Zombie Coder – Page 2 – Experiments in Technology Necromancy

CS Topics: Rand and Xor Magic

In this week’s episode, we dive a bit deeper into the underlying theory behind how random numbers and the importance behind the XOR operator when creating hashes.

This episode does depend on pre-existing knowledge of basic boolean operators. If you aren’t familiar check out this page.

GNU C Sources: Look for the linear congruential method in __random_r
Sha1 Js Implementation: A well explained implementation of SHA-1 algorithm
Md5 Algorithm Wikipedia Page: There’s pseudo code to try implementing in your favorite language.
https://www.fourmilab.ch/hotbits/ – Get random numbers from Radioactive decay

Credits:

https://audionautix.com/ – Music

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Nix News: Embedded Linux Update

Today I’ll cover my major take-homes from a couple embedded Linux conferences that I (virtually) attended.

Subjects:

Let’s be positive
All about embedded linux
Be prepared: Containers are coming! (Someone please make docker-lite for embedded!)
Risc V is up and coming real soon now
Learn VSCode if you want a common IDE experience
Diversity thoughts – there’s a person behind the email
Open Source maintainers ask for our patience
Check out Virtual Conferences in 2020

Resources:

https://www.raspbian.org/ – The Raspbian Linux Distribution
https://www.yoctoproject.org/ – The Yocto Linux Project
https://www.docker.com/ – Yep, it’s coming to the embedded world. Time to learn it.
https://theia-ide.org/ – An alternative that’s compatible to VSCode
https://vscodium.com/ – VSCode without Microsoft’s proprietary brew
https://open-vsx.org/ – Alternative extension store for Theia or VSCodium

Special Thanks to:

https://audionautix.com/ – Rockin’ zombie track

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Hope for the Camel’s Second Hump

Today I offer some advice for those currently staring down the barrel of failing midterm grades for CS and Engineering students.

The Camel Doesn’t Have Two Humps – Commentary on the retraction of the oft-mentioned article on Computer Science being bi-modal.
Reforming Mathematics – A detailed paper on Mathematics pedagogy, including coverage on educational theory and peer reviewed studies.
DOJ vs Google – Washington Post story on the DOJ vs Microsoft
Edge For Linux – Edge for Linux announcement and information

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CS Topics: Hash Functions

Today we cover one of the primary building blocks for blockchain – Hash Functions.

References:

Introduction to Algorithms 3rd Ed. (CLRS) pg. 262
FNV Algorithm
Wikipedia SHA-2 Page

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Episode 7 – XLS, XLSX What is Difference?

Today I cover a small “oops” from the UK health center, and extend some thoughts on its relationship to “Real Programming”.

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Episode 6 – Sanity while remote for coders

How I’m trying to keep sane while working remote. Some basic guidelines I’ve adopted over years of remote work.

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Episode 4 – Fall 2020 Programming Developments

A look at major new developments in the coding world for C/C++ – and some brief talk on Amazon BottleRocket and Microsoft’s Hyper-V advancements.

Amazon Announcement for “BottleRocket” Linux distribution
ZDNet Coverage – Microsoft Hyper-V patches for Linux kernel as root
Infoworld Coverage – C++20 technical approval
CMake feature tracker – CMake C++ modules support
C++ Coroutines – Microsoft devlog entry on C++20 coroutines
MSVC 16.8 preview 3 – Microsoft improving conformance devlog
Python 3.9 Update

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Episode 3 – To College or not to College?

For new and aspiring developers – in this episode I answer the #1 question asked from future coders – should I go to college? Pros and Cons of a college degree and the University system.

Contents: The Cold Truth of Job Seeking. Beware of For-Profit systems. Selecting a Degree. The actual meaning of a Computer Science degree.

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Episode 2 – The Decline of Usenet

We return to the early 80s and 90s to discuss the rise of consumer access to Usenet and the following decline of the service and its rise to the ranks of the undead.

Contents:

Show introduction
Merging of networks
SPAM, SPAM, more SPAM
A brief analysis of the “Decline”

Resources:

Mozilla Thunderbird: https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/
Eternal September: https://www.eternal-september.org/

Sources:

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9987679 – Hacker News forum conversation from 2015 discussing the decline of Usenet availability with ISPs
https://web.archive.org/web/20100726200800/www.dukenews.duke.edu/2010/05/usenet.html – Duke shuts down its usenet server
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Adams_(Internet_pioneer)
https://web.archive.org/web/20070822223030/https://faqs.cs.uu.nl/na-dir/usenet/software/part1.html – Earlier Usenet Documentation
ftp://ftp.cs.toronto.edu/doc/programming/ – FTP archive including papers on usenet
https://www.giganews.com/usenet-history/ – Giganews Usenet History
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CompuServe – History of CompuServ
http://meatballwiki.org/wiki/TheSeptemberThatNeverEnded – Endless September
https://www.fastcompany.com/3046194/a-brief-history-of-aol – History of AOL
https://groups.google.com/g/net.news.group/c/uWqKiWoiaSA/m/yJZ1uqmCGtIJ – Great Renamining Commentary
https://groups.google.com/g/news.misc/c/AT2DFqBWgw4 – Usenet discussion on “Commercial Access”
https://youtu.be/1npzZu83AfU – Early AOL TV commercial
https://www.zdnet.com/article/usenet-junk-e-mail-could-swamp-the-system-friday/ – Spam protest.
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Fight-Child-Porn-ByDoing-Nothing-Differently-96080 – DSL reports article and thread on dropping news groups.
https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2008/07/02/broadband-adoption-in-the-united-states/ – Broadband uptake in the united states

Credits:

Music by Audionautix.com – Creative Commons licensed music and commercial options available.

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