A Byte of Coding Issue 396

Hey-yo,

Last issue before the weekend! Hope you have a good one.

PS. I’ll be in London around June 8th. The last meetup I had in Zurich was a good time and I’d love to do it again, so if you’re in London at the start of June reply to this email and we can grab a drink / coffee / workout / whatever.

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How I stopped worrying and loved Makefiles

Published: 16 February 2024

Tags: make, devops

Tomasz Gągor explores the practical applications and renewed appreciation for Makefiles in modern programming environments. He shares his personal journey and insights on leveraging this tool to automate tasks in various projects including Python, Terraform, and Hugo blogging.

Some highlights:

• makefiles facilitate efficient task management and automation by handling file dependencies and updates

• detailed use cases of Makefiles in managing complex software builds and server configurations without modern tools like Ansible

• illustrates the adaptation of Makefiles across different environments and platforms, proving their versatility and effectiveness even today

What are random numbers and how they are managed on Linux?

Published: 20 February 2024

Tags: linux, crypto,

Sergio Prado delves into the significance and management of random numbers in Linux, emphasizing their crucial role in computing, especially cryptography. He explains both software and hardware approaches to generating true and pseudo-random numbers.

Some highlights:

• random numbers are fundamental for security in computing, affecting everything from cryptography to gaming

• linux manages random numbers through /dev/random and /dev/urandom, balancing between security and non-blocking performance

• Hardware Random Number Generators (HRNGs) and TPM devices provide more secure, but slower, random number generation options

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

Inside the Super Nintendo cartridges

Published: 21 April 2024

Tags: hardware, history

Fabien Sanglard presents an in-depth analysis of the Super Nintendo cartridges, highlighting their complex hardware components and capabilities. He explores the role of enhancement processors and memory chips in extending the console's performance.

Some highlights:

• SNES cartridges contained various advanced chips like the Super FX and DSP-1, enhancing game performance by handling complex graphics and calculations

• each game cartridge was uniquely designed with specific chips tailored to the game's technical requirements, such as memory size and speed.

• provides detailed technical descriptions and historical context of how these cartridges contributed to gaming development