Coding Archives

AppWizard

April 26, 2025

The Secret Weapon Behind the VFX of ‘A Minecraft Movie’

Director Jared Hess helmed "A Minecraft Movie," which emphasizes creativity and the struggle between freedom and oppression. The film features a villain named Malgosha, a Piglin ruler from the Nether, voiced by Rachel House, with motion capture by Allan Henry. Production VFX supervisor Dan Lemmon discussed the challenges of integrating live-action actors like Jason Momoa and Jack Black with animated characters while maintaining the game's aesthetic. The team developed a tool called "Bloktz" for achieving the distinctive "Minecraft" look, and twelve variants of the Piglin army were designed. The Creeper character, initially a coding error, underwent numerous design iterations to maintain its pixelated essence. Malgosha's design was inspired by characters like Emperor Palpatine and Mama Fratelli, with adjustments made for expressiveness. The film's conclusion features an improvised moment between Jack Black's character and Malgosha, highlighting the collaborative spirit of the production.

Winsage

April 25, 2025

Mystery of the vanishing seaplane: why did Windows 11 24H2 cause the vehicle to disappear from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas?

A coding error within Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas caused the Skimmer plane to launch into the sky after the Windows 11 24H2 update. The issue was traced to an incorrect calculation for the vehicle's Z axis in the configuration file, which had gone unnoticed until the update changed how the game processed positioning values. Prior to the update, the game read values from a previous vehicle, but the update introduced a new platform that altered this behavior, resulting in the plane receiving an excessively high Z value.

Winsage

April 24, 2025

Decades-old bug in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas pops out

Microsoft's Windows 11 24H2 update has caused issues for players of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, specifically the disappearance of the seaplane known as the "skimmer." This glitch, which began appearing in November, is not due to the Windows update itself but rather a long-standing error in the game's original coding. The problem arises from the game's vehicles.ide file, where essential parameters for the skimmer were omitted during its transition from Vice City to San Andreas. The update introduced changes in stack handling that affected how the game initialized these parameters, leading to the glitch. Silent, a developer involved in fixing older games, noted that the issue highlights the importance of validating input data and addressing compilation warnings in software development.

Winsage

April 24, 2025

Download WampServer (free) for Windows

WampServer is a web development environment designed for Windows users, integrating MySQL, Apache, and PHP into a single package for local web application development. It simplifies the setup process, allowing novice developers to create functional development servers without affecting live websites. WampServer operates independently of an internet connection and provides a user-friendly control panel for managing server components. It supports both free-form PHP coding and content management systems like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. WampServer is free to use and compatible with Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11, but not with macOS or Linux. Alternatives to WampServer include MAMP, XAMPP, and Apache HTTP Server, each offering different features and compatibility.

Winsage

April 22, 2025

These 7 WSL programs changed how I use Windows

Windows users previously faced challenges using Linux tools via virtual machines until the introduction of the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), which was further improved with WSL2. WSL2 integrates a lightweight virtual machine into Windows, allowing users to run Linux applications seamlessly. Runtipi and CasaOS can be easily set up on WSL2 to host self-service applications without complex configurations. Visual Studio Code (VS Code) offers a WSL extension that enables code execution directly in Linux distributions from Windows, enhancing the coding experience. Gigolo is a frontend for managing network shares, which can also be integrated into Windows 11 through WSL2. Ansible can automate the provisioning of virtual machines and containers on WSL2, making it easier for users engaged in DIY projects. Rsync can be installed via WSL2 for efficient file synchronization and backups on Windows. Podman Desktop allows Windows users to explore container runtimes using WSL2, providing a GUI for managing containers. Lastly, WSL2 enables users to access the Linux terminal and run various Linux distributions directly within Windows 11.

AppWizard

April 16, 2025

Forget FPS. Here’s why Frame Time is the PC gaming stat that matters most

Frame time measures the time interval between individual frames displayed on the screen, providing a more detailed view of frame consistency compared to frames per second (FPS). An ideal frame time for a game running at 60 FPS is 16.6 milliseconds per frame, and deviations can lead to stuttering. A frame time graph shows frame time in milliseconds on the vertical axis and frame number or recording time on the horizontal axis, with a flat line indicating optimal performance. Gamers often prefer consistent, lower FPS over fluctuating higher FPS for a better experience. Troubleshooting frame time issues involves examining CPU and GPU utilization and adjusting settings. Keeping video drivers updated is essential, and persistent issues may indicate problems with the game itself, as seen in titles like Gotham Knights and Elden Ring.

AppWizard

April 15, 2025

5 things to do with the Linux terminal on your Android phone

Android 15 includes a fully functional Linux terminal that allows users to execute various commands typical of Linux environments. While it is robust, installing graphical user interface (GUI) applications can be challenging. The terminal can be used for SSH connections by configuring the SSH config file for easier access to remote machines. It serves as a platform for learning the Linux command line, with options to execute commands and access manual files. Developers can use it for coding, as Python is pre-installed, allowing for immediate programming tasks. Users can also install the MariaDB database server for database management directly from their mobile devices. Additionally, the terminal can be used to securely store notes by creating hidden files with the Nano editor.

Winsage

April 13, 2025

5 awesome Linux features that will blow the mind of a Windows user

In 2025, Linux is becoming a viable alternative for desktop and laptop users, previously overshadowed by Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS. Recent advancements in user-friendly distributions like Ubuntu and Linux Mint have made Linux more accessible, allowing users to operate without needing to engage with the command-line interface (CLI). Proton, a tool developed by Valve, enables users to play a wide range of games on Linux without the need for dual-boot setups. Modern Linux distributions have become stable and customizable, providing a reliable user experience. Linux powers a significant portion of the world's servers, showcasing its versatility and reliability. It is completely free and open-source, allowing users to explore different distributions without cost. Many distributions offer a live environment for users to test the OS without altering their existing systems.

Tech Optimizer

April 10, 2025

How Heroku migrated hundreds of thousands of self-managed PostgreSQL databases to Amazon Aurora

Heroku has migrated its multi-tenant PostgreSQL database fleet from a self-managed environment on Amazon EC2 to the Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition, improving operational efficiency and customer satisfaction without impacting customers. This transition involved moving over 200,000 databases, utilizing a dual control plane approach and specialized transfer systems for efficient data migration. The new architecture allows Heroku to leverage AWS Cloud services more effectively, alleviating the operational burdens on engineering teams and enabling a focus on customer value. The migration also positions Heroku to introduce advanced features such as AI-enabled database administration and enhanced security measures.

AppWizard

April 9, 2025

Google launches Gemini in Android Studio for Businesses, making it easier for devs to design work apps

Apple is the leading smartphone manufacturer in the U.S., while 60% of corporate-owned devices are powered by Android, according to a survey by Stratix. Google announced Gemini in Android Studio for businesses at the Google Cloud Next 2025 conference, a subscription-based service aimed at enhancing the Android ecosystem for enterprise app developers. Gemini focuses on secure, privacy-oriented AI solutions, with a strict data governance policy ensuring confidentiality and ownership of company code. It includes enterprise-grade management features and extends Google's generative AI indemnification policy to protect against copyright infringement claims related to AI-generated code. The enterprise edition allows customization using internal repositories, improving code acceptance rates by 70%. Gemini is compliant with various industry certifications, including SOC 1, 2, and 3, and ISO/IEC 27001, among others. A free version of Gemini remains available for independent developers, while organizations can acquire a Code Assist Enterprise license through the Google Cloud Console.