DEV Community: Nuel geek

Are We Closer To Clean Energy?

Nuel geek — Mon, 26 Dec 2022 16:00:00 +0000

Clean energy refers to energy sources that have a low impact on the environment and do not contribute to climate change. These sources of energy include renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric, and biomass, as well as advanced technologies such as nuclear power and carbon capture and storage.

The use of clean energy is important because it helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which are major contributors to climate change. It also helps to reduce air pollution, which can have significant health impacts on humans and wildlife.

As we continue to grapple with the impacts of climate change and the need to transition to a more sustainable energy system, whether we are closer to clean energy is one on many people's minds. In this newsletter, we will explore the current state of the transition to clean energy and discuss some of the groundbreaking progress that has been made toward this goal.

One key factor in the transition to clean energy is the increasing competitiveness of renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. In many parts of the world, these technologies are already cost-competitive with fossil fuels, and the cost of renewable energy is continuing to decline as the technologies become more efficient and widespread. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years, making renewable energy an increasingly attractive option for both residential and commercial users.

A Real breakthrough in Fusion Energy

What is Nuclear Fusion?

Nuclear fusion is a process in which atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. This process is the same as the one that powers the sun and other stars, and it has the potential to provide a virtually limitless and clean source of energy.

The basic principle behind nuclear fusion is simple: if you can get two hydrogen atoms close enough together, they will fuse to establish a heavier atom of helium and release a large amount of energy in the process. However, achieving the conditions necessary for nuclear fusion is extremely difficult, and researchers have been working on developing practical fusion energy systems for many decades.

The Breakthrough…

Many people are optimistic about the future after the U.S. Department of Energy declared a breakthrough in nuclear fusion on Tuesday.
Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California made the accomplishment.

Although the idea of nuclear fusion may be novel to some, research on it has been ongoing since the 1940s. They have, however, encountered a difficult challenge: how to generate more energy than is required to manufacture it. It almost appeared to be an impossible task. Watch Video!

Although this represents a significant scientific achievement, harnessing the process that creates the sun's energy as a reliable source of plentiful clean energy is still a very long way off.

According to Marvin Adams, deputy administrator for defense programs at the National Nuclear Security Administration, at a press conference on Tuesday, the team fired 192 laser beams at a tiny fuel pellet on December 5; the result was a small amount more energy produced than the lasers used.

While the energy produced was small - about three megajoules, or enough to power a light bulb - it marks a historic first in nuclear fusion energy because the lasers used just over two megajoules to fire into the target.

However, there is a catch. 300 megajoules of energy were used for the experiment. The target fuel received 2.05 megajoules from the 192 lasers in the facility. The target fuel ignited and released 3.15 megajoules, according to the facility.

The 297.95 megajoules have not been identified as yet. This is a difficulty. It might be difficult to explain the missing megajoules, or it might not be. It produces a pretty black shadow when left outside. One wishes for the arrival of the due diligence.

The Importance

Due to millennia of burning fossil fuels, Earth is currently experiencing a climate catastrophe. As a result, there will be more floods, droughts, increasing sea levels, and other natural disasters. This is already occurring, and as the earth heats, the severity of these disasters will increase.

The earth has warmed by about 1.2 C, but if we can keep it from warming any further - to the ambitious 1.5 C target set in the 2015 Paris climate agreement - that would mean fewer calamities caused by climate change. Therefore, engineers and scientists have been working to create affordable, sustainable energy.

Virtually limitless energy: Nuclear fusion has the potential to provide a virtually limitless source of energy, as the fuel (hydrogen) used in the process is abundant and widely available.
Clean energy: Nuclear fusion does not produce greenhouse gases or other air pollutants, making it a clean source of energy. It also does not produce long-lived nuclear waste, which is a major concern with other forms of nuclear energy.
High energy density: Nuclear fusion has a very high energy density, meaning that a small amount of fuel can produce a large amount of energy. This makes it an efficient source of energy that could potentially meet the world's energy needs for an extended period.
Safety: Nuclear fusion reactions are inherently stable and do not produce the kind of uncontrolled reactions that can occur in other forms of nuclear energy, such as nuclear fission. This makes nuclear fusion a potentially safer source of energy.
Versatility: Nuclear fusion has the potential to be used in a variety of applications, including electricity generation, transportation, and space exploration.

Overall, nuclear fusion has the potential to be a game-changing technology that could revolutionize the way we think about energy and help to address many of the world's energy challenges.

The Challenges…

Although this is a historical first, it does not yet follow that we are equipped to produce energy on a massive scale.
The director of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, Kim Budil, stated that there are "quite major challenges," both in science and technology.

To obtain commercial fusion energy, you must "create many, many fusion ignition events per minute and you must have a powerful system of drivers," according to Budil. "This is one igniting capsule, one time.

Although it wouldn't take as long as scientists had previously predicted, she clarified that it will still be a few decades before the underlying technologies are advanced enough to allow for the construction of a nuclear fusion power plant.
Among the U.S. are other countries like France, and Canada (private companies) working on the advancement of Fusion Energy.

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Ethical Concerns Surrounding Image Generative AI

Nuel geek — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 15:52:48 +0000

Artificial intelligence (AI) has made significant progress in recent years in generating synthetic images that are highly realistic. While image generation AI has the potential to revolutionize fields such as art, design, and entertainment, it also raises several ethical concerns.

One concern is the potential for image generation AI to be used for malicious purposes, such as creating fake news or propaganda. With the proliferation of fake news and misinformation online, the ability to easily generate realistic images has the potential to be abused. It's important to consider the potential consequences of such misuse and to put safeguards in place to prevent it.

Another concern is the potential for image generation AI to perpetuate and amplify existing biases in the data it is trained on. This can result in the creation of biased or offensive images, which can further entrench harmful stereotypes and contribute to discrimination. To mitigate this risk, it's significant to carefully evaluate the data used to train image generation algorithms and ensure that it is diverse and unbiased.

Privacy is another key concern when it comes to image generation AI. Generating images of real people without their consent raises significant privacy concerns, and there is the potential for image generation AI to be used for nefarious purposes, such as creating deepfake videos. To protect privacy, it's essential to obtain consent when generating images of real people and to have clear policies and procedures in place.

It's important to realize how much extra data is routinely gathered from your smartphone, even if biometrics may be your biggest concern.

Fair enough, AI apps aren't the only software collecting data, It's essential to realize how much extra data is routinely gathered from your smartphone, even if biometrics may be your biggest concern.

To collect information about you, AI apps may make use of log file data, device identifiers, third-party analytics, and registered user data.

Even if you decide to entrust AI apps with your personal information, the information will likely be transferred if the business is ever bought.

Any user can refuse to have their data collected by these firms by sending an email to some of these companies.

You can choose not to participate if you use an iOS device by visiting your privacy settings.

According to Ben Winters, the Electronic Privacy Information Center's head of the AI and human rights programs, "that happens especially when it gets into bigger corporations who are considerably more effective at bullshitting around how they talk about it."

There are also broader ethical concerns surrounding image generation AI, such as the potential for creating unrealistic or unhealthy standards of beauty or the objectification of individuals. To address these concerns, it's important to carefully consider the potential applications of image generation AI and to put safeguards in place to mitigate any negative impacts.

To take action on these ethical concerns, individuals, and organizations using image-generation AI should carefully consider the data they use to train their algorithms and the potential impacts of their technology. They should also put safeguards in place to prevent the misuse and abuse of image generation AI, and to mitigate the risks of biased or offensive output.

To better understand how the app uses your data, spend a moment reading through the terms of use and privacy policy before using it.

"We must constantly be informed of the uses for which our biometric data are used. This information is private.

David Leslie, head of ethics and responsible innovation research at The Alan Turing Institute and professor at the Queen Mary University of London, advises us to use extreme caution when using the data.

Even if, it's hard to tell with certainty how a corporation is utilizing and keeping your data without an unbiased evaluation.

Having said that, uploads are actually a small component of the overall picture. Well with my knowledge of when this article was written some of these AI companies have begun to make updates to their privacy policy, but confirm by yourself and make sure they align with your consent.

It's also important for society as a whole to engage in ongoing dialogue and debate about the ethical implications of image generation AI, and to consider the need for regulations and policies to govern its use. This could include measures to protect privacy, prevent the spread of fake news and misinformation, and ensure that image-generation AI is not used to perpetuate harmful stereotypes or discrimination.

In conclusion, while image generation AI has the potential to bring significant benefits, it's essential to carefully consider the ethical concerns it raises and to take steps to address them. By doing so, we can ensure that image-generation AI is used responsibly and ethically.

I hope this blog, Geeks Oasis, has helped to outline the key ethical concerns surrounding image generation AI and some potential solutions for addressing them. If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!

If you find this information valuable, you can give me a follow on Twitter @the_nuelgeek and subscribe to Geeks Oasis Newsletter here.

AI, ChatGPT3 and Disruptive Technology

Nuel geek — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 11:44:17 +0000

Disruptive technology is a term used to describe a new technology that significantly alters the way that consumers, businesses, and industries interact with each other. It is a technology that has the potential to completely change the way we do things, and it can be both beneficial and disruptive.

Disruptive technology can be seen in many areas, from transportation to communication to healthcare. For example, the introduction of ride-sharing services such as Uber and Lyft has disrupted the traditional taxi industry by providing a more convenient and cost-effective way for people to get around. Similarly, the introduction of smartphones has disrupted the traditional landline telephone industry by providing an easier way for people to communicate with each other.

Screenshots of discussions with ChatGPT, the most recent version of the AI model created by the research company OpenAI, have been quite popular on social media during the past week or two. People have used online, publicly accessible tools to create jokes, and TV episodes, produce music and even debug computer code in a different programming language. I also got to use the AI and had hours of conversation with it. The AI has been used by more than a million individuals, and even though it doesn't always speak the truth or make sense, it is nevertheless a competent writer and an even more confident bullshitter. Along with the most recent improvements to Lensa AI, a contentious platform that uses machine learning to create digital portraits, and DALL-E, OpenAI's program for creating art.

It is amazing over the years how AI has changed and is gaining acceptance from internet users, if you're in doubt you can try it yourself here

How do ChatGPT3 works?

The technology is essentially a prediction (even though it doesn't recognize itself as one) system that anticipates what it should write based on previously processed texts. This sort of artificial intelligence is known as a language model.

In addition to spending billions of dollars and receiving initial funding from several well-known tech billionaires, such as Reid Hoffman and Peter Thiel, GPT was built by training its AI with an extraordinarily large amount of data, much of which comes from the abundant supply of data available on the internet.

According to a blog post written by OpenAI, ChatGPT was also trained on examples of back-and-forth human interaction, which makes it seem much more human in its discourse.

This recent model of AI is not 100% perfect but does a decent amount of text generation, humans can trick it to give wrong because of how dynamic we are, I have seen several screenshots of arguments and misleading information with the AI and humans, and The coding discussion forum StackOverflow has prohibited AI-generated answers because they were very likely to be wrong when closely taken a look at.|

But as AI advances, even the current iteration of GPT is capable of performing some jobs quite effectively.

The system performed rather well, while being far from excellent enough to receive an A.

One Twitter user claimed that ChatGPT performed in the 52nd percentile of test takers on a mock SAT exam.

Professor of computer science at UNC Kris Jordan told Recode that when he gave GPT his final test, the chatbot scored a flawless mark, far above the average student score.

Yes, students were utilizing a variety of artificial intelligence tools, including older iterations of GPT, to complete their assignments long before ChatGPT was online.

This tool has opened a generous amount of possibilities on the internet and anyone who can utilize this tool properly in their fields can make a lot of positive progress as well as negative. So choose your path.

In conclusion, disruptive technology is here to stay and will continue to shape our lives in both positive and negative ways in the future. We must understand how this technology works so that we can make informed decisions about how best to use it to maximize its potential benefits while minimizing its potential harms. AI is one such example of disruptive technology that has the potential to revolutionize many industries, but it must be properly regulated for us to take full advantage of its potential benefits while avoiding its potential harms.

If you find this information valuable, you can give me a follow on Twitter@the_nuelgeekand subscribe to Geeks Oasis Newsletter here

2023 Technologies to Watch Out For

Nuel geek — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 07:38:47 +0000

According to the Gregorian calendar, the year 2022 is not over, we've got over 20 days to go, so if the year runs by I would like to bring to your attention the technologies to watch out for in 2023, I don't want you to be left behind because the train is moving fast.

A lot of exciting breakthroughs and improvements in the tech sector made 2022 a fantastic year, and this will give rise to even more wonderful developments.

Let's begin straight now.

AI as a Service

This has been one of the major trends of the 2022 year's end, and it's going to be huge in 2023.

In 2021, the market for artificial intelligence as a service was valued at USD 4.7 billion, and by 2030, it is anticipated to grow to USD 92 billion.

While AI technology has been around for a while, the ways it reaches us are changing quickly. It's fascinating to see the variety of ways it can reach us, including image generators, articles, and generators that can even produce movie scripts and codes in various programming languages. Incredibly, I came across one with whom you can communicate verbally and discuss everything. Isn't that amazing? I will let you decide that.

As a result, businesses may access cutting-edge AI capabilities without spending money on pricey hardware and software. In 2022, artificial intelligence will make even more incredible strides as it grows in strength.

Machine learning, natural language processing, and picture identification are among the improvements. Increasingly, AI-powered gadgets and programs that simplify our lives and boost company productivity are likely to become more prevalent.

Fun fact I generated this article cover photo with AI.

Blockchain

The cool thing about it is that the blockchain space is not just about cryptocurrencies because that seems to be most of the major parts capitalized by the people who get it into the space while a lot more can be done within this space, so the south times in 2022 will give birth to how this ecosystem will rethink about developing solutions. Blockchain technology is still on the rise, but I understand there has been a sort of slowdown in 2022 with major hacks and attacks on the big web3 firms.

There are a lot of potentials, for it to disrupt many businesses, even if it is still in its early phases. In the fields of banking, finance, healthcare, supply chain management, etc., blockchain technology is gaining ground.

In the future, more businesses will incorporate blockchain technology. It will soon become extensively used and accepted.

Cybersecurity

There will always be vulnerabilities that can be exploited as long as the internet is around.

As the world becomes increasingly digital, cybersecurity will become even more important. Businesses and individuals must prepare to protect themselves from cyber-attacks. If the software or any other thing gets hacked, the cybersecurity specialists mitigate the issues.

As critical data is now stored on cloud platforms, it is more vital than ever to set up security measures. As a result, more businesses are putting money into cybersecurity solutions. If you are more into investigating and mitigating issues, this field is a great choice for you.

Internet of Behaviors (IoB)

Digital technologies are used in a significant portion of human existence, and this has led to the development of new technologies like IoB.

An example of a recent technological breakthrough is the Internet of Behaviors. It alludes to the application of information obtained via web-connected devices. The gathered information is then utilized to examine, monitor, and forecast human behavior.

This is a growing area of interest as more devices connect to the internet. This tendency is probably going to have a significant effect, especially on marketing and advertising.

An internet-connected network of actual objects is known as the Internet of Things (IoT). The gadgets have the ability to talk to one another. Soon, we might anticipate seeing more devices—from home appliances to automobiles—connected to the Internet of Things.

Robotics

The most cutting-edge technology now influencing the world in robotics. It is the science involved in creating, constructing, and using robots. Robotics is a rapidly expanding field.

Robots are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are used in many industries. Manufacturing, healthcare, and even the home exhibit this.

Edge Computing

One of the newest innovations in the software sector is edge computing.

It incorporates a computation that takes place nearer to the data generators, at the edge of the network.

This trend is being driven by the requirement for faster and more accurate data processing.

However, a lot of companies still use cloud computing for their applications.

On the other hand, internet-based computing is a subset of cloud computing.

It makes it possible for companies to use the internet to access applications and services.

Others

DevOps
Predictive analytics
Software engineering
Snowflake _ if you find this information valuable, you can give me a follow on Twitter @the_nuelgeek and subscribe to my email list on hashnode Geeks Oasis_

The Last Data Structure and Algorithm Summary You'll Need

Nuel geek — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 07:35:53 +0000

MY SHORT NOTE TO DATA STRUCTURE
Author: Nuelgeek | Software Engr | Smart Contract Developer

ABOUT :

This note will contain a summary of different data structures, algorithms, and some implementation on typescript. These contents are notes I made up from Data structure classes from Frontend masters.

AIM :

This note is to help you with snippet of data structure and algorithms meanings and how it works.
It can be useful for preparation of job interview without the hassle of reading voluminous information.
Looking for straight forward contents on Data structure, this is for you.

! Let's Gooooooooooo

What is Data Structure ?

Data structures frame the organization of information so that machines and humans can better understand it.

What is Alogrithm ?

Algorithm is a step-by-step procedure, which defines a set of instructions to be executed in a certain order to get the desired output.

What is Big O ?

Big O is a way to categorize your algorithms time or memory requirements based on input. It is not meant to be an exact measurement. It will not tell you how many CPU cycles it takes, instead it is meant to generalize the growth of your algorithm.

Important Concepts

Growth is with respect to the input
Constants are dropped
Worst case is usually the way we measure

SEARCH

Linear search is an alorithm technique, where you must traverse through the array's index to obtain a value. that is measurable in O(N) . typescript implementation
A form of search method called binary search involves halving the size of an ordered dataset until the target value is located. Measured in O(logN) or O(NlogN). typescript implementation

SORT

Bubble sort is a type of algorithm where a single iteration produces the largest number (data) at the last index till the dataset is sorted. The next iteration won’t include the last index. It is measured in O(N^2). typescript implementation
A linked list is a linear collection of data elements whose order is not given by their physical placement in memory. Instead, each element points to the next. It is a data structure consisting of a collection of nodes which together represent a sequence. Runtime is O(1).
A Queue is a specific implementation of a linked list where there is no Bi link to the Node, which is denoted as FIFO (First In First Out) operation. The runtime is N(1). typescript implementation
A Stack is a single-Linked list where we get to add to it and remove from the head, denoted as FILO (First In Last Out). Runtime is O(1). typescript implementation

ARRAY

Array vs Linked list

Array	Linked list
1. Access to Indices	Indices don’t exist in the list.
2. It is O(1) when you want to write into an array.	It is O(1) when you want to insert into a listext
3. You have to allocate the memory of your array up front, even if you’re not aware of the memory length needed.	Memory are created instantly when a data is added to the node, but it costs a runtime to create the memory.
4. You have options of search methods in your array. E.g. Binary Search etc	Linear search is your only option when you want to search for a data in your list.

ArrayList uses the array as the fundament base to perform extra operations on it like Resizing, Pushing, Popping etc. Array list is time-consuming using Enqueue/Dequeue and fast with Push/Pop.typescript implementation
Array Buffer, is used when there is some uncertainty about the amount of data or the rate of arrival of the data that will be placed there.

RECURSION

Recursion is a type of algorithm that constantly calls its function until the base case is satisfied, or an action is completed. Understanding your base case will help you comprehend recursion better.

Three steps make up recursion.

Pre; Before recusing, you can do an operation.
Recuse; Does the calling of the function.
Post; After recusing, you can execute an operation.

Even if you don't use these stages directly, it's still vital to be aware of them because pathing depends heavily on them.
MazeSolver algorithm Implementation to understand recursion

Note :

If you have a solid understanding of why you should stop recusing, that reason makes up a solid base case.
You might ask when should you use a recursion algorithm instead of loop algorithm?; Answer: When there is no defined end or when there is branching factor.

QUICK SORT

Divide and conquer is a strategy used by the QuickSort algorithm.
The algorithm selects a pivot element and moves the array's elements in such a way that those that are smaller than the pivot element are moved to the left side and those that are greater are moved to the right side.
The subarrays to the left and right of the pivot element are then sorted repeatedly by the algorithm. The running time of this algorithm is O(NlogN) or O(N^2)

TREE

The tree is a data structure that starts from a single point and goes all down like roots, the computer’s hard drives, its directories and how it is organized is a good illustration of a tree.
A tree is a structure made up of one node called the root and zero, one, or more subtrees. It can also be empty and have no nodes.

TREE TERMINOLOGY

Root: The most parent node. The First. Adam.
Height: The longest path from the root to the most child node
Binary tree: A tree in which has at most 2 children, at least 0 children
General tree: A tree with 0 or more children
Binary search tree: A tree in which has a specific ordering to the nodes and at most 2 children
Leaves: A node without children
Balanced: A tree is perfectly balanced when any node's left and right children have the same height.
Branching factor: The amount of children a tree has.

Traversal | Visiting a Node

There are different ways in which you can visit the nodes of a tree.

Pre order
In order
Post order

Inorder traversal traverses one subtree of a node, visits the node, and then traverses its other subtree. Preorder traversal visits a node and then traverses both of its subtrees. Postorder traversal traverses both subtrees of a node, then visits the node.
The traversal method makes use of recursion technique while visiting the nodes. The running time of this traversal is O(N). Implementation (PreOrder, InOrder, PostOrder). Note: This type of order is Depth First search | DFS, We implicitly used stack DS for calling the recuse function.

TREE SEARCH

Breath first search: This is a type of tree search that implicitly makes use of Queue data structure while visiting each node on a tree level. The run time of this data structure is O(N), but if make use of an array list, the run time will be O(N^2). Breath first search Implementation.

Note: An Interview question example of comparing two binary trees to see if they equal in both shape and structure. Depth-first search preserves tree shape, while breadth-first search does not. implementation.

Heap (priority queue)

Heap data structure as a binary tree, where every child and grandchild is smaller (MinHeap) or larger than (MaxHeap) the current node.

Whenever a node is added, we must adjust the tree
Whenever a node is deleted, we must adjust the tree
There is no traversing in the tree
Binary is always a complete tree

Some cool characteristics

It is self-balancing
It can be used for priority
Funnest data structure to implement, but easy to get wrong!

The runtime of this algorithm is O(N log n). Heap Typescript implementation
.

Tries

A trie is a special tree that can compactly store strings. Also known as radix tree, prefix tree, digital tree, you can perceive is as an auto complete e.g., when you swipe through your phone keyboard it auto generates a word for you that’s how a trie works. Runtime O(1).

Graphs

Graphs are a series of node with some amount of connection or no connection, and they are connected nodes without roots.

Terminology of Graphs
This is not an exhaustive list of terms, but it is the terms that we may end up using today.

Graph Terms

Circle: When you start at Node(x), follow the links, and end back at Node(x).
Acyclic: A graph that contains no cycles
connected: When every node has a path to another node.
Directed: When there is a direction to the connections. Think Twitter
Undirected: !directed.
Weighted: The edges have a weight associated with them. Think Maps.
Dag: Directed, acyclic graph.

Implementation Terms

Node: a point or vertex on the graph.

Edge: the connection betxit two nodes.

The BigO is commonly stated in terms of V and E where V stands for vertices and E stands for edges
So O(V * E) means that we will check every vertex, and on every vertex we check every edge

How are graphs represented

Adjacency list: This is a type of list where the indices map to the node. DFS on Adjacency list typescript implementation.
Adjacency matrix: An adjacency matrix is a way of representing a graph as a matrix of booleans (0's and 1's). A finite graph can be represented in the form of a square matrix on a computer. BFS on Adjacency matrix typescript implementation.
Dijkstra shortest path search: Dijkstra's shortest path is an algorithm that finds the shortest paths between nodes in a graph. It produces the shortest path tree with the source node as the root. It is profoundly used in computer networks to generate optimal routes with the aim of minimizing routing costs. Runtime is O(logV(V + E)). Dijkstra implementation.

Maps & LRU (Least Recently Used)

A Map is a type of fast key lookup data structure that offers a flexible means of indexing into its individual elements.

Terms

load factor: The amount of data points vs the amount of storage (data.len / storage.capacity)
key: a value that is hashable and is used to look up data. The hash has to be consistent.
Value: a value that is associated with a key collision: when 2 keys map to the same cell.

LRU

The Least Recently Used (LRU) Cache mechanism, allowing you to quickly identify which item hasn't been used for the longest amount of time. An LRU cache is a combination of map and linked list data structures. This algorithm makes use of double linked list & Hash maps. LRU cache typescript implementation.

Thanks for reading my note, if you find this note valuable you can give me a follow on twitter @the_nuelgeek and subscribe to email list on hashnode Geeks Oasis
You can also make a pull request or contact me, if you have any extra data structure / Alogrithm you want to add.
Contact me for your smart contract development project and smart contract auditng. Next new skill Frontend development.
link to the course i took here
Feedbacks are highly welcomed.

Getting a web3 job as a developer

Nuel geek — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 08:07:59 +0000

By the start of 2020, the ledger size had surpassed 200 GB.
In Satoshi Nakamoto's initial paper, the phrases "block" and, "chain" were used independently, but by 2016, the term "blockchain" had gained popularity.

The web3 ecosystem has seen a rise in talent scouting in recent years, and as a result, many individuals with expertise in industries such as health, finance, cyber, government, etc. have entered the blockchain industry.

This article will mostly discuss and relate to the context of developers, although the knowledge and information learned from it may be used in a variety of professions in web3.

I decided to transition from being a graphic designer (Brand Identity Designer) to a blockchain developer around this time in 2021. There have been several stages, from managing a lot of information to learning the basics of programming, which has nothing to do with visual design, but that's a gist for another day. Obtaining a full-time position as a smart-contract developer has been one of my main objectives, and I am aware that it is a goal shared by many other Blockchain engineers.

One of the most important things I saw in the area is how quickly the requirements for becoming a blockchain developer or being hired are rising. If you've been working in the field for at least six months, when you decide to look at job openings, you'll find that some requirements are so demanding that you could choose not to apply and consider the positions as senior roles.
As a developer in the field, you tend to become familiar with the new tool to the point where you could feel overwhelmed by the amount of information to process, lots of tools and upgrades are emerging within a short period.

However, because blockchain technology and smart contracts are both irreversible, it demands cautious and outstanding system development before being deployed on the mainnet. As a result, companies/firms are working hard to find competent developers who won't jeopardize their investment.

Another factor I noticed was the diversities of areas in the web3, from DeFi, NFTs, Dao, Security, Social use, etc., which have different structures to how they are built and approached.

You may have had comparable experiences and made similar observations to mine, yet you still haven't landed your first developer job.
I'll outline a few actions that will improve your chances of finding work as a developer in the coming seconds.

I learned from these experiences—and others that I didn't discuss here—and used them as input to create and put into practice a plan that will improve my chances of landing a job, which I'll share with you here.

In a conversation with a friend, I mentioned the fact that if you ever wrote an Erc20 and Merkle tree contract in 2019 or 2020 you are likely to land an interesting role as a Smart contract/Blockchain Developer; but that is no longer the reality in 2022, coupled with the bear market which has caused some companies to lay off their staffs including developers.

But being excellent and talented will present you with many options of opportunity.

Creating higher chances…

Being a smart contract developer only in the blockchain ecosystem might not be enough skill to land you a role or opportunities, just as I said, companies will like to hire developers who have other experience in other technology like; Frontend development, Backend development, Full stack, Ai, Data engineers, etc. Languages; Python, JavaScript, Typescript, Rust, etc. Having the extra ability to do most times expands your options.
No matter how talented and skilled you are, not having a systematic method of visibility might make it harder to get acknowledged for what you do, especially if your works aren't currently attracting notice. Suggestions; Writing, joining and contributing to communities, applying for boot camp, chances you even know better, at least it offers you access to communities, are some ways you might need to strategically put yourself out there to be noticed for what you do.
Build an intriguing project, whether you work in a group or alone, and attempt to create something valuable rather than just another project. This will help you see your portfolio from a different angle.
Contribute to open-source projects
Attending events and connecting with people is another interesting way to meet with Founders, recruiters, and companies, while you mention your interest and how you can be of value to them.

This article is not meant to discourage you in pursuit of applying for a role but to help you make further plans as a developer in other to build credibility in the space which matters a lot.

I am taking the steps I recommended too because I haven't landed any role yet, I am adding a backend development skill to my Blockchain development skill. If you are looking to hire a smart contract developer/Auditor, you may contact me via Twitter, LinkedIn, or Email.

You can also share with me your experiences and how you navigated the process of landing a role in the comment section or replying to the email.

If you found this article helpful, share it with friends, follow me, turn your notifications on, and subscribe to my newsletters, this is Geeks Oasis.

Cover image credit to kim barhemmat

Ethereum Merge Simplified

Nuel geek — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 08:50:21 +0000

On September 15th, 2022, a historic moment occurred in the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem known as the MERGE. In this article, we will explore what the MERGE, is all about and its effect on blockchain technology.

The Merge

Since the launch of the first blockchain network in 2009; Bitcoin, followed by the second-largest blockchain network in 2015; known as Ethereum. These networks have been running under a mechanism that helps to secure the network by miners having to solve a puzzle to validate a block of transactions, this process is known as proof of work(POS).

According to the Ethereum founder, Vitalik stated, the proof of work (POW) hasn't been the ideal mechanism for running the network because of its effect on scalability and high usage of electric energy by its validators (miners). While POW hasn't been ineffective, it has secured Ethereum from the beginning until the merge.

What was the Merge?

The merge is an upgrade to Ethereum that changes the validation mechanism for transactions from a proof-of-work method to proof-of-stake (POS).

Probably you must be wondering how possible it is; you are not alone, Ethereum developers have made history to show how feasible it is because we are in the POST MERGE ERA, so let's jump into how it was accomplished.

Since the history of Ethereum, the developers have been preparing for the transition of POW to POS. It started with the planning and development, of a separate and new network known as the Beacon chain created on December 1st, 2020, which runs on the proof of stake mechanism.

After the development, the Beacon chain was reaching out a consensus (method of agreement) on its state by agreeing on active validators and their account balance. After the developers were satisfied with the performance with the extensive testing on the chain, it was time for it to process transactions from the Ethereum blockchain, which is the upgrade.

An illustration that covers this is a car traveling to another universe with an engine that has a high limitation on the car's performance by consuming a lot of fuel and resources, the manufacturer goes ahead to build a new engine that consumes less fuel and gives room for other improvements and this new engine have to be swapped, with the old engine without the car having to pause the trip, even for a second and having not to cause casualties at the same time. Now isn't that awesome!

Currently, the Beacon chain is the consensus engine for all Ethereum network data, account balance, and transactions, the beacon chain uses the POS mechanism, and mining is no longer the means of producing blocks.
This new mechanism enforces the goal of blockchain, Decentralization.

Effect of the Merge

According to Justin Drake, an Ethereum researcher stated in his tweet; "The merge will reduce worldwide electricity consumption by 0.2%" that is pretty huge. This means people who had issues with the Ethereum chain having to consume a lot of energy can participate in the blockchain, which amounts to higher usage and production, because it is a green technology.
The merge allows future upgrades, which you can find out on the Ethereum vision.
It did not change anything for its user.
Developers will only have to migrate their smart contract from Rinkeby testnets to Goerli or Sepolia testnets. It also came with a few changes around Block structure, slot/block timing, opcode changes, etc.

What the Merge is not

There has been a misconception of what the merge is not.
The merge is not a mechanism for inflating the price of ETH.
There is nothing like new ETH / ETH2, it is still the same ETH.
The merge doesn't require you to migrate to a new wallet, as the user, you don't have to do anything.
The merge does not reduce the gas price on Ethereum, which means the layer 2 solutions will thrive more.

That's moderately all you need to know about the merge for now. And for dapp developers, I will publish a new article on how to migrate your dapp from Rinkeby to the new testnets soon.

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Cover image credit to Miagul

Overflow and Underflow in Solidity

Nuel geek — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 00:50:06 +0000

It is important to be grounded in the basics of any technology you decide to play for the long term. In this article, we will be looking into Underflow and Overflow in solidity.

Overflow

Overflow is a state a uint (unsigned integer) reaches its byte size, the next element added will return the first variable element (default variable value). The byte size of uint Is 255 which means once it gets to the max it resets to 0.

Illustrated Below:

uint16 number = 65535;
return number++;
// this returns 0 because it has gotten to the max

Underflow

Similar to overflow, underflow is a state where an uint16 if subtracted by 1 equals 0, it will show 65535 (because uints are unsigned in solidity, and therefore cannot be negative)

Illustrated Below:

uint16 number ; // number here is equal to 0
return number--;
// this returns 65535 because it has gotten to the Minimum

Overflows are very common in solidity and must be checked for with control statements such as:

if(a + c > a) {
  a = a + c;
}

Now you understand the Overflow and Underflow concepts, you need to pay attention while writing your codes, and also keep in view what values the variable will hold because once a smart contract is deployed, it is immutable.

An easier alternative is to use OpenZeppelin's SafeMath library (Docs & Github) which automatically checks for overflows in all the mathematical operators. The resulting code looks like this:

a = a.add(c);

If there is an overflow, the code will revert.

I hope this has helped you to gain an overview of Overflows and Underflow in Solidity and navigate better in these scenarios!

How to Install Graph CLI On Ubuntu

Nuel geek — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 21:54:21 +0000

A few days ago, I got stuck trying to install Graph-cli on my Ubuntu operating system. I had to make a lot of research to figure it out, and I did with the help of my peers too.
In this article, I will be sharing how to install Graph-cli on Ubuntu, and this will be a quick one.

The Graph CLI is written in JavaScript, and you will need to install either yarn or npm to use it; it is assumed that you have yarn in what follows. Once you have yarn, install the Graph CLI by running,

For Ubuntu, install with yarn or npm:

sudo yarn global add @graphprotocol/graph-cli

The sudo keyword gives the dependencies root access to your OS

Other Methods on Linux
libsecret is used for storing access tokens, so you may need to install it before getting started. Use one of the following commands, depending on your distribution:

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt-get install libsecret-1-dev

Red Hat:

sudo yum install libsecret-devel

Arch Linux:

sudo pacman -S libsecret

For other OS, install with yarn or npm:

yarn global add @graphprotocol/graph-cli

Once installed, the graph init command can be used to set up a new subgraph project, either from an existing contract on any of the public Ethereum networks or from an example subgraph. This command can be used to create a subgraph on the Subgraph Studio by passing in graph init --product subgraph-studio.

If you already have a smart contract deployed to the Ethereum mainnet or one of the testnets, bootstrapping a new subgraph from that contract can be a good way to get started.

Learn more about creating and deploying subgraph here.

Top Smart Contract development tools

Nuel geek — Sat, 20 Aug 2022 14:11:37 +0000

The Web3 ecosystem is still at its early stage of development which gives room for a lot of creation and improvement of tools that aid in writing novel Smart contracts.
In this article, I will list the tools that have helped me develop my skill faster as a smart contract developer.
These tools are listed in categories ranging from starter kits for building dapps, Smart contract programming languages, Smart contract vitals, Deployment & test, wallets, Block explorer, Security tools, Front-end tools, and help & support. I will be focusing on the top and dominant tools.

Starter kits for building dapps

Scaffold-eth: This is one of my favorite tools that gave me real challenges to learn while solving the problems, one way to quickly experiment with solidity and a frontend that adapts to your smart contract. it contains instructions to guide you as a developer and telegram groups for every participator to interact with other builders. In addition to that, it supports Javascript and Typescript.
30 Days of Web3: I Learned about this incredible platform last week from Twitter. The curriculum is beginner friendly for learning about solidity. The course is for people who want to start building on Ethereum. If you don't know how to code, it walks you through the code and helps you understand how the different protocols communicate with each other. it covers smart contracts, frontend, and Graphs development. It is self-paced and provides its users with a Discord channel filled with support and web3 opportunities.
Patrick Collins 32 hours course: The 32 hours duration might seem like a lot, but it contains every vital information to becoming a grounded Solidity developer. This course will give you a full introduction to all of the core concepts related to blockchain, smart contracts, Solidity, ERC20s, full-stack Web3 dapps, decentralized finance (Defi), JavaScript, TypeScript, Chainlink, Ethereum, upgradable smart contracts, DAOs, the graph, moralis, aave, IPFS, and more. Follow along with the videos and you will be a blockchain wizard in no time!

Smart contract programming languages

Soiidity: If you are new to smart contract development, I recommend you start with solidity, this is the most dominant language for writing smart contracts. Solidity works on most network platforms, like Ethereum, Avalanche, Moonbeam, Polygon, BSC, and more. It is a model built to target the EVM (Ethereum virtual machine), which is widely adopted.
Vyper: If you are already going with Python programming language, this is a good start. Vyper is a pythonic language that is similar to Solidity but written in a more modern way. It is used to write smart contracts that run on the Ethereum Virtual Machine. Next to Solidity, Vyper is the second-most popular choice of contract programming language for developers.
Rust: Rust is the latest language in the context of blockchain, and you’re not going to be able to use it with the EVM compatible blockchains like Ethereum, Polygon, Binance Smart Chain, and such. However, with Rust, you’ll be able to deploy to chains like Solana, and Terra and build blockchains with Polkadot. Rust is a performant general-purpose language used even outside smart contracts; hence other chains are choosing to pick it up.

Deployment and test

Hardhat: The hardhat framework is currently the most dominant for Deployment and testing. Hardhat is a development environment for Ethereum software. It consists of different components for editing, compiling, debugging, and deploying your smart contracts and dApps, all of which work together to create a complete development environment.

With Hardhat’s testing speed, Javascript, typescript support, wide adoption, and incredible developer experience-focused team, it is no wonder why it’s risen so quickly in popularity. it does a beautiful job of quickly getting your applications up to speed. You can check out the hardhat-starter-kit to see an example of what a hardhat project looks like.

Foundry: Foundry is a blazing fast, portable and modular toolkit for Ethereum application development written in Rust.

Foundry consists of:

  Forge: Ethereum testing framework (like Truffle, Hardhat, and DappTools).
  Cast: Swiss army knife for interacting with EVM smart contracts, sending transactions,    and getting chain data.
  Anvil: local Ethereum node, akin to Ganache, Hardhat Network.
  This framework is fast, powerful, and focuses on building your tests in solidity, with built-in
fuzzing and other powerful tools.

Alternatives:
Brownie(python-based), Remix, Truffle, Apeworx

Block explorer

Block explorers are one of the most important tools in a crypto and developer enthusiast's arsenal. They provide an online interface for searching for transactions on the blockchain and enable you to retrieve data about transactions, addresses, blocks, fees, and more.

Etherscan: This explorer is one every user of the Ethereum network makes use of in retrieving data when needed. Etherscan is the leading BlockChain Explorer, Search, API, and Analytics Platform for Ethereum, a decentralized smart contracts platform. Built and launched in 2015 it is one of the earliest and longest-running independent projects built around Ethereum and its community with the mission of providing equitable access to blockchain data.
Etherchain: I learned about the explorer at the time of writing this article from Patrick collins. Etherchain is a lightweight block explorer that has also released a wonderful ETH 2 explorer that I use more than Etherscan at the moment.

Wallet

If you are a blockchain user or enthusiast, the wallet is more like a gateway for access to participating in the blockchain network, and for the developers, you need the wallet to deploy and store testnets(funds) for paying a gas fee. Everyone should own a wallet.

Metamask: MetaMask is a popular cryptocurrency hot wallet known for its ease of use, available on both desktops and mobile devices, the ability to buy, send, and receive cryptocurrency from within the wallet, and collect non-fungible tokens (NFTs) across two blockchains. Its concept is pretty simple. The problem with these is that once your private key is out, you’re screwed! Additionally, they are always connected to the internet, so if someone gets access to your computer, you might be out of luck too! Luckily there are some helpful other tools for us.
Gnosis Safe: Gnosis safe is known as a multi-sig wallet, meaning it takes X number of signatures to send a transaction. This way, if one wallet is compromised, it doesn’t matter since that attacker would need to compromise at least half of the keyholders.
A massive tool for smart contract developers, especially those handling a lot of money and want to make sure their assets are safe. A lot of DAOs use Gnosis safe as well for storing their treasuries. Additionally, a gnosis safe has integrations with many other DAO tooling, like Snapshot, for casting votes.
Ledger / Trezor: Ledger and Trezor are known as “cold wallets,” or wallets that are a bit more cumbersome to make transitions with. This cumbersomeness is intentional; they make it harder for you, especially attackers, to move funds.
You can use any combination of cold wallets, hot wallets, and multi-sigs in your projects, and you probably should! Use hot storage for small funds that you need to access and move around a lot/quickly, cold storage for things you don’t want to touch for a long time, and multi-sigs for significant funds you wish to protect. You can even connect your cold storage wallet as one of the keys on a multi-sig!

Frontend tool

Frontend development in web3 still makes use of fundamental developing tools like Html, CSS, and Javascript. React, Angular Js, and Next js are important frameworks for frontend development. In addition to that, there are extra dapp-compatible tools for development.

Web3.Js/Ether.js: Both web3.js and ethers.js are JavaScript libraries that enable frontend apps to interact with the Ethereum blockchain, including smart contracts. If you are building an app that reads or writes to the blockchain from the client, you'll need to use one of these libraries. Recently, trends have been moving towards Ethersjs as the more popular one; however, they will both do the job.
Moralis: Moralis is a leading web development platform that offers everything that the user needs to create, host, and grow great dApps in one place. It allows you to simply interface with an infinite number of external projects, chains, and technologies.

Help and Support

There are lots of ways to get help on a particular issue or bug, this is one of the times you pull up your googling skills, making use of platforms such as StackOver flow or Stack Exchange ETH, googling the exact error, asking questions in the discord and forum community, you can also create an issue on Github.
Security Tools
One can attack records on the blockchain which can't be reversed once exploited in most cases. This makes it necessary for Web3 security to be more proactive and prevention-focused.
Currently, the widely used method for the prevention of attacks has been through code auditing, peer review, and making use of tools like Silver, Mythril, Manticore, etc which are still very relevant in the space. However, that does not guarantee 100% of code security, but it does reduce the chance of it being exploited at a high rate.
Make use of many methods as possible to get your code secured.

Summary

This is a long read and still does not cover every single tool existing in the ecosystem, as more tools are springing up now, while many are being improved to fit the advancement of this technology.

But I hope I have listed some of the important tools you can kick off with. Let me know any tool you feel like I missed in the comment session. Subscribe to my blog as I will be dishing out important and helpful tips for developers.

Reference

Patrick Collins blog: https://betterprogramming.pub/top-10-smart-contract-developer-tools-you-need-for-2022-b763f5df689a
30 Days of web3: https://www.30daysofweb3.xyz/en/curriculum/1-getting-started/0-overview