Programming languages and software development
Filtering a dependent lookup field based on another lookup field’s value is a core requirement in Dynamics 365 and Power Apps. The classic example: a Lead entity with Branch and Sub Branch fields where Sub Branch options should only display records matching the selected Branch. The form editor handles this natively—no plugins or JavaScript required….
Converting a managed solution to unmanaged in on-premise Dynamics CRM requires direct database modification. You’ll need this when customizing third-party solutions that the publisher hasn’t provided in unmanaged form, or when you need to export and modify components before deployment. Prerequisites Full database backup (this modifies system tables — non-negotiable) SQL Server Management Studio or…
This guide covers building REST endpoints in ASP.NET MVC and consuming them from a frontend application. While this example uses AngularJS (end-of-life 2022), the backend patterns remain relevant for legacy system maintenance. For new projects, migrate to ASP.NET Core with modern frontend frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular. Database Setup Create the parts inventory table:…
GNOME Shell’s clean, minimal design works well for many users, but the extension ecosystem lets you adapt it to your actual workflow. Here are extensions worth considering for modern GNOME (45+). AlternateTab Changes Alt-Tab behavior from application-grouped switching to per-window switching — more like traditional window managers. If GNOME’s default grouping feels disruptive, this restores…
Modern RHEL-based systems (EL9+) ship with dnf as the package manager. Most additional software you’ll need comes from well-maintained third-party repositories rather than compiling from source. This guide covers the essential ones and how to use them safely. EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) EPEL is the go-to third-party repository for RHEL-based systems. It provides…
AngularJS routing enables single-page applications by dynamically switching views based on URL patterns without full page reloads. Unlike server-side routing, AngularJS handles routing on the client, eliminating network round-trips and improving responsiveness—particularly useful when displaying different datasets based on route parameters. Install AngularJS and Dependencies Include AngularJS and the routing module. Using npm: npm install…
Quartz is an open-source Java library for scheduling background jobs and tasks. Whether you need to execute work at specific times, on recurring intervals, or in response to events, Quartz provides a robust scheduling framework that integrates with standalone applications, application servers, and clustered environments. Core Features Embeds directly into standalone or web applications Supports…
Thunderbird’s adaptive junk filter can effectively reduce spam once configured and trained, but it doesn’t automatically move flagged messages by default. Here’s how to set it up properly. Enable automatic movement for incoming mail Access your account settings: Linux/Windows: Edit → Account Settings macOS: Thunderbird → Settings → Accounts Select your email account and click…
When a Bash script needs to reference its own location — for sourcing additional files, logging, or managing relative paths — $0 seems like the obvious choice. But it’s a trap: $0 behaves differently depending on whether your script is executed directly or sourced. The Problem with $0 When you execute a script directly: ./script.sh…
Running commands across multiple servers is fundamental to cluster management and infrastructure automation. While orchestration tools like Ansible and Terraform dominate modern deployments, sometimes you need lightweight solutions that work without dependencies—or you’re already invested in SSH-based infrastructure. When managing clusters, you typically work in two modes: serial execution (one node at a time) and…
Before writing code, get comfortable with fundamental Linux commands. You’ll use these daily: File operations: ls, cd, cat, less Text search: grep, ripgrep (rg) Remote access: ssh, scp, rsync Session management: tmux or screen for persistent terminal sessions Shell: bash (default on most distributions), though zsh and fish are popular alternatives Start with built-in documentation….
Install AWS CLI v2 through your system’s package manager for production deployments. On Debian/Ubuntu: sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install awscli On RHEL/CentOS/Fedora: sudo dnf install awscli Or use the official installer directly: curl “https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip” -o “awscli-v2.zip” unzip awscli-v2.zip sudo ./aws/install Verify installation: aws –version Configure AWS CLI credentials Set up credentials interactively: aws configure…
Parsing RSS feeds in PHP remains a common requirement for content aggregation. This guide covers practical patterns for fetching feeds, caching results, extracting content, and sanitizing output — with implementations that work reliably in production. Basic RSS Feed Parsing PHP’s SimpleXML extension provides a straightforward way to parse RSS feeds: <?php $feed_url = ‘https://example.com/feed.xml’; $feed…
PowerPoint exports slides at 96 DPI by default, which is too low for professional printing. Print shops typically require 150 DPI for acceptable quality or 300 DPI for high-quality output. The UI export options in PowerPoint don’t reliably control the actual output DPI—you need to change a registry setting on Windows or use alternative methods…
Blocking JavaScript per-site in Chrome lets you stop intrusive scripts, malicious content, or resource-heavy trackers without disabling JavaScript globally. This gives you surgical control—some sites work fine without JS, while others need it. Access the JavaScript exceptions page Open Chrome and navigate to this URL in the address bar: chrome://settings/contentExceptions#javascript Alternatively, go through the menu:…
The HP DesignJet 500 and similar wide-format plotters handle posters, technical drawings, and large documents well—but they require careful configuration. This guide covers printing a 24″ × 36″ PowerPoint poster on a 36″ roll, though the process generalizes to other sizes. Understanding Your Hardware Constraints The DesignJet 500 accepts roll media up to 36″ wide….
Displaying RSS feed items on a webpage is a practical way to aggregate external content. Here’s a production-ready approach using PHP’s SimpleXML to fetch, cache, and render feeds as HTML. Basic Implementation This function handles RSS parsing with built-in caching, error handling, and output escaping: <?php function output_rss_feed($feed_url, $item_count = 10, $show_description = true, $show_pubdate…
git merge and git rebase both integrate changes from one branch into another, but they handle history differently. Merge creates a new commit that ties together the histories of both branches. Your feature branch history remains intact, and the main branch gains a merge commit. This is safer for shared branches because it doesn’t rewrite…
Resource management and error handling are critical in systems programming. RAII (Resource Acquisition Is Initialization) originated in C++ and ties resource lifecycles to object scope, with destructors automatically cleaning up resources. C lacks destructors and exceptions, but you can achieve similar semantics using established patterns that are battle-tested in production systems. The goto-based cleanup pattern…
Self-hosting a photo gallery gives you control over your content. If you want to skip database management entirely, a handful of PHP solutions still work—though most are unmaintained. This post covers what’s still functional, where the limits are, and when you should choose something else instead. Static File-Based Gallery Scripts Single File PHP Gallery Status:…