documentation Archives

Tech Optimizer

April 8, 2025

Pools across the sea: how Hyperdrive speeds up access to databases and why we’re making it free

Cloudflare has made Hyperdrive available on the free plan of Cloudflare Workers, allowing developers to create high-performance global applications that connect to SQL databases. Hyperdrive simplifies database connectivity by using existing drivers and connection strings, reducing the need for extensive refactoring. It has been adopted by Cloudflare's engineering teams for various functions, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing common challenges in application development. Hyperdrive significantly improves performance, with a benchmark showing latency reduction from 1200 ms to 500 ms when using Hyperdrive instead of a direct connection, and further to 320 ms with caching enabled. It employs transaction-mode connection pooling to efficiently manage database connections, minimizing overhead and ensuring optimal performance for serverless applications. Hyperdrive's architecture includes a split connection approach that reduces latency by conducting necessary round trips over shorter distances. It also features a regional pool strategy for selecting data centers based on the inferred location of the Worker, optimizing connection latency. The system includes a dual-layer caching strategy to enhance query performance and reduce load on the origin database. Developers can easily start using Hyperdrive by executing a simple command or using a dashboard to set up a sample Worker application with their existing Postgres database.

AppWizard

April 7, 2025

Google built a dashcam app for cars with Android Automotive – not for Android Auto

Dashcams are important for vehicle owners as they document incidents during accidents. Google has developed a dashcam application for the Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS), which provides video recording capabilities to enhance safety and security. A recently discovered "Integrate Dashcam" page on Google's website outlines the technical requirements and integration steps for automakers, but the app is not yet available for download. The absence of the app from the market may be due to technical and legal challenges. It is important to note that this dashcam application is not related to Android Auto, and claims suggesting otherwise are misleading. The distinction between Android Auto and Android Automotive has been clarified, with the latter being recognized as AAOS or Google built-in.

AppWizard

April 4, 2025

Latest Android Auto update could turn your car’s cameras into a free dash cam

Google has launched a free dash cam application for Android Auto that utilizes existing in-built vehicle cameras to capture journeys without additional hardware. Car manufacturers must customize the app for their specific vehicle models. Key features include using external storage for video recordings, automatic activation based on triggers like speed limits, and customization options for notifications and file storage durations. The app will only work in vehicles with cameras and will not replace traditional dash cams. Its availability will depend on updates from vehicle manufacturers.

Tech Optimizer

April 2, 2025

Amazon RDS Proxy announces TLS 1.3 support for PostgreSQL on Aurora and RDS

Amazon RDS Proxy now supports TLS 1.3 for connections to Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL and RDS for PostgreSQL database instances, enhancing security with stronger cryptographic algorithms and a streamlined handshake process. The Proxy automatically negotiates the highest security level during connection setup and can be configured to enforce TLS 1.3 exclusively. TLS 1.3 support is also available for RDS Proxy for MySQL engines. RDS Proxy is a fully managed database proxy that improves performance, reliability, scalability, and security for RDS and Amazon Aurora databases.

Tech Optimizer

April 2, 2025

Thousands of PostgreSQL servers are being hijacked to mine crypto

Researchers at Wiz have identified a cryptojacking campaign by a group called JINX-0126, targeting over 1,500 misconfigured PostgreSQL servers by exploiting weak login credentials. The attackers deploy the XMRig-C3 miner to mine Monero, consuming nearly all computing resources and increasing electricity usage for victims. Each compromised device is assigned a unique mining worker for tracking. The campaign has evolved to include defensive measures and fileless deployment to evade detection. Nearly 90% of cloud environments host PostgreSQL instances, with about one-third publicly accessible, highlighting security vulnerabilities.

AppWizard

April 2, 2025

Google made a dashcam app for cars with Android Automotive, but you can’t download it

Google has launched a dashcam application for Android Automotive that allows vehicles with built-in cameras to record their surroundings. This open-source app can be integrated by car manufacturers, addressing the gap where many vehicles lack a native dashcam feature. The app is designed to work with existing camera hardware and requires system-level permissions for integration into the vehicle's operating system. Recordings are stored in the vehicle's internal storage, but Google recommends saving them on external removable storage to reduce wear on internal components. Manufacturers can customize various parameters of the app, including storage allocation and user interface.

Winsage

March 29, 2025

Announcing Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516 (Dev Channel)

Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 26200.5516 (KB5054687) has been released to the Dev Channel. The Dev Channel has transitioned to the 26200 series builds, closing the opportunity to switch to the Beta Channel. The 26200 series is based on Windows 11, version 24H2. Enhancements to Windows Search for AMD and Intel®-powered Copilot+ PCs include semantic indexing for more intuitive searches, allowing users to find documents, photos, and settings using natural language. Users can manage indexed locations in Settings and the feature supports multiple languages and document formats. The improved Windows Search can also locate cloud-stored photos, with users needing to sign into OneDrive for access. A new feature called speech recap has been introduced in Narrator, allowing users to track what has been spoken and providing quick access to the last 500 strings spoken. A streamlined UI for unexpected restarts is being previewed. The Copilot can now be launched with Win + C, and users can personalize their experience through Settings. Click to Do is available from the Start menu and supports intelligent text actions in multiple languages. The Windows share window now includes a visual preview for shared links and image editing capabilities. Several fixes have been made to improve performance and address issues in Taskbar, File Explorer, Login and Lock, Windowing, and Settings. Known issues include problems with Recall and File Explorer crashes for some users. Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel receive updates based on Windows 11, version 24H2, and feature rollouts are monitored for feedback.

Tech Optimizer

March 28, 2025

Why SQL Server Is Still Worth It — Redmondmag.com

SQL Server Enterprise Edition costs approximately ,000 per CPU core, with an additional 23 percent for Software Assurance. SQL Server provides a mature solution for high availability and backups, integrating seamlessly with Windows Server Failover Clustering. PostgreSQL offers three primary backup methods: SQL dump, file system-level backup (requiring database shutdown), and continuous archiving, with the latter being complex to implement. SQL Server typically offers more integrated features out of the box, such as temporal tables and graph databases, while PostgreSQL requires extensions. SQL Server caches execution plans, which can reduce CPU usage but may lead to suboptimal plans. SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) provides a superior user experience compared to PGAdmin. SQLPackage for SQL Server is considered better than available options for PostgreSQL, and the SQL Server community is noted for its support and engagement.

Winsage

March 28, 2025

Microsoft’s ReFS file system resurfaces in latest Windows 11 build

Microsoft's Resilient File System (ReFS) was introduced in 2012 with Windows Server 2012 and has been relatively obscure compared to NTFS. It has recently emerged as an optional feature in a preview build of Windows 11 (Build 27823), allowing users to format partitions with a "Flexible Storage" option, offering a choice between NTFS and ReFS. ReFS is designed for larger storage capacities, can format partitions up to 35 petabytes, and supports single files as large as the entire volume. It includes advanced features like block cloning and file-level snapshots but lacks support for certain NTFS functionalities such as bootable volumes and file compression. Currently, ReFS is primarily aimed at enterprise and server environments, but its inclusion in Windows 11 may indicate plans for broader consumer access. The open-source community is developing unofficial documentation for ReFS, and Paragon Software has created a closed-source ReFS driver.

Winsage

March 27, 2025

Windows 11 KB5053656 update released with 38 changes and fixes

Microsoft has released the KB5053656 preview cumulative update for Windows 11 24H2, featuring 38 enhancements, including real-time translation capabilities for Copilot+ PCs with AMD and Intel processors. This update addresses authentication issues and blue-screen errors, and is classified as an "optional non-security preview update." It introduces live captions and real-time translation support for over 44 languages, enhances Windows Search with improved capabilities, and fixes issues related to the MsiCloseHandle API and boot menu entries. The update also phases out the Location History feature and acknowledges known issues affecting Citrix components and Roblox on Windows Arm devices. Users can install the update via Windows Update or manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog. The update upgrades systems to build 26100.3624. Windows 11 24H2 is broadly deployed and accessible to all users.