A Byte of Coding Issue 386

Hey-yo,

Here’s dat issue.

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Snake draft sorting in SQL Server, part 1

Published: 12 April 2024

Tags: sql, sql server, database, algorithms

Aaron Bertrand demonstrates how “you can divide your heavy processing tasks up into relatively equal units of work”, using a snake draft borrowed from sports.

Some highlights:

• the task requires restoring a bunch of different databases

• databases sorted by size descending, then picked up in snake draft order

• snake draft order is when pickers pick from first to last, then from last to first (so last picks twice in a row)

What's Inside a Linux Kernel Core Dump

Published: 8 February 2024

Tags: linux

Stephen Brennan dives deep into linux kernel core dumps.

Some highlights:

• covers core dump sources, data contained in core dumps, formats, and consumers

• core dump saves the state of the linux system at a kernel panic

• different behavior on different linux systems

What is MFA, and why does your app need it?

Published: 13 December 2023

Tags: sponsored, auth, web

WorkOS describes what multi-factor authentication (MFA) is and why it’s useful.

Some highlights:

• “it’s an added layer of security to your app that makes it more difficult for hackers or impersonators to steal and use a user’s credentials”

• describe the different types of MFA

• summarizes the back-end flow for different types of MFAs

A quick post on Chen’s algorithm

Published: 16 April 2024

Tags: encryption, quantum

Matthew Green wrote a concise article summarizing a recent paper that could “potentially” undermine what were previously thought to be quantum safe encryption algorithms.

Some highlights:

• STILL BEING REVIEWED BY EXPERTS!

• “If it holds up, the result could (with numerous important caveats) allow future quantum computers to break schemes that depend on the hardness of specific instances of [lattice] problems”

• might require rethinking the standard for quantum safe algorithms