This article details the creation of a toolkit for building a macropad using an Android app and a Linux server, focusing on communication protocols, security considerations, and the challenges of building a complex interface with App Inventor.
Microsoft has released version 1.1 of Microsoft BASIC for the 6502 under an MIT license. This version, from mid-1978, supports the Commodore PET, KIM-1, and early Apple models. It's a version that has circulated unofficially for some time, now with licensing clarified.
Niklas Roy has created a modern-day take on the two-wheeled robots used in schools in the 1980s with Logo programming. His robots are vector plotters that create artwork and can be built with an Arduino Nano.
This week's security roundup covers the Anubis web AI firewall, AI exploit generation, a vulnerability in CodeRabbit, the potential illegality of adblocking in Germany, a Microsoft Copilot audit log issue, and a disputed Elastic EDR vulnerability.
A retrospective on the MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor, celebrating its 50th anniversary. The article discusses its history, impact on early home computers and consoles, and its continued (though niche) presence in modern electronics.
The article discusses using AI for code review, emphasizing that it should be used as a tool to flag potential issues for human review, similar to how a spell checker works. It highlights a tool created by Bill Mill to aid in this process, which uses a command-line interface to connect to LLMs. The author stresses the importance of discernment when accepting AI suggestions and provides the system prompt used in the tool.
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.
