debugging Archives

Tech Optimizer

August 12, 2025

Postgres for everything? not really..and here are some of the problems.

PostgreSQL can serve as a powerful all-in-one database, but real-world implementations often complicate its effectiveness due to complex corporate infrastructures. Accessing a production database may involve numerous network hops, firewalls, and antivirus software that can slow down performance. The lack of administrative privileges can hinder the use of extensions. Developers often turn to Kubernetes for more freedom, but this can introduce new challenges, such as unpredictable resource allocations and performance inconsistencies. Row-Level Security (RLS) can lead to performance overhead and complicate debugging. Centralizing business logic in stored procedures can enhance performance but complicates version control and tracking changes. In large organizations, policies governing technology use often create bottlenecks. PostgreSQL may not be optimal for portable setups (SQLite), simple caching (Redis), or specialized search functionalities (Elasticsearch, Meilisearch). It is most effective when developers have control over the environment, allowing it to handle various applications efficiently.

Tech Optimizer

August 9, 2025

PostgreSQL Revolutionizes Durable Execution with Database Workflow Storage

Developers and enterprises are increasingly turning to PostgreSQL for durable execution, which allows workflows to withstand failures without losing state. PostgreSQL's strong transactional guarantees, adherence to ACID principles, and extensibility make it suitable for this purpose. By using Write-Ahead Logging (WAL), PostgreSQL can reliably record every step of a process, facilitating smooth resumption after disruptions. This approach eliminates the need for separate state management layers, simplifying cloud-native environments. PostgreSQL can manage both data persistence and execution logic, allowing for seamless recovery from failures. Recent advancements, such as integrations from Neon and Inngest, enable real-time workflows based on database changes without requiring complex orchestration services. Updates in PostgreSQL 16 and beyond, including improved logical replication and the anticipated asynchronous I/O in PostgreSQL 18, enhance performance for durable tasks. Adoption of PostgreSQL for durable execution is rising among tech giants and startups, with examples like Figma's scalable Postgres database and AWS’s Aurora DSQL service. This trend reflects a movement towards disaggregated architectures, where databases become active participants in application logic. However, challenges remain in balancing speed and durability configurations. Overall, PostgreSQL is evolving as a resilient solution for durable execution in modern applications.

Winsage

August 4, 2025

Malware disguises itself as an innocent photo on Dropbox. APT37’s steganographic strategy

Specialists at the Genians Security Center have identified a new version of the RoKRAT malware linked to the North Korean APT37 group. This version uses steganography to hide its code in JPEG images, allowing it to bypass antivirus systems. The infection begins with a malicious .LNK link in a ZIP archive, which contains a large .LNK file that misleads users. The malware employs various encrypted components, including shellcode, PowerShell scripts, and batch files. Upon execution, PowerShell decrypts the shellcode using a XOR operation, and the malware injects itself into legitimate Windows processes without leaving traces on the disk. The RoKRAT loader is embedded in a JPEG image hosted on Dropbox, and it uses a double XOR transformation to extract the shellcode. The malware is activated through sideloading techniques using legitimate utilities and downloads from cloud platforms. RoKRAT can collect data, take screenshots, and transmit them to external servers. Recent samples have targeted “notepad.exe” for code injection, indicating ongoing development. Endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems are essential for monitoring unusual activities and protecting against these sophisticated attacks, as traditional defenses are inadequate.

BetaBeacon

July 28, 2025

Emulating PC games on your non-Snapdragon device just got better

GameSir addressed problems with Dimensity devices by investing time and resources in debugging and analyzing, optimizing resource scheduling, creating a code conversion mechanism for Mali GPUs, and making runtime optimizations. They also claimed to offer native support for 32-bit PC games and are teaming up with MediaTek to offer custom GPU drivers for GameFusion. There is no release timeline for these drivers yet.

BetaBeacon

July 24, 2025

My search for a great Android emulator for my new Mac took me down a rabbit hole

The fact described in the text is that Mumuplayer is the first Android emulator for Macs fully optimized for M1-based computers, offering customization options and a smooth experience for basic Android games, but with limitations for more demanding games and apps.

AppWizard

July 21, 2025

How Free Android VPNs Improve HTTP Security in App Development (2025)

The integration of a free Android VPN is essential for mobile application developers to protect sensitive communications by creating an encrypted tunnel between a user's device and a secure server. VPNs enhance HTTP security by encrypting data, making it unreadable to unauthorized entities. They use various encryption protocols such as OpenVPN, WireGuard, and IKEv2/IPSec to secure HTTP connections. Free Android VPNs are cost-effective for developers, allowing secure testing across regions, maintaining security during remote work, and protecting data integrity in app testing. While some free VPNs may compromise user privacy, reputable providers offer secure options with no-log policies. Five recommended free Android VPNs for developers in 2025 include X-VPN, Proton VPN Free, Windscribe, TunnelBear, and Hideme, each with specific features suited for secure app development. Best practices for using free VPNs include verifying VPN protocols, enabling a kill switch, regularly auditing security settings, and using dedicated VPN profiles for app testing.

Tech Optimizer

July 18, 2025

Redundant statistics slow down your Postgres? Try sampling in pg_stat_statements

pg_stat_statements is a PostgreSQL extension for monitoring query statistics, tracking execution counts, execution times, and row returns. It uses a hash table to store metrics for each query, identified by a key generated from four parameters: queryid, User OID, Database OID, and a toplevel flag. The extension can become a performance hindrance in high contention environments due to locking operations on the hash table. When numerous unique queries are executed, contention for the hash table can lead to significant performance drops. For example, with pg_stat_statements enabled, a system with 48 CPUs showed a TPS drop from 237,437 to 32,112 when executing unique queries. In contrast, with a high volume of similar queries on a 192 CPU machine, enabling pg_stat_statements resulted in a TPS of 484,338 compared to 1,015,425 with it disabled. Query sampling is introduced as a method to mitigate performance issues by recording metrics for only a fraction of executed queries. The pg_stat_statements.sample_rate parameter allows configuration of the proportion of queries tracked. However, sampling can lead to incomplete data and potential security risks if sensitive information is recorded in non-normalized form. Benchmark tests with varying sample_rate values showed that as the sample_rate decreased, TPS increased, and SpinDelay diminished. At a sample_rate of 1.0, TPS was lowest, while at 0.25 and below, SpinDelay effectively disappeared, indicating that sampling can significantly enhance performance under high contention conditions.

AppWizard

July 17, 2025

Java for mobile app development: How to create Android apps in 2025 – London Business News

Java is a key programming language in mobile application development, particularly for Android, and is expected to remain relevant in 2025. It is officially supported in Android development, with a significant portion of Android applications built using Java. Java continues to be integrated into Android Studio and is favored for its comprehensive documentation, backward compatibility, and strong community support. Java's ecosystem is characterized by its mature tools and best practices, making it suitable for both simple and enterprise-level applications. Core components of Android apps built with Java include Activities, Services, Broadcast Receivers, and Content Providers. The development process involves setting up the environment with Android Studio, designing user interfaces with XML, implementing app logic in Java, testing the application, and deploying it via the Google Play Store. Best practices in 2025 include modular architecture, dependency management with libraries like Dagger and Hilt, asynchronous programming techniques, and the use of version control systems like Git. Java remains a viable option alongside Kotlin, especially for legacy codebases and its perceived accessibility for new programmers. Modern tools supporting Java development include Room for data storage, Retrofit for API calls, Glide for image loading, Firebase for cloud services, and Crashlytics for crash monitoring. Outsourcing Java development is a common strategy for companies looking to scale their mobile projects efficiently. Java continues to evolve, accommodating advancements in machine learning, IoT, and edge computing.

Winsage

July 1, 2025

Microsoft’s ‘Blue Screen of Death’ Dies After 40 Years of Memes, Jokes, T-Shirts

Microsoft is replacing the blue screen of death, a critical error screen for Windows users since 1985, with a new black screen of death for Windows 11, version 24H2 devices later this summer. This change is part of Microsoft's Windows Resiliency Initiative, aimed at improving system resilience and security. The new black screen will provide essential information such as stop codes and faulty system drivers for easier diagnosis by IT administrators. The blue screen of death has become a pop-culture icon, inspiring memes, merchandise, and even a dedicated subreddit.

Winsage

June 27, 2025

Microsoft Officially Retires ‘Blue Screen of Death’ After 40 Years of Frowny-Faces

Microsoft is replacing the "blue screen of death" with a "black screen of death" for Windows 11, version 24H2, set to roll out this summer. The new screen will provide crucial information such as the stop code and faulty system driver to aid IT administrators in diagnosing issues more efficiently. This change is part of Microsoft's Windows Resiliency Initiative, aiming to reduce recovery time to two seconds after a PC crash. The transition was prompted by the CrowdStrike outage in 2024, which affected over 8 million devices.