source code Archives

Tech Optimizer

September 1, 2026

Connecting My LangGraph AI Agent to Postgres

A stateful LangGraph agent was developed to streamline a 15-minute booking process, featuring a user-friendly Streamlit UI and a backend powered by a Postgres database. The agent responds to customer queries, calculates service pricing, manages service acceptance, suggests time slots, and confirms appointment details. It operates in two modes: in-memory for rapid testing and Postgres for persistent storage. Testing can be done locally using Docker, which simulates a Postgres environment, or with a hosted Postgres instance. The project includes a docker-compose.yml file to initiate a PostgreSQL 16 container, allowing the application to connect to the database. Data persistence is ensured through Docker volumes, and the application can be run with specific commands after setting up the environment variables. The system has been tested successfully, demonstrating its ability to manage bookings and maintain data integrity across sessions. Future enhancements are planned to improve the booking workflow and integrate additional communication channels.

Tech Optimizer

August 26, 2026

How to Protect Against Ransomware: 13 Steps [2026]

Global ransomware attacks increased by 0.8% quarter-over-quarter in Q2 2026. The group Qilin has 279 confirmed victims, maintaining its position as the leading threat actor for four consecutive quarters. The rival group The Gentlemen saw a 62% increase in victims, reaching 269. Checkpoint Research's report indicates a shift in the ransomware landscape, challenging the narrative of declining attacks. IBM's analysis shows breaches within supply chains and third-party vendors have quadrupled over the past five years. Effective ransomware protection requires administrative access to endpoints, firewalls, and backup systems, along with specific software versions and tools. The 3-2-1-1-0 backup strategy is recommended, emphasizing offline, immutable backups. Organizations should implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) across all access points and actively patch known vulnerabilities. Network segmentation is crucial to limit ransomware spread, and canary files can provide early warnings of attacks. Regular phishing simulations and a well-documented incident response plan are essential for preparedness.

Winsage

August 23, 2026

Microsoft explains why Pinball vanished from Windows: “We couldn’t afford to spend days studying the code”

3D Pinball was a space-themed game included in Windows XP since its debut in 1995. It was removed with the launch of Windows Vista due to a bug in the code that caused the game to be unplayable, not because of legal issues as commonly believed. The bug occurred during the transition of Windows XP to 64-bit architecture, where the ball would drop into the launcher and fall through the plunger. Microsoft engineer Raymond Chen, who worked on the project, noted that the original code was largely undocumented, making it difficult to fix. The game was licensed from Cinematronics and Maxis, which limited Microsoft's rights to bundling it within Windows and its Plus! packs, preventing a standalone release. Attempts to revive the game were hindered by these legal constraints. As of 2022, no official version of 3D Pinball has been included in Windows 11, and the licensing situation remains complicated due to the acquisition of Cinematronics and Maxis by Electronic Arts.

Tech Optimizer

August 17, 2026

How PGSimCity Turns PostgreSQL Complexity Into a Virtual City 3D Simulation

Nikolay Samokhvalov has introduced PGSimCity, an open-source educational tool that visualizes PostgreSQL cluster mechanics in a 3D simulation accessible via web browsers. The tool represents PostgreSQL 18's internals as municipal districts, with components like shared_buffers and Write-Ahead Logging organized spatially. It separates rendering from state transitions to maintain architectural integrity. Backend developers can trace SQL statement lifecycles and simulate operational anomalies, such as memory restrictions leading to performance issues. The project has generated discussions on AI-assisted visualization and has received community feedback for improvements. PGSimCity includes PGlite for in-browser PostgreSQL execution and has a roadmap for future enhancements, with its codebase available on GitHub under the Apache-2.0 License.

Tech Optimizer

August 12, 2026

Google adds Gemini code conversion for PostgreSQL migrations

Google has enhanced its Database Migration Service with AI-assisted code conversion for PostgreSQL migrations from commercial databases. This feature addresses the challenge of converting stored procedures, triggers, and custom functions written in proprietary languages. The new workflow allows users to view original source code alongside suggested PostgreSQL PL/pgSQL output, enabling inline explanations, code editing, and validation before deployment. The service analyzes schema context across the migration project, considering table relationships and data types. It combines rule-based conversion with AI-generated suggestions and includes PostgreSQL syntax validation. The conversion process remains within the customer's Google Cloud project, adhering to security protocols. This feature aims to reduce the time for code conversion from months to days, allowing database specialists to focus on verification and application modifications. Once validated, the converted code can be applied to staging systems for testing before live migration.

AppWizard

August 11, 2026

Meet Snowflake Volunteer: Tor’s Android app that lets you help people bypass censorship

The Tor Project has launched the Snowflake Volunteer app, an Android application developed in collaboration with Bloco, aimed at helping users in restricted regions bypass internet censorship. This app enhances the existing Snowflake capabilities, allowing users to share their internet connections through volunteer-operated proxies to access the Tor network. In June, the number of unique proxy IP addresses used daily increased from approximately 1,300 to 1,700, marking a 29% rise. The Tor Browser operates as a free, privacy-focused network, routing traffic through volunteer-run secure computers. The Snowflake Volunteer app employs "domain fronting" to connect users to various proxies and is designed for those with limited technical skills, simplifying the process of becoming a proxy. Users can download the app from F-Droid or Google Play, run it in the background, and set usage restrictions. While Tor generally advises against using VPNs, some experts recommend them for users in highly censored regions, though this approach has its own challenges.

Winsage

August 11, 2026

Microsoft Word 1.1a Runs Natively on Windows 11 on x64

A developer has adapted Microsoft Word 1.1a, originally for 16-bit x86 systems, to run natively on modern 64-bit Windows PCs through a project called “Opus.” This adaptation compiles the original source code into a genuine x64 application, avoiding the use of emulators or virtual machines. The developer translated incompatible segments of the original code, including 16-bit assembly language, into C or C++, while mapping Win16 functions to modern Win32 APIs. The project retains original resources and copyright notices, and is hosted on GitHub without a broad open-source license. Automated testing has been implemented to ensure functionality mirrors the original application. Microsoft has previously published similar historic projects, but this port is an independent effort, providing insights into early Windows software architecture.

Winsage

August 9, 2026

x64 port of Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a arrives — you can now run this seminal 1990 word processor natively in Windows 11

A developer named JMarshall23 has ported Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a to x64 architecture, allowing it to run natively on Windows 11. This port uses the original source code and resources, with modern adaptations to address the limitations of the 16-bit assembly and segmented-memory architecture. Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a was originally launched over 25 years ago and introduced features like WYSIWYG editing, graphics incorporation, and table insertion. Microsoft has made the source code publicly available through the Computer History Museum, which includes a 7MB bundle with C source files, x86 assembly, build tools, and documentation. Users need the Windows 11 SDK, CMake 3.25 or newer, and PowerShell to build and run this version. The code release is governed by a license that permits only non-commercial use, restricting software redistribution.

Winsage

August 8, 2026

There’s an x64 Port of Microsoft Word 1.1a for Windows

Developer John Marshall has successfully ported Microsoft Word for Windows 1.1a to run on Windows 11 as a native 64-bit executable. This project involved reconstructing the original application from the early 1990s by translating 16-bit Assembly language into C/C++ code and adapting it to modern Win32 APIs. Marshall's work was made possible by Microsoft's release of the source code for Word for Windows 1.1a in 2014. Users interested in setting up the port will need Visual Studio with the C++ workload, the latest Windows SDK, CMAKE version 3.25 or newer, and to execute specific PowerShell scripts provided by Marshall.

AppWizard

August 8, 2026

Blocky zombie survival sim Unturned releases its source code so players can build a ‘lasting legacy’ for the game ‘regardless of the changes we make’

Smartly Dressed Games has released the source code for their free-to-play zombie survival simulator, Unturned, for non-commercial use, encouraging community creativity. They emphasized the importance of their passionate community and hope to empower players to expand the game. Modifications must be non-commercial and free for players, with some code elements excluded due to licensing restrictions. Unturned is not classified as open source, and the developers aim to re-license the U3 SDK under the MIT License in the future. Unturned was created by Nelson Sexton and entered Steam early access in 2014, reaching full release in 2017. A significant update in April expanded the game's California map and introduced over 100 new quests.