Julia Evans

https://social.jvns.ca/@b0rk

programming and exclamation marks

I have DMs muted from people I don’t follow.

blog: https://jvns.ca
zines: https://wizardzines.com

Public Key

npub1hyjddt50dwcvjmtgr7t4czg4tt9j5xajavl0uvkt0v7wksx0460sp0avly

NIP-05 Address

b0rk_at_social.jvns.ca@momostr.pink

Profile Code

nprofile1qqstjfxk468khvxfd45pl96upy244je2rwewk0h7xt9hk08tgr86a8cprpmhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumn0wdmksetjv5hxxmmd292x7c

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relay.noswhere.com

Author Public Key

npub1hyjddt50dwcvjmtgr7t4czg4tt9j5xajavl0uvkt0v7wksx0460sp0avly

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Last Notes

2024-08-30 18:01:29

poll: if you've switched shells in the last 10 years, what shell did you switch *to*?
especially interested if it was an intentional choice and not because you started using a system with a different default
(I know there are only 2 shell options here, I'm doing my best with 4 poll options)

2024-08-29 15:39:50

if you've been reading some of these threads about terminal problems I've been posting -- how do you feel about the problems you see?

2024-08-15 18:32:27

thinking of writing a mini zine called "100 terminal problems" with problems and (sometimes) solutions
not sure if it will happen or if I'll actually get to 100 but I'm having fun so far
(not looking for more terminal problems in response to this specific post but I will be asking for more in the future!)
https://cdn.masto.host/socialjvnsca/media_attachments/files/112/967/466/294/595/315/original/5e40c52a4c14d06e.png

2024-07-09 16:57:51

also a bunch of people commented in the thread about favourite terminal features that their favourite terminal emulator is one that has as few features as possible
if you're on team “as few terminal features as possible", I'd love to hear what problems "fancy" terminals generally cause for you (are they slower? something else?)

2024-07-08 18:53:13

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also someone elsewhere left a comment like "I CAN’T BELIEVE IT TOOK HER 15 YEARS TO LEARN BASIC READLINE COMMANDS". those comments are very silly and I'm going to keep writing “it took me 15 years to learn this basic thing" forever because I think it's important for people to know that it's normal to take a long time to learn basic things

2024-07-08 18:07:07

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someone in the replies elsewhere pointed out that Ctrl+J = 10 in the ASCII table = LF ("line feed") = Enter (because J is the 10th letter of the alphabet)
so Ctrl+J is the same as pressing enter
which I don't have any practical use for but is kind of cool
(edit: some corrections in this reply: https://pgh.social/@ben/112752235264922484)

2024-07-08 17:46:37

entering text in the terminal is complicated https://jvns.ca/blog/2024/07/08/readline/

2024-07-05 15:35:45

what's one terminal feature you really love (other than tabs, copy&paste, scrollback/search, and mouse integration)?
(specifically looking for features of a *terminal*, not of a shell etc -- would also love to hear which terminal has that feature!)

2024-07-03 17:56:31

poll: if you have a command in the shell and you want to edit it before running it, how do you do that?

2024-07-02 12:13:34

poll: when you're using your shell **interactively**, do you ever use its job control features (ctrl+z, fg, bg, `jobs`, `wait`, etc?)
(other than maybe occasionally backgrounding a process with &)

2024-07-01 16:53:45

what are some things that you find confusing about the command line? Mostly interested in answers from people who use the (unix) command line but still don't feel very comfortable with it.
(thinking of writing about using the command line interactively but I'm unsure about whether that would actually be helpful)

2024-06-30 17:43:56

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I mean in this case the end users are the people creating DNS records so the DNS errors are definitely meant for them :)

2024-06-30 17:37:00

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yeah I think you're right!
I guess what threw me off is that the API also doesn't provide error codes either so it's hard to parse the error and translate it, which is what made me think the text was supposed to be suitable for end users

2024-06-30 16:55:06

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I think I'm probably just going to write some code that takes the error responses from the API and translates them into error messages that make more sense in the context I'm showing them in

2024-06-30 15:16:46

I've been working on migrating https://messwithdns.net to use PowerDNS as a backend, mostly because there are all kinds of things that I didn’t handle properly in my initial implementation
But the error messages I get from PowerDNS feel a little confusing, for example if I try to add a record when there's already a CNAME there, I get the error "RRset orange.beryl5.messwithdns.com. IN A: Conflicts with pre-existing RRset”
which is _true_, but it doesn't explain what's happening
https://cdn.masto.host/socialjvnsca/media_attachments/files/112/706/230/808/497/365/original/a8079cf4dead41af.png

2024-06-28 20:30:14

have any of you switched from using Tailwind to regular CSS? was there anything that helped you make the switch? was it tools like sass? a really good guide to structuring your css? I want to know!
I ask because I'm getting a little tired of Tailwind but I still have a hard time with normal CSS
(please only reply if you yourself have switched your allegiances from Tailwind to vanilla CSS)

2024-06-25 11:55:12

sent "How Git Works" to the printer last week! So we're getting closer to shipping everyone's orders, though there are literally 1000 orders to ship so it'll take a little while still.
if you'd like a print copy shipped to you it's not too late to order -- you can get yours at https://wizardzines.com/zines/git/
(also someone asked if ordering print copies creates more work for me -- and it doesn't! We work with an amazing small fulfillment company that handles all the shipping ❤)

2024-06-21 21:10:57

people have been asking us for printed posters FOREVER but I've always been unsatisfied with just printing out the existing PDFs of our posters -- they didn't feel quite polished enough to me.
So I collaborated with the incredible Tanya at Inner Loop Press (check out their website! it's so good! https://www.innerloop.press/) to make this delightful risograph printed Debugging Manifesto poster. I love the design she came with SO MUCH.
they're not available just yet but they'll be on the store soon!
https://cdn.masto.host/socialjvnsca/media_attachments/files/112/656/662/684/628/946/original/74932bbfeaa635e6.png

2024-06-19 18:42:50

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I'm so curious about what the 30% of you who are designing custom UDP-based protocols are doing

2024-06-19 18:35:31

poll: have you ever designed a protocol that uses TCP or UDP directly? (vs using protocols that are based on TCP/UDP like DNS, HTTP, SSH, etc)
(you can pick more than one)

2024-06-19 13:31:20

when I asked people to explain how UDP works I got a lot of answers to the effect of "it's spray and pray"
but I'm having trouble thinking of examples of UDP-based protocols that actually work in a "spray and pray" way —
* DNS is "send 1 packet, retry if you don't get a reply”
* QUIC is a sophisticated system for streaming data over UDP
* I'd guess that video protocols correct for packet loss
* maybe statsd is a "spray and pray” system?
(please do not reply to this explaining how UDP works)

2024-06-18 22:01:43

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also i’m curious: how would you say UDP works? especially interested in answers from people who said they're unsure / confused
(as usual please no arguing or telling other people they're wrong, I'm just curious about people's different impressions)

2024-06-18 16:45:15

another networking poll: how confident do you feel that you understand how UDP works?

2024-06-18 16:42:00

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thank you so much!

2024-06-18 16:33:53

poll: do you have a lot of computer networking numbers memorized? (like port 80, 443, 53, 192.168.*, 10.*, 172…*, etc)

2024-06-13 18:40:00

thinking of writing a git zine bonus page about how to use `git add -p`
but I realized that I don’t have a great way to solve my main problem with `git add -p`, which is that sometimes I have 2 adjacent lines and I want to stage one of them but not the other one
the solutions I know are
a) say ‘n', edit the file to undo one of the changes, and then run `git add -p` again
b) say ‘e’ and edit the patch manually (which I'm a little afraid of honestly)
(also I would welcome other tips!)
https://cdn.masto.host/socialjvnsca/media_attachments/files/112/610/770/629/350/260/original/74bb0de789a1d430.png

2024-06-13 17:30:54

git worktree
(this is #bonuscomic #3 for "How Git Works" https://wizardzines.com/zines/git, covering some topics that I didn't talk about in the zine)
Also I don't use worktrees much, so please reply with gotchas/tips about worktrees if you use them more!
https://cdn.masto.host/socialjvnsca/media_attachments/files/112/610/498/918/846/063/original/6a10035dbc760c5e.png

2024-06-10 13:21:59

now that the Git zine is done, I've been thinking about ways to celebrate! Thinking of writing a few quick "bonus" pages about topics that we couldn't fit in the zine, maybe about more obscure git features
what would you be interested in? (git bisect? git worktree? something else?) https://wizardzines.com/zines/git/
https://cdn.masto.host/socialjvnsca/media_attachments/files/112/592/533/314/275/582/original/289e2e86cd638e51.png

2024-06-08 12:49:25

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another thing we’ve been working on is accessibility! “How Git Works” comes with a full text transcript of the zine, plus image descriptions. Not all the zines have this yet (only The Pocket Guide to Debugging and How Git Works), but we’re slowly working on backfilling transcripts for the other zines.
Lee (our amazing Operations Manager) has been working on filling in transcripts for old zines for the last year, planning to have transcripts for all of them one day.
https://wizardzines.com/zines/git/

2024-06-08 12:44:37

here's your periodic reminder that if you're in a country with a weaker currency than the US (India, Brazil, etc), there's a discount to make the zines more affordable. You can see it in action here:
https://wizardzines.com/zines/git/

2024-06-06 17:21:41

if you've ordered a print copy of How Git Works: the original plan was to ship them by the end of July, but we're going to try to get them shipped a little sooner! Hoping to send them to the printer next week🤞
https://wizardzines.com/zines/git/

2024-06-04 13:47:17

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I was going to post “the 1000 free copies of How Git Works for folks who can't afford it have all been claimed, I'll release more when we sell 2000 copies"
But then I went to check this morning and we've already sold 2000 copies of the zine??? So I guess we're giving away another 1000 copies now. https://wizardzines.com/zines/git/
more details in this post: https://social.jvns.ca/@b0rk/112552672907642693

2024-06-03 18:12:40

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writing blog posts about git was fun but I am very excited to go back to writing blog posts that are not about git now

2024-06-03 18:03:55

new zine: how git works https://jvns.ca/blog/2024/04/25/new-zine--how-git-works-/

2024-06-03 12:32:58

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I have a rule in general for zine launches that for every 1 zine we sell, we give away approximately 1 zine to someone who would have trouble affording it otherwise with code BUYONEGIVEONE
been doing this since 2018 and we've given away at least 34,000 zines. (I don't have the exact number right now)

2024-06-03 12:24:54

I know $12 USD is a lot of money for some people, so to celebrate 1000+ sales (!!!), I'm giving away 1000 PDF copies of How Git Works (honour system: only if $12 is a lot of money for you!)
Here's the link, enter code BUYONEGIVEONE at checkout to get a free copy https://wizardzines.com/zines/git/
(it'll ask you for a billing address but you can enter a fake address if you'd prefer)

2024-05-31 19:58:19

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uh wow I just got back from the gym and now “How Git Works" has sold more on its first day than any other zine and it's still only been out for 6 hours?? https://wizardzines.com/zines/git/

2024-05-31 17:08:36

so far "How Git Works" has sold more on its first day than any other zine except "The Pocket Guide to Debugging" and it's only been 3 hours https://wizardzines.com/zines/git/
appreciate you all, hope the zine helps with your git woes ❤

2024-05-31 16:59:46

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i finally looked it up (https://help.shopify.com/en/manual/markets/pricing/exchange-rates ) and it looks like the rules are
$16 USD
-> 21.83 CAD
-> 22.27 CAD (after 2% shopify currency conversion fee)
-> 23 CAD (after shopify rounds the price up for some reason)
I just found the setting to turn off the rounding step, which hopefully makes things clearer? Curious to know what you think.

2024-05-31 16:44:14

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yeah it's because it's $16 USD, and because Shopify does something really weird around currency conversion that I honestly can't totally explain. I'll put it on my list of things to try to make clearer

2024-05-31 16:29:24

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to answer a couple of questions about the difference between “pdf version” and the "print + pdf version" of "How Git Works”:
- the PDF version is a PDF, which you can read on your computer or print using your home printer.
- the Print + PDF version gives you the PDF, plus a physical copy of the zine shipped to your house
None of the print copies have actually been printed yet, so those are a preorder: they’ll ship by late July.

2024-05-31 14:15:51

WE DID IT. My new zine “How Git Works" is out now!
You can get it here for $12: https://wizardzines.com/zines/git
https://cdn.masto.host/socialjvnsca/media_attachments/files/112/536/121/986/558/100/original/af702d90e1b1f96c.png

2024-05-29 14:33:36

the git zine is coming out on ★ ★ ★ Friday ★ ★ ★! Here's its about page
https://cdn.masto.host/socialjvnsca/media_attachments/files/112/524/867/141/240/318/original/97a24c8b32098f07.png

2024-05-27 13:43:06

love this post “Instead of "auth", we should say "permissions" and "login"" by @npub1xch…qvnz.
it's a great explanation of how using less jargon-y language can be more clear. Also I've been really enjoying her blog generally.
https://ntietz.com/blog/lets-say-instead-of-auth/

2024-05-24 17:26:56

finally ready to announce that my git zine, “How Git Works", is coming out in ONE WEEK! on May 31!
it also comes with this (free!) cheat sheet which you can download and print out here: https://wizardzines.com/git-cheat-sheet.pdf
https://cdn.masto.host/socialjvnsca/media_attachments/files/112/497/237/143/197/657/original/3b62f3b9ef44a896.png

2024-05-20 00:51:13

the submission deadline for the last-ever @npub1nzv…d8m0 is next week! (May 29) https://bangbangcon.com/give-a-talk.html
it's a celebration of the joy, excitement, and surprise of computing! Talks are 10 minutes! !!Con can pay for your travel! The only rule is that your talk has to have an exclamation mark in the title!

2024-04-26 17:02:31

some folks have been asking what the difference between this git zine I've been writing and "Oh Shit, Git!" (which we published in 2018) is.
The main difference is that Oh Shit, Git! is about how to get out of git messes. The new zine explains why those messes happen in the first place. I think they're both very important.
Also, I didn't come up with Oh Shit, Git! Katie Sylor-Miller made https://ohshitgit.com, I was a huge fan, and we made it a zine together.
https://wizardzines.com/zines/oh-shit-git/

2024-04-05 20:19:33

been thinking about how a lot of things that I thought were always true in git have exceptions, like:
* git's reflogs are append-only, they just get pruned after 90 days (true, except for the stash)
* you can use the diffs from `git show` to reconstruct the contents of a commit (true, except for the diffs it gives you for merge commits)
are there other things that you thought were "always true" in git that turned out to have exceptions that surprised you?

2024-03-29 11:50:32

what's your favourite way to simplify your life with git? mostly interested in slightly unusual tricks to reduce the number of git features you're using, like:
- never using the stash, just creating temporary branches instead
- deleting your `main` branch so that you can never accidentally commit to it

2024-03-28 12:33:21

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another poll: if you use `git stash`, have you ever lost work because of it?
(you can pick more than one)

2024-03-28 12:15:37

poll: if you use `git stash`, do you use `git stash pop` or `git stash apply` to retrieve your code from the stash?

2024-03-25 15:05:31

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also i should say that using a mac has been hard for me, after using linux for 20 years there are a lot of things from Linux that I really miss (like package management, strace & friends, native container support).
I really understood how my linux system worked and I miss that.
it makes a lot of other things harder and I still haven’t found solutions i’m happy with for many of them. The tradeoff is worth it for now though
(again, not looking for advice.)

2024-03-25 13:57:29

started using a Mac as my personal machine recently after exclusively using linux for 20 years and one of the most surprising things has been that the options for creative software (making vector graphics, fonts, etc) on Mac really are much better in many cases
feels like one of those things that everyone knows but I never really internalized
(do not lecture me about the options available on Linux, I promise I know)

2024-03-21 18:34:42

poll: in git, do you think of "detached HEAD state" and "not having any branch checked out" as being the same thing?