 specification. That’s a big step forward, even if it takes a year or two (or more?!) to get a formal definition and make its way into browsers. My understanding about if() is that it’s a key component for achieving Container Style Queries, which is what I ultimately want from this. Being able to apply styles conditionally based on the styles of another element is the white whale of CSS, so to speak. We can already style an element based on what other elements it :has() so this would expand that magic to include conditional styles as well. 2. CSS mixins This is more of a “nice-to-have” feature because I feel its squarely in CSS Preprocessor Territory and believe it’s nice to have some tooling for light abstractions, such as writing functions or mixins in CSS. But I certainly wouldn’t say “no” to having mixins baked right into CSS if someone was offering it to me. That might be the straw that breaks the CSS preprocessor back and allows me to write plain CSS 100% of the time because right now I tend to reach for Sass when I need a mixin or function. I wrote up a bunch of notes about the mixins proposal and its initial draft in the specifications to give you an idea of why I’d want this feature. 3. // inline comments Yes, please! It’s a minor developer convenience that brings CSS up to par with writing comments in other languages. I’m pretty sure that writing JavaScript comments in my CSS should be in my list of dumbest CSS mistakes (even if I didn’t put it in there). 4. font-size: fit I just hate doing math, alright?! Sometimes I just want a word or short heading sized to the container it’s in. We can use things like clamp() for fluid typesetting, but again, that’s math I can’t be bothered with. You might think there’s a possible solution with Container Queries and using container query units for the font-size but that doesn’t work any better than viewport units. Ryan’s wishlist I’m just a simple, small-town CSS developer, and I’m quite satisfied with all the new features coming to browsers over the past few years, what more could I ask for? 5. Anchor positioning in more browsers! I don’t need anymore convincing on CSS anchor positioning, I’m sold! After spending much of the month of November learning how it works, I went into December knowing I won’t really get to use it for a while. As we close out 2024, only Chromium-based browsers have support, and fallbacks and progressive enhancements are not easy, unfortunately. There is a polyfill available (which is awesome), however, that does mean adding another chunk of JavaScript, contrasting what anchor positioning solves. I’m patient though, I waited a long time for :has to come to browsers, which has been “newly available” in Baseline for a year now (can you believe it?). 6. Promoting elements to the #top-layer without popover? I like anchor positioning, I like popovers, and they go really well together! The neat thing with popovers is how they appear in the #top-layer, so you get to avoid stacking issues related to z-index. This is probably all most would need with it, but having some other way to move an element there would be interesting. Also, now that I know that the #top-layer exists, I want to do more with it — I want to know what’s up there. What’s really going on? Well, I probably should have started at the spec. As it turns out, the CSS Position Layout Module Level 4 draft talks about the #top-layer, what it’s useful for, and ways to approach styling elements contained within it. Interestingly, the #top-layer is controlled by the user agent and seems to be a byproduct of the Fullscreen API. Dialogs and popovers are the way to go for now but, optimistically speaking, these features existing might mean it’s possible to promote elements to the #top-layer in future ways. This very well may be a coyote/roadrunner-type situation, as I’m not quite sure what I’d do with it once I get it. 7. Adding a layer attribute to <link> tags Personally speaking, Cascade Layers have changed how I write CSS. One thing I think would be ace is if we could include a layer attribute on a <link> tag. Imagine being able to include a CSS reset in your project like: <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://cdn.com/some/reset.css" layer="reset"> Or, depending on the page visited, dynamically add parts of CSS, blended into your cascade layers: <!-- Global styles with layers defined, such as: @layer reset, typography, components, utilities; --> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/styles/main.css"> <!-- Add only to pages using card components --> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/components/card.css" layer="components"> This feature was proposed over on the CSSWG’s repo, and like most things in life: it’s complicated. Browsers are especially finicky with attributes they don’t know, plus definite concerns around handling fallbacks. The topic was also brought over to the W3C Technical Architecture Group (TAG) for discussion as well, so there’s still hope! Juandi’s Wishlist I must admit this, I wasn’t around when the web was wild and people had hit counters. In fact, I think I am pretty young compared to your average web connoisseur. While I do know how to make a layout using float (the first web course I picked up was pretty outdated), I didn’t have to suffer long before using things like Flexbox or CSS Grid and never grinded my teeth against IE and browser support. So, the following wishes may seem like petty requests compared to the really necessary features the web needed in the past — or even some in the present. Regardless, here are my three petty requests I would wish to see in 2025: 8. Get the children count and index as an integer This is one of those things that you swear it should already be possible with just CSS. The situation is the following: I find myself wanting to know the index of an element between its siblings or the total number of children. I can’t use the counter() function since sometimes I need an integer instead of a string. The current approach is either hardcoding an index on the HTML: <ul> <li style="--index: 0">Milk</li> <li style="--index: 1">Eggs</li> <li style="--index: 2">Cheese</li> </ul> Or alternatively, write each index in CSS: li:nth-child(1) { --index: 0; } li:nth-child(2) { --index: 1; } li:nth-child(3) { --index: 2; } Either way, I always leave with the feeling that it should be easier to reference this number; the browser already has this info, it’s just a matter of exposing it to authors. It would make prettier and cleaner code for staggering animations, or simply changing the styles based on the total count. Luckily, there is a already proposal in Working Draft for sibling-count() and sibling-index() functions. While the syntax may change, I do hope to hear more about them in 2025. ul > li { background-color: hsl(sibling-count() 50% 50%); } ul > li { transition-delay: calc(sibling-index() * 500ms); } 9. A way to balance flex-wrap I’m stealing this one from Adam Argyle, but I do wish for a better way to balance flex-wrap layouts. When elements wrap one by one as their container shrinks, they either are left alone with empty space (which I don’t dislike) or grow to fill it (which hurts my soul): I wish for a more native way of balancing wrapping elements: It’s definitely annoying. 10. An easier way to read/research CSSWG discussions I am a big fan of the CSSWG and everything they do, so I spent a lot of time reading their working drafts, GitHub issues, or notes about their meetings. However, as much as I love jumping from link to link in their GitHub, it can be hard to find all the related issues to a specific discussion. I think this raises the barrier of entry to giving your opinion on some topics. If you want to participate in an issue, you should have the big picture of all the discussion (what has been said, why some things don’t work, others to consider, etc) but it’s usually scattered across several issues or meetings. While issues can be lengthy, that isn’t the problem (I love reading them), but rather not knowing part of a discussion existed somewhere in the first place. So, while it isn’t directly a CSS wish, I wish there was an easier way to get the full picture of the discussion before jumping in. What’s on your wishlist? We asked! You answered! Here are a few choice selections from the crowd: Rotate direct background-images, like background-rotate: 180deg CSS random(), with params for range, spread, and type A CSS anchor position mode that allows targeting the mouse cursor, pointer, or touch point positions A string selector to query a certain word in a block of text and apply styling every time that word occurs A native .visually-hidden class. position: sticky with a :stuck pseudo Wishing you a great 2025… CSS-Tricks trajectory hasn’t been the most smooth these last years, so our biggest wish for 2025 is to keep writing and sparking discussions about the web. Happy 2025! A CSS Wishlist for 2025 originally published on CSS-Tricks, which is part of the DigitalOcean family. You should get the newsletter.

by: Musfiqur Rahman Sat, 21 Dec 2024 10:54:44 GMT Running a Django site on shared hosting can be really agonizing. It's budget-friendly, sure, but it comes with strings attached: sluggish response time and unexpected server hiccups. It kind of makes you want to give up. Luckily, with a few fixes here and there, you can get your site running way smoother. It may not be perfect, but it gets the job done. Ready to level up your site? Let’s dive into these simple tricks that’ll make a huge difference. Know Your Limits, Play Your Strengths But before we dive deeper, let's do a quick intro to Django. A website that is built on the Django web framework is called a Django-powered website. Django is an open-source framework written in Python. It can easily handle spikes in traffic and large volumes of data. Platforms like Netflix, Spotify, and Instagram have a massive user base, and they have Django at their core. Shared hosting is a popular choice among users when it comes to Django websites, mostly because it's affordable and easy to set up. But since you're sharing resources with other websites, you are likely to struggle with: Limited resources (CPU, storage, etc.) Noisy neighbor effect However, that's not the end of the world. You can achieve a smoother run by– Reducing server load Regular monitoring Contacting your hosting provider These tricks help a lot, but shared hosting can only handle so much. If your site is still slow, it might be time to think about cheap dedicated hosting plans. But before you start looking for a new hosting plan, let's make sure your current setup doesn't have any loose ends. Flip the Debug Switch (Off!) Once your Django site goes live, the first thing you should do is turn DEBUG off. This setting shows detailed error texts and makes troubleshooting a lot easier. This tip is helpful for web development, but it backfires during production because it can reveal sensitive information to anyone who notices an error. To turn DEBUG off, simply set it to False in your settings.py file. DEBUG = False Next, don’t forget to configure ALLOWED_HOSTS. This setting controls which domains can access your Django site. Without it, your site might be vulnerable to unwanted traffic. Add your domain name to the list like this: ALLOWED_HOSTS =['yourdomain.com', 'www.yourdomain.com'] With DEBUG off and ALLOWED_HOSTS locked down, your Django site is already more secure and efficient. But there’s one more trick that can take your performance to the next level. Cache! Cache! Cache! Imagine every time someone visits your site, Django processes the request and renders a response. What if you could save those results and serve them instantly instead? That’s where caching comes in. Caching is like putting your site’s most frequently used data on the fast lane. You can use tools like Redis to keep your data in RAM. If it's just about API responses or database query results, in-memory caching can prove to be a game changer for you. To be more specific, there's also Django's built-in caching: Queryset caching: if your system is repeatedly running database queries, keep the query results. Template fragment caching: This feature caches the parts of your page that almost always remain the same (headers, sidebars, etc.) to avoid unnecessary rendering. Optimize Your Queries Your database is the backbone of your Django site. Django makes database interactions easy with its ORM (Object-Relational Mapping). But if you’re not careful, those queries can become a bone in your kebab. Use .select_related() and .prefetch_related() When querying related objects, Django can make multiple database calls without you even realizing it. These can pile up and slow your site. Instead of this: posts = Post.objects.all() for post in posts: print(post.author.name) # Multiple queries for each post's author Use this: posts = Post.objects.select_related('author') for post in posts: print(post.author.name) # One query for all authors Avoid the N+1 Query Problem: The N+1 query problem happens when you unknowingly run one query for the initial data and an additional query for each related object. Always check your queries using tools like Django Debug Toolbar to spot and fix these inefficiencies. Index Your Database: Indexes help your database find data faster. Identify frequently searched fields and ensure they’re indexed. In Django, you can add indexes like this: class Post(models.Model): title = models.CharField(max_length=200, db_index=True) Query Only What You Need: Fetching unnecessary data wastes time and memory. Use .only() or .values() to retrieve only the fields you actually need. Static Files? Offload and Relax Static files (images, CSS, and JavaScript) can put a heavy load on your server. But have you ever thought of offloading them to a Content Delivery Network (CDN)? CDN is a dedicated storage service. The steps are as follows: Set Up a CDN (e.g., Cloudflare, AWS CloudFront): A CDN will cache your static files and serve them from locations closest to your clients. Use Dedicated Storage (e.g., AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage): Store your files in a service designed for static content. Use Django’s storages library. Compress and Optimize Files: Minify your CSS and JavaScript files and compress images to reduce file sizes. Use tools like django-compressor to automate this process. By offloading static files, you’ll free up server storage and improve your site’s speed. It’s one more thing off your plate! Lightweight Middleware, Heavyweight Impact Middleware sits between your server and your application. It processes every request and response. Check your MIDDLEWARE setting and remove anything you don’t need. Use Django’s built-in middleware whenever you can because it’s faster and more reliable. If you create custom middleware, make sure it’s simple and only does what’s really necessary. Keeping middleware lightweight reduces server strain and uses fewer resources. Frontend First Aid Your frontend is the first thing users see, so a slow, clunky interface can leave a bad impression. Using your frontend the right way can dramatically improve the user experience. Minimize HTTP Requests: Combine CSS and JavaScript files to reduce the number of requests. Optimize Images: Use tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim to compress images without losing quality. Lazy Load Content: Delay loading images or videos until they’re needed on the screen. Enable Gzip Compression: Compress files sent to the browser to reduce load times. Monitor, Measure, Master In the end, the key to maintaining a Django site is constant monitoring. By using tools like Django Debug Toolbar or Sentry, you can quickly identify performance issues. Once you have a clear picture of what’s happening under the radar, measure your site’s performance. Use tools like New Relic or Google Lighthouse. These tools will help you prioritize where to make improvements. With this knowledge, you can optimize your code, tweak settings, and ensure your site runs smoothly.

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by: Chris Coyier Mon, 16 Dec 2024 18:00:56 +0000 I coded a thingy the other day and I made it a web component because it occurred to me that was probably the correct approach. Not to mention they are on the mind a bit with the news of React 19 dropping with full support. My component is content-heavy HTML with a smidge of dynamic data and interactivity. So: I left the semantic, accessible, content-focused HTML inside the custom element. Server-side rendered, if you will. If the JavaScript executes, the dynamic/interactive stuff boots up. That’s a fine approach if you ask me, but I found a couple of other things kind of pleasant about the approach. One is that the JavaScript structure of the web component is confined to a class. I used LitElement for a few little niceties, but even it fairly closely mimics the native structure of a web component class. I like being nudged into how to structure code. Another is that, even though the component is “Light DOM” (e.g. style-able from the regular ol’ page) it’s still nice to have the name of the component to style under (with native CSS nesting) which acted as CSS scoping and some implied structure. The web component approach is nice for little bits, as it were. I mentioned I used LitElement. Should I have? On one hand, I’ve mentioned that going vanilla is what will really make a component last over time. On the other hand, there is an awful lot of boilerplate that way. A “7 KB landing pad” can deliver an awful lot of DX, and you might never need to “rip it out” when you change other technologies, like we felt like we had to with jQuery and even moreso with React. Or you could bring your own base class which could drop that size even lower and perhaps keep you a bit closer to that vanilla hometown. I’m curious if there is a good public list of base class examples for web components. The big ones are Lit and Fast, but I’ve just seen a new one Reactive Mastro, which has a focus on using signals for dynamic state and re-rendering. That’s an interesting focus, and it makes me wonder what other base class approaches focus on. Other features? Size? Special syntaxes? This one is only one KB. You could even write your own reactivity system if you wanted a fresh crack at that. I’m generally a fan of going Light DOM with web components and skipping all the drama of the Shadow DOM. But one of the things you give up is <slot /> which is a pretty nice feature for composing the final HTML of an element. Stencil, which is actually a compiler for web components (yet another interesting approach) makes slots work in the Light DOM which I think is great. If you do need to go Shadow DOM, and I get it if you do, the natural encapsulation could be quite valuable for a third-party component, you’ll be pleased to know I’m 10% less annoyed with the styling story lately. You can take any CSS you have a reference to from “the outside” and provide it to the Shadow DOM as an “adopted stylesheet”. That’s a “way in” for styles that seems pretty sensible and opt-in.

By: Joshua Njiru Wed, 11 Dec 2024 13:49:42 +0000 What is DPI and Why Does It Matter? DPI, or Dots Per Inch, is a critical measurement in digital and print imaging that determines the quality and clarity of your images. Whether you’re a photographer, graphic designer, or just someone looking to print high-quality photos, understanding how to change DPI is essential for achieving the best possible results. What are the Basics of DPI DPI refers to the number of individual dots that can be placed within a one-inch linear space. The higher the DPI, the more detailed and crisp your image will appear. Most digital images range from 72 DPI (standard for web) to 300 DPI (ideal for print). Top Methods to Change DPI in Linux 1. ImageMagick: The Command-Line Solution ImageMagick is a powerful, versatile tool for image manipulation in Linux. Here’s how to use it: <span class="token"># Install ImageMagick</span> <span class="token">sudo</span> <span class="token">apt-get</span> <span class="token">install</span> imagemagick  <span class="token"># For Debian/Ubuntu</span> <span class="token">sudo</span> dnf <span class="token">install</span> ImageMagick  <span class="token"># For Fedora</span> # Change DPI of a single image convert input.jpg -density 300 output.jpg # Batch convert multiple images for file in *.jpg; do convert “$file“ -density 300 “modified_${file}“ done 2. GIMP: Graphical Image Editing For those who prefer a visual interface, GIMP offers an intuitive approach: Open your image in GIMP Go to Image > Print Size Adjust the X and Y resolution Save the modified image 3. ExifTool: Precise Metadata Manipulation ExifTool provides granular control over image metadata: <span class="token"># Install ExifTool</span> <span class="token">sudo</span> <span class="token">apt-get</span> <span class="token">install</span> libimage-exiftool-perl    <span class="token"># Debian/Ubuntu</span> <span class="token"># View current DPI</span> exiftool image.jpg <span class="token">|</span> <span class="token">grep</span> <span class="token">"X Resolution"</span> <span class="token"># Change DPI</span> exiftool -XResolution<span class="token">=</span><span class="token">300</span> -YResolution<span class="token">=</span><span class="token">300</span> image.jpg 4. Python Scripting: Automated DPI Changes For developers and automation enthusiasts: <span class="token">from</span> PIL <span class="token">import</span> Image <span class="token">import</span> os <span class="token"> def</span> <span class="token">change_dpi</span><span class="token">(</span>input_path<span class="token">,</span> output_path<span class="token">,</span> dpi<span class="token">)</span><span class="token">:</span> <span class="token">with</span> Image<span class="token">.</span><span class="token">open</span><span class="token">(</span>input_path<span class="token">)</span> <span class="token">as</span> img<span class="token">:</span> img<span class="token">.</span>save<span class="token">(</span>output_path<span class="token">,</span> dpi<span class="token">=</span><span class="token">(</span>dpi<span class="token">,</span> dpi<span class="token">)</span><span class="token">)</span> <span class="token"># Batch process images</span> input_directory <span class="token">=</span> <span class="token">'./images'</span> output_directory <span class="token">=</span> <span class="token">'./modified_images'</span> os<span class="token">.</span>makedirs<span class="token">(</span>output_directory<span class="token">,</span> exist_ok<span class="token">=</span><span class="token">True</span><span class="token">)</span> <span class="token">for</span> filename <span class="token">in</span> os<span class="token">.</span>listdir<span class="token">(</span>input_directory<span class="token">)</span><span class="token">:</span>     <span class="token">if</span> filename<span class="token">.</span>endswith<span class="token">(</span><span class="token">(</span><span class="token">'.jpg'</span><span class="token">,</span> <span class="token">'.png'</span><span class="token">,</span> <span class="token">'.jpeg'</span><span class="token">)</span><span class="token">)</span><span class="token">:</span>         input_path <span class="token">=</span> os<span class="token">.</span>path<span class="token">.</span>join<span class="token">(</span>input_directory<span class="token">,</span> filename<span class="token">)</span>         output_path <span class="token">=</span> os<span class="token">.</span>path<span class="token">.</span>join<span class="token">(</span>output_directory<span class="token">,</span> filename<span class="token">)</span>         change_dpi<span class="token">(</span>input_path<span class="token">,</span> output_path<span class="token">,</span> <span class="token">300</span><span class="token">)</span> Important Considerations When Changing DPI Increasing DPI doesn’t automatically improve image quality Original image resolution matters most For printing, aim for 300 DPI For web use, 72-96 DPI is typically sufficient Large increases in DPI can result in blurry or pixelated images DPI Change Tips for Different Purposes Print Requirements Photos: 300 DPI Magazines: 300-600 DPI Newspapers: 200-300 DPI Web and Digital Use Social media: 72 DPI Website graphics: 72-96 DPI Digital presentations: 96 DPI When Should You Change Your DPI? When Preparing Images for Print It is important to always check your printer’s specific requirements Use high-quality original images Resize before changing DPI to maintain quality When Optimizing for Web Reduce DPI to decrease file size Balance between image quality and load time Use compression tools alongside DPI adjustment How to Troubleshoot Issues with DPI Changes Blurry Images: Often result from significant DPI increases Large File Sizes: High DPI can create massive files Loss of Quality: Original image resolution is key Quick Fixes Use professional resampling methods Start with high-resolution original images Use vector graphics when possible for scalability More Articles from Unixmen. The post How to Change DPI: Adjusting Image Resolution appeared first on Unixmen.

by: Tatiana P Lilly Vasanthini VP and Delivery Head – Eastern Europe, NORDICS and Switzerland, Infosys Even a tiny little thing that my teams win or do is a celebration for me, and this is how I stay prepared and not get scared. “Twenty-eight years ago”, I embarked on a journey with Infosys that has been nothing short of extraordinary. As the VP and Delivery Head for Eastern Europe, Nordics, and Switzerland, I’ve been blessed with countless opportunities to learn and evolve. I’m truly grateful for this incredible experience.” The beginnings in the field of technology Technology emerged as both a choice and an opportunity. In December 1984, I officially embarked on a career in Electronics and Communication Engineering. Upon graduation, I gained valuable experience in India’s prestigious defense sector, working on state-of-the-art telecommunications technology. This role provided an ideal blend of technical expertise and business acumen, aligning perfectly with my career aspirations. 2 years later, I was fortunate to join a leading telecom R&D organization in India. This early exposure to cutting-edge research and development was a significant boost to my career. The unwavering support of my family and in particular my husband, raising a young son, was instrumental in my success. Joining Infosys My career took a significant turn in 1997 when I joined Infosys. Starting as a Telekom technical training prime, I progressed to management training and eventually became a program manager. In this role, I led implementations for clients across geographies for close to seven years. My career at Infosys has been marked by a constant drive for change and innovation. Change brings both disruption and new opportunities Change is a catalyst for growth. Every technological advancement disrupts the status quo, presenting both challenges and opportunities. While traditional methods may be challenged, new products, work processes, and business models emerge. For example, the rise of e-commerce transformed retail, but it also spawned countless new opportunities. I embrace technological advancement as a positive challenge. As technology evolves, we’re compelled to think critically and build teams with the necessary skills. This continuous adaptation journey fosters innovation and accelerates progress, especially when we approach it with curiosity. Lilly’s strategy to adapt to a constantly changing field“Change” has never been something to fear. To navigate it effectively, I’ve focused on three key aspects: 1. Embrace Learning: Infosys is a dynamic organization that prioritizes continuous learning. By leveraging internal platforms and partnerships with renowned institutions like Stanford and Kellogg’s, I’ve cultivated a mindset of curiosity and a commitment to staying updated. This enables me to anticipate industry trends, adapt to evolving technologies, and empower my teams to excel. 2. Foster Strong Relationships: Building and nurturing a strong network is crucial. By connecting with colleagues, mentors, and industry experts, I gain diverse perspectives, receive valuable support, and collaborate effectively. This collaborative approach enhances my problem-solving abilities and fosters innovation. 3. Focus on Core Strengths and Celebrate Success: While adapting to change is essential, it’s equally important to build upon my core strengths. By honing my leadership skills and empowering my teams, I ensure we deliver exceptional results for our clients. Additionally, celebrating milestones, no matter how small, keeps me motivated and fosters a positive work environment. Ultimately, a positive mindset and a belief in one’s own abilities are paramount. By embracing change, building strong relationships, and focusing on core strengths, we can thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.” Find out more: Lilly Vasanthini: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilly-vasanthini-882553/ Infosys: www.infosys.com/nordics The post Forum 2024 Role model blog: Lilly Vasanthini, Infosys first appeared on Women in Tech Finland.