#comprehensible input reference

[rigelmejo]

Okay I've been playing with the Mandarin From Scratch blog post's ALG language acquisition equation, from a paper by Marvin Brown about ALG.

y = C(1-e^(-kx/L))

Below the cut, a bunch of me messing with the ALG equation and comparing it with Dreaming Spanish estimates to try and figure out WHAT is an accurate estimate of time it will take to learn a language with comprehensible input.

Y is understanding/fluency, which their goal is to get to 88%. I wanted to look at how many hours it would take me to reach 88%, then something over 90%, then something approaching my estimated "ceiling". Average ceilings were 95% - after which point students struggled to improve further. So I set mine as 0.95.

(Note: they say their goal for students is to reach 88% fluency/understanding, but I am not sure if that's B2, or lower, or higher. My goal is around upper intermediate/B2 so that's kind of fucking important for me to know... I want to be able to read, listen to audio, watch shows, and eventually have conversations about anything on my mind in at least a basic way - which would be B2 conversationally and possibly higher comprehension for passive skills)

C is the ceiling.

y is how much language they know (1 = native). If you have a ceiling, then y would never surpass the ceiling.

x is how many hours they have understood.

k is the acquisition constant: .0018

e is the natural logarithm base: 2.718

I plugged in a few potential amounts of hours I could study:

It looks like if I aim for 1500 hours, I'll hit 88% fluency. This seems a bit low for my goals, considering thats only 600 more hours from where I am. But it sure would be nice if that's all it took.

When I solved for x instead I got ~1448 hours.

If I aim for over 90% comprehension, then it looks like I'll hit that around 2000 hours.

If I solve for x, setting understanding y =0.90, then it would take ~1636 hours

And if I wanted to get as fluent as I possibly could? Which would be around 95%, assuming I have some ceiling like ab average learner, then 2600 hours will get me close to as much as I could hope to be fluent.

If I solve for x and set goal fluency y to 0.94, then it would take ~2530 hours.

This is significantly LESS TIME than FSI estimates - which would be 3520 hours of some form of Chinese study. I do have 1500 hours of prior study if we don't count comprehensible input. So 1500 hours prior study, plus the comprehemsible hours I currently have 913, would total to 2413 hours so far... so with FSI Estimate, I have to get ~1107 more hours of Chinese study (in some form) to reach B2/upper intermediate.

The ALG estimate assumes NO explicit study, and the Ceiling value in fact decreases with significant explicit study. So who fucking knows, maybe my true ceiling would be 88%. Or something.

I do find it interesting that ALG estimates it's going to take me 1448 hours to 2530 hours for "fluency" of 88% to 94%. I suppose wherever I stopped seeing progress, would indicate when I hit my true "ceiling."

These are both lower estimates than Dreaming Spanish gives. Dreaming Spanish predicts for English spealers they'll need 3000 hours of comprehensible input in Chinese to reach B2. Dreaming Spanish, like ALG, assumes the learner is only learning with comprehensible input and no explicit study. So I am curious why Dreaming Spanish's estimate is ~500 hours longer than ALG's.

And if 95% fluency is ONLY B2 that doesn't seem to make sense... Marvin Brown estimated his own fluency at 95% and guessed most people who explicitly study can never improve past 90% - so many C1 learners would be 90% at best, according to Brown. Brown taught Thai, so he had exceptionally good Thai, and he considered himself 95% fluent. So 95% being only B2 would seem... low.

B2 fluency I would consider like... 80-90% maximum. But 1500 hours for an English speaker learning Spanish is only going to get them to B2, based on all the results people have shared (C1 for English speakers learning Spanish through comprehensible input seems to take 2500 hours). And I imagine ALG's equation estimate would say less than 1500 hours for Spanish... hold on I'm going to plug in some more numbers.

Okay ALG estimates the L number, language similarity, to be 0.4 for European languages like English to Spanish. So plugging in the numbers for an English speaker with a average ceiling of 0.95 to achieve as high a fluency as they can (arouns 94%) would take: ~1011 hours

But we know, from all the progress updates people post on reddit.com/r/dreamingspanish, that at around 1000 hours most people are only a B1 level. Maybe B2 in comprehension, but not able to speak at a B2 level for another 500-800 hours (500 more hours of input, and 300 hours of some combination of reading and or speaking practice).

A blog post from ALG World may have answers for us. A Thai learner shared that he studied about 1150 hours at AUA Thai School, and his comprehension was good but he could barely speak, his grade for comprehension was 70% (this is for Thai not Spanish, and so 70% for 1000 hours is pretty average... Thai is expectee to take 1800 hours of comprehensible input to reach 88% comprehension of the language). He said after another 1.5 years living in Thailand, he finally felt he could speak about whatever he wanted, "My speaking ability followed along the same curve of development as my listening had, at a gap of about 800 or 900 hours." So lets give him a total of 1150+900=2050 hours to express himself however, with some writing practice with a tutor as part of those later 900 hours.

So perhaps it took him 2050 hours to reach B2 overall, including speaking skills, which is closer to what I might expect from Dreaming Spanish's results. However, this guy never mentions if his comprehension improved from 70% to something better/higher... and I have to guess 70% isn't B2 in passive comprehension yet. Since he had around 1000 hours as an English speaker learning Thai, and 1000 hours for English Speakers learning Spanish only gets them to B1....

Unless we make the guess that 1000 hours in Dreaming Spanish actually makes listening skills B2, and 1500 makes their listening skills higher than B2. So that assumption would mean 1000 hours of an English speaker learning Spanish through comprehensible input results in passive B2 skills, active A2-B1 skills.

But then... does Thai even take much longer? 1000 hours perhaps got that guy to B1 skills in listening, and A2 skills in speaking, and then his 900 hours later got him to B2 listening skills and B1+ speaking skills? Resulting in more hours needed for Thai, which is what we expect.

Perhaps, making a guess, if he had done 1800 hours as recommended by ALG to achieve 88% fluency, then 900 (or double so 1800 hours) continuing to engage with Thai in his life, so 2700-3600, he would achieve C1 listening skills and B2 speaking skills. Which is closer to what Dreaming Spanish predicts for English speakers learning a language like Thai or Chinese. And perhaps its where Pablo got the estimate of 3000 hours, double the roadmap. He learned Thai through ALG, and that influenced his estimates I'm sure.

I think the real answer is... the ALG formula probably underestimates, or it's percent fluency value needs more work. I think the formula needs to more clearly define what percent fluency values match up to A2, B1, B2, C1. But I know they're not going to care what I think lol ToT

For fun:

Lets calculate using the ALG formula, and Dreaming Spanish values, and figure out what percent fluency actually matches B1 and B2 and C1. Which in Dreaming Spanish is 1000 hours, 1500 hours, and 2500 hours, from users mentioning in progress updates the tests they could pass at different hours of comprensible input.

I'm going to set L to 1 just because it may help me get the percent fluency levels to something more realistic for B1, B2 and C1.

I feel like I'm reverse engineering whatever Pablo did to give his roadmap estimated hours.

Okay so for 1000 hours for Dreaming Spanish, we get a fluency percent of 79%. This seems like a value that might be realistic for B1. B1 is what a DS learner can pass after 1000 hours (although for some people their passive understanding is B2 and their speaking is A2)

For 1500 hours Dreaming Spanish, we get a fluency percent of 89%, which is somewhere in the 80s range, we know 1500-1800 hours for many Dreaming Spanish learners (if they read and speak a bit) is enough to pass a B2 test. (With some people's passive comprehension higher and closer to C1, and some people's speaking closer to B1)

For 2500 hours of Dreaming Spanish, we get a fluency percent of 94%. People pass C1 level around 2500-3000 hours into Spanish comprehensible input.

So for Spanish:

B1 is 1000 hours, is lets say 75-79% fluency

B2 is 1500 hours, is lets say 85-89% fluency

C1 is 2500 hours, is lets say 91-94% fluency

What would it be for a language unlike one you know already? Well fuck. I would need to start messing with the L number. I tried 3 instead of 1, and the hour estimates are way too high.

My guess is that if Pablo used this formula, he used L=2 for languages very unlike ones you know. Because L has to be 2 when I plug in the hour estimates on the roadmap doubled. (Which makes sense lol - double the time, double the L number)

[h0neytalk]

Favorite VERY BASIC Comprehensible Input Sources I’ve Found (all free)

These are all for Italian and Arabic (MSA + Levantine dialect) and suitable for A1! I’ve found the very early stages are the hardest to find stuff for but also when it’s the most boring to be confined to flashcards and memorizing so hopefully this helps. Also it keeps me from losing these links.

Italian:

Curioso come George (Italian Curious George, honestly a lot of kids shows can get tiring but Curious George doesn’t hit that “annoying” pitch while still being simple) (link is to one episode but you can find tons in the related vids) (also segments are themed so you can find ones that roughly correlate to a unit of vocab like weather or clothes)

Ardea Digitale Schoolbooks (schoolbooks for children that you can download as PDFs along with workbooks/worksheets)

Arabic (MSA)

Read Learn Play Arabic (cannot speak highly enough of this one it’s so good and there’s so much and idk how it isn’t talked about more)

Cartoon Network MENA (good just because the material is recognizable, obviously usefulness of vocab/level is gonna vary by show)

Arabic (Levantine Dialect)

Sesame Street! Aka Ahlan Simsim. (Some segments are more advanced than others obviously but it’s incredible for learning the sound of the dialect and is also not grating for adults imo) (free on YouTube)

Lingualism Diaries (not nearly as beginner friendly as Read Learn Play but definitely doable within a few weeks assuming you know the alphabet) (also has audio versions)

I highly recommend lingualism.com for a ton of Arabic materials in all sorts of dialects/levels but they’re mostly paid (not expensive! But not free) and this post is meant to compile free stuff.

[nowtoboldlygo]

korean media resources for beginners! 🇰🇷

comprehensible input, vaguely in order of easiest to most difficult. on the CI wiki and lingotrack. here's the list for only the easiest stuff (for day-one learners). as we're finally over 20 resources, i noted favorites!

태웅쌤 - Comprehensible Input Korean ⭐ 35+ hours; starting with his superbeginner playlist & leveling up to his many video game playthroughs, the most popular CI channel.

KIWI-Korean Input With Images’s ⭐ 4 hours; starting with his 101 playlist, incredibly clear & simple narration style.

C.K.W.M. / Min - shorts/tiktoks.

Breeze Korean ⭐ 6+ hours, super high quality.

Pronounce Korean ⭐ 15+ hours; great channel for beginners! clear, repetitive, prolific.

몰입한국어 Immersion in Korean 1-2 hours of pre-intermediate content; short stories repeated thrice.

Master Vocabulary Korean 5+ hours; varying quality, repetitively describes pictures in short videos.

시나브로 한국어 - Learn Korean through Immersion <1 hour; just a couple of videos but decent quality.

Comprehensible Korean 3-4 hours; regular draw-and-narrate CI, decent quality.

Storytime in Korean 2+ hours; calm & pleasant channel.

한글용사 아이야 ⭐ 70+ hours; kids show, i love my hangul power rangers.

Comprehensible Korean Language ⭐ 24+ hours; starting with his beginner playlist, mostly video game playthroughs. recommended if you find 태웅쌤 - Comprehensible Input Korean too difficult!

Muzzy in Gondoland 2-4 hours; i really only recommend the first six episodes. technically requires a subscription but offers a free trial, pretty famous for English learning & has a Korean version.

short DIY videos [playlist example]

Blippi Korean 블리피 ⭐ Easy preschooler show, dubbed. Lots of nouns & easy verbs.

Numberblocks 넘버블럭스 Obviously great for numbers (both native and Sino-Korean!), but the short dialogue is also really clear. A bit heavy on songs but overall super watchable, dubbed.

Peppa Pig in Korean 32 hours; famous for language learners, dubbed.

Pocoyo Narration overlaying six-minute adventures with rare dialogue interjections, dubbed.

search term 룸 투어 for room tours [example one, two] ⭐

Tayo the Little Bus 꼬마버스 타요 and the spin-off Titipo Titipo 띠띠뽀 띠띠뽀 The public transit vehicles are surprisingly expressive, and the conversations are very predictable/intuitive.

Bluey 블루이 ⭐ This is wonderful input even if you don't like kids shows - it's funny, sweet, and short. Better streamed than on youtube, but really truly great. Dubbed.

DIY videos

more and more kids shows If you don't like one, try another! There are a billion preschooler shows, and you're unlocking them at this level. They're usually short and simple, and might make a great break from language learning content.

podcasts made for learners I'll review & list these separately as I listen to them, but at this point they're all too advanced vocab-wise.

free IPTV streams infomercials! very fast, but very repetitive. fun to have on in the background.

[thefirstknife]

Alright, so some parts of the community puzzle were solved and a website was revealed. Aion-archive. The puzzle isn't over but there's stuff to do on the website with some cool info and teasers. The rest of the puzzle is so far in the process of people inputting a million codes and figuring things out which I don't really understand and I'm only interested in the end lore results so I'll talk about what we can read so far.

First of all, Aion was mentioned in Vesper's Host as "The Aion Initiative" during the secret quest with the collectibles:

Vesper Station: I’ve got the archive of Dr. Bray’s published staff memos. Petabytes of data in the raw files. Rasputin. The Stoneworm protocols. The Aion Initiative. Soteria. I had siblings this whole time. And you never let me know.

Unclear how this connects to anything, but it was definitely some sort of project back in the Golden Age.

Playing around on the site can let you access a home button and then it lists some options to go through:

I'll put the rest under read more so people can play around by themselves without spoilers if they want and for length:

First of all, the missing numbers that are listed as alerts? You can still input them. So even though it says that 002, 004, 005, and 006 are missing, you can still select them and they give information. I'll drop all of them here and do some commentary because this is enrichment.

Input 001:

Very interesting! So "Aion" stands for "Apollo Intertemporal Observation Network," investigating time dilation and temporal anomalies that go beyond simple light-speed issues. I'm absolutely losing it immediately because this is incredibly cool in so many ways. The possibility that The Edge of Fate will involve some time travel shenanigans is exciting. Hoping for more Vex stuff for sure!

Input 002:

Obsessed. This is definitely why the whole thing was codenamed "Apollo" originally and some of our speculation about it was actually correct. Apollo, god of prophecy! Fascinated by the fact that this one aspect of Apollo was chosen as first description of him. Like, yeah, that part was incredibly important but Apollo was a god of many things. Either way, hello, I am going to be on the news.

Input 003:

Stuff about chess, which is interesting because this is how we got to the website in the first place. I feel like we're playing chess with some entity beyond our comprehension that deals with time travel. What even is going on in Destiny.

Input 004:

Not sure why this is mentioned, but it may have something to do with a later input. The Oort Cloud is a real thing (or at least a real theorised thing).

Input 005:

Unclear what this connects to at the moment.

Input 006:

Also unclear. "There is a place" is the same starter as the sentence in input 001: "There is a place where the numbers don't match." Referring to the temporal anomalies. I assume that's the same sentence?

Input 007:

Unclear. Some of this stuff might get fully cleared up once the puzzle is completed and these gaps are filled. If they are going to be filled at all. We're not sure what the end of the puzzle will do actually.

Input 008:

Interesting! This might explain the mention of the Oort Cloud? Trans-Neptunian objects are, also, a real thing and they exist in the space beyond Neptune from the Kuiper's Belt to the Oort Cloud. This text makes me also think of Nessus which is a similar object called a centaur that originally should've existed also around and beyond Neptune, but something messed with its orbit (presumably the Vex) and it was on collision course with the Exodus Black.

It's not unusual to consider a massive planetary object somewhere far out there that might be affecting the gravity and orbit of smaller objects, but it's interesting that this is a part of this whole text. Is the implication that we'll be discovering an unknown planet in the far reaches of the solar system? Bizarre because the teaser implied we're leaving the system entirely ("Kepler 15"), but also with the implied time travel shenanigans... who the hell knows. What are they cooking.

Input 009:

Unclear. No clue what this may be referring to. Hoping for more information as the puzzle gets closer to solving.

Input 010:

Also unclear. I assume that the red text is saying something along the line of "We made a mistake". Way too many gaps to know currently.

Input 011:

Interesting! The first bit lists actual dates. 29th April 2025 (Signal confirmation) is when the puzzle started this Tuesday reset. 4th May 1991 (listed as "odd") is the date of when Bungie was founded. 9th September 2014 obviously when Destiny released. One more is down there but without the year so if anyone wants to hunt down what happened on the 12th of April in any year in human history... have fun.

The second set lists a few things that can also be input into the computer. So 11101 etc. can be searched. Here's what they give:

And finally:

This bit is where the rest of the puzzle is currently happening, still with the in-game chess board if I understand correctly. People are inputting these codes which are codes you get from the chess board and then there's something going on with QR codes?? Which gives people some sort of string of letters to input into the computer and then they're compiling what works and what doesn't. This bit is unclear to me but it's also stuff that doesn't give any direct lore. I assume this all has to be sorted for the entire database to work properly and show all text.

And this is the last input, 012:

Not much to say here, lots of stuff still missing.

Exciting stuff going on! I love community puzzles and weird shenanigans going on and it's such a cool teaser for the showcase next week and the reveal about The Edge of Fate. Can't wait to see what all of this is about, especially if we're legit going to be having some time travel stuff and weird Golden Age projects and possibly going out of the solar system.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from Inside Climate News:

An estimated 90 percent of all traded goods travel by sea, where vessels tap into a vast network of shipping routes that connect even the most far-flung places. 

But humans aren’t the only ones traversing vast distances across these marine highways. A new study found that shipping occurs in more than 90 percent of whale ranges, where the animals can often get hit—becoming what scientists grimly refer to as “ocean roadkill.” By combining shipping and whale distribution data, the researchers pinpointed the areas with the highest risk of whale-vessel collision for several species. They discovered just a small fraction of these hotspots have any collision protection measures in place. 

“There’s just extremely high overlap of shipping traffic with whales,” said study co-author Briana Abrahms, a wildlife biologist at the University of Washington. “These whales are just having to contend with an incredibly, incredibly busy ocean, and shipping traffic is a leading cause of mortality for several whale species.” 

Shipping, cruise and fishing vessels fatally strike an estimated 20,000 whales around the world each year. Scientists say this is likely an underestimate because vessels could unwittingly hit a whale whose body sinks to the seafloor before it is recorded. Climate change could be increasing vessel strike risk as ocean warming and marine heatwaves push whales closer to human activity.

There is a bright spot. Research shows that low-speed zones and shipping reroutes can help keep whales out of danger, while reducing emissions and improving air quality for people. And a little protection could go a long way: Expanding these management measures across an additional 2.6 percent of the ocean could mitigate the highest-risk collision hotspots, according to the study. 

Whales are some of the most well-traveled cosmopolitans of the sea. For example, humpbacks can swim around 5,000 miles each year during their seasonal migration. Yet the exact hang-out spots or routes that different cetacean species use on their journeys are still largely a mystery. 

To help change that, the researchers collated more than 435,000 whale sightings from a variety of sources, including government surveys, scientific tagging studies, whale-watching citizen scientists and even historic whaling records. They focused on four globally ranging species: fin whales, sperm whales, humpbacks and blue whales—the largest mammals on Earth. 

The scientists then inputted this deluge of data into a predictive model, and created some of the first comprehensive worldwide maps for where these ocean giants spend their time.

Now, scientists can “take a really global look at where these animals are in the ocean where we haven’t really always had eyes on in the past,” Abrahms said. 

[corgitation]

resources I'm using for studying japanese

vocab/kanji:

wanikani: I use daily reviews to learn kanji and vocabulary using the kanji. This resource isn't free, but this has really helped me stay consistent. I like the UI and find the content helpful

renshuu: this is my favorite mobile app, I use this to learn JLPT-specific vocab and kanji. I use the free version

mochi srs: the best flashcard app! The UI is super easy to use and has lots of shortcuts for making and reviewing cards fast. You can easily create and edit templates for cards, and have cards reference other cards. I have a deck for kanji and one for vocab, and my vocab template references any kanji that are used in the vocab tab. There's also super easy furigana, lots of features for japanese.

grammar:

bunpro: really good for grammar, this has lessons for each grammar rule and divides them into groups through popular textbooks and their own groupings for jlpt grammar

genki textbooks: pretty standard textbook for learning vocab, grammar, and kanji

genki study resources: great site with activities for all the genki lessons

tokini andy genki reviews: extra practice for genki lessons, explains some grammar more clearly, introduces new dialogue.

reading:

japanese folktales for language learners and japanese stories for language learners: folktales are a really great way to learn, because these references come up a lot. I've seen references to urashimo taro in evangelion, and the new pokemon dlc is a reference to momotaro. This book has the japanese on one page and english on the other, with vocabulary after the chapter. (here and here on natively)

animal crossing new leaf tobimori: I've recently started playing this and it's so much fun. I'm already really familiar with the game so I don't depend on any of the text for playing, and it's good for more common expressions, differences in speech between polite/casual/male/female etc. I have a post describing how I'm able to play this here. (here on lingotrack)

listening:

japanese with shun: big fan of this podcast, it's free on spotify and youtube, which scripts on patreon. Each podcast is about a short subject, and they're all in japanese. (here on lingotrack)

learn japanese pod: some free podcasts on spotify with more paid content, this one is both about japanese and in japanese. It will teach phrases for specific scenarios, like ordering sushi or refusing situations.

tracking:

lingotrack: I started time tracking a couple of months ago and it's been so helpful! This site is great for quickly logging study activities and seeing how the time stacks up. It helps me identify which areas I'm spending enough time in and which ones are lacking. I also use the library section for keeping track of my japanese native content

toggl: I use this online stopwatch for tracking the time for different study activities so I can log them in lingotrack. It also has a browser extension which I usually use

finding native content:

natively: excellent site for finding comprehensible input content and tracking days read. This site has a lot of reviews for books so it makes it easy to find books that are on level. You can follow me here

lingotrack: collections in lingotrack provides user generated groups of content so that you can create an see groupings of native material content. There aren't as many reviews for material here as there are for natively though, so I find material there and then add them here. You can follow me here

other:

tofugu: this blog has everything. Use it for finding reviews on japanese language resources, learning grammar rules, etc.

jisho: dictionary app, I use it as my source of truth for vocab and kanji meanings

heisig's remembering the kanji: a different approach to learning kanji, this focuses on first teaching the simplest kanji and building from ones you already know. This is different from wanikani, which will make sure you know (its own) particles before introducing the kanji that uses them, but focuses on learning kanji and vocab in priority order. I'm listing it here because I don't use it much anymore

deepl: ai translator, works much better than google translate. You can also put sentences in chatgpt and ask it for broken down explanations. Take any translations from ai with a grain of salt - they are great tools but do not ensure accuracy

edit 3/10/2024: added tracking and native content sections, added links to lingotrack and natively for media

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Erin In The Morning:

In a groundbreaking development for the care of transgender youth in France, the French Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology has released what is being called the first French national medical consensus on trans youth care. The document’s release comes as a variety of other countries consider the politically-influenced guidelines from the Cass Review in the United Kingdom, which has since been heavily criticized and its recommendations rejected by multiple medical societies in other countries. Importantly, the new guidelines recommend transgender youth care, denounce a “wait-and-see” approach for transgender adolescents, and promote individualized care for every transgender patient.

The guidelines, described as both robust and extensive, were meticulously prepared. According to the document, one to three authors were assigned to each section, conducting comprehensive literature reviews. Their findings were then refined through multiple iterations, with input from the broader group until a consensus was achieved. Finally, the recommendations underwent review by external experts. The result is a thorough and authoritative set of guidelines aimed at providing clear direction for doctors caring for transgender youth in France. The guidelines encompass a wide range of care recommendations for transgender youth, offering official support for puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormone therapy. Regarding puberty blockers, the guidelines emphasize their role in allowing transgender youth to explore their gender identity without the added distress of undergoing puberty, while also reducing the need for future surgeries. For hormone therapy, the recommendations advocate its use for transgender youth who meet the criteria outlined in the ICD-11, ensuring an individualized and evidence-based approach to care.

The recommendations strongly oppose the “wait-and-see” approach for transgender adolescents, often referred to as “gender exploratory therapy.” This practice, considered a form of conversion therapy, seeks to attribute a transgender person’s identity to external factors rather than recognizing it as authentic, delaying access to care—often until adulthood. The guidelines reject this method, stating it “does not reduce psychological distress” and instead “increases the risk of committing suicide and can affect psycho-affective and cognitive development.” These findings align with a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control showing that 25% of transgender youth in the United States have attempted suicide, alongside another study in Nature Human Behavior indicating that anti-trans laws, including healthcare bans, have caused up to a 72% increase in suicide attempts.

[...] These guidelines are poised to resonate both in France and globally. As countries and major medical associations increasingly distance themselves from the U.K.’s Cass Review—criticized for its connections to SPLC-designated hate groups—the scientific consensus continues to affirm the importance of gender-affirming care for transgender youth. Their release comes just one day before the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on healthcare bans targeting transgender youth across the United States. In a climate where medical care for trans youth is under relentless political attack, guidelines like these offer a beacon of evidence-based practice and will be instrumental in shaping a future where access to essential care is protected and secured for all.

Unlike much of the world, especially the UK ([cough]Cass Review[/cough]) and red states in the US, France has introduced guidelines on gender-affirming care that affirmatively recommend the practice.

[ominousrequiemdrifter]

Text to Video: The Future of Content Creation

The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, and Text to Video technology is at the forefront of this transformation. This innovative tool allows users to convert written content into engaging video formats effortlessly. Whether for marketing, education, or entertainment, Text to Video is revolutionizing how we consume and create media.

In this article, we will explore the capabilities of Text to Video, its applications, benefits, and how it is shaping the future of digital content.

What is Text to Video?

Text to Video refers to artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platforms that automatically generate videos from written text. These tools analyze the input text, select relevant visuals, add voiceovers, and synchronize everything into a cohesive video.

How Does Text to Video Work?

Text Analysis – The AI processes the written content to understand context, tone, and key points.

Media Selection – It picks suitable images, video clips, and animations based on the text.

Voice Synthesis – A natural-sounding AI voice reads the text aloud.

Video Assembly – The system combines all elements to produce a polished video.

Popular Text to Video platforms include Synthesia, Lumen5, and Pictory, each offering unique features for different needs.

Applications of Text to Video

The versatility of Text to Video makes it useful across multiple industries.

1. Marketing & Advertising

Businesses use Text to Video to create promotional content, explainer videos, and social media ads without expensive production costs.

2. Education & E-Learning

Educators convert textbooks and articles into engaging video lessons, enhancing student comprehension.

3. News & Journalism

Media outlets quickly turn written news into video summaries, catering to audiences who prefer visual content.

4. Corporate Training

Companies generate training videos from manuals, ensuring consistent onboarding for employees.

5. Social Media Content

Influencers and brands leverage Text to Video to produce daily content for platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok.

Benefits of Using Text to Video

1. Saves Time & Resources

Traditional video production requires scripting, filming, and editing. Text to Video automates this process, reducing production time from days to minutes.

2. Cost-Effective Solution

Hiring videographers, voice actors, and editors is expensive. AI-driven Text to Video eliminates these costs.

3. Enhances Engagement

Videos capture attention better than plain text. Studies show that viewers retain 95% of a message from video compared to 10% from text.

4. Scalability

Businesses can generate hundreds of videos in different languages without additional effort.

5. Accessibility

Adding subtitles and voiceovers makes content accessible to people with hearing or visual impairments.

Challenges & Limitations of Text to Video

Despite its advantages, Text to Video has some limitations:

1. Lack of Human Touch

AI-generated voices and visuals may lack emotional depth compared to human creators.

2. Limited Creativity

While AI can assemble videos, it may not match the creativity of professional video editors.

3. Dependency on Input Quality

Poorly written text can result in incoherent or low-quality videos.

4. Ethical Concerns

Deepfake risks and misinformation are growing concerns as AI-generated videos become more realistic.

The Future of Text to Video

As AI advances, Text to Video will become more sophisticated. Future developments may include:

Hyper-Realistic AI Avatars – Digital presenters indistinguishable from humans.

Interactive Videos – Viewers influencing video outcomes in real-time.

3D & VR Integration – Immersive video experiences generated from text.

With these advancements, Text to Video will further dominate digital content creation.

[digitaldetoxworld]

The C Programming Language Compliers – A Comprehensive Overview

 C is a widespread-purpose, procedural programming language that has had a profound have an impact on on many different contemporary programming languages. Known for its efficiency and energy, C is frequently known as the "mother of all languages" because many languages (like C++, Java, and even Python) have drawn inspiration from it.

C Lanugage Compliers 

Developed within the early Seventies via Dennis Ritchie at Bell Labs, C changed into firstly designed to develop the Unix operating gadget. Since then, it has emerge as a foundational language in pc science and is still widely utilized in systems programming, embedded systems, operating systems, and greater.

2. Key Features of C

C is famous due to its simplicity, performance, and portability. Some of its key functions encompass:

Simple and Efficient: The syntax is minimalistic, taking into consideration near-to-hardware manipulation.

Fast Execution: C affords low-degree get admission to to memory, making it perfect for performance-critical programs.

Portable Code: C programs may be compiled and run on diverse hardware structures with minimal adjustments.

Rich Library Support: Although simple, C presents a preferred library for input/output, memory control, and string operations.

Modularity: Code can be written in features, improving readability and reusability.

Extensibility: Developers can without difficulty upload features or features as wanted.

Three. Structure of a C Program

A primary C application commonly consists of the subsequent elements:

Preprocessor directives

Main function (main())

Variable declarations

Statements and expressions

Functions

Here’s an example of a easy C program:

c

Copy

Edit

#include <stdio.H>

int important() 

    printf("Hello, World!N");

    go back zero;

Let’s damage this down:

#include <stdio.H> is a preprocessor directive that tells the compiler to include the Standard Input Output header file.

Go back zero; ends this system, returning a status code.

4. Data Types in C

C helps numerous facts sorts, categorised particularly as:

Basic kinds: int, char, glide, double

Derived sorts: Arrays, Pointers, Structures

Enumeration types: enum

Void kind: Represents no fee (e.G., for functions that don't go back whatever)

Example:

c

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int a = 10;

waft b = three.14;

char c = 'A';

five. Control Structures

C supports diverse manipulate structures to permit choice-making and loops:

If-Else:

c

Copy

Edit

if (a > b) 

    printf("a is more than b");

 else 

Switch:

c

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Edit

switch (option) 

    case 1:

        printf("Option 1");

        smash;

    case 2:

        printf("Option 2");

        break;

    default:

        printf("Invalid option");

Loops:

For loop:

c

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printf("%d ", i);

While loop:

c

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Edit

int i = 0;

while (i < five) 

    printf("%d ", i);

    i++;

Do-even as loop:

c

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Edit

int i = zero;

do 

    printf("%d ", i);

    i++;

 while (i < 5);

6. Functions

Functions in C permit code reusability and modularity. A function has a return kind, a call, and optionally available parameters.

Example:

c

Copy

Edit

int upload(int x, int y) 

    go back x + y;

int important() 

    int end result = upload(3, 4);

    printf("Sum = %d", result);

    go back zero;

7. Arrays and Strings

Arrays are collections of comparable facts types saved in contiguous memory places.

C

Copy

Edit

int numbers[5] = 1, 2, three, 4, five;

printf("%d", numbers[2]);  // prints three

Strings in C are arrays of characters terminated via a null character ('').

C

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char name[] = "Alice";

printf("Name: %s", name);

8. Pointers

Pointers are variables that save reminiscence addresses. They are powerful but ought to be used with care.

C

Copy

Edit

int a = 10;

int *p = &a;  // p factors to the address of a

Pointers are essential for:

Dynamic reminiscence allocation

Function arguments by means of reference

Efficient array and string dealing with

9. Structures

C

Copy

Edit

struct Person 

    char call[50];

    int age;

;

int fundamental() 

    struct Person p1 = "John", 30;

    printf("Name: %s, Age: %d", p1.Call, p1.Age);

    go back 0;

10. File Handling

C offers functions to study/write documents using FILE pointers.

C

Copy

Edit

FILE *fp = fopen("information.Txt", "w");

if (fp != NULL) 

    fprintf(fp, "Hello, File!");

    fclose(fp);

11. Memory Management

C permits manual reminiscence allocation the usage of the subsequent functions from stdlib.H:

malloc() – allocate reminiscence

calloc() – allocate and initialize memory

realloc() – resize allotted reminiscence

free() – launch allotted reminiscence

Example:

c

Copy

Edit

int *ptr = (int *)malloc(five * sizeof(int));

if (ptr != NULL) 

    ptr[0] = 10;

    unfastened(ptr);

12. Advantages of C

Control over hardware

Widely used and supported

Foundation for plenty cutting-edge languages

thirteen. Limitations of C

No integrated help for item-oriented programming

No rubbish collection (manual memory control)

No integrated exception managing

Limited fashionable library compared to higher-degree languages

14. Applications of C

Operating Systems: Unix, Linux, Windows kernel components

Embedded Systems: Microcontroller programming

Databases: MySQL is partly written in C

Gaming and Graphics: Due to performance advantages

[thecultoflexithewulf]

The Temple Of Viadescioism:

Welcome to my blog, a place of learning and inquiry, where the subjects of occultism and philosophy are explored through the lens of viadescioism. Please feel free to enjoy my posts and to reach out with any thoughts or questions. Your input is valued and appreciated..

Remember that my practices and experiences are my own, shaped by my adherence to viadescioism. Though they may differ from those of others, they are no less valid or meaningful.

What is Viadescioism:

Viadescioism is a unique blend of religion, philosophy, and practice, distinguished by its foundational principles and concepts. At the heart of Viadescioism are three critical elements: the Ten Divines, the Ten Virtues, and the notion of Individual Divinity.

The Ten Divines represent a set of entities or forces that play a pivotal role in the religious aspect of Viadescioism. Each Divine embodies specific aspects or elements of the existence, offering a comprehensive framework for understanding the world and our place in it.

The Ten Virtues, another cornerstone of Viadescioism, are moral and ethical guidelines that practitioners strive to embody in their daily lives. These virtues serve as a moral compass, guiding adherents in their actions and interactions, promoting a life aligned with the principles of Viadescioism.

The concept of Individual Divinity is a profound aspect of Viadescioism, emphasizing the sacredness and divine nature inherent in every individual. This understanding underscores the importance of self-realization, personal growth, and the recognition of one's own spiritual significance.

The term "viadescioism" comes from the Latin words, including "via," meaning road, way, highway, or path; "de," meaning "of" or "from"; and "scio," a word meaning "I know". The suffix "-ism" is added to the end of the term, implying a practice, system, or doctrine. Taken together, the word "viadescioism" is intended to mean "The way of "I know" ". This way of "I know" referring to the teachings of the religion, and the knowing of oneself that is found through following this way. The word viadescioism is supposed to be pronounced like vī-ah-de-shi-oh-ism.

This practice is also sometimes known as Talaibja In Lajava.

For more information on my specific practice, and to learn about the religion of Viadescioism look here:

https://wolfofantimonyoccultism.com/

https://viadescioism.com/

Come check me out on other platforms:

https://linktr.ee/Viadescioism

If you like what you find here, and want me to continue doing it please support me in any way you can:

paypal.me/wolfofantimony

https://ko-fi.com/wolfofantimony

https://www.patreon.com/Viadescioism

Commissions are open:

Lajava Ona Commissions | Sigil Commissions - Only $10.00

Adalama Divination | Sensation Divination - Only $10.00

Message me your details and choice of service. email me at wolfofantimonyoccultism@hotmail.com

[rigelmejo]

I am reading Krashen's The Natural Approach Book (found online on dskrashen.com)

The intro chapter is very interesting. It does an overview of language teaching methods over the years, which is interesting in light of all the different styles of textbooks I've seen. And explains why the modern North American language class consists of "dialogue in book, grammar explanation in book, teacher explaining, and class practicing the dialogues with each other."

I find the following part particular interesting on page 16: "only a few will be able to work their way through a grammar course, be it grammar-translation, audiolingual, or cognitive, and persevere long enough finally to put themselves in communicative situations and acquire the competence they have been striving for. This usually happens in the American Educational system in the third or fourth years of language study, or often even later."

That part - most people don't get enough communicative situations where they understand what's going on, until years into studying a language - I think that part is what most people who currently study languages in classes go through. The Americans who study Spanish, and just don't feel like they "know" Spanish even if they took it all through high school or college, until they move somewhere that forces them to communicate in Spanish with others, or they start watching and reading Spanish more (understanding communication) and then eventually feel confident trying to chat with people. I imagine similar situations in some European schools where English may be taught for years in class - but the student not feeling like they actually "know" English and can use it, until they work in English and have to communicate in it regularly, or start reading/watching/listening to English (understanding communication in English a lot) until they feel confident they can chat in English.

I think right now, for most traditional class learners, this sentence describing the path of learning a language is very relatable to our experiences. Or, we gave up after 1-4 years of classes, felt discouraged we could not speak to people fluently, and figured the whole experience was a failure. (It may be, that if we got some communication experiences we understood, we would find our prior experience in classes causes fast improvement).

[mariacallous]

The United States Army is employing a prototype generative artificial intelligence tool to identify references to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) for removal from training materials in line with a recent executive order from President Donald Trump.

Officials at the Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC)—the major command responsible for training soldiers, developing leaders, and shaping the service’s guidelines, strategies, and concepts—are currently using the AI tool, dubbed CamoGPT, to “review policies, programs, publications, and initiatives for DEIA and report findings,” according to an internal memo reviewed by WIRED.

The memo followed Trump’s signing of a January 27 executive order titled “Restoring America’s Fighting Force,” which directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to eliminate all Pentagon policies seen as promoting what that the commander in chief declared “un-American, divisive, discriminatory, radical, extremist, and irrational theories” regarding race and gender, a linguistic dragnet that extends as far as past social media posts from official US military accounts.

In an email to WIRED, TRADOC spokesman Army Major Chris Robinson confirmed the use of CamoGPT to review DEIA materials.

TRADOC “will fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the Executive Orders issued by the president. We ensure that these directives are carried out with the utmost professionalism, efficiency, and in alignment with national security objectives,” Robinson says. “Specific details about internal policies and tactics cannot be discussed. However, the use of all tools in our portfolio, including CamoGPT, to increase productivity at all levels can and will be used.”

Developed last summer to boost productivity and operational readiness across the US Army, CamoGPT currently has around 4,000 users who “interact” with it on a daily basis, Captain Aidan Doyle, a CamoGPT data engineer, tells WIRED. The tool is used for everything from developing comprehensive training program materials to producing multilingual translations, with TRADOC providing a “proof of concept and demonstration” at last October’s annual Association of the United States Army conference in Washington, DC, according to Robinson.

While Doyle declined to comment on the specifics on how TRADOC officials were likely using the CamoGPT to scan for DEIA-related policies, he described the process of searching through documents as relatively straightforward.

“I would take all the documentation you want to examine, order it all in a collection on CamoGPT, and then ask questions about the documents,” he says. “The way retrieval-augmented generation works is that the more specific your question is to the concepts inside the document, the more detailed information the model will provide back.”

In practical terms, this means that TRADOC officials are likely inputting a large number of documents into CamoGPT and asking the LLM to scan for targeted keywords like “dignity” or “respect” (which, yes, the Army is currently using to screen past digital content) to identify materials for subsequent alteration and bring them in line with Trump’s executive order.

By using CamoGPT, the work of eliminating DEIA-related content will likely result in a rapid change to the US Army’s documentation. “We’re competing with ‘control+F’ in Adobe Acrobat,” Doyle says.

CamoGPT isn’t the only AI chatbot in the Pentagon’s arsenal: The US Air Force’s NIPRGPT has seen extensive use among airmen since its launch in June for “summarization of documents, drafting of documents and coding assistance,” according to DefenseScoop.

The AI-assisted assessment of US military training materials comes amid a government-wide effort to root out DEIA initiated the day Trump returned to the Oval Office in January to start his second term. Detailed in Trump’s January 27 executive order, the Defense Department’s purge has taken the form of the closure of service-specific DEIA offices and program, a department-wide review of past DEI initiatives, and even the removal of historical content related to the famed all-Black Tuskegee Airmen from Air Force basic training materials, the latter of which was swiftly reversed amid public outcry.

Originally inspired by the public release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in November 2022, CamoGPT is a product of the Army’s Artificial Intelligence Integration Center (AI2C), the organization formed in 2018 as part of Army Future Command to spearhead AI research and development efforts by “leveraging a soldier workforce to build experimental prototypes,” as Eric Schmitz, AI2C’s operations and intelligence portfolio lead, tells WIRED.

“The mission is to make AI accessible to the Army through experimentation, and we have an ethos and culture that is very much a start-up ethos.” Schmitz says. “We are product-centric and believe AI is inherently software-driven: You can do all the research you like in academia, but if you don't have software to deliver it to somebody and find out if it's useful software, then you’ll never know if your AI is useful in the real world.”

In response to the arrival of ChatGPT, AI2C quickly spun up a CamoGPT prototype based on an open-source LLM in June 2024. The center’s approach to CamoGPT is “model agnostic,” according to Schmitz: While the system currently relies on tech giant Meta’s open-source Llama 3.3 70B LLM, the underlying model is “expendable” should a better version hit the market. What really matters is building software that the average soldier will actually use in their day-to-day operations, an achievement that might influence its long-term adoption across the force.

“When you talk about how the Army doesn’t build software well, it’s because user adoption is not a priority, but it’s a massive priority to us,” Schmitz says.

Whether CamoGPT proliferates more broadly across the Army remains to be seen, and Schmitz and Doyle emphasized that AI2C’s role is laser-focused on experimental prototyping rather than building products ready for immediate fielding. But with the entire federal government reorienting itself in the name of “efficiency,” the success of CamoGPT’s application to Trump’s DEIA overhaul may end up cementing its utility for military planners.

“You need to be ruthlessly critical of what you have built and what you plan to build and hyper focused on driving user adoption,” Schmitz says. “The core question is, how do you build something that’s so valuable that people say they can't live without it?”

[nowtoboldlygo]

korean media resources for complete beginners!! 🇰🇷

75+ hours of made-for-learners content. generally in order of easiest to most difficult. on the CI wiki, & now on lingotrack. here's the unabridged beginners list.

태웅쌤 - Comprehensible Input Korean's [Lv.A0] Complete Zero Beginner Korean Course 9 hours; modeled after Comprehensible Thai's playlist!

KIWI-Korean Input With Images's 101 playlist & basics 4 hours; love this one incredibly cute & useful

C.K.W.M. / Min - shorts/tiktoks

Breeze Korean 6+ hours, super high quality.

Pronounce Korean 15+ hours; great channel for beginners! clear, repetitive, prolific.

몰입한국어 Immersion in Korean's Super Beginner/A0-A1 short story playlist 1-2 hours; short stories repeated thrice.

Master Vocabulary Korean's vocabulary & verbs playlists 5+ hours; repetitively describes pictures in short videos.

Comprehensible Korean 3-4 hours; more useful to me after the above, but overall good quality!

Storytime in Korean's A Little to the Left (Beginner Korean) 1-2 hours; calm & pleasant channel

태웅쌤 - Comprehensible Input Korean's TPRS series & and point-and-click video game playthroughs 26 hours; more difficult than his superbeginner playlist but still doable after the above!

한글용사 아이야 70+ hours; kids show, i love my hangul power rangers ❤️💙💛

Muzzy in Gondoland 2 hours; the first six episodes only. technically requires a subscription but offers a free trial, pretty famous for English learning & has a Korean version.

DIY videos

[charlesmwa]

The Role of Mixers in Live Sound: A Comprehensive Overview

Imagine standing in the middle of a concert, surrounded by the perfect blend of instruments and vocals, every sound complementing the other seamlessly. This magic doesn’t happen by accident—it’s the work of a mixer. Mixers, often referred to as the heart of live sound systems, play a pivotal role in ensuring every performance sounds flawless. Whether it’s a small gig at a local café or a massive stadium concert, mixers are an essential part of live sound setups.

Let's understand what  mixers do, why they’re important, and how they bring live performances to life. Whether you're an aspiring sound engineer, a musician, or simply curious, this comprehensive overview will break it all down in simple terms.

What is a Mixer?

At its core, a mixer is a device that takes multiple audio signals—like vocals, guitars, keyboards, and drums—and blends them into a cohesive output. Think of it as the control center for all the sounds in a live performance.

Mixers allow you to:

Adjust the volume of each input (like turning up the vocals or lowering the bass).

Shape the sound using equalizers (EQ) to balance frequencies.

Add effects like reverb or delay to enhance the audio.

Route signals to different outputs, such as speakers, monitors, or recording devices.

Whether you're using a compact analog mixer or a high-tech digital console, the principles remain the same: taking raw sound and refining it for the audience's ears.

Why Mixers Are Crucial for Live Sound

1. Balancing the Audio

Live performances often involve multiple sound sources—vocals, instruments, backing tracks, and sometimes even crowd noise. A mixer ensures that no single element overpowers the rest, creating a harmonious balance that’s pleasant to listen to. For instance, without a mixer, a loud drum kit could drown out a singer's voice, making the performance feel chaotic.

2. Customizing the Sound

Every venue has unique acoustics. What sounds great in a small indoor space might not work for an open-air festival. Mixers allow sound engineers to adapt the audio for different environments. By tweaking EQ settings, they can reduce echo in large halls or add warmth to a cold-sounding room.

3. Providing Real-Time Control

Live performances are unpredictable. A singer might step away from the mic, or a guitarist might accidentally play too loudly during a solo. With a mixer, sound engineers can make instant adjustments to keep everything running smoothly.

Key Features of Mixers

When exploring mixers, it’s important to understand their features. Here are some key components that make mixers so versatile:

1. Channels

Mixers have multiple channels, each dedicated to a specific input (e.g., a microphone or instrument). Small mixers might have 4-8 channels, while larger ones can have 32 or more. Each channel has its own controls for volume, EQ, and effects, giving you granular control over individual sound sources.

2. Equalization (EQ)

EQ lets you shape the tone of each input. For example:

Boost the treble for a brighter vocal sound.

Cut the bass to reduce rumbling noises.

Adjust midrange frequencies for clarity.

EQ is essential for ensuring that all elements in a mix complement each other without clashing.

3. Aux Sends and Effects

Auxiliary (aux) sends allow you to send specific audio signals to different destinations. For instance, you can send a mix of vocals and instruments to on-stage monitors so performers can hear themselves.

Many mixers also come with built-in effects like reverb, delay, and compression, which can add depth and polish to the sound.

4. Faders and Pan Controls

Faders control the volume of each channel, while pan controls adjust the stereo placement of a sound. For example, you can pan a guitar slightly to the left and a keyboard slightly to the right for a more immersive stereo effect.

5. Digital vs. Analog Mixers

Analog Mixers: Known for their simplicity and tactile controls, analog mixers are a great choice for beginners or smaller setups.

Digital Mixers: These offer advanced features like presets, wireless control via apps, and the ability to handle complex setups. They’re ideal for larger venues or tech-savvy users.

How Mixers Enhance the Audience Experience

A well-mixed performance can transform how the audience experiences live music. Here’s how mixers contribute to a great show:

Clarity: Mixers ensure that every instrument and vocal is heard clearly, even in a crowded or noisy environment.

Energy: By controlling dynamics, mixers can make the music feel more powerful and engaging.

Emotion: Effects like reverb and delay can add atmosphere and emotion to a performance, making it more memorable.

Tips for Using Mixers Effectively

If you’re new to mixers, here are some practical tips to get started:

Start Simple: Focus on getting the basics right—like balancing volume levels—before diving into advanced features.

Learn to Use EQ: Understanding how to use EQ can make a huge difference in the quality of your mix.

Practice in Real Settings: Mixing in a live environment is different from mixing in a studio. Practice in different venues to get a feel for how acoustics affect sound.

Invest in Quality Gear: A reliable mixer can make your life much easier, especially during live performances. Purchasing from reputable audio shops ensures you get equipment that’s durable and built to perform.

Conclusion

Mixers are more than just pieces of equipment—they’re the bridge between raw sound and a polished performance. By understanding their features and functions, you can unlock their full potential and deliver a live sound experience that captivates your audience.

Whether you’re a performer, a sound engineer, or just someone passionate about music, investing time in learning about mixers is well worth it. After all, great sound doesn’t happen by chance—it’s the result of careful planning, skilled mixing, and quality equipment.

So the next time you’re at a concert or gig, take a moment to appreciate the mixer and the person behind it. They’re the unsung heroes making the magic happen!

[govindhtech]

What is Argo CD? And When Was Argo CD Established?

What Is Argo CD?

Argo CD is declarative Kubernetes GitOps continuous delivery.

In DevOps, ArgoCD is a Continuous Delivery (CD) technology that has become well-liked for delivering applications to Kubernetes. It is based on the GitOps deployment methodology.

When was Argo CD Established?

Argo CD was created at Intuit and made publicly available following Applatix’s 2018 acquisition by Intuit. The founding developers of Applatix, Hong Wang, Jesse Suen, and Alexander Matyushentsev, made the Argo project open-source in 2017.

Why Argo CD?

Declarative and version-controlled application definitions, configurations, and environments are ideal. Automated, auditable, and easily comprehensible application deployment and lifecycle management are essential.

Getting Started

Quick Start

kubectl create namespace argocd kubectl apply -n argocd -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/argoproj/argo-cd/stable/manifests/install.yaml

For some features, more user-friendly documentation is offered. Refer to the upgrade guide if you want to upgrade your Argo CD. Those interested in creating third-party connectors can access developer-oriented resources.

How it works

Argo CD defines the intended application state by employing Git repositories as the source of truth, in accordance with the GitOps pattern. There are various approaches to specify Kubernetes manifests:

Applications for Customization

Helm charts

JSONNET files

Simple YAML/JSON manifest directory

Any custom configuration management tool that is set up as a plugin

The deployment of the intended application states in the designated target settings is automated by Argo CD. Deployments of applications can monitor changes to branches, tags, or pinned to a particular manifest version at a Git commit.

Architecture

The implementation of Argo CD is a Kubernetes controller that continually observes active apps and contrasts their present, live state with the target state (as defined in the Git repository). Out Of Sync is the term used to describe a deployed application whose live state differs from the target state. In addition to reporting and visualizing the differences, Argo CD offers the ability to manually or automatically sync the current state back to the intended goal state. The designated target environments can automatically apply and reflect any changes made to the intended target state in the Git repository.

Components

API Server

The Web UI, CLI, and CI/CD systems use the API, which is exposed by the gRPC/REST server. Its duties include the following:

Status reporting and application management

Launching application functions (such as rollback, sync, and user-defined actions)

Cluster credential management and repository (k8s secrets)

RBAC enforcement

Authentication, and auth delegation to outside identity providers

Git webhook event listener/forwarder

Repository Server

An internal service called the repository server keeps a local cache of the Git repository containing the application manifests. When given the following inputs, it is in charge of creating and returning the Kubernetes manifests:

URL of the repository

Revision (tag, branch, commit)

Path of the application

Template-specific configurations: helm values.yaml, parameters

A Kubernetes controller known as the application controller keeps an eye on all active apps and contrasts their actual, live state with the intended target state as defined in the repository. When it identifies an Out Of Sync application state, it may take remedial action. It is in charge of calling any user-specified hooks for lifecycle events (Sync, PostSync, and PreSync).

Features

Applications are automatically deployed to designated target environments.

Multiple configuration management/templating tools (Kustomize, Helm, Jsonnet, and plain-YAML) are supported.

Capacity to oversee and implement across several clusters

Integration of SSO (OIDC, OAuth2, LDAP, SAML 2.0, Microsoft, LinkedIn, GitHub, GitLab)

RBAC and multi-tenancy authorization policies

Rollback/Roll-anywhere to any Git repository-committed application configuration

Analysis of the application resources’ health state

Automated visualization and detection of configuration drift

Applications can be synced manually or automatically to their desired state.

Web user interface that shows program activity in real time

CLI for CI integration and automation

Integration of webhooks (GitHub, BitBucket, GitLab)

Tokens of access for automation

Hooks for PreSync, Sync, and PostSync to facilitate intricate application rollouts (such as canary and blue/green upgrades)

Application event and API call audit trails

Prometheus measurements

To override helm parameters in Git, use parameter overrides.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[ogxfuturetech]

The Comprehensive Guide to Web Development, Data Management, and More 

Introduction 

Everything today is technology driven in this digital world. There's a lot happening behind the scenes when you use your favorite apps, go to websites, and do other things with all of those zeroes and ones — or binary data. In this blog, I will be explaining what all these terminologies really means and other basics of web development, data management etc. We will be discussing them in the simplest way so that this becomes easy to understand for beginners or people who are even remotely interested about technology.  JOIN US

What is Web Development? 

Web development refers to the work and process of developing a website or web application that can run in a web browser. From laying out individual web page designs before we ever start coding, to how the layout will be implemented through HTML/CSS. There are two major fields of web development — front-end and back-end. 

Front-End Development 

Front-end development, also known as client-side development, is the part of web development that deals with what users see and interact with on their screens. It involves using languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create the visual elements of a website, such as buttons, forms, and images. JOIN US

HTML (HyperText Markup Language): 

HTML is the foundation of all website, it helps one to organize their content on web platform. It provides the default style to basic elements such as headings, paragraphs and links. 

CSS (Cascading Style Sheets):  

styles and formats HTML elements. It makes an attractive and user-friendly look of webpage as it controls the colors, fonts, layout. 

JavaScript :  

A language for adding interactivity to a website Users interact with items, like clicking a button to send in a form or viewing images within the slideshow. JOIN US

Back-End Development 

The difference while front-end development is all about what the user sees, back end involves everything that happens behind. The back-end consists of a server, database and application logic that runs on the web. 

Server: 

A server is a computer that holds website files and provides them to the user browser when they request it. Server-Side: These are populated by back-end developers who build and maintain servers using languages like Python, PHP or Ruby. 

Database:  

The place where a website keeps its data, from user details to content and settings The database is maintained with services like MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MongoDB. JOIN US

Application Logic —  

the code that links front-end and back-end It takes user input, gets data from the database and returns right informations to front-end area. 

Why Proper Data Management is Absolutely Critical 

Data management — Besides web development this is the most important a part of our Digital World. What Is Data Management? It includes practices, policies and procedures that are used to collect store secure data in controlled way. 

Data Storage –  

data after being collected needs to be stored securely such data can be stored in relational databases or cloud storage solutions. The most important aspect here is that the data should never be accessed by an unauthorized source or breached. JOIN US

Data processing:  

Right from storing the data, with Big Data you further move on to process it in order to make sense out of hordes of raw information. This includes cleansing the data (removing errors or redundancies), finding patterns among it, and producing ideas that could be useful for decision-making. 

Data Security:  

Another important part of data management is the security of it. It refers to defending data against unauthorized access, breaches or other potential vulnerabilities. You can do this with some basic security methods, mostly encryption and access controls as well as regular auditing of your systems. 

Other Critical Tech Landmarks 

There are a lot of disciplines in the tech world that go beyond web development and data management. Here are a few of them: 

Cloud Computing 

Leading by example, AWS had established cloud computing as the on-demand delivery of IT resources and applications via web services/Internet over a decade considering all layers to make it easy from servers up to top most layer. This will enable organizations to consume technology resources in the form of pay-as-you-go model without having to purchase, own and feed that infrastructure. JOIN US

Cloud Computing Advantages:  

Main advantages are cost savings, scalability, flexibility and disaster recovery. Resources can be scaled based on usage, which means companies only pay for what they are using and have the data backed up in case of an emergency. 

Examples of Cloud Services: 

Few popular cloud services are Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud. These provide a plethora of services that helps to Develop and Manage App, Store Data etc. 

Cybersecurity 

As the world continues to rely more heavily on digital technologies, cybersecurity has never been a bigger issue. Protecting computer systems, networks and data from cyber attacks is called Cyber security. 

Phishing attacks, Malware, Ransomware and Data breaches: 

This is common cybersecurity threats. These threats can bear substantial ramifications, from financial damages to reputation harm for any corporation. 

Cybersecurity Best Practices:  

In order to safeguard against cybersecurity threats, it is necessary to follow best-practices including using strong passwords and two-factor authorization, updating software as required, training employees on security risks. 

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) represent the fastest-growing fields of creating systems that learn from data, identifying patterns in them. These are applied to several use-cases like self driving cars, personalization in Netflix. 

AI vs ML —  

AI is the broader concept of machines being able to carry out tasks in a way we would consider “smart”. Machine learning is a type of Artificial Intelligence (AI) that provides computers with the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed. JOIN US

Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: some common applications include Image recognition, Speech to text, Natural language processing, Predictive analytics Robotics. 

Web Development meets Data Management etc. 

We need so many things like web development, data management and cloud computing plus cybersecurity etc.. but some of them are most important aspects i.e. AI/ML yet more fascinating is where these fields converge or play off each other. 

Web Development and Data Management 

Web Development and Data Management goes hand in hand. The large number of websites and web-based applications in the world generate enormous amounts of data — from user interactions, to transaction records. Being able to manage this data is key in providing a fantastic user experience and enabling you to make decisions based on the right kind of information. 

E.g. E-commerce Website, products data need to be saved on server also customers data should save in a database loosely coupled with orders and payments. This data is necessary for customization of the shopping experience as well as inventory management and fraud prevention. 

Cloud Computing and Web Development 

The development of the web has been revolutionized by cloud computing which gives developers a way to allocate, deploy and scale applications more or less without service friction. Developers now can host applications and data in cloud services instead of investing for physical servers. 

E.g. A start-up company can use cloud services to roll out the web application globally in order for all users worldwide could browse it without waiting due unavailability of geolocation prohibited access. 

The Future of Cybersecurity and Data Management 

Which makes Cybersecurity a very important part of the Data management. The more data collected and stored by an organization, the greater a target it becomes for cyber threats. It is important to secure this data using robust cybersecurity measures, so that sensitive information remains intact and customer trust does not weaken. JOIN US

Ex: A healthcare provider would have to protect patient data in order to be compliant with regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) that is also responsible for ensuring a degree of confidentiality between a provider and their patients. 

Conclusion 

Well, in a nutshell web-developer or Data manager etc are some of the integral parts for digital world.

As a Business Owner, Tech Enthusiast or even if you are just planning to make your Career in tech — it is important that you understand these. With the progress of technology never slowing down, these intersections are perhaps only going to come together more strongly and develop into cornerstones that define how we live in a digital world tomorrow. 

With the fundamental knowledge of web development, data management, automation and ML you will manage to catch up with digital movements. Whether you have a site to build, ideas data to manage or simply interested in what’s hot these days, skills and knowledge around the above will stand good for changing tech world. JOIN US