#to write something robust and efficient

[transienturl]

honestly? I think at this point the redpop code is straight up incomprehensible to me. there was a time I thought it was incomprehensible and then over time I thought I came to understand most of it. but we're going backwards at this point. there are so many layers of abstraction that I'm not even remotely able to follow it anymore. like there's a number of layers that I can see corresponding to expanded uses I could imagine for the components in question. but... sigh, I dunno. maybe I grew up on xkit rewritten and have been ruined for real codebases made by normal people forever now but like... you gotta factor that shit man idk.

[hms-no-fun]

Hi! I just read your post about your opinion on "AI" and I really liked it. If it's no bother, what's your opinion on people who use it for studying? Like writing essays, solving problems and stuff like that?

I haven't been a fan of AI from the beginning and I've heard that you shouldn't ask it for anything because then you help it develop. But I don't know how to explain that to friends and classmates or even if it's true anymore. Because I've seen some of the prompts it can come up with and they're not bad and I've heard people say that the summaries AI makes are really good and I just... I dunno. I'm at a loss

Sorry if this is a lot or something you simply don't want to reply to. You made really good points when talking about AI and I really liked it and this has been weighing on me for a while :)

on a base level, i don't really have a strongly articulated opinion on the subject because i don't use AI, and i'm 35 so i'm not in school anymore and i don't have a ton of college-aged friends either. i have little exposure to the people who use AI in this way nor to the people who have to deal with AI being used in this way, so my perspective here is totally hypothetical and unscientific.

what i was getting at in my original AI post was a general macroeconomic point about how all of the supposed efficiency gains of AI are an extension of the tech CEO's dislike of paying and/or giving credit to anyone they deem less skilled or intelligent than them. that it's conspicuous how AI conveniently falls into place after many decades of devaluing and deskilling creative/artistic labor industries. historically, for a lot of artists the most frequently available & highest paying gigs were in advertising. i can't speak to the specifics when it comes to visual art or written copy, but i *can* say that when i worked in the oklahoma film industry, the most coveted jobs were always the commercials. great pay for relatively less work, with none of the complications that often arise working on amateur productions. not to mention they were union gigs, a rare enough thing in a right to work state, so anyone trying to make a career out of film work wanting to bank their union hours to qualify for IATSE membership always had their ears to the ground for an opening. which didn't come often because, as you might expect, anyone who *got* one of those jobs aimed to keep it as long as possible. who could blame em, either? one person i met who managed to get consistent ad work said they could afford to work all of two or three months a year, so they could spend the rest of their time doing low-budget productions and (occasionally) student films.

there was a time when this was the standard for the film industry, even in LA; you expected to work 3 to 5 shows a year (exact number's hard to estimate because production schedules vary wildly between ads, films, and tv shows) for six to eight months if not less, so you'd have your bills well covered through the lean periods and be able to recover from what is an enormously taxing job both physically and emotionally. this was never true for EVERYONE, film work's always been a hustle and making a career of it is often a luck-based crapshoot, but generally that was the model and for a lot of folks it worked. it meant more time to practice their skills on the job, sustainably building expertise and domain knowledge that they could then pass down to future newcomers. anything that removes such opportunities decreases the amount of practice workers get, and any increased demand on their time makes them significantly more likely to burn out of the industry early. lower pay, shorter shoots, busier schedules, these aren't just bad for individual workers but for the entire industry, and that includes the robust and well-funded advertising industry.

well, anyway, this year's coca-cola christmas ad was made with AI. they had maybe one person on quality control using an adobe aftereffects mask to add in the coke branding. this is the ultimate intended use-case for AI. it required the expertise of zero unionized labor, and worst of all the end result is largely indistinguishable from the alternative. you'll often see folks despair at this verisimilitude, particularly when a study comes out that shows (for instance) people can't tell the difference between real poetry and chat gpt generated poetry. i despair as well, but for different reasons. i despair that production of ads is a better source of income and experience for film workers than traditional movies or television. i despair that this technology is fulfilling an age-old promise about the disposability of artistic labor. poetry is not particularly valued by our society, is rarely taught to people beyond a beginner's gloss on meter and rhyme. "my name is sarah zedig and i'm here to say, i'm sick of this AI in a major way" type shit. end a post with the line "i so just wish that it would go away and never come back again!" and then the haiku bot swoops in and says, oh, 5/7/5 you say? that is technically a haiku! and then you put a haiku-making minigame in your crowd-pleasing japanese nationalist open world chanbara simulator, because making a haiku is basically a matter of selecting one from 27 possible phrase combinations. wait, what do you mean the actual rules of haiku are more elastic and subjective than that? that's not what my english teacher said in sixth grade!

AI is able to slip in and surprise us with its ability to mimic human-produced art because we already treat most human-produced art like mechanical surplus of little to no value. ours is a culture of wikipedia-level knowledge, where you have every incentive to learn a lot of facts about something so that you can sufficiently pretend to have actually experienced it. but this is not to say that humans would be better able to tell the difference between human produced and AI produced poetry if they were more educated about poetry! the primary disconnect here is economic. Poets already couldn't make a fucking living making poetry, and now any old schmuck can plug a prompt into chatgpt and say they wrote a sonnet. even though they always had the ability to sit down and write a sonnet!

boosters love to make hay about "deskilling" and "democratizing" and "making accessible" these supposedly gatekept realms of supposedly bourgeois expression, but what they're really saying (whether they know it or not) is that skill and training have no value anymore. and they have been saying this since long before AI as we know it now existed! creative labor is the backbone of so much of our world, and yet it is commonly accepted as a poverty profession. i grew up reading books and watching movies based on books and hearing endless conversation about books and yet when i told my family "i want to be a writer" they said "that's a great way to die homeless." like, this is where the conversation about AI's impact starts. we already have a culture that simultaneously NEEDS the products of artistic labor, yet vilifies and denigrates the workers who perform that labor. folks see a comic panel or a corporate logo or a modern art piece and say "my kid could do that," because they don't perceive the decades of training, practice, networking, and experimentation that resulted in the finished product. these folks do not understand that just because the labor of art is often invisible doesn't mean it isn't work.

i think this entire conversation is backwards. in an ideal world, none of this matters. human labor should not be valued over machine labor because it inherently possesses an aura of human-ness. art made by humans isn't better than AI generated art on qualitative grounds. art is subjective. you're not wrong to find beauty in an AI image if the image is beautiful. to my mind, the value of human artistic labor comes down to the simple fact that the world is better when human beings make art. the world is better when we have the time and freedom to experiment, to play, to practice, to develop and refine our skills to no particular end except whatever arbitrary goal we set for ourselves. the world is better when people collaborate on a film set to solve problems that arise organically out of the conditions of shooting on a live location. what i see AI being used for is removing as many opportunities for human creativity as possible and replacing them with statistical averages of prior human creativity. this passes muster because art is a product that exists to turn a profit. because publicly traded companies have a legal responsibility to their shareholders to take every opportunity to turn a profit regardless of how obviously bad for people those opportunities might be.

that common sense says writing poetry, writing prose, writing anything is primarily about reaching the end of the line, about having written something, IS the problem. i've been going through the many unfinished novels i wrote in high school lately, literally hundreds of thousands of words that i shared with maybe a dozen people and probably never will again. what value do those words have? was writing them a waste of time since i never posted them, never finished them, never turned a profit off them? no! what i've learned going back through those old drafts is that i'm only the writer i am today BECAUSE i put so many hours into writing generic grimdark fantasy stories and bizarrely complicated werewolf mythologies.

you know i used to do open mics? we had a poetry group that met once a month at a local cafe in college. each night we'd start by asking five words from the audience, then inviting everyone to compose a poem using those words in 10 to 15 minutes. whoever wanted to could read their poem, and whoever got the most applause won a free drink from the cafe. then we'd spend the rest of the night having folks sign up to come and read whatever. sometimes you'd get heartfelt poems about personal experiences, sometimes you'd get ambitious soundcloud rappers, sometimes you'd get a frat guy taking the piss, sometimes you'd get a mousy autist just doing their best. i don't know that any of the poetry i wrote back then has particular value today, but i don't really care. the point of it was the experience in that moment. the experience of composing something on the fly, or having something you wrote a couple days ago, then standing up and reading it. the value was in the performance itself, in the momentary synthesis between me and the audience. i found out then that i was pretty good at making people cry, and i could not have had that experience in any other venue. i could not have felt it so viscerally had i just posted it online. and i cannot wrap up that experience and give it to you, because it only existed then.

i think more people would write poetry if they had more hours in a day to spare for frivolities, if there existed more spaces where small groups could organize open mics, if transit made those spaces more widely accessible, if everyone made enough money that they weren't burned the fuck out and not in the mood to go to an open mic tonight, if we saw poetry as a mode of personal reflection which was as much about the experience of having written it as anything else. this is the case for all the arts. right now, the only people who can afford to make a living doing art are already wealthy, because art doesn't pay well. this leads to brain drain and overall lowering quality standards, because the suburban petty bouge middle class largely do not experience the world as it materially exists for the rest of us. i often feel that many tech CEOs want to be remembered the way andy warhol is remembered. they want to be loved and worshipped not just for business acumen but for aesthetic value, they want to get the kind of credit that artists get-- because despite the fact that artists don't get paid shit, they also frequently get told by people "your work changed my life." how is it that a working class person with little to no education can write a story that isn't just liked but celebrated, that hundreds or thousands of people imprint on, that leaves a mark on culture you can't quantify or predict or recreate? this is AI's primary use-case, to "democratize" art in such a way that hacks no longer have to work as hard to pretend to be good at what they do. i mean, hell, i have to imagine every rich person with an autobiography in the works is absolutely THRILLED that they no longer have to pay a ghost writer!

so, circling back around to the meat of your question. as far as telling people not to use AI because "you're just helping to train it," that ship has long since sailed. getting mad at individuals for using AI right now is about as futile as getting mad at individuals for not masking-- yes, obviously they should wear a mask and write their own essays, but to say this is simply a matter of millions of individuals making the same bad but unrelated choice over and over is neoliberal hogwash. people stopped masking because they were told to stop masking by a government in league with corporate interests which had every incentive to break every avenue of solidarity that emerged in 2020. they politicized masks, calling them "the scarlet letter of [the] pandemic". biden himself insisted this was "a pandemic of the unvaccinated", helpfully communicating to the public that if you're vaccinated, you don't need to mask. all those high case numbers and death counts? those only happen to the bad people.

now you have CEOs and politicians and credulous media outlets and droves of grift-hungry influencers hard selling the benefits of AI in everything everywhere all the time. companies have bent over backwards to incorporate AI despite ethics and security worries because they have a fiduciary responsibility to their shareholders, and everyone with money is calling this the next big thing. in short, companies are following the money, because that's what companies do. they, in turn, are telling their customers what tools to use and how. so of course lots of people are using AI for things they probably shouldn't. why wouldn't they? "the high school/college essay" as such has been quantized and stripmined by an education system dominated by test scores over comprehension. it is SUPPOSED to be an exercise in articulating ideas, to teach the student how to argue persuasively. the final work has little to no value, because the point is the process. but when you've got a system that lives and dies by its grades, within which teachers are given increasingly more work to do, less time to do it in, and a much worse paycheck for their trouble, the essay increasingly becomes a simple pass/fail gauntlet to match the expected pace set by the simple, clean, readily gradable multiple choice quiz. in an education system where the stakes for students are higher than they've ever been, within which you are increasingly expected to do more work in less time with lower-quality guidance from your overworked teachers, there is every incentive to get chatgpt to write your essay for you.

do you see what i'm saying? we can argue all day about the shoulds here. of course i think it's better when people write their own essays, do their own research, personally read the assigned readings. but cheating has always been a problem. a lot of these same fears were aired over the rising popularity of cliffs notes in the 90s and 2000s! the real problem here is systemic. it's economic. i would have very little issue with the output of AI if existing conditions were not already so precarious. but then, if the conditions were different, AI as we know it likely would not exist. it emerges today as the last gasp of a tech industry that has been floundering for a reason to exist ever since the smart phone dominated the market. they tried crypto. they tried the metaverse. now they're going all-in on AI because it's a perfect storm of shareholder-friendly buzzwords and the unscientific technomythology that's been sold to laymen by credulous press sycophants for decades. It slots right into this niche where the last of our vestigial respect for "the artist" once existed. it is the ultimate expression of capitalist realism, finally at long last doing away with the notion that the suits at disney could never in their wildest dreams come up with something half as cool as the average queer fanfic writer. now they've got a program that can plagiarize that fanfic (along with a dozen others) for them, laundering the theft through a layer of transformation which perhaps mirrors how the tech industry often exploits open source software to the detriment of the open source community. the catastrophe of AI is that it's the fulfillment of a promise that certainly predates computers at the very least.

so, i don't really know what to tell someone who uses AI for their work. if i was talking to a student, i'd say that relying chatgpt is really gonna screw you over when it comes time take the SAT or ACT, and you have to write an essay from scratch by hand in a monitored environment-- but like, i also think the ACT and SAT and probably all the other standardized tests shouldn't exist? or at the very least ought to be severely devalued, since prep for those tests often sabotages the integrity of actual classroom education. although, i guess at this point the only way forward for education (that isn't getting on both knees and deep-throating big tech) is more real-time in-class monitored essay writing, which honestly might be better for all parties anyway. of course that does nothing to address research essays you can't write in a single class session. to someone who uses AI for research, i'd probably say the same thing as i would to someone who uses wikipedia: it's a fine enough place to start, but don't cite it. click through links, find sources, make sure what you're reading is real, don't rely on someone else's generalization. know that chatgpt is likely not pulling information from a discrete database of individual files that it compartmentalizes the way you might expect, but rather is a statistical average of a broad dataset about which it cannot have an opinion or interpretation. sometimes it will link you to real information, but just as often it will invent information from whole cloth. honestly, the more i talk it out, the more i realize all this advice is basically identical to the advice adults were giving me in the early 2000s.

which really does cement for me that the crisis AI is causing in education isn't new and did not come from nowhere. before chatgpt, students were hiring freelancers on fiverr. i already mentioned cliffs notes. i never used any of these in college, but i'll also freely admit that i rarely did all my assigned reading. i was the "always raises her hand" bitch, and every once in a while i'd get other students who were always dead silent in class asking me how i found the time to get the reading done. i'd tell them, i don't. i read the beginning, i read the ending, and then i skim the middle. whenever a word or phrase jumps out at me, i make a note of it. that way, when the professor asks a question in class, i have exactly enough specific pieces of information at hand to give the impression of having done the reading. and then i told them that i learned how to do this from the very same professor that was teaching that class. the thing is, it's not like i learned nothing from this process. i retained quite a lot of information from those readings! this is, broadly, a skill that emerges from years of writing and reading essays. but then you take a step back and remember that for most college students (who are not pursuing any kind of arts degree), this skillset is relevant to an astonishingly minimal proportion of their overall course load. college as it exists right now is treated as a jobs training program, within which "the essay" is a relic of an outdated institution that highly valued a generalist liberal education where today absolute specialization seems more the norm. so AI comes in as the coup de gras to that old institution. artists like myself may not have the constitution for the kind of work that colleges now exist to funnel you into, but those folks who've never put a day's thought into the work of making art can now have a computer generate something at least as good at a glance as basically anything i could make. as far as the market is concerned, that's all that matters. the contents of an artwork, what it means to its creator, the historic currents it emerges out of, these are all technicalities that the broad public has been well trained not to give a shit about most of the time. what matters is the commodity and the economic activity it exists to generate.

but i think at the end of the day, folks largely want to pay for art made by human beings. that it's so hard for a human being to make a living creating and selling art is a question far older than AI, and whose answer hasn't changed. pay workers more. drastically lower rents. build more affordable housing. make healthcare free. make education free. massively expand public transit. it is simply impossible to overstate how much these things alone would change the conversation about AI, because it would change the conversation about everything. SO MUCH of the dominance of capital in our lives comes down to our reliance on cars for transit (time to get a loan and pay for insurance), our reliance on jobs for health insurance (can't quit for moral reasons if it's paying for your insulin), etc etc etc. many of AI's uses are borne out of economic precarity and a ruling class desperate to vacuum up every loose penny they can find. all those billionaires running around making awful choices for the rest of us? they stole those billions. that is where our security went. that is why everything is falling apart, because the only option remaining to *every* institutional element of society is to go all-in on the profit motive. tax these motherfuckers and re-institute public arts funding. hey, did you know the us government used to give out grants to artists? did you know we used to have public broadcast networks where you could make programs that were shown to your local community? why the hell aren't there public youtube clones? why aren't there public transit apps? why aren't we CONSTANTLY talking about nationalizing these abusive fucking industries that are falling over themselves to integrate AI because their entire modus operandi is increasing profits regardless of product quality?

these are the questions i ask myself when i think about solutions to the AI problem. tech needs to be regulated, the monopolies need breaking up, but that's not enough. AI is a symptom of a much deeper illness whose treatment requires systemic solutions. and while i'm frustrated when i see people rely on AI for their work, or otherwise denigrate artists who feel AI has devalued their field, on some level i can't blame them. they are only doing what they've been told to do. all of which merely strengthens my belief in the necessity of an equitable socialist future (itself barely step zero in the long path towards a communist future, and even that would only be a few steps on the even longer path to a properly anarchist future). improve the material conditions and you weaken the dominance of capitalist realism, however minutely. and while there are plenty of reasons to despair at the likelihood of such a future given a second trump presidency, i always try to remember that socialist policies are very popular and a *lot* of that popularity emerged during the first trump administration. the only wrong answer here is to assume that losing an election is the same thing as losing a war, that our inability to put the genie back in its bottle means we can't see our own wishes granted.

i dunno if i answered your question but i sure did say a lot of stuff, didn't i?

[thebreakfastgenie]

this is one (1) redeemable voucher to complain about AO3's tagging system (if you like)

Thanks for the voucher!

I probably should have phrased that post differently because upon reflection what I hate is more downstream of AO3's tagging system. The system itself does what it's supposed to do: it organizes the archive. Of course, users get cutesy with it (and I'm guilty of this myself) and other users will use inaccurate tags on purpose to get more attention (this is not acceptable behavior), but neither of those things are the system's fault.

But because the tagging system is so robust and fics are tagged based on tropes, this culture has developed of hyper-curated, trope-based reading habits. This didn't exist before AO3 because it just wasn't possible to filter fics to that extent. Some of my favorite fic reading experiences have been fics that I stumbled across by mistake because I didn't know what they were or because I had to comb through broader categories.

And this is where I start sounding like Ted Gup. Ted Gup wrote this essay in the late 90s called The End of Serendipity about how computers being so efficient at retrieving information was going to bring about the end of people stumbling upon topics they wouldn't have otherwise explored. I had to read and respond to this essay in English class in middle school and I raked Ted Gup over the coals, because I was writing on my laptop with dozens of open tabs. I still think I was right to point out Ted Gup's failure to foresee the wiki walk, but now that I'm older and technology has developed more over the last fifteen years, I'm starting to think he had something of a point.

I was thinking about this in a fanfiction and fandom context because I recalled a post I reblogged recently saying (paraphrased) "I have nothing against shipping but some of you are too focused on shipping to the exclusion of everything else." I agree with that post, but for me part of the problem isn't even the focus on shipping, it's that the shipping content is often so formulaic. Fandom talks a big game about diversity and creativity in fanworks, but a lot of the actual output I see is incredibly formulaic. In my opinion that's related to the extreme focus on tropes. Tropes are great, but if you're only looking at fic as a list of tropes you're taking a very narrow view. I don't know what the direction of causality is here, if there even is one, but I think the tagging system and the way the tagging system is used facilitate this reductive trope-based outlook.

I'm from the fanfiction.net era and I find the character and relationship tagging on AO3 useful, but I don't really care for the additional tags. I had to train myself to even read them. I prefer to select fics based on titles and summaries, because those are created by the author. Obviously writing a summary is very different than writing a story (and in fact it's a different skill and it's hard!) but a summary is still written by the author, so it gives me some sense of their writing style. When authors actually include an excerpt in the summary it does that even more. Tags can be useful in conjunction with a summary, because well-selected tags make me curious how all the elements listed in the tags fit together. But I don't want to sort by Enemies to Lovers or whatever.

I don't expect everyone to read like I do, this is nothing more than one crank's ramblings about my personal dissatisfaction with the current state of fandom. Maybe it resonates with someone, and if it does they're welcome to reblog it, but I'm not trying to do social commentary here. Maybe it doesn't, and that's okay too.

I also don't know if the trope focus on booktok and in the traditional publishing world comes out of fanfiction or not but it's even more distressing to me there and I think it bothers me in the fanfiction sphere because of the possibility that fanfiction is contributing to that trend.

[lord-squiggletits]

I’d love to hear any comments/headcanons you have for pre-Tarn/pre-war Damus!

Those tags about him being touch starved due in part to his Outlier powers had me in my feels 😭😭 I loved that wonderful (and angsty) analysis on him.

Hmm I'm not sure I have that many but let's see if the ones I do have end up blossoming into a more robust list or not

Like most people, I headcanon Damus having an affinity for music long before becoming Tarn; I mean, his outlier power had literally nothing to do with sound at all to begin with (even once he started being able to do it at a distance), so it seems like for Tarn to have 'music lover' as one of his big traits, he would've picked it for a reason, no? Not all parts of Tarn (TM) have to be a complete pretense

Following that, because Damus' outlier broke all electrical devices/machines he touched, he became a singer because his own voice is something he can't break and that no one can take away from him. Maybe he would've tried non-electronic instruments, but he would've gravitated towards singing more than instrumental performance regardless

Also, depending on how you headcanon Cybertronian singing to work (do any of them "breathe"/push air like humans do or are their voices entirely synthesized? Is "breathing" a special mod or does it work as a function of ventilation/cooling), being empurata'd probably could've affected Damus' singing ability since he would no longer have a face/mouth to shape his sounds. Could still sing since he does have a voice box, but I imagine that, considering Damus wasn't able to touch anyone/anything anyways, losing his hands was way less hurtful to him than losing his face.

However, since his outlier ability would make him pretty much functionally disabled on Cybertron (literally everything and everyone is machines), Damus would've had a greater appreciation for physical mediums of art/function more than the average person, I think. In a society where pretty much everything is stored on datapads, computers, etc, Damus would've been a huge pen-and-paper, art canvas, stonecarving, etc kind of guy; a big appreciator of things that can survive without an electrical connection or any machine functioning. He's basically one of those people who, in human terms, would own a lot of antiquated stuff like record players, cassette decks, CDs, etc because his outlier forced him to adapt to (and then eventually enjoy the benefits/unique traits of) physical rather than digital mediums. I imagine this trait would make Damus odd among other hobbyists, since for both anatomical reasons (they're a mechanical species) and cultural reasons (history of mechanical superiority/anti-organic tendencies), most people would probably degrade physical media as less fast, efficient, flexible, etc compared to digital. Which does kind of make it ironic that Damus later became a Decepticon, but I suppose non-electrical/mechanical doesn't necessarily equate to being organic.

On account of not gaining control of his outlier until his outlaw days with Orion and co., I imagine Damus' job opportunities would've been very limited and he would've mostly had a very poor/limiting lifestyle (which also inclined him to be more interested in Megatron's writings and eventually becoming a Decepticon). Creativity isn't running well at the moment, but probably something like waste management (like being a garbage man) or some sort of manual hauling job, although Damus appears to have just been a normal 4-wheeled car alt-mode so I'm not sure he could've/would've gotten hired for heavy manual labor stuff. Perhaps he could've been a courier like Bumblebee was pre-war?

That also begs the question of how Damus compensated for his disability. Maybe to handle electronics, he could do so as long as he wore really thick gloves or something? Probably he'd also take advantage of stuff like voice commands/text to speech on electronic devices, so I imagine Damus' life wasn't completely devoid of any technology whatsoever. Do you think he'd be able to cook food on a stove top as long as he used a pair of tongs to grab it? I bet Damus had to get really good at improvising disability aids and getting basic life functions done without touching things directly with his hands, so maybe he was a bit of a tinkerer back then as well. And now I'm imagining Damus' home being full of elaborate Rube Goldberg machines that do very basic things like turn the stove to a specific temperature and turn it off after a set interval of time klsdalfjkdls

[i-am-vita]

Fic inspiration: that time you met Mihawk for the first time

Based on my OPLA oldermenxfemreader headcanons pseudo fanfic here.

Me thinking what would be a proper technique to distract Mihawk before stealing his cross as a last resort.

*Wild guitar strings appeared*

Oh...

.

.

The probability of a Warlord walking to any ball, specially one in honour of the Marine, was low but never zero.

.

Well, fuck.

That would undo all your timing and ruin the entire operation. Who knows when will you have another opportunity to infiltrate the Hacienda this easy.

Your crew is so efficient and low profile that the Marine have connected you to just a handful of the real amount of your thieveries through the years. You were sure if the World Gobernment realize how much fuck up they really were thanks to the Phantom Pirates, your bounties'd be thripled.

And neither of you wanted that.

So the red dress it was.

.

With the corner of your eye, you managed to catch a glimpse of Raoul coming inside the room, the Host mere steps behind with his butler whispering in his ear. Your eyes found those of your maid-disguised crewmate, Carlotta, and gave her a small nod.

The clock was running from now on.

"May I have this dance, my lord. Kill some time before your business meeting?"

.

The waltz came to it's end with both of you managing to maintain a proper pose and distance despise the intensity of his stare awakening a desire for nearness.

Over the shoulder of your dance partner, you saw Raoul making a circular move with his hand, signing you to keep going.

You noticed the Warlord's eyes scaning the crowd, no doubt looking for the butler who would take him to his meeting at the office currently being robbed by your crewmates.

Time for the big guns.

"Would you care to try something more... robust, my lord?"

"Do you feel an equal to the task, my lady?"

You gave him a wink and signal for a maid who approached you, whispered her something and sent her to the small orchesta near the corner.

You guided Dracule to the center of the emptying dance floor, your arm extended to his with only your hands touching... until the first strings of guitar and brass wind instruments started.

.

.

.

To be continued...

A little excerpt from what I've been working on. I just need to learn how to write a proper dance scene.

And discover how one convinces Mihawk to dance at all in a public setting.

Let's start talking wine, that's sounds legit *googling wine puns*

Read fic here

[this-week-in-rust]

This Week in Rust 534

Hello and welcome to another issue of This Week in Rust! Rust is a programming language empowering everyone to build reliable and efficient software. This is a weekly summary of its progress and community. Want something mentioned? Tag us at @ThisWeekInRust on Twitter or @ThisWeekinRust on mastodon.social, or send us a pull request. Want to get involved? We love contributions.

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Updates from Rust Community

Official

Announcing Rust 1.76.0

This Development-cycle in Cargo: 1.77

Project/Tooling Updates

zbus 4.0 released. zbus is a pure Rust D-Bus crate. The new version brings a more ergonomic and safer API. Release: zbus4

This Month in Rust OSDev: January 2024

Rerun 0.13 - real-time kHz time series in a multimodal visualizer

egui 0.26 - Text selection in labels

Hello, Selium! Yet another streaming platform, but easier

Observations/Thoughts

Which red is your function?

Porting libyaml to Safe Rust: Some Thoughts

Design safe collection API with compile-time reference stability in Rust

Cross compiling Rust to win32

Modular: Mojo vs. Rust: is Mojo 🔥 faster than Rust 🦀 ?

Extending Rust's Effect System

Allocation-free decoding with traits and high-ranked trait bounds

Cross-Compiling Your Project in Rust

Kind: Our Rust library that provides zero-cost, type-safe identifiers

Performance Roulette: The Luck of Code Alignment

Too dangerous for C++

Building an Uptime Monitor in Rust

Box Plots at the Olympics

Rust in Production: Interview with FOSSA

Performance Pitfalls of Async Function Pointers (and Why It Might Not Matter)

Error management in Rust, and libs that support it

Finishing Turborepo's migration from Go to Rust

Rust: Reading a file line by line while being mindful of RAM usage

Why Rust? It's the safe choice

[video] Rust 1.76.0: 73 highlights in 24 minutes!

Rust Walkthroughs

Rust/C++ Interop Part 1 - Just the Basics

Rust/C++ Interop Part 2 - CMake

Speeding up data analysis with Rayon and Rust

Calling Rust FFI libraries from Go

Write a simple TCP chat server in Rust

[video] Google Oauth with GraphQL API written in Rust - part 1. Registration mutation.

Miscellaneous

The book "Asynchronous Programming in Rust" is released

January 2024 Rust Jobs Report

Chasing a bug in a SAT solver

Rust for hardware vendors

[audio] How To Secure Your Audio Code Using Rust With Chase Kanipe

[audio] Tweede Golf - Rust in Production Podcast

[video] RustConf 2023

[video] Decrusting the tracing crate

Crate of the Week

This week's crate is microflow, a robust and efficient TinyML inference engine for embedded systems.

Thanks to matteocarnelos for the self-suggestion!

Please submit your suggestions and votes for next week!

Call for Participation; projects and speakers

CFP - Projects

Always wanted to contribute to open-source projects but did not know where to start? Every week we highlight some tasks from the Rust community for you to pick and get started!

Some of these tasks may also have mentors available, visit the task page for more information.

* Hyperswitch - [FEATURE]: Setup code coverage for local tests & CI * Hyperswitch - [FEATURE]: Have get_required_value to use ValidationError in OptionExt

If you are a Rust project owner and are looking for contributors, please submit tasks here.

CFP - Speakers

Are you a new or experienced speaker looking for a place to share something cool? This section highlights events that are being planned and are accepting submissions to join their event as a speaker.

Devoxx PL 2024 | CFP closes 2024-03-01 | Krakow, Poland | Event date: 2024-06-19 - 2024-06-21

RustFest Zürich 2024 CFP closes 2024-03-31 | Zürich, Switzerland | Event date: 2024-06-19 - 2024-06-24

If you are an event organizer hoping to expand the reach of your event, please submit a link to the submission website through a PR to TWiR.

Updates from the Rust Project

466 pull requests were merged in the last week

add armv8r-none-eabihf target for the Cortex-R52

add lahfsahf and prfchw target feature

check_consts: fix duplicate errors, make importance consistent

interpret/write_discriminant: when encoding niched variant, ensure the stored value matches

large_assignments: Allow moves into functions

pattern_analysis: gather up place-relevant info

pattern_analysis: track usefulness without interior mutability

account for non-overlapping unmet trait bounds in suggestion

account for unbounded type param receiver in suggestions

add support for custom JSON targets when using build-std

add unstable -Z direct-access-external-data cmdline flag for rustc

allow restricted trait impls under #[allow_internal_unstable(min_specialization)]

always check the result of pthread_mutex_lock

avoid ICE in drop recursion check in case of invalid drop impls

avoid a collection and iteration on empty passes

avoid accessing the HIR in the happy path of coherent_trait

bail out of drop elaboration when encountering error types

build DebugInfo for async closures

check that the ABI of the instance we are inlining is correct

clean inlined type alias with correct param-env

continue to borrowck even if there were previous errors

coverage: split out counter increment sites from BCB node/edge counters

create try_new function for ThinBox

deduplicate tcx.instance_mir(instance) calls in try_instance_mir

don't expect early-bound region to be local when reporting errors in RPITIT well-formedness

don't skip coercions for types with errors

emit a diagnostic for invalid target options

emit more specific diagnostics when enums fail to cast with as

encode coroutine_for_closure for foreign crates

exhaustiveness: prefer "0..MAX not covered" to "_ not covered"

fix ICE for deref coercions with type errors

fix ErrorGuaranteed unsoundness with stash/steal

fix cycle error when a static and a promoted are mutually recursive

fix more ty::Error ICEs in MIR passes

for E0223, suggest associated functions that are similar to the path

for a rigid projection, recursively look at the self type's item bounds to fix the associated_type_bounds feature

gracefully handle non-WF alias in assemble_alias_bound_candidates_recur

harmonize AsyncFn implementations, make async closures conditionally impl Fn* traits

hide impls if trait bound is proven from env

hir: make sure all HirIds have corresponding HIR Nodes

improve 'generic param from outer item' error for Self and inside static/const items

improve normalization of Pointee::Metadata

improve pretty printing for associated items in trait objects

introduce enter_forall to supercede instantiate_binder_with_placeholders

lowering unnamed fields and anonymous adt

make min_exhaustive_patterns match exhaustive_patterns better

make it so that async-fn-in-trait is compatible with a concrete future in implementation

make privacy visitor use types more (instead of HIR)

make traits / trait methods detected by the dead code lint

mark "unused binding" suggestion as maybe incorrect

match lowering: consistently lower bindings deepest-first

merge impl_polarity and impl_trait_ref queries

more internal emit diagnostics cleanups

move path implementations into sys

normalize type outlives obligations in NLL for new solver

print image input file and checksum in CI only

print kind of coroutine closure

properly handle async block and async fn in if exprs without else

provide more suggestions on invalid equality where bounds

record coroutine kind in coroutine generics

remove some unchecked_claim_error_was_emitted calls

resolve: unload speculatively resolved crates before freezing cstore

rework support for async closures; allow them to return futures that borrow from the closure's captures

static mut: allow mutable reference to arbitrary types, not just slices and arrays

stop bailing out from compilation just because there were incoherent traits

suggest [tail @ ..] on [..tail] and [...tail] where tail is unresolved

suggest less bug-prone construction of Duration in docs

suggest name value cfg when only value is used for check-cfg

suggest pattern tests when modifying exhaustiveness

suggest turning if let into irrefutable let if appropriate

suppress suggestions in derive macro

take empty where bounds into account when suggesting predicates

toggle assert_unsafe_precondition in codegen instead of expansion

turn the "no saved object file in work product" ICE into a translatable fatal error

warn on references casting to bigger memory layout

unstably allow constants to refer to statics and read from immutable statics

use the same mir-opt bless targets on all platforms

enable MIR JumpThreading by default

fix mir pass ICE in the presence of other errors

miri: fix ICE with symbolic alignment check on extern static

miri: implement the mmap64 foreign item

prevent running some code if it is already in the map

A trait's local impls are trivially coherent if there are no impls

use ensure when the result of the query is not needed beyond its Resultness

implement SystemTime for UEFI

implement sys/thread for UEFI

core/time: avoid divisions in Duration::new

core: add Duration constructors

make NonZero constructors generic

reconstify Add

replace pthread RwLock with custom implementation

simd intrinsics: add simd_shuffle_generic and other missing intrinsics

cargo: test-support: remove special case for $message_type

cargo: don't add the new package to workspace.members if there is no existing workspace in Cargo.toml

cargo: enable edition migration for 2024

cargo: feat: add hint for adding members to workspace

cargo: fix confusing error messages for sparse index replaced source

cargo: fix: don't duplicate comments when editing TOML

cargo: relax a test to permit warnings to be emitted, too

rustdoc: Correctly generate path for non-local items in source code pages

bindgen: add target mappings for riscv64imac and riscv32imafc

bindgen: feat: add headers option

clippy: mem_replace_with_default No longer triggers on unused expression

clippy: similar_names: don't raise if the first character is different

clippy: to_string_trait_impl: avoid linting if the impl is a specialization

clippy: unconditional_recursion: compare by Tys instead of DefIds

clippy: don't allow derive macros to silence disallowed_macros

clippy: don't lint incompatible_msrv in test code

clippy: extend NONMINIMAL_BOOL lint

clippy: fix broken URL in Lint Configuration

clippy: fix false positive in redundant_type_annotations lint

clippy: add autofixes for unnecessary_fallible_conversions

clippy: fix: ICE when array index exceeds usize

clippy: refactor implied_bounds_in_impls lint

clippy: return Some from walk_to_expr_usage more

clippy: stop linting blocks_in_conditions on match with weird attr macro case

rust-analyzer: abstract more over ItemTreeLoc-like structs

rust-analyzer: better error message for when proc-macros have not yet been built

rust-analyzer: add "unnecessary else" diagnostic and fix

rust-analyzer: add break and return postfix keyword completions

rust-analyzer: add diagnostic with fix to replace trailing return <val>; with <val>

rust-analyzer: add incorrect case diagnostics for traits and their associated items

rust-analyzer: allow cargo check to run on only the current package

rust-analyzer: completion list suggests constructor like & builder methods first

rust-analyzer: improve support for ignored proc macros

rust-analyzer: introduce term search to rust-analyzer

rust-analyzer: create UnindexedProject notification to be sent to the client

rust-analyzer: substitute $saved_file in custom check commands

rust-analyzer: fix incorrect inlining of functions that come from MBE macros

rust-analyzer: waker_getters tracking issue from 87021 for 96992

rust-analyzer: fix macro transcriber emitting incorrect lifetime tokens

rust-analyzer: fix target layout fetching

rust-analyzer: fix tuple structs not rendering visibility in their fields

rust-analyzer: highlight rustdoc

rust-analyzer: preserve where clause when builtin derive

rust-analyzer: recover from missing argument in call expressions

rust-analyzer: remove unnecessary .as_ref() in generate getter assist

rust-analyzer: validate literals in proc-macro-srv FreeFunctions::literal_from_str

rust-analyzer: implement literal_from_str for proc macro server

rust-analyzer: implement convert to guarded return assist for let statement with type that implements std::ops::Try

Rust Compiler Performance Triage

Relatively balanced results this week, with more improvements than regressions. Some of the larger regressions are not relevant, however there was a real large regression on doc builds, that was caused by a correctness fix (rustdoc was doing the wrong thing before).

Triage done by @kobzol. Revision range: 0984becf..74c3f5a1

Summary:

(instructions:u) mean range count Regressions ❌ (primary) 2.1% [0.2%, 12.0%] 44 Regressions ❌ (secondary) 5.2% [0.2%, 20.1%] 76 Improvements ✅ (primary) -0.7% [-2.4%, -0.2%] 139 Improvements ✅ (secondary) -1.3% [-3.3%, -0.3%] 86 All ❌✅ (primary) -0.1% [-2.4%, 12.0%] 183

6 Regressions, 5 Improvements, 8 Mixed; 5 of them in rollups 53 artifact comparisons made in total

Full report here

Approved RFCs

Changes to Rust follow the Rust RFC (request for comments) process. These are the RFCs that were approved for implementation this week:

eRFC: Iterate on and stabilize libtest's programmatic output

Final Comment Period

Every week, the team announces the 'final comment period' for RFCs and key PRs which are reaching a decision. Express your opinions now.

RFCs

RFC: Rust Has Provenance

Tracking Issues & PRs

Rust

[disposition: close] Implement Future for Option<F>

[disposition: merge] Tracking Issue for min_exhaustive_patterns

[disposition: merge] Make unsafe_op_in_unsafe_fn warn-by-default starting in 2024 edition

Cargo

[disposition: merge] feat: respect rust-version when generating lockfile

New and Updated RFCs

No New or Updated RFCs were created this week.

Call for Testing

An important step for RFC implementation is for people to experiment with the implementation and give feedback, especially before stabilization. The following RFCs would benefit from user testing before moving forward:

RFC: Checking conditional compilation at compile time

Testing steps

If you are a feature implementer and would like your RFC to appear on the above list, add the new call-for-testing label to your RFC along with a comment providing testing instructions and/or guidance on which aspect(s) of the feature need testing.

Upcoming Events

Rusty Events between 2024-02-14 - 2024-03-13 💕 🦀 💕

Virtual

2024-02-15 | Virtual (Berlin, DE) | OpenTechSchool Berlin + Rust Berlin

Rust Hack and Learn | Mirror: Rust Hack n Learn

2024-02-15 | Virtual + In person (Praha, CZ) | Rust Czech Republic

Introduction and Rust in production

2024-02-19 | Virtual (Melbourne, VIC, AU)| Rust Melbourne

(Hybrid - in person & online) February 2024 Rust Melbourne Meetup - Day 1

2024-02-20 | Virtual (Melbourne, VIC, AU) | Rust Melbourne

(Hybrid - in person & online) February 2024 Rust Melbourne Meetup - Day 2

2024-02-20 | Virtual (Washington, DC, US) | Rust DC

Mid-month Rustful

2024-02-20 | Virtual | Rust for Lunch

Lunch

2024-02-21 | Virtual (Cardiff, UK) | Rust and C++ Cardiff

Rust for Rustaceans Book Club: Chapter 2 - Types

2024-02-21 | Virtual (Vancouver, BC, CA) | Vancouver Rust

Rust Study/Hack/Hang-out

2024-02-22 | Virtual (Charlottesville, NC, US) | Charlottesville Rust Meetup

Crafting Interpreters in Rust Collaboratively

2024-02-27 | Virtual (Dallas, TX, US) | Dallas Rust

Last Tuesday

2024-02-29 | Virtual (Berlin, DE) | OpenTechSchool Berlin + Rust Berlin

Rust Hack and Learn | Mirror: Rust Hack n Learn Meetup | Mirror: Berline.rs page

2024-02-29 | Virtual (Charlottesville, NC, US) | Charlottesville Rust Meetup

Surfing the Rusty Wireless Waves with the ESP32-C3 Board

2024-03-06 | Virtual (Indianapolis, IN, US) | Indy Rust

Indy.rs - with Social Distancing

2024-03-07 | Virtual (Charlottesville, NC, US) | Charlottesville Rust Meetup

Crafting Interpreters in Rust Collaboratively

2024-03-12 | Virtual (Dallas, TX, US) | Dallas Rust

Second Tuesday

2024-03-12 | Hybrid (Virtual + In-person) Munich, DE | Rust Munich

Rust Munich 2024 / 1 - hybrid

Asia

2024-02-17 | New Delhi, IN | Rust Delhi

Meetup #5

Europe

2024-02-15 | Copenhagen, DK | Copenhagen Rust Community

Rust Hacknight #2: Compilers

2024-02-15 | Praha, CZ - Virtual + In-person | Rust Czech Republic

Introduction and Rust in production

2024-02-21 | Lyon, FR | Rust Lyon

Rust Lyon Meetup #8

2024-02-22 | Aarhus, DK | Rust Aarhus

Rust and Talk at Partisia

2024-02-29 | Berlin, DE | Rust Berlin

Rust and Tell - Season start 2024

2024-03-12 | Munich, DE + Virtual | Rust Munich

Rust Munich 2024 / 1 - hybrid

North America

2024-02-15 | Boston, MA, US | Boston Rust Meetup

Back Bay Rust Lunch, Feb 15

2024-02-15 | Seattle, WA, US | Seattle Rust User Group

Seattle Rust User Group Meetup

2024-02-20 | New York, NY, US | Rust NYC

Rust NYC Monthly Mixer (Moved to Feb 20th)

2024-02-20 | San Francisco, CA, US | San Francisco Rust Study Group

Rust Hacking in Person

2024-02-21 | Boston, MA, US | Boston Rust Meetup

Evening Boston Rust Meetup at Microsoft, February 21

2024-02-22 | Mountain View, CA, US | Mountain View Rust Meetup

Rust Meetup at Hacker Dojo

2024-02-28 | Austin, TX, US | Rust ATX

Rust Lunch - Fareground

2024-03-07 | Mountain View, CA, US | Mountain View Rust Meetup

Rust Meetup at Hacker Dojo

Oceania

2024-02-19 | Melbourne, VIC, AU + Virtual | Rust Melbourne

(Hybrid - in person & online) February 2024 Rust Melbourne Meetup - Day 1

2024-02-20 | Melbourne, VIC, AU + Virtual | Rust Melbourne

(Hybrid - in person & online) February 2024 Rust Melbourne Meetup - Day 2

2024-02-27 | Canberra, ACT, AU | Canberra Rust User Group

February Meetup

2024-02-27 | Sydney, NSW, AU | Rust Sydney

🦀 spire ⚡ & Quick

2024-03-05 | Auckland, NZ | Rust AKL

Rust AKL: Introduction to Embedded Rust + The State of Rust UI

If you are running a Rust event please add it to the calendar to get it mentioned here. Please remember to add a link to the event too. Email the Rust Community Team for access.

Jobs

Please see the latest Who's Hiring thread on r/rust

Quote of the Week

For some weird reason the Elixir Discord community has a distinct lack of programmer-socks-wearing queer furries, at least compared to Rust, or even most other tech-y Discord servers I’ve seen. It caused some weird cognitive dissonance. Why do I feel vaguely strange hanging out online with all these kind, knowledgeable, friendly and compassionate techbro’s? Then I see a name I recognized from elsewhere and my hindbrain goes “oh thank gods, I know for a fact she’s actually a snow leopard in her free time”. Okay, this nitpick is firmly tongue-in-cheek, but the Rust user-base continues to be a fascinating case study in how many weirdos you can get together in one place when you very explicitly say it’s ok to be a weirdo.

– SimonHeath on the alopex Wiki's ElixirNitpicks page

Thanks to Brian Kung for the suggestion!

Please submit quotes and vote for next week!

This Week in Rust is edited by: nellshamrell, llogiq, cdmistman, ericseppanen, extrawurst, andrewpollack, U007D, kolharsam, joelmarcey, mariannegoldin, bennyvasquez.

Email list hosting is sponsored by The Rust Foundation

Discuss on r/rust

[ms-demeanor]

Hey so actually this post motivated me to write 3500 words on success traps, which is setting up systems where success can sneak up on you and trap you in spite of your executive function going on a vacation.

"Put your homework in an orange folder" is an example of something that a neurotypical parent thinks is a success trap that they're setting up for their kid.

The trap that the kid might set up for themself is "take photos of all my homework so that if I lose it I can send it to the teacher or work on it without the original paper version." (In my pre-cellphone education era my success trap might have been "turn in homework before the class ends if the teacher allows it" or "do homework with my friend from class who DOESN'T lose homework every day and ask them if they can bring it to school for me")

Some samples:

A success trap is something that will redirect you to what you want to do when you would otherwise fail. Success traps can be physical or mental, they can be tools you use or habits you form; they just have to be something that points you back in the direction of your goal when you get diverted. Features that are present in a success trap include:

Reduces distractions

Reminds you of your task

Removes Speedbumps

Increases focus

Increases efficiency

------------

Tools to Build Success Traps

Apps, web extensions, physical tools, habits, clothing, and training can all be components of building a successful success trap.

Reduce Distractions

LeechBlock Browser Extension and other access control extensions - can be used to block specific websites for set timeframes.

Noise-blocking headphones

Setting up "Focus Time" rules in a household or work environment

Task Reminders

Timers, Planners, Calendars, Alarms, Post-its, whiteboards, To-do Lists, Task Managers and a ton of other traditional tools to remind people what they're working on.

Less conventional reminders include WristLists/Reminder Bracelets, writing tasks on your skin with pens or sharpies, website blocking, physical barriers to distractions (chair in front of the door, phone underneath a task-oriented notepad) and "[Clean/Cook/Work] With Me" Videos.

Remove Speedbumps

Speedbumps tend to be very individual and contextual, so removing them takes experience. If your child struggles to get homework done because they feel like they need to look up every word they don't know on the assignment sheet, you might want to sit with them and go through the definitions before they start working. But sometimes the speedbump to making madelines is simply the fact that someone has to empty the sink of dishes before cooking can commence, so all you can do is either wash the dishes in the moment or work on building a robust dishwashing system for ensuring there are no plates in the sink.

Increase Focus

Moderate emotions; you'll be more focused when you're less upset or angry or sad - if you need to pay attention to something it might be helpful to bring your mood back to something stable and moderate before you get started. Since ADHD includes emotional dysregulation this may be difficult, but you know the best way to put yourself back on an even keel. If breathing exercises give you panic attacks, don't use them to try to calm down; maybe you'll do better with three sets of pushups or five minutes of a phone game.

Helpful distractions - many people with ADHD find that they work better with background noise or some other kind of external stimulation while doing focused, boring tasks. Listening to music or podcasts, or putting a familiar movie on or turning on a white noise machine can all be helpful distractions that keep the ADHD brain juuuuuust focused enough on something in the periperhy to allow your brain to pay attention to the task that needs to be done (rather the crushing silence of a tense open plan office or the distracting noises the clock and ceiling lights are making.

Increase Efficiency

This one is also highly contextual and highly specific. One example of a success trap that I'm considering making is a single-key keyboard that I can use for "typing" passwords. One of the ones I'm considering purchasing is a mouse with programmable buttons. Getting a mouse to do "Ctrl+C/CTRL+V/CTRL+SHIFT+V" while using excel for web would be a game-changer for me in terms of efficiency. Maybe I'll even get around to it someday. But another example of an efficiency win is just checking my email and messages any time I sit down at my desk. If I haven't stood up in four hours I'm off the hook, but if I stood up to get a refill on my coffee for three minutes, I must check my email when I get back to my desk. That's just how it's done. I don't make the rules. (Not true, I do make the rules but the Alli who makes the rules and the Alli who follows the rules are two different people who just happen to both live in my head.

Get creative when you're thinking about what tools to add to your toolbox. And maybe make one of those tools a literal toolbox. The plastic totes used for cleaning supplies can also be used for gardening tools, pet care, car parts, and barbecues. Make use of them because they might save you a ton of work and there's no reason not to.

----------------

The website is free; the reason I started using it for writing up stuff like this more than I use tumblr for writing up stuff like this is that tumblr is too hard to search and "wiki is easy to format and easy to write" is a success trap for me.

When I was a kid I kept failing classes because I'd lose my homework. I'd finish it, but between the dining room table and the classroom it would just walk away. Sometimes it ended up in my backpack, sometimes it didn't; sometimes I finished the homework at school and it got home in my backpack but wasn't there the next day.

To attempt to address this, my parents got me a neon orange folder to put in my backpack; it was my homework folder, all homework was to go into that folder and that folder only, and it was to only come out of that folder when it was being worked on. I was to put homework in the homework folder as soon as it was assigned and if I'd worked on it, put it back in the folder as soon as it was finished. The logic here was that using the folder was supposed to be automatic, and you wanted a bright color so it wouldn't get lost in the depths of a backpack.

I think I lost about eight of those before my parents stopped buying orange folders.

So it was very frustrating to search "how to be organized at work as an adult with ADHD" only to get a list that said "set alarms and write things down and try to make friends with a more organized person" which was immediately followed by tips to help your ADHD child stay organized and the one right at the top was to put their homework in a bright folder so they couldn't lose it.

If you have been harmed by the ADHD Tips Industrial Complex you may be entitled to a packet of fun-dip and a cactus cooler as consolation for losing your homework folder again.

[saeedmohammed025]

Top Web Development Tools You Need to Know for Building Modern Websites

In the digital era, having a strong online presence is a necessity for businesses of all sizes. From user-friendly websites to high-performance e-commerce platforms, web development plays a crucial role in defining how brands engage with their audience. If you're considering building or revamping a website, understanding the tools used in modern web development can provide clarity and confidence in the process. For businesses seeking a professional edge, partnering with a reliable Web Development Company in Oman can significantly streamline the journey.

In this blog, we’ll explore the most effective web development tools available today, offering insights into how they can elevate your website. These tools are instrumental in crafting responsive, fast, secure, and visually compelling sites that meet modern standards.

1. Code Editors

A code editor is the foundation of web development. It allows developers to write, test, and manage code efficiently. While there are many editors available, the most popular ones are known for their speed, customizability, and built-in features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and version control support.

For businesses working with a Web Development Company in Oman, you can expect that professional developers utilise industry-standard code editors to ensure your project runs smoothly and is easy to maintain.

2. Version Control Systems (VCS)

Version control tools are essential for managing code changes, especially in team environments. They allow developers to track modifications, collaborate seamlessly, and roll back to previous versions if something goes wrong.

Using a VCS ensures that your website development process is organised, efficient, and secure. Reputable development companies in Oman employ these tools to manage projects methodically, reducing the risk of errors during deployment.

3. Frameworks and Libraries

Modern web development relies heavily on frameworks and libraries to speed up the development process. These tools provide pre-written code and components, making it easier to build robust applications quickly.

Some of the key benefits include:

Reducing repetitive coding tasks

Promoting code reusability

Enhancing scalability

A professional Web Development Company in Oman will evaluate your project needs and select the appropriate frameworks to deliver a tailored solution.

4. Front-End Development Tools

Front-end tools are responsible for creating the visual components of your website — the parts users interact with. These tools focus on enhancing user experience (UX) and interface (UI) design.

Key tools include:

Responsive design frameworks

CSS preprocessors

JavaScript libraries

Browser developer tools

With consumer behaviour increasingly driven by mobile usage, front-end responsiveness is a priority. Developers in Oman are well-versed in implementing these tools to ensure websites look and function perfectly across all devices.

5. Back-End Development Tools

While front-end tools manage what users see, back-end tools handle the logic, database interactions, and server-side functionality.

Common back-end tools help developers:

Connect databases

Handle user authentication

Manage APIs

Perform data processing

A dependable Web Development Company in Oman will combine robust back-end technologies with front-end frameworks to build seamless, secure, and powerful web applications.

6. Content Management Systems (CMS)

Content Management Systems allow users to manage and update website content without needing to write code. CMS platforms are ideal for businesses that need flexibility and control over their website’s content, such as blogs, news portals, or company updates.

Oman-based web development firms often provide CMS integration as part of their services, empowering clients to manage their content effectively post-launch.

7. Web Performance and Testing Tools

The speed and performance of a website are crucial for ensuring user satisfaction and improving SEO rankings. Development tools that help in performance optimisation and testing include:

Page speed analysers

Load testing tools

Browser compatibility checkers

Security scanners

A competent Web Development Company in Oman will run comprehensive tests on your site to ensure it loads quickly, functions smoothly, and is secure against vulnerabilities.

8. SEO Tools

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is fundamental for driving organic traffic to your website. Developers use SEO tools to:

Optimise meta tags and headers

Ensure clean and crawlable site structures

Integrate schema markup

Monitor website analytics

Partnering with a company in Oman that understands technical SEO integration during the development stage can give your business a significant competitive advantage.

9. Website Builders and Prototyping Tools

Prototyping tools allow businesses and developers to visualise a website layout before diving into full-scale development. They’re also useful for gathering client feedback early in the process, reducing rework.

A forward-thinking Web Development Company in Oman will often start projects with wireframes or prototypes to align the design with business goals before development begins.

10. Deployment and Hosting Tools

Deployment tools automate the process of launching websites and applications, ensuring smooth and error-free releases. Hosting platforms offer the server infrastructure needed for your site to go live and stay operational.

Experienced developers in Oman utilise reliable deployment practices to manage updates, backups, and server configurations, giving clients peace of mind after their website launches.

Conclusion

Building a modern website involves much more than just design. It requires the right mix of tools, technologies, and expertise to ensure that the result is responsive, secure, SEO-optimised, and aligned with your business objectives.

By choosing a skilled Web Development Company in Oman, you gain access to professionals who understand the latest tools in the industry and how to apply them strategically. Whether you’re creating a simple business site, a complex e-commerce platform, or a scalable web app, these tools help streamline the process and ensure success.

Let your website reflect the quality, professionalism, and innovation your brand represents. With the right tools and the right development team, your digital vision can become a powerful reality.

[technicallylovingcomputer]

Top 5 Game Development Tools for Mobile Creators

Mobile gaming has exploded into a multi-billion dollar industry, with millions of players worldwide spending hours immersed in games on their smartphones and tablets. If you've ever dreamed of creating your own mobile game, you're in luck – today's game development tools make it easier than ever to bring your ideas to life. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced developer looking to expand into mobile game development, choosing the right tools can make or break your project.

In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the top 5 game development tools that are revolutionizing how creators build mobile games. These platforms offer everything from drag-and-drop simplicity to powerful programming environments, ensuring there's something perfect for every skill level and project type.

Why Mobile Game Development Tools Matter

Before diving into our top picks, let's understand why selecting the right mobile game development platform is crucial. The mobile gaming market is incredibly competitive, with thousands of new games launching daily across iOS and Android app stores. To succeed, you need tools that offer rapid prototyping, cross-platform deployment, and the flexibility to create engaging, performance-optimized games.

The right development tool can save you months of coding, reduce development costs, and help you focus on what matters most – creating an amazing player experience. Let's explore the tools that are making mobile game development accessible to creators worldwide.

1. Unity: The Industry Standard for Mobile Game Development

Unity consistently ranks as the most popular choice among mobile game developers, and for good reason. This powerhouse platform has been behind countless successful mobile games, from simple puzzle games to complex 3D adventures.

What makes Unity exceptional for mobile game development:

Unity's visual scripting system allows beginners to create games without extensive programming knowledge, while its robust C# scripting environment satisfies experienced developers. The platform excels at cross-platform deployment, meaning you can build once and deploy to both iOS and Android with minimal additional work.

The Unity Asset Store is a game-changer, offering thousands of pre-built assets, scripts, and tools that can accelerate your development process. From character models to sound effects, you'll find resources that can transform your game ideas into reality quickly and efficiently.

Performance optimization for mobile devices is where Unity truly shines. The platform includes built-in profiling tools and mobile-specific optimization features that ensure your games run smoothly across different device specifications and operating systems.

2. Unreal Engine: Premium Mobile Game Development Power

Epic Games' Unreal Engine brings console-quality game development capabilities to mobile platforms. While traditionally associated with high-end PC and console games, Unreal Engine has evolved into a formidable mobile game development solution.

Why Unreal Engine excels in mobile game development:

The Blueprint visual scripting system democratizes game development by allowing creators to build complex game logic without writing traditional code. This feature is particularly valuable for mobile game development, where rapid iteration and prototyping are essential.

Unreal Engine's rendering capabilities are second to none, enabling developers to create visually stunning mobile games that push the boundaries of what's possible on smartphones and tablets. The engine's advanced lighting and shader systems can make your mobile games look absolutely breathtaking.

The platform's mobile optimization tools help developers balance visual fidelity with performance, ensuring games run smoothly across a wide range of mobile devices while maintaining impressive graphics quality.

3. GameMaker Studio: Perfect for 2D Mobile Game Development

YoYo Games' GameMaker Studio has carved out a special niche in mobile game development, particularly for 2D games. This platform strikes an excellent balance between ease of use and powerful functionality.

GameMaker Studio's mobile game development advantages:

The GML (GameMaker Language) scripting system is designed specifically for game development, making it intuitive for creators to implement game mechanics, character behaviors, and interactive elements. The visual scripting options also make it accessible to non-programmers.

GameMaker Studio excels at 2D mobile game development, offering specialized tools for sprite animation, tile-based level design, and physics systems optimized for mobile platforms. Many successful indie mobile games have been built using this platform.

The rapid prototyping capabilities allow developers to quickly test game concepts and iterate based on player feedback. This agility is crucial in mobile game development, where market trends can shift rapidly.

4. Construct 3: Browser-Based Mobile Game Development Revolution

Scirra's Construct 3 represents a new generation of mobile game development tools that run entirely in web browsers. This innovative approach eliminates installation requirements and makes game development accessible from any device with an internet connection.

What sets Construct 3 apart for mobile game development:

The event-based visual scripting system is incredibly intuitive, allowing creators to build complex game logic through simple drag-and-drop actions. This approach is perfect for mobile game development, where gameplay mechanics often focus on touch interactions and gesture controls.

Construct 3's mobile optimization features include automatic scaling, touch control integration, and performance profiling specifically designed for mobile devices. The platform handles many technical aspects automatically, letting developers focus on creativity and gameplay.

The cloud-based development environment means you can work on your mobile games from anywhere, collaborating with team members in real-time and accessing your projects across different devices seamlessly.

5. Godot: Open-Source Mobile Game Development Excellence

The Godot Engine has gained tremendous popularity in the mobile game development community due to its completely free, open-source nature and powerful feature set that rivals commercial alternatives.

Why Godot is transforming mobile game development:

Godot's node-based scene system provides an intuitive way to organize game objects and logic, making it easier to manage complex mobile game projects. The visual scripting options complement traditional coding approaches, offering flexibility for different development styles.

The engine's lightweight nature makes it particularly well-suited for mobile game development, producing games with smaller file sizes and better performance on mobile devices compared to some heavier alternatives.

GDScript, Godot's Python-like scripting language, is specifically designed for game development and is remarkably easy to learn. This makes mobile game development more accessible to newcomers while still providing the power experienced developers need.

Choosing Your Mobile Game Development Tool

Selecting the right tool for your mobile game development journey depends on several factors: your programming experience, project scope, target platforms, and budget. Unity and Unreal Engine offer the most comprehensive feature sets but have steeper learning curves. GameMaker Studio and Construct 3 provide excellent starting points for beginners, while Godot offers a perfect balance of power and accessibility without any licensing costs.

The mobile gaming industry continues to evolve rapidly, with new technologies like augmented reality and cloud gaming creating exciting opportunities for innovative developers. Regardless of which tool you choose, the key to successful mobile game development lies in understanding your audience, creating engaging gameplay experiences, and leveraging these powerful platforms to bring your creative visions to life.

Start Your Mobile Game Development Journey Today

The mobile game development landscape has never been more accessible or exciting. These five tools provide everything you need to transform your game ideas into reality, whether you're building the next viral puzzle game or an epic mobile adventure. Choose the platform that best matches your skills and vision, and start creating the mobile games that players around the world are waiting to discover.

Remember, every successful mobile game developer started with their first project. With these powerful tools at your disposal, your mobile game development success story begins today.

[seoexpert987haram]

Meta Ads That Deliver Actual Results – Start Today!

With today's highly competitive online environment, grabbing your audience's attention takes more than creativity—it takes strategy, accuracy, and the ideal tools. That's where ads library Facebook are involved. Being the force that drives Facebook advertising, Instagram advertising, Messenger advertising, and the Meta Audience Network advertising, Meta Ads are a robust platform for companies of every size to engage with billions of people worldwide. Whether you're a small business looking to expand your brand or a big business looking for improved performance, Meta Ads has the ability to bring real, measurable results—and there is no time like today to get started.

Meta ads services available, previously Facebook, has become more than a social media business. With the launch of Meta Ads Manager, businesses can now create highly-targeted campaigns that touch users across platforms. What makes Meta Ads different from other online advertising solutions is its capability to deliver precision targeting, smart optimization, and a huge array of creative possibilities—all within your grasp. If you need to convert clicks into customers and eyeballs into engagement, Meta Ads could be your brand's best friend.

But what do we mean when we say "real results"? These are not vanity metrics such as impressions and likes. True results are more website traffic, improved conversion rates, improved sales, and qualified leads. It also indicates growing brand awareness measurably and enhancing engagement with the targeted audiences that matter to your business. Due to Meta's strong ad capabilities, you can connect with individuals who are most apt to act—be it visiting your site, downloading your app, making a purchase, or signing up for your service.

Precision targeting is one of the strongest capabilities of Meta Ads. With the ability to target audiences by age, gender, location, interests, online behavior, and even job description, Meta is guaranteeing your ads are reaching the right people at the right time. The result? Improved ROI and reduced ad waste. Couple that with the strength of Meta Pixel and Conversions API, and you've got real-time analytics that enable you to monitor customer actions, refine your campaigns, and amplify what's performing most effectively. The native tools are aimed at enabling you to improve your performance continuously, so that Meta Ads isn't just mighty, but also fantastically cost-efficient. Even with a limited budget, companies can launch campaigns that rival big brands and gain maximum visibility and performance.

Starting with Meta Ads has never been easier. You don't have to be a digital marketing guru or break the bank to gain real results. The first step is to simply define your campaign goal—whether that is increasing traffic, selling something, or creating leads. After setting your goal, you can utilize Meta's simple and easy-to-use interface to create your ad, establish your audience, and select where you'd like your ad to appear. From Instagram Stories to Facebook News Feed to Messenger Inbox, the options are varied and effective. And then there's the creative process—crafting high-quality images, writing engaging copy, and adding a solid call-to-action that leads your audience to the next step.

The magic happens by monitoring and optimizing your campaign. Ads library Facebook provides you with detailed performance information, enabling you to turn off poorly performing ads, adjust targeting, or boost the budget on good-performing ads. Meta's algorithm learns from the user behavior over time, assisting with delivery of your ads more efficiently. That's the loop of continuous learning, which ensures that the better your campaigns perform, the longer they've been running. To illustrate, let's use the case of Eco Glow Candles, a small company that used Meta Ads to drive more customers. With a $200 budget to begin with, Eco Glow launched a targeted ad campaign toward environmentally friendly users between 25 and 40 years old. They targeted Instagram Reels and Facebook Feed ads with real customers lighting their candles. The outcome was phenomenal—more than 150 sales within a single week, a 3.5x ad spend return, and several hundred new followers. Such is just one in a multitude of case studies illustrating the power of Meta Ads when employed with strategy.

[stamensoftware]

Why You Need an Expert Development Team for Your Project

Brought to you by Stamens Software – Your Trusted Software Development Company in Noida, India

In the fast-paced digital age, building a tech product is no longer just about writing clean code—it’s about innovation, strategy, and execution. Whether you're a startup founder turning an idea into reality or a growing business looking to scale, having the right development team is non-negotiable.

At Stamens Software, a leading Software Development Company in India, we specialize in helping startups and businesses succeed with powerful, scalable, and user-centric software solutions. Here’s why working with an expert development team like ours is critical to your project’s success.

1. A Professional Product Starts with Professional Developers

First impressions count. In a crowded digital market, your product needs to look good, feel intuitive, and work flawlessly—right from launch.

As a top-tier Software Development Company in Noida, India, our team ensures every product is designed with precision, built for usability, and optimized for performance. Using tools like Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Blender, we design digital experiences that engage users and enhance brand credibility. 

2. Scalable Architecture That Grows with You

Your business won’t stay the same—and neither should your technology. Too often, inexperienced teams build products that break as soon as growth begins.

At Stamens Software, we create robust and scalable systems that adapt to growing user bases and increasing data loads. Our experienced developers follow the best design patterns and performance testing practices to future-proof your product.

3. Save Time, Money, and Endless Headaches

Hiring freelancers or building an in-house team without technical leadership can cost more in the long run. Delays, bugs, poor architecture, and technical debt can cripple your project before it even takes off.

As a reliable Software Development Company in India, we deliver efficient, cost-effective solutions with streamlined project workflows. With over a decade of experience, we help startups avoid common pitfalls and go to market faster—without compromising on quality.

4. Beyond Code: Strategic Product Development

A skilled development team doesn’t just build what you ask for—they help you build what you actually need. From discovery to deployment, strategy is key.

At Stamens, we don’t just write code. We work with you to validate ideas, identify opportunities, and craft solutions that resonate with your target market. Our advanced analytics and data-driven insights give you a competitive edge.

5. Reliable Support and Agile Iteration

Technology changes quickly—and so do user needs. A great product is never truly finished. It evolves.

That’s why we offer round-the-clock support and post-launch services to continuously refine and upgrade your solution. Whether it’s fixing bugs, rolling out new features, or optimizing performance, Stamens Software is your long-term partner.

Why Stamens Software?

Located in the heart of India’s tech hub, Stamens Software is proud to be a top-rated Software Development Company Noida India. We’ve spent the last 10+ years building impactful digital products for clients around the world.

What Sets Us Apart:

🚀 Tailored solutions for startups

🔧 Scalable architecture and optimized processes

🎨 Stunning UI/UX designs

📈 SEO-ready CMS and digital marketing integration

🤝 End-to-end project support and consulting

We’re more than just developers—we’re problem-solvers, innovators, and your technology growth partners.

Let’s Build Something Amazing

Your next big idea deserves expert execution. If you’re looking for a Software Development Company in India that delivers results, Stamens Software is here to help. From concept to launch—and beyond—we’re with you every step of the way.

📍 Visit Us: B-33, 2nd Floor, Sector-6, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201301 📧 Email: contact@stamenssoftware.com 📞 Call: +91 120 3500 847 / +91 767 8596 936 🌐 Website: www.stamenssoftware.com

Stamens Software – Innovate. Build. Grow.

[tameblog]

After the frenzy of springtime slows and the heat of summer sets in, we all desperately want to put our tools down, pick up a glass of something ice cold, and enjoy the gardens that we labor over. Unfortunately, a gardener’s job is never truly done and even when summer reaches its peak, there are some chores that just can’t wait until fall. While we can’t give up on our gardens during the hottest months of the year, there are many ways to make these jobs easier. One option for easing garden maintenance is opting for battery-powered tools whenever it’s appropriate. While power tools in general can save you hours compared to their humble hand tool counterparts, cordless tools take that ease to another level. Rather than rolling out extension cords or filling fuel tanks and replacing oil, you only need to give your batteries a good charge before tackling the next garden task. Additionally, these tools are generally more lightweight than gas-powered options, and will not fill your garden with the smell of fuel. To make your summer chores easier this year, check out the expert-recommended, battery-powered tools below.   Plant dozens of annuals in a snap with this drill and auger combo Tested by Marti Neely When planting en masse, I need more power than my favorite trowel or shovel can deliver. To zip through this task, I use my Milwaukee 18-volt cordless compact hammer drill and attach a 24-inch-long, 3-inch-wide auger bit from TCBWFY to it. With this stellar combo, I can plant a flat of 18 annuals in about 15 minutes, or 15 flats in 2½ hours. It’s even more efficient when I’m installing bulbs, as I can easily drill holes in the smallest of spaces and between plants. When using this drill and auger, you must drill deeper than you would dig with a trowel, as the loose soil will fall back as you pull the drill bit out. With compacted soil, you can also use a drill and auger to turn over and fluff the surface of the soil, preparing it for planting. The battery on this drill is powerful and long lasting, but I recommend that you have a second one as a backup in case you run out of power or decide to buy more plants. The drill can be purchased on its own or with two batteries and a charger. Milwaukee 18-volt cordless compact hammer drill Milwaukee 4-pole frameless motor: features a robust design combined with rare-earth magnets for longer life, best-in-class 500 in. lbs. of torque and 0-450/0-1,800 RPM Single sleeve ratcheting chuck: all-metal 1/2 in. chuck optimizes grip strength and reduces slippage Built-in LED light: illuminates surfaces for faster, more efficient work 525 in. lbs. of peak torque 0-450/0-1,800 RPM Price: $129.00 at the time of writing TCBWFY 3x24 Inch Auger Drill Bit for Planting Build to last: Made of heavy duty steel, with glossy black painted finish. The auger drill bit point on it hits the ground first and keeps it steady when you are digging hard grounds. Our patented design also makes the distance between the digging blade start and the point is the minimal, so auger drill bit will start working on hard ground without having to push down. Price: $24.99 at the time of writing A chainsaw for those who don’t like chainsaws Tested by Susan Calhoun I have been pruning for a long time and am always looking for ways to make it easier. That’s why I was happy to discover the Stihl GTA 26 garden pruner kit. For years I had used a cordless reciprocating saw to prune big branches and small trees. I needed two hands to use it, and I found that it was not very precise. This small chainsaw from Stihl has replaced my reciprocating saw. It’s battery operated; without a traditional pull start, and with no gas to run out of, it’s amazingly easy to use. The saw cuts sharply and quickly. You only need one hand to use it, so you can hold the branch with one hand while cutting with the other. Stihl GTA 26 Wood Cutter with AS 2 Battery and Charger AL 1, Battery Operated Package weight: 3.08 kilograms Package size: 18.4 L x 39.2 H x 20.0 W (cm) Colour: orange Price: $269.98 at the time of writing Whip out this battery string trimmer for quick, clean lines Tested by Robin Parsons While I use hand trimmers for areas that require more finesse, my EGO Power+ ST1511T 56-volt battery string trimmer lets me zip easily through larger-scale lawn cutting. Rotating the edger at 90º provides neat, crisp lines that clearly delineate my beds from lawn edges. It also works great against hardscape, such as driveways and paths, providing clean cuts and precise edges. This trimmer is easily rechargeable, with the charger included in the purchase. Although the version with the 2.5 Ah battery requires more frequent charging, the model with the 4.0 Ah battery lasts almost twice as long. Ergonomically designed with a comfortable handle, this lightweight tool is easy to manage. It’s also much quieter than gas string trimmers.  EGO Power+ ST1511T 56-volt battery string trimmer  POWERLOAD technology; load your line, push a button and go Get up to 45 minutes of run time on a single charge with the included 56V 2.5Ah ARC Lithium Battery Telescopic Aluminum Shaft quickly fits your height for ultimate comfort High-Efficiency Brushless Motor 15 in. Cutting Swath Professional-grade, dual line spiral-twist 0.095 in. line Variable speed with 2-Speed Settings Price: $199.00 at the time of writing   This lightweight trimmer is perfect for smaller tasks Tested by Stacie Crooks Scotts cordless grass-shear/shrub-trimmer combo is the best tool I have found in the last few years. With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. (yes, really!) and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily. It puts less stress on my hands than using pruners. The tool comes with two blades: a 7-inch hedge blade and a 4-inch shear blade. While it’s not heavy-duty enough for larger shrubs or hedges, it’s perfect for small shrubs like heather (Calluna vulgaris, Zones 4–7) or subshrubs like lavender (Lavandula spp. and cvs., Zones 4–10). This trimmer can be used for many different tasks; I also use it to deadhead perennials and edge my lawn. I have found that the charge lasts for hours, allowing me to cover my whole garden in one go.  Scotts Outdoor Power Tools Cordless Grass Shear/Shrub Trimmer Combo Scotts battery-operated grass trimmer that uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger Cordless grass shear that includes a 6.7" hedge blade and 3.5" shear blade with tool-less blade change feature Hand trimmer with a pivoting and adjustable cutting head for effectively trimming hard-to-reach areas Lightweight and compact cordless grass shears with a comfortable cushioned handle Planet-friendly cordless weed trimmer with a 2-year manufacturer warranty Price: $54.49 at the time of writing These hedge shears work for a variety of chores  Tested by Jason Reeves Using battery-powered hedge shears is a game changer. I love my Black and Decker 24-inch cordless hedge trimmer. It’s quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers. These shears aren’t just good for hedges and shrubs; I use mine to quickly remove the faded foliage of perennials before new growth starts. They work well on plants like hellebores (Helleborus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), epimediums (Epimedium spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), and evergreen ferns. I have also found that they are perfect for cutting back ornamental grasses in spring. This tool comes with a 40-volt lithium-ion battery and charger.  BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX Hedge Trimmer, Cordless, 24-Inch Blade, Battery and Charger Included (LHT2436) Powerful 40V Lithium Ion battery of the cordless hedge trimmer delivers power and run-time to complete the toughest jobs. 24 inch dual-action blades of the battery powered hedge trimmer cut branches fast with less vibration. Trimmers for plants have extended reach blades with a 3/4 inch cut capacity trim more in less time. Up to 6000 sq ft of actual hedges trimmed per charge. Wrap-around front handle provides comfort and control in vertical and horizontal trimming application. Full length trigger with soft grip handle provides added comfort during use. State of charge indicator shows battery charge level. Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 40V. Nominal voltage is 36. Price: $155.14 at the time of writing Source link

[ramestoryworld]

After the frenzy of springtime slows and the heat of summer sets in, we all desperately want to put our tools down, pick up a glass of something ice cold, and enjoy the gardens that we labor over. Unfortunately, a gardener’s job is never truly done and even when summer reaches its peak, there are some chores that just can’t wait until fall. While we can’t give up on our gardens during the hottest months of the year, there are many ways to make these jobs easier. One option for easing garden maintenance is opting for battery-powered tools whenever it’s appropriate. While power tools in general can save you hours compared to their humble hand tool counterparts, cordless tools take that ease to another level. Rather than rolling out extension cords or filling fuel tanks and replacing oil, you only need to give your batteries a good charge before tackling the next garden task. Additionally, these tools are generally more lightweight than gas-powered options, and will not fill your garden with the smell of fuel. To make your summer chores easier this year, check out the expert-recommended, battery-powered tools below.   Plant dozens of annuals in a snap with this drill and auger combo Tested by Marti Neely When planting en masse, I need more power than my favorite trowel or shovel can deliver. To zip through this task, I use my Milwaukee 18-volt cordless compact hammer drill and attach a 24-inch-long, 3-inch-wide auger bit from TCBWFY to it. With this stellar combo, I can plant a flat of 18 annuals in about 15 minutes, or 15 flats in 2½ hours. It’s even more efficient when I’m installing bulbs, as I can easily drill holes in the smallest of spaces and between plants. When using this drill and auger, you must drill deeper than you would dig with a trowel, as the loose soil will fall back as you pull the drill bit out. With compacted soil, you can also use a drill and auger to turn over and fluff the surface of the soil, preparing it for planting. The battery on this drill is powerful and long lasting, but I recommend that you have a second one as a backup in case you run out of power or decide to buy more plants. The drill can be purchased on its own or with two batteries and a charger. Milwaukee 18-volt cordless compact hammer drill Milwaukee 4-pole frameless motor: features a robust design combined with rare-earth magnets for longer life, best-in-class 500 in. lbs. of torque and 0-450/0-1,800 RPM Single sleeve ratcheting chuck: all-metal 1/2 in. chuck optimizes grip strength and reduces slippage Built-in LED light: illuminates surfaces for faster, more efficient work 525 in. lbs. of peak torque 0-450/0-1,800 RPM Price: $129.00 at the time of writing TCBWFY 3x24 Inch Auger Drill Bit for Planting Build to last: Made of heavy duty steel, with glossy black painted finish. The auger drill bit point on it hits the ground first and keeps it steady when you are digging hard grounds. Our patented design also makes the distance between the digging blade start and the point is the minimal, so auger drill bit will start working on hard ground without having to push down. Price: $24.99 at the time of writing A chainsaw for those who don’t like chainsaws Tested by Susan Calhoun I have been pruning for a long time and am always looking for ways to make it easier. That’s why I was happy to discover the Stihl GTA 26 garden pruner kit. For years I had used a cordless reciprocating saw to prune big branches and small trees. I needed two hands to use it, and I found that it was not very precise. This small chainsaw from Stihl has replaced my reciprocating saw. It’s battery operated; without a traditional pull start, and with no gas to run out of, it’s amazingly easy to use. The saw cuts sharply and quickly. You only need one hand to use it, so you can hold the branch with one hand while cutting with the other. Stihl GTA 26 Wood Cutter with AS 2 Battery and Charger AL 1, Battery Operated Package weight: 3.08 kilograms Package size: 18.4 L x 39.2 H x 20.0 W (cm) Colour: orange Price: $269.98 at the time of writing Whip out this battery string trimmer for quick, clean lines Tested by Robin Parsons While I use hand trimmers for areas that require more finesse, my EGO Power+ ST1511T 56-volt battery string trimmer lets me zip easily through larger-scale lawn cutting. Rotating the edger at 90º provides neat, crisp lines that clearly delineate my beds from lawn edges. It also works great against hardscape, such as driveways and paths, providing clean cuts and precise edges. This trimmer is easily rechargeable, with the charger included in the purchase. Although the version with the 2.5 Ah battery requires more frequent charging, the model with the 4.0 Ah battery lasts almost twice as long. Ergonomically designed with a comfortable handle, this lightweight tool is easy to manage. It’s also much quieter than gas string trimmers.  EGO Power+ ST1511T 56-volt battery string trimmer  POWERLOAD technology; load your line, push a button and go Get up to 45 minutes of run time on a single charge with the included 56V 2.5Ah ARC Lithium Battery Telescopic Aluminum Shaft quickly fits your height for ultimate comfort High-Efficiency Brushless Motor 15 in. Cutting Swath Professional-grade, dual line spiral-twist 0.095 in. line Variable speed with 2-Speed Settings Price: $199.00 at the time of writing   This lightweight trimmer is perfect for smaller tasks Tested by Stacie Crooks Scotts cordless grass-shear/shrub-trimmer combo is the best tool I have found in the last few years. With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. (yes, really!) and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily. It puts less stress on my hands than using pruners. The tool comes with two blades: a 7-inch hedge blade and a 4-inch shear blade. While it’s not heavy-duty enough for larger shrubs or hedges, it’s perfect for small shrubs like heather (Calluna vulgaris, Zones 4–7) or subshrubs like lavender (Lavandula spp. and cvs., Zones 4–10). This trimmer can be used for many different tasks; I also use it to deadhead perennials and edge my lawn. I have found that the charge lasts for hours, allowing me to cover my whole garden in one go.  Scotts Outdoor Power Tools Cordless Grass Shear/Shrub Trimmer Combo Scotts battery-operated grass trimmer that uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger Cordless grass shear that includes a 6.7" hedge blade and 3.5" shear blade with tool-less blade change feature Hand trimmer with a pivoting and adjustable cutting head for effectively trimming hard-to-reach areas Lightweight and compact cordless grass shears with a comfortable cushioned handle Planet-friendly cordless weed trimmer with a 2-year manufacturer warranty Price: $54.49 at the time of writing These hedge shears work for a variety of chores  Tested by Jason Reeves Using battery-powered hedge shears is a game changer. I love my Black and Decker 24-inch cordless hedge trimmer. It’s quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers. These shears aren’t just good for hedges and shrubs; I use mine to quickly remove the faded foliage of perennials before new growth starts. They work well on plants like hellebores (Helleborus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), epimediums (Epimedium spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), and evergreen ferns. I have also found that they are perfect for cutting back ornamental grasses in spring. This tool comes with a 40-volt lithium-ion battery and charger.  BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX Hedge Trimmer, Cordless, 24-Inch Blade, Battery and Charger Included (LHT2436) Powerful 40V Lithium Ion battery of the cordless hedge trimmer delivers power and run-time to complete the toughest jobs. 24 inch dual-action blades of the battery powered hedge trimmer cut branches fast with less vibration. Trimmers for plants have extended reach blades with a 3/4 inch cut capacity trim more in less time. Up to 6000 sq ft of actual hedges trimmed per charge. Wrap-around front handle provides comfort and control in vertical and horizontal trimming application. Full length trigger with soft grip handle provides added comfort during use. State of charge indicator shows battery charge level. Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 40V. Nominal voltage is 36. Price: $155.14 at the time of writing Source link

[alexha2210]

After the frenzy of springtime slows and the heat of summer sets in, we all desperately want to put our tools down, pick up a glass of something ice cold, and enjoy the gardens that we labor over. Unfortunately, a gardener’s job is never truly done and even when summer reaches its peak, there are some chores that just can’t wait until fall. While we can’t give up on our gardens during the hottest months of the year, there are many ways to make these jobs easier. One option for easing garden maintenance is opting for battery-powered tools whenever it’s appropriate. While power tools in general can save you hours compared to their humble hand tool counterparts, cordless tools take that ease to another level. Rather than rolling out extension cords or filling fuel tanks and replacing oil, you only need to give your batteries a good charge before tackling the next garden task. Additionally, these tools are generally more lightweight than gas-powered options, and will not fill your garden with the smell of fuel. To make your summer chores easier this year, check out the expert-recommended, battery-powered tools below.   Plant dozens of annuals in a snap with this drill and auger combo Tested by Marti Neely When planting en masse, I need more power than my favorite trowel or shovel can deliver. To zip through this task, I use my Milwaukee 18-volt cordless compact hammer drill and attach a 24-inch-long, 3-inch-wide auger bit from TCBWFY to it. With this stellar combo, I can plant a flat of 18 annuals in about 15 minutes, or 15 flats in 2½ hours. It’s even more efficient when I’m installing bulbs, as I can easily drill holes in the smallest of spaces and between plants. When using this drill and auger, you must drill deeper than you would dig with a trowel, as the loose soil will fall back as you pull the drill bit out. With compacted soil, you can also use a drill and auger to turn over and fluff the surface of the soil, preparing it for planting. The battery on this drill is powerful and long lasting, but I recommend that you have a second one as a backup in case you run out of power or decide to buy more plants. The drill can be purchased on its own or with two batteries and a charger. Milwaukee 18-volt cordless compact hammer drill Milwaukee 4-pole frameless motor: features a robust design combined with rare-earth magnets for longer life, best-in-class 500 in. lbs. of torque and 0-450/0-1,800 RPM Single sleeve ratcheting chuck: all-metal 1/2 in. chuck optimizes grip strength and reduces slippage Built-in LED light: illuminates surfaces for faster, more efficient work 525 in. lbs. of peak torque 0-450/0-1,800 RPM Price: $129.00 at the time of writing TCBWFY 3x24 Inch Auger Drill Bit for Planting Build to last: Made of heavy duty steel, with glossy black painted finish. The auger drill bit point on it hits the ground first and keeps it steady when you are digging hard grounds. Our patented design also makes the distance between the digging blade start and the point is the minimal, so auger drill bit will start working on hard ground without having to push down. Price: $24.99 at the time of writing A chainsaw for those who don’t like chainsaws Tested by Susan Calhoun I have been pruning for a long time and am always looking for ways to make it easier. That’s why I was happy to discover the Stihl GTA 26 garden pruner kit. For years I had used a cordless reciprocating saw to prune big branches and small trees. I needed two hands to use it, and I found that it was not very precise. This small chainsaw from Stihl has replaced my reciprocating saw. It’s battery operated; without a traditional pull start, and with no gas to run out of, it’s amazingly easy to use. The saw cuts sharply and quickly. You only need one hand to use it, so you can hold the branch with one hand while cutting with the other. Stihl GTA 26 Wood Cutter with AS 2 Battery and Charger AL 1, Battery Operated Package weight: 3.08 kilograms Package size: 18.4 L x 39.2 H x 20.0 W (cm) Colour: orange Price: $269.98 at the time of writing Whip out this battery string trimmer for quick, clean lines Tested by Robin Parsons While I use hand trimmers for areas that require more finesse, my EGO Power+ ST1511T 56-volt battery string trimmer lets me zip easily through larger-scale lawn cutting. Rotating the edger at 90º provides neat, crisp lines that clearly delineate my beds from lawn edges. It also works great against hardscape, such as driveways and paths, providing clean cuts and precise edges. This trimmer is easily rechargeable, with the charger included in the purchase. Although the version with the 2.5 Ah battery requires more frequent charging, the model with the 4.0 Ah battery lasts almost twice as long. Ergonomically designed with a comfortable handle, this lightweight tool is easy to manage. It’s also much quieter than gas string trimmers.  EGO Power+ ST1511T 56-volt battery string trimmer  POWERLOAD technology; load your line, push a button and go Get up to 45 minutes of run time on a single charge with the included 56V 2.5Ah ARC Lithium Battery Telescopic Aluminum Shaft quickly fits your height for ultimate comfort High-Efficiency Brushless Motor 15 in. Cutting Swath Professional-grade, dual line spiral-twist 0.095 in. line Variable speed with 2-Speed Settings Price: $199.00 at the time of writing   This lightweight trimmer is perfect for smaller tasks Tested by Stacie Crooks Scotts cordless grass-shear/shrub-trimmer combo is the best tool I have found in the last few years. With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. (yes, really!) and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily. It puts less stress on my hands than using pruners. The tool comes with two blades: a 7-inch hedge blade and a 4-inch shear blade. While it’s not heavy-duty enough for larger shrubs or hedges, it’s perfect for small shrubs like heather (Calluna vulgaris, Zones 4–7) or subshrubs like lavender (Lavandula spp. and cvs., Zones 4–10). This trimmer can be used for many different tasks; I also use it to deadhead perennials and edge my lawn. I have found that the charge lasts for hours, allowing me to cover my whole garden in one go.  Scotts Outdoor Power Tools Cordless Grass Shear/Shrub Trimmer Combo Scotts battery-operated grass trimmer that uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger Cordless grass shear that includes a 6.7" hedge blade and 3.5" shear blade with tool-less blade change feature Hand trimmer with a pivoting and adjustable cutting head for effectively trimming hard-to-reach areas Lightweight and compact cordless grass shears with a comfortable cushioned handle Planet-friendly cordless weed trimmer with a 2-year manufacturer warranty Price: $54.49 at the time of writing These hedge shears work for a variety of chores  Tested by Jason Reeves Using battery-powered hedge shears is a game changer. I love my Black and Decker 24-inch cordless hedge trimmer. It’s quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers. These shears aren’t just good for hedges and shrubs; I use mine to quickly remove the faded foliage of perennials before new growth starts. They work well on plants like hellebores (Helleborus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), epimediums (Epimedium spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), and evergreen ferns. I have also found that they are perfect for cutting back ornamental grasses in spring. This tool comes with a 40-volt lithium-ion battery and charger.  BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX Hedge Trimmer, Cordless, 24-Inch Blade, Battery and Charger Included (LHT2436) Powerful 40V Lithium Ion battery of the cordless hedge trimmer delivers power and run-time to complete the toughest jobs. 24 inch dual-action blades of the battery powered hedge trimmer cut branches fast with less vibration. Trimmers for plants have extended reach blades with a 3/4 inch cut capacity trim more in less time. Up to 6000 sq ft of actual hedges trimmed per charge. Wrap-around front handle provides comfort and control in vertical and horizontal trimming application. Full length trigger with soft grip handle provides added comfort during use. State of charge indicator shows battery charge level. Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 40V. Nominal voltage is 36. Price: $155.14 at the time of writing Source link

[angusstory]

After the frenzy of springtime slows and the heat of summer sets in, we all desperately want to put our tools down, pick up a glass of something ice cold, and enjoy the gardens that we labor over. Unfortunately, a gardener’s job is never truly done and even when summer reaches its peak, there are some chores that just can’t wait until fall. While we can’t give up on our gardens during the hottest months of the year, there are many ways to make these jobs easier. One option for easing garden maintenance is opting for battery-powered tools whenever it’s appropriate. While power tools in general can save you hours compared to their humble hand tool counterparts, cordless tools take that ease to another level. Rather than rolling out extension cords or filling fuel tanks and replacing oil, you only need to give your batteries a good charge before tackling the next garden task. Additionally, these tools are generally more lightweight than gas-powered options, and will not fill your garden with the smell of fuel. To make your summer chores easier this year, check out the expert-recommended, battery-powered tools below.   Plant dozens of annuals in a snap with this drill and auger combo Tested by Marti Neely When planting en masse, I need more power than my favorite trowel or shovel can deliver. To zip through this task, I use my Milwaukee 18-volt cordless compact hammer drill and attach a 24-inch-long, 3-inch-wide auger bit from TCBWFY to it. With this stellar combo, I can plant a flat of 18 annuals in about 15 minutes, or 15 flats in 2½ hours. It’s even more efficient when I’m installing bulbs, as I can easily drill holes in the smallest of spaces and between plants. When using this drill and auger, you must drill deeper than you would dig with a trowel, as the loose soil will fall back as you pull the drill bit out. With compacted soil, you can also use a drill and auger to turn over and fluff the surface of the soil, preparing it for planting. The battery on this drill is powerful and long lasting, but I recommend that you have a second one as a backup in case you run out of power or decide to buy more plants. The drill can be purchased on its own or with two batteries and a charger. Milwaukee 18-volt cordless compact hammer drill Milwaukee 4-pole frameless motor: features a robust design combined with rare-earth magnets for longer life, best-in-class 500 in. lbs. of torque and 0-450/0-1,800 RPM Single sleeve ratcheting chuck: all-metal 1/2 in. chuck optimizes grip strength and reduces slippage Built-in LED light: illuminates surfaces for faster, more efficient work 525 in. lbs. of peak torque 0-450/0-1,800 RPM Price: $129.00 at the time of writing TCBWFY 3x24 Inch Auger Drill Bit for Planting Build to last: Made of heavy duty steel, with glossy black painted finish. The auger drill bit point on it hits the ground first and keeps it steady when you are digging hard grounds. Our patented design also makes the distance between the digging blade start and the point is the minimal, so auger drill bit will start working on hard ground without having to push down. Price: $24.99 at the time of writing A chainsaw for those who don’t like chainsaws Tested by Susan Calhoun I have been pruning for a long time and am always looking for ways to make it easier. That’s why I was happy to discover the Stihl GTA 26 garden pruner kit. For years I had used a cordless reciprocating saw to prune big branches and small trees. I needed two hands to use it, and I found that it was not very precise. This small chainsaw from Stihl has replaced my reciprocating saw. It’s battery operated; without a traditional pull start, and with no gas to run out of, it’s amazingly easy to use. The saw cuts sharply and quickly. You only need one hand to use it, so you can hold the branch with one hand while cutting with the other. Stihl GTA 26 Wood Cutter with AS 2 Battery and Charger AL 1, Battery Operated Package weight: 3.08 kilograms Package size: 18.4 L x 39.2 H x 20.0 W (cm) Colour: orange Price: $269.98 at the time of writing Whip out this battery string trimmer for quick, clean lines Tested by Robin Parsons While I use hand trimmers for areas that require more finesse, my EGO Power+ ST1511T 56-volt battery string trimmer lets me zip easily through larger-scale lawn cutting. Rotating the edger at 90º provides neat, crisp lines that clearly delineate my beds from lawn edges. It also works great against hardscape, such as driveways and paths, providing clean cuts and precise edges. This trimmer is easily rechargeable, with the charger included in the purchase. Although the version with the 2.5 Ah battery requires more frequent charging, the model with the 4.0 Ah battery lasts almost twice as long. Ergonomically designed with a comfortable handle, this lightweight tool is easy to manage. It’s also much quieter than gas string trimmers.  EGO Power+ ST1511T 56-volt battery string trimmer  POWERLOAD technology; load your line, push a button and go Get up to 45 minutes of run time on a single charge with the included 56V 2.5Ah ARC Lithium Battery Telescopic Aluminum Shaft quickly fits your height for ultimate comfort High-Efficiency Brushless Motor 15 in. Cutting Swath Professional-grade, dual line spiral-twist 0.095 in. line Variable speed with 2-Speed Settings Price: $199.00 at the time of writing   This lightweight trimmer is perfect for smaller tasks Tested by Stacie Crooks Scotts cordless grass-shear/shrub-trimmer combo is the best tool I have found in the last few years. With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. (yes, really!) and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily. It puts less stress on my hands than using pruners. The tool comes with two blades: a 7-inch hedge blade and a 4-inch shear blade. While it’s not heavy-duty enough for larger shrubs or hedges, it’s perfect for small shrubs like heather (Calluna vulgaris, Zones 4–7) or subshrubs like lavender (Lavandula spp. and cvs., Zones 4–10). This trimmer can be used for many different tasks; I also use it to deadhead perennials and edge my lawn. I have found that the charge lasts for hours, allowing me to cover my whole garden in one go.  Scotts Outdoor Power Tools Cordless Grass Shear/Shrub Trimmer Combo Scotts battery-operated grass trimmer that uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger Cordless grass shear that includes a 6.7" hedge blade and 3.5" shear blade with tool-less blade change feature Hand trimmer with a pivoting and adjustable cutting head for effectively trimming hard-to-reach areas Lightweight and compact cordless grass shears with a comfortable cushioned handle Planet-friendly cordless weed trimmer with a 2-year manufacturer warranty Price: $54.49 at the time of writing These hedge shears work for a variety of chores  Tested by Jason Reeves Using battery-powered hedge shears is a game changer. I love my Black and Decker 24-inch cordless hedge trimmer. It’s quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers. These shears aren’t just good for hedges and shrubs; I use mine to quickly remove the faded foliage of perennials before new growth starts. They work well on plants like hellebores (Helleborus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), epimediums (Epimedium spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), and evergreen ferns. I have also found that they are perfect for cutting back ornamental grasses in spring. This tool comes with a 40-volt lithium-ion battery and charger.  BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX Hedge Trimmer, Cordless, 24-Inch Blade, Battery and Charger Included (LHT2436) Powerful 40V Lithium Ion battery of the cordless hedge trimmer delivers power and run-time to complete the toughest jobs. 24 inch dual-action blades of the battery powered hedge trimmer cut branches fast with less vibration. Trimmers for plants have extended reach blades with a 3/4 inch cut capacity trim more in less time. Up to 6000 sq ft of actual hedges trimmed per charge. Wrap-around front handle provides comfort and control in vertical and horizontal trimming application. Full length trigger with soft grip handle provides added comfort during use. State of charge indicator shows battery charge level. Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 40V. Nominal voltage is 36. Price: $155.14 at the time of writing Source link

[tumibaba]

After the frenzy of springtime slows and the heat of summer sets in, we all desperately want to put our tools down, pick up a glass of something ice cold, and enjoy the gardens that we labor over. Unfortunately, a gardener’s job is never truly done and even when summer reaches its peak, there are some chores that just can’t wait until fall. While we can’t give up on our gardens during the hottest months of the year, there are many ways to make these jobs easier. One option for easing garden maintenance is opting for battery-powered tools whenever it’s appropriate. While power tools in general can save you hours compared to their humble hand tool counterparts, cordless tools take that ease to another level. Rather than rolling out extension cords or filling fuel tanks and replacing oil, you only need to give your batteries a good charge before tackling the next garden task. Additionally, these tools are generally more lightweight than gas-powered options, and will not fill your garden with the smell of fuel. To make your summer chores easier this year, check out the expert-recommended, battery-powered tools below.   Plant dozens of annuals in a snap with this drill and auger combo Tested by Marti Neely When planting en masse, I need more power than my favorite trowel or shovel can deliver. To zip through this task, I use my Milwaukee 18-volt cordless compact hammer drill and attach a 24-inch-long, 3-inch-wide auger bit from TCBWFY to it. With this stellar combo, I can plant a flat of 18 annuals in about 15 minutes, or 15 flats in 2½ hours. It’s even more efficient when I’m installing bulbs, as I can easily drill holes in the smallest of spaces and between plants. When using this drill and auger, you must drill deeper than you would dig with a trowel, as the loose soil will fall back as you pull the drill bit out. With compacted soil, you can also use a drill and auger to turn over and fluff the surface of the soil, preparing it for planting. The battery on this drill is powerful and long lasting, but I recommend that you have a second one as a backup in case you run out of power or decide to buy more plants. The drill can be purchased on its own or with two batteries and a charger. Milwaukee 18-volt cordless compact hammer drill Milwaukee 4-pole frameless motor: features a robust design combined with rare-earth magnets for longer life, best-in-class 500 in. lbs. of torque and 0-450/0-1,800 RPM Single sleeve ratcheting chuck: all-metal 1/2 in. chuck optimizes grip strength and reduces slippage Built-in LED light: illuminates surfaces for faster, more efficient work 525 in. lbs. of peak torque 0-450/0-1,800 RPM Price: $129.00 at the time of writing TCBWFY 3x24 Inch Auger Drill Bit for Planting Build to last: Made of heavy duty steel, with glossy black painted finish. The auger drill bit point on it hits the ground first and keeps it steady when you are digging hard grounds. Our patented design also makes the distance between the digging blade start and the point is the minimal, so auger drill bit will start working on hard ground without having to push down. Price: $24.99 at the time of writing A chainsaw for those who don’t like chainsaws Tested by Susan Calhoun I have been pruning for a long time and am always looking for ways to make it easier. That’s why I was happy to discover the Stihl GTA 26 garden pruner kit. For years I had used a cordless reciprocating saw to prune big branches and small trees. I needed two hands to use it, and I found that it was not very precise. This small chainsaw from Stihl has replaced my reciprocating saw. It’s battery operated; without a traditional pull start, and with no gas to run out of, it’s amazingly easy to use. The saw cuts sharply and quickly. You only need one hand to use it, so you can hold the branch with one hand while cutting with the other. Stihl GTA 26 Wood Cutter with AS 2 Battery and Charger AL 1, Battery Operated Package weight: 3.08 kilograms Package size: 18.4 L x 39.2 H x 20.0 W (cm) Colour: orange Price: $269.98 at the time of writing Whip out this battery string trimmer for quick, clean lines Tested by Robin Parsons While I use hand trimmers for areas that require more finesse, my EGO Power+ ST1511T 56-volt battery string trimmer lets me zip easily through larger-scale lawn cutting. Rotating the edger at 90º provides neat, crisp lines that clearly delineate my beds from lawn edges. It also works great against hardscape, such as driveways and paths, providing clean cuts and precise edges. This trimmer is easily rechargeable, with the charger included in the purchase. Although the version with the 2.5 Ah battery requires more frequent charging, the model with the 4.0 Ah battery lasts almost twice as long. Ergonomically designed with a comfortable handle, this lightweight tool is easy to manage. It’s also much quieter than gas string trimmers.  EGO Power+ ST1511T 56-volt battery string trimmer  POWERLOAD technology; load your line, push a button and go Get up to 45 minutes of run time on a single charge with the included 56V 2.5Ah ARC Lithium Battery Telescopic Aluminum Shaft quickly fits your height for ultimate comfort High-Efficiency Brushless Motor 15 in. Cutting Swath Professional-grade, dual line spiral-twist 0.095 in. line Variable speed with 2-Speed Settings Price: $199.00 at the time of writing   This lightweight trimmer is perfect for smaller tasks Tested by Stacie Crooks Scotts cordless grass-shear/shrub-trimmer combo is the best tool I have found in the last few years. With a built-in 7.2-volt lithium-ion battery, this little guy weighs less than 2 lb. (yes, really!) and can zip through all your minor pruning tasks quickly and easily. It puts less stress on my hands than using pruners. The tool comes with two blades: a 7-inch hedge blade and a 4-inch shear blade. While it’s not heavy-duty enough for larger shrubs or hedges, it’s perfect for small shrubs like heather (Calluna vulgaris, Zones 4–7) or subshrubs like lavender (Lavandula spp. and cvs., Zones 4–10). This trimmer can be used for many different tasks; I also use it to deadhead perennials and edge my lawn. I have found that the charge lasts for hours, allowing me to cover my whole garden in one go.  Scotts Outdoor Power Tools Cordless Grass Shear/Shrub Trimmer Combo Scotts battery-operated grass trimmer that uses a 7.2-Volt 2Ah high-capacity built-in lithium-ion battery; Includes a fast charger Cordless grass shear that includes a 6.7" hedge blade and 3.5" shear blade with tool-less blade change feature Hand trimmer with a pivoting and adjustable cutting head for effectively trimming hard-to-reach areas Lightweight and compact cordless grass shears with a comfortable cushioned handle Planet-friendly cordless weed trimmer with a 2-year manufacturer warranty Price: $54.49 at the time of writing These hedge shears work for a variety of chores  Tested by Jason Reeves Using battery-powered hedge shears is a game changer. I love my Black and Decker 24-inch cordless hedge trimmer. It’s quick and easy to put into operation and is less noisy and lighter in weight than gas-powered hedge trimmers. These shears aren’t just good for hedges and shrubs; I use mine to quickly remove the faded foliage of perennials before new growth starts. They work well on plants like hellebores (Helleborus spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), epimediums (Epimedium spp. and cvs., Zones 4–9), and evergreen ferns. I have also found that they are perfect for cutting back ornamental grasses in spring. This tool comes with a 40-volt lithium-ion battery and charger.  BLACK+DECKER 40V MAX Hedge Trimmer, Cordless, 24-Inch Blade, Battery and Charger Included (LHT2436) Powerful 40V Lithium Ion battery of the cordless hedge trimmer delivers power and run-time to complete the toughest jobs. 24 inch dual-action blades of the battery powered hedge trimmer cut branches fast with less vibration. Trimmers for plants have extended reach blades with a 3/4 inch cut capacity trim more in less time. Up to 6000 sq ft of actual hedges trimmed per charge. Wrap-around front handle provides comfort and control in vertical and horizontal trimming application. Full length trigger with soft grip handle provides added comfort during use. State of charge indicator shows battery charge level. Maximum initial battery voltage (measured without a workload) is 40V. Nominal voltage is 36. Price: $155.14 at the time of writing Source link