Table of contents for Vol 1 2022 in Coding User

SQL SQL stands for Structured Query Language. SQL is a standard language for accessing and manipulating databases. Although SQL is an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard, there are different versions of the SQL language. However, to be compliant, they all support at least the major commands such as Select, Update and Delete in a similar manner. JAVASCRIPT JavaScript (often shortened to JS) is a lightweight, interpreted, object-oriented language with first class functions. JavaScript runs on the client side of the web, that can be used to design or program how the web pages behave on the occurrence of an event. JavaScript is an easy to learn and also powerful scripting language, widely used for controlling web page behaviour. JAVA Java is the foundation for virtually every type of networked…

C EVERYTHING Due to both the complexity of the language and its power and performance, C++ is often used to develop games, programs, device drivers, and even entire operating systems. Dating back to 1979, the start of the golden era of home computing, C++, or rather C with Classes, was the brainchild of Danish computer scientist Bjarne Stroustrup, while working on his Ph.D. thesis. Stroustrup’s plan was to further the original C language, which had been widely used since the early seventies. C++ proved to be popular among the developers of the 80s, since it was a much easier environment with which to get to grips, and, more importantly, it was 99% compatible with the original C language. This meant that, beyond the mainstream computing labs, regular people who didn’t…

PYTHON POWER Ever since the earliest home computers were available, enthusiasts, users and professionals have toiled away until the wee hours, slaving over an overheating heap of circuitry to create something akin to magic. These pioneers of programming carved their way into a new frontier, forging small routines that enabled the letter ‘A’ to scroll across the screen. It may not sound terribly exciting to a generation that’s used to ultra high-definition graphics and open world, multi-player online gaming. However, forty-something years ago it was blindingly brilliant. Naturally these bedroom coders helped form the foundations for every piece of digital technology we use today. Some went on to become chief developers for top software companies, whereas others pushed the available hardware to its limits and founded the billion pound gaming…

WHAT WE’RE USING Thankfully, Python is a multi-platform programming language available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi and more. If you have one of those systems, then you can easily start using Python. COMPUTER Obviously you’re going to need a computer in order to learn how to program in Python and to test your code. You can use Windows (from XP onward) on either a 32 or 64-bit processor, an Apple Mac or Linux installed PC. AN IDE An IDE (Integrated Developer Environment) is used to enter and execute Python code. It enables you to inspect your program code and the values within the code, as well as offering advanced features. There are many different IDEs available, so find the one that works for you and gives the best results.…

FREE AND OPEN Linux is a fantastic fit for those who want something different; the efficiency of the system, the availability of applications and its stability, are just a few reasons why. The first thing we need to address is that there is no basic operating system called Linux. Fundamentally, Linux is the operating system kernel, the core component of an OS. When talking about Linux we are, in fact, referring to one of the many distributions, or distros, that use the Linux kernel. No doubt you’ve heard of at least one of the current popular distros: Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, openSUSE, Debian, Raspbian… the list goes on. Each one of these distros offers the user something a little different. While each has the Linux kernel at its core, they…

DVD BOOTABLE MEDIA We’re using a Windows 10 PC here to transfer the ISO to a DVD. As long as you’re using a version of Windows from 7 onward, the process is extremely easy. STEP 1 First locate the ISO image of Linux you’ve already downloaded. In Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 computers, you’ll usually find this in the Downloads folder unless, when saving it, you’ve specified a different location. STEP 2 Next, insert a recordable DVD disc into your computer’s optical drive. After a few seconds, while the disc is read, Windows will display a pop-up message asking you what to do with the newly inserted disc, ignore this as we’re going to use the built-in image burning function. STEP 3 Right-click the Linux ISO and from the menu…

When Space Invaders creator, Tomohiro Nishikado, was coding Space Invaders, he had to create his own hardware and development tools to write the game. Furthermore, he then discovered that as a result of the coding and the custom hardware, the fewer Invaders on-screen the faster the processor was able to render them. Thus, as you kill more Invaders, the faster they become. So rather than design the game to compensate for the speed increase, he decided to keep it as a challenging gameplay mechanism.…

COUNTERS Creating code that counts in increasing or decreasing number sets is great for demonstrating loops. With that in mind, let’s look at the If statement a little more, alongside more variables, and introduce the Else, Timeout and eof (End of File) commands. STEP 1 Start by creating a new batch file called count.bat. Enter the following, save it and run: @echo off cls set /a counter=0 :numbers set /a counter=%counter%+1 if %counter% ==100 (goto :eof) else (echo %counter%) timeout /T 1 /nobreak > nul goto :numbers STEP 2 The count. bat code starts at number one and counts, scrolling down the screen, until it reaches 100. The Timeout command leaves a one second gap between numbers and the Else statement continues until the counter variable equals 100 before going…

3.14159265358979… There’s a Raspberry in Antarctica, where it’s as cold as -42C (-45F) It’s estimated that over 250,000 young people every week are learning how to code with a Pi There are over 2,500 Raspberry Pi Certified Educators The Pi 4 is between three to four times more powerful than the Pi 3 Model B+ It is estimated that there are over 50,000 code clubs across the world using the Raspberry Pi During the eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii in 2018, a Raspberry Pi was used as a seismometer It was originally going to be called Raspberry Py, as it was only designed to run Python It was originally designed for school children to learn electronics and coding Pi Zeros are used as small cameras, placed on the…

SETTING UP WITH NOOBS NOOBS (New Out Of Box Software) is a program used to make setting up a Raspberry Pi simple. You can buy SD Cards with NOOBS preinstalled, but here we’ll look at how to format your SD Card and install NOOBS using a Windows computer. STEP 1 We’re going to use a utility called SD Card Formatter to erase the SD Card with correct formatting. You can download this app from https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter/eula_windows/index.html. Click the Accept button to start the download of the latest version of the software. Extract the software, and double-click the executable to install and run the app. STEP 2 We’re going to use an 8GB SD Card to install the operating system on our Raspberry Pi. The card needs to be formatted, which will…

Hardware STM ChargeTree Swing I1601P AOC 16 LCD Monitor AirLit Smart Fan HaloLock Adjustable Wireless Charging Stand Cubbit Cell Groov-e Jazz Buds ESR Gear HaloLock Kickstand Software DxO PhotoLab 5 DxO FilmPack 6 AKVIS Magnifier AI 11 HUMANITY app Motif Photo Canvas Service Cloud Battery Games SpongeBob Patty Pursuit Double Dragon Trilogy Pokemon UNITE Zombie Night Terror ©2021 Pokemon. ©1995-2021 Nintendo/Creatures Inc./GAME FREAK inc. ©2021 Tencent.…

British start-up GeoSmartPro specialises in smart-home gadgets. Its latest release is AirLit, an iPhone app-controlled smart fan that’s packed with extra features. As a fan, it’s 44cm high with its telescopic stand retracted, or 100cm with it extended. The fan itself is 45cm wide. An eight-hour battery in the stand means you can use it all day without mains power, or you can plug it into a mains adapter using a USB-C cable. You can control the fan using your iPhone and the GeoSmartPro app. Use your phone to switch it on (obviously), set its wind speed to one of four levels and more. On the lowest setting it’s very quiet, and even when pumping out as much air as possible, it’s not all that loud as fans go. LED…

Coding can be one of those experiences that sounds fantastic, but is often confusing to tackle. After all, there’s a plethora of languages to choose from, countless apps that will enable you to code in a specific, or range, of languages and an equally huge amount of third-party software to consider. In addition, by accessing the Internet, you will discover that there are countless coding tutorials available for the language in which you’ve decided you want to program, alongside even more examples of code. It’s all a little too much at first. The trick is to slow down and, to begin with, not look too deeply into coding. Like all good projects, you need a solid foundation on which to build your skillset and to have all the necessary tools…

Python’s ability to create highly readable code, within a small set of instructions, has a considerable impact on our modern digital world. From being an ideal first programmers’ choice through to being able to create interactive stories and games; from scientific applications through to artificial Intelligence and web-based applications, the only limit to Python is the imagination of the person coding in it. It’s Python’s malleable design that makes it an ideal language for many different situations and roles. Even certain aspects of the coding world that require more efficient code still use Python. For example, NASA utilises Python both as a stand-alone language and as a bridge between other programming languages. This way, NASA scientists and engineers are able to get to the data they need without having to…

PYTHON POWER Python is a high-level, general-purpose programming language that was designed by Guido van Rossum in the late ‘80s, as a successor to the ABC Programming Language, and became available to use in 1990. The Python Software Foundation, a non-profit organisation devoted to both furthering and improving Python, currently develops the language. The foundation’s purpose is to “promote, protect, and advance the Python programming language, and to support and facilitate the growth of a diverse and international community of Python programmers.” The structure of Python code has been designed to flow easily, allowing those who are just beginning to code to follow it without too much difficulty. Yet, despite its ease of use, Python is regularly used throughout a number of industries in real-world scenarios. Big Data and AI…

LINUX MINT – LINUXMINT.COM By far the most popular Linux distro (distribution) is Linux Mint. Mint began life back in 2006, as an alternative to the then, most popular distro, Ubuntu. Although based on Ubuntu’s Long Term Support build, Linux Mint took a different direction to offer the user a better overall experience. Linux Mint has three main desktop versions available with each new version of the core OS it releases. This may sound confusing at first, but it’s quite simple. Currently, Linux Mint uses the Cinnamon Desktop Environment as its flagship model, although MATE and Xfce models are also available. Cinnamon is a graphically rich desktop environment, while MATE uses less fancy graphics but is more stable on a wider variety of desktop systems and finally Xfce is an…

UEFI BIOS The Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) is used to identify hardware and protect a PC during its boot-up process. It replaces the traditional BIOS, but can cause issues when installing Linux. STEP 1 Insert your DVD or USB flash drive into your PC and, if you haven’t already, shutdown Windows. In this instance, we’re using the USB boot media but the process is virtually identical. Start the PC and when prompted press the appropriate keys to enter the BIOS or SETUP; these could be, for example, F2, Del or even F12. STEP 2 There are different versions of a UEFI BIOS, so covering them all would be impossible. What you’re looking for is a section that details the Boot Sequence or Boot Mode. Here you’ll have the option…

USING MORE VARIABLES Here’s a good example of mixing system and environmental variables with some of your own creation, along with a number of external Windows commands. STEP 1 Create a new batch file called list.bat and start it off with the @echo off command. Begin by clearing the command prompt screen and displaying a list of the current directories on the computer: cls dir “c:\” > list.txt type list.txt echo. STEP 2 Save and execute the batch file. Within the command prompt you can see the contents of all the files and directories from the root of the C:\ drive; and as any user under Windows has permission to see this, there’s no UAC elevated privileges required. STEP 3 Now, create a batch file that displays the contents of…

ASK AROUND The kit list required to set up a Raspberry Pi is pretty basic: keyboard, mouse, HDMI monitor, SD Card and an optional case. Many of these items you’ll already have, but don’t rush out and buy those you don’t. Ask around to see if anybody you know has spares. STEP 1 The most important thing you need is an SD Card. These are the storage cards commonly found in digital cameras. All modern Raspberry Pi boards, including the Raspberry Pi 3 and Pi Zero, use Micro SD cards but the older boards may use a larger SD Card. STEP 2 The SD Card plugs into the SD Card socket. On the Raspberry Pi 4, 3, and Pi Zero, you push the card in and pull it out. On…

In 2016, the Raspberry Pi Foundation started work on an x86 version of its popular Raspbian operating system. By the end of the following year, there was a link on the Downloads page and non-Pi owners could now install and use Raspbian in almost the exact same way as if they were in front of a Raspberry Pi. Since then, the Raspberry Pi Desktop, or as it’s correctly called: Debian Stretch with Raspberry Pi Desktop, has followed the same release path as its Pi-based sibling. However, there are some differences you need to be aware of prior to throwing your Pi away and opting for this version instead. The Raspberry Pi Desktop (x86 version) allows you to view the same desktop and pre-installed software as the Full Desktop version available…

This second-generation STM ChargeTree makes a few minor, but welcome, changes from the original model. Like the original ChargeTree it’s available in black or white, and it once more charges a Qi-compatible iPhone, AirPods (with a wireless charging case), and an Apple Watch - all at the same time, using only one power socket. You just need a USB-C mains adapter of at least 20W. It’s not supplied, but they’re not hard to come by. As before, you charge your iPhone by resting it on the backward-leaning mat at the front of the ChargeTree Swing. It’s comfortably cushioned, and there’s an optional rubber raiser to fit over the foot if you have a smaller iPhone that needs the extra height. Also as before, your earbuds sit on a charging pad…

Where do you keep your computer’s data files? You could use an external hard drive, but then you can’t access your files over the Internet, and if you’re burgled and it gets stolen with your computer, you’ve lost your data. You could use a NAS drive, but these are notoriously user-unfriendly, and again, if it gets stolen with your Mac, you’ve lost your data. What about the cloud? There’s no danger of having your files stolen with your equipment there, but you have to pay a monthly fee for whatever storage space you need. Or you could use Cubbit Cell, a new kind of cloud storage. Cubbit Cell is a storage drive that connects to your router. A product rather than a service, it demands no fees beyond the price…

01000011 01101111 01100100 01100101 Essentially all forms of coding are made up of ones and zeros, on or off states. This works for a modern computer and even the oldest known computational device. ~87 BC It’s difficult to pinpoint an exact start of when humans began to ‘program’ a device. However, it’s widely accepted that the Antikythera Mechanism is possibly the first ‘coded’ artefact. It’s dated to about 87 BC and is an ancient Greek analogue computer and orrery used to predict astronomical positions. ~850 AD The Banū Mūsā brothers, three Persian scholars who worked in the House of Wisdom in Baghdad, published the Book of Ingenious Devices in around 850 AD. Among the inventions listed was a mechanical musical instrument, a hydro-powered organ that played interchangeable cylinders automatically. 1800…

C++ SETUPS As most, if not all, operating systems have C++ at their code, it stands to reason that you can learn to program in C++ no matter what OS you’re currently using. COMPUTER Unless you fancy writing out your C++ code by hand on a sheet of paper (which is something many older coders used to do), then a computer is an absolute must have component. PC users can have any recent Linux distro or Windows OS, Mac users the latest macOS. AN IDE An IDE is used to enter and execute your C++ code. Many IDEs come with extensions and plugins that help make it work better, or add an extra level of functionality. Often, an IDE will provide enhancements depending on the core OS being used, such…

Python creator Guido Van Rossum named Python afterreading scripts from Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Alexa, Amazon’s Virtual Personal Assistant, uses Python to help with speech recognition. As of the end of 2018, Python was the most discussed language on the Internet. PYTHON AND LINUX SKILLS ARE THE THIRD MOST POPULAR I.T. SKILLS IN THE UK. Data analysis and Machine Learning are the two most used Python examples. Disney Pixar uses Python in its Renderman software to operate between other graphics packages. 16,000 There are over 16,000 Python jobs posted every six months in the UK. PYTHON SKILL-BASED POSITIONS ARE THE 16 th MOST SOUGHT-AFTER JOBS IN THE UK. Python Data Science is thought to become the most sought-after job in the coming years. Google is the top company for hiring Python…

MINTY INGREDIENTS Here’s what you’ll need to install and run Linux Mint as we work through this book. You have several choices available, so take your time and see which works best for you. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS The minimum system requirements for Linux Mint are as follows: CPU 700MHz RAM 512MB Hard Drive Space 9GB (20GB recommended) Monitor 1024 x 768 resolution Obviously the better the system you have, the better and quicker the experience will be. USB INSTALLATION You can install Linux Mint onto your computer via USB or DVD. We’ll look into each a little later on, but if you’re already familiar with the process (or you’re thinking of USB and just gathering the hardware you’ll need), then you’re going to need a minimum 4GB USB flash drive/stick to…

INPUT, OUTPUT Batch files are capable of taking a normal Windows command and executing it, while also adding extra options and flags in to the equation. STEP 1 Let’s keep things simple to begin with. Create a new batch file called ‘dirview.bat’, short for Directory View. Start with the @echo off command and under that add: dir “c:\users\YOURNAME\Documents\Batch Files” > c:\users\YOURNAME\dirview.txt Substitute YOURNAME with your Windows username. STEP 2 The new line uses the dir command to list the contents of the directory Batch Files, in your Home directory, dumping the output to a text file called dirview.txt in the root of your Home directory. This is done, so that the Windows UAC doesn’t require elevated permissions, as everything is in your own Home area. Save and run the batch…

SEARCHING FOR FILES Here’s an interesting little batch file that you can easily extend for your own use. It asks the user for a file type to search for and displays the results. STEP 1 We are introducing a couple of new commands into the mix here but we think they’re really useful. Create a new batch file called seek.bat and in it put: @echo off cls color 2 echo Please enter the type of file you want to search for (MP3, DOC, JPG for example) echo. STEP 2 The new command in this instance is color (Americanised spelling). Color, as you already assume, changes the colour of the command prompt display. The color attributes are specified by two hex digits, the first corresponds to the background colour of the…

THE POWER OF PI With many different versions across four generations of models, the Raspberry Pi is certainly a busy little board. But while each Pi offers something slightly different, for the newcomer it’s a confusing medley of hardware specifications and model numbers. Which, Pi, then is best for you? Naturally, that questions depends greatly on what it is you want to do with your Raspberry Pi. If you have a particular project in mind, such as a home media centre server, then you’d probably opt for the more powerful and hardware-capable model of Raspberry Pi. If you want to setup a wireless security camera project, using the Raspberry Pi as the core hardware, then perhaps the Pi Zero W would be a better fit. To begin with, let’s have…

GETTING TO KNOW NOOBS The easiest way to get up and running is to use NOOBS, a software program created by the Raspberry Pi Foundation. You can buy a NOOBS SD Card from Raspberry Pi but it’s easy to make your own with an old unused SD Card (8GB recommended). STEP 1 We’re going to use a utility called SD Card Formatter 5 to erase the SD Card with correct formatting. You can download this app from https://www.sdcard.org/downloads/formatter_4/. Click Download SD Formatter for Mac and Accept. Click the SDFormatter.pkg file in your Downloads folder and follow the instructions to install the app. STEP 2 Use an SD Card of at least 8GB capacity to install the operating system on your Raspberry Pi. The card needs to be formatted, which will…

10 THINGS TO DO WITH X86 RASPBERRY PI OS There’s just as much you can do with this version of Raspberry Pi OS as with the dedicated Pi version. Here’s ten great projects, and things to do with Debian Buster with Raspberry Pi Desktop. CODING This version of Raspbian apes the Full Desktop version for the Raspberry Pi, so that means it comes with all the necessary programming languages out of the box. Learn Python, C++, use the HAT emulator, and even learn JAVA. It’s all there under the Programming menu option. HARDWARE Hook up a Pi Zero without an SD installed, and select GPIO Expansion Board from the options, and you will be able to talk to the Zero’s 40-pin GPIO via the likes of Python or Scratch. By…

The problem with working away from home on your notebook is you’ve probably got no access to a second monitor. Sure, there’s your iPad using the Sidecar feature, but do you miss the high-definition, 16-inch behemoth you have on your desk? This portable screen from AOC is designed to fill precisely that gap. The I1601P (why must monitor manufacturers use such boring names?) is 15.6 inches corner to corner and has a resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p). Not a match for your 3072‑by‑1920 16-inch Retina MacBook Pro, but it’s a decent screen in its own right. One area where it can’t compete with Apple’s screens is the colour gamut. Whereas the current range of Mac notebooks all support millions, and possibly a billion, colours, the AOC external screen can only manage…