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Why Your Application Should Not Use One MySQL User for Everything

Many applications start with a simple database setup: create one MySQL user, give it access to the application schema, put the credentials in the app config, and move on. That may work at first, but it is not a good long-term security model. A better approach is to use separate MySQL users for separate application […]Planet MySQL

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A Tensegrity-Based Side Table Made out of Pipes

https://s3files.core77.com/blog/images/1832779_81_143987_QpPD_CVMQ.jpg

This eye-catching side table relies on tensegrity. It’s made of pipes, joints and thin rope.

"It sways," the creator writes, "but is surprisingly stable."

The table is by PipePipeDIY, a strange Instagram channel where a Japanese office woman makes various contraptions out of pipes. (I assume she works at a pipe business, because her supply seems inexhaustible.) Give it a look; she’s incredibly creative.

Core77

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Laravel Schema Sentinel: Detect and Fix Database Schema Drift

https://picperf.io/https://laravelnews.s3.amazonaws.com/featured-images/minimal-db-featured.png

Laravel Schema Sentinel by Ahtesham at Broadway Web Service detects schema drift— to help identify when your actual database no longer matches your migrations. It builds a shadow database from your migrations, diffs it against the live schema, and can generate a corrective migration when the two diverge.

  • Deep drift detection — audits tables, columns, data types, nullability, defaults, indexes, and foreign keys
  • Cross-environment comparison — verify local migrations match staging or production
  • Auto-generated migrations — create corrective migrations with interactive review
  • Visual dashboard — built-in Livewire component for database health monitoring
  • Pre-migration guard — automatically block php artisan migrate if drift is detected
  • And more…

Detecting Drift

The core command runs your migrations into a temporary shadow database, then compares that shadow against your live connection:

php artisan schema:drift

It checks tables, columns, data types, nullability, defaults, indexes, and foreign keys. Running with --strict also flags columns or tables present in the live database that have no corresponding migration.

Generating a Fix

When drift is found, you can have Sentinel generate a migration to close the gap:

php artisan schema:drift --fix --interactive

Interactive mode walks you through each detected difference before writing anything. A --sql flag skips file creation and prints the migration code to the terminal for review.

Cross-Environment Comparison

You can point the diff at a different environment’s database connection instead of your local one:

php artisan schema:drift --compare-env=staging

This uses the named connection from your config/database.php, so you can verify your local migrations match what’s deployed to staging or production before running them.

Programmatic API

A Sentinel facade exposes the same diff as a DTO, which you can use in controllers, Livewire components, or admin dashboards:

use Sentinel\SchemaSentinel\Facades\Sentinel;
 
$diff = Sentinel::check(strict: true);
 
return response()->json([
 'in_sync' => !$diff->hasDifferences(),
 'drift' => $diff->toArray(),
]);

The package also ships a Blade-embeddable Livewire component for a visual health dashboard, though it only renders in local environments:

<livewire:sentinel-database-health />

The package supports Laravel 11.x through 13.x. You can find Laravel Schema Sentinel on GitHub.

Laravel News

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Notepad++ Finally Lands On macOS as a Native App

BrianFagioli writes: Notepad++ has finally made its way to macOS, and this time it is not through a compatibility layer. A new community-driven port brings the long-standing Windows text editor over as a fully native Mac application, built with Cocoa and compiled for both Apple Silicon and Intel systems. Instead of relying on Wine or similar tools, the project replaces the Windows-specific interface with a macOS-native one while keeping the core editing engine intact, allowing longtime users to retain the same workflow, shortcuts, and overall feel.
The port is independent from the original Notepad++ project but tracks upstream changes closely, with development happening in the open. It is code-signed and notarized, and notably avoids telemetry or ads. Plugin support is being rebuilt for macOS and is still evolving, but the groundwork is in place. While macOS already has several established editors, this effort is aimed squarely at users who want the familiar Notepad++ experience without relearning a new tool. You can download the app here.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Slashdot

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Raspberry Pi Powered C-3PO Head

https://cdn-blog.adafruit.com/uploads/2026/04/Screenshot-2026-04-24-at-10.00.55-AM.png

Sam Potozkin’s interactive C-3PO Head, image via reddit

 

StarWars Day is almost here! What better way to celebrate than a chat with C-3PO. Samuel Potozkin put a lot of work into this build. Beyond the hardware, Potozkin pulled off a ton of prop building techniques to get a believable bot. The head alone required meticulous finishing of 3d printing parts to create the metallic finish.

Via Reddit:

I built a C-3PO head and integrated a Raspberry Pi system inside so you can actually talk to it and it responds in real time.

Here’s how it works:

Audio comes in through a MEMS mic
The Pi processes the input and generates a response
Output is played through an internal speaker
I also used an exciter instead of a traditional speaker so the sound comes through the shell instead of a visible driver.

This was my first time using a raspberry pi for anything and it took some tweaking. But I’m happy with how it turned out.

Very thorough walkthrough video via YouTube:

Project Repository:

https://github.com/spotozkin/threepio

3D printing – Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers!