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Unity Realtime Multiplayer, Part 2: TCP, UDP, WebSocket Protocols

ইউনিটি রিয়েলটাইম মাল্টিপ্লেয়ার, পার্ট 2: টিসিপি, ইউডিপি, ওয়েবসকেট প্রোটোকল

Unity Realtime Multiplayer, Teil 2: TCP-, UDP- und WebSocket-Protokolle

Multijugador en tiempo real de Unity, Parte 2: Protocolos TCP, UDP y WebSocket

Unity Realtime Multiplayer, partie 2 : TCP, UDP, protocoles WebSocket

यूनिटी रीयलटाइम मल्टीप्लेयर, भाग 2: टीसीपी, यूडीपी, वेबसॉकेट प्रोटोकॉल

Unity リアルタイム マルチプレイヤー、パート 2: TCP、UDP、WebSocket プロトコル

Unity 실시간 멀티플레이어, 2부: TCP, UDP, WebSocket 프로토콜

Unity Realtime Multiplayer, Parte 2: Protocolos TCP, UDP, WebSocket

Unity Gerçek Zamanlı Çok Oyunculu, Bölüm 2: TCP, UDP, WebSocket Protokolleri

Unity Realtime Multiplayer, Phần 2: Giao thức TCP, UDP, WebSocket

Unity 实时多人游戏，第 2 部分：TCP、UDP、WebSocket 协议

GraphQL is an API query language that allows clients to get the data they need more efficiently and flexibly than traditional REST APIs. In recent years, GraphQL has gained a lot of popularity and has become one of the most popular technologies for API creation. At the same time, Next.js is a highly efficient and scalable web application development framework that has become very popular with web developers. This tutorial will explore how to create a GraphQL server and client with Next.js to provide a more efficient and flexible development experience for our users. this tutorial assumes you have basic knowledge of GraphQL and Nextjs (pages directory). Before starting: We will use to make requests and retrieve fake JSON data, in particular, we will use dummyJSON https://dummyjson.com/docs/users Setting Up We create a new Next.js project with the following command and follow the steps indicated. This time we will use , you can use the package manager of your choice. pnpm pnpm create-next-app We install the dependencies that we will need in the project: pnpm install @apollo/server graphql @as-integrations/next apollo-server-core @apollo/client graphql-tag @nextui-org/react is the main library for Apollo Server itself. @apollo/server: An Apollo Server integration for use with Next.js. @as-integrations/next: to create and consume API’s in Graphql language. graphql: to create and manage GraphQL servers simply and flexibly. apollo-server-core: to handle GraphQL requests and statuses on clients. @apollo/client: to build and manipulate GraphQL queries in JavaScript. graphql-tag: library of user interface components. I will use this library only to quickly style the application, feel free to use the one you want. @nextui-org/react After that, we will create the following structure for the project: ...
├── src/
│   ├── graphql/
│   │   ├── queries/
│   │   │   ├── getUseres.gql
│   │   │   └── searchUser.gql
│   │   ├── apollo-client.js
│   │   ├── resolvers.js
│   │   └── schemas.js
│   ├── pages/
│   │   ├── api/
│   │   │   └── graphql.js
│   │   ├── _app.js
│   │   ├── _document.js
│   │   └── index.js
│   │   ...
│   ├── utils/
│   │   └── cors.js
├── .env.local
... Now we will create the file and create the environment variables that we are going to use: .env.local /* we add the prefix NEXT_PUBLIC_ to the variable that will havethe graphql server url defined, this way we will be able toaccess to it client side */

NEXT_PUBLIC_URL_SERVER_GRAPHQL=http://localhost:3000/api/graphqlURL_API=https://dummyjson.com/users Graphql server We will create the GraphQL server inside the directory since it’s where the server created by Nextjs lives. 1— /api : graphql.js import { ApolloServer } from "@apollo/server"
import { startServerAndCreateNextHandler } from '@as-integrations/next'
import { ApolloServerPluginLandingPageGraphQLPlayground } from "apollo-server-core"

import typeDefs from "@/graphql/schemas"
import resolvers from "@/graphql/resolvers"
import allowCors from "@/utils/cors"

const apolloServer = new ApolloServer({
  typeDefs,
  resolvers,
  plugins: [ApolloServerPluginLandingPageGraphQLPlayground()]
})

const handler = startServerAndCreateNextHandler(apolloServer, {
  context: async (req, res) => ({ req, res }),
})

export default allowCors(handler) The GraphQL server has two main parts: schemas (typeDefs) and resolvers. The schemas define the structure of the data and the queries that can be made to the server, while the resolvers define how the data is obtained and processed. We also add to the initial configuration of the server the definition of . This plugin provides a GraphQL playground page that allows us to test queries in a more user-friendly way. ApolloServerPluginLandingPageGraphQLPlayground Finally, is used to enable Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS) support on the server. This function adds the necessary CORS headers to the response. allowCors : utils/cors.js const allowCors = (fn) => async (req, res) => {
  res.setHeader('Access-Control-Allow-Credentials', true)
  res.setHeader('origin', 'https://nextjs-graphql-server-client.vercel.app')
  res.setHeader('Access-Control-Allow-Origin', req.headers.origin || '*')
  // another common pattern
  res.setHeader('Access-Control-Allow-Methods', 'GET,OPTIONS,PATCH,DELETE,POST,PUT')
  res.setHeader(
    'Access-Control-Allow-Headers',
    'X-CSRF-Token, X-Requested-With, Accept, Accept-Version, Content-Length, Content-MD5, Content-Type, Date, X-Api-Version',
  )
  if (req.method === 'OPTIONS') {
    res.status(200).end()
    return
  }
  await fn(req, res)
}

export default allowCors In this file, we have defined the basic headers that the app needs to be able to make requests to the Graphql server. This middleware is fully customizable to the requirements of your application, you can remove or add more headers, either known headers or custom headers that only your app uses. You need to add the necessary headers so you can make requests to the server either using this middleware or directly in your requests. Schema creation 2— : schemas.js import { gql } from 'graphql-tag'

const typeDefs = gql`
  type Query {
    users: [User]
    searchUser(value:String):[User]
  }

  type User {
    id: ID
    firstName: String
    lastName: String
    email: String
    username: String
    image: String
  }
`
export default typeDefs We define a GraphQL schema using . The function is used to convert a string into a valid GraphQL schema document. gql gql In the Schema, we define a query type called , which has a property called , which is a list of objects of type . Query users User We also have the query called which receives a string value with which we will filter the users that match the value. For this tutorial, we will create the type with only some of the API returned properties. searchUser User Resolvers creation 3— : resolvers.js const resolvers = {
  Query: {
    users: async () => {
      try {
        const response = await fetch(process.env.URL_API)
        const data = await response.json()

        return data.users.map(u => {
          return {
            id: u.id,
            firstName: u.firstName,
            lastName: u.lastName,
            email: u.email,
            username: u.username,
            image: u.image
          }
        })
      } catch (error) {
        throw new Error("Something went wrong")
      }
    },
    searchUser: async (_, { value }) => {
      try {
        const response = await fetch(`${process.env.URL_API}/search?q=${value}`)
        const data = await response.json()

        return data.users.map(u => {
          return {
            id: u.id,
            firstName: u.firstName,
            lastName: u.lastName,
            email: u.email,
            username: u.username,
            image: u.image
          }
        })
      } catch (error) {
        throw new Error("Something went wrong")
      }
    }
  }
}

export default resolvers We define the resolvers that correspond to each query. The resolvers request the external API, which returns a JSON with a list of users. We do a mapping of the data received from the API to return only the data that we will use in the application. In case something goes wrong during the request or the data processing, an exception is thrown with the message “Something went wrong”. Now let’s run the application, go to the path and execute the queries created: /api/graphql GraphQL client Creation of an instance of an Apollo client. 1— import { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache } from "@apollo/client" import { ApolloClient, InMemoryCache } from "@apollo/client"

const client = new ApolloClient({
  uri: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_URL_SERVER_GRAPHQL,
  cache: new InMemoryCache(),
})

export default client The client is created with two main properties: and . The uri property is the GraphQL API address to which the client will connect. In this case, we will use the environment variable created earlier that stores the API address. uri cache NETX_PUBLIC_URI_SERVER_GRAPHQL The property is used to store the data that is downloaded from the API in cache. This way, the client can access the data without making a new API query. cache This component provides functionality, which allows an instance of an Apollo client to access all components rendered within it. 2— ApolloPrivider import { ApolloProvider } from '@apollo/client'

import client from "@/graphql/apollo-client"

export default function App({ Component, pageProps }) {
  return (
    <ApolloProvider client={client}>
        <Component {...pageProps} />
    </ApolloProvider>
  )
} Creation of queries in files. 3— .gql : getUser.gql query getUsers {
 users {
  id
  firstName
  lastName
  email
  username
  image
 }
} : searchUser.gql query getSearchUsers($value: String) {
 searchUser(value: $value) {
  id
  firstName
  lastName
  email
  username
  image
 }
} : next.config.js const nextConfig = {
 ...
  webpack: (config, options) => {
    config.module.rules.push({
      test: /\.(graphql|gql)/,
      exclude: /node_modules/,
      loader: "graphql-tag/loader"
    })

    return config
  }
  ...
} In order to use or files in Next.js, it’s necessary to add a webpack configuration in the Nextjs configuration. .graphql .gql Here you can read more about it. Making server-side and client-side requests. 4— : index.js import { useEffect, useRef, useState } from 'react'
import { useLazyQuery, useQuery } from '@apollo/client'

import Head from 'next/head'
import { Button, Container, Grid, Input, Spacer, User, Row, Loading } from "@nextui-org/react"

import GET_USERS from '@/graphql/queries/getUsers.gql'
import SEARCH_USERS from '@/graphql/queries/searchUsers.gql'

export default function Home() {
  const [users, setUsers] = useState([])
  const [searchValue, setSearchValue] = useState('')

  const usersRef = useRef(null)

  const { data, loading, error } = useQuery(GET_USERS)

  const [getSearchedUsers] = useLazyQuery(SEARCH_USERS, {
    fetchPolicy: 'network-only',
    onCompleted(data) {
      setUsers(data.searchUser)
    }
  })

  useEffect(() => {
    if (data) {
      setUsers(data.users)
      usersRef.current = data.users
    }
  }, [data])


  const searchUser = () => {
    getSearchedUsers({
      variables: {
        value: searchValue
      }
    })
  }

  if (error) {
    console.error(error)
    return null
  }

  return (
    <>
      <Head>
        <title>Nextjs and Graphql Setup</title>
        <meta name="description" content="Generated by create next app" />
        <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
        <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.ico" />
      </Head>
      <main >

        <Container css={{ display: 'flex', justifyContent: 'center' }}>
          <Spacer y={2.5} />
          <Row justify="center" align="center">

            <Input
              clearable
              labelPlaceholder="User"
              onClearClick={() => setUsers(usersRef.current)}
              initialValue={searchValue}
              onChange={(e) => setSearchValue(e.target.value)}
            />
            <Button color="gradient" auto onClick={() => searchUser()}>
              Search user
            </Button>
          </Row>

          <Spacer y={2.5} />
          <Row justify="center" align="center">

            {loading
              ?
              <Loading />
              :
              <Grid.Container gap={2} justify="center">
                {users.map(u => (
                  <Grid xs={3}
                    key={u.id}
                  >
                    <User
                      src={u.image}
                      name={`${u.firstName}${u.lastName}`}
                      description={u.email}
                      size="lg"
                      bordered
                      color="gradient"
                    />
                  </Grid>

                ))
                }
              </Grid.Container>
            }

          </Row>
        </Container>
      </main>
    </>
  )
} In the above code, we will use the hook to get the users with the query and then save it in the state. useQuery GET_USERS We also use Apollo’s hook to perform a search on the users when the user clicks on the “Search user” button. When the query is finished we save the results in the state. useLazyQuery That’s it! now we can use graphql server-side and client-side. You can add as many queries and resolvers as you need. The app looks as follows: See the demo here Repo here Conclusion In summary, using GraphQL in a Next.js project can significantly improve the application’s efficiency, flexibility, documentation, security, and scalability. Hopefully, this will serve as a guideline for your future projects. Want to connect with the author? Love connecting with friends all around the world on . Twitter Read more: How to Create a Modern Skeleton Loader in React to Improve User Experience How to Simulate a Backend REST API with json-server for CRUD Development in React Also published . here

Setting up a GraphQL Server and Client in Next.js

Who is this guide for? Self-hosting web content is relevant to small to medium companies, business owners, non-profit organizations and individuals. There is no real limit to who may self-host, but will benefit directly and see immediate results. Small to medium companies will get a fully functioning system that adheres to all current encryption and security protocols, especially the PCI specification. privacy conscious groups Why self-hosting? There are tons of reasons why self-hosting is beneficial, here are some of them: Privacy Enhanced security Customization Lower costs Email hosting This article is about web server hosting, if you are interested about email hosting then please read the article  on . Self-Hosting Your Own Email Server Prerequisites A new server, dedicated or virtual, with internet access A RHEL-based Linux distribution: Alma, Rocky, Oracle or Fedora Server Root access Server hostname Please make sure your server has a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and the file has the IP of the server point to the FQDN and not the short name. This is a requirement for some tools like OpenDKIM, which will fail to work without an FQDN. /etc/hosts To test if your FQDN is properly setup, run: # hostname -f
server.example.tld If you only see the server name and not the FQDN then use the systemd command to set your FQDN: hostnamectl # hostnamectl set-hostname server.example.tld Step 1 - Required packages The first step is to install some basic packages, use your package manager: dnf for newer versions of EL8/EL9: # dnf install php php-cli php-pdo php-mbstring epel-release unzip wget yum for EL7: # yum install php php-cli php-pdo php-mbstring epel-release unzip wget for Fedora the packages are slightly different: # dnf install php php-cli php-pdo php-mbstring unzip wget Step 2 - Install Aetolos In the second step we’ll install the Aetolos virtual hosting control panel, which only generates configuration files and does not make any other modifications to the system: # wget -O /root/master.zip 'https://gitlab.com/noumenia/aetolos/-/archive/master/aetolos-master.zip'
# unzip /root/master.zip -d /root/
# mv /root/aetolos-master /root/aetolos
# rm -rf /root/master.zip The latest development code can be downloaded from the git repository: git clone 'https://gitlab.com/noumenia/aetolos.git' Step 3 - Enable services Now it is time to choose what services the server will provide. Run Aetolos with the status parameter to get an idea of all the available services: # ~/aetolos/aetolos --status
+---------+--------------+---------+------------+--------------+
| Enabled | Module       | SystemD | Repository | Dependencies |
+---------+--------------+---------+------------+--------------+
| [ ]     | apache       |         |            |              |
| [ ]     | clamav       |         | epel       | postfix      |
| [ ]     | dehydrated   |         |            |              |
| [ ]     | dovecot      |         |            |              |
| [ ]     | haproxy      |         |            |              |
| [ ]     | mariadb      |         |            |              |
| [ ]     | mtasts       |         |            | apache       |
| [ ]     | nsd          |         | epel       |              |
| [ ]     | opendkim     |         | epel       | postfix      |
| [ ]     | opendmarc    |         | epel       | postfix      |
| [✓]     | php          |         |            |              |
| [ ]     | postfix      |         |            |              |
| [ ]     | postgrey     |         | epel       | postfix      |
| [ ]     | spamassassin |         |            | postfix      |
| [✓]     | virtualhost  |         |            |              |
+---------+--------------+---------+------------+--------------+ As this is going to be a self-hosted web server, we are going to enable the services that give us a complete set of features for web hosting: Apache, a web server for responding on ACME requests Dehydrated, a bash script for Let’s Encrypt certificates MariaDB, the database If you have a separate server for email with DKIM signatures, you should also enable OpenDKIM in this server as well. Then share the key among servers for proper signing. Let’s enable these services with Aetolos: # ~/aetolos/aetolos --enable=apache
# ~/aetolos/aetolos --enable=dehydrated
# ~/aetolos/aetolos --enable=mariadb Now we may re-run Aetolos with the status parameter to see the following table: +---------+--------------+---------+------------+--------------+
| Enabled | Module       | SystemD | Repository | Dependencies |
+---------+--------------+---------+------------+--------------+
| [✓]     | apache       | dead    |            |              |
| [ ]     | clamav       |         | epel       | postfix      |
| [✓]     | dehydrated   |         |            |              |
| [ ]     | dovecot      |         |            |              |
| [ ]     | haproxy      |         |            |              |
| [✓]     | mariadb      | dead    |            |              |
| [ ]     | mtasts       |         |            | apache       |
| [ ]     | nsd          |         | epel       |              |
| [ ]     | opendkim     |         | epel       | postfix      |
| [ ]     | opendmarc    |         | epel       | postfix      |
| [✓]     | php          | dead    |            |              |
| [ ]     | postfix      |         |            |              |
| [ ]     | postgrey     |         | epel       | postfix      |
| [ ]     | spamassassin |         |            | postfix      |
| [✓]     | virtualhost  |         |            |              |
+---------+--------------+---------+------------+--------------+ Note the SystemD column which shows most services as . This is not an issue, because we have not configured/started those services, yet. dead Step 4 - Setup Finally, we may run Aetolos setup to install the required RPM packages and generate all the configuration files. We prefer to see the verbose output with the extra parameter. --verbose You will notice a warning about the dehydrated script, which tells us to specify the registration email address for Let’s Encrypt # ~/aetolos/aetolos --verbose --setup
[DEBUG] Check running system
[DEBUG] Detected: AlmaLinux 8.7 (Stone Smilodon)
[DEBUG] Check system memory
[DEBUG] Detected: 460MiB
[DEBUG] Check CPU cores
[DEBUG] Detected: 2
[DEBUG] Check proxy
[DEBUG] Loading Aetolos configuration
[DEBUG] Starting operating system setup
[DEBUG] Checking repository dependencies
[DEBUG] Checking package dependencies
[DEBUG] Installing package: php-fpm
[DEBUG] Checking SELinux requirements
[DEBUG] SELinux: enable httpd_can_network_connect
[DEBUG] SELinux: enable httpd_can_sendmail
[DEBUG] SELinux: enable httpd_read_user_content
[DEBUG] SELinux: enable httpd_enable_homedirs
[DEBUG] SELinux: enable httpd_home_tmp_aetolos.pp
[DEBUG] Checking certificate requirements
[DEBUG] Generating a self-signed certificate
[DEBUG] Certificate: /etc/pki/tls/certs/localhost.crt
[DEBUG] Fullchain: /etc/pki/tls/certs/localhost.fullchain
[DEBUG] Key: /etc/pki/tls/private/localhost.key
[DEBUG] Checking ACME client
[DEBUG] Downloading ACME client: dehydrated 0.7.1
[DEBUG] Installing ACME client under: /root/dehydrated/
[WARNING] ACME registration email set to: postmaster
[WARNING] Please change the ACME registration email by executing: '/root/aetolos/aetolos --verbose --module=dehydrated --registration-email=new-email'
[DEBUG] Checking module dependencies
[DEBUG] Save configuration: apache
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/httpd/conf.d/ssl.conf
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/sysconfig/htcacheclean
[INFO] System memory: 460MB
[INFO] Allocate 50% of system memory to MariaDB: 230MB
[INFO] 70% of the above usage goes to total thread memory: 161MB
[INFO] The rest 30% goes to server buffers: 69MB
[INFO] MariaDB memory per connection: 18MB
[INFO] MariaDB max connections: 10
[INFO] MariaDB temporary table size: 16MB
[INFO] MariaDB query cache: 16MB
[INFO] Allocate 40% of system memory to Apache/PHP-FPM: 184MB
[INFO] Estimated average number of connections per CPU core: 9
[INFO] Apache StartServers: 1
[INFO] Apache ServerLimit: 2
[INFO] Apache ThreadsPerChild: 18
[INFO] Apache MinSpareThreads: 18
[INFO] Apache ThreadLimit: 22
[INFO] Apache MaxRequestWorkers: 36
[INFO] Apache maximum number of concurrent connections: 108
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/logrotate.d/httpd
[DEBUG] Save configuration: dehydrated
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /root/dehydrated/config
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /root/dehydrated/hook.sh
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/pki/letsencrypt/domains.txt
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/cron.daily/dehydrated.cron
[DEBUG] Save configuration: mariadb
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/systemd/system/mariadb.service.d/limitnofile.conf
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/my.cnf.d/mariadb-server.cnf
[DEBUG] Save configuration: php
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/php.ini
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/php.d/10-opcache.ini
[DEBUG] Save configuration: virtualhost
[DEBUG] Writing to file: /etc/tmpfiles.d/hometmp.conf
[DEBUG] Reloading systemd As per the warning, we add an email address for Let’s Encrypt: # ~/aetolos/aetolos --verbose --module=dehydrated --registration-email=postmaster@example.tld Start MariaDB Unlike other services, MariaDB needs to be started and working, for Aetolos to add virtual hosts and the corresponding database permissions. So lets enable and start MariaDB: # systemctl --now enable mariadb At this point we may secure the MariaDB instance by running: /usr/bin/mysql_secure_installation This requires that you also create the file with the login details for root: /root/.my.cnf [client]
default-character-set="utf8mb4"
user="root"
password='the_password_set_in_the_previous_step' Add virtual hosts Now we are ready to add as many virtual hosts as we like (or as many as the server can handle). Before running any commands, we may take a second to think which virtual hosts will have a prefix subdomain, sometimes we may have a domain like example.tld with a www subdomain (www.example.tld), other times we may not want to use a prefix because we want our email addresses only at the top domain (user@example.tld and not user@www.example.tld). As an example, we will add three virtual hosts, two of them without a subdomain: # ~/aetolos/aetolos --verbose --module=virtualhost --add-virtualhost=example1.tld --no-prefix
[DEBUG] Verify domain: example1.tld
[DEBUG] Add virtual host: example1.tld
# ~/aetolos/aetolos --verbose --module=virtualhost --add-virtualhost=example2.tld --no-prefix
[DEBUG] Verify domain: example2.tld
[DEBUG] Add virtual host: example2.tld
# ~/aetolos/aetolos --verbose --module=virtualhost --add-virtualhost=example3.tld
[DEBUG] Verify domain: example3.tld
[DEBUG] Add virtual host: example3.tld We can now list all virtual hosts: # ~/aetolos/aetolos --module=virtualhost --list-virtualhosts
+----+---------------------+--------------+-------------+----------------+--------+--------------+
| ID | Timestamp           | Virtual host | System user | MariaDB prefix | Parked | Prefix alias |
+----+---------------------+--------------+-------------+----------------+--------+--------------+
| 1  | 2023-01-10 08:51:36 | example1.tld | example1tld | example1       | [ ]    |              |
| 2  | 2023-01-10 08:51:40 | example2.tld | example2tld | example2       | [ ]    |              |
| 3  | 2023-01-10 08:51:45 | example3.tld | example3tld | example3       | [ ]    | www          |
+----+---------------------+--------------+-------------+----------------+--------+--------------+ Each virtual host will “live” isolated within its own home directory, with its own user/group ownership, so lets take a look at our /home: # ls -la /home
total 0
drwxr-xr-x.  5 root        root         63 Jan 20 10:51 .
dr-xr-xr-x. 17 root        root        224 Dec 21  2021 ..
drwx--x--x.  8 example1tld example1tld 159 Jan 10 08:51 example1tld
drwx--x--x.  8 example2tld example2tld 159 Jan 10 08:51 example2tld
drwx--x--x.  8 example3tld example3tld 159 Jan 10 08:51 example3tld Setup After we made modifications with the Aetolos command, we need to generate new configuration files for all the relevant services (Apache, PHP-FPM, Dehydrated, etc). Thus, we execute Aetolos setup one last time. # ~/aetolos/aetolos --setup TLS certificates At this point all services will use the same self-signed certificate, thus it is now a good time to run dehydrated manually to gather all virtual host certificates. Since Aetolos uses the ACME protocol with domain validation via HTTP port 80, we first start our Apache server to service those requests. # systemctl start httpd
# ~/dehydrated/dehydrated --cron --config /root/dehydrated/config --keep-going
# systemctl stop httpd
# ~/aetolos/aetolos --setup Services We may now enable and start all services. # systemctl --now enable httpd httpd@example1.tld httpd@example2.tld httpd@example3.tld mariadb php-fpm
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/httpd@example1.tld.service → /usr/lib/systemd/system/httpd@.service.
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/httpd@example2.tld.service → /usr/lib/systemd/system/httpd@.service.
Created symlink /etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/httpd@example3.tld.service → /usr/lib/systemd/system/httpd@.service. You will notice that each virtual host has its own Apache service, this is a feature provided by systemd and allows us to define the virtual hosts into separate systemd services. The parameter will start all services. --now The architecture There should be special mention about the architecture used for hosting websites. For security reasons, each virtual host is isolated within unix accounts stored under their own directory. Public web content should be stored within the directory. /home public_html /home/example1tld                               -> virtual host home
/home/example1tld/etc                           -> email accounts
/home/example1tld/mail                          -> email storage
/home/example1tld/public_html                   -> web content
/home/example1tld/www                           -> symbolic link to public_html
/home/example1tld/tmp                           -> temp directory Aetolos At this point Aetolos has configured the server without any custom modifications, all changes are done on the default configuration files. We may delete Aetolos from the server and continue modifications manually or we may keep Aetolos in case we want to add more virtual hosts in the future. Credits Article photo by Manuel Geissinger from pexels

Stick It to The Man and Self-Host Your Own Web Server

Adhiérase a The Man y autohospede su propio servidor web

Collez-le à l'homme et auto-hébergez votre propre serveur Web

इसे द मैन से चिपकाएं और अपने स्वयं के वेब सर्वर को सेल्फ-होस्ट करें

男に固執し、独自のWebサーバーをセルフホストする

Atenha-se ao homem e auto-hospede seu próprio servidor da Web

Gắn bó với người đàn ông và tự lưu trữ máy chủ web của riêng bạn

坚持到底，自行托管您自己的 Web 服务器

Alluxio provides a comprehensive metrics system for monitoring the status of the Alluxio master, worker and client. Alluxio’s metrics system supports various kinds of metrics, e.g. an embedded JSON sink and the Prometheus sink. Users and developers can easily create a custom sink of Alluxio by implementing the Sink interface. In addition, Alluxio provides a metrics page in web UI showing some key information of Alluxio, such as bytes throughput and storage space. However, if you want more flexible and universal monitoring, additional work is required. This blog will introduce how Tencent uses Prometheus and Grafana to set up a monitoring system for Alluxio in 10 minutes. How Alluxio Metrics System Works The following framework depicts Alluxio’s metrics system. Types of Metrics Alluxio metrics are generated by different sources and consumed by sinks. The metric system polls sources periodically and passes metric reports to sinks. There are two types of metrics. Cluster metrics: aggregated from workers and clients, then calculated by the leading master. Cluster metrics provide snapshots of Alluxio cluster. Process metrics: collected by each Alluxio process, including master metrics, worker metrics, and client metrics. Metrics Naming Patterns In general, metrics of Alluxio follow two naming patterns. The first is for master metrics, which consist of Master, metricName, and some tags (optional). For example, Master.GetFileInfoOps. The second is for non-master metrics, which consists of processType, metricName, tags, and hostnName. For example, below is openExistingFile metrics for worker. The processType is worker, the metricName is openExistingFile, followed by three tags: user, UFS location, and UFS type. The last part is the hostName of worker. The Flow of Metrics from Worker to Master Since the master needs to collect metrics from workers and clients to calculate the cluster metrics, the clients and workers need to report their metrics to the master. Below is a diagram of the flow of metrics from the worker to the master. Workers and clients send the metrics to Alluxio master through the heartbeat. The block on the right is the worker process, and the left is the master process. It goes from the right to the left. The heartbeat process is under the control of BlockMasterSync, and the metrics and other information about the worker are passed to the RpcClient, then the Rpc server receives the heartbeat and processes the metrics from workers by MetricMaster. The metrics are stored in the MetricsStore and later will be aggregated and calculated. Client metrics are handled in a similar manner. Refer to the Alluxio source code for more details. How to Implement a Custom Alluxio Sink Alluxio supports many types of sinks. A sink specifies where the metrics are delivered to. For example, Alluxio has Http JSON sink, which is enabled by default, so we can view dashboards of Alluxio metrics in Alluxio web UI in the JSON format. In addition, Alluxio provides convenient and flexible sink interfaces for developers and users to implement their own sink. Passive Sink and Active Sink Sinks that Alluxio supports are listed below. In general, these sinks can be divided into two categories: passive sink and active sink. The difference between these two kinds of sinks is the way we get the metrics: Active: the left screenshot is the consolesink. If we enable the consolesink, the metrics will be printed into a standard output file, for example, the master.out or worker.out. The consolesink reports the metrics periodically, so you can get the metrics any time you want. From Alluxio’s perspective, it is active sink. Passive: the right screenshot is the HTTP JSON sink, which is the passive sink. A passive sink works as a service. We can get the metrics only when we send the requests to the server. For example, if we access the metrics/json location in the Alluxio worker server, we can get the following metrics in JSON format. How ConsoleSink and Prometheus Sink Work The ConsoleSink structure is shown below. We can find the ConsoleReporter in the ConsoleSink. It schedules the report that reports the metrics on a regular basis. We can see methods of the ScheduledReporter, in the report, that different types of metrics are printed in a specific format. The Prometheus sink operates in a completely different way. There is no ScheduledReporter to report the metrics, so we need to get metrics by ourselves. The passive sink needs to implement the getHandler method, so the master and worker process can start. For example, in the StartServingWebServer method of master process, the Prometheus handler is added to the webserver. We can access the specific location of master web server, then we can get the metrics in the format of Prometheus. E.g. MasterProcess Implement the Sink The first thing we need to do is to determine which kind of sink we want to implement, passive or active. For example, XmlSink of Alluxio prints the metrics to a specific path, so we know that it is an active sink. Just like the ConsoleSink, we need to implement the sink interface, and also construct a XmlReporter to report metrics in XML format. This gives us a custom sink. After that, we need to enable our sink by adding XmlSink class we just defined to metrics.properties. In addition, we can add some properties to our sink in this format. conf/metrics.properties Similarly, if you want to implement a passive sink, you can refer to the JSON sink or Prometheus sink. How to Set Up Monitoring of Alluxio in 10 Minutes Alluxio Web UI Monitor On the metrics tab for Alluxio web UI, we can monitor the state of the Alluxio cluster and get some key information about Alluxio. Even though the dashboard is convenient, it can sometimes be confusing (the screenshot on the right). In addition, if we want more information about Alluxio or a dashboard with more visuals, we will need another monitoring solution, which requires additional effort. We use Prometheus sink to bridge Alluxio and Grafana since both Alluxio and Grafana have good support for Prometheus. First, Prometheus scrapes metrics from Alluxio servers and transform into time-series data and store them. Then Grafana server gets this time series data from Prometheus, after which Grafana web UI will display metrics in dashboards. How to Set Up the Monitoring System It only takes four steps to set up this monitoring: Install and start Prometheus and Grafana server. It is quite simple to follow the tutorials using the default configuration. [ ] Add Alluxio Jobs to Prometheus, which can find Alluxio server and scrape the metrics automatically. In the Grafana part, we provide Grafana dashboard template so we can reuse it to quickly set up the Alluxio dashboard. [ ] Download and import the dashboard template. [ ] Modify variables of the template to make it our own dashboard. [ ] (16:03) is the demo video on how to import the dashboard template. Here We need to add Alluxio Jobs to Prometheus first (refer to Alluxio in the metrics section). Now we add two jobs in Prometheus. One is Alluxio master, and the other is Alluxio worker. Here we need to record the job_name, which is used to import Grafana dashboard. documentation The versions of components in the demo video are as follows: Prometheus Version: 2.22.2 Grafana Version: 7.5.6 Alluxio Version: 2.5.0-3 The following are the services set up in the demo video. There are two nodes in our cluster, worker node and master node: Prometheus Server @ master:9090 Grafana Server @ worker:3000 Alluxio Master @ master Alluxio Worker @ worker As can be seen in the screenshots below, there are 8 live workers in the cluster, and the monitoring system works well, with metrics in different panels. In the dashboard, we also list the labels of different rows. Adding or removing panels can be easily done on the dashboard. Alluxio IO Key Metrics Read Local & Read Remote & Alive workers … Storage Space Used & UFS Space Used … Workers Blocks Cached Blocks & Evicted Blocks … Logical Operations Mount Operations & File Pinned … Alluxio Metadata Operations Block Heartbeat Cost & Get status Cost … AsyncCache Blocks & Operations AsyncCacheSuccessedBlocks & AysncCacheFailedBlocks … Master JVM Memory Master Heap Memory & Total Memory … Summary By introducing Prometheus and Grafana, we have built a more flexible, agile and easy-to-use monitoring system for Alluxio. References Alluxio Documentation: Metrics System Grafana dashboards About the Author Pan Liu Big Data Engineer at Tencent Responsible for distributed computing with a focus on open source projects such as Alluxio and Presto Also published here: https://www.alluxio.io/blog/how-to-set-up-monitoring-system-for-alluxio-with-prometheus-and-grafana-in-10-minutes/

How Tencent uses Prometheus and Grafana to Set Up a Monitoring System in 10 Minutes

Web Scraping Optimization: Tips for Faster, Smarter Scrapers

Web Scraping Optimization: Daha Sürətli, Daha Ağıllı Scrapers üçün Məsləhətlər

Optimización del web scraping: consejos para que los scrapers sean más rápidos e inteligentes

Web スクレイピングの最適化: より高速でスマートなスクレイパーのためのヒント

Žiniatinklio grandymo optimizavimas: greitesnių ir išmanesnių grandiklių patarimai

Fanamafisana ny fakosoka amin'ny Internet: Toro-hevitra ho an'ny mpikirakira haingana kokoa

वेब स्क्र्यापिंग अप्टिमाइजेसन: छिटो, स्मार्ट स्क्र्यापरहरूको लागि सुझाव

Optymalizacja Web Scraping: Wskazówki dotyczące szybszych i inteligentniejszych Scraperów

Gukuramo Urubuga Optimisiyoneri: Inama zo Kwihuta, Byoroheje

Оптимизација веб-стругања: савети за брже и паметније стругаче

Оптимизатсияи веб скрепинг: Маслиҳатҳо барои скреперҳои тезтар ва оқилтар

Web Scraping Optimization: Mga Tip para sa Mas Mabilis, Mas Matalino na mga Scraper

I-Web Scraping Optimization: Amathiphu Okwenza Ama-Scrapers Asheshayo, Ahlakaniphile

In today’s fast-paced digital world, efficiency and speed are crucial for staying ahead of the competition. Whether you're an entrepreneur, developer, or content creator, the right tools can significantly boost your productivity. This is where no-code tools come in to help you build, automate, and innovate without any coding knowledge or technical skills. In this article, I've handpicked 16 game-changing no-code tools for various needs, from automation and web development to design and collaboration. Each resource will include a direct link, a description, and an image preview. 1. ThunderbitThunderbit ThunderbitThunderbit is the ultimate no-code platform designed to automate your daily tasks and integrate your favorite tools effortlessly. You can generate your own web AI copilot by connecting apps and automating processes, all without writing a single line of code. Thunderbit's unique feature is its AI-powered template, which lets you instantly generate and modify apps without the drag-and-drop interface. It takes just seconds to build. Some of the best features include: Web Assistant: Summarize any web article, email, or YouTube video into a concise summary with 1-click. Thunderbit has the best web summary on the market so far.


AI Web Clipper: AI reads the current web page and fills your table with relevant information as a new record.


Web Data Extractor: Input the column names that you want to web scrape; AI will read your website and instantly extract the table.


Voice Note Taker: Use your voice to take notes and create tasks on your table.


AI Reply Generator: Reply to any message in an email, Reddit, Twitter X, or ProductHunt instantly. Stop wasting time on manual tasks! Get started with ThunderbitThunderbit today and supercharge your workflow for maximum productivity! Also, check out their Chrome extension for instant access from the browser! Thanks to the Thunderbit team for collaborating with me on this article! 2. Carrd Carrd is a no-code tool for building fully responsive one-page websites. Get started in minutes; perfect for quickly building landing pages or portfolios to streamline your digital presence. 3. Super Super turns your Notion pages into fast, responsive websites with custom domains and advanced design options. You can work smarter by leveraging the power of Notion for both content management and web publishing without any technical setup. 4. Draftbit Draftbit is a no-code platform for building mobile apps visually, providing full control over the design and code export. It’s a great choice for developers and designers who want to create custom mobile experiences without starting from scratch. 5. Podia Podia is an all-in-one platform for creators to sell online courses, memberships, and digital downloads. It enables content monetization without needing multiple tools, letting you focus on creation while it handles the technical aspects. 6. Coda Coda is a workspace that combines documents, spreadsheets, and apps. It's great for teams and individuals looking to manage projects, workflows, and data and work smarter by centralizing your workflow in a single platform. 7. AppFlowy AppFlowy is a flexible tool for managing notes, tasks, and to-do lists. It is an open-source alternative to Notion that offers complete control over your workspaces, allowing you to customize your tools to fit your exact needs. 8. Miro Miro is a collaborative online whiteboard tool designed for brainstorming, planning, and managing projects. It will be useful for remote teams needing a space to work together in real-time and will make it easier to visualize everyone's ideas. 9. Milanote Milanote is a tool for organizing creative projects, offering a visual workspace that mimics the flexibility of a physical pinboard. It's perfect for designers, writers, and other creatives who need to gather and structure their ideas visually. 10. Rive Rive is a tool that lets you design animations for apps, games, and websites. You can also build animated UI components that are ready to ship, all without extensive technical knowledge or writing code. 11. Voiceflow Voiceflow is a no-code platform for designing, prototyping, and launching voice apps. It’s designed for users aiming to enhance conversational experiences across multiple platforms and improve the overall user experience. 12. Tella Tella is a no-code tool for creating professional video presentations and tutorials. It’s perfect for educators, marketers, and businesses who need a simple way to produce high-quality video content quickly. 13. Chatfuel Chatfuel is a leading no-code platform for building AI-powered chatbots for Facebook Messenger and Instagram. Users can easily automate customer support, marketing, and sales interactions by easy-to-use visual interface and action blocks. 14. Popupsmart Popupsmart allows you to create customizable pop-ups for websites. This no-code tool will allow you to increase conversions, collect leads, and engage visitors on your site without any technical effort. 15. UserGuiding UserGuiding is a no-code platform that helps you create interactive product tours and onboarding guides. It will help users quickly understand your product, reducing support requests. 16. Jotform Jotform is a no-code tool for creating interactive forms, surveys, and quizzes. It’s great for collecting data in a more engaging and user-friendly way, helping businesses get better responses from their audience. Writing has always been my passion, and it gives me pleasure to help and inspire people. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! Make sure to receive the best resources, tools, productivity tips, and career growth tips I discover by subscribing to my newsletter! Also, connect with me on Twitter, LinkedIn, and GitHub! In today’s fast-paced digital world, efficiency and speed are crucial for staying ahead of the competition. Whether you're an entrepreneur, developer, or content creator, the right tools can significantly boost your productivity. This is where no-code tools come in to help you build, automate, and innovate without any coding knowledge or technical skills. In this article, I've handpicked 16 game-changing no-code tools for various needs, from automation and web development to design and collaboration. Each resource will include a direct link, a description, and an image preview. 1. Thunderbit Thunderbit Thunderbit Thunderbit Thunderbit Thunderbit is the ultimate no-code platform designed to automate your daily tasks and integrate your favorite tools effortlessly. Thunderbit Thunderbit You can generate your own web AI copilot by connecting apps and automating processes, all without writing a single line of code. Thunderbit's unique feature is its AI-powered template, which lets you instantly generate and modify apps without the drag-and-drop interface. It takes just seconds to build. Some of the best features include: Web Assistant: Summarize any web article, email, or YouTube video into a concise summary with 1-click. Thunderbit has the best web summary on the market so far. AI Web Clipper: AI reads the current web page and fills your table with relevant information as a new record. Web Data Extractor: Input the column names that you want to web scrape; AI will read your website and instantly extract the table. Voice Note Taker: Use your voice to take notes and create tasks on your table. AI Reply Generator: Reply to any message in an email, Reddit, Twitter X, or ProductHunt instantly. Web Assistant: Summarize any web article, email, or YouTube video into a concise summary with 1-click. Thunderbit has the best web summary on the market so far. Web Assistant: Summarize any web article, email, or YouTube video into a concise summary with 1-click. Thunderbit has the best web summary on the market so far. Web Assistant: AI Web Clipper: AI reads the current web page and fills your table with relevant information as a new record. AI Web Clipper: AI reads the current web page and fills your table with relevant information as a new record. AI Web Clipper: Web Data Extractor: Input the column names that you want to web scrape; AI will read your website and instantly extract the table. Web Data Extractor: Input the column names that you want to web scrape; AI will read your website and instantly extract the table. Web Data Extractor: Voice Note Taker: Use your voice to take notes and create tasks on your table. Voice Note Taker: Use your voice to take notes and create tasks on your table. Voice Note Taker: AI Reply Generator: Reply to any message in an email, Reddit, Twitter X, or ProductHunt instantly. AI Reply Generator: Reply to any message in an email, Reddit, Twitter X, or ProductHunt instantly. AI Reply Generator: Stop wasting time on manual tasks! Get started with Thunderbit Thunderbit today and supercharge your workflow for maximum productivity! Thunderbit Thunderbit Also, check out their Chrome extension for instant access from the browser! Chrome extension Thanks to the Thunderbit team for collaborating with me on this article! 2. Carrd Carrd Carrd is a no-code tool for building fully responsive one-page websites. Get started in minutes; perfect for quickly building landing pages or portfolios to streamline your digital presence. 3. Super Super Super turns your Notion pages into fast, responsive websites with custom domains and advanced design options. You can work smarter by leveraging the power of Notion for both content management and web publishing without any technical setup. 4. Draftbit Draftbit Draftbit is a no-code platform for building mobile apps visually, providing full control over the design and code export. It’s a great choice for developers and designers who want to create custom mobile experiences without starting from scratch. 5. Podia Podia Podia is an all-in-one platform for creators to sell online courses, memberships, and digital downloads. It enables content monetization without needing multiple tools, letting you focus on creation while it handles the technical aspects. 6. Coda Coda Coda is a workspace that combines documents, spreadsheets, and apps. It's great for teams and individuals looking to manage projects, workflows, and data and work smarter by centralizing your workflow in a single platform. 7. AppFlowy AppFlowy AppFlowy is a flexible tool for managing notes, tasks, and to-do lists. It is an open-source alternative to Notion that offers complete control over your workspaces, allowing you to customize your tools to fit your exact needs. 8. Miro Miro Miro is a collaborative online whiteboard tool designed for brainstorming, planning, and managing projects. It will be useful for remote teams needing a space to work together in real-time and will make it easier to visualize everyone's ideas. 9. Milanote Milanote Milanote is a tool for organizing creative projects, offering a visual workspace that mimics the flexibility of a physical pinboard. It's perfect for designers, writers, and other creatives who need to gather and structure their ideas visually. 10. Rive Rive Rive is a tool that lets you design animations for apps, games, and websites. You can also build animated UI components that are ready to ship, all without extensive technical knowledge or writing code. 11. Voiceflow Voiceflow Voiceflow is a no-code platform for designing, prototyping, and launching voice apps. It’s designed for users aiming to enhance conversational experiences across multiple platforms and improve the overall user experience. 12. Tella Tella Tella is a no-code tool for creating professional video presentations and tutorials. It’s perfect for educators, marketers, and businesses who need a simple way to produce high-quality video content quickly. 13. Chatfuel Chatfuel Chatfuel is a leading no-code platform for building AI-powered chatbots for Facebook Messenger and Instagram. Users can easily automate customer support, marketing, and sales interactions by easy-to-use visual interface and action blocks. 14. Popupsmart Popupsmart Popupsmart allows you to create customizable pop-ups for websites. This no-code tool will allow you to increase conversions, collect leads, and engage visitors on your site without any technical effort. 15. UserGuiding UserGuiding UserGuiding is a no-code platform that helps you create interactive product tours and onboarding guides. It will help users quickly understand your product, reducing support requests. 16. Jotform Jotform Jotform is a no-code tool for creating interactive forms, surveys, and quizzes. It’s great for collecting data in a more engaging and user-friendly way, helping businesses get better responses from their audience. Writing has always been my passion, and it gives me pleasure to help and inspire people. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out! Make sure to receive the best resources, tools, productivity tips, and career growth tips I discover by subscribing to my newsletter ! my newsletter Also, connect with me on Twitter , LinkedIn , and GitHub ! Twitter LinkedIn GitHub

Work Smarter Not Harder With These 16 No-Code Productivity Tools 🔥🔥

How Artificial Intelligence Can Make Our Smart Homes, Smarter

কীভাবে কৃত্রিম বুদ্ধিমত্তা আমাদের স্মার্ট হোমগুলিকে আরও স্মার্ট করে তুলতে পারে

Wie künstliche Intelligenz unsere Smart Homes intelligenter machen kann

Cómo la inteligencia artificial puede hacer que nuestras casas inteligentes sean más inteligentes

Comment l’intelligence artificielle peut rendre nos maisons intelligentes plus intelligentes

आर्टिफिशियल इंटेलिजेंस कैसे हमारे स्मार्ट घरों को और भी स्मार्ट बना सकता है

人工知能がスマートホームをさらにスマートにする方法

인공 지능이 스마트 홈을 더욱 스마트하게 만드는 방법

Como a inteligência artificial pode tornar nossas casas inteligentes mais inteligentes

Как искусственный интеллект может сделать наши умные дома умнее

Yapay Zeka Akıllı Evlerimizi Nasıl Daha Akıllı Hale Getirebilir?

Trí tuệ nhân tạo có thể làm cho ngôi nhà thông minh của chúng ta trở nên thông minh hơn như thế nào

人工智能如何让我们的智能家居更加智能

When I was diagnosed with autism at age 28, I finally got an explanation for so many of the struggles I’d faced in school and my professional life as a writer and website designer. My doctor explained that some people go undiagnosed due to learning to mask specific indicators they are autistic throughout their lifetime. Since I worked behind a computer, I typically avoided situations where I might have to make small talk. I could plan my own schedule and take breaks when I felt overwhelmed. I set up my home office workspace how I wanted and reduced distractions. However, I found myself struggling when I had to venture outside the norm for a team meeting or professional conference, which ultimately led to my diagnosis. Now, I’m proud of the coping strategies and tools I’ve used to grow in my field since I was diagnosed. One of the biggest aids has, to my surprise, been the rise in AI. What a Neurodevelopmental Diagnosis Means for Design and Development Professionals When my psychologist first suggested I might be neurodivergent, I felt unsure of the potential diagnosis. However, as I learned more about the condition, it was a relief to have a word for the struggles I’d faced trying to match emotions and fit into a nine-to-five job at a company. I learned one in every 36 children is now diagnosed with ASD. The numbers are steadily growing. Other neurodivergent conditions that might impact web design work include ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome and OCD. According to the AAPC, about 80% of women remain undiagnosed with neurodivergent conditions until after the age of 18. So what does all this mean for a website designer? Here are some of the most common neurodivergent traits that can impact design, development and other technology professionals. Communication differences: A neurodivergent person often communicates differently than a neurotypical person. I must be aware of this and ask for clarification if a client is vague.
Need for additional flexibility: Many people with neurodivergent conditions do better in a flexible work atmosphere, which many companies have started to offer.
Repetitive behaviors: People with conditions such as OCD may complete the same task repeatedly, causing projects to take longer.
Obsessive focus: I and many other neurodivergent workers can get obsessed with research on a topic. Those with ASD often are very detail-oriented. I have to remind myself to focus on the project and not spend three days researching how people respond to the color red.
Distress at small changes: When a client tells someone with executive functioning challenges to do a design one way and then changes their mind halfway through, that person may get stressed and want to quit working on the project.
Sensitivity to the environment: Many neurodivergent people can’t focus if there is a lot of light or sound. For me, using headphones helps when I work around others.
Difficulty paying attention: While medication can help the brain focus on one task, a difficulty focusing on routine tasks is an extremely common trait of ADHD.
Disorganization: ADHD designers may need to devise systems to keep them organized, such as planning books and reminders.
Impulse control: People who face impulsivity might make big promises that they then struggle to complete by the deadline.
Forgetting essential things: Alarms and reminders are the best friend of someone who struggles with executive functioning challenges.
Unfocused: Designers with ADHD often struggle with focus and should create project management lists. If they skip to another part of the project, they will know where they left off and can return to the same task. Researchers have conducted neurological imaging on autistic brains and found ASD people have a brain structure that gears them to have talent in visual arts, music, math and programming. Once I accepted that my condition and the things that make my brain different from an average person’s are also what gives me a creative edge as a designer, I could focus on solutions, and AI has been a large part of this. How AI Is Changing Things for Neurodivergent Developers and Designers Those with a neurodivergent disorder are lucky to live in a time when artificial intelligence (AI) can fill the gap in many areas, such as communication and analysis. I may think something makes sense that a neurotypical person fails to understand. A machine can analyze word patterns and help me fix anything confusing. Here are some of the ways neurodivergent professionals can utilize AI to create more manageable and even enjoyable work experiences. Better Training Neurodivergent brains may struggle to learn through traditional educational methods. AI is proficient at taking a complex concept and breaking it down. People can ask ChatGPT to explain a topic in simpler terms. Schools must offer more than just book studies — they must also provide hands-on training. New Communication Methods One struggle for me has been learning to communicate with my peers. While my mind thinks concretely, many people share broad concepts or subtle jokes. More than once, I’ve misunderstood what a client wants for a project. I’ve since learned to ask detailed questions to get to the heart of the website’s goal. While about 80% of people check their phones first thing in the morning, mine can overstimulate my brain if I start looking at messages and moving elements too early or too long. AI allows me to tap into the power of chatbots to respond to clients without feeling overwhelmed with all the chatter. Allowing for Breaks Business owners use AI for everything from sending automated responses to creating newsletters to generating artwork. As a web designer, my focus has to be on the most critical tasks or I feel stressed. AI can take over sending out marketing emails, responding to repetitive questions and creating some content to save me time. The extra time allows me to stop and go into a bubble when needed, helping me adapt to situations where I feel burdened. I can adjust my schedule and still meet project deadlines. The future of AI is intriguing. Researchers are using robots to find new ways to interact with autistic children. The robots consider the person’s unique sensory challenges and typical social cues and utilize the training robots to show them appropriate facial responses and respond accordingly. Better Organization One of my biggest mistakes is underestimating how long a project will take. I might think I can finish a multilingual website in two days, but it takes two weeks. Rather than give clients an immediate answer, I run the task through models. The computer takes the data and breaks up big tasks into smaller ones. I can use that information to estimate a completion date. I add a few extra days as a buffer in case I have times when I am unable to focus or need a break to continue my work. The Unique Qualities That Benefit Me as a Web Designer An adult diagnosis of neurodivergence can be shocking at first. However, once I realized the many benefits that come with a neurodivergent brain, I better understood why I chose a creative field. My unique ways of looking at the world around me also help me develop designs my clients love that no other designer thought of. AI is helping me work innovatively as a neurodivergent designer. As technology advances, I’m confident I’ll find even more ways to utilize it in my work and help other professionals like myself succeed. When I was diagnosed with autism at age 28, I finally got an explanation for so many of the struggles I’d faced in school and my professional life as a writer and website designer. My doctor explained that some people go undiagnosed due to learning to mask specific indicators they are autistic throughout their lifetime. Since I worked behind a computer, I typically avoided situations where I might have to make small talk. I could plan my own schedule and take breaks when I felt overwhelmed. I set up my home office workspace how I wanted and reduced distractions. However, I found myself struggling when I had to venture outside the norm for a team meeting or professional conference, which ultimately led to my diagnosis. Now, I’m proud of the coping strategies and tools I’ve used to grow in my field since I was diagnosed. One of the biggest aids has, to my surprise, been the rise in AI. What a Neurodevelopmental Diagnosis Means for Design and Development Professionals When my psychologist first suggested I might be neurodivergent, I felt unsure of the potential diagnosis. However, as I learned more about the condition, it was a relief to have a word for the struggles I’d faced trying to match emotions and fit into a nine-to-five job at a company. I learned one in every 36 children is now diagnosed with ASD. The numbers are steadily growing. Other neurodivergent conditions that might impact web design work include ADHD, dyslexia, Tourette syndrome and OCD. According to the AAPC, about 80% of women remain undiagnosed with neurodivergent conditions until after the age of 18. one in every 36 children one in every 36 children 80% of women remain undiagnosed 80% of women remain undiagnosed So what does all this mean for a website designer? Here are some of the most common neurodivergent traits that can impact design, development and other technology professionals. Communication differences: A neurodivergent person often communicates differently than a neurotypical person. I must be aware of this and ask for clarification if a client is vague. Need for additional flexibility: Many people with neurodivergent conditions do better in a flexible work atmosphere, which many companies have started to offer. Repetitive behaviors: People with conditions such as OCD may complete the same task repeatedly, causing projects to take longer. Obsessive focus: I and many other neurodivergent workers can get obsessed with research on a topic. Those with ASD often are very detail-oriented. I have to remind myself to focus on the project and not spend three days researching how people respond to the color red. Distress at small changes: When a client tells someone with executive functioning challenges to do a design one way and then changes their mind halfway through, that person may get stressed and want to quit working on the project. Sensitivity to the environment: Many neurodivergent people can’t focus if there is a lot of light or sound. For me, using headphones helps when I work around others. Difficulty paying attention: While medication can help the brain focus on one task, a difficulty focusing on routine tasks is an extremely common trait of ADHD. Disorganization: ADHD designers may need to devise systems to keep them organized, such as planning books and reminders. Impulse control: People who face impulsivity might make big promises that they then struggle to complete by the deadline. Forgetting essential things: Alarms and reminders are the best friend of someone who struggles with executive functioning challenges. Unfocused: Designers with ADHD often struggle with focus and should create project management lists. If they skip to another part of the project, they will know where they left off and can return to the same task. Communication differences: A neurodivergent person often communicates differently than a neurotypical person. I must be aware of this and ask for clarification if a client is vague. Communication differences: Need for additional flexibility: Many people with neurodivergent conditions do better in a flexible work atmosphere, which many companies have started to offer. Need for additional flexibility: Repetitive behaviors: People with conditions such as OCD may complete the same task repeatedly, causing projects to take longer. Repetitive behaviors: Obsessive focus: I and many other neurodivergent workers can get obsessed with research on a topic. Those with ASD often are very detail-oriented. I have to remind myself to focus on the project and not spend three days researching how people respond to the color red. Obsessive focus: Distress at small changes: When a client tells someone with executive functioning challenges to do a design one way and then changes their mind halfway through, that person may get stressed and want to quit working on the project. Distress at small changes: Sensitivity to the environment: Many neurodivergent people can’t focus if there is a lot of light or sound. For me, using headphones helps when I work around others. Sensitivity to the environment: Difficulty paying attention: While medication can help the brain focus on one task, a difficulty focusing on routine tasks is an extremely common trait of ADHD. Difficulty paying attention: Disorganization: ADHD designers may need to devise systems to keep them organized, such as planning books and reminders. Disorganization: Impulse control: People who face impulsivity might make big promises that they then struggle to complete by the deadline. Impulse control: Forgetting essential things: Alarms and reminders are the best friend of someone who struggles with executive functioning challenges. Forgetting essential things: Unfocused: Designers with ADHD often struggle with focus and should create project management lists. If they skip to another part of the project, they will know where they left off and can return to the same task. Unfocused: Researchers have conducted neurological imaging on autistic brains and found ASD people have a brain structure that gears them to have talent in visual arts , music, math and programming. Once I accepted that my condition and the things that make my brain different from an average person’s are also what gives me a creative edge as a designer, I could focus on solutions, and AI has been a large part of this. gears them to have talent in visual arts gears them to have talent in visual arts How AI Is Changing Things for Neurodivergent Developers and Designers Those with a neurodivergent disorder are lucky to live in a time when artificial intelligence (AI) can fill the gap in many areas, such as communication and analysis. I may think something makes sense that a neurotypical person fails to understand. A machine can analyze word patterns and help me fix anything confusing. Here are some of the ways neurodivergent professionals can utilize AI to create more manageable and even enjoyable work experiences. Better Training Neurodivergent brains may struggle to learn through traditional educational methods. AI is proficient at taking a complex concept and breaking it down. People can ask ChatGPT to explain a topic in simpler terms. Schools must offer more than just book studies — they must also provide hands-on training. struggle to learn through traditional struggle to learn through traditional New Communication Methods One struggle for me has been learning to communicate with my peers. While my mind thinks concretely, many people share broad concepts or subtle jokes. More than once, I’ve misunderstood what a client wants for a project. I’ve since learned to ask detailed questions to get to the heart of the website’s goal. While about 80% of people check their phones first thing in the morning, mine can overstimulate my brain if I start looking at messages and moving elements too early or too long. AI allows me to tap into the power of chatbots to respond to clients without feeling overwhelmed with all the chatter. 80% of people check their phones 80% of people check their phones Allowing for Breaks Business owners use AI for everything from sending automated responses to creating newsletters to generating artwork. As a web designer, my focus has to be on the most critical tasks or I feel stressed. AI can take over sending out marketing emails, responding to repetitive questions and creating some content to save me time. The extra time allows me to stop and go into a bubble when needed, helping me adapt to situations where I feel burdened. I can adjust my schedule and still meet project deadlines. The future of AI is intriguing. Researchers are using robots to find new ways to interact with autistic children. The robots consider the person’s unique sensory challenges and typical social cues and utilize the training robots to show them appropriate facial responses and respond accordingly. new ways to interact with autistic new ways to interact with autistic Better Organization One of my biggest mistakes is underestimating how long a project will take. I might think I can finish a multilingual website in two days, but it takes two weeks. Rather than give clients an immediate answer, I run the task through models. The computer takes the data and breaks up big tasks into smaller ones. I can use that information to estimate a completion date. I add a few extra days as a buffer in case I have times when I am unable to focus or need a break to continue my work. The Unique Qualities That Benefit Me as a Web Designer An adult diagnosis of neurodivergence can be shocking at first. However, once I realized the many benefits that come with a neurodivergent brain, I better understood why I chose a creative field. My unique ways of looking at the world around me also help me develop designs my clients love that no other designer thought of. AI is helping me work innovatively as a neurodivergent designer. As technology advances, I’m confident I’ll find even more ways to utilize it in my work and help other professionals like myself succeed.

How AI Has Helped Me Work Smarter as a Neurodivergent Web Designer

Marketing Tips for 2024 And Beyond, Or How To Market Smarter And More Efficiently

AI chatbots have truly found their place in today's business technology scene, reshaping how companies engage with customers and becoming an integral part of daily operations. Gone are the days when they were just a futuristic concept; now, these AI-powered chatbots engage in remarkably human conversations, providing round-the-clock support that's reshaping customer service and leaving its mark on various business areas. What's exciting is how they keep getting better at handling all sorts of user queries, constantly improving the user experience. focusing on innovative technology like AI chatbots to create more effective and engaging user interactions, marking a new era where technology and business seamlessly come together. Businesses are embracing this shift, Understanding the Challenges with Current AI Chatbots Even with all the advancements in AI chatbot technology, there are still some kinks to work out that can make the experience a bit frustrating at times. The main issue that pops up is that sometimes, chatbots just don't get what you're trying to say. This usually happens because, let's face it, chatbots aren't perfect at picking up on the little subtleties of language – think idioms, complex sentences, or the way we naturally chat with each other. This can lead to those annoying moments where you have to repeat yourself or reword your question, which can be pretty irritating. Another thing where AI chatbots can drop the ball is in figuring out if you're happy with the answers they're giving. For example, a chatbot might give you a technically correct answer, but it might miss the real worry or feeling behind your question. It's especially noticeable when you're feeling frustrated or confused, and all you get in return are standard, kind of robotic responses. It shows that these chatbots need a bit more emotional smarts. It's not just about understanding our words but also getting the emotions behind them. All this highlights the journey we're still on with AI – the aim isn't just to make chatbots that can talk back but to create ones that get us and connect on a more human level. Techniques for Refining AI Understanding of User Intent and Satisfaction AI development has come a long way, and now we're seeing some cool stuff being used to make AI chatbots better at figuring out what we want and how we feel. It's all about making these chatbots more effective and, well, more human-like. One big thing they're working on is Contextual Understanding. It's like teaching the AI to read between the lines, not just taking our words at face value but getting the whole picture. Say you're chatting with a bot and you keep talking about the same thing - the bot can now follow along and keep up with the conversation. It's smart enough to know if you're still on the same topic, bringing up something from before, or moving on to something new. This makes the chatbot's responses way more on point. Then there's Sentiment Analysis, which is super interesting. It's all about the chatbot picking up on your feelings based on your writing – like the words you choose, how you put together your sentences, or even the punctuation you use. This way, the AI can tell if you're happy, annoyed, or confused and can change how it replies to match your mood. It's not just about giving right answers; it's about giving answers that feel right. Personalization is another cool area. It's like the chatbot gets to know you personally. It remembers your past chats or uses info you've shared to make its responses more about you. So, it might suggest things you like, call you by your name, etc. This makes chatting with a bot feel like a real conversation with a human. All these new tricks mean that AI chatbots are getting better at answering questions and doing it in a way that feels more natural, more understanding, and more tailored to you. It's a big step towards making our interactions with AI more like talking to another person. How Microsoft Copilot is Innovating AI Chatbots Microsoft Copilot is an advancement in AI chatbots, extending beyond the conventional scope of such technologies. It is integrated across Microsoft's range of products, functioning as an AI tool that can handle various tasks. The key feature of Copilot is its ability to adapt to different user requirements, which marks a notable development in its capabilities. Initially launched as Bing Chat, Microsoft Copilot has been expanded to integrate into numerous Microsoft applications. It aids users in various activities, including coding, writing, and image generation, by adapting to their specific needs and understanding the context of their tasks. This represents a significant step in AI technology, particularly contextual understanding and application versatility. In the realm of Microsoft 365, Copilot is utilized to enhance the functionality of productivity software. It assists in activities such as composing emails in Outlook and creating data visualizations in Excel. This demonstrates the potential of AI to simplify and improve the efficiency of common tasks. Microsoft has also developed specialized versions of Copilot. For example, the Security Copilot focuses on cybersecurity, analyzing data to identify and counteract threats. This application of AI in security is indicative of its broader potential. Additionally, Copilot for Service and Sales are tailored for business operations, providing AI-driven customer relations and sales support. Overall, the diverse applications of Microsoft Copilot across different digital interactions and workflows reflect Microsoft's aim to offer AI assistance in various settings. By doing so, Microsoft contributes to the evolution of AI chatbots towards more personalized, context-sensitive, and multifaceted tools. This strategy aims to improve user efficiency and align with the growing expectations for AI technology in various sectors. Align AI's Approach to Analyzing and Monitoring Conversational Data Coxwave's Align AI platform functions in conversational AI by providing tools to businesses for monitoring and analyzing data from AI chatbot interactions. Align AI addresses the challenge of ensuring efficient and user-aligned interactions in the evolving AI technology landscape, particularly with systems like ChatGPT. The platform is designed to manage the occasional discrepancies between the outputs of AI models and their training data, which can affect user satisfaction. Align AI features real-time data ingestion, facilitated through a pre-built software development kit (SDK) and integration with Large Language Model (LLM) toolkits such as Langchain and LlamaIndex. The integration process, which can be completed in under 10 minutes, is advantageous for businesses aiming to swiftly implement and manage AI chat solutions. This capability allows for the prompt collection and analysis of conversational data, to enhance AI chatbot performance and responsiveness. The platform also includes a natural language universal search feature, functioning as a contextual semantic search engine. This enables product teams to use plain English for searches, like locating sessions where user dissatisfaction is evident. The system is designed to efficiently identify relevant conversational logs, quickly resolving specific interaction issues based on user feedback. Additionally, Align AI integrates a data analytics assistant named Copilot, providing a conversational interface for in-depth analysis of conversational data. Copilot's role is to generate insights, recommendations, and metrics to simplify the data analysis process. This allows product teams to process conversational data into actionable insights, potentially improving AI chatbot interactions and user experiences. Google Bard and Conversational AI An artificial intelligence chatbot created by Google, Google Bard is defined by its ability to incorporate data from the internet into its conversational framework. This approach differs from traditional chatbots that typically rely on predefined data. Bard's capability to access current information from the web provides a distinct feature compared to other AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Bing Chat. The core of Google Bard is built on Initially, Bard utilized LaMDA based on Google's Transformer neural network architecture. This architecture is also used in other AI models, such as GPT-3, which is the foundation for ChatGPT. Google's transition to PaLM 2, as announced at Google I/O 2023, reflects its focus on improving Bard's efficiency and performance. Google's Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA) and its more recent version, PaLM 2. A notable feature of Google Bard is its multimodal search capability, facilitated by integrating Google Lens. This feature lets users incorporate images into their queries, expanding the chatbot's utility for information gathering and learning. Adding image-based responses in late May enhances Bard's ability to provide more comprehensive answers, particularly for queries where visual context is beneficial. Google Bard was initially available to a select group but was later made accessible to the general public, as announced at Google I/O. This move expands the reach of advanced AI technologies to a broader user base. Best Practices for Iterative Testing and User Feedback Incorporation The whole deal with keeping AI chatbots sharp and useful boils down to constant testing and listening to what users say. It's like a never-ending cycle of improvement to make sure these chatbots stay relevant and do a good job of understanding what people need. Creating a solid system for getting feedback is super important. Imagine a chatbot as a student and every piece of feedback as a lesson. Users might rate how well the chatbot did or give specific comments about their chat. This is gold for figuring out how real people use the AI and what they think about it. But it's not just about collecting feedback; you've got to dig into it, really get what it means, and then use it to improve the chatbot. It's a team effort, with AI developers, the folks who design how the chatbot feels, and data whizzes all working together to polish up the chatbot. Then there's this thing called iterative testing. It's not just testing once and calling it a day; it's doing it repeatedly, tweaking things. It's like trying different recipes to see which cake tastes the best. They might do A/B testing, where they try out different versions of the chatbot to see which one hits the mark, or they might set up specific tests with users to pinpoint exactly what needs fixing. It's all about making the chatbot smarter and more in tune with users' wants. There are some cool real-life stories about this stuff working wonders. Like, this big online store used user feedback to make their chatbot better at suggesting products. Boom, happier customers and more sales. Or a telecom company's customer service chatbot that got so much better at understanding what people were asking that it solved more problems, faster. In short, the secret sauce to keeping AI chatbots on their A-game is this cycle of testing, getting feedback, and using that to make constant improvements. It's what makes sure these chatbots are high-tech and get what users need and want.

Building Smarter Chatbots: Enhancing AI Responsiveness to User Needs

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