
# The Active Developer: Blending Steps with Code

## Embracing Movement in the World of Code

The journey towards the 10,000 steps a day goal finds its roots in 1960s Japan, thanks to Dr. Yoshiro Hatano's research.
Initially a strategy to market pedometers, Dr. Hatano's findings illuminated the considerable health benefits tied to
this daily activity target. Over the decades, further studies have reinforced the importance of such physical engagement
for enhancing overall well-being.

In the realm of software engineering, where sedentary periods dominate, integrating this walking target can not only
boost health but also invigorate productivity and boost mental clarity.

For me, living in sunny San Diego has helped motivate me to get outside and walk every day, even if it's just for 30 
minutes or so. I hope I can help you do the same!

## Walking Towards Well-being and Innovation

The act of walking, particularly reaching the milestone of 10,000 steps daily, offers multifaceted benefits:

### Cardiovascular Health

Consistent walking is key in regulating blood pressure and strengthening heart health. Notably, a 2019 "JAMA" study
linked higher step counts to reduced mortality risk from all causes.

### Weight Management

As a natural weight control method, walking 10,000 steps can burn an estimated 400 to 500 calories, influenced by
individual factors such as pace and body mass.

### Mental Clarity

Physical activity, including walking, serves as a potent antidote to depression and anxiety, providing a necessary
mental break for software engineers amidst debugging and deadlines.

### Creative Sparks

Stanford University's research underscores walking's role in enhancing creative thought—crucial for engineers crafting
innovative solutions.

Personal experiences affirm that simple adjustments, like switching work positions, can rejuvenate focus and creativity.

## Striding Without Straying from Your Screen

Incorporating more steps into a developer's day requires creativity and a bit of strategy:

- **Scheduled Strolls**: Taking short walks during breaks, whether inside or outdoors, significantly contributes to your
  step tally. I find it really helpful to take these at a time of frustration or when you need to think through a
  problem.
- **Meetings in Motion**: Opt for walking meetings to boost steps and inspire creativity. This works well for meetings
  that won't involve screen sharing. However, this isn't always going to work.
- **Commute Creatively**: Whether it's part of your commute or choosing a farther parking spot, every step counts
  towards your daily goal.
- **Movement Reminders**: Use technology to your advantage with apps or smartwatches that remind you to move if you've
  been inactive.
- **Dynamic Desks**: Lastly and my personal favorite, a standing desk with a mini treadmill underneath. This setup makes
  achieving 10k steps in a day much easier. It's a bit of an investment and it takes some time to get used to typing while
  walking but in my opinion it's worth it.

## Navigating the Path to 10,000 Steps

Reaching a 10,000-step daily goal might seem formidable, especially for those juggling tight schedules or remote work.
However, setting realistic milestones and gradually increasing your step count can make this goal attainable.

Another thing I personally have found super helpful is using the Apple Health app to track steps. I put their widget on
the first page of my Iphone so that I am always thinking of it. 

<img src="/assets/blog/10k-steps/apple_health_widget.jpg" class="inline-image" style="border: 0;">

## The Step-Forward Mindset for Software Engineers

For software engineers, embarking on the 10,000-steps-a-day challenge is more than a health goal—it's a step towards
enhanced mental acuity, creativity, and overall job satisfaction. While the target might seem ambitious, starting with
smaller, achievable goals can lead to significant health and wellness benefits. The journey towards integrating movement
into a coding lifestyle is not just about the steps taken but the positive shifts in health, productivity, and
well-being that come with it.

Now get walkin!



The Active Developer: How to Walk 10,000 Steps a Day Without Leaving Your Code Behind


# Technical Dive into Procedural Room Generation and Connection in Maps

In this post, we explore the technical aspects of generating and connecting rooms procedurally within a map, a key
technique in game development and simulations to create dynamic and varied environments.

# Procedural Generation: An Overview

Procedural generation refers to the algorithmic creation of data with randomness, widely used for generating maps in
games. This method allows for a high degree of variability, ensuring that each map is unique. The core principle
involves using algorithms and randomness to layout elements like rooms, corridors, and obstacles.

Note: The matrix has three dimensions to it so we can denote depth in the map. Full definitions of helper functions can be found at the end of the page.

# Initializing the Map

The first step in our procedural generation process is initializing the map with a base tile, typically representing the
ground:

```python
def init_map(initial_tile=TILE_TYPES['Ground']):
  # initialize the map with 0 values
  matrix = np.full((MAP_SIZE, MAP_SIZE, MAP_DEPTH), 0)
  for x in range(MAP_SIZE):
    for y in range(MAP_SIZE):
      # place ground tile type on the entirety of the lowest "depth"
      place_tile(matrix, initial_tile, [y, x])
  return matrix
```

This function creates a 3D NumPy array representing our map, filling it with an initial tile type, ensuring we have a
starting point for adding more complex structures.

# Room Generation

Rooms are generated using the `create_rooms` function, which randomly determines their number, size, and position:

```python
def create_rooms(game_map, num_rooms, obstruction_tile, ground_tile, local_rand):
  # keep track of created rooms
  rooms = []
  for _ in range(num_rooms):
    rooms.append(create_room(game_map, local_rand, obstruction_tile))
  # remove walls that overlap w/ each other
  solve_room_overlap(game_map, rooms, ground_tile)

  # connect the rooms
  rooms = connect_rooms(game_map, rooms, obstruction_tile, ground_tile)
  return rooms
```

Each room is created and placed on the map ensuring it fits within the map boundaries. The `create_room` function is
responsible for the specifics of each room's dimensions and location.

# Handling Room Overlaps

<div>
The `solve_room_overlap` function addresses any overlaps between rooms, adjusting their positions or modifying walls to ensure each room is distinct. without these overlaps we would end up with many occurrences of rooms that look like so:
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center" class="img-bordered">
  <img style="width: 250px; height: 250px; margin: auto;" src="/assets/blog/procedural_maps/overlaps.png" class="img-bordered" alt="overlaps"/>
</div>

```python
def solve_room_overlap(game_map, rooms, tile_type):
  """for each room in rooms, check if overlap is present. if so, remove the overlapping sections of walls"""
  for i, room1 in enumerate(rooms):
    for room2 in rooms[i + 1:]:
      if rooms_overlap(room1, room2):
        remove_internal_walls(game_map, room1, room2, tile_type)

```

by removing the overlapping internal walls, we end up with something that makes sense

<div style="margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: center;">
<img style="width: 250px; height: 250px; margin: auto;" src="/assets/blog/procedural_maps/overlap_solved.png" class="img-bordered" alt="overlaps_solved"/>
</div>

# Connecting Rooms

The connect_rooms function weaves the rooms together by creating corridors or paths, making the map navigable:

```python
def connect_rooms(game_map, rooms, wall_tile, ground_tile):
  """for each room, find the closest room in rooms, then draw a line connecting each room's midpoint"""
  while len(rooms) > 1:
    room = rooms.pop(0)
    closest_room = find_closest_room(room, rooms)
    if closest_room:
      create_hallway(game_map, room, closest_room, wall_tile, ground_tile)
  return rooms
```

<div style="margin-top: 20px; text-align: center; display: flex; justify-content: center;">
    <img style="width: 250px; height: 250px; margin: auto;" src="/assets/blog/procedural_maps/connected_overlap_solved.png" class="img-bordered" alt="overlaps"/>
    <img style="width: 250px; height: 250px; margin: auto;" src="/assets/blog/procedural_maps/connected.png" class="img-bordered" alt="overlaps"/>
</div>

This function ensures each room is connected to at least one other room, using the create_hallway function to lay down
the paths.

# Conclusion

Through this technical exploration, we've seen how procedural generation can be harnessed to create complex and varied
map layouts with interconnected rooms. This process, from initialization to visualization, showcases the power of
algorithmic content creation in crafting immersive game environments.

This example barely scratches the surface of what we can do with simple techniques.

<blockquote style="margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 15px;">
  <i>Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.</i>

&mdash; <i>Archimedes</i>

</blockquote>

# Helper Functions

```python
def place_tile(game_map, tile, p, lvl=0):
  """
  place the given tile at the given location
  """
  if p[0] < 0 or p[1] < 0:
    # return if out of bounds of map
    return
  try:
    game_map[*p, lvl] = tile
  except IndexError:
    pass


def create_room(game_map, local_rand, tile_type):
  # randomly place a room outlined by the provided tiletype
  width = local_rand.randint(4, 10)
  height = local_rand.randint(4, 10)

  start_x = local_rand.randint(0, MAP_SIZE - width)
  start_y = local_rand.randint(0, MAP_SIZE - height)

  for i in range(width):
    for j in range(height):
      x = start_x + i
      y = start_y + j
      if i == 0 or j == 0 or i == width - 1 or j == height - 1:
        place_tile(game_map, tile_type, [y, x])
  return start_x, start_y, width, height


def rooms_overlap(room1, room2):
  if isinstance(room1, list) and isinstance(room2, list) and isinstance(room1[0], list):
    # Both rooms are defined as lists of 4 points where each point is [y, x]
    # Extract the points
    tl1, tr1, br1, bl1 = room1
    tl2, tr2, br2, bl2 = room2

    # Check for overlap
    return (
      tl1[0] <= br2[0] and br1[0] >= tl2[0] and  # Check vertical overlap
      tl1[1] <= br2[1] and br1[1] >= tl2[1]  # Check horizontal overlap
    )
  else:
    # Unpack room parameters
    x1, y1, w1, h1 = room1
    x2, y2, w2, h2 = room2

    # Check for overlap
    return (x1 < x2 + w2 and x1 + w1 > x2 and
            y1 < y2 + h2 and y1 + h1 > y2)


def remove_internal_walls(game_map, room1, room2, tile_type):
  # Modify the walls of room1 and room2 that are internal after the overlap
  def modify_walls(start_x, start_y, width, height):
    for i in range(width):
      for j in range(height):
        if 0 < i < width - 1 and 0 < j < height - 1:
          x = start_x + i
          y = start_y + j
          place_tile(game_map, tile_type, [y, x])

  # Unpack room parameters
  modify_walls(*room1)
  modify_walls(*room2)


def find_closest_room(room, rooms):
  # Find the closest room to the given room
  closest_room = None
  room_vertices = get_room_vertices(room)
  for other_room in rooms:
    if rooms_overlap(room, other_room):
      continue
    other_room_vertices = get_room_vertices(other_room)

    # find min distance between vertices
    distances = []
    for point_1 in room_vertices:
      for point_2 in other_room_vertices:
        distances.append(abs(math.dist(point_1, point_2)))
    min_distance = min(*distances)

    # closer room has been found
    if not closest_room or min_distance < closest_room[0]:
      closest_room = [min_distance, other_room]
  if closest_room:
    return closest_room[1]
  return None


def create_hallway(room1, room2, wall_tile, ground_tile, game_map):
  # Assuming room format is (start_x, start_y, width, height)
  x1, y1, w1, h1 = room1
  x2, y2, w2, h2 = room2

  # Midpoints of the rooms
  mid_x1, mid_y1 = x1 + w1 // 2, y1 + h1 // 2
  mid_x2, mid_y2 = x2 + w2 // 2, y2 + h2 // 2

  # Decide the direction of the hallway (horizontal or vertical first)
  horizontal_first = abs(mid_x1 - mid_x2) > abs(mid_y1 - mid_y2)

  # Create the hallway
  if horizontal_first:
    # Create horizontal part
    for x in range(min(mid_x1, mid_x2), max(mid_x1, mid_x2) + 1):
      place_tile(game_map, ground_tile, [mid_y1, x])

    # Create vertical part
    for y in range(min(mid_y1, mid_y2), max(mid_y1, mid_y2) + 1):
      place_tile(game_map, ground_tile, [y, mid_x2])
  else:
    # Create vertical part
    for y in range(min(mid_y1, mid_y2), max(mid_y1, mid_y2) + 1):
      place_tile(game_map, ground_tile, [y, mid_x1])

    # Create horizontal part
    for x in range(min(mid_x1, mid_x2), max(mid_x1, mid_x2) + 1):
      place_tile(game_map, ground_tile, [mid_y2, x])

def get_room_vertices(room):
    # Unpack room parameters
    x1, y1, w1, h1 = room
    return [
        (x1, y1),            # top left
        (x1 + w1, y1),       # top right
        (x1 + w1, y1 + h1),  # bot right
        (x1, y1 + h1),       # bot left
    ]
```


Procedural Maps

### _"The intersection of technology and humanity is where magic happens. It’s not just about the code; it’s about how it touches lives."_ - Steve Jobs

If Steve Jobs believed in the harmonious blend of technology and humanity, 
then our story is no different. Our journey began with a simple idea: if we 
can make it, why not? Today, I want to share the story of four internal 
projects that began as ideas and transformed into tools that are not just 
efficient, but genuinely fun.



## MGMT2: Tracking, Efficiency, and a Bit of Bitcoin Magic
<div style="max-width: 450px;" class="img-bordered">
    <img src="/assets/images/articles/mgmt2.jpg">
</div>

Our passion lies in collecting achievements and milestones. MGMT2 is our 
tool designed to help our teammates track their achievements and, here's 
the cool part, their share of our Bitcoin treasure. Remember when we 
snagged some Bitcoin for our balance sheet? In about two years, that's 
going to be a delightful bonus for our team. Imagine making something as 
intangible as Bitcoin tangible for our employees. That's MGMT2 for you.

## GitHub Streak Tracker: Code, Commit, Repeat

<div class="img-bordered">
    <img src="/assets/images/articles/git-streak-tracker.jpg">
</div>

Seeing a growing GitHub streak is satisfying. With our 
[GitHub Streak Tracker](https://git-streak-tracker.herokuapp.com/), designed 
exclusively for iOS, you're not just encouraged to commit daily, but it 
becomes a part of your daily ritual. It's like having a personal 
cheerleader, reminding you of your coding journey and pushing you to 
achieve more.

## PropConnect.io: Simplifying Property Management

<div class="img-bordered">
    <img src="/assets/images/articles/propconnect.jpg">
</div>


Managing properties can be challenging. We created 
[PropConnect.io](https://propconnect.io/) to make property management 
a breeze. With direct text-based communication between tenants and vendors 
and comprehensive oversight, property managers can step back from the 
tedious tasks and focus on what truly matters: growing their portfolio 
or even just taking a well-deserved break.



## Brexyl: Monster Mayhem and Mischief in the Arena

<iframe 
  width="560" 
  height="315" 
  src="https://streamable.com/e/pp7rnm"
  frameborder="0"
  allowfullscreen></iframe>

Dive into an adrenaline-pumping arena where strategy meets action. Brexyl 
is our take on the game dynamics similar to Minion Masters. Spawn monsters 
from the cards you draw and watch them battle in an arena. Protect your main 
building, or it's game over. And if you're in the mood for some playful 
teasing, drop a giant "7" on your opponent. It might do nothing, but the 
laughs you get are priceless!

For this project we're using [Godot 4.1](https://godotengine.org/), a free and
open source game engine. It's a great tool for creating 2D and 3D games
and has a very active community. We've also chosen to leverage .NET
with Godot's C# support.

### Wrapping Up

Innovation doesn't always begin in a boardroom. Sometimes, it starts with a 
simple idea or a desire to make things better. If you're looking to create 
something groundbreaking or something that resonates with people - reach 
out to us. We're always ready for the next big challenge.

Having fun: Our internal projects

<br></br>
<div style="width: 100%; text-align: center;">
  <a href="https://reactnative.dev/">
      <img 
        src="/assets/blog/futuristic_ckc_building.png" 
        alt="CKC Building" 
        style="border: 0; border-radius: 0; margin: 0 auto;"
      >
  </a>
</div>

Nestled in the scenic beauty of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, our app development company 
has been thriving since 2012. We are a team of passionate developers, designers, 
and innovators who love what we do and where we do it from.




<div style="width: 100%; text-align: center;">
  <a href="https://reactnative.dev/">
      <img src="/assets/blog/react_native_header_logo.svg" alt="React Native" style="max-width: 320px; border: 0; margin: 0 auto;">
  </a>
</div>


## Our Love for React Native

Our love for [React Native](https://reactnative.dev/) is no secret. This open-source 
mobile application framework has been our go-to tool for creating most of our 
applications. We've even developed our own base project, lovingly named 
[Skeletor](https://github.com/ckc-org/skeletor), which serves as the backbone for 
many of our projects. Skeletor allows us to streamline our process and deliver 
high-quality applications to our clients.

## Evolution into Game Development

While we started as an app development company, our passion for creating engaging 
experiences has led us to venture into the realm of game development. We've had 
the opportunity to work on a variety of exciting projects, each one pushing our 
creative and technical boundaries.

## VR Skydiving Simulator

One of our notable projects is a VR Skydiving simulator, available on 
[Oculus](https://www.oculus.com/experiences/rift/2552134034912884/). This game 
was developed by one of our engineers, an ex-NASA intern, who built a whole 
physics engine for the simulator. The result is an incredibly immersive experience 
that gives users the adrenaline rush of skydiving without leaving the ground. 
This project showcases our commitment to creating user-centric experiences that 
push the boundaries of technology.

## MacroAir Project

<div style="width: 100%; text-align: center;">
  <a href="https://reactnative.dev/">
      <img 
        src="/assets/blog/macroair_airviz_modeler.png" 
        alt="MacroAir Airviz Modeler" 
        style="border: 0; border-radius: 0; margin: 0 auto;"
      >
  </a>
</div>

Another project we're proud of is MacroAir, a tool for visualizing fan air movement. 
We're using [Babylon.JS](https://www.babylonjs.com/), a powerful, beautiful, 
simple, and open 3D engine, to create an awesome 3D modeler in JavaScript. 
This project is a testament to our ability to leverage cutting-edge technology 
to solve real-world problems and deliver value to our clients.

## Twitch-Integrated Godot Game

One of our ongoing projects is a Twitch-integrated game developed in 
[Godot](https://godotengine.org/). This project is a testament to our commitment 
to innovation and our desire to create games that not only entertain but also 
engage the community in new and exciting ways.

## Our Latest Project: A Cat Roleplaying Game

Our latest venture is a cat roleplaying game that we're incredibly excited about. 
This project, [Paw Borough](https://www.pawborough.net/), allows us to combine 
our love for gaming with our love for our feline friends. 

We've made significant optimizations in our cat generation process, improving from 
generating one cat per second to a hundred cats per second. This means we're able 
to generate around 10 million cats per day on a single processor! 

This wasn't an easy task, but we believe in doing things that are important, 
even if the odds are not in our favor. We're working hard to create a game 
that is not only fun to play but also captures the quirky and lovable nature of cats. 

We're proud to share that Paw Borough was funded for approximately $90k on 
[Kickstarter](https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tbpt/paw-borough-the-feline-virtual-browser-rpg)! 
This is a testament to the support and love we've received from our community.

## Conclusion

From our humble beginnings in Coeur d'Alene to our expansion into San Diego and 
Spokane, our journey has been nothing short of exciting. We've evolved from an 
app development company into a game development company, and we can't wait to 
see what the future holds. 

We're grateful for the opportunities we've had to work on such diverse projects 
and are excited to continue creating unique and engaging experiences for our users. 
Our approach has always been to deliver first and then iterate, because we believe 
that done is better than perfect. 

We're a team of badass developers growing year-over-year, and we're just getting started.

From the Heart of Coeur d'Alene: The Journey of an App Development Company

The future of many jobs may seem uncertain, even in the Coeur d'Alene and Spokane area. 

Upon encountering ChatGPT, it's natural to feel apprehensive, but let's not forget the rooms full of human "computers" in the 1950s. Rather than succumbing to fear, let's predict where this technology is heading and develop skills and tools to harness the power of AI.



<div style="max-width: 420px; margin: 0 auto;">
     <img src="/assets/images/articles/midjourney_1.jpg" class="img-bordered">
     <br>
     <small><i>Some fun attempts to generate an avatar, using [Midjourney](https://midjourney.com/)</i></small>
</div>

The release of ChatGPT revolutionizes AI's role in business, offering our boutique 
software studio the opportunity to provide clients with innovative solutions. By 
harnessing ChatGPT, we can develop intelligent chatbots, enhance content generation, 
and create tailored AI agents to streamline clients' operations and elevate their 
digital presence.

# How we're using AI

### Chrome Upwork extension
Respond to job offers quickly by having an AI agent knowledgeable about your business generate proposals for you. Can answer questions like "what frameworks do you know?" or "talk about a recent project like this." Uses [OpenAI](https://openai.com/)

### Game development
We're leveraging AI to create artwork and large playable maps for our game. We doodle what the map should loosely look like and let AI fill in the rest.

### Website redesign
Building a fresh new design around [Midjourney](https://midjourney.com/).. the one you're browsing right now!

### Prompt Wars
A fun website using [InvokeAI](https://github.com/invoke-ai/InvokeAI) where users generate images that compete with others based on challenge topics.


## AI Agents

### FishingTravelAgent-GPT
   * For fun I made a quick fishing trip travel agent that helps you find the most interesting fishing spots on your journey

### JuniorEngineer-GPT
   * We're working on training an agent that can do basic coding tasks for us, like a junior engineer that's maybe Sophomore level in college
   * We can provide example tasks, ask for changes, and the agent will do its best to complete the task
   * This can be automated so the agent could look at new tasks, figure out how to do them, and push the code up


# How we can help you

Let's say you have a business that needs to do a lot of repetitive tasks, like
replying to customer support tickets, or maybe you need to generate a lot of
content for your website. We can help you create an agent that can do these
tasks for you.

We can also help you create an agent that can be your AI assistant. For
example, maybe you are annoyed by scheduling your employees every 2 weeks.. "Sally
doesn't get along with Bob, so we need to make sure they don't work together". We
can teach an agent about this, provide scheduling needs and requisite information, and
the agent will behave like a human scheduler!

Another application is in advertising. Compose a long list of straightforward ads, and let ChatGPT transform them into engaging, high-impact copy, optimizing your marketing efforts with ease.

Fun aside: in the past we helped architect the [Codalab](https://competitions.codalab.org/)
platform, which is a platform for hosting AI competitions. Our special piece
for that project was the ability to use "docker in docker" for student submissions.
This allowed AI research in C#, Julia, R, Python, etc.!




# Computers can see!?

Facebook (Meta) created the Segment Anything Model (SAM) using a dataset of 1 billion 
masks on 11 million images. This is an insane tool that can be leveraged quickly
to facilitate a strong AI agent.

<div style="text-align: center;">
     <img src="/assets/images/articles/SAM-model-Metas-new-Segment-Anything-Model-explained-4.webp" class="img-bordered">
     <small><i>Example SAM mask</i></small>
</div>

Maybe you have an assembly line where items are packaged, shipment labels are applied,
and then the packages are sent out. What if you could add cameras along the way
that help catch any potential problems?

Say you sometimes mix up some shipments, like shipping 1 BOX of items instead of 1 UNIT.
An AI agent could be trained to see the difference between a box and a unit.

Maybe sometimes a wheel gets stuck in the assembly line and the boxes start piling up,
an AI agent could see this problem and notify the appropriate people.

These ideas are not revolutionary on their own! The novel piece is how simple and quickly this can be done. 
Instead of needing a research team that can make all of the complex math work, we just
teach the AI agents like we teach a new hire. It's flexible and generic.


# Autonomous agents

A new thing coming out are Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) agents, like:
 - [BabyAGI](https://github.com/yoheinakajima/babyagi) - A baby AI that has limited memory and functionality
 - [ToddlerAGI](https://twitter.com/gogoliansnake/status/1643225698801164288/) - Modified baby agi, slightly more advanced
 - [TeenageAGI](https://github.com/seanpixel/Teenage-AGI) - Has a deep memory, more advanced than toddler
 - [AutoGPT](https://github.com/Torantulino/Auto-GPT) - attempt to make GPT-4 fully autonomous

# Let's bring your business into the AI future!

We're using AI right now with multiple clients. One client is developing a new
way to manage his pecan farm, leveraging [Github Copilot](https://github.com/features/copilot) 
along the way to speed up development.

ChatGPT and OpenAI: Unlocking the Potential of AI for Your Business

I certainly love most of my work, but my favorite part is pair programming, 
which is when a couple developers share a screen and work together solving 
problems, which facilitates spreading knowledge in a big way. 

It is extremely important for scaling Ckc that we teach new folks how to 
think -- a bit strange, but I'll explain!




<div style="text-align: center;">
     <img src="/assets/images/articles/decision-tree.png" class="img-bordered">
     <small><i>Why go up the tree until you're sure about the bottom!?</i></small>
</div>


# An example

1. You are tasked with setting up a new staging server in the Paris Headquarters
1. You set up the server and everything works, but, wait.. for some reason, connections are being denied to [Minio](https://min.io/) on port `9000`?!
1. You're a junior, so you're not sure how this is even happening. Everything
    is working on your machine? Everything else seems fine, just this one service is borked
1. The week of debugging begins:
   * The connection error, maybe it has to do with SSL at some level?
   * Maybe there's something wrong with my Minio configuration?
   * Is Minio booting up OK?
   * Is the port open in Security Groups? Yes..
   * Why can I talk to minio from the local machine, but the outside Internet can't talk to it?
   * I've tried 1,000 times and everything seems fine!
   * This goes on for days
   * Finally, I try a random new port and.. wallah! It works!


It turns out the organization hosting our server disallows port 9000! I had no
idea. I never even thought to ask.

Basically changing one number, a port, from 9000 to _anything else_ fixed the problem. Why
didn't I just focus on the initial connection error? Why did I go down so many useless
paths? I knew what the problem was at the outset, but refused to focus on it. 

I never expected a port to be closed by an outside admin, this had never happened 
before. I could see the list of open ports in my configuration, but I refused to acknowledge it clearly
wasn't open.

I couldn't connect: that's it! Focus on that! It _has_ to be a network problem, nothing
to do with Minio configuration.


# Let your mind go, but with limits

Confronted with so many unknowns you may feel hopeless. You have no idea what 
to try next. You, maybe literally, start to panic. Do you even belong here? Do you
even understand this stuff? You think it should be working, but it's not, and 
reality is crumbling around you. Trouble focusing, wanting to pull your hair 
out... all of that fun stuff.

Let this wash over you, maybe take a second to enjoy this feeling of not knowing
how to do something -- eventually this challenge will devolve into another way to
do a CRUD form stored away in your brain.

You'll forget what a rush it was to finally figure out you needed `levioSah()` not
`levioSo()`. This _will_ be boring someday, I promise, and you'll miss these days.


# Start at the base of the decision tree

After the initial panic has washed over you, re-examine the problem in the simplest
way you can. In the above example it was clear from the very beginning it was a 
connection issue.

Why did I go any further up the decision tree? I had a bad connection, that's it, 
maybe try to change ports or something?

It took a week to diagnose this port problem, which should have been diagnosed
in 5 minutes given a stoic "senior engineer" behind the wheel.


# Furthest branch away

Very rarely you will encounter a problem where all initial assumptions/clues are actually
futile and there's something fundamental wrong with your computer architecture
or the library you're using. Usually you did something silly like a typo, forgot to
pull, forgot to rebuild docker, etc.

Be very cautious going so far up the tree, re-check your initial assumptions. Re-read the 
error. Restart your computer.

Very likely you just need to open a port or something simple!


# It's not always easy

And, actually, sometimes you do have to sit there and take it for 2 weeks. Fully
absorbing an idea and figuring out a problem may legitimately be very difficult
and all-consuming.

Even though this port 9000 problem was silly and took way too much time to understand,
I learned a boatload. This always happens. Every time I am super stuck and find
the solution: I come out stronger, more apt to take on bigger tasks.

Over time, you get better and better at knowing when to climb up the tree and try 
to explore deeply.


# As a process

Here's a repeatable way to try to avoid going too far up the decision tree:

1. _Calmly_ read all errors, code, commands, etc. in front of you.
1. If something is obviously broken, focus on that. Do not assume a third party
system/module is at fault. It's probably you, and it's probably a very small simple problem!
1. Build a small example replicating exactly your situation with as few moving parts as possible _(i.e., from our example, open any kind of server process and serve it on port `9000`)_
1. Rubber duck your situation to a peer.
1. Reach out to someone smarter than you. If you're the top dog: God help you.
1. Now start posting on forums, discord, IRC, etc. and try to find any more info




# Past related articles
   - [How to get a web dev gig?](https://ckcollab.com/2019/03/30/how-do-i-get-a-web-dev-gig.html)

The Decision Tree

We've been constantly improving [Skeletor](https://github.com/ckc-org/skeletor/), our base template for new projects, over the years.

Most recently we added big chunks of functionality for mobile apps via React Native and
a standalone installation script that doesn't require django-admin on your command line.



<div style="text-align: center;">
    <img src="https://github.com/ckc-org/skeletor/raw/master/docs/skeletor_creation.gif" style="margin: 0 auto;">
</div>


### Fast install, standalone script

All you need is this command, typing in your project name, and selecting an option or two .. that's it!

```bash
$ bash <(curl -fsSL https://skeletor.ckcollab.com)
```

Now you have a Django + Vue + React Native project you can deploy to Heroku and get on the
app stores very quickly. You could add realtime chat in a few steps with [django-chit-chat](https://github.com/ckc-org/django-chit-chat).


### Mobile!

One of the biggest changes for Skeletor, and for Ckc in 2022, was adding mobile app support. We've steered
away from that ecosystem until recently, where we've found [React Native](https://reactnative.dev/) to be a pretty great tool.. 
mostly thanks to the folks at [Expo](https://expo.dev/) and their nicely packaged modules.

We played with [Native Base](https://nativebase.io/) this year and were actually burned pretty
badly by it. We started out with this framework, and it seemed fine, but pretty soon
we were experiencing horrible latency loading some components. Then we hit a final straw
where things were just too slow and had to rip it out.

Funnily we used ChatGPT to help replace a lot of these components! We would present 
the chatbot with our component code and ask it to be replaced with default React components. 
It was shockingly close most of the time, and did a perfect job often!


### Many small improvements

 * Built in login/logout/password reset request utilities you need on almost every project
 * Better handling of Heroku by default (Redis SSL anyone?!)
 * Various changes in `backend/settings/test.py` to make tests faster (cheap password hashing, etc.)
 * Better handling for emails/email templates
 * Django Migration checker before git pushes
 * Prevent use of `v-html` dangerously
 * Better Vue linting in general
 * Better S3 and Cloudcube support
 * Remove many django auth third party dependencies

### Does this shit even work!?

Has been used successfully to completion on over a dozen projects!

It is not unusual for us to get a new project in the afternoon and have a proof of concept or 
simple solution going by that night or the next day. We can move extremely quickly with
our toolset.


<div style="text-align: center;">
    <img src="/assets/blog/skeletor-upgrade/react-state.png" style="max-width: 420px; margin: 0 auto;">
</div>

### Upcoming changes

 * Add opinionated react support, once we have some good opinions!
 * More modules in the mobile base app, like password reset
 * And more broadly, semi-out of scope for this article, is more Ckc maintained packages, we currently have:
   * [django-ckc](https://github.com/ckc-org/django-ckc) - nice helpers for django in general
   * [django-chit-chat](https://github.com/ckc-org/django-chit-chat) - chat via websockets (channels!)
   * [dotfiles](https://github.com/ckc-org/dotfiles) - boot up a dev machine with neat presets

Skeletor gets some upgrades!

Heroku.. almost a bad word in many circles. It's expensive, polished, and
restrictive. To me: it's like the Apple of hosting providers. I can rely on it to
_"just work"_ the vast, vast majority of the time.



<div style="text-align: center;">
    <img src="/assets/images/articles/heroku-logotype-horizontal-white.png" class="img-bordered">
</div>

## Why Heroku?

**Managed hosting.**

As a developer first, I want to get right to the meat of the business logic and start
solving problems. Getting around configuring an EC2 instance for the
umpteenth time is an incredible productivity boost.

It's like having your own dev ops team. Right out of the box we can leverage many
managed services like automated deployments, backups, security updates,
quick recovery from outages, etc.

For example, instead of spinning up an instance of Postgres, making our own backup
solution, verifying it works, writing tools to make it easier to make backups before
deploys, etc… we can use Heroku Postgres which comes with WAL (Write Ahead Logging) aka
realtime live backups with a 4hour rollback window.

### Pros:

- Extremely friendly to developers, can onboard or transfer to new people very easily
- Familiar to many developers
- Mostly painless deployments
- Integrates with many services easy, ie CircleCI
- Load balancing for free

### Cons:

- Hard to customize if we have unique needs
- Relying on third parties that can go down (but, is based in the same facilities as
  Netflix)

<div style="text-align: center;">
    <img src="/assets/images/articles/aws-logo.png" class="img-bordered" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.8);">
</div>

# Why AWS?

**Control.**

If you need some complicated configuration of Postgis, nginx caching, non-emphemeral
local storage, yadda yadda.. it's probably easier to go straight to EC2 instances
than it is plumbing some gross configuration on Heroku together.

Also, if you are running a VVIP top secret app then you will want to sandbox your code
away from any prying eyes. But, in my opinion, this is rarely needed and often times
for small-to-medium sized enterprises: security theater. Certainly it is another
point of failure to rely on a separate service storing your code, but I'd bet
on a managed host with hundreds of millions behind it.

### Pros:

- Complete control -- if we want to do some funky settings on the Postgres database and
  use it more like a graph database, add map projections, etc. then we can do that
- No third party outages to worry about
- No third party, beyond AWS itself, has access to your code

### Cons:

- More prone to human error, compared to Heroku with dozens of Dev Ops working full
  time to keep the pipes unclogged
- Requires a more experienced Dev Ops person to maintain
- Each setup is different, everyone has their own opinions and that means new devs
  take a bit longer to get spun up

# Conclusion

At CKC we love simplicity and speed. Heroku brings us the capability to develop
complex applications as quickly as possible, and to run those applications
at scale.

Have an app you're having trouble deploying? Let us [setup something for you!](mailto:hello@ckcollab.com)

Heroku vs AWS

Like many companies, CKC has been infested with at least one of "those guys" who are way into Bitcoin. _(looking at you Eric)_

In this post: what Bitcoin is and how CKC hopes to make innovative, disruptive, and buzz-wordy applications
based on this newfangled digital platform. Eric's appreciation for Bitcoin was magnified by impactful experiences while doing work
for the United Nations.




## What is Bitcoin?

Bitcoin is a global consensus network, using tokens called Bitcoins distributed by an expensive mining process that proves some significant
effort was exerted. More simply: someone took a lot of electricity and hardware to calculate some random number and won a small lottery,
giving them Bitcoin.

This lottery ensures the state of the Bitcoin network. As the network grows, the mining power behind it makes it more secure. As of 
right now, it costs about $4k in electricity to make a single Bitcoin. It is impossible to generate a Bitcoin "for free."

This process continues without the permission of any organization, a true free market approach to currency. As the article continues, we'll discuss
some of the upsides and downsides of Bitcoin in its current state.


## How CKC hopes to make innovative applications


One of the main applications of Bitcoin _used_ to be microtransactions. In comparison to Paypal, which takes 2% + $0.30 in most cases, Bitcoin
_used_ to only cost pennies. Then, during the huge swing up in transaction fees back in 2017, it cost as much as $100 to publish a Bitcoin
transaction. Although I firmly believe the network suffered a spam attack, it showed a weakness in a _broadcast_ system as opposed to a _unicast_
system.

Why is a "broadcast system" weak? A broadcast system means every message is sent to everyone in that network. This system is great for a network
consensus (agreement between nodes in a network), but as people (nodes) in the network increase, the process of sending messages to everyone becomes
extremely expensive. It just doesn't scale well. Space in the blockchain is precious.

A unicast system is superior for small transactions because the message is only directed between 2 peers. This means that you lose out consensus
but can scale to infinity.

So, since Bitcoin writes _every single transaction_ to the blockchain, how can we get it to scale and defeat a future network spam attack?! Hold
onto your seats, because the next section explains...!


## What is ready for disruption?

The answer: microtransactions, via the "Lightning Network." Lightning Network combines the best properties of broadcast (strong network consensus) and unicast.

This is done by timelocking Bitcoin into the Lightning Network and then spending them peer-to-peer in a unicast way. Boom! We can have transactions
not just for fractions of a penny, but for _free!_ Imagine how much this would benefit Amazon when every transaction it makes has 0 fees.

The possibilities for disruption, by using Lightning Network, are immense. It's very possible in the future you are streamed your salary
day and night, instead of having to wait every 2 weeks.


## Banking the unbanked?

One of the most amazing opportunities in Bitcoin is in the developing world. So many people are left underserved. There are millions of opportunities
being lost in terms of small business ideas, gaining home ownership, acquiring some secondary education, etc.

The world would love to give liquidity to these places, often times it is one of the best ways to inject life into communities. Sadly, when donations
are made to an area, they can sometimes have adverse effects on local markets. For example, if you are a goat farmer and someone donates a thousand
goats, the value of your farm and investments may go down. It may even put some small business owners out of business.

As soon as the foreign donations are gone, the local businesses aren't there to keep supporting the community.


One of the things that I believe could help the unbanked is a "charitable
credit system." Why can't I put $50 in some pool with 10,000 other people and
let people in some unbanked place request a small loan? If they default on the
"loan", oh well, it was a donation in the first place. But if they pay it back,
they are injecting even more money into the loan "pool" for other people in the 
community to use.

Paying back the loan is difficult in Bitcoin because of volatility, but thanks to
some new technologies we can move towards applications like this:

* **Submarine Swaps** are a feature of the Lightning Network allowing parties
to exchange different types of tokens instantly.
* **Atomic Multi-path Payments (AMP)** allows low liquidity channels to still make payments,
by splitting payments into tiny amounts that can be carried more easily by the lightning network.
* **Sphinx** enables new use cases by allowing payments without a pregenerated
invoice -- this means you could do something like Patreon by sending someone
money directly, instantly, over the Lightning Network.
* **Neutrino** allows light wallets to validate activity on the Lightning Network
without having to hold the entire blockchain. Currently, you need to download hundreds of gigabytes
of data. It could take weeks to download and process this data normally, but is not necessary
thanks to this technology.
* **So much more!** Lightning Network is the most exciting thing since... Bitcoin!


## What is holding Bitcoin back?

However great the Lightning Network is right now, Bitcoin still has many weaknesses.

### Hard to develop on

Using Bitcoin is hard enough, developing with it can be quite scary at first. Not only can you have an off-by-one error or a simple typo screw you
over, you often have to download huge blockchains and reprocess/refactor as processing methods and interfaces change.

### Very little adoption

Since so few people are using Bitcoin now, all of this great Lightning Network potential is rather limited. This may be a blessing in disguise, though,
because during the last wave of adoption Bitcoin was not quite ready to scale yet.

With all of that said, every time Bitcoin gains adoption and plummets, it grows in power -- really. Bitcoin has
[antifragile](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antifragile) properties. Every time it is attacked, a fix is implemented that makes it stronger, faster,
and smarter.

### Not a unit of account, yet

Bitcoin is horribly volatile. Until this is, uh, fixed(?) it will be hard to make loans in Bitcoin. However, things like
[Coinbase's Stablecoin USDC](https://www.coinbase.com/usdc) may make this easier in the future. _Especially_ combined with Lightning Network
technology that allows instantly swapping Bitcoin for other tokens, like USDC.


# We're excited!

However weird Eric is for liking Bitcoin so much, we're excited about all of the possibilities. And, if it's not Bitcoin, surely some
cryptocurrency will reduce friction in markets and provide services to the unbanked.

Have a Bitcoin app that needs building? [Contact us!](mailto:hello@ckcollab.com)

Bitcoin and disruption

They say the world is now in our hands and the information is at our fingertips. In just one click or touch, information
is being presented quickly. That’s why the world of the internet is fantastic as it continues to transform the way we
connect with people, share information, and live a quality life.



Located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, CKC is a software web development agency with an experienced and dedicated team. Our team has
been using new advanced technologies such as Django + Python, ReactJs, VueJs, and React Native to
provide tailored solutions that fit our client’s needs. We strive to help startups and growing businesses create,
improve, or fix their app.

<div style="text-align: center;">
    <img src="/assets/blog/2021-08-06-clutch/Developers_Idaho_2021.png" style="max-width: 420px; margin: 0 auto; border: 0;">
</div>

It has come to our attention that CKC made it on the top software web development
[agency list on Clutch](https://clutch.co/web-developers/idaho) in Idaho 2021!. Here’s
what our CEO had to say about this huge success:

<div style="width: 85%; margin: 0 auto; font-style: italic;">
    <blockquote>
        “It feels amazing to have this recognition after a decade of dedicated service to our wonderful clients.”
    </blockquote>
    <p style="font-size: 14px; text-align: center;">
      &mdash; CEO Eric Carmichael
    </p>
</div>

Clutch is a B2B ratings and reviews firm based in Washington, DC. Their seasoned analysts conduct interviews with the
former clients of companies listed on their site. They also helped various B2B firms from different industries and
locations connect clients with business needs.

Thanks to Clutch for providing this awesome service that gives us credibility to our future clients. We assure each of
our clients that our team continues to provide top-notch service and wonderful collaboration. Most importantly, we
express our heartfelt thanks to our supportive client for the trust they accorded us.

Take a look at what our clients had to say:

<div style="text-align: center;">
    <img src="/assets/blog/2021-08-06-clutch/medcurio_review.png" style="max-width: 420px; margin: 0 auto;">
    <hr style="width: 70%; margin: 40px auto;">
    <img src="/assets/blog/2021-08-06-clutch/trailhead_review.png" style="max-width: 420px; margin: 0 auto;">
    <hr style="width: 70%; margin: 40px auto;">
    <img src="/assets/blog/2021-08-06-clutch/whoat_review.png" style="max-width: 420px; margin: 0 auto;">
</div>

To learn more about CKC and our previous software projects, you may visit our
[Clutch](https://clutch.co/profile/ckc#reviews) profile.