structures Archives

AppWizard

June 21, 2026

Start Building With 30+ Prime Day Lego Deals on Star Wars, Minecraft and Botanical Sets

The Amazon Prime Day sale offers a variety of discounted Lego sets, catering to different interests, including the Lego Botanicals Mini Orchid, Lego Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle and Grounds, Lego Star Wars R2-D2, Lego Minecraft Woodland Mansion Fighting Ring, Lego Technic Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica, Lego Lord of the Rings: Balrog Book Nook, Lego Fortnite Battle Bus, and Lego Sonic The Hedgehog Knuckles’ Guardian Mech. Additional Lego deals include sets like Lego Botanicals Happy Plants, Lego Creator 3-in-1 Cute Animals, Lego Ninjago Cole’s Mission Mech and Dragon Zane, and many others. Amazon Prime Day 2026 is scheduled for June 23 to June 26, starting at 12:01 a.m. PT on June 23. Last year, over 100,000 deals were available, including significant discounts on various products. Early promotions are already being launched by many brands, allowing shoppers to take advantage of savings before Prime Day.

Tech Optimizer

June 19, 2026

Looking Ahead to Postgres 19

Postgres has introduced new functionalities, including UPDATE and DELETE FOR PORTION OF, enhancing temporal use cases. The expansion of RANDOM() temporal functions is attributed to Paul Ramsey and Greg Sabino Mullane. Version 19 includes performance improvements in the planner and executor components, with contributions from Tom Lane. Key enhancements include refinements in anti-joins and semi-joins, constant folding optimizations, incremental sorting with append paths, enhanced aggregate processing prior to joins, improved join selectivity computation, and more comprehensive function statistics. These changes allow Postgres to better understand query structures, reducing unnecessary processing. The visibility of memoization in EXPLAIN has improved, sort performance has benefited from radix sort, and foreign key constraint checks have become faster. The COPY FROM command can now utilize SIMD instructions. Postgres 19 offers a range of improvements for application developers, operators, performance enthusiasts, and those building on Postgres, including enhanced graph queries, refined SQL syntax, improved window functions, better upsert behavior, REPACK CONCURRENTLY, advancements in autovacuum, improved monitoring capabilities, and new hooks. The release is still in beta, providing an opportunity for testing applications, migration, extensions, execution plans, and maintenance workflows.

Winsage

June 18, 2026

Microsoft once used its own brand of ‘Lego’ to optimize Windows

Former Microsoft engineer Dave Plummer reflected on software performance challenges during the '90s, specifically the limitations of machines with 12 MB of RAM. He discussed the Basic Block Tool (BBT), which optimized software binaries by reorganizing their structures to enhance execution speed. A typical binary contained around 10 MB of code, but only about 300 KB was necessary for startup. If this essential code was scattered, it led to performance degradation due to excessive page access. BBT defragmented binaries, grouping related code to streamline access and improve user experience, particularly for large products like Windows and Office. Modern tools like BOLT and HP's Dynamo continue to optimize binary layouts and runtime code, but Plummer cautioned about the risks of manipulating binaries. He noted that while computational power has increased, modern software faces similar performance challenges, with larger binaries and complex dependency graphs. He emphasized the importance of locality in software design, advising to keep hot data and code together to enhance performance.

Tech Optimizer

June 18, 2026

Here’s What Actually Happens When Antivirus Software Scans Your PC

Interactions with antivirus software occur during installation and when issues arise, while the software operates quietly in the background. Modern antivirus solutions continuously monitor for threats using various detection methods, including real-time scanning, which actively scrutinizes files as they are downloaded or accessed. The signature database is essential for identifying malware by comparing files against known signatures, but it can only detect documented threats. Heuristic detection and behavioral analysis help catch unknown malware by evaluating suspicious characteristics and monitoring file actions during execution. Sandboxing allows suspicious files to run in a controlled environment, logging their behavior to determine if they are malicious. Quarantine neutralizes threats by locking files in a secure location, allowing users to review them before deletion. Full scans are resource-intensive and can slow down system performance, while real-time scanning is less demanding. Users can schedule scans during idle times, exclude trusted folders, or consider cloud-based solutions to mitigate performance impacts.

AppWizard

June 18, 2026

Stellaris’ Nomads expansion finally lets me live out my Battlestar Galactica fantasies, though its Wayline system could definitely use some work

Players in Stellaris experience an enchanting initial phase of exploration, discovering alien species, mega structures, and black holes. They must balance exploration with territory claiming, as resource management is crucial. Resources can be transported back to the Arkship or harvested directly from planets, though the latter incurs penalties. Nomadic players need to forge alliances and establish Wayline treaties to survive and thrive, while new resources like Operational Reserves add complexity. Upgrading the Arkship is rewarding, and the game features a vibrant post-Nomads era with new music and events enhancing gameplay.

AppWizard

June 15, 2026

How to Use Meta AI on Meta Apps

Meta AI is integrated into WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, and Messenger, providing functionalities like chat, search, image generation, and automated customer support through the Meta Business Agent. Its availability varies by country, account type, app version, and language. Users should be aware that seeing a colleague's blue Meta AI ring in WhatsApp while they do not may indicate a rollout flag on Meta's end rather than an app malfunction. Meta AI can answer queries, suggest ideas, generate images from prompts, clarify messages, assist with searches, and support customer interactions for business accounts. It is linked to the Llama model family, including Llama 2 and Llama 3. To use Meta AI on WhatsApp, users need to update the app and can start a chat by locating the Meta AI button or circle. They can ask practical questions, request image generation, and utilize it in group chats. On Instagram, it enhances DMs and search functions, allowing users to create AI chats for content ideas and captions. In Messenger, there is an "Ask Meta AI" bar for direct interactions. Users can also utilize Meta AI on Facebook for search and content discovery. The Meta Business Agent is a version of Meta AI for businesses, providing 24/7 responses to customer inquiries. It can be set up in Meta Business Suite or WhatsApp Business. Privacy measures should be considered, as users cannot entirely disable Meta AI and should avoid sharing sensitive information in chats. For better responses, users should provide context and constraints in their prompts and consider training in prompt design and AI risk management for professional use.

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 11 KB5094126: Microsoft’s desktop.ini hardening causes some folder icons to disappear

Following the June 2026 update, custom folder icons and localized folder names in Windows are no longer displaying as they typically would due to intentional modifications related to security updates, specifically KB5094126 for Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 25H2. This update tightens the handling of the desktop.ini file, which is used for folder customization. Although access to the actual files remains unchanged, affected folders may revert to default icons or display original directory names instead of customized labels. Microsoft has identified certain sources as untrusted, including files downloaded from the internet and specific remote sources, which affects how desktop.ini files are processed. Users are encouraged to verify file origins, and administrators should ensure that internal sources are classified as trusted to avoid disruptions in folder presentation. The update also includes other security fixes and enhancements.

AppWizard

June 12, 2026

Witchspire is a charming Palworld-esque survival crafting game that replaces the unpaid monster labour with magic and whimsy

Witchspire is a survival crafting game released into early access, where players take on the role of a witch in a whimsical world filled with magical tools and familiars. Players can track down fellow witches, build a base, and engage in tree chopping using wands and spells. Familiars can be captured and serve as combat companions or enhance productivity at the player's base. The game features a fluid combat system with a dodge mechanic and multiple double-jumps, as well as gridless building mechanics. Exploration rewards players with chests, mini-puzzles, and experience points for a skill tree. Some quality-of-life features are still in development, such as viewing crafting recipes and switching consumables during combat. The game is developed by Envar Games.

AppWizard

June 9, 2026

Ball State IDIA Lab Launches Mesa Verde Virtual Companion App for Apple and Android Devices

Ball State University’s Institute for Digital Intermedia Arts (IDIA Lab) has launched the Mesa Verde Virtual Companion, an augmented reality mobile app designed to enhance public engagement with Mesa Verde National Park. The app is available for free on the Apple App Store and Google Play and includes features such as augmented reality experiences, 3D visualizations of ancestral structures, narrated interpretations, animated figures, and interactive learning content about the Ancestral Pueblo people. The app aims to facilitate both on-site and off-site exploration of the park, which contains nearly 5,000 archaeological sites and is recognized as a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site. It targets park visitors, educators, families, and remote users, incorporating accessibility features like a welcome tutorial and voiceover options. The project emphasizes immersive learning and cultural preservation, using advanced digital media to connect users with Indigenous history. The IDIA Lab, supported by Lilly Endowment, Inc.’s Digital Media Initiative, develops projects that explore virtual and augmented reality and collaborates with various organizations to enhance educational experiences.