DEV Community: Orion

Insight to Drupal

Orion — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 02:44:43 +0000

What is Drupal?

Created by Dris Buytaert in 2005

Drupal is volunteers having all to contribute code. Nobody gets paid yet companies may pay to contribute.
A content management system (CMS) tool that let's users add, publish, edit or remove content from a website, using a web browser on a smartphone, tablet, and or desktop. The base of Drupal download which is known as Drupal Core, contains the PHP scripts needed to function. Several options of modules and themes are available. Modules and Themes can be downloaded from the Drupal.org website.

Win and Mac can use Drupal as well.
Web Server can be Nginx instead of Apache
Database can be PostgreSQL or SQLite instead of MySQL.

What is the LAMP stack?
Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP.

Why use Drupal?

Simple build of small static websites.
Modules help the build faster.
Large Community to help.

What is a Module?

a set of PHP, JS and/or CSS files that extends site features and add functionality. Core download provides modules for function such as ....
- Manage user accounts
- Managing basic content
- Managing Nav menus
- Making list, grids and blocks from existing content.

What is a Theme?

a set of files that define the visual look and feel of your site. The core software includes modules that run on your site determine which content is displayed on the pages of your site. The theme determines the HTML markup and styling that wraps the content. You can also create a custom theme if you feel the 3rd party ones are suitable.

What are Distributions?

Provides features and functions for a specific type of site as a single download containing the core software, contributed modules, themes and pre-defined configuration. 2 Types of Distributions:
- Full Featured: is a project that provides a complete solution to set up a site for a specialized purpose such as academic, business, government, nonprofit, publishing, social, etc.
- Other Distributions: can also be quick-start tools that developers and site builders can use as a starting point.

What are types of data?

Content: info meant to be displayed to the site visitors.
Configuration: info about your site that is not content, but is also relatively permanent, and is used to define how your site behaves or is displayed.
State: Info of a temporary nature about the current state of your site, such as the item when jobs were last run.
Session: Info about individual site visitors. Interactions with the site, such as logged in or not, their cookies and more. This is technically a subtype of State Information, since it is also temporary.

What is FOSS?

Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) is a software that is developed by a community of people, released under a non-commercial licensee, and whose source code is freely available.

Drupal Project?

a FOSS project whose purpose is to develop the core content management system software, as well as add-on modules, additional themes, translations, documentation and special-purpose distributions.

What is the Drupal Association?

a non profit organization dedicated to supporting the Drupal project and the community. It's main functions are
- Putting on large conventions around the world
- Maintain Drupal.org websites and the servers that they run on.
- Promoting Drupal as a web platform
- Supporting Drupal education and training
- Providing grants to the Drupal community in support of it's mission
- Raising funds for these purposes.

What is Drupal Licensing?

GNU General Public Licensing (GPL) version 2 or later. That means you are free to download, reuse, modify, and distribute any files that are part of a project on Drupal.org.
Contributors should follow these guidelines:
- All files (PHP, JS, images, Flash, etc) that are part of the project on Drupal.org have to be under the GPL v.2 or later.
- All Drupal contributors retain copyright on their code, but agree to release it under the same license as Drupal.l
- All content on Drupal.org itself is copywrite and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license 2.0
- Sample code on Drupal.org is also available under GPL version 2 or later.

What is a region?

Each theme provides a set of named regions, such as Headter, Content, and Sidebar where site builders may choose to place their content.

Planning Your Site

It's a good idea to plan the site layout before you start building the site and writing content.
- Make a list of the info that your site should present to visitors.
- Decide which info should be on which pages or types of pages on the site.
- Decide which of these pages should appear in the main site nav
- Make a rough design (wireframe)

HardHat w/ Contracts

Orion — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 11:09:49 +0000

Greetings to everyone,
So to start the month of Feb off right, I had started using the framework called HardHat. It is great for testing and deploying smart contracts so I had to take a look into it further. While investigating the framework, I found myself taking a liking to it more so than Truffle which took me by surprise. While Truffle has been the leading framework of use when handling smart contracts, it seems many are going with the framework as well. Today I wanted to discuss a few features of HardHat in hopes that it gives a greater insight to the nice product.

Created by Nomic Labs, Hardhat helps developers manage and automate the common tasks of the process of building smart contracts. The focus is mainly on the solidity debugging and comes built-in with Hardhat Network. It's a local Ethereum network for development and a CLI to interact with the core functionalities. What makes this phenomenal is that HH has a local blockchain built inside while Truffle uses ganache. Found this to be a easier way of testing providing much feedback of the contract written in the CLI. While taking a browse at the documentation, I found that it is quite clear like Truffle. Guess the docs made in the blockchain framework space was major focus unlike traditional frameworks. The community of Hardhat isn't as big as Truffle, however it is growing. Discord server is created by Hardhat to find many topics on different channel. Not to speak too long, here's a list of things I gathered that were great in my book.

Hardhat Key Features

Run Solidity locally, testnet and mainnet
debug first framework
12 word phrases can be created
TypeScript support
Preferred over Truffle
Local node of blockchain
Designed as a library
Multi solidity versions in one contract can be used.
connect a dApp project to the Hardhat network or others.
use javascript - console.log for writing messages within Solidity language

Nodejs Studies

Orion — Tue, 14 Dec 2021 13:20:35 +0000

Download Nodejs:
https://nodejs.org

What is Nodejs?
An open source server environment
Free
Runs on various platforms
Uses JS on the server

Why Nodejs?
Uses async programming

What can you do with nodejs?
Generate dynamic page content
Create, open, read, write, delete and close files on the server.
Collect from data
add , delete, modify data in your database.

What is a nodejs file?
Contains tasks that will be executed on certain events
A typical event is someone trying to access a port on the server
Files must be initiated on the server before having any effect
Must have a .js extension (‘.js’)

CLI:
Node files MUST be initiated in the CLI

Initiate the node file?
node
Access then on the localhost

What is a module?
A set of functions you want to include in your applications.
Built-in Modules 0 you can use without installing

Include Modules
Use the require() function with the name of the module:

Create and Include Modules:
You can create and include your own modules as well as them in your applications.

Built-in HTTP Module:
Allows Node to transfer data over the HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP).

Nodejs as a Web Server
The HTTP module can create an HTTP server that listens to server ports and gives a response back to the client

Add an HTTP Header:
HTTP server is supposed to be displayed as HTML, you should include a HTTP header with the correct content type

Built-in URL module
splits up a web address into readable parts.

Node as a File Server:
This module allows you to work with the file system on your computer. Uses the “require()” method.

Reading Nodejs Files

fs.readFile() method is used to read files on the computer

Create Files

fs.appendFile()
fs.open()
fs.writeFile()

Update Files:

fs.appendFile()
fs.writeFile()

Delete Files with system module:

fs.unlink()

Rename Files
fs.rename()

Nodejs NPM

package manager for Nodejs packages or modules if you like

Nodejs Events
Every action on a computer is an event. This is perfect for event driven applications.

Nodemailer Module
Makes it easy to send emails from your computer.

Truffle, Contracts and Coffee...

Orion — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 04:42:40 +0000

Greetings,

So for the month of December I really wanted to make sure I go head first within the blockchain studies. From smart contracts to learning about NFTs, I wanted to be sure that all was presented to me in a NEO fashion. Yes, just like the Matrix for the time is now to be a great in the field. I've learned so much the past few moons it amazing how I am soaking it all in just like Neo when he learned KungFu. Practice makes perfect would be the best thing to state if wise. So that's what the prior moons has been as well. Simply learn something, then put the lesson to practice embedding the gems. Today I want to speak briefly of the learnings thus far and also feel this platform may be the way to go for my tech journey going forward. Amazing devs able to understand and or maybe become inspired is a great feeling. Let's start with Truffle.

Truffle framework was reviewed in a deeper manner this time. Before I would skip through docs not really getting the insight like I should. Please noobs, don't forget to look at the docs especially if they are well written like Truffle. Again I went forth and installed globally the framework and began projects. I wanted to understand the process of how to compile and migrate before deploying a contract on ganache locally. Took a few, but like a bike... you won't forget how to ride if needed. This knowledge was needed so I had to get in on the studies. I was able to get through the tutorials successfully while seeing how all connects on a simple contract called "MetaCoin". It's a template that is given by Truffle so you can see exactly how things work. I uploaded a repo so if you needed to see the code it's avail.

MetaCoin Repo: [https://github.com/designisO/Breaking-Down-The-Contract]

Once doing the tutorial, I went forth and started the pet shop tutorial, but didn't complete the front end part. I felt like focusing clearly on the smart contracts so I didn't waste time searching YouTube for more insights.

Outside of working with Truffle suite, I was able to work with the REMIX IDE. This IDE is provided by Ethereum to deploy and test smart contracts using Solidity. I'll speak more about the Ethereum programming language, but let's just say it's similar to Python and JavaScript. This is the language also smart contracts on the Ethereum blockchain are written with so I had to a good deal. Started to look into the variables of global, local and state. Also browsed across data types such as uint, int and bool. Keywords such as view, pure and even functions were reviewed so I can truly know the syntax.

Breaking Down The Contract : [https://github.com/designisO/Breaking-Down-The-Contract]

For future posts I'll be sure to add more links to the blog. I feel that the delivery of how I can teach what is being learned would lead people in the right direction. I am striving to gain a role as a blockchain developer while feeling truly like "In Pursuit of Happiness" the movie. Winter nights late night with the laptop glowing feeling the warmth of a new horizon for Orion. Fighting days of prior depression and anxiety yet a genius, man.... these are only words of a lonely developer. Time to expand the wings of things and take flight on a new way. Innovate technology to provide my children for they (Micah & Nyla) must see their daddy win. I believe..do you?! Web3... I will tackle you!

Peace and Light.

Crypto meets Voxels

Orion — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 23:05:26 +0000

Greetings,
I had the opportunity to work on some blockchain studies within the coffee shop. While taking on the studies and talking to some fellow developers within the space, I was able to come across the world of Cryptovoxels. A metaverse that is truly phenomenal is only the small words to be stated for it's bigger than I thought. Hearing the term metaverse used quite frequent these days sparked interest so I wanted to learn more. Who would've known just like that a metaverse would be traveled by Orion!?

Cryptovoxels is a virtual world and metaverse which is powered by Ethereum. The players buy land and build many things such as art galleries and stores where you can buy digital and physical goods. Events are thrown within the world using built in tools such as text and chat. I had a chance to review the mighty world and there is so much to see. Created my avatar as well as made created a space using build tools, I can truly see much potential in the metaverse.

Outside the build tools that are simple to understand while building, I was able to visit some amazing parcels. Yes, parcels is the terminology that is used of the land which users purchase. The parcels are sold on Opensea.io in which runs a pretty penny like other metaverses such as Decentraland and The Sandbox. I like how they implement the voxel art which can be created using MagicaVoxel to expand many artist dreams. If you are one who wants to explore the world of Cryptovoxels I highly recommend you do.

Ethereum Notes

Orion — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 21:53:14 +0000

Ethereum

Ethereum: a decentralized platform that runs the smart contracts exactly how coded without any downtime, fraud and 3rd party interference. Uses a crypto currency called Ether.

Made of three components

Currency Issuance
DAO
Smart Contracts

Features:

Secured
Community Support
Corporate Friendly
Asset Issuance
Fast transactions
Uncensored

What is gas?

fundamental crypto fuel for Ethereum. Considered a transaction fee when doing transactions on Ethereum.

Ether - element needed for operating the Eth platform. it is essential to write error free code so you won't use much ether / gas. The crypto fuel for the Ethereum platform. Hash algorithm is used. Used to making dApps. Its token creation for facilitating smart contracts, transaction speed is measured in seconds.

wallets- a place to store eth.
hardware, mobile, desktop, wallets.

Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) is an engine which executes translation code. possesses its own programming language called EVM bytecode. Opcodes are instructions that execute specific tasks on the EVM.

Ethereum Languages: Contacts are compiled into EVM bytecode and deployed.

Solidity
LLL (low level list)
Vyper
Serpent
Mutan
Julia

Types of Eth Accounts:

EOA: followed private key that has ability to send Ethers and messages from the account.

Smart Contract - code running on top of the Blockchain. It contains a set of rules that the nodes agree upon so they can interact with each other.

Simple form of decentralization
security
no third party
automatic agreement

Characteristics of Smart Contracts

Self verifying
Self executing
Cost Saving
Tamper Resistant

Process of Smart Contracts

contract made through a public ledger
a trigger event for details
Regulators can use the blockchain to understand the use.

EOA vs Smart Contract

Externally Owned Account (Nonce, Balance, CodeHash, Storage Root)
Smart Contract (Nonce, Balance, CodeHash, Storage Root)

Ethereum Mining
Algorithm used is Ethash. Ethereum makes use of the POW mechanism to ensure security.
State Storage- The states are assembled into a state tree that is linked to the account and the block. Ethereum includes these that store the root hash of the hash tree which reps the system state when the block is created.

Ethereum Tools

Geth: cli that runs an eth node implemented by Go -Ganache: local blockchain emulator allows to make calls to the blockchain without a eth node
Parity: fastest lightest secure ethereum client that provides the core infrastructure for quick and reliable services. Written in Rust lang.
MetaMask: turns chrome into a browser that allows users to send and recv transactions. fetch data as well from the blockchain.
Mist Wallet: End user interface for EThereum that is developed for browsing using Dapps. (not used anymore)
- Swarm: decentralized storage and communication system including messaging, media streaming, dApp Database services, and scalable channel infrastructure.
- IPFS: (Interplanetary file system)- P2P hypermedia protocol for storing and sharing data in a distributed file system. Stores data by using a dHash Table.
Whisper: a messaging system with low level API use. P2P communication between nodes of Whisper network.
Status.im: is an application that allows private messaging, secure crypto wallet and eth browser in one.

Ethereum Frameworks

Web3.js : set of libraries which permit one to interact with a remote or local node. It is a key connection between Ethereum network and Dapp that allows the compiler to compile, deploy and interact with smart contracts.
Eth.js : lightweight utility on based on web.js

Dev Environment for Ethereum

Remix IDE: browser based compiler that helps build Ethereum contracts with solidity language.
Truffle:
Embark: env that allows you to develop and deploy dApps.

Ethereum Networks: The basis of decentralized consensus is the p2p network of participating nodes which maintain and secure the blockchain. A node is a device or a program that can communicate to the network known also as clients.
Types of Networks: testnet, mainnet

DAO: Decentralized Autonomous Organization: designed to hold assets and use the voting system to distribute them. Rules are agreed upon by the members of the DAO. Peer decision making.

Bitcoin Notes

Orion — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 21:51:12 +0000

Bitcoin Blockchain

Introduction to Bitcoin

First digital currency instant transfer
cannot be printed, but computed by computers around the world

2 Major Operations:

Transaction Management: Transferring of coins from one address to another.
Currency Generation: Regulating the monetary value

Bitcoin supply is limited at 21 Million Coins to boost value.

The rate of block creation is adjusted every 2016 blocks. (2 weeks to mine = 2016 blocks)
The number of Bitcoins generated per block decreases by 50% every 210,000 blocks.

How to get a bitcoin

must have a digital wallet
buy online, create account on a exchange (coinbase)
buy bitcoin with cash. Sites like LocalBitcoins.org help find people who are near to exchange Bitcoins for cash. ATMS are available as well.

Buying Bitcoins from exchange

Choose an exchange
Set up an account
connect bank account
Select amount.

Best Bitcoin exchanges

Coinbase
SpectroCoin
Indacoin
Kraken
LocalBitcoins

Wallets

digital wallets where private keys are used to access bitcoin addresses and signatures for transactions. Bitcoins are stored anywhere, but a private key matched to every bitcoin address which can be saved in the bitcoin wallet. They facilitate to the transactions

Types of wallets

Software wallet -installed on the computer to store the private key
Web wallet - online wallet
hardware wallet - store private keys on storage devices
Brain wallet- computer generates a seed phrase for you to remember.
Mobile Wallets- run as apps storing your private keys to pay directly from your phone.

Great wallets.

Jaxx.io

- Exodus.io

Where to spend bitcoins

spending online: household items, giftcards, video games
spending offline: food, travel,

Places to spend bitcoins

Overstock.com
Shopify stores
Cheapair
Expedia
eGifter
Reeds jewelers
newegg
Dish network
Microsoft

Double-Spending Problem: Spending the same BTC in more than one transaction. To prevent this all transaction details are sent to many nodes on the network. Blockchain ensures that any modification will lead to recomputing the blocks.

Pseudonymity in Bitcoin: is the near-anonymous state in which users have disguised identities and do not disclose their true identities.

Bitcoin is a permissionless blockchain where you don't need to set up and account.
public and private keys are generated by the wallet
the address acts as an identified or pseudonym of a users transaction

Bitcoin Address: corresponds to a public base based on ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm). A wallet can have many addresses and can be used for transactions.

Bitcoin Transactions (UTXOs): Unspent Transaction Output is the fundamental building block of Bitcoin.

BTC transaction structure:

Input- This is a record of which BTC address was used to send the bitcoins to the receiver in the first place
Amount - This is the amount of BTC that the sender sends to the receiver.
Output- This is sent to the sender's address as change.

Transactions (input/output)

transactions can be represented in the form of a series of inputs and outputs.

BTC Script: Features

scripts are embedded into their inputs and outputs
uses a language like "Forth"
records a list of instructions with each transactions
it composed of opcodes
BTCscript describes how the person can access the BTC if they want to spend it.
BTC Script is Turing incomplete

BTC Script Construction:

Transaction input: { scriptSig
Transaction Output { scriptPubKey

BTC Script Instructions

script is a list of instructions which is recorded with each transactions
language is small
consist of 256 opcodes out of which 15 are disabled and 75 are reserved.
each instruction is one byte
Opcodes have the following: constants, flow control, stack, bitwise logic, arithmetic, crypto, locktime, pseudo-words, and reserved words.

Evaluating Transaction Script

Step by step exe of the combined script which will prove this is a valid transaction.

BTC Network:

an ad hoc network with random topology
protocol runs on TCP 8333
new nodes are treated equally in bitcoin network
new nodes can join the network anytime, and the non responsive nodes are removed after 3 hours.

BTC Network Node: Consist of 4 functions

wallet
Miner
Full Blockchain
Network routing node

Types of Nodes

Reference Client (BTC Core)
Full Blockchain Node
Solo Miner
Lightweight (SPV wallet)
Pool Protocol Servers
Mining Node
Lightweight (SPV)

Joining Bitcoin Network

Seed nodes have the list of addresses
Joining nodes ask for the list of addresses from the seed node. It also picks up an address from the list and joins the network.

Mining Process

BTC are created by the process of mining
Autonomous check of every transaction
Independent aggregation of transaction into new blocks
Independent confirmation of new blocks by each node.
Independent selection by every node of the chain with the most cumulative computation.
Autonomous-Check of Transactions:
Independent Aggregation of Transactions:
Mining Puzzle:

(Electricity + computational = reward)

Choosing the greatest difficulty chain, all nodes in the long run accomplish a wide consensus.
Brief errors between chains are settled in the long run as more POW is included by broadening one of the conceivable chains
mining nodes vote with their mining power by picking which chain to extend by mining the next block.

Blockchain Terminology

Orion — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 21:48:08 +0000

Greetings,

So I wanted to make a Blockchain Terminology list of what I covered thus far. Hopefully it will help other developers who are interested in the blockchain space. I'll have updates frequently of the post. Enjoy.

Blockchain: A decentralized network of nodes with encrypted transactions. Once a transaction occurs then it is recorded never to be reversed.

Cryptocurrency: A digital currency that is created on a blockchain. Ie: bitcoin, litecoin, etc.

Ethereum & ETH: A popular blockchain that uses ether for transactions on the chain itself. Many NFTs and dApps are developed on it.

Metamask: A wallet that can be used on mobile devices as well as extension of Chrome.

Etherscan.io: A site where you can get insight into Ethereum transactions.

Exodus Wallet: A wallet that can be used on desktop and mobile.

POAP: Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP.xyz)

Web3: a collection of JS libraries that lets you interact with an Ethereum node remotely or locally.

Distributed Systems: A group of nodes connected with one another in a coordinated manner in order to achieve common results. The nodes are programmable, asynchronous, autonomous and fail proof. Nodes communicate using messages. All the nodes in the distributed system are capable of sending and receiving.

Async Encryption: Uses keys to encrypt and decrypt data / information. Encryption keys are Public whereas Decryption keys are private.

Solidity: the language in which Ethereum uses to create smart contracts

Blockchain Domains: Domains that are created to host on the blockchain such as (.crypto, .eth, etc)

dApps: Decentralized Applications on the blockchain

Consensus Mechanisms: A method of authenticating and validating a value on a transaction in a blockchain.

Proof of Work
PBFT
Proof of Stake
Proof of Burn
Proof of Elapsed Time
Proof of Capacity
Proof of Activity
Proof of Weight
Proof of Importance
Leased Proof of Stake Many others…

IPFS: A peer-to-peer hypermedia protocol designed to preserve and grow humanity’s knowledge by making the web upgradeable, resilient, and more open.

Truffle Suite: https://www.trufflesuite.com/

Truffle: A world class development environment, testing framework and asset pipeline for blockchains using the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), aiming to make life as a developer easier.

Seed Phrase: unique 12 word phrase cannot be edited. Used to recover crypto wallets instead of passwords. Users would want to keep this seed phrase for this is the only way to recover it as well.

Self Taught Blockchain Dev

Orion — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 21:32:03 +0000

Greetings,

My name is Orion and I am a self taught developer and designer based out of the United States. I am a true techie at heart with a love of innovative products. One thing that has been in my focus is everything in the blockchain space. Being web3 is confirmed as the future of the internet, it was only right I go forth and place my hands within the tech space asap.

So I heard about Bitcoin years ago when it was first caught major media focus. Many were skeptical of the cryptocurrency while I was a bit concerned. Not in a bad way, but more so just interested in what was truly occurring. A digital currency in which will take things out of the banks hands? Yeh, coming from someone who was truly against the "terms and conditions" many banks have it felt only right to look into more. I learned about the coin and it struck a passion of mine to learn more. Over some weeks I went into the whitepaper, learned about the process of all behind the scenes, and also didn't take a single dollar to invest. Well well well… now years later the couple of dollars I would've invested could have made me millions now. Guess the timing wasn't right, but the information stays if studied like I did of the topic.

After years of not taking advantage, I found myself behind the curve because many are now in the position I could've been. Not only that, many other chains have became of existence such as Ethereum, Tezos and many more. I signed up with the SkillUP program which allows free Blockchain Developer Certificates to users. Free sound amazing to me and I began achieving something I thought would take eons to complete. Learning the different blockchains and how things connect didn't worry me as much as knowing terminology. Once having the knowledge of such, I was able to understand completely Ledgers and Trezors work. So what's next now having the certificate and knowledge of how the blockchains work?

Going forward, the goal is to make sure I provide incredible information around the blockchain space. Being that this is a developers site, it only right that I give accurate information upon the topics to help others. Throughout the studies I will provide small projects and other things I've been able to find within the web3 space for I truly see a great future ahead.

Until next time,

Peace and Light!