Our Command through simplicity blog
Tip: Avoid let statements
Do not use let when only used for delayed initialization. Using let is a hint to developers, that variable will change over time so should be avoided if possible by restructuring initialization. Avoid let closeToLeft = false let closeToRight = false if (maxDepthPixelValue < 60) closeToLeft = true if (maxDepthPixelValue > Utils.width - 60) closeToRight = true Do const closeToLeft = (maxDepthPixelValue < 60) const closeToRight = (maxDepthPixelValue > Utils.width - 60)
The power of incremental progress
Continuous improvement is about making small, consistent daily changes that compound over time, focusing on gradual 1% improvements rather than dramatic, unsustainable transformations. Small, consistent improvements can lead to 37x better results over a year Focus on doing more of what already works and avoiding tiny losses Measure progress backward by analyzing past performance and making slight adjustments
Focus on less to achieve more
In the world of software development, it’s easy to get caught up in the race to add more features. We often think that more features mean better software. However, this isn’t always true - more often it is actually the opposite. When building software, there’s a strong temptation to keep adding features. With AI this is now even stronger because it is so, so easy to add new stuff. It seems logical that more features mean more functionality, which should make users happier, right? Allow us to...
Why reviewing your own PRs is good
We’ve all been there - you’ve written what you think is perfect code, only to have your co-workers point out a glaring mistake. It’s not a great feeling, but it’s part of the job. However, there’s a way to minimize these instances and make the development process smoother for everyone involved: reviewing your own pull requests. I’ve found that when I review my own PRs in the GitHub UI, I approach the code with a fresh perspective. Issues that I missed while writing the code suddenly become o...
A collection of small JS utility functions
This is a compilation of nearly 300 compact JavaScript utility functions, designed to streamline common programming tasks and enhance code efficiency. If you don’t want to use libraries such as lodash or underscore (but I urge you to do) then this list might come in handy. It contains very simple functions such as isEmpty, isEven and isOdd to more specialized array and object manipulations, this collection offers a wide range of practical tools for JavaScript developers. These bite-sized fun...
Upgrading ShoutSMS from Rails 4 to Rails 7.1
Our ShoutSMS project has been cruising smoothly for the past 20 years. It has been running on Rails 4 without a glitch, but today I decided to upgrade it to the latest Rails version. The process went surprisingly smoothly. I have to admit, the ShoutSMS service isn’t too complex in features, and the number of third-party gems is quite limited. I started by creating a new Rails 7.1 application to use as a base. I then compared files and folders at a top level, especially remembering to copy t...
Released "Molly: Memory Game" as a very simple Simon clone
With the help from AI it’s now easier than every to build small, useful games. I just talked with my daughter the other day about the game “Simon” which she didn’t know. I told her it was a pretty simple game showing four colors which would light up in a sequence. You then have to remember the sequence and each time you will get one more color added to that sequence. I downloaded four clones from the App Store .. but all of them were either showing an ad after each play or was just too compl...
Revived Baby Art on the App Store
After not having updated Baby Art for years, it was removed from the Apple App Store. I initially created this app as a very simple drawing tool for the iPad, designed for my daughter when she was still a baby. The idea was simple: open the app and the baby can draw with their fingers in various colors and shapes. It automatically changes colors and shapes with each stroke and also randomly plays some baby sounds. Recently, I decided to revive it. Ten years ago, all the drawing handling had...
Projects page updated with screenshots
I tried to find some old screenshots of the projects and updated the projects page so it looks a bit better. I’m considering reviving some of the projects so they can get back running instead of just being the source code you’re able to see.
Building a simple Tic-Tac-Toe game
Yesterday, I found myself needing to pass some quality time with my daughter and we decided to play tic-tac-toe. To my surprise, there weren’t many options for a simple tic-tac-toe game that allowed two people to play remotely by just sharing a link. Sure you have lots of options if you download a game or want to go to a website and tap through 438 ads before playing, but I was looking for a straightforward page where you could click “new game,” and then easily invite someone to join by shari...