Nuffing.com

 

The website or mobile app is the storefront for participating in the modern digital era. It’s your portal for inviting users to come and survey your products and services. Much attention focuses on front-end development; this is where the HMTL5, CSS, and JavaScript are coded to develop the landing page that everyone sees when they visit your site.

 

But the real magic happens on the backend. This is the ecosystem that really powers your website. One writer has articulated this point very nicely as follows:

 

The technology and programming that “power” a site—what your end user doesn’t see but what makes the site run—is called the back end. Consisting of the server, the database, and the server-side applications, it’s the behind-the-scenes functionality—the brain of a site. This is the ecosystem of the database manager and the back-end developer.

 

The challenge of modern web development is that the tools and technologies are constantly changing. What’s in vogue today may become obsolete in less than a year. What’s more is that web applications have become much richer and more complex. New uses of video, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence on websites will continue to define the developer of the future.

 

And, of course, today’s savvy web developer must continue to learn and grow, which is equally challenging because the technologies are constantly changing. The internet of 3 years ago, is very different from the internet of today, and so it will be in another 3 years.

 

In the following, we’ve put together a long list of useful tools that every back-end developer should have in their toolkit. Read on and learn about some of the best resources on the market today for the backend developer.

 

 

Languages & Frameworks

 

1. PHP

 

In the 23 years since its introduction, PHP has become the world’s most popular server-side scripting language. PHP is pre-installed on most hosting sites, is known to be easy to use, and has tons of support. What’s more, there are many very well established PHP frameworks on the market that make developing applications more intuitive and agile. Some of the most popular ones are Symfony, Laravel, Phalcon, and Yii Framework.

 

 

2. Python

 

Python has become an extremely popular language for building applications in recent years. With a reputation for being fast, easy to learn, and carrying wide support, Python has become the first choice for many new programmers. It’s also the language of choice for data scientists and engineers. A couple of the most popular Python frameworks out there are Django and Pyramid.

 

 

3. Ruby on Rails

 

Ruby on Rails is the popular open source web application framework that uses the Ruby programming language. Ever since Rails burst on the scene a decade ago it has continued to scale up as an elegant way to build dynamic websites quickly and efficiently. Rails has garnered a strong following, especially among tech startups. In fact, some of the best-known firms out there are using this framework to build their sites, including Airbnb, Bloomberg, and Groupon.

 

 

4. Node.js

 

Node.js is an open-source, cross-platform JavaScript runtime environment for developing a diverse variety of server tools and applications. One notable feature of Node.js is that it contains a built-in library to allow applications to act as a Web server without software such as Apache HTTP Server or IIS.

 

 

5. Laravel

 

Laravel is probably one of the more popular PHP frameworks on the market right now. Known for its elegance and simplicity, Laravel meets a diverse range of programming needs and projects, from beginner to advanced, and is well suited for projects of all types and sizes – from basic scripting to huge enterprise applications. It’s built on top of several Symfony components that ensure a solid framework for producing well-tested and reliable code.

 

 

Web Server Technologies

 

6. Apache

 

Apache is an open source web server, created in 1999 and currently used by 50.1% of all websites. The numbers indicate the reliance that folks place on Apache to run their web services. It’s a proven, reliable tool that has stood the test of time, and really played a key role in the early growth of the internet.

 

7. NGINX

NGINX is open source software for web serving, reverse proxying, caching, load balancing, media streaming, and more. In addition to its HTTP server capabilities, NGINX can also function as a proxy server for email (IMAP, POP3, and SMTP) and a reverse proxy and load balancer for HTTP, TCP, and UDP servers.

 

 

Databases

 

8. MySQL

 

MySQL is the world’s most popular open source relational database. It’s easily accessible and is often known to be part of the LAMP web development stack, standing for the ‘M’ in the acronym of popular tools, along with Linux, Apache, and PHP/Perl/Python. The fact that MySQL is free, easy to setup, and scales fast are some of the main reasons why it’s the best match for many backend developers.

 

9. PostgreSQL

 

PostgreSQL is a powerful, open source object-relational database system with more than 15 years of active development and a proven architecture that has earned it a strong reputation for reliability, data integrity, and correctness.

 

10. MongoDB

 

MongoDB is a free and open-source NoSQL database system. MongoDB saves data in binary JSON format which makes it easier to pass data between client and server. The platform is closely associated with MEAN ( an acronym for MongoDB, ExpressJS, AngularJS, and NodeJS), a JavaScript based set of technologies used for building web applications.

 

 

Git Clients & Services

 

11. SourceTree

SourceTree simplifies the process of how developers interact with their Git and Mercurial repositories. The easy to use interface makes managing repositories more intuitive so you can focus on coding.

 

12. Github Client

Github Client was created to minimize the cost of building apps on multiple platforms. By using the Electron software framework, developers can now easily write cross-platform desktop applications using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Essentially, Github Client + Electron provides developers with the benefits of a unified cross-platform experience that’s completely open source and ready to customize.

 

 

Microservice Platforms

 

13. Docker

 

Docker is the open source platform that put microservices on the map by providing developers and testers with a fast and easy-to-use packaging, distribution, and deployment mechanism for building containerized applications. Docker also offers a formidable ecosystem of tools, such as native clustering (Docker Swarm) registry service (Docker Hub) and cloud service (Docker Cloud).

 

14. Kubernetes

 

Kubernetes is an open source container cluster manager that aims to provide a “platform for automating deployment, scaling, and operations of application containers across clusters of hosts.” Originally designed by Google, Kubernetes has the advantage of 15 years of Google research. Because of that, Kubernetes also draws upon a robust user community and is one of the top projects on Github.

 

 

Local Development Environments

 

15. XAMPP

 

There are lots of advantages to setting up your own local test environment. XAMPP is an open source, cross-platform web server solution stack, which comes with the Apache distribution containing MariaDB, PHP, and Perl all integrated into one downloadable file. The XAMPP open source package has been set up to be incredibly easy to install and to use.

 

16. WampServer

Wampserver is an open source windows development environment. It allows users to create web applications with Apache, PHP, and a MySQL database. The platform also comes with PhpMyAdmin and SQLite to help easily manage your databases. Wampserver is known to be particularly easy and intuitive to use.

 

17. Laragon

 

Laragon provides a fast and easy way to spin up an isolated Windows development (like a Virtual Machine, it doesn’t touch your OS). Users can install it as a software, start it up, do their programming, and just exit when finished. The platform comes pre-installed with many popular applications like Node.js, PHP, Apache, Composer, and MariaDB/MySQL.

 

 

Collaboration Services

 

18. Slack

 

Slack is a popular cloud-based messaging & collaboration app that has revolutionized enterprise communications in recent years. Known for its fun and intuitive user interface, “slackbots” (AI personal assistant), and a robust and rapidly expanding user community, Slack is on a mission to make working life simpler, more pleasant, and more productive.

 

 

19. Asana

 

Asana is a SaaS platform designed to help teams work more effectively by improving team collaboration. It focuses on allowing users to manage projects and tasks online without the use of email.

 

20. Jira

 

Jira is a web-based project management platform that uses the kanban and scrum paradigms for managing projects, originally popularized by Toyota in the 1980s for supply chain management. As its own website declares, “Trello’s boards, lists, and cards allow users to organize and prioritize projects in a fun, flexible, and rewarding way.”

 

 

Website Speed Test Tools

 

21. Google PageSpeed Insights

 

PageSpeed Insights is a helpful web performance tool that analyzes the content and speed of a web page. The output offers reports for both desktop and mobile versions of your site, along with a set of recommendations and metrics to make the page faster.

 

22. Full Page Load Tester

 

WebPage Test provides a free website speed test from multiple locations around the globe using real browsers (IE and Chrome) and at real consumer connection speeds. The output offers a rich set of diagnostics including resource loading waterfall charts, Page Speed optimization checks, and suggestions for improvements.

 

 

Web Development Communities

 

23. Stackoverflow

 

StackOverflow is easily the world’s largest developer website with approximately 50 million visits a month by developers who come to learn and share their knowledge. Users are encouraged by Stack Overflow’s badge system, which enables them to earn reputation points for receiving an “up” vote on an answer given to a question.

 

24. Refind

Refind is a content reposting site that allows members (consisting of founders, hackers, and designers) to collect and share the best links on the web. In its own words, “Join thousands of professionals to discover, save, and read what’s most relevant to you.”

 

25. Hashnode

Hashnode is basically a social network for software developers where they can share and grow their programming knowledge by posting of articles and content. This allows them to build their portfolio and gain followers and votes in the process.

via Planet MySQL
Complete Megalist: 25 Helpful Tools For Back-End Developers

This is for chapter 1 of Learning MySQL – it’s only pages 3-8, so it is an easy one!

Homework for this week: How to Submit Homework

Notes/errata/updates for Chapter 1:
The book mentions MySQL AB, the company behind MySQL. Since the book was written, MySQL was acquired by Sun, and then Sun was acquired by Oracle. (see http://ift.tt/1yteR9A­ for the timeline).

Topics covered:
MySQL History
Why MySQL is popular
Submitting Homework

Reference/Quick Links for MySQL Marinate

via Planet MySQL
Lesson 01: Introduction and Submitting Homework

Here is a quick reference for MySQL Marinate:

• Starting page – talks about the book, FAQs, who the course is for, what it’s all about.
• How to submit homework
• Lesson 1/Chapter 1 – Introduction

via Planet MySQL
MySQL Marinate Quick Links

We will be submitting the homework via GitHub. The reason for this is to have a centralized place for homework, as well as teaching how to use a revision control system and how to interact specifically with GitHub.

Reading:
Learn about git at http://ift.tt/Y1XtW1 (You only need to read this one webpage, no need to go to the next page)

To do:
– Create a github account at www.github.com if you do not already have one.
– Install and configure git on your local machine as per http://ift.tt/W0viGn
– Fork the MySQL Marinate repo as per http://ift.tt/VSDl4q
The URL for the MySQL Marinate repo is http://ift.tt/2vIxmYY

– To demonstrate that you can submit homework, open and modify the 01Intro/homework.txt file
– Then commit your work locally:
git add 01Intro/homework.txt
git commit
– When you’re done, commit your work up to the github server:
git push origin master

When doing homework, remember to commit locally often. I would recommend committing up to the github server whenever you finish a question or a part of a question. Pretend at any time your local machine may die; how much work are you willing to lose? (5 minutes’ worth? 3 days’ worth?) I do not look at individual commits, only the final pull request when you’re done.

When you’re done with your homework, submit a Pull Request as per http://ift.tt/QITIBk

If you have trouble and need help, ask away in the comments!

Reference/Quick Links for MySQL Marinate

via Planet MySQL
How to Submit MySQL Marinate Homework

via Dilbert Daily Strip
Comic for August 31, 2017

So you want a portable shower solution that will provide good water flow and warm water when you’re away from civilization? Well, you could pony up hundreds of bucks or you could settle for a plastic bag… or you could build your own, which is just what this guy did. In the end he has a nice solar-heated tank that rides atop his vehicle, which he can pressurize using a small portable air compressor. Add a short water hose with a spray nozzle, and you are in business.

The tools and materials he used are all pretty basic and should be easy to get. The only real snag I see would be when the water level gets low, a small compressor would have to work pretty hard to pressurize that big tube… but as Dad used to say, that’s a minor detail. Overall it looks like a great solution.

Check it out and let us know what you think:

The post Watch: DIY Pressurized Solar Water Heater & Shower System appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

via All Outdoor
Watch: DIY Pressurized Solar Water Heater & Shower System

New submitter bumblebaetuna writes: In many cases, it’s not financially viable for big internet service providers like Comcast and CharterSpectrum to expand into rural communities: They’re not densely populated, and running fiber optic cable into rocky Appalachian soil isn’t cheap. Even with federal grants designed to make these expansions more affordable, there are hundreds of communities across the US that are essentially internet deserts — so many are building it themselves. But in true heartland, bootstrap fashion, these towns, hollows — small rural communities located in the valleys between Appalachia hills — and stretches of farmland have banded together to bring internet to their doors. They cobble together innovative and creative solutions to get around the financial, technological, and topological barriers to widespread internet.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

via Slashdot
Rural America Is Building Its Own Internet Because No One Else Will

Parts of Texas are currently experiencing record-breaking levels of flooding brought on by Hurricane Harvey. One of the people who died as a result was reportedly trying to drive her car through a flooded area. The car stalled, the woman became trapped inside as the car filled with water and she subsequently drowned.

It would seem common sense that one oughtn’t drive an automobile through a heavily flooded area. But did you know that driving your car through as little as six inches of water can lead to your engine throwing a connecting rod? Here mechanic Scotty Kilmer explains and demonstrates why:

via Core77
Why Driving Through Six Inches of Water Can Blow Your Engine Up

James over at the Firearm Blog put together an excellent video detailing features of the new 5th generation Glock 17 and 19.  In typical James fashion, he does an excellent job explaining the upcoming changes.

If you would rather read than watch a video, Ron Gunner wrote about the new 5th generation Glcok in this article – GLOCK Spills Details on the New Gen5 Pistols.

Glock should officially announce the new 5th generation on Wednesday, August 30th.

Starting at 2:00, James talks about mean stoppages between rounds. Part of the Modular Handgun System tests was to go 12,000 rounds with no more than one stoppage every 2,000 rounds.  The only handguns to pass that part of the MHS tests were Glock and Sig.

According to Glock, the Gen 5 handguns can go more than 30,000 rounds with better than one stoppage every 2,000 rounds.

Let’s put that into perspective.  In the 1980s during the M9 contract tests, the Beretta M9 had one stoppage in 35,000+ rounds. Source: Shooting Times, January 1990, page 52.

Glock using 2,000 rounds between failures as a selling point, would be comparable to your Ford getting 35 miles a gallon in the 1980s, then your Chevy getting 2 miles a gallon in 2017, and you bragging about how great the Chevy gas mileage is in 2017.

The orange magazine follower is a nice change.

On a personal note, I have never been a big fan of Glock.  However, for some reason, I like the changes of the 5th generation.  What I really want to know, where can I buy a MHS Glock model?

Special thank you to James for making another great video.  Keep up the great work.

The post Watch: 5th Generation GLOCK 17 and 19 appeared first on AllOutdoor.com.

via All Outdoor
Watch: 5th Generation GLOCK 17 and 19

via TechCrunch
Sami Inkinen on his bold plan to cure type 2 diabetes forever