automation Archives

AppWizard

June 18, 2025

Turns out that fantasy Factorio is a pretty good idea, and if you doubt me try the MoteMancer demo

MoteMancer is an automation game developed by indie studio CyanAvatar, where players act as an alchemical apprentice managing a magical factory across six elemental planes. Players extract elemental motes from magical energy veins, which can be mixed to create various materials and devices. The game features a non-linear research system that allows multitasking and unexpected discoveries. Each of the six interconnected worlds presents unique puzzles and challenges, requiring players to adapt their strategies as they transition between planes. The game utilizes a hexagonal layout for factory design, enhancing complexity. A demo is available on Steam, with progress potentially carrying over to the full game.

Tech Optimizer

June 17, 2025

EDB Postgres AI Accelerates New Era of Sovereign Data and AI for Enterprises, Industries, and Nations

EnterpriseDB has introduced significant advancements to its EDB Postgres AI (EDB PG AI) platform, enabling secure and compliant deployment of AI solutions across Postgres environments. The platform integrates transactional, analytical, and AI workloads into a unified system, featuring automatic pipelines and built-in development tools for data automation. Key capabilities include low-code/no-code simplicity for rapid AI pipeline creation and comprehensive hybrid management for real-time insights across databases. Recent research indicates that only 13% of enterprises have successfully implemented agentic AI applications at scale, with early adopters achieving up to 227% higher ROI. Collaborations with Red Hat aim to provide organizations with solutions for successful AI outcomes. New features include enhanced data security, a purpose-built PG AI Analytics Engine for high-performance queries, and a universal data store for various data models. Performance advantages include six times better total cost of ownership (TCO) compared to SQL Server and up to 150 times faster NoSQL performance than MongoDB. A comparative analysis showed that EDB PG AI reduced overall complexity by 67% and maintenance costs by 38%.

AppWizard

June 11, 2025

5 Minecraft Farms to Build Early

Players in Minecraft face challenges such as food shortages and resource scarcity during the early stages of survival. Early-game farms are essential for providing resources and improving gameplay. 1. A basic crop farm can be established by planting wheat, carrots, or potatoes on well-tilled soil with a water source and sunlight. Fencing can protect crops from mobs, and villagers can help automate the process. 2. An animal breeding pen can be created by attracting cows, sheep, and chickens using wheat or seeds. Each animal provides unique resources, and a breeding cycle of about five minutes allows for a steady food supply. 3. A sugar cane farm is important for crafting paper and trading with villagers. It can be set up along a riverbank or with irrigation ditches, and can be automated with observers and pistons. 4. An XP and mob drop farm can be built around a dungeon with a skeleton or zombie spawner. A funnel system using water flows and trap doors can direct mobs for XP farming and valuable drops. 5. An iron farm can be established near a village using three villagers, beds, workstations, and a zombie to spawn Iron Golems. A kill chamber can provide a consistent source of iron ingots.

Tech Optimizer

June 9, 2025

Streamline Amazon Aurora database operations at scale: Introducing the AWS Database Acceleration Toolkit

The AWS Database Acceleration Toolkit (DAT) is an open-source solution that enhances database performance, particularly for Amazon Aurora, by utilizing Terraform for setup, provisioning, and maintenance. DAT helps organizations reduce time to market, improve customer satisfaction, and optimize costs. It is beneficial for DevOps teams, SaaS providers, and enterprises transitioning from commercial databases to Aurora. One example of its effectiveness includes a customer reducing database migration time from 12 months to 4 weeks for over 100 databases, achieving zero outages over six months, increasing database team productivity by 60-70%, and lowering infrastructure costs by 42%. DAT's architecture includes automated resource provisioning and security through Terraform, with source code available in a Git repository. It offers multiple provisioning options for Aurora clusters, including the Terraform CLI and Jenkins pipelines. Key modules include: - Aurora cluster module for creating new clusters with customization options. - Amazon RDS Proxy for enhancing application performance and security. - Aurora GlobalDB for creating clusters across AWS Regions for disaster recovery. - Aurora Monitoring for configuring CloudWatch dashboards to monitor database performance. Use case examples are provided in the Git repository for both Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible and Aurora MySQL-Compatible engines. Deployment options include using Terraform directly, setting up a new Jenkins instance, or integrating with an existing Jenkins setup. To provision an Aurora PostgreSQL cluster, users must clone the DAT repository, navigate to the appropriate folder, configure the Terraform variable definition file, initialize the working directory, execute a plan, and apply the changes. Security features include customer-managed keys, integration with AWS Secrets Manager for password management, and enhanced monitoring through CloudWatch. To clean up, users can destroy the Aurora cluster with a Terraform command.

AppWizard

June 9, 2025

Everything Revealed During The PC Gaming Show 2025

The PC Gaming Show 2025 featured over 60 trailers in a nearly three-hour livestream, showcasing new titles and updates on previously announced games. Major reveals included world premieres of titles such as Ambrosia Sky, Ratatan, and The Alters, covering a variety of genres like roguelikes, co-op shooters, and survival sims. Key titles highlighted include: - Ambrosia Sky: A first-person sci-fi game where players confront an alien fungus in a space colony. - Far Far West: A co-op game where players are robo-bounty hunters in a Wild West setting. - Neverwinter Nights: Enhanced Edition: Revives classic Dungeons & Dragons adventures with new features. - Fresh Tracks: A skiing adventure game with music elements. - Terminull Brigade: A co-op hero shooter set in a digital realm. - Ratatan: A rhythm-action game featuring online co-op battles. - Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth: A narrative-driven game about friendship and resilience. - Necesse: A sandbox action-adventure game focused on building and exploration. - Den of Wolves: A session-based shooter involving cooperative heists. - All Systems Dance: A game that combines dance battles with a dystopian narrative. - Spooky Express: A management simulation game set in a monster-themed theme park. - The Rogue Prince of Persia: A roguelite experience featuring acrobatics. - Enginefall: A multiplayer social sandbox aboard a mega-train. - EVE Frontier: A player-driven sandbox in a harsh cosmic environment. - Skyrig: A game focused on building rigs to extract gases in a stormy atmosphere. - Kaizen: A Factory Story: A factory design game set in 1980s Japan. - Dawn Apart: A colony simulation game on a destructible voxel planet. - Modulus: A factory-building game with customizable modules. - Generation Exile: A turn-based city-builder aboard a generation starship. - Pathfinder: Abomination Vaults: A co-op hack-and-slash ARPG. - Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault: Continues the story of its predecessor with action-RPG elements. - Barotrauma – Home & Harbor: An expansion for managing a deep-sea outpost. - No, I'm Not A Human: A narrative-driven game set in a dying world. - Botsu: A physics-based competitive gaming title. - No More Room In Hell 2: A co-op survival game in zombie-infested zones. - Farever: An online co-op action RPG in a fantasy world. - Mandrake: A narrative game about uncovering family mysteries. - Pizza Bandit: A cooking and shooting game. - Demonschool: A tactics RPG combining university life with battles. - The Last Caretaker: A survival game set in a flooded world. - Railborn: A game about building trains and managing resources. - Voyagers of Nera: A cooperative survival-crafting game in a magical ocean world. - Icarus: Great Hunts Campaigns: Offers nonlinear missions with unique stories. - Garbage Country: An exploration sim in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. - DarkSwitch: A vertical city builder around a great tree. - Sprint X Strike: A chaotic battle game in a post-apocalyptic setting. - Worship: A multiplayer roguelite about cultists performing rituals. - Stars of Icarus: A starship combat game emphasizing teamwork. - 007 First Light: A game featuring a young Bond's journey. - goblinAmerica: A game where players possess U.S. presidents to correct historical mistakes. - EverSiege: Untold Ages: A rogue-lite action-strategy game. - Pigface: A narrative-driven game about confronting the past. - TerraTech: An open-world sandbox adventure game. - Paralives: A life simulation game focused on building and managing lives. - Lost Rift: A cooperative survival game on an archipelago. - Hell Clock: A roguelike ARPG. - Militsioner: A narrative-driven escape game. - Arcane Eats: A roguelike deckbuilder. - Guntouchables: A cooperative survival game against mutants. - Ultrakill – Layer 8: Fraud: Details are yet to be revealed. - Stario: Heaven Tower: A game about building ecosystems. - Dispatch: A superhero workplace comedy. - Wheel World: An open-world mission game. - FBC: Firebreak: A cooperative FPS in a federal agency. - Anno 117: Pax Romana: A historical city-building game. - Baby Steps: A walking simulator exploring self-discovery. - Warhammer 40,000: Darktide – Arbites: Players enforce law in a Warhammer universe. - Endless Legend 2: A fantasy strategy game. - Berserk or Die: A survival game against overwhelming odds. - Mycopunk: A game about uncovering a fungal catastrophe. - Bippo Plus: An interactive experience for Playdate owners. - Morbid Metal: A roguelike with simultaneous character control. - Love Eternal: A psychological horror platformer. - Bus Bound: A public bus service management game. - Atmosfar: A survival and co-op road trip adventure set for early access in 2026. - Void/Breaker: A sci-fi FPS with destructible environments. - Grave Seasons: A farming simulation with a mystery element. - Eyes of Hellfire: A multiplayer horror game with puzzles. - Deadwire: An action game with hacking elements. - Dinkum: A life simulation game on islands. - Void Martyrs: An action game set in a grimdark world. - CloverPit: A unique gameplay experience set to release in summer. - Eclipsium: A title with intense visuals and gameplay elements. - Abyssus: A cooperative FPS adventure. - Ascendant: A multiplayer shooter with chaotic gameplay. - Mewgenics: An endless cat breeding RPG set for release on February 10, 2026. - Dead Reset: A sci-fi horror FMV adventure. - Bernband: A lighthearted cyberpunk game. - Wanderburg: A roguelike adventure with a castle on wheels.

AppWizard

June 8, 2025

5 Android apps I run on my Raspberry Pi to improve my home

Running Android on a Raspberry Pi allows users to enhance their smart home experience by utilizing Waydroid to execute Android applications. The Shelly Smart Control app provides a user-friendly interface for managing Shelly devices, offering local control and cloud syncing. The Home Connect app enables control of smart appliances from brands like Bosch and Siemens, allowing centralized monitoring and automation. Fully Kiosk Browser turns the Raspberry Pi into a wall-mounted dashboard for displaying smart home information. The Aqara Home app facilitates local control of Aqara sensors and hubs, integrating with Home Assistant for device management. The Home Assistant Companion app provides seamless access to Home Assistant functionalities, including notifications and custom dashboards.

AppWizard

June 7, 2025

These two apps finally fixed my creative workflow

Notion is a flexible tool for managing structured tasks like invoices and project tracking but can feel restrictive for creative workflows due to its need for organization. Capacities, on the other hand, allows for free thought and creativity without the pressure to categorize ideas immediately. The author has found that using both tools together enhances productivity: Capacities is used for brainstorming and collecting ideas, while Notion is utilized for structured tasks and organization. Each application serves distinct purposes, with Capacities fostering creativity and Notion providing a reliable system for daily operations.

AppWizard

June 6, 2025

PC Gaming Show 2025: How to watch and what to expect

The PC Gaming Show is scheduled for Sunday, June 8 at 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. BST. It will feature over 70 games from various publishers and can be viewed on platforms such as Twitch, YouTube, X, Facebook, PC Gamer, GamesRadar+, GOG.com, Ginx.tv, Steam, and Bilibili. An on-demand version will be available for later viewing. Confirmed titles include: - Win ‘The Rig’: A chance to win a custom-built gaming PC. - Kaizen: A Factory Story: A sandbox automation puzzler. - All Systems Dance: A rhythm-driven narrative adventure. - Mycopunk: A customizable co-op shooter. - Ultrakill: The world premiere of Layer 8, a retro FPS. - Paralives: A life simulation game for designing homes and characters. - Pigface: A fast-paced FPS. - Lost Rift: A survival and extraction first-person shooter. - Poncle’s next surprise: Not Vampire Survivors, details to be revealed during the show.

AppWizard

June 4, 2025

Death Stranding 2: All the key details on the next game from Hideo Kojima

Norman Reedus first engaged in the surreal world of Death Stranding almost six years ago, and Hideo Kojima is set to unveil the sequel, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach. Kojima Productions is also developing a horror game titled OD and a project reminiscent of Metal Gear called Physint. The original Death Stranding garnered a dedicated fanbase, and the sequel promises to elevate the experience with new elements, including colossal ships, guitar-playing cyborgs, and a ventriloquist dummy resembling Turkish director Fatih Akin. The sequel appears to shift towards a more action-oriented gameplay style. Kojima Productions now owns the intellectual property for Death Stranding 2, which may lead to a shorter release timeline, though it may depend on the publishing agreement with Sony. Sony titles typically see a price reduction upon their eventual release on PC. The latest trailer for Death Stranding 2 debuted at SXSW and features disjointed dialogues and stunning gameplay sequences, highlighting Sam's journey and combat. The trailer emphasizes Neil, a character reminiscent of Solid Snake, and includes notable figures like the President, portrayed by Alastair Duncan. Death Stranding 2 invites players to traverse a post-apocalyptic landscape, delivering packages while encountering adversaries. Sam Porter Bridges will explore new territories, including the Australian outback and Mexico, with dynamic weather events enhancing gameplay. Combat is now a focal point, aiming to balance action and strategy. The story is set 11 months after the original game, with Sam enjoying a quieter existence until the return of Fragile prompts him to connect Mexico to the Chiral Network. New characters include Tomorrow, who can manipulate the game's unique goo, Tarman, inspired by George Miller, and Dollman, a sentient ventriloquist dummy. Neil, portrayed by Luca Marinelli, resembles Solid Snake. Kojima Productions is offering a digital deluxe edition for Death Stranding 2, which includes exclusive cosmetics and early access to certain items. The future of DLC for Death Stranding 2 is uncertain, with no immediate plans for a PS6 release. It seems likely that the sequel will include more unconventional elements similar to the first game. Die-Hardman’s real name is humorously noted as John McClane, reflecting the quirky creativity of the Death Stranding universe.

Tech Optimizer

June 4, 2025

Snowflake digs out $250M to buy Crunchy to plug Postgres gap

Snowflake has acquired Crunchy Data to enhance its Postgres strategy, addressing a gap in its offerings as Postgres remains popular among developers. The acquisition is valued at 0 million and will result in Crunchy Data's technology being rebranded as Snowflake Postgres, aimed at supporting AI and transactional systems at an enterprise scale. The new product will maintain the flexibility of open source Postgres while providing enhanced governance and security. Organizations can migrate existing Postgres applications to Snowflake without code rewrites. This move is expected to promote Postgres adoption and complement Snowflake's Unistore solution, which integrates transactional and analytical data.