A project that displays WiFi signal strength using *Space Invaders*-themed sprites on an ESP8266. It recalls the practice of wardriving and provides a visual representation of nearby networks, including open ones.
Han has created a 512-bit magnetic core memory module and documented the process, including wiring details and oscilloscope traces. The module has passed extensive testing, demonstrating the reliability of ferrite memory. The article details the principles of magnetic core memory and provides links to resources for building your own.
This article details a project to create a small desktop appliance with an E-Ink display that shows a user's GitHub activity graph. It uses an ESP32 and a 3D-printed case, configured via a web interface.
An article discussing the importance of time series databases and data visualization tools like Grafana for managing and interpreting streams of data in various applications.
The author mentions several time series databases (TSDs) and visualization tools, focusing on their features, advantages, and some limitations. The article also provides an example of a Building Management and Control (BMaC) project that uses InfluxDB and Grafana for data visualization.
| Database | Description | Notable Features |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| InfluxDB | Partially open source, with version 3 being an edge data collector. | Shard-based storage, compaction levels, time series index, optional retention. |
| Apache Kudu | Column-based database optimized for multidimensional OLAP workloads. | Part of the Apache Hadoop ecosystem. |
| Prometheus | Developed at SoundCloud for metrics monitoring. | Written in Go, similar to InfluxDB v1 and v2. |
| RRDTool | All-in-one package with a circular buffer TSD that also does graphing. | Language bindings for various programming languages. |
| Graphite | Similar to RRDTool but uses a Django web-based application to render graphs. | Web-based graphing. |
| TimescaleDB | Extends PostgreSQL, supporting typical SQL queries with TSD functionality and optimizations. | Supports all typical SQL queries. |
The article also discusses Grafana as a popular tool for creating dashboards to visualize time series data, mentioning its compatibility with multiple TSDs and SQL databases. It concludes by highlighting the importance of understanding one's specific needs before choosing a TSD and visualization solution.
The author mentions several time series databases (TSDs) and visualization tools, focusing on their features, advantages, and some limitations. The article also provides an example of a Building Management and Control (BMaC) project that uses InfluxDB and Grafana for data visualization.
| Database | Description | Notable Features |
|-------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| InfluxDB | Partially open source, with version 3 being an edge data collector. | Shard-based storage, compaction levels, time series index, optional retention. |
| Apache Kudu | Column-based database optimized for multidimensional OLAP workloads. | Part of the Apache Hadoop ecosystem. |
| Prometheus | Developed at SoundCloud for metrics monitoring. | Written in Go, similar to InfluxDB v1 and v2. |
| RRDTool | All-in-one package with a circular buffer TSD that also does graphing. | Language bindings for various programming languages. |
| Graphite | Similar to RRDTool but uses a Django web-based application to render graphs. | Web-based graphing. |
| TimescaleDB | Extends PostgreSQL, supporting typical SQL queries with TSD functionality and optimizations. | Supports all typical SQL queries. |
The article also discusses Grafana as a popular tool for creating dashboards to visualize time series data, mentioning its compatibility with multiple TSDs and SQL databases. It concludes by highlighting the importance of understanding one's specific needs before choosing a TSD and visualization solution.
The article discusses the NFC chip found in modern passports, how to access the data it contains, and potential security implications. It details that the key to accessing the data is printed on the passport itself, and explores whether this system is sufficient to prevent forgery.
A blog post detailing the creation of a colour e-paper weather display using a Pimoroni Inky Frame and the Met Office API. It covers the process of fetching weather imagery, converting it to JPEG format, and displaying it on the Inky Frame using MicroPython.
ZPUI (Zippy UI) is a lightweight control interface for single-board computers such Z the Raspberry Pi, designed to provide easy access to system information and control functions via a small I2C screen and a few buttons. It aims to solve the common frustrations of accessing and debugging SBCs without a full keyboard, monitor, and network connection.
The article details the history of the TRS-80 Model I computer, highlighting its cost-cutting design, limitations, and impact on the early home computer market. It discusses its hardware, software (Level I & II BASIC, CP/M compatibility), and eventual replacement by the Model II and Model III. It also touches on the community's nickname 'Trash-80' and its lasting legacy.
This article discusses Fibonacci hashing, a method using the golden ratio to map data locations, potentially offering faster lookup speeds and more even distribution compared to integer modulo hashing. However, it may be problematic with data containing many Fibonacci numbers and is not a cryptographic hash.
This article details a workaround for a memory leak in Autokey on Linux, specifically addressing issues arising from the transition away from X11 and toward Wayland. The author implemented a wrapper script to monitor Autokey's memory usage and restart it when it exceeds a defined threshold.
