The latest articles on DEV Community by Mitchel Techie (@mitchtechie). https://dev.to/mitchtechie https://media2.dev.to/dynamic/image/width=90,height=90,fit=cover,gravity=auto,format=auto/https:%2F%2Fdev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fuploads%2Fuser%2Fprofile_image%2F3864984%2F0c4e1772-3010-4645-970f-8b4d2569f79e.png https://dev.to/mitchtechie en Mitchel Techie Sat, 18 Apr 2026 08:26:15 +0000 https://dev.to/mitchtechie/ecomark-discover-your-environmental-footprint-22mm https://dev.to/mitchtechie/ecomark-discover-your-environmental-footprint-22mm <p><em>This is a submission for <a href="https://dev.to/challenges/weekend-2026-04-16">Weekend Challenge: Earth Day Edition</a></em></p> <h2> EcoMark – A Simple Way to Reflect on Our Carbon Footprint </h2> <h2> What I Built </h2> <p>For this challenge, I built <strong>EcoMark</strong>, a lightweight web app that helps people quickly understand their everyday environmental impact.</p> <p>The idea was simple:<br><br> Most of us care about the planet, but we don’t always know how our daily habits translate into real impact. </p> <p><strong>EcoMark</strong> bridges that gap by turning a few lifestyle choices into a <strong>clear, understandable carbon score</strong>, along with practical suggestions for improvement.</p> <p>Users answer a few short questions about:</p> <ul> <li> How they get around </li> <li> What they eat </li> <li> Their energy usage </li> <li> Their shopping habits </li> </ul> <p>Based on this, the app calculates a score and places them into a category:</p> <ul> <li> <strong>Green Hero</strong> </li> <li> <strong>Improving</strong> </li> <li> <strong>High Impact</strong> </li> </ul> <p>To make it more useful (and less judgmental), the app also generates <strong>personalized tips</strong> to help users reduce their footprint in realistic ways.</p> <h2> Demo </h2> <p>👉 <strong>Try it here:</strong><br><br> <a href="https://eco-mark--favouredhighly6.replit.app/" rel="noopener noreferrer">EcoMark</a></p> <h3> Video </h3> <p><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a2ip97oqEQJHxKxwN_9kVNFCniuOW8tX/view?usp=drivesdk" rel="noopener noreferrer">Video</a></p> <h2> Code </h2> <p>The project was built and deployed using:</p> <ul> <li> JavaScript</li> <li> HTML/CSS </li> <li> Google Gemini API </li> <li> Replit (development + hosting) </li> </ul> <h2> How I Built It </h2> <p>I approached this project with a focus on <strong>simplicity, clarity, and usability</strong>, especially since many users might access it on mobile devices.</p> <h3> 1. Carbon Scoring Logic </h3> <p>Instead of trying to build a scientifically perfect calculator, I designed a <strong>simple scoring system</strong> that reflects relative impact:</p> <ul> <li>Higher-emission activities (e.g., frequent car use, meat-heavy diets) increase the score </li> <li>Lower-impact choices (walking, plant-based diets) reduce it </li> </ul> <p>This keeps the experience intuitive while still meaningful.</p> <h3> 2. Backend with JavaScript </h3> <p>I used JavaScript to:</p> <ul> <li>Handle form input </li> <li>Process user responses </li> <li>Calculate the carbon score </li> <li>Render results dynamically </li> </ul> <h3> 3. AI-Powered Suggestions with Google Gemini </h3> <p>One of the most interesting parts of this project was integrating the <strong>Google Gemini API</strong>.</p> <p>Instead of hardcoding advice, I generate tips dynamically based on the user’s score.</p> <ul> <li>Higher scores → stronger, more impactful suggestions </li> <li>Lower scores → reinforcement of good habits </li> </ul> <p>This made the app feel more:</p> <ul> <li>Personalized </li> <li>Engaging </li> <li>Practical </li> </ul> <h3> 4. Building with Replit </h3> <p>Since I didn’t have access to a full development setup, I built everything directly in <strong>Replit</strong>.</p> <p>This influenced my approach:</p> <ul> <li>Keeping the architecture simple </li> <li>Avoiding unnecessary dependencies </li> <li>Prioritizing fast iteration </li> </ul> <p>It turned out to be a great way to go from idea → working product quickly.</p> <h3> 5. Design Choices </h3> <p>I intentionally kept the UI:</p> <ul> <li>Clean </li> <li>Minimal </li> <li>Mobile-friendly </li> </ul> <p>The goal was to make the experience feel approachable rather than overwhelming.</p> <h2> What I Learned </h2> <p>This project reminded me that:</p> <ul> <li>You don’t need complex systems to communicate important ideas </li> <li>AI works best when it enhances—not replaces—core logic </li> <li>Constraints can lead to better, more focused solutions </li> </ul> <h2> Future Improvements </h2> <p>If I had more time, I’d love to:</p> <ul> <li>Add location-based recommendations </li> <li>Improve scoring accuracy </li> <li>Include visual progress tracking </li> <li>Let users compare lifestyle scenarios </li> </ul> <h2> Final Thoughts </h2> <p>EcoMark isn’t meant to be a perfect measurement tool.<br><br> It’s a <strong>conversation starter</strong>—a small way to help people reflect on their habits and take simple steps toward a more sustainable lifestyle.</p> <blockquote> <p>Small changes, multiplied by many people, can make a real difference.</p> </blockquote> <p>Thanks for reading! 🌱</p> devchallenge weekendchallenge Mitchel Techie Mon, 13 Apr 2026 05:13:48 +0000 https://dev.to/mitchtechie/common-laptop-accessories-5ddg https://dev.to/mitchtechie/common-laptop-accessories-5ddg <p>External peripherals</p> <ul> <li>Keyboard</li> <li>Mouse and mousepad</li> </ul> <p>External storage</p> <ul> <li>External Hard Drive </li> <li>SSD</li> <li>USB Flash Drive</li> <li>Memory Card</li> </ul> <p>Power</p> <ul> <li>Power bank</li> </ul> <p>Sound</p> <ul> <li>Headphones</li> <li>Earbuds</li> <li>Earphones</li> <li>Speakers</li> </ul> <p>Cables</p> <ul> <li>USB Cables</li> <li>VGA Cables</li> <li>HDMI Cables</li> </ul> <p>Connectors</p> <ul> <li>USB hub</li> </ul> <p>Protection</p> <ul> <li>Surge Protector</li> <li>Screen protector</li> </ul> <p>Other Accessories</p> <ul> <li>Laptop bag</li> <li>Laptop stand</li> <li>Laptop cooling pad</li> <li>Webcam cover</li> <li>Laptop cleaning kit</li> <li>Laptop lock</li> <li>Laptop skins or decals</li> </ul> Mitchel Techie Tue, 07 Apr 2026 11:12:56 +0000 https://dev.to/mitchtechie/commonly-used-laptop-brands-46ad https://dev.to/mitchtechie/commonly-used-laptop-brands-46ad <p><strong>LAPTOP BRANDS</strong></p> <ol> <li>Hp</li> <li>Lenovo</li> <li>Dell</li> <li>Apple</li> <li>Asus</li> <li>Acer</li> <li>Microsoft Surface</li> <li>Msi</li> <li>Samsung</li> <li>Razer</li> <li>Huawei</li> <li>Chuwi</li> <li>Infinix</li> <li>Toshiba</li> <li>Fujitsu</li> <li>Panasonic</li> <li>Gigabyte</li> <li>Alienware(Gamers)</li> </ol> <p><strong>USERS</strong><br> Students and young adults. </p> <ul> <li>Age range: 14yrs – 25yrs Gamers. </li> <li>Age range: 16yrs – 35yrs. Young professional and digital nomads. </li> <li>Age range: 25yrs – 40yrs Corporate and business users. </li> <li>Age range: 25yrs – 55+yrs Home use and Senior users. </li> <li>Age range: 40yrs – 55+yrs</li> </ul> <p><strong>FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING A LAPTOP</strong></p> <ul> <li>Budget constraints</li> <li>Use e.g for business, for home</li> <li>Features e.g security, performance</li> </ul> laptops