Paul

UK Whovian, railway & politics geek and event organiser. Freelance PHP developer and Linux system administrator. He/him/Paul

Most toots deleted after 3 months

Book reviews and updates: Paul (npub1ycx…32m8)

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Business / hire me: https://www.phpdeveloper.org.uk
You might know me from: https://www.roguetory.org.uk/about/biography/
Programming languages: PHP, Go, SQL, C
Natural languages: English (native), French (A1/A2), Latin (Beginner)

Public Key

npub1e5frt7j9xgjmzhfxxvq5e9dv08tl8zrxn69gzkqwexgmj90l3ryqlnx7jr

NIP-05 Address

pwaring_at_fosstodon.org@momostr.pink

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relay.primal.net

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Last Notes

2024-10-01 09:28:12

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Definitely do not host mail on a residential ISP - even if you have a fixed IP address you might find that big providers will simply reject all mail from the whole block, regardless of how well you run your server.
I use a VPS, but I'm also hosting websites etc. so there is minimal extra cost in running mail as well.

2024-10-01 09:23:37

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I've run my own server with Exim (and previously Postfix) and it doesn't require too much maintenance. If you setup SPF + DKIM + DMARC + reverse DNS your mail tends to get delivered.
The main deliverability problems in my experience come with Google, and the worst is if the IP address of your mail server changes - you end up starting your reputation-building from scratch.
@npub1ksf…r6s6 has a book out on this very subject recently, although I haven't read it yet.

2024-08-23 09:26:04

@npub1t2q…n4vh Your latest release notes for iOS asked if anyone reads them - I do and consider them useful and important (and much better than 'fixed some bugs'). 😀

2024-08-22 14:03:45

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Fantastic, thanks! That seems to do the trick, although /g isn't supported on my system (I don't think I need it in this case).

2024-08-22 13:15:08

Does anyone know if there's a way to do case-insensitive search + replace in PHP, but retain the original case, for highlighting search keywords?
For example, if I want to make the search results bold, searching for 'paul' in 'Paul Waring' should return:
<b>Paul</b> Waring
and not:
<b>paul</b> Waring
str_ireplace does nearly everything I need, but doesn't retain the original case. Maybe preg_replace with capture groups?
#php

2024-08-19 08:57:11

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I managed to find an alternative to Postman, Insomnia etc. which hasn't (yet) gone down the paid / cloud route.
It is called Pororoca and is cross-platform, though there's no Snap (something I need to look into as lots of projects I use don't have Snaps, and I'd like to change that).
https://pororoca.io/

2024-08-16 09:46:42

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I tend to change at the latest stop, so that I can make as much progress as possible to my destination on the service that I know is running because I'm on it.
I might change this though if an earlier stop allows an easier change, e.g. both services go from the same platform and can't overtake each other.

2024-08-16 09:37:36

If you're making a multi-stage journey on public transport (as I will be shortly) and there's an overlap of stops between the two stages, which stop do you change at?

2024-08-12 09:11:23

What's the recommend open source GUI for working with APIs now? I used to use Insomnia but they went over to 'you must have a cloud account, even for local data', which gives me zero confidence that my data stays on my machine.
Ideally something that's packaged as a Snap and updated regularly.

2024-05-24 09:39:57

If I'm ever feeling a bout of imposter syndrome, or feel like I've screwed up (e.g. with a bug deployed to production), I like to remember the time that an outsourcing company failed to provide enough security guards for the London Olympics and the gap had to be made up by the Royal Marines and paratroopers.
None of my mistakes have involved the armed forces being deployed.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/24/london-2012-olympics-g4s-military

2024-05-21 09:44:25

Top tip: If you're registering a company, don't choose a name with special characters, especially at the start or end of your name. There are too many systems which can't cope with this and it will cause you pain.
This toot brought to you by me interacting with a *very* large firm whose programmers haven't discovered bound parameters for SQL statements (assuming they're using a relational database, that might be too advanced tech). Not my business but I have to deal with the fallout.

2024-04-17 15:30:48

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Gaming on Linux is pretty good for general info and forums.
Don't assume that the websites telling you which game will/won't work are reliable - I've found they're wrong about 25-50% of the time.
However, a lot of games have a native Linux version or run through Proton (which you can opt into based on the games Steam says are tested, or you can just try everything through Linux).
The only way to be sure, if there's not a native port, is to try running the game.

2024-04-17 13:49:28

Fellow freelancers / small business owners: Do you have a maximum exposure limit for any one client / customer, e.g. a percentage of turnover or a fixed monetary amount? I'm implementing one after losing a big client and coming very close with another one and am interested in how other people manage this (both due to circumstances unrelated to the quality of my work or any falling-out).
#Freelance #business

2024-04-17 09:23:15

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Browser for Teams, app for Zoom (though I use my iPad for audio + video, I only use my Linux desktop if I need to screen share or see someone else's screen, in which case I join on both devices).

2024-04-17 08:51:27

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I really don't know who to vote for. None of the candidates are appealing, they all have more or less the same vague policies (e.g. more homes, but only in the 'right' places).
The best concrete policy (Metrolink to every borough) is from the Conservative candidate!

2024-04-17 08:45:23

Someone really wants me to vote in the upcoming GM mayoral elections, as I have been sent EIGHTEEN copies of the booklet with the candidate statements (all addressed to me on the envelope, so it's not a lazy post-person sticking all the booklets for our block of flats in one letterbox).
Also it's a bit depressing how many candidates are explicitly anti the Clean Air Zone (no one is explicitly pro, not even the Green candidate).

2024-04-16 20:00:55

4.13 Sentient Trains (out of 5) was a good score for The Terraformers by Annalee Newitz at [@mcrscifi](https://wandering.shop/@mcrscifi) this evening. Next book is The Cries of Alaere by Barra Hart if anyone wants to join us - despite the Manchester name we meet online, 19:00 UK time third Tuesday of each month (except December).
#bookstodon #scifi #bookclub

2024-04-16 10:24:45

If you're in the UK, the deadline for registering to vote in the upcoming elections (local, mayoral and others, depending on your location) is 23:59 today.
You can also register for a postal vote if you want to avoid the new ID requirements for voting in person.
Online options are only available in some parts of the UK, so you might need to hand-deliver a paper form instead.
https://www.gov.uk/register-to-vote

2024-04-15 15:39:28

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I use them for sites I visit often (mostly in the bookmarks bar) rather than things to remember to look at later (for that I use a simple web app that lets me tag instead of using folders).

2024-04-15 11:12:45

On days like this you realise how little slack there is in the UK train system. A track inspection overrunning early this morning means cascaded delays to trains in the afternoon because the staff are now in the wrong places (our train currently has no driver, sadly I don't think they'll let me have a go).

2024-04-15 07:11:09

Instead of saying 'this meeting could have been an email', I am getting in early this morning with 'could this meeting be an email?'

2024-04-13 12:36:48

Got on the bus for free as the card machine wasn't working, and of course that also means it's the 1 in 500 journeys when ticket inspectors get on - thankfully they believed me (I guess they could also ask the driver).

2024-04-12 11:59:47

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Their books are already on my list. 😀
A saucepan requires a working hob, which I lack at the moment (I can't decide whether to try and get it fixed, replace the oven entirely, or go further and get a better kitchen).

2024-04-11 18:08:57

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Thanks for all the comments on bread + soup, it's given me... food for thought.
Soup with less salt sounds like the best place to start, especially as soup makers are available. Even if I can get a serving down from 2g that will be an improvement.

2024-04-10 17:25:01

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Do those prices include VAT, or is it added on top (makes a big difference for anyone who can’t claim it back)?

2024-04-10 17:23:22

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I agree with this, my best photos (and the ones I use for LinkedIn etc.) are taken by someone else whilst I’m hiking.
The other photos fellow freelancers have been happy with are ones done as a professional photo shoot, though that probably doesn’t involve free software.

2024-04-10 11:18:27

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Also cooking is hard when you don't like doing it and you live by yourself (so much fresh food like lettuce has a very short use by date but comes in huge packets).

2024-04-10 11:16:46

People who make their own bread or soup: is it possible to do this without using a lot of salt but still have an acceptable taste? I really like both bread and soup but anything pre-made has huge amounts of salt in (2g for a tin of soup, 0.5-0.8g for every couple of slices of bread or a roll, so a serving of soup + bread is often >50% of the RDA for salt).
#bread #soup

2024-04-09 15:28:41

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My favourite wasn't trying to gain an advantage as such, but I had to explain my ESG credentials. This is quite difficult for a sole trader who doesn't recycle (because I don't generate any business waste), has a terrible gender ratio (100% male), makes all business and pay decisions unilaterally and doesn't recognise any unions...

2024-04-07 14:54:18

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It's the same to the organisers too, who are often volunteers and have put in more time than anyone else. I used to hate it when people would leave breakfast to work on their slides, for a talk that was due to be given in less than an hour...

2024-04-06 15:35:20

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I've had parts left over from IKEA before, but I count everything before assembly and it's always been a case of one extra screw (e.g. 9 instead of 8), so I know I haven't forgotten anything.

2024-04-05 20:25:32

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git log will show you the whole history for a file (it doesn’t follow moves for example, unless you explicitly tell it to, and even then it doesn’t always work as expected)

2024-04-05 12:31:03

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So in fairness to the local store staff, when I visited and told them the problem, they got another item out of stock, opened it, and gave me the spare part I needed. They also admitted that online was useless and it caused them a lot of grief.
But I spent 90+ minutes on a chat, call, visit to the store (all steps that Argos *told* me to do, in that order) to fix a problem that was 100% their fault. I think a letter asking for a 50% refund is worth a chance.

2024-04-05 11:46:18

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I think if you're a senior person in a big company like this, your orders should be randomly wrong 25% of the time so you're forced to go through the returns process and see how much of a PITA it is for your customers.

2024-04-05 11:44:24

Don't think I'll ever buy something that needs assembly from Argos again. Part was missing when I opened the box.
1. Online order of spare parts: Not available for this item (it doesn't have a part number).
2. Online chat: We can't do anything, call the store.
3. Call store: Always busy so you get redirected to the overflow call centre... who can't do anything.
4. Visit store: TODO
IKEA OTOH: 6 digit code for each part, order online, posted immediately free of charge, no quibble.

2024-04-05 11:44:24

2024-04-04 08:20:05

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I've seen those too whenever I have to check Twitter (I am still in one DM group). Bizarrely I've seen the same on Steam - games for AI girlfriends.

2024-03-31 11:26:02

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That seems to be really useful for paths but I don't think it covers highways and roads. I'll try emailing the Ramblers though - might as well make the most out of my membership!

2024-03-25 15:47:53

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I miss UKUUG / FLOSS UK curry. 😕

2024-03-25 15:45:16

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Yep, I was interviewed at one place that argued with my answer to a technical question (‘what is the default port for MySQL, there was only one right answer and I gave it). They also took me to Burger King for lunch and their devs asked personal questions that made me uncomfortable, and the director complained about my notice period (which he’d been told about well before the interview).

2024-03-25 09:28:35

Girls behind me on the bus complaining that they went on dates and the man didn't offer to pay for everything. :blobcatfacepalm:

2024-03-25 08:27:48

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'I somehow acquired two copies of Machiavelli's "The Prince".'
I am in that situation too, slightly concerning that one of them was bought as a present with 'I saw this and thought of you'.
I love the tactile sensation of books too much to get rid of paper, but I am gradually replacing popular books that one of the 3 libraries near me will always have and which I only read once.

2024-03-23 11:12:07

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I agree, excitement shouldn't be a necessary part of getting a job, unless you're underpaying and passion has to make up for that (medicine, teaching etc.) It should never be a requirement for a programming job.

2024-03-22 14:05:57

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It's certainly a very low-cost delaying tactic. Whether that's enough to save the buildings is another matter (maybe it will delay things enough for the next UK government to bail out councils).

2024-03-22 13:18:53

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It's very unlikely the tenant will have a right to sue the landlord for anything. Their lease is coming to an end, they have to either renew (in most cases on the landlord's terms) or leave. This might not sound fair, but that's the way commercial renting works.

2024-03-22 13:12:56

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There is a mechanism for this in England, it's called Asset of Community Value. If something is listed in this way, the community has the right to bid (and is given time to do so) but not the right to buy (i.e. the seller doesn't have to choose the community bid).

2024-03-21 17:08:13

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I have clients who use it for short lived data like sessions (can't store on filesystem because of load balancing, database storage would mean lots of extra writes and reads).