#Java 20 features

[dreamdolldeveloper]

back to basics

mostly free resources to help you learn the basics that i've gathered for myself so far that i think are cool

everyday

gcfglobal - about the internet, online safety and for kids, life skills like applying for jobs, career planning, resume writing, online learning, today's skills like 3d printing, photoshop, smartphone basics, microsoft office apps, and mac friendly. they have core skills like reading, math, science, language learning - some topics are sparse so hopefully they keep adding things on. great site to start off on learning.

handsonbanking - learn about finances. after highschool, credit, banking, investing, money management, debt, goal setting, loans, cars, small businesses, military, insurance, retirement, etc.

bbc - learning for all ages. primary to adult. arts, history, science, math, reading, english, french, all the way to functional and vocational skills for adults as well, great site!

education.ket - workplace essential skills

general education

mathsgenie - GCSE revision, grade 1-9, math stages 1-14, provides more resources! completely free.

khan academy - pre-k to college, life skills, test prep (sats, mcat, etc), get ready courses, AP, partner courses like NASA, etc. so much more!

aleks - k-12 + higher ed learning program. adapts to each student.

biology4kids - learn biology

cosmos4kids - learn astronomy basics

chem4kids - learn chemistry

physics4kids - learn physics

numbernut - math basics (arithmetic, fractions and decimals, roots and exponents, prealgebra)

education.ket - primary to adult. includes highschool equivalent test prep, the core skills. they have a free resource library and they sell workbooks. they have one on work-life essentials (high demand career sectors + soft skills)

youtube channels

the organic chemistry tutor

khanacademy

crashcourse

tabletclassmath

2minmaths

kevinmathscience

professor leonard

greenemath

mathantics

3blue1brown

literacy

readworks - reading comprehension, build background knowledge, grow your vocabulary, strengthen strategic reading

chompchomp - grammar knowledge

tutors

not the "free resource" part of this post but sometimes we forget we can be tutored especially as an adult. just because we don't have formal education does not mean we can't get 1:1 teaching! please do you research and don't be afraid to try out different tutors. and remember you're not dumb just because someone's teaching style doesn't match up with your learning style.

cambridge coaching - medical school, mba and business, law school, graduate, college academics, high school and college process, middle school and high school admissions

preply - language tutoring. affordable!

revolutionprep - math, science, english, history, computer science (ap, html/css, java, python c++), foreign languages (german, korean, french, italian, spanish, japanese, chinese, esl)

varsity tutors - k-5 subjects, ap, test prep, languages, math, science & engineering, coding, homeschool, college essays, essay editing, etc

chegg - biology, business, engineering/computer science, math, homework help, textbook support, rent and buying books

learn to be - k-12 subjects

for languages

lingq - app. created by steve kaufmann, a polygot (fluent in 20+ languages) an amazing language learning platform that compiles content in 20+ languages like podcasts, graded readers, story times, vlogs, radio, books, the feature to put in your own books! immersion, comprehensible input.

flexiclasses - option to study abroad, resources to learn, mandarin, cantonese, japanese, vietnamese, korean, italian, russian, taiwanese hokkien, shanghainese.

fluentin3months - bootcamp, consultation available, languages: spanish, french, korean, german, chinese, japanese, russian, italian.

fluenz - spanish immersion both online and in person - intensive.

pimsleur - not tutoring** online learning using apps and their method. up to 50 languages, free trial available.

incase time has passed since i last posted this, check on the original post (not the reblogs) to see if i updated link or added new resources. i think i want to add laguage resources at some point too but until then, happy learning!!

[the-monkey-ruler]

Minecraft (2009)

Date: May 17, 2009 Platform: Mac / Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 / Xbox 360 Games Store / PlayStation Network (PS3) / PC / iPhone / iPad / Android / Windows Phone / PlayStation Vita / Wii U / Browser / PlayStation Network (Vita) / Xbox One / PlayStation 4 / Linux / Amazon Fire TV / New Nintendo 3DS / Nintendo Switch / Xbox Series X|S Developer: Mojang AB / 4J Studios / Other Ocean Interactive / Digital Eclipse Software, Inc. Publisher: Mojang AB / Xbox Game Studios / Sony Interactive Entertainment America / Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe Genre: Action-Adventure Theme: Fantasy Franchises: Minecraft Also known as: Minecraft Xbox One Edition / Minecraft Xbox 360 Edition / Minecraft: PlayStation 4 Edition Type: Crossover

Summary:

Minecraft is an open world, first-person, survival sandbox game, developed and published by Mojang. It was originally released in a pre-alpha state via the TIGSource forums on May 17, 2009, and was later hosted online for supported browsers before receiving a standalone release for PC, Mac, and Linux on June 30, 2010. The game would officially exit its Beta version on November 18, 2011, although major updates continue to be released. Since August 2011, a number of ports of the game have released for consoles and mobile devices.

Presented with a unique low-resolution "voxel" aesthetic (where everything is shaped using cubes), the game allows players to interact with a variety of different "blocks" in a procedurally-generated world. Along with both resource mining/gathering and item crafting (hence the game name), the game features exploration (with multiple biomes and locations), combat, and construction. In addition to the standard "Survival" mode, the game features a "Creative" mode that allows players to design environments with an unlimited amount of blocks at their disposal and no survival elements. The game supports online multiplayer and later supported numerous content packs (including new world/block textures and player skins, many of which are cross-promotions with other games and franchises).

Originally created by indie developer Markus "Notch" Persson (whose roles were later taken over by fellow indie developer Jens "Jeb" Bergensten), Minecraft was ported to numerous smartphones (originally known as Minecraft: Pocket Edition) and consoles (originally known as Minecraft: Console Edition, with the "Console" in the name being replaced by the console's name). On September 20, 2017, the game received a major "Better Together" update that merges the smartphone version with some console versions (including Windows 10, Xbox One, and later Nintendo Switch) together for a single multi-platform version (known as Minecraft: Bedrock Edition, with the original computer versions renamed to Minecraft: Java Edition) with all features accessible (including cross-platform multiplayer). Alternate editions include a multi-platform version for use in classroom settings (Minecraft: Education Edition), a cut-down version for small RaspberryPi microcomputers (Minecraft: Pi Edition), and a multi-platform version for use in China (Minecraft China).

The game has received a number of spin-offs, including the 2015 adventure game Minecraft: Story Mode (and its 2017 sequel), the 2020 dungeon crawler Minecraft: Dungeons, and the augmented-reality mobile game Minecraft Earth. As well, Minecraft's procedurally-generated sandbox elements would inspire many other games, in both 2D (such as Terraria and Starbound) and 3D (such as Dragon Quest Builders and LEGO Worlds).

Source: https://www.giantbomb.com/minecraft/3030-30475/

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOphBjAAxTo

[renearatman]

my hot take is that the minecraft community started going downhill when people decided the best way to play the game is to have it basically play itself. i dont want 5 automatic diamond farms and 30 beacons i want to make a warship that doesn't actually move and a space station in the end and a little cafe thats ran by a fletcher villager for some reason. hell yeah give me a weird little guy ill put him in my colusseum of which me and my friends are the only spectators

now the fans get mad if mojang doesn't add 3 new biomes and a mob that revolutionizes redstone and 5 new bosses and a new dimension and an item that changes the entire pvp meta and a mob that goes and hunts down every resource that you cant infinitely farm without touching your keyboard for you every single update. you don't want minecraft dipshit you want cookie clicker

its not like this game is subscription based or anything either you buy it once for 20 dollars and then you have it for as long as you have access to your email address. this isnt like pokemon where they're selling what might as well be ps2 titles at this point for 60 dollars every year that get rid of features the previous games had. "but the marketplace" modrinth is right there "but realms" aternos is right there. theyre not doing anything to shut down either of these services. any other microsoft property would (metaphorically) kill your firstborn in front of you right then and there if you dared to host your own servers. why does java even have realms again no seriously what does it even do

anyway rant over if youre getting genuinely upset over trees in the funny block game please do literally anything else this isnt healthy

[southeastasianists]

Since October 20, 2024, Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country and Southeast Asia’s largest economy, has had a new president and a vice president: Prabowo Subianto (b. 1951, locally known as Prabowo) and Gibran Rakabuming Raka (b. 1987, locally known as Gibran). Having a strong military background with various high-rank posts in the Special Forces (Kopassus) and the Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) during the reign of the late despotic ruler Suharto (Prabowo’s former father-in-law), Prabowo was a former Minister of Defense under President Joko Widodo (popularly known as Jokowi) who served as the seventh president of Indonesia from 2014 to 2024. Prabowo is also the General Chairman of the Gerindra Party, a nationalist, right-wing populist political party. Founded by Prabowo and his allies in 2008, Gerindra is currently the third largest party in the parliament (DPR) after PDI-P and Partai Golkar. Furthermore, Gibran was the ex-mayor of Surakarta in Central Java and Jokowi’s eldest child.

The Composition of Prabowo’s Cabinet

After the General Elections Commission (KPU) officially announced and assigned Prabowo as the eighth president of Indonesia, he appointed 136 officials consisting of 48 ministers, 56 deputy ministers, 5 heads of government agencies or ministerial-level officials, and 27 figures for various professions such as special advisors to the president, special delegates to the president, and chairs of national agencies. 1 With this number to date, Prabowo’s cabinet is perhaps the largest-ever cabinet in the country’s modern political history. Prabowo named his “fat” cabinet the “Red and White Cabinet,” symbolizing the colors of the Indonesian flag. Prabowo argued that the composition of large members in his cabinet aimed to create a strong government that would unite and reflect Indonesia’s diverse societies and political interests. 2

Prabowo’s cabinet features various professions including politicians, bureaucrats, (ex-) military or police personnel, business people, activists, academics, and practitioners. Moreover, his cabinet represents a mixture of figures including Prabowo’s stalwarts, the coalition of seven political parties who supported his candidacy during February’s presidential election, social and religious organizations (e.g., Nahdlatul Ulama, Muhammadiyah, HMI, PMII, among others), some of his rivals during the election (e.g., Muhaimin Iskandar, the General Chairman of the National Awakening Party, who became the running mate of Anies Baswedan), and Jokowi’s loyalists, particularly his former ministers.

Indeed, a substantial number of Jokowi’s key ministers have been reappointed as Prabowo’s ministers and have strategic and crucial positions in the ministry (e.g., Sri Mulyani, Tito Karnavian, Erick Thohir, Bahlil Lahadia, Pratikno, Airlangga Hartarto, Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita, among others), a sign of Jokowi’s strong influence on Prabowo. The accommodation of “Jokowi’s men” in Prabowo’s cabinet can be seen as a political compensation to Jokowi for his tacit backing and endorsement of Prabowo during the election.                

Prabowo’s Weaknesses and Strengths

People might wonder whether Indonesia’s future will be better or worse under Prabowo. Here are some of Prabowo’s weaknesses and strengths to assess his capacity and qualifications.

Pessimists and critics will query Prabowo’s credentials to run this vast archipelagic country with more than 280 million population due to his negative reputation and bitter track records in the past. These accounts include some well-known issues related to accusations of human rights abuse. For example, Prabowo was alleged of capturing and abducting activists (including students) and orchestrating the 1998 violent riots and mass rapes targeting Chinese women and properties at the end of Suharto’s rule, accusations he repeatedly denied. Prabowo was also involved in a counter-insurgency operation in East Timor that claimed hundreds of lives, including the carnage of a dozen people (women and children included) in 1983. 3 Furthermore, Prabowo made alliances with intolerant factions and radical Islamists during the 2019 presidential election, the most chaotic and brutal-ever presidential election and campaign in Indonesia’s post-New Order history. Equally important, Prabowo’s party was deemed responsible for violent, dirty, and racist campaigns and mass disturbances during Jakarta’s 2017 gubernatorial election, the country’s worst-ever gubernatorial election.  

Interestingly, notwithstanding the accusations of his unpleasant experiences in the past decades, Prabowo currently receives popular and extensive support from the Indonesian populace that can be used as a “social capital” to back his rule, policies, programs, and agenda. Backed by Jokowi, Prabowo became president after winning the election, receiving nearly 100 million (around 96.214.691) voters, or 58.59 percent of the ballot. Prabowo-Gibran’s rivals received 24.95 percent (for Anies Baswedan-Muhaimin Iskandar) and 16.47 percent (for Ganjar Pranowo-Mahfud MD). 4 Remarkably, more than half of voters in 35 provinces cast their ballot for Prabowo-Gibran. This means that only in 3 provinces Prabowo-Gibran received support from less than 50 percent of voters.

What made Prabowo receive overwhelming support today, although he previously failed several times, either as the candidate for president or vice president? At this point, Jokowi’s backing was a crucial factor for Prabowo’s victory. Without Jokowi’s (tacit) support, it was almost impossible for Prabowo to win the contest of the 2024 presidential election. In fact, in the past two presidential elections in 2014 and 2019 in which Prabowo also ran the candidacy, he was bitterly defeated by Jokowi, even though a coalition of numerous political parties had supported Prabowo. Jokowi’s support means that Prabowo will receive support from Jokowi’s enthusiastic followers and loyalists who are still widespread in the country, both ordinary people and elite members of society. Indeed, Jokowi so far remains a popular leader, albeit some elements and factions in society have criticized his rule in recent years. Critics, for instance, said that, despite making the country strong in economic growth and massive infrastructure development beyond Java, Jokowi left huge financial debts, roused old-time patronage and dynastic politics, damaged democracy and democratization processes, and diminished the integrity of courts and other state institutions. 5  

Furthermore, survey findings from multiple noted institutions such as Kompas, the country’s respected national media, indicate significant public support toward Prabowo. For example, a survey conducted in September 2024 revealed that 84.1 percent of respondents of all categories (male and female; youth and adult; low, middle, and high class; educated and uneducated) see positively toward Prabowo’s future role as a “captain” of the “Indonesian ship.” Seven out of ten respondents also view Gibran positively. Around 84.7 percent of respondents were confident that Prabowo could defend and protect the country from home and foreign disturbers, and 80.2 percent believed that Probowo could increase Indonesian dignity and prestige in the international society. Additionally, 76.4 percent of respondents believed Prabowo could maintain the country’s political stability and national security. Over 70 percent of respondents are also convinced that Prabowo could overcome some major issues such as legal-related matters (74.5 percent), social welfare (73.1 percent), and economic growth (72.6 percent). 6

Why does Prabowo currently receive a positive image even though he has been dogged by charges of human rights abuses and violent riots for decades?

Here are some possible explanations. First, the accusation was perhaps only popular among elite members of society (politicians, activists, or academics), not the grassroots. Second, Indonesians generally find it easy to change their attitudes and perceptions, forget past experiences, and forgive someone who has a dark experience in the past but shows a positive development. Prabowo, on various occasions, has shown this changing behavior in recent years. Third, Prabowo’s calmness, elegance, and respect for his rivals during the presidential debates and campaigns in the 2024 election also contributed to this positive image. Fourth, Prabowo’s promises during the election might attract some segments of society, especially the grassroots (e.g., free education, free lunch, and increased salary for teachers and civil servants, etc.). Fifth, “the Jokowi effect” is undoubtedly significant in elevating Prabowo’s reputation.   

Some Challenges for Prabowo’s Rule: Concluding Remarks

Although many Indonesians have high hopes for Prabowo-Gibran’s administration for the nation’s future, some fundamental issues can hamper their expectations and Prabowo’s confidence and promises. Here are some problems facing the country: the poverty rate is still high (9.03 percent in 2024), the unemployment rate in 2024 is 5.2 percent which is the highest in Southeast Asia, the adult illiteracy rate is 3.47 percent (in 2023), and the foreign debt is also high (around $403.9 billion in the first quarter of 2024). Moreover, corruption is still a common, ubiquitous practice in the country which is difficult to eradicate. Transparency International has scored Indonesia “34” (out of 100), meaning that the country’s rank is 115 out of 180 countries.

Equally important, the country has long faced intolerance, religious militancy, and anti-pluralist movements targeting specifically religious minority groups, including Muslim minorities (Shiites, Ahmadis, etc.). Religious freedom, including the right to build religious worship places, particularly for non-Muslims, still becomes a major issue in the country. The resurgence of multiple conservative, radical, and Islamist groups can disturb national security, civic peace, and social harmony. Additionally, separatist movements, particularly in Papua, are still a major issue that the current government needs to pay attention to.  

Will Indonesia’s future be better and cleaner under Prabowo? Well, it is too early to evaluate and judge the success or unsuccess of Prabowo’s reign. The “fat” cabinet perhaps can make Prabowo’s administration stronger (as Prabowo said). But, the “bloated cabinet” can be ineffective and insufficient. It also can complicate bureaucracy and lengthen the policy-making process. The adding of many ministries and departments can also be costly in the sense of both energy and money spent. What is the point of appointing many officials if the appointment is only to incorporate and satisfy his loyalists and make his fans happy? Yet, time will answer these doubts.  

Sumanto Al Qurtuby Director of Nusantara Institute and Research Scholar at Kyoto University’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies. He has authored and edited numerous books on Indonesia and the Muslim world, including Terrorism and Counter-terrorism in Saudi Arabia and Indonesia (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022).  

Banner photo: Jakarta, Indonesia. October 05, 2024. President-elect of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto at the 79th Anniversary of the TNI at Monas, Jakarta. Photo: Donny Hery, Shutterstock

Notes:

Revo M, “Wow! Ada 136 Pejabat yang Dilantik Prabowo, Terbanyak dalam Sejarah?” CNBC Indonesia, 22 October 2014. https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/research/20241022120851-128-582009/wow-ada-136-pejabat-yang-dilantik-prabowo-terbanyak-dalam-sejarah (accessed October 23, 2024). ↩

Niniek Karmini, “New President Prabowo Subianto Announces Indonesia’s Largest-ever Cabinet, with 109 Members.” Associated Press, October 21, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-new-cabinet-prabowo-subianto-6b1f915d584c823aa16dbc38374c739c (Accessed October 22, 2024). ↩

Gerry van Klinken, “Prabowo and Human Rights.” Inside Indonesia, April 27, 2014. https://www.insideindonesia.org/editions/elections-2014/prabowo-and-human-rights (Accessed October 22, 2024). ↩

Ajid Fuad Muzaki, “KPU Resmi Tetapkan Prabowo-Gibran Sebagai Pemenang Pilpres 2024” [General Elections Commission of Indonesia Officially Assigned Prabowo-Gibran as the Winners of the 2024 Presidential Election]. Rumah Pemilu, April 24, 2024. https://rumahpemilu.org/kpu-resmi-tetapkan-prabowo-gibran-sebagai-pemenang-pilpres-2024/ (accessed October 21, 2024). ↩

Kate Lamb and Ananda Teresia, “A Decade of Joko Widodo: Popular Indonesian Leader Leaves Rocky Legacy.” The Japan Times, October 14, 2024. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10/14/asia-pacific/politics/jokowi-indonesia-legacy-critics/ (Accessed October 22, 2024). ↩

For a more detailed finding of the survey, see M Toto Suryaningtyas, “Survei ‘Kompas’: Modal Sosial Pemerintahan Baru Prabowo-Gibran” [Kompas Survey: A Social Capital for the New Government of Prabowo-Gibran]. Kompas, October 19, 2024. https://www.kompas.id/baca/riset/2024/10/19/survei-kompas-modal-sosial-pemerintahan-baru-prabowo-gibran?open_from=Section_Pemilu_2024 (accessed October 21, 2024); Vincentius Gitiyarko, “Survei ‘Kompas’ Pemerintahan Baru Prabowo Gibran: Kuat di Pertahanan, Tantangan di Kesejahteraan.” Kompas, October 20, 2024. https://www.kompas.id/baca/riset/2024/10/19/survei-kompas-terhadap-pemerintahan-prabowo-gibran-kuat-di-pertahanan-tantangan-di-kesejahteraan?open_from=Section_Pemilu_2024 (Accessed October 21, 2024) ↩

[magical-forest-world]

Даваллия

Кустарник даваллия (Davallia) — это многолетник, который относится к папоротниковым растениям. Он отличается быстрым ростом и является представителем семейства Даваллиевых. В народе такое растение еще именуют «оленьей ногой», либо «заячьей лапкой». В природе его можно повстречать в тропических широтах Азии и Австралии, а еще на территории КНР, Японии, острова Явы и Канарских островов. Благодаря эффектному и довольно необычному внешнему виду даваллии ее считают экзотическим растением.

Родом кустарник из тропической части Азии, а также с острова Фиджи. Он является многолетним эпифитным папоротником и считается частью семейства Даваллиевые, которое получило свое название в честь швейцарского ботаника Э. Давалля. Характерной особенностью данного растения являются его эффектные серебристые или коричневые волосистые корневища. Они способны «перелазить» через край горшка, в котором растет куст, что непременно привлекает к себе внимание. Именно благодаря этому специалисты назвали растение «заячьей лапкой».

Куст в высоту может достигать 10–20 сантиметров. Это быстрорастущее растение, поэтому все фазы развития у не��о ускоренные. Даваллия не формирует цветков, как и все остальные папоротники. Длина мелкоперистых равномерно рассеченных листовых пластин около 15 сантиметров. Она обладает ярко-зеленым окрасом. Форма кожистого вайя треугольная.

Это многолетнее декоративно-лиственное растение в течение 1 сезона увеличивается в росте вдвое. Оно не требовательно к уходу.

The Davallia shrub is a perennial that belongs to the fern plants. It is characterized by rapid growth and is a representative of the Davallium family. Popularly, such a plant is also called "deer's foot" or "hare's foot". In nature, it can be found in the tropical latitudes of Asia and Australia, as well as in China, Japan, Java and the Canary Islands. Due to the spectacular and rather unusual appearance of the dahlia, it is considered an exotic plant.

The shrub is native to the tropical part of Asia, as well as from the island of Fiji. It is a perennial epiphytic fern and is considered part of the Davalliaceae family, which was named after the Swiss botanist E. Davall. A characteristic feature of this plant is its spectacular silvery or brown hairy rhizomes. They are able to "climb" over the edge of the pot in which the bush grows, which certainly attracts attention. It is thanks to this that experts called the plant "hare's foot".

The bush can reach a height of 10-20 centimeters. This is a fast-growing plant, so all phases of its development are accelerated. Davallia does not form flowers, like all other ferns. The length of the finely feathered evenly dissected leaf plates is about 15 centimeters. It has a bright green color. The shape of the leathery vaya is triangular.

This is a perennial ornamental deciduous plant that doubles in growth during 1 season. It is not demanding to care for.

[cornbread-but-minecraft]

v1.4.0 of Cornbread's Music Fixer is now finally out for Minecraft Bedrock Edition!! This version adds support for the Minecraft Tricky Trials Update and a subpack for vanilla Java Edition parity (as opposed to the normal features of the pack, which are in the default subpack). The Java Edition releases of the pack are not yet updated, but they will be eventually. Links:

Bedrock Style

Java Style

Changelog:

Bedrock Style

Bug Fixes

The following biomes had the names of their music sound events changed from "music.game.biome_name" to "music.overworld.biome_name" and had to have their volumes fixed again: Lush Caves, Dripstone Caves, Grove, Jagged Peaks, Snowy Slopes, Stony Peaks, and Deep Dark. Their tracklists have also been updated / reverted to those of vanilla. The "music.game.biome_name" variants still exist for command reasons but will not be updated.

General Changes

Updated / reverted generic game tracklist (music.game) to that of vanilla Java Edition, adding komorebi and yakusoku at 20% volume; and One More Day, Floating Dream, Left to Bloom, Comforting Memories, Featherfall, Puzzlebox, and Watcher at 10% volume. Tracklist will likely be tweaked in a future update.

Updated Menu Music to match vanilla; removing A Familiar Room, Bromeliad, Crescent Dunes, and Echo in the Wind; and adding Deeper, Eld Unknown, Endless, Featherfall, Puzzlebox, and Watcher at 15% volume; and komorebi, pokopoko, and yakusoku at 30% volume. Tracklist will likely be tweaked in a future update.

Increased the chances of menu music playing, giving the menu an almost 50-50 chance of playing either a menu track or a Tricky Trials track, slightly in Tricky Trials' favor.

Updated Cherry Grove tracklist, adding Featherfall at 10% volume and with a weight of 3. Weights may be tweaked in a future update.

Updated / reverted Lush Caves tracklist to that of vanilla Java Edition, adding Echo in the Wind at 10% volume with a weight of 2. Tracklist will likely be tweaked in a future update.

Updated Badlands tracklist, adding Featherfall at 10% volume.

Lowered the volumes of Deeper, Endless, and Eld Unknown from 40% (vanilla) to 10% in all biomes in which they play. Tracklists will likely be tweaked in a future update.

Lowered the volume of pokopoko from 80% (vanilla) to 20% in all biomes in which it plays.

All Forest and Jungle variants now play a custom sound event as music, cb_music.game_volume_alpha, containing only the twelve Volume Alpha tracks that play ambiently, effectively reverting them to how they were before the Caves and Cliffs update. Taigas do not have this luxury due to limitations in the resource pack system.

Swamps have had their tracklists reverted to that of vanilla, now playing swamp music and only swamp music; for parity with the Java Edition releases of the pack, consistency with Deserts and Badlands, and due to the addition of the Bogged. I apologize to anyone who lives next to a small swamp (including myself).

Swamps have had their timings reverted to that of vanilla, now playing music every 1 to 2 minutes, for consistency with Mangrove Swamps. Timings may be tweaked in a future update.

Replaced subpacks again. They are now Default (the pack as described on Planet Minecraft), Remove Swamp Music From Lush Caves (same as Default except for the self explanatory thing), and Volume and Missing Music Fixes Only (fixes volume and brings music selection to parity with vanilla Java Edition and nothing else).

Technical Changes

Reverted tracklists of music.game_and_wild_equal_chance and music.game_and_wild_favor_game to how they are in vanilla, removing A Familiar Room; and adding One More Day, Floating Dream, Left to Bloom, and Comforting Memories at 10% volume and with the appropriate weights.

Updated music.overworld.flower_forest, adding Featherfall at 10% volume and with a weight of 2.

Reverted / updated music.game.lush_caves to how music.overworld.lush_caves was in vanilla Java Edition 1.20.6; adding Aerie, Firebugs, Labyrinthine, and Echo in the Wind at 10% volume.

music.cbmf.mega_taiga can now be played regardless of subpack. It's technically deprecated, but is sticking around for command reasons.

Added "load_on_low_memory" field to C418's menu music.

"load_on_low_memory" field is now placed underneath the filepath in all cases.

Removed "load_on_low_memory" field from all music that can only (naturally) be heard in game versions 1.18+, since, according to the wiki, the field was deprecated in game version 1.16. If this causes issues, please let me know.

Removed all instances of a weight of 1, since "weight" defaults to 1 if left undefined. If this causes issues, please let me know.

All 'generic' filenames (calm1, piano3, nuance2, etc.) now have an accompanying title comment, instead of only the ones in music.game.

Title comment is now placed inside of its associated object, instead of above it.

Title comment no longer spells "lullaby" as "lullabye".

Shuffled contents of sound_definitions.json around to match the pack's current featureset, adding regions 'unused' and 'deprecated'.

Shuffled contents of music_definitions.json around be easier to read and to group like biomes together.

Default subpack is no longer stored in the main pack due to the needs of the new subpack "Volume and Missing Music Fixes Only".

Added sound event music.overworld.forest due to the needs of the new subpack "Volume and Missing Music Fixes Only". It will only play naturally in this new subpack.

Changed pack UUIDs.

Java Style

Bug Fixes

An Ordinary Day and Floating Dream now play at full volume again in Lush Caves, like they do on Java Edition. The sound event it uses for music was renamed from music.game.lush_caves to music.overworld.lush_caves, so it had to be re-fixed. music.game.lush_caves will remain in the pack for command reasons, but will not be updated.

General Changes

Updated / reverted generic game tracklist (music.game) to that of vanilla Java Edition, adding komorebi and yakusoku at 80% volume; and One More Day, Floating Dream, Left to Bloom, Comforting Memories, Featherfall, Puzzlebox, and Watcher at 40% volume. Tracklist will likely be tweaked in a future update.

Updated Menu Music to match vanilla; removing A Familiar Room, Bromeliad, Crescent Dunes, and Echo in the Wind; and adding Deeper, Eld Unknown, Endless, Featherfall, Puzzlebox, and Watcher at 40% volume; and komorebi, pokopoko, and yakusoku at 80% volume. Tracklist will likely be tweaked in a future update.

Increased the chances of menu music playing, giving the menu an almost 50-50 chance of playing either a menu track or a Tricky Trials track, slightly in Tricky Trials' favor.

Updated / reverted Lush Caves tracklist to that of vanilla Java Edition, adding Echo in the Wind at 40% volume with a weight of 2. Tracklist will likely be tweaked in a future update.

All Forest and Jungle variants now play a custom sound event as music, cb_music.game_volume_alpha, containing only the twelve Volume Alpha tracks that play ambiently, effectively reverting them to how they were before the Caves and Cliffs update. Taigas do not have this luxury due to limitations in the resource pack system.

Swamps have had their tracklists reverted to that of vanilla, now playing swamp music and only swamp music; for parity with the Java Edition releases of the pack, consistency with Deserts and Badlands, and due to the addition of the Bogged. I apologize to anyone who lives next to a small swamp (including myself).

Swamps have had their timings reverted to that of vanilla, now playing music every 1 to 2 minutes, for consistency with Mangrove Swamps. Timings may be tweaked in a future update.

Replaced subpacks again. They are now Default (the pack as described on Planet Minecraft), Remove Swamp Music From Lush Caves (same as Default except for the self explanatory thing), and Volume and Missing Music Fixes Only (fixes volume and brings music selection to parity with vanilla Java Edition and nothing else).

Technical Changes

Reverted tracklists of music.game_and_wild_equal_chance and music.game_and_wild_favor_game to how they are in vanilla, removing A Familiar Room; and adding One More Day, Floating Dream, Left to Bloom, and Comforting Memories at 40% volume and with the appropriate weights.

Reverted / updated music.game.lush_caves to how music.overworld.lush_caves was in vanilla Java Edition 1.20.6; adding Aerie, Firebugs, Labyrinthine, and Echo in the Wind at 40% volume.

music.cbmf.mega_taiga can now be played regardless of subpack. It's technically deprecated, but is sticking around for command reasons.

Added "load_on_low_memory" field to C418's menu music.

"load_on_low_memory" field is now placed underneath the filepath in all cases.

Removed all instances of a weight of 1, since "weight" defaults to 1 if left undefined. If this causes issues, please let me know.

All 'generic' filenames (calm1, piano3, nuance2, etc.) now have an accompanying title comment, instead of only the ones in music.game.

Title comment is now placed inside of its associated object, instead of above it.

Title comment no longer spells "lullaby" as "lullabye".

Shuffled contents of sound_definitions.json around to match the pack's current featureset, adding regions 'unused' and 'deprecated'.

Shuffled contents of music_definitions.json around be easier to read and to group like biomes together.

Default subpack is no longer stored in the main pack due to the needs of the new subpack "Volume and Missing Music Fixes Only".

Added sound event music.overworld.forest due to the needs of the new subpack "Volume and Missing Music Fixes Only". It will only play naturally in this new subpack.

Changed pack UUIDs.

[radar-of-the-stars]

Ranking all portable ways to play Minecraft

Minecraft Java Edition (Steam Deck or other Portable PC): This is basically cheating, but it's super easy to set up on basically any portable PC, It's updated to the latest version, it has betas, it has full mod support, and the controls can be whatever you want thanks to Steam Input

2. Minecraft Nintendo Switch Edition: this is the last version of Minecraft Legacy Console Edition, so it has all of the love and care that that version had, with the bonus of the Super Mario Mash-Up Pack. This version runs silky smooth with about a 10 chunk render distance, and has the easiest multiplayer on the list, assuming you can find other people with a discontinued version of Minecraft. This version of the game lacks a bunch of features because it was not updated past the Update Aquatic

3. Minecraft Playstation Vita Edition: I adore the playstation vita, and this is the other portable version of Minecraft Legacy Console Edition, although there are some limitations that come with being on weaker hardware, like Multiplayer being limited to 4 players, a slightly lower render distance (about 5 chunks), and a smaller world size. The game controls better than the Switch version because the Playstation Vita is more ergonomic than the Switch, but other than that it's basically the same game.

4. Minecraft (Android/IOS): Minecraft on Phones is better than you'd expect, but not much better, it has an 8-20 chunk render distance depending on the speed of your device and how okay you are with frame drops, which speaks to how much less stable this version of Minecraft is compared to the Java and Legacy Console Edtions are. There is mod support, but it's really lacking, and you are updated to the lastest version of the game. However, the touch screens just do not give Minecraft justice, so you would need a bluetooth controller, which have latency on both Android and IOS. Minecraft Bedrock Edition is missing a lot of the love found in the Legacy console versions, which really hurts it in the ranking.

5. Minecraft New Nintendo 3DS Edition: Despite sounding like a legacy console version of Minecraft, it isn't, this one was developed by Other Oceans Interactive, and thus is also missing a lot of the love found on the Legacy Console Editions. this is also the least updated version of Minecraft on this list being stuck in the World of Color Update, it's also the weakest system Minecraft has ever had an official port for, being about as powerful as an Xbox or Wii, and that leads to a lot of technical limitations. Like the 4 chunk render distance and the fact that the game freezes when it autosaves, it also hangs in some worlds when large structures are being loaded. the controls are about as good as you could reasonably expect for a 3DS, and you get used to them very quickly. The UI is strange and in some parts unintuitive. Multiplayer is about as easy as it can be on a handheld because of the 3DS' Download Play feature.

6. Minecraft (Nintendo Switch): This is the version of Minecraft that replaced the Legacy Console Edition, and it's bad, the render distance is 7 chunks and even then the game is quite framey, the touch screen literally does nothing, not even the presses buttons on the main menu. Multiplayer is somewhat easy in terms of split screen, but it makes the performance even worse, and the online features are barely there, (except for the marketplace, that works perfectly). The game is unstable, I've played for about 5 hours and in that time I got 7 crashes to the switch's home screen.

[nividawebsolutions]

20 Best Android Development Practices in 2023

Introduction: 

In today's competitive market, creating high-quality Android applications requires adherence to best development practices.  Android app development agencies in Vadodara (Gujarat, India) like Nivida Web Solutions Pvt. Ltd., play a crucial role in delivering exceptional applications.  This article presents the 20 best Android development practices to follow in 2023, ensuring the success of your app development projects.

1.     Define Clear Objectives:

Begin by defining clear objectives for your Android app development project.  Identify the target audience, the app's purpose, and the specific goals you aim to achieve.  This clarity will guide the development process and result in a more focused and effective application.

 2. Embrace the Material Design Guidelines:

Google's Material Design guidelines provide a comprehensive set of principles and guidelines for designing visually appealing and intuitive Android applications.  Adhering to these guidelines ensures consistency, enhances usability, and delivers an optimal user experience.

 3. Optimize App Performance:

Performance optimization is crucial for user satisfaction.  Focus on optimizing app loading times, minimizing network requests, and implementing efficient caching mechanisms.  Profiling tools like Android Profiler can help identify performance bottlenecks and improve overall app responsiveness.

 4. Follow a Modular Approach:

Adopting a modular approach allows for easier maintenance, scalability, and code reusability.  Breaking down your app into smaller, manageable modules promotes faster development, reduces dependencies, and enhances collaboration among developers.

 5. Implement Responsive UI Designs:

Designing a responsive user interface (UI) ensures that your app adapts seamlessly to various screen sizes and orientations.  Utilize Android’s resources, such as ConstraintLayout, to create dynamic and adaptive UIs that provide a consistent experience across different devices.

 6. Prioritize Security:

Android app security is of paramount importance.  Employ secure coding practices, authenticate user inputs, encrypt sensitive data, and regularly update libraries and dependencies to protect your app against vulnerabilities and potential attacks.

 7. Opt for Kotlin as the Preferred Language:

Kotlin has gained immense popularity among Android developers due to its conciseness, null safety, and enhanced interoperability with existing Java code.  Embrace Kotlin as the primary programming language for your Android app development projects to leverage its modern features and developer-friendly syntax.

 8. Conduct Thorough Testing:

Testing is crucial to ensure the reliability and stability of your Android applications.  Employ a combination of unit testing, integration testing, and automated UI testing using frameworks like Espresso to catch bugs early and deliver a robust app to your users.

 9. Optimize Battery Consumption:

Battery life is a significant concern for Android users.  Optimize your app's battery consumption by minimizing background processes, reducing network requests, and implementing efficient power management techniques.  Android's Battery Optimization APIs can help streamline power usage.

 10. Implement Continuous Integration and Delivery (CI/CD):

Adopting CI/CD practices facilitates frequent code integration, automated testing, and seamless deployment. Tools like Jenkins and Bitrise enable developers to automate build processes, run tests, and deploy app updates efficiently, resulting in faster time-to-market and improved quality.

 11. Leverage Cloud Technologies:

Integrating cloud technologies, such as cloud storage and backend services, can enhance your app's scalability, performance, and reliability.  Services like Firebase offer powerful tools for authentication, database management, push notifications, and analytics.

 12. Ensure Accessibility:

Make your Android app accessible to users with disabilities by adhering to accessibility guidelines.  Provide alternative text for images, support screen readers, and use colour contrast appropriately to ensure inclusivity and a positive user experience for all users.

 13. Optimize App Size:

Large app sizes can deter users from downloading and installing your application.  Optimize your app's size by eliminating unused resources, compressing images, and utilizing Android App Bundles to deliver optimized APKs based on device configurations.

 14. Implement Offline Support:

Provide offline capabilities in your app to ensure users can access essential features and content even when offline.  Implement local caching, synchronize data in the background, and notify users of limited or no connectivity to deliver a seamless user experience.

 15. Implement Analytics and Crash Reporting:

Integrate analytics and crash reporting tools, such as Google Analytics and Firebase Crashlytics, to gain insights into user behaviour, identify areas for improvement, and address crashes promptly. This data-driven approach helps in refining your app's performance and user engagement.

 16. Keep Up with Android OS Updates:

Stay up to date with the latest Android OS updates, new APIs, and platform features.  Regularly update your app to leverage new functionalities, enhance performance, and ensure compatibility with newer devices.

 17. Provide Localized Versions:

Cater to a global audience by providing localized versions of your app.  Translate your app's content, user interface, and notifications into different languages to expand your user base and increase user engagement.

 18. Ensure App Store Optimization (ASO):

Optimize your app's visibility and discoverability in the Google Play Store by utilizing appropriate keywords, engaging app descriptions, compelling screenshots, and positive user reviews.  ASO techniques can significantly impact your app's download and conversion rates.

 19. Follow Privacy Regulations and Guidelines:

Adhere to privacy regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA, and ensure transparent data handling practices within your app. Obtain user consent for data collection, storage, and usage, and provide clear privacy policies to establish trust with your users.

 20. Regularly Update and Maintain Your App:

Continuously monitor user feedback, track app performance metrics, and release regular updates to address bugs, introduce new features, and enhance user experience.  Regular maintenance ensures that your app remains relevant, competitive, and secure.

 Conclusion:

 Adopting these 20 best Android development practices in 2023 will help Android app development companies in India, create exceptional applications.  By focusing on objectives, embracing Material Design, optimizing performance, and following modern development approaches, your Android apps will stand out in the market, delight users, and achieve long-term success.  Also by partnering with an Android App Development Company in India (Gujarat, Vadodara) you can leverage their expertise.

[ultravanillaserver]

UltraVanilla: 1.20 Minecraft SMP

UltraVanilla is a small-scale community Minecraft server with minimal enhancements to the core game, founded in January 2019 with the same world it has today (no resets!). 30 player slots is a sweet-spot for a server that is not crowded, promoting a tight-knit community feel. Community projects and events are suggested and discussed in the discord, everyone is welcome to contribute!

Address: play.ultravanilla.world

Version: 1.20.1 Java

Discord: https://discord.gg/t2X4Xre

What are we? TL;DR:

Extremely friendly community 🌈

Old-school Minecraft server vibes ⛏️

Minimal enhancements to the core game that are available for everyone, no pay-to-win bullshit!

5 to 20 people online most of the time

Features:

Dynmap

Discord Server with cool channels like #projects-and-events, #market-and-trade, #compsci-tech, #art, #sports, #music, #gaming, and more

No map resets ever, we have 1.13 to 1.20 chunks. Perfect server to start a long-term town!

/sethome, /home, /home bed, /outpost /spawn, /oldspawn for basic fast travel

Brewery

A variety of vanilla-friendly events and competitions (organize your own, too!)

Most players participate in a diamond-based economy, similar to Hermitcraft

Time-based ranks, plus custom ranks for those who do legendary things

Active staff to help with just about anything (under the umbrella of maintaining survival mode purism). All staff are mature adults

Technical:

keepInventory = true (use /keepinv off if you don't want keepInventory)

Tool-friendly, litematica easy place works

We also have a tool-friendly creative server, with huge 641x641 plots (must join the SMP for at least 10 days to access it)

Farms are allowed

Primed TNT entity duping is allowed as long as you're not using it to mine diamonds or ancient debris

Automatic 3 hour archival off-site backup, and a rollback tool for griefing and theft

A commitment to stability and security. All our staff have two-factor authentication enabled, and we patch crashes and vulnerabilities quickly. If the server glitches out, we will repair your farms

Rules:

No griefing

No stealing

No PVP without consent

No spam

No hacks or exploits (see specifics)

No graphic/gross NSFW

No AFK alt accounts

Be respectful and be respectable (swearing yes, fighting words no, hate speech absolutely no)

Having in-game text chat enabled is required (voice chat is not required)

As per Discord ToS, you must be above the digital age of consent in your country

Read the full rules here

[burlveneer-music]

Gaye Su Akyol - Love Buzz

Gaye Su Akyol is a singer, painter, and anthropologist from Istanbul, Turkey. Her two new, self-produced tracks for the Singles Club fuse hard rock, surf, and electronic music to push at the boundaries of rock and Anatolian psychedelic music (see New York Times Dec. 2019 feature). Their single leads with a cover of “Love Buzz,” originally by the Dutch psych band Shocking Blue, and famously covered by Nirvana on their 1988 debut single. It is a fitting tribute to the huge impact Nirvana had on Akyol in at a young age. The B-side, “‘Böyle Olur Mu,” breathes new life into the song with hard-to-forget electro baglama, thick bass riffs, heroic guitars, and dark beats.

Her US tour starts on Saturday:

SEP 09 Bryant Park, New York City, NY SEP 11 City Winery Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA SEP 12 Jammin Java, Vienna, VA SEP 13 City Winery Boston, Boston, MA SEP 15 Drom, New York City, NY SEP 17 Los Globos, Los Angeles, CA SEP 19 Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco, CA SEP 20 Nectar Lounge, Seattle, WA

[fromdevcom]

Once Steve Jobs said that “everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think”. He was right. Even if you don’t feel like this, the software took over the world in a special “soft” way… the quantity of applications is growing rapidly. It means, our future is literally in software developers hands. Hence, ‘to be a programmer’ stands for being one of the most demanded specialists nowadays and in the future. So whether you are looking for a new career or want to improve your skills just for fun, programming is an amazing choice.Is It Easy To Learn How To Program?Coding is not rocket science if you know what to do and learn it the right way from the very first steps. Just stay focused and remember one main rule: practice comes first. I mean coding itself, not learning theory, is in a high priority especially during your first steps on the software developer path. Read a bit, code a lot. Your smart ratio should be about 75-80% for practice tasks and 20-25% for learning theory. Sure it is not as easy as it sounds in particular if you are a self-learner. However, nowadays it is easier than ever. Why? Because we’ve got all these wonderful coding toys…Are You In The Game Or What?.Have you ever played video games? I would be surprised if the answer was “no” so let me presume it as “yes”. Anyway, one of the catchy video games features is tangible and rapid development. Your character is leveling up and became stronger. Or probably the character’s environment is becoming more and more hostile and it seems to be more difficult to walk through.The last decade almost all gaming platforms have acquired a system of trophies and rewards. There are even special sites that tell how to knock out one or another trophy in a game, and people compete who will collect more of these (absolutely non-material!) prizes.Why it happens? Why are video games are so exciting? I answered this question above: tangible and rapid development. You get an instant reward for your efforts and our brain likes it badly. That’s the main reason why we play even if we are sure that games are stealing our time.Marketers are well aware of people’s brain kryptonite to get instant promotions. So it is not surprising that recently there have been so many programming courses and learning sites with these features of video games.To be honest, I am very happy about it. People got the opportunity to learn to programme without tormenting themselves. They legally “deceive” their brains and get not only pleasure but also the necessary skills. Here below I collected some links on the best resources where you can learn coding using the love of our brain to play.Java: CodeGym.ccI am a Java guy, so I sought out some practice courses for my students and once, several months ago, I’ve found CodeGym. First of all, I must say CodeGym is a Java Core online course, not a game, and the main feature of it is a practice system. Here you’ve got not only lectures but 1000+ coding tasks, small and big, easy and tough. All tasks are checking with the instant verification system. A student writes a solution and gets an immediate review of every stage, tips for improving the code and recommendations for correcting errors if the student has some.“What about gamification?”, you may ask. My answer is: CodeGym is a gamified course. It divided into four quests and your Character, a roboguy called Amigo starts with level zero (means zero levels of Java) and him leveling up means developing your Java core knowledge. CodeGym has an original plot. The story takes place in the year 3018, the team of the starship GalaxyRush crushes on a planet inhabited by savage robots. The only way to way out of this trouble is to teach the roboguy Amigo how to code. Later Amigo can educate others and help the team to repair the starship. So the star crew teaches character Java programming.The course is really entertaining and most of my students enjoy its lectures, tasks, motivation articles and a friendly community.

2. JavaScript and Python: CheckiOHere you can find coding games for both rookies and experienced software developers. It is not a course but a game and you can use JavaScript or Python to walk through this game.You start your story from your own island in the Ocean, where you can find a bunch of coding tasks. Solve all of them and move on to the other islands. Each task is marked with a complexity labels such as “elementary”, “simple”, “moderate”, “challenging” and subject tags “math”, “matrix", “logic”, “parsing”, “array” and so on.As well as CodeGym, you can check your tasks with instant verification system and get some hints. CheckiO allows both a single play and special education classes.3. Ruby: Ruby WarriorRuby Warrior is an Adventure game about a knight whose every step depends on your Ruby code. You made him walk through the tower level by level, checking a space in front of you, attacking enemies and so on.This coding game started as a project by Bloc, a part-time online coding Bootcamp. The authors define the project as a game for people who want to keep their current job, learn how to code, and become a full-time software developer. However, you should know Ruby at least a little bit to start or use a tutorial while playing.4.Different languages: CodinGameCodingGame is not for absolute beginners, it is rather for people with at least basic programming experience. I must say, it is a very exciting way to improve your coding skills. In the beginning, you’ll get a game you should change.You may try one of the 23 programming languages here. Write the code and compile the game in the same window on the site and you will see the result immediately because of the game-changing in real time. So on every step, you should solve some tasks and get visual feedback, a small change in the game. CodinGame also has some hardcore challenges for experienced developers.5. Different languages: CodeWarsCodewars is a site where software developers can achieve code mastery through challenges. So it is not a course or a game as well, but a bunch of more or less challenging tasks.In the beginning, you’ve got kyu 8 (rank) and you try to improve it to kyu 1, the highest rank. Each task includes the description, a set of input data and a required output result. Train on kata (it is a Japanese martial art) in the dojo and reach your highest potential.I must say, Codewars is not for newbies, it is rather for experienced students or even professional developers who want to improve their skills in a fun and enjoyable way.

[mdraihanurrahmanrocky]

Phone Number Library: The Backbone of Modern Telecommunication Software

Introduction

In today’s digitally driven world, phone numbers serve as critical identifiers for individuals and businesses alike. Whether it’s authenticating a user, sending a message, or dialing a call, the phone number is central to modern communication systems. However, handling phone numbers across different countries, formats, and use cases is no trivial task. This is where a Phone Number Library becomes invaluable.

A phone number library is a software component that enables developers to validate, parse, format, and manage phone numbers across global telecommunications standards. These libraries are crucial in mobile apps, CRM systems, phone number library  messaging services, and any software that interacts with phone numbers. This article explores the concept of a phone number library, its components, popular implementations, challenges, privacy concerns, and future relevance.

What is a Phone Number Library?

A Phone Number Library is a collection of tools, functions, or APIs that provide developers with robust capabilities to handle phone numbers programmatically. Its key responsibilities typically include:

Parsing: Extracting meaningful data from a raw phone number string

Validation: Checking whether a phone number is valid for a given region or format

Formatting: Converting numbers into local, international, or E.164 formats

Carrier Lookup: Identifying the telecom provider associated with a number

Region Detection: Identifying the country or location based on number prefix

Normalization: Cleaning up and unifying numbers for consistent processing

By using a phone number library, developers can avoid pitfalls associated with regional formatting, country codes, and inconsistent user inputs.

Why Do We Need Phone Number Libraries?

Phone numbers are deceptively complex. Consider this:

Different countries have varying lengths for numbers (e.g., 10 digits in the US, up to 15 in others).

Local formats vary: a UK number might be +44 20 7946 0958, while a US number is +1 (202) 555-0190.

Some numbers are mobile, others landlines, toll-free, or VoIP.

Inputs from users can be inconsistent: 001-202-555-0190, 202.555.0190, (202)5550190.

A robust phone number library abstracts these challenges and ensures accurate handling across global systems, enabling:

Internationalization

Reliable communication

Accurate billing

Fraud prevention

Enhanced user experience

Core Features of a Phone Number Library

Parsing and Formatting Parses unstructured input and converts it to a standardized form:

Local Format: (415) 555-2671

International Format: +1 415-555-2671

E.164 Format (standardized): +14155552671

Validation Verifies if a number is:

The correct length for the region

Using a valid country or area code

Associated with a mobile, landline, or VoIP line

Carrier and Region Identification Determines:

Mobile carrier (e.g., Verizon, Vodafone)

Country and locality

Line type (mobile, landline, toll-free)

Number Formatting for Display or Storage Adjusts the number based on:

Country-specific formatting rules

User locale or UI requirements

Storage standards like E.164

Localization Support Allows developers to handle phone numbers according to cultural and national standards for input, display, and processing.

Popular Phone Number Libraries

1. Libphone number by Google

The most widely used phone number library, originally created for Android. It supports:

Parsing, validation, formatting, and geocoding

Over 200 countries and territories

Carrier lookup and timezone info

Multiple language support

Languages Available:

Java (original)

JavaScript, Python, C#, Go (ports)

2. PhoneNumberKit (Swift)

An iOS-compatible version inspired by libphone number:

Easy to use in iOS applications

Fully localized and supports real-time formatting

Lightweight and well-maintained

3. Phony (Ruby)

Popular in the Ruby ecosystem for working with international phone numbers:

E.164 formatting

National and international formats

Country-specific rules

4. libphonenumber-js (JavaScript)

A lightweight version of libphone number for web applications:

Smaller bundle size

Useful for form validations

Ideal for front-end validation on browsers

How Phone Number Libraries are Used in Applications

1. User Registration and Authentication

Apps often use phone numbers for sign-up and verification via OTP. A phone number library ensures:

Correct formatting

No duplication (e.g., +1 202-555-0190 = 0012025550190)

Region-based validation

2. CRM and Contact Management

In enterprise software:

Ensures uniformity in contact databases

Supports global customer outreach

Enables filtering and reporting based on country/region

3. Messaging and Calling Apps

Used to:

Format numbers before dialing or sending a message

Detect line type (mobile vs landline)

Prevent spam or invalid call attempts

4. E-commerce and Delivery Apps

Valid phone numbers are critical for order confirmations, delivery updates, and support communication.

5. Fraud Prevention

Detects anomalies such as:

Invalid or spoofed numbers

SIM farms or mass registration attempts

Geolocation mismatches

Implementing a Phone Number Library: Code Example

Here’s a quick example using libphonenumber-js in JavaScript:

import { parsePhoneNumberFromString } from 'libphonenumber-js'

const phone = parsePhoneNumberFromString('+14155552671')

if (phone.isValid()) {

    console.log('Region:', phone.country)

    console.log('E.164 Format:', phone.format('E.164'))

    console.log('National Format:', phone.formatNational())

}

This simple code:

Validates the number

Extracts country

Outputs the number in multiple formats

Challenges in Using Phone Number Libraries

Despite their utility, developers face certain challenges:

1. Constant Updates

Numbering plans change frequently. Libraries need to update regularly to stay current with telecom regulations.

2. Data Size

Some versions of libphone number are large, making them unsuitable for client-side apps without tree-shaking or slimming.

3. Privacy Implications

Using carrier lookup and region detection can raise privacy issues, especially in regulated markets.

4. False Positives

A number may be valid in structure but still be unreachable or dormant.

Privacy and Compliance Considerations

Handling phone number data must comply with data protection regulations like:

GDPR (EU)

Phone numbers are considered personal data.

Must obtain consent for processing.

Users have the right to request deletion and access to their data.

CCPA (California)

Requires transparency in phone data collection.

Users must be able to opt out of data selling or sharing.

Industry Best Practices

Never store raw user inputs without normalization.

Encrypt stored numbers, especially if combined with other identifiers.

Provide clear terms about how numbers are used.

Future of Phone Number Libraries

As global connectivity evolves, phone number libraries are adapting to meet new demands:

1. Support for eSIM and Virtual Numbers

With the rise of digital SIMs and temporary phone numbers, libraries are being updated to recognize and manage these new identifiers.

2. AI Integration

Phone data is being used to feed machine learning models that detect fraud, personalize communication, or predict churn.

3. Real-time Validation APIs

Developers now have access to API-based services that not only validate format but also check if the number is active or reachable in real time.

4. Voice Assistant and IoT Expansion

As devices like smart speakers and IoT gadgets adopt voice calling, phone libraries will need to be embedded in non-traditional environments.

Thanks for reading..

SEO Expate Bangladesh Ltd.

[imageclinicindia]

Get a Naturally Youthful Look with Expert Fillers Treatment in Kolkata

As we age, our skin naturally loses volume and elasticity, leading to fine lines, sagging, and hollow areas. But what if you could restore that youthful plumpness without surgery? That’s where fillers treatment in Kolkata comes in — a safe, non-invasive way to enhance your features and rewind the effects of time.

Dermal fillers, also known as injectable fillers, are gel-like substances injected beneath the skin to smooth wrinkles, enhance facial contours, and add volume where needed. Whether you’re looking to define your jawline, plump your lips, or reduce the appearance of deep lines, fillers can help you achieve natural-looking results with minimal downtime.

Here are a few reasons people love dermal fillers:

Quick, in-clinic procedure with visible results

Perfect for smile lines, cheeks, under-eyes & lips

Enhances facial symmetry and structure

Long-lasting results with proper care

If you’re considering injectable fillers in Kolkata, visit Image Clinic, one of the most trusted names in aesthetic skincare. Under the expert guidance of Dr. Debasree Banik, each treatment is personalized to suit your unique facial anatomy and beauty goals.

Book your appointment today at Image Clinic, Kolkata, and experience the art of age-defying beauty with confidence.

Contact Us:

Phone: +91 9433706234 / +91 9903139028 Email: info@imageclinicindia.com Website: https://imageclinicindia.com/

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Understanding Blackbox AI: Enhancing Coding Efficiency with Artificial Intelligence

In the ever-evolving landscape of software development, tools that augment developer productivity and streamline coding processes are invaluable. Blackbox AI emerges as a prominent solution in this realm, offering AI-powered assistance to developers across various programming languages and platforms.​

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What is Blackbox AI?

Blackbox AI is an AI-driven coding assistant designed to enhance developer productivity by providing features such as code autocompletion, debugging assistance, and code generation. It supports over 20 programming languages, including Python, JavaScript, Java, and Ruby, making it a versatile tool for diverse development projects. ​

Key Features of Blackbox AI

1. AI Code Generation

Blackbox AI enables developers to generate code snippets by interpreting natural language queries. This feature allows users to describe the desired functionality in plain English, and Blackbox AI converts it into executable code, streamlining the development process. ​

Integrated seamlessly with popular code editors like Visual Studio Code, Blackbox AI offers real-time code suggestions as developers type. This functionality accelerates coding speed and reduces the likelihood of syntax errors. ​

3. Code Search

With access to a vast repository of code snippets and examples, Blackbox AI allows developers to quickly search for relevant code segments, facilitating efficient problem-solving and learning. ​

4. Code Chat

Blackbox AI's Code Chat feature enables developers to ask questions about code, receive debugging assistance, and obtain explanations for complex code segments, fostering a deeper understanding of coding concepts. ​

Benefits of Using Blackbox AI

Enhanced Productivity: By automating repetitive coding tasks and providing real-time suggestions, Blackbox AI allows developers to focus on more critical aspects of development, thereby increasing overall productivity.​

Improved Code Quality: The tool's debugging assistance and code optimization tips help in writing cleaner, more efficient code, reducing the occurrence of bugs and errors.​

Learning and Skill Development: For beginners and seasoned developers alike, Blackbox AI serves as a valuable learning resource, offering explanations and insights into various coding practices and concepts.​

Use Cases

Software Development: Developers can leverage Blackbox AI to expedite coding tasks, troubleshoot issues, and enhance the quality of their software projects.​

Educational Purposes: Educational institutions and coding bootcamps can utilize Blackbox AI as a teaching aid, providing students with interactive coding assistance and learning materials.​

Research and Development: Researchers can benefit from Blackbox AI's capabilities in quickly generating code prototypes and exploring different coding approaches.​

Pricing

Blackbox AI offers a free plan with limited features, allowing users to experience its core functionalities. For advanced features such as unlimited code searches, autocomplete, and access to a broader range of programming languages, premium plans are available at $19.98 per month. ​

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Conclusion

Blackbox AI represents a significant advancement in coding assistance tools, integrating artificial intelligence to support developers in writing code more efficiently and effectively. Its comprehensive features cater to a wide range of programming needs, making it a valuable asset for both individual developers and teams aiming to optimize their coding workflows.​

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Level Up Your Career: A Guide to Becoming a Blockchain Developer in 2025

Blockchain technology, initially known for powering cryptocurrencies, has exploded into a versatile force transforming industries from finance to healthcare and beyond. This surge in adoption has created a massive demand for skilled Blockchain Developers. If you're looking for a future-proof career with exciting challenges and significant earning potential, becoming a Blockchain Developer in 2025 is a smart move.

This blog will guide you through the different types of Blockchain Developers, the key roles they play, and the essential skills you'll need to break into this dynamic field.

What is a Blockchain Developer?

A Blockchain Developer is a software engineer who designs, develops, and implements blockchain-based solutions and applications. They work with distributed ledger technology to build secure, transparent, and decentralized systems.

Types of Blockchain Developers:

The field generally categorizes Blockchain Developers into two main types:

Core Blockchain Developers: These developers are the architects of the blockchain itself. They focus on the underlying infrastructure, protocols, and consensus mechanisms. Their responsibilities include:

Designing the blockchain architecture.

Developing and implementing consensus algorithms (like Proof-of-Work, Proof-of-Stake).

Ensuring the security and scalability of the blockchain network.

Working on core blockchain platforms like Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, and Solana.

Understanding cryptography and network security.

Blockchain Software Developers (DApp Developers): These developers build decentralized applications (DApps) that run on existing blockchain platforms. They leverage the infrastructure created by core developers to build user-facing applications. Their responsibilities include:

Developing smart contracts using languages like Solidity (for Ethereum).

Building the frontend and backend of DApps.

Integrating DApps with blockchain networks using libraries like Web3.js and Ethers.js.

Designing user interfaces for blockchain applications.

Understanding token standards (like ERC-20, ERC-721).

Key Roles in Blockchain Development:

Within these two main categories, specific roles often emerge based on project needs and team structure. Some common roles include:

Smart Contract Developer: Specializes in writing, testing, and deploying smart contracts.

Blockchain Architect: Designs the overall blockchain solution, considering scalability, security, and integration with existing systems.

Blockchain Security Engineer: Focuses on identifying and mitigating security vulnerabilities within blockchain networks and applications.

Blockchain Consultant: Provides expertise and guidance to organizations looking to adopt blockchain technology.

Essential Skills to Become a Blockchain Developer:

To embark on a successful career as a Blockchain Developer, you'll need a combination of technical and soft skills:

Technical Skills:

Strong Programming Fundamentals: Proficiency in one or more programming languages is crucial. Popular choices include:

Solidity: Essential for developing smart contracts on Ethereum.

JavaScript: Used for frontend and backend development of DApps.

Python: Versatile language used for backend integration and scripting.

Java: Used in platforms like Hyperledger Fabric and NEM.

C++: Often used for core blockchain development due to its performance.

Go: Gaining popularity for its performance and concurrency features in blockchain.

Rust: Known for its security and performance, used in projects like Solana.

Understanding of Blockchain Architecture: You need to grasp the fundamental concepts of blockchain, including:

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT).

Consensus mechanisms (PoW, PoS, etc.).

Different types of blockchain networks (Public, Private, Consortium).

Blockchain platforms (Ethereum, Hyperledger Fabric, Solana, etc.).

Cryptography: A solid understanding of cryptographic principles is essential for building secure blockchain applications. This includes:

Hashing algorithms.

Digital signatures.

Public and private key cryptography.

Encryption and decryption techniques.

Smart Contract Development: For DApp developers, mastering smart contract development is key. This involves understanding smart contract languages (like Solidity) and development frameworks (like Truffle and Hardhat).

Data Structures and Algorithms: Understanding data structures like Merkle trees and hash tables is crucial for optimizing blockchain performance and reliability.

Web Development (for DApp Developers): Familiarity with frontend frameworks (React, Angular, Vue.js) and backend technologies (Node.js, Python frameworks) is necessary for building user-friendly DApps.

Database Management: Understanding how blockchain data is stored and retrieved is important.

Networking: Knowledge of peer-to-peer networking and distributed systems is crucial for understanding how blockchain networks function.

Soft Skills:

Problem-Solving: Blockchain development often involves tackling complex technical challenges.

Analytical Skills: The ability to analyze data and understand system behavior is important.

Communication Skills: Effectively communicating technical concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences is crucial.

Teamwork and Collaboration: Working effectively in teams is often required in blockchain projects.

Continuous Learning: The blockchain space is constantly evolving, so a commitment to continuous learning is essential.

How to Start Your Journey:

Build a Strong Foundation: Start with the fundamentals of computer science, data structures, and algorithms.

Learn Programming Languages: Focus on languages commonly used in blockchain development.

Understand Blockchain Basics: Dive deep into the core concepts and architecture of blockchain technology.

Explore Cryptography: Gain a solid understanding of cryptographic principles.

Master Smart Contracts (if applicable): Learn Solidity and smart contract development.

Build Projects: Work on personal projects to gain hands-on experience and build a portfolio.

Contribute to Open Source: Get involved in open-source blockchain projects to collaborate and learn from others.

Network with the Community: Attend conferences, join online forums, and connect with other blockchain developers.

Stay Updated: Follow industry news and advancements to keep your skills relevant.

Level Up Your Skills with Xaltius Academy's Blockchain Course

While focusing on becoming a Blockchain Developer, a structured learning program can significantly enhance your journey. Xaltius Academy's Blockchain Course is designed to equip you with the essential knowledge and practical skills to excel in this rapidly growing field.

Key benefits of the program:

Comprehensive Curriculum: Covers the core concepts of blockchain technology, smart contract development, and building decentralized applications.

Hands-on Experience: Provides practical experience through real-world projects and case studies.

Expert Instruction: Learn from industry professionals with expertise in blockchain development.

Career Support: Offers guidance and resources to help you launch your career as a Blockchain Developer in India and globally.

Conclusion:

Becoming a Blockchain Developer in 2025 is a promising career path with high demand and exciting opportunities. By acquiring the right technical and soft skills, understanding the different roles, and continuously learning, you can position yourself for success in this transformative field. Start your journey today and consider enrolling in Xaltius Academy's Blockchain Course to gain a competitive edge and become a part of building the decentralized future!