Category: Programmers

Are Electric Fireplaces A Good Gift For Computer Programmers?

If you want to give a good gift to a family member or close friend that is a computer programmer you may found interesting options around the internet, and in fact, wonderful things like electric fireplaces look very tentative as a gift option, but, being a computer programmer doesn’t necessarily mean that these people get happy with everything that includes the term “electrical” ion the name of the product, for that reason, let’s discover in today’s article if it’s worth to give an electric fireplace as a gift, or if you should move to other interesting options.

Well, first of all, we should know what is an electric fireplace to understand everything easier, if we talk about fireplaces they are a good source of heat that is created with some wood and if it gets turned on with some fire, it ends being a reliable and functional heat provider that can be created in almost every place even out in the wildness, also, in some modern looking properties they are adding these fireplaces to give a more detailed and retro look in winter days. Sadly, fireplaces are dangerous enough to start banning them in some countries, for that reason, some brands and companies didn’t want to lose this culture and starting an alternative solution implementing the power of electric, and that is how electrical fireplaces were born.

Now, in simple words, these fireplaces shouldn’t be considered a gift, but if we are talking about a computer programmer then… it will be up to the person that will receive the gift, however, if it’s a computer programmer then you should start looking other alternatives because even if these electrical devices counts with a realistic appearance, that is not enough to be considered as a gift for a couple of reasons that will be know discussed.

REASON #1: THEY REQUIRE A LOT OF SPACE.

Even though they are cool and count with a realistic appearance that makes it look like if it was real, this doesn’t mean that they can fit in everyone’s property, and if that computer programmer doesn’t count with a big place in which he or she can put the fireplace, then the gift idea will go right to the trash because it will not be of any use, for that reason, it’s recommended to give anything smaller and functional to save some problems at the end of the day.

REASON #2: COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS DOESN’T HAVER A LOT OF TIME TO WATCH AN ELECTRICAL FIREPLACE.

We are living in an era of upgrades, think about stereotypes of computer programmers, they may like to play videogames or upgrade their computers due to the harsh requirements in their professional field, right? Then you should look for information about his or her personal computer (PC) and think of a component that would make it a better machine, that will make that friend of yours very happy, however, the problem with this is the fact that not everyone counts with the knowledge to understand how computers work and which component will be better and which not, so, you can look for something like a technical gadget, peripheral and things that doesn’t cost much, but that gives a lot of utility to their lives which is something that an electric fireplace will not be able to give, that’s for sure.

Dog Training For Dummies: A Computer Programmer’s Guide To Housebreaking Your Dog

Getting a new furry addition to your family is both exciting and daunting. Everyone loves their pets when they lay nicely at their feet or chase a ball, but what about when they pee on the floor? It isn’t uncommon for new pet owners to get in over their heads with their new furry pal and start looking for dog obedience training tips. This is a dog training for dummies, a basic guide for having the best possible experience with your new family member.

pug sitting

Have the Right Attitude

Dogs are pack animals and as such, respond best to kind, confident dominance. While some dogs are more or less inclined to follow commands, in general, they prefer to feel safe under your authority. 

To be clear, though, this doesn’t necessarily mean yelling at your dog or physical punishments! Dogs, like people, can read how confident you feel. If you approach a dog with uneasy nervousness, they will try to take the role of the leader of the pack. If you are confident, they will respond to that and be more likely to follow your commands.

Have the Tools for the Job

While having the right attitude is the most important thing, setting yourself up for success is a close second.

High-Value Treats

The best way to make your dog listen is an immediate reward or punishment for their actions. High-value treats are the most effective way to provide that positive reinforcement. What counts as a high-value treat is going to depend on your dog’s preferences. That said, some safe choices are sliced up hot dogs and pieces of bacon.

Physical punishments, while tempting in those frustrating moments, are largely ineffective. They only make your dog afraid to do whatever behavior you dislike out of your view. This is especially problematic with potty training! Putting your dog’s face in their mess is confusing and upsetting and tends to lead to eliminating in hidden corners of your home. The most effective punishment is a firm “no” or an end of playtime.

The Right Leash and Harness

The variety of leashes and harnesses on the market can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, quite a few of the options out there are going to make your job as a pet owner much harder.

The most common pitfall of new pet owners is the retractable leash. These are leashes that your dog can pull on to make longer while you hold a molded plastic handle. These leashes encourage your dog to pull on the leash and give you limited communication with your pet. A proper leash will allow you to communicate the sort of walk you want from your dog through your handling. These leashes make that next to impossible. They also are confusing to your dog because they don’t know how far they can go at any given time.

The best leash choice is the typical rope or nylon leash of an appropriate length for your needs and local regulations. If you are unsure, a six-foot leash is usually a good choice but if you live someplace with lots of space to run, a longer one might be a better choice for you. There are many varieties in this category but as long as you have direct control over your dog, someplace to slip your hand through in case you lose your grip and the ability to make quick adjustments, you can’t really go wrong.

Perhaps even more important than the leash is the harness. It is important to have a harness that fits well and meets your dog’s particular needs. For example, if you have a dog that likes to pull, the Gentle Leader might be the best choice. If your dog is generally a good walker but has a lot of different people walking them like if you have a dog walking service, an Easy Walk harness might be the best choice. 

For your own peace of mind, if you can avoid those harnesses that require an advanced degree from MIT to get on your dog, your family will thank you. For some dogs, these are unavoidable such as if your dog has arthritis, needing additional support, or is very reactive, necessitating extra handles. Generally, though, the most obviously worn harness, the better.

Whatever you choose, make sure it fits correctly and is comfortable. For most harnesses, there should be enough space for you to fit two fingers between the harness and any point.

dog on leash

A Correctly Sized Crate

If you are choosing to crate train, a properly sized crate is of the utmost importance. A crate that is too small will be uncomfortable for your dog. A dog is also likely to use the bathroom in a crate that is too large. You can buy crates by weight but generally, the crate should be only 2-4 inches longer than your dog, tall enough for them to stand comfortably in and wide enough for them to turn around in.

If you are getting a puppy, you need to consider their current size as well as their adult size. There are wire crates that come with a partition that is handy for a growing dog (read more on finding the right one).

Basic Commands

Now that you have all the tools you need, how do you get a dog to sit or any other number of basic commands?

You should have a dog training schedule each day. Training sessions should last no more than fifteen minutes for adult dogs and even less time for puppies. Once a dog starts to get bored or overwhelmed, the training session is no longer useful.

That said, you can work on commands outside of a training session as well! If you are working on the “sit” command, have your dog sit before putting on their leash or getting their dinner. Lots of reminders and reinforcement will support your training sessions.

In those training sessions, focus on one command at a time to start with. If you are teaching your dog to sit, give the command in a firm, authoritative voice then gently push their haunches to the floor. Once they are in the sitting position, give them a high-value treat and give them lots of praise. Be sure to give them a command for when to stop sitting as well! A happy sounding “free” or “done” will let them know when they are allowed to stop sitting.

Over time, the dog will put together that when you give the command, “sit” and they sit down, they get a treat. After a while, start only giving them the treats sometimes or switch out to less high-value treats. Dogs respond best when they are unsure if they are going to get their preferred reward or not. That said, always give them lots of praise, that is what dogs love most of all!

With all the basic commands, like sit, stay, come, start simple. For stay, don’t expect your puppy to stay for a long time at first. Catch them being good, if they stay for only 10 seconds, reward that. The next time when they stay for 20 seconds, reward that too. Just be sure you are rewarding them while they are showing the desired behavior.

black dog with ball

Crate Training

Crate training is a handy way to both give your dog their own space as well as to potty train them. Dogs are den animals meaning that they feel safest in their own den space, which their crate can replicate. Additionally, dogs will not use the bathroom in their crate as long as they are not kept in them too long, which is useful for potty training.

When you get a crate, be sure to make it as comfortable and hospitable as possible. Make sure the door is open and secure so it won’t hit your dog as they explore their little home. Have high value treats at the ready to lure them in and make them excited to be inside the crate. When not closing your dog up, keep the crate open so they can go in and out of it as they desire. Many dogs love being inside their crate.

The next step is to begin to feed your dog meals inside their crate. Once they readily enter their crate, give them their food then close the crate. This will give them positive associations with being inside their crate. Once they are done, let them back out. Each meal, keep the crate closed longer and longer until they stay in there without whining for ten minutes. If they do begin to whine, let them out and take note of how long they stayed there before wanting to get out.

Once they will stay in the crate after meals, begin to place them in their crate (with a treat!) for longer periods of time. Start with you being in the room with them while crated then begin to spend time outside the room. Once they happily stay in the crate for 30 minutes without you in the room with them, they should be ready to be crated at night or when you leave the house.

Because a dog won’t want to eliminate in their crate, it is a great tool for potty training. When your dog has been in their crate for some time, take them immediately outside. Once they eliminate, give them lots of praise and a high value treat. This will teach them that the outside is where they are supposed to go to the bathroom. If they have total free roam of the house, they will be more likely to find all sorts of places you don’t want them to eliminate. Use their natural instinct to not use the bathroom where they sleep and eat to your advantage.

A few important things to note about crate training. While dogs generally enjoy being in their crates, they still should not be kept in them for the bulk of the day and night. You might like being in your bed but you wouldn’t like being there all the time!

It is also very important to never use their crate as a punishment. A crate should be a safe, homey space for your dog, not time out.

Puppies under six months should never be in their crates for more than 3-4 hours since they cannot hold their bladder that long. 

Alternatives to Crate Training

While the crate can be a fantastic tool for both training and keeping your house in order, there are a lot of reasons it might not be the right choice for you. For example, if you have adopted a dog who was kept in a crate too long or put in a crate for punishment, a crate will be far from a comfortable, happy place for them!

Baby gates are a wonderful option to keep your dog from making a mess of your house while you are away. Pick an area that is easily cleaned and dog-proofed. As you choose the type of gate, consider the size and strength of your dog. A dog who is a jumper might require a taller gate or a fully closed door.

If you choose to keep your dog outside, it is extremely important to be sure your dog is protected from the elements. They should have a shady area if it is hot and shelter if it is cold or rainy. They also must always have food and water available to them. If you take this route, also check local regulations regarding outdoor pets.

Another option is a dog sitter or doggie daycare. Either of these options means a professional will be able to check in on your furry friend and make sure they are getting their needs met. There is a wide variety of budgetary considerations so if you take this route, be sure to explore all of your options before making the right choice for your family.

Enjoy Your Furry Friend!

Having a dog is a whole lot of work but it is absolutely worth it. Dogs are a wonderful addition to the family and should be treated as such. Giving dogs the confidence and consistency to fill their role in your household will keep both of you happy and healthy.

Design Tips Programming For A Self-Driving Snow Blower Prototype

Since the advent of vacuum robots, designing programs for machines to conduct household chores has been an extremely popular challenge among home enthusiasts. Thanks to companies like iRobot, the average Joe can buy devices to automatically vacuum floors, mop floors, and more recently even mow the lawn. But there are still countless household tasks that can be automated in similar ways. With winter around the corner why not team up with a hardware buddy, bust out your programming chops, and take a stab at a self-driving snow blower prototype? To get your creative juices flowing, we’ve put together some tips for getting started with tackling this project.

Forget The Brains – It’s All About Logic

With the availability of sensors and hardware for huge amounts of data collection and processing, it’s all to easy to fall into the temptation of designing a nearly intelligent algorithm to tackle anything that the weather throws at your prototype. Here’s some advice – learn from those who have come before you and leave it down to simple logic.

Tinkerers have been making robots that travel all over enclosed areas with basic switches, relays, and capacitors for years. Don’t overthink it. Sure, a human could clean up the snow more quickly than a robot programmed with basic logic, but that’s not the point. What you are trying to do is negate the need for human interaction in snow removal, rather than removing the snow as efficiently as possible. Keep this part simple and straight forward, your brain power is going to be needed for the more complex programming tasks that will follow.

Adapting To Different Types Of Snow

One of the biggest challenges you will face is programming the prototype to adapt to different types of snow. Snow can be wet, fluffy, a dusting, or a dumping. If you’ve ever used a snow blower in the past, then you know it can be quite easy to remove the snow from one storm and quite a headache to clean up after another. Your best bet is to start off on the right foot and choose a base model that is designed to handle the winter weather that is common to your region. After that, it’s going to come down to load and level sensors.

Load sensors might be best set up to measure the torque on the wheels, or the torque on the impeller – you’re creative design will come in useful here. The idea however is that you’ll want to throttle the speed of both the wheels and the impeller when the snow height and density changes. This will ensure that the robot is not only clearing the snow effectively, but also that it won’t get jammed up when it comes into heavy snow.

Additional Considerations – The Real Challenge

Designing a snow removal robot to clear snow from an enclosed, walled-off plot of land is one thing. What you’ll really need to think about (and what could really make for a great product!) is how the robot could work in the real world. How will the robot know when it’s reached the edge of the pavement, or the end of the driveway? How will it know when the snow is cleared so that it can return to the charging dock to prepare for the next storm? And perhaps most importantly, how is it going to know which direction is best to throw snow?

There are many factors that influence these design decisions, and they are probably the main roadblocks holding back the big companies from making snow-clearing robots today. If you can figure this out you’ll not only be a true prototyping champion, but you could stand to make some seriously big bucks and get into the game full time.

Put Your Technical Skills To The Test With These Home Automation Tasks

Are you searching for more ways to turn your house into a true smart home? There are a great many hacks that you can implement in order to accomplish this goal. Here is a handy list of some of the most popular improvements that you can make. When you’re done, you’ll be the proud owner of a fully automated smart home.

Control the Lights in Your Home with a Raspberry Pi

One of the most common complaints that people have is regarding the lights in their home. If you can’t be there to turn them on and off yourself, you risk using up a great deal of energy. This lack of energy conservation soon translates into a hefty figure on your next utility bill.

Of course, if you are at home, you now have the privilege of going around to every light in your house in order to turn it off by hand. Is there an easier way that doesn’t involve a half mile hike every night?

It will take a bit of doing and some solid soldering skills to combine your Pi with a remote control device that can control your lighting system from the web. But once you are done, you will be able to turn all of your lights on and off from a laptop, PC, or phone.

Open Up Your Curtains with a Remote Controlled Timer

One of the most interesting things you can do with the new smart tech is to open and close your curtains on a remote controlled timer. First you’ll have to attach a few pulleys and a counterweight to the curtains. Once the hardware is in place, there are a number of kits that you can buy in order to send the signal to open and close from your smartphone, laptop, or PC. It’s an open and shut case with smart tech!

Control Your AC Unit from Your Phone

Did you know that you can control your AC unit from your phone? You can buy any number of new intelligent devices, such as a Sensibo, to attach to the unit. From there, you simply coordinate the add-on device with your smartphone. This will enable you to turn your AC on and off, even if you aren’t actually in the home itself.

Using a smart remote device will also control when the unit is set to heat or cool the home as well as how long each session lasts. As noted above, you can buy a ready made remote unit to do the job. You can also purchase several DIY kits that will enable you to achieve the same purpose. This is an excellent way to regulate your energy usage and cut down on your monthly utility bills.

Open Your Garage Door Using Your Smartphone

One of the best things you can do with the new technology is to use your smartphone as a garage door opener. Don’t wedge the phone literally under your door! You can instead use your smartphone as a remote control to open the garage door safely from your car. This is one of the finest uses you can make of this amazing smart tech and it won’t cost you a massive amount to implement it. You can buy several ready made apps right off the web that will let you perform this feat.

If you prefer to make your own mod, you can do so very easily. All you have to do is go to your local electronic parts outlet and buy a simple transistor. This shouldn’t cost you more than a dollar. If you already own a Bluetooth, you’re in business. From there, all you need to do is wire the transistor into your Bluetooth using the soldering iron.

The ultimate idea is to send a signal from the audio amplifier in your Bluetooth headset to your garage door opener. It’s a quick and simple process that will save you a great deal of time and trouble in the long run. Meanwhile, there are plenty more of these simple automating hacks that can be found on the web. It’s up to you to find and make use of them in order to make your life even more easy and convenient.

Revitalize Your Coding: How A Mattress Topper Can Improve Your Sleep

What do great minds have in common? The ability to think without hindrance. Whether you’re designing new software, sifting through lines and lines of coding, or something basic as adding HTML tags in your e-mail, you’ll want to make sure that your brain is well-lubricated for all the coarse thinking you have ahead of you. Put simply, it all comes down to a good night’s rest.

The U.S. loses over $400 billion a year due to poor work performance and it’s safe to say that some of those billions were meant to go programmers like yourselves. Let’s be honest, computers are the future IF we haven’t already made it there already! Coding languages have become the backbone of both our economy and day-to-day operations. If you are operating on a couple hours of sleep per night, then you’re not fulfilling your potential as a programmer, nor are you benefiting the person(s) or company that you’re coding for.

The most basic rule to remember is this: the less hours in bed equals more errors in red.

If you get your average six hours of sleep a night, you will find that it dramatically improves both your short and long-term memory. It will make remembering all those courses you took, or books you’ve read that much easier while also keeping track of your current work and how to implement more elements in your coding that you thought you’ve forgotten long ago. So, if you’re the type of person to wake up in the middle of the night or have trouble sleeping, chances are that little bits of information are slipping through the cracks without you even knowing!

Computer programming demands high activity from two parts of the brain. The inferior frontal gyrus which controls basic knowledge combined with innovative thinking (understanding languages, attention span, memory utilization) and the parietal lobe (mathematical and analytical skill). Studies have shown that just after a single night of sleep deprivation that both behavioral and cognitive functions were significantly lower than that of a person who has had a full night’s rest of good old fashioned sleep. Which goes to show that when you don’t sleep well, your brain will literally receive signals that ‘do not compute!’

So, how can you achieve optimal coding results? Start with eliminating caffeine and energy drinks, even if they may be helpful during long nights of coding, these stimulants are actually harmful to the brain’s process. If you’re a smoker, make sure to get all your puffs in hours before going to bed. Same thing goes for you greasy food and snack lovers, do it well before you lay down to rest. And most importantly, be comfortable in bed! Fluff your pillow, cover your feet, and eliminate pressure on the body by either buying a new mattress or simply finding ways to make the one you have now less lumpy; a quality mattress topper is the best option.

The best programmers are excellent problem solvers, so if you’re dedicated to the code, you will find a way to feed your brain those well-deserved Z’s at night. With all that being said, here’s one more fun anecdote for you to remember: you don’t want to wake up on the wrong side of the bed, and have white noise in your head. Get some (comfortable and sound!) sleep and get out there and show the world what you’re made of…or rather, the code that you make.

Take a Break from Programming and Try the Hottest New Trend: The Electric Skateboard

Being a computer programmer is not easy, it requires long hours of sitting in front of the computer designing, writing, and testing computer programs. It requires writing a source code in a special programming language that the computer can interpret which is not easy. The brain needs a break from the computer screen and needs to be distracted by a fun activity that will help relieve stress. What better way to relieve stress than to go outside and ride an electric skateboard.

An electric skateboard is a skateboard whose speed you control using a hand-held device or by adjusting your weight by tilting the board side to side. These skateboards vary in prices so you can decide how much you are wanting to splurge on it, they can range anywhere from $140 at Walmart to $1000+ by different companies. One of the hottest electric skateboards on the market is the LOU Board that offers a hidden battery, is water resistant, is super lightweight, has replaceable wheels, is manageable via an app, and is small enough making it portable, even on the plane.

When buying an electric skateboard there are three things to take into consideration and that is range, reliability, and speed. You want to be sure that the skateboard can travel a good distance before the battery needs to be recharged, you need to ensure that the skateboard material is reliable enough that it can withstand your weight and all weather and street conditions, and you want to ensure that it can travel at a decent speed because you do not want the skateboard to go so slow that you are barely moving and you do not want it to go so fast that you can barely keep your balance.

One of the fastest electric skateboards is the Boosted 2nd en Dual+ Electric Skateboard that is made of Bamboo material, uses a Lithium-ion battery that has a one hour charge time, and you can go up to 12 miles at a speed of 35mph, and it can hold a weight of up to 250lbs. Another thing to consider when buying an electric skateboard is the charge time, because many electric skateboards, like the Evolve Skateboards GT Street Electric Longboard Skateboard, Yuneec E-GO2 Electric Longboard Skateboard, Evolve Skateboards Bamboo GTX Electric Longboard Skateboard, MotoTec MT-SKT-1600 Dirt Electric Skateboard, and SKATEBOLT Electric Skateboard have charge times of 2-5 hours, and if that is something you are not interested in then electric skateboards like Boosted 2nd Gen Dual+ Electric Skateboard, Boosted Dual+ 2000W Electric Skateboard, MAXFIND Dual Motor Electric Skateboard Longboard, ACTON BLINK S Powerful Electric Skateboard, ACTON BLINK S2 Electric Skateboard, and Inboard M1 Premium Electric Skateboard have a charge time of 1-1.5 hours.

Buying an electric skateboard is not cheap so you want to be sure that whichever one you choose is something you can see yourself riding every day to give your brain break from computer programming. Each electric skateboard has something different to offer, so you will have to decide what matters most, the range the electric skateboard can travel, the speed at which it can go, the amount of time it takes to charge the battery, or the weight that it can withstand because some electric skateboards have a weight capacity of 130lb only like the ACTON BLINK Lite Electric Skateboard which also does not go faster than 10mph and no further than 5 miles. Take a look at all the electric skateboard options and choose one that will work best for you.