Coding Archives

Winsage

May 15, 2025

Your gaming PC is overdue for an upgrade—Windows 11 Pro can fix that

Microsoft will stop providing security updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. A Windows 11 Pro license is currently available for .97 until June 1 at 11:59 PM, requiring no subscription. Windows 11 Pro offers enhanced security, performance, and features, including DirectX 12 Ultimate for improved gaming, Snap layouts, virtual desktops, AI-enhanced voice typing, and Copilot powered by GPT-4 Turbo. It also includes security features like TPM 2.0, Smart App Control, and biometric login.

Winsage

May 7, 2025

Software engineer taught Microsoft Copilot to analyze Windows crash dumps

Software engineer Sven Scharmentke, known as Svnscha, has developed an open-source tool called mcp-windbg for crash dump analysis, available on GitHub. This AI-driven tool automates the execution of WinDBG/CDB commands, improving productivity in debugging tasks. Svnscha highlights the challenges faced during development, particularly in creating the interaction layer with Microsoft's Command-Line Console Debugger (CDB). The tool enables natural language crash analysis, contextual debugging, and root cause identification, benefiting software engineers and support teams. However, users are advised that a foundational understanding of debugging principles is necessary to effectively utilize the tool, which serves as a "simple Python wrapper around CDB."

Tech Optimizer

May 6, 2025

Databricks reportedly could acquire serverless database startup Neon for $1B+

Databricks Inc. is in advanced discussions to acquire Neon Inc., a startup specializing in a commercial version of the open-source PostgreSQL database, with the deal anticipated to exceed billion. Neon, based in San Francisco, has raised over 0 million in funding, including contributions from Microsoft's M12 fund. Neon’s PostgreSQL distribution features a serverless architecture that dynamically adjusts hardware resources based on workload demands, allowing for separate provisioning of storage and processing power. It also includes an innovative connection pooling feature to minimize resource drain when establishing network connections. Neon enhances its offering with a cybersecurity tool for granular user access control and the ability to revert databases to previous states in case of data loss. Databricks' interest in Neon may be linked to its suitability for AI applications, as it supports vector storage and can provision new database instances in as little as one second. Databricks has been actively pursuing acquisitions to enhance its AI capabilities, including recent purchases of Fennel AI Inc., Lilac AI Inc., and MosaicML Inc.

Winsage

May 1, 2025

Microsoft Windows 11 Pro Is Almost Free Now, but This 92% Off Deal Won’t Last Long

The Blue Screen of Death can indicate the need for a fresh installation of Windows 11 Pro, especially after issues like corrupt files or viruses. StackSocial is currently offering Windows 11 Pro activation keys for a reduced price of , down from 9, which is a 92% discount. The Home edition is also available at a discount of 89%. These keys are intended for PCs that require a new Windows license, and users should ensure compatibility with Windows Update for the upgrade. Windows 11 Pro includes features like Microsoft Teams, Widgets, and AI-powered Windows Copilot, providing advanced security, user-friendly design, and productivity tools. The deal is time-sensitive, with keys selling rapidly.

Winsage

April 28, 2025

This PowerToys tool gave me unlimited power on Windows 11 and I almost fell in love

The Windows 11 Command Palette from PowerToys serves as a centralized command hub, allowing users to execute system commands, settings, and application launches through a unified search bar. Users can customize the palette by integrating third-party tools and adding their own commands. WinGet can be accessed from the interface to install software packages easily. However, there are issues with the Command Palette not launching consistently, requiring users to disable and re-enable it to fix the shortcut. Some preinstalled commands are deemed unhelpful, but users can disable them in the settings. Overall, the Command Palette enhances workflow efficiency by simplifying access to various tasks.

AppWizard

April 28, 2025

5 ways to use the Linux terminal on your Android phone

Android 15 includes a fully functional Linux terminal, allowing users to execute familiar commands, though running GUI applications can be challenging. With Android 16, the terminal receives more space. Users can connect to remote machines via SSH by configuring the SSH config file for easier access. The terminal serves as a platform for learning the Linux command line, executing commands, and accessing manuals. Developers can use it for coding, with Python pre-installed, and can create applications directly on their devices. The terminal also supports the installation of the MariaDB database server for database management. Additionally, users can create hidden files for storing sensitive notes using the Nano editor.

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.