Status Archives

Tech Optimizer

June 14, 2026

Automate Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL major or minor version upgrade using AWS Systems Manager and Amazon EC2

Managing upgrades for the Aurora PostgreSQL-Compatible Edition can be labor-intensive and error-prone when done manually. Automating Amazon Aurora PostgreSQL upgrades can reduce manual effort by up to 80% and minimize downtime risks through consistent procedures. The automation solution uses AWS Systems Manager, Amazon EC2, and AWS Secrets Manager, structured around two modules: PREUPGRADE for readiness checks and UPGRADE for the actual upgrade process. The solution identifies upgrade candidates using database tags, creates safety backups with Copy-on-Write clones, manages the upgrade process with minimal human intervention, and offers real-time monitoring and email notifications. The workflow includes logging into the Systems Manager console, downloading the upgrade script, identifying Aurora PostgreSQL clusters based on tags, retrieving credentials from AWS Secrets Manager, executing pre-upgrade checks or upgrades, uploading log files to Amazon S3, and sending email notifications via Amazon SNS. Prerequisites include familiarity with the Aurora upgrade process, appropriate IAM permissions, creating a maintenance user, setting up AWS Secrets Manager, tagging Aurora clusters, creating an S3 bucket, and configuring an SNS topic for notifications. Implementation steps involve reviewing setup instructions, uploading the upgrade script to S3, creating an AWS Systems Manager automation document, executing the automation document, and monitoring the upgrade process through logs generated during pre-upgrade and upgrade phases. The logs provide detailed information on tasks performed, including replication slot status and configuration backups. After testing, it is recommended to clean up resources to avoid future charges.

Tech Optimizer

June 14, 2026

Neon vs Supabase 2026: $1B Deal, Scale-to-Zero

Neon and Supabase are two managed PostgreSQL platforms with distinct approaches. Neon adopts a serverless architecture that separates storage and compute, allowing databases to scale to zero when idle and enabling rapid database branching. Supabase, in contrast, provides a comprehensive backend-as-a-service that includes authentication, file storage, real-time subscriptions, and edge functions, all built around PostgreSQL. In 2025, Databricks acquired Neon for approximately billion, motivated by the observation that around 80% of databases created on Neon were generated by AI agents. Post-acquisition, users experienced reduced storage costs and improved pricing structures, although concerns arose regarding Neon's independence. Neon features instant database branching and a scale-to-zero capability, while Supabase offers a fully integrated backend with built-in authentication and storage. Neon operates on a usage-based pricing model, whereas Supabase has a flat-tier pricing structure. Both platforms support the pgvector extension for AI applications, but Supabase is fully open-source and allows for self-hosting, unlike Neon. The developer community recognizes Supabase for its ease of use and rapid application development capabilities, while Neon is praised for its innovative serverless features and cost efficiency. Migration between the two platforms is simplified due to their shared PostgreSQL foundation.

Winsage

June 13, 2026

Windows Server is getting new network safety capabilities with DNS over HTTPS

Microsoft has introduced DNS over HTTPS (DoH) on Windows Server 2025, enhancing network security by encrypting DNS traffic for client-to-server communications. This feature, previously available only in Windows client editions, is now part of Microsoft's Zero Trust architecture. DoH routes DNS traffic through HTTPS secured with TLS certificates, preventing eavesdropping and safeguarding DNS data from tampering. It adheres to the IETF DNS over HTTPS standard (RFC 8484) and can integrate with existing infrastructure, allowing organizations to maintain unencrypted DNS traffic if needed. DoH is available for Windows Server 2025 systems updated to the latest Patch Tuesday release, and Microsoft has provided guidance on enabling this feature. However, DNS traffic exchanged between two DNS servers will not be encrypted by DoH.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Breaking: Sporadic Issues Reported with Facebook and Messenger

On June 12, 2026, users of Facebook and Messenger reported intermittent access issues, including difficulties logging in, loading feeds, and messaging. Outage monitoring platforms noted minor spikes in user reports, but Meta has not confirmed significant outages. The problems appear localized to various regions. Suggested solutions for users include refreshing or restarting the app or browser, switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data, clearing the cache, and ensuring apps are updated. Users can check Downdetector for real-time updates.

Winsage

June 13, 2026

Steam Survey: Increased Windows 11 Adoption, AMD GPU Detection Fix Live

Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 in adoption nearly four years after its launch in 2021, with projections of reaching 1 billion users by 2026. The May 2026 Steam Hardware and Software survey shows a 2.02% increase in Windows 11 gamers, while Windows 10 declined by 1.64% and Linux by 0.53%. Windows gained 0.38% overall, and macOS added 0.15%. English-language users increased by 2.71%, indicating demographic biases in the survey. The industry standard remains 16 GB of RAM and 1080p monitor resolution, with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 as the most popular graphics card. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 XT saw a 1.24% gain following a fix for detection issues.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Even a fantasy game like Skyrim won’t let me be a trillionaire

Elon Musk has been announced as the world's first trillionaire. In gaming, no title has allowed players to reach trillions in virtual currency, with Balatro being one of the few games where a player can accumulate billions. In Skyrim, using the console command player.additem with the item code for gold (0000000f) to add one trillion gold pieces results in the character going into over 2 billion gold in debt due to the game's coding limitations. Skyrim's gold is represented as a 32-bit signed integer, which has a maximum value of 2,147,483,647. Exceeding this value causes the amount to flip from positive to negative.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Facebook and Messenger hit by global outage

On June 12, users worldwide experienced disruptions on Facebook and Messenger starting around 7:45 PM Bangladesh time. Desktop users received an error message, while mobile app users faced issues with loaded pages. Users attempting to log into Messenger encountered unexpected logouts and an "Unable to log in" notification. Initially, WhatsApp and Instagram seemed unaffected, but later reports indicated that they also faced disruptions. Outage monitoring platforms like Downdetector experienced accessibility issues due to the influx of users seeking updates. By 8:18 PM, some users regained access to Facebook and Messenger, although issues persisted. Recovery signs started around 8:19 PM, with the peak of reported outages at 7:49 PM, logging 2,738 complaints. In the U.S., the peak reached 113,843 reports at approximately 7:55 PM. As the night continued, users reported improved access to Facebook, Messenger, WhatsApp, and Instagram, though sporadic issues remained.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Facebook and Messenger services gradually return after global outage

On Friday evening at around 8:19 PM local time, Facebook and Messenger services began to gradually restore for users in Bangladesh after a widespread outage that started at approximately 7:34 PM. Users initially faced error messages while logging into Facebook via desktop, slow loading times, and issues with the mobile app. Similar disruptions were reported on Instagram, Threads, and WhatsApp, although the WhatsApp mobile app remained functional for some users. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone acknowledged the issues and stated that efforts were underway to resolve them. By 10:07 PM, signs of recovery were noted for Facebook and Messenger, but full operational capacity had not yet been restored, and no timeline for complete restoration was provided by Meta.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Is Facebook Down? Users Report Issues with App

On Friday, Meta's Facebook and Instagram experienced a global outage, impacting millions of users who faced issues such as blank feeds, error messages, and repeated login failures across various regions, including the U.S., Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The outage affected Facebook's desktop site, mobile app, Messenger, and components of Instagram's feed and login systems. Users reported being logged out unexpectedly, encountering incorrect password messages, and experiencing server errors. Meta acknowledged the situation and was working on a resolution. Specific failures included issues with login systems, blank news feeds, unexpected Messenger logouts, and difficulties accessing both desktop and mobile apps. Instagram users reported frozen feeds, inability to refresh content, failed logins, and delayed or disappearing direct messages. The outage typically resolves within one to three hours, and by approximately 10:30 a.m. ET, reports indicated a decline in issues affecting Meta's platforms.

AppWizard

June 13, 2026

Facebook down: Messenger and app not working in huge outage

Facebook experienced a major outage affecting its core app and Messenger service, leading users to be automatically logged out and encounter error messages when trying to log back in. The main Facebook website displayed a message indicating that "something went wrong." While Facebook and Messenger were primarily impacted, some users reported issues with Instagram's website, although Instagram and WhatsApp largely remained operational. Downdetector noted a significant spike in outage reports starting at approximately 6:45 AM local Pacific time. Meta has not provided an official status update for its consumer services during this outage.