#programming tips

[packetpixie]

pro tip for programmers - how to alias

hey, so you know that annoying thing that happens when you're coding, and you need to run/test the same program 100 times in a row, so you end up typing "python3 testScriptWithASuperLongName.py" into the terminal about 80,000 times?

well, there's a better way! it's called aliasing :D

in your bash shell (or zsh, or whatever shell you use, but bash is the default on VSCode and most people on tumblr use VSCode, so I'm using bash as the default to explain this concept) you can set an alias, essentially a shortcut command, that runs longer commands.

(yes you can just use the up arrow key to re-run the same command, but sometimes you're typing other things into the terminal too and you don't feel like hitting the up arrow key four times in a row, and also this is just a cool and useful tip to get comfortable with aliasing so shhhh)

so, in your terminal shell, just type this:

alias run="python3 testScriptWithASuperLongName.py"

now, you can run that entire super long command, just by typing the word "run" into your terminal. Here's a screenshot of an example on my computer to make it make more sense:

in this example, i just created a simple python file that contains one line of code: print("it works!")

then, as you can see, by setting the alias to run, i can now run that file, runningatestscript.py, simply with the command 'run'.

the best part is, this alias is temporary - it only lasts as long as your shell session is open. so once you close the terminal, the run alias is cleared and you can set it again next time to any file or task you're currently working on, to save yourself a lot of typing, typos, and time.

so if you want to, you can get in the habit of always setting a run alias in the VSCode terminal for whichever file you're working with as soon as you get everything open. that way, when you need to run the same file 50 million times, you have a super easy way of doing it! you can even set it to a single letter if you want to go for maximum speed, but i prefer to use whole short words, because they're easy for me to remember.

note: if you do want to set an alias to work for all sessions, you can simply add it to your ./bashrc file. this is a common way to automate repeatable tasks, and simply to set easier-to-remember commands for terminal commands that are really complicated/confusing/hard to remember.

for example, i saved the alias checkboot="[ -d /sys/firmware/efi ] && echo 'UEFI mode' || 'BIOS mode'" into my zshrc file (zsh equivalent of bashrc file). this way, no matter how many times i rebooted my machine, i would always be able to quickly check which boot mode was running by simply typing 'checkboot'.

yesterday i was updating my boot mode from BIOS to UEFI on my very old machine that is technically compatible with UEFI, but not configured for it by default. So it was extremely helpful and saved me the time and headache of having to remember and type that long-ass command a thousand times in between many different reboots and new shells.

if you have any tasks like that, or terminal commands that you know would be useful to you, but you can never remember them when you need them, i highly recommend getting comfortable with aliasing! it can be super useful to simply set custom aliases for all the commands you don't want to remember, so that you can automate things away and not have to worry about so much linux syntax all the time when you're tring to focus on programming.

i know this may seem like a simple tip to some, but i only learned about it recently and it's been extremely helpful to integrate into my workflow and customize my OS with! so i thought it might be worthwhile to some people if i share :) hope it helps!

[insanitear-reblobs]

Tag List

archive from present-july 2024 has been tagged so far

[technologyblog34]

5 Programming tips for beginners to thrive in the software industry

Theory learning is important when it comes to coding or starting a career in coding. However, beginners need to understand that theory is important but so is to take a step forward and dive into coding. Investing time in coding is essential but it is also important to practice as much as possible.

[seuncreative]

Elevate Your Python Skills in Development, Coding, and Scripting

Python, with its simplicity and versatility, stands as a powerful language capable of crafting sophisticated applications, automating tasks with finesse, and scripting ingenious solutions across various domains. Elevate Your Python Skills in Development, Coding, and Scripting is not just a guide; it's your passport to mastering the art of Python programming.

Python isn't just a language—it's a canvas on which you'll paint elegant applications, whether it's web development, game creation, data analysis, or software engineering.

Elevating Your Python Skills ventures into the realm of scripting, where you'll discover the art of automating tasks, orchestrating processes, and managing systems seamlessly. Imagine crafting scripts that save time, effort, and elevate efficiency to new heights.

However, Elevating Your Python Skills isn't just about syntax; it's about cultivating a mindset—an approach that fosters innovation, problem-solving, and a pursuit of excellence. It's about empowering you to write code that not only functions flawlessly but does so with elegance and clarity.

So, are you ready to embark on this journey? Elevate Your Python Skills in Development, Coding, and Scripting awaits, poised to unveil the secrets, unravel the mysteries, and transform you into a Python virtuoso.

Learn how here

[d0nutzgg]

Want to Support My Research and Get Some Cool Subscriber Only Content?

Hey everyone, so I know a lot of you really love my programming stuff. If you want step-by-step tutorials on how to make certain types of machine learning models, python projects, and other awesome subscriber only content, while supporting my research and helping me donate to a good cause (15% of earnings will be donated to the HDSA to improve Huntington's Disease patient's lives as well as fund life changing research being funded by them right now, I will include the donation receipt each time I donate!), you can now subscribe to my Post+ subscription! It would mean a lot to me and I will ALWAYS provide proof of donation as well! I want to make a change, and you can help. I will start posting stuff for my Post+ subscribers as soon as I get my first Subscriber (I want to make sure you're in this with me before I start creating a bunch of stuff!) I will be gone tomorrow because of my teeth issue but I will be home tomorrow night. Anyways, it would mean a lot and I promise to give you an inside look at what I do and how to do everything I do!

Love you all, you are super amazing people!

[academicfever]

43/100 days of productivity!

OMG!!! Ceasefire!!! Finally!!! This is the bare minimum for Palestinian people, but I am so glad ...

Log:16.1.25

#class 2p #textbook session 2P #Take a walk #journal+ mental health check #writing draft 2P #Read_1P

#shower and yoga b4 bed

reminder for me: feeling vulnerable, needing breaks, and recognizing when you're at a limit are not signs of weakness—they are signs of self-awareness and strength. You're not a "snowflake" for wanting to protect your mental health, for needing time to heal, or for feeling like things are too much. That’s just human. Life can be exhausting, and we all have our limits.

[rad-roche]

Art Progress Timeline

It's hard to see this stuff as it's happening, and it's easy to think you're not making progress, so it's good to do these every once in a while. 'finished dww' is both a personal milestone and an excuse to draw them so small, so tiny, but also the point where i didn't have to split focus between two creative disciplines so could focus on the art. been boning up on the fundamentals this year. i've no formal art education (though i did always want it, life had other plans), so i'm thrilled to see i'm getting to where i want to go. hoping 2025 is a good art year for me too

[izicodes]

I made a beginner coding resource! 👩🏾‍💻💗

Hiya! 👩🏾‍💻💗

I made a coding infographic/slideshow for anyone getting into coding and are stuck! I'm seeing a lot of new codeblr blogs coming up recently and they're all beginners and I have been getting a lot of asks which basically all ask "I'm new to coding, how do I start?", so I decided to make this at 1am in the morning real quick! 🥲😭

I genuinely hope that this resource proves beneficial to someone out there. And remember, if you find yourself still facing challenges or need assistance with anything else, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm here to help! ✨

Link to the PDF: LINK

[nimudae]

Pocky day doodle with the silly bf

[kitkatcodes]

✧･ﾟ: Customize your highlight color! :･ﾟ✧

I recently came across a blog where when I went to highlight some text I noticed it was a unique color!!! (」°ロ°)」

AND IT'S SO SIMPLE TO DO

all you do is go to your css file and add this:

::selection { background: <hexcolor> }

Enjoy!! ♡⸜(˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)⸝♡

[sunlit-mess]

Do you sell your brushes that you use?

Nah, they're not mine to begin with except the customized default ones (and honestly they're easy to do).

Check featured tag: messyr's brushes

[hijennyt]

Someone asked me how I went about making the bg in my last piece, I thought I'd upload it here in case it would be useful for anyone else. To start, I focused on getting the silhouettes and capturing the location’s design elements. In this case, it’s Treviso from Dragon Age: Veilguard. Once I had the basic shapes, I essentially repeated many of the silhouettes and design elements. Sometimes I would transform, squash, or stretch them to make them look a bit more varied without seeming too cut-and-paste.

Since the city is far in the background, I kept it to just 2–3 values with minimal detailing—just enough to hint at form. Since it was a personal fanart piece, I felt that was sufficient enough, but would probably go into more forms if it was a client piece. One helpful tip is to use Blender for building reference models if you have the program. If not, in-game screenshots work really well too! I actually included some screenshots I took as reference here. lol

I was also asked how to get more into backgrounds, I’d recommend taking things one step at a time. You don’t need to dive straight into a full-blown background piece on your first go. Start small: maybe add a tree, a bit of a wall, horizon line or even ask yourself questions like, Would this character be walking in the woods? Would it be sunset? Or nighttime? Then branch out from there.

On the more passive side, follow some amazing background artists who inspire you to love backgrounds as much as figures. Nathan Fowkes is one of my favorites. The more joy you find in it, the more likely it’ll become a habit.

If you want to actively pursue backgrounds, then the usual foundational/thumbnail studies (perspective, layout, composition, etc.) are super helpful. Background and composition studies can also go a long way—but I’ve already rambled enough.

[cas-sims]

CASP Editor - Easily change clothing categories in TS3

Have you also felt frustrated with how many nice outfits were categorized in TS3 as everyday, but not outerwear? Wanted your sim to wear the high heels to the pool?

Use the Easy CASP Editor (only works for TS3 versions up to 1.67 though!) to easily change the categories of clothes. You can also hide them in CAS, make valid for random/career and more!

How to do that?

Just open the Easy CASP Editor and in the lower left of the app window you will have a field to choose your CC/EP from:

Select where the piece you want to edit is from and find it in the list above. I will pick the jacket from Supernatural, which was only enabled for Everyday/Formal:

Then, in the menu on the right, click the categories you want the clothing to appear in. NOTE: Pregnant clothes will not have morphs, and checking the other gender or age will *not* convert the clothing or actually enable it for that age.

You can edit as many clothes in one go as you'd like. Then, you just click File -> Save package...

... and it's done!

[bloobydabloob]

Any tips on getting better at realism? I've been drawing very cartoony works forever but I really want to branch out and draw more realistically and hone that style but Everytime I try it never feels human 😔

Suuuure. Sorry it’s fairly long, answer under the split thing.

I’d say mainly just practice drawing from reference first. Before I started doing any sort of more abstractive or non referential realism, I spent time practicing with maybe 20 or 30 paintings from reference.

Here are just some that I made during that time. I think they really really helped me to learn the principles of painting appealing realism, different kinds of people, color, skin, lighting, and anatomy.

In terms of actually drawing realism (whether from reference or not) I think the most important tip I can give, as well as the most overlooked ironally, is stylisation. Most realism that I see doesn’t connect at all with me which I think is maybe what you’re talking about when you say your portraiture doesn’t “feel human”.

Learning to draw realism in my eyes is largely about learning how to shortcut every single thing you can. So instead of drawing everything exactly how it is using an image, learn how to stylise realism in your own way. I find that if you don’t find a way to simplify the process, it can end up being A : Busy and B : hard for you to create more realistic images from imagination or from real life instead of photographs.

Here is a 40 minute drawing I just drew from a random photo I pulled off Pinterest + small explanation on what helps me to break down an image. I simplify realistic portraiture by adopting somewhat of an angular style, but the best realism / semi realism artists I know of draw realism using their own stylisation methods.

I also personally find that it helps to start by blocking in instead of sketching with lines, but I understand that this is a personal preference and might not work for you.

I also say this for everything but there is no “cheating” in art and anyone who tells you there is fundamentally doesn’t know anything about drawing, especially in the learning process. Cheat if you want. Use grids to plot where things will be, colorpick, trace, liquify, transform, whatever. Although I do also recommend that you only use this as a way to learn and don’t rely on it as a crutch, it helps a lot to be able to draw independently of all of these factors. But I learned to draw partially *by* being a kid who traced and colorpicked and fucked around. Who cares

This applies to everything too but just practice a lot. I’m too embarrassed to show but when I first starting drawing semi realistic art without reference it fucking sucked. Like *really* fucking sucked because I am extremely extremely faceblind and I mean that. It takes me 3 seasons of a show to recognise an actor’s face. But because I’ve drawn hundreds of faces now I know what I’m doing kind of. I also never post any realism art immediately because oftentimes if I don’t look at it for a day or two, I’ll come back to it and notice that something doesn’t look quite right. I would say that definitely helps.

ALSO very important but look at it from far away or a little version. I always look at my drawing in the digital navigator on FA and it helps me to notice when something looks dumb.

Anyways hope this helped at all… lalala. I don’t know man. Don’t take my words as bible I’m just some guy and I am also not a professional and realism is definitely not my strong suit. Tutorials are bullshit and if you think any of this advice sucks for you then don’t take it and forge your own path. Bless

[theglowsociety]

Self-Discipline Starts with Self-Compassion

Discipline isn’t punishment—it’s love. It’s showing up for yourself because you’re worth it. How can you make your routine kinder and more sustainable today?