Programming – Page 4 – Scriptingthewhy.com

CodePen and VS Code: The Essential Duo for Developers

Key Takeaways

CodePen: Great for beginners, simple interface, real-time preview.
VS Code: Powerful IDE, extensive features, and customization options.
Combine Both: Use CodePen for quick prototyping and VS Code for larger projects.
Experiment and Find Your Fit: The best tools are the ones that work for you.

AI-generated image. We’re all walking on our own paths.

A Programmer’s Journey: From CodePen to VS Code

Finding the Right Tools for the Job

As a budding programmer, I’ve found that the tools you use can significantly impact your workflow and overall enjoyment of coding. If were to ask me, I say that my favorite programming language is Python. I like Python for how easy it is to use anywhere. All you have to do is pull up the terminal, type “Python”, and go from there. There’s nothing you need to set up. In my early days, I was drawn to the simplicity and immediacy of CodePen. Its straightforward interface and real-time preview made it an ideal platform for experimenting with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

The thing I find most challenging about programming is being able to spell. It’s something you think wouldn’t be much of a problem, but certain programming languages like JavaScript and React require different ways to spell a word, or a “variable” in our terms. JavaScript follows a camelcase (i.e., camelCase) rule while React follows having the first letter of the first word be capitalized. This doesn’t seem like a big issue, that is until your code begins to grow. More code creates more room for error. Most of the debugging for me often comes down to a simple typo.

However, as my projects grew in complexity and I began collaborating with other developers, I realized that I needed a more powerful tool. This is where VS Code came into the picture.

AI-generated image. Building a mech to fetch humans.

The Power of VS Code

I often use VS Code Studio to develop my applications. Sometimes it helps, but there are times when I have to operate out of vs code studio and go somewhere like codepen.io because it auto refresh so in a way I’m developing my applications in real-time versus having to manually refresh myself. I know I’m lazy. VS Code, with its extensive range of extensions and customization options, has become a popular choice among developers. While it may have a steeper learning curve than CodePen, the benefits are undeniable.

Here are some of the advantages of using VS Code:

IntelliSense: This feature provides code completion suggestions as you type, saving time and reducing errors.
Debugging: VS Code’s built-in debugger allows you to step through your code line by line, inspect variables, and identify issues.
Git Integration: Easily manage your version control with seamless Git integration.
Customization: Tailor your development environment to your preferences with themes, keybindings, and extensions.

AI-generated image. Sometimes you can develop in both worlds.

The Best of Both Worlds

While VS Code offers a powerful and flexible development environment, there’s still a place for simpler tools like CodePen. For quick prototyping and sharing code snippets, CodePen remains a valuable resource.

By strategically combining the strengths of both tools, you can create a highly effective development workflow. For example, you might use CodePen to experiment with new ideas and then transition to VS Code for more serious projects.

Ultimately, the best tools for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find a setup that works best for you.

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Programming, Security, Tech

Phishing with Love

Quick note: if you’re viewing this via email, come to the site for better viewing. Enjoy!

Erica: I sure hope that the latest script from Z-Daddy behind you.
Sean: What is your obsession with Scriptingthewhy!?
Photo by vjapratama, please support by following @pexel.com

Throughout the history of mankind, there is one emotion that has driven us to do many things. Some of these may be crazy and unconventional, but the result is done with good intentions…sometimes.

It’s the one emotion that no one can seem to live without unless you have no desire for it because you believe you’re cold-hearted, at this point I would cautiously call you a monster and bid you a good day. What is this emotion I’m alluding to?

It’s called love, love is a very interesting and powerfully intoxicating emotion we humans have. If there is anything to know about love, it’s a good thing. However, if you’re rifling through piles and piles of emails from the weekend only to find one saying “ILOVEYOU” in the subject line followed by a “click here” attachment might not be the love you may want at the current point in time.

Don’t know what I’m talking about? Let me script to you what I mean.

Kim: You don’t even know why I’m mad at you.
Tim: It’s because I didn’t read that script thingy.
Kim: That and you didn’t change the toilet paper roll this morning.
Photo by Katerina Holmes, please support by following @pexel.com

A Lovely Chain Letter

As mentioned earlier, you’re rifling through all of your emails from the weekend, and you find one saying “ILOVEYOU”. While this may seem like someone sent this with the intent to brighten up your day and give you all of those cute, warm fuzzy feelings like reminiscing about grandma’s home cooking, the bad news is it’s not.

This event is referred to as the “Love Bug” or “Love Letter for You”, in other words, you’re getting duped with a computer virus, if you click on the attachment. Just when you thought someone was falling head over heels for you.

That’s a solid question Z-Daddy, I think I was in calculus with my crush Brinda Adams. I wonder if she knows that I exist.
Photo by Pavel Danilyuk, please support by following @pexel.com

Frat Worms in College

Here’s a question for you, can you remember what you were doing in the year 2000? If whatever you were doing doesn’t involve sitting in your room making computer viruses, congrats, you’re a part of the majority. I know there is someone reading this script saying “Actually, I was reverse engineering them because of lack of friends.”

Back in the heyday of the year 2000, on May 4^th of that year. A 24-year-old college student from the Philippines, by the name of Onel de Guzman had created this computer virus to steal passwords for internet access because he couldn’t pay for it.

This is very reminiscent of trying to tune to the right frequency on the old-school cable box to get the pre-hub before the now prominent hub, black and orange baby. Page 153 and still can’t find anything, we’re all so broken.

At this junction and for my own sanity, I have to make it known that in some sources ILY is referred to as a virus but overall, it’s a worm. The difference is, viruses tend to come in ones or twos, and they muck up a few files in your computer system whereas worms on the other hand, just need you to open the door, and from there, one can multiply and muck up a whole network. Worms are like the frat boys of the computer world, once in, they like to party.

YES, I AM LOVED…by a guy? Oh whatever, it’s 2023 I’m not judging, I just need someone to hold me and say it’s going to be all right.
Photo by Andrea Piacquadio, please support by following @pexel.com

Loving Dollar Decline

Here’s a scenario on the ILY process, yes, I know you’re dying to know. So, let’s say you are friends with Tom, and you get a message from Tom saying “ILOVEYOU” in the subject line. You open the email and see there’s an attachment. With you knowing Tom, you open the attachment thinking nothing of it but that’s when having to explain to someone why you ghosted them, and spontaneously pop back up begins.

This triggers an event of messages being re-sent to, not only everyone in your list of contacts but their list as well. Do you see how it wormed its way into your life? This scenario is what happens on small scale but on a larger one, ILY found its way into corporate networks due to Microsoft Outlook being widely used at the time which resulted in files of every type being wiped from the hard drives and in just about 10 business days resulted in 45 million users and cost about $10 billion in damages. That’s $3.5 billion in today’s currency, the power of the good ole American dollar, am I right?

Jake: So, I walked up that computer virus and was like “What’s up”.
Z-Daddy: Jake…you know that’s not help you deal with computer viruses, right?
Jake: Pfft, whatever bro, waited long enough and screen went off. Mission accomplished.
Z-Daddy: That’s…never mind.
Photo by Rusian Alekso, please support by following @pexel.com

Effects and After Effects

Now while this worm had spread its way across many, many, many systems, some of which include the Pentagon, CIA, and U.S. Army, and even ventured to the United Kingdom, this one isn’t much to worry about. A part of it was caught on a server that was quickly turned offline and with no other servers to send information to, there was nowhere for it to spread.

Many large companies had to make the decision to completely turn off their emailing systems. As we all may know, being able to email can convey information and information is money, so you can picture a lot of money was lost throughout this whole endeavor. At this junction you have nothing to worry about, however, this doesn’t mean one can run around clicking on emails with “ILOVEYOU” in the subject title.

Being aware of a potential cyber-attack could make a world of difference when it comes to protecting your computer and your life in general. If you get an email from someone you know and you’re curious about it, check with them on another medium (i.e., text message or phone call) to ensure that it was them that sent the email.

Of course, you should have anti-virus and malware protection on your computer and that it and your operating system is up to date as the older systems have vulnerabilities that are not patched. To touch back onto Guzman, while he has one of the world’s first global computer viruses (worm) under his belt which affected 45 million, charges against him and his buddy were dropped, and he regrets unleashing ILY.

When ILY did its thing and pretty much destroyed email by storm, Guzman was so shaken up that he took a year off from working with computers. He now runs a phone repair shop with his buddy in the Philippines.

She sent I love you and the attachment was her. Thank you, Z-Daddy, for keeping us aware.
Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich, please support by following @pexel.com

Made it this far and found this to be entertaining? Then a big thanks to you and please show your support by cracking a like, scripting a comment, or plug-in to follow.

Would like to give sincere thanks to current followers and subscribers, your support and actions mean a lot and has a play in the creation of each script.

Do you think there’s something I may have missed about ILOVEYOU? Script a comment below.

Stand Up Saturdays, Tech

Code Prank Gone Wrong: The Tale of Shrinking Gerald Grundleson

Stand-up Saturdays

Ah, the programmer’s life. We bend pixels to our will, wrestle logic into submission, and occasionally, shrink our overbearing bosses to the size of a sassy thumbtack (completely by accident, of course). Yes, you read that right. Let me introduce you to Gerald Grundleson, the office tyrant with a combover that rivaled the Texas skyline. One day, this monument to micromanagement became a living testament to my coding ineptitude.

It all began with a particularly nonsensical request. Gerald, bless his micromanaging heart, demanded a new “productivity monitor” to track every employee’s keystroke, mouse click, and bathroom break. Now, this office already boasted enough surveillance to make Big Brother blush, so naturally, I balked. But Gerald, with the negotiation skills of a particularly stubborn mule, wouldn’t budge.

Being the good (or perhaps slightly vengeful) employee, I decided to give him his precious monitor. Except, with a mischievous glint in my eye, I coded a little script to “optimize” his productivity. I envisioned it as a harmless prank – autocorrecting passive-aggressive emails to blunt commands and replacing social media with motivational workout videos.

Think twice before pressing “Enter”!!
Photo by Fernando Arces, please support by following @pexel.com

Little did I know, my code harbored a mischievous gremlin. See, Gerald, in his infinite wisdom, had a custom keyboard shortcut – Ctrl+Alt+Shrink – to minimize windows. Thanks to my glorious script lurking in the background, this shortcut became a recipe for disaster.

The first sign of trouble was Gerald’s strangled yelp. I whipped around, expecting to see him choking on a stale doughnut (a frequent occurrence). Instead, I found him flailing his arms in mid-air, a look of sheer panic plastered on his face. Then, with a comical poof, he vanished.

My heart hammered like a hummingbird on Red Bull. Had I…vaporized my boss? In a moment of sheer terror, I slammed my head on my desk, hoping it was just a particularly vivid fever dream.

Nope. There, nestled amidst the crumbs of a forgotten cookie, lay Gerald Grundleson, shrunk to the size of a Tic Tac. He was a miniature caricature of his former self, complete with a tiny, horrified expression.

“Jenkins!” he bellowed, his voice a high-pitched squeak. “What in the name of binary have you done?”

Now, I’m not known for bravery. But a tiny, squeaky Gerald was far less intimidating than his usual bellowing self. I gingerly scooped him up with a Post-it note, careful not to smudge his miniature pinstripe suit.

“Uh… Gerald?” I stammered, voice cracking. “Seems my code, uh, optimized you a little too much.”

Why is everyone acting strange today? It’s only Saturday.
Photo by Fox, please support by following @pexel.com

The next few hours were a blur of frantic googling, and whispered conversations with the office conspiracy theorist, Mildred (who, for once, seemed suspiciously gleeful). Apparently, the code had tapped into some obscure 3D animation library, accidentally shrinking Gerald in the process. There was no built-in “un-shrink” function, of course. This was the kind of coding catastrophe reserved for the sleep-deprived.

As the day wore on, Gerald became a surprisingly useful, albeit squeaky, paperweight. He also proved surprisingly adept at navigating the keyboard with his tiny fists, sending out a flurry of unintentionally hilarious emails. There was the one to his boss about the “atrocious state of the office miniature golf course” (which, to be fair, was a mess), and another to a client demanding a shipment of “giant novelty pencils immediately” (a request met with much confusion).

Meanwhile, Mildred, fueled by a lifetime of questionable internet research, suggested a series of increasingly bizarre solutions. We tried chanting binary code (resulting in a disgruntled Gerald and a flock of confused pigeons). We attempted a “reverse optimization” script (which turned the office printer into a sentient haiku generator, much to the delight of the marketing department).

Just as we were about to resort to sacrificing a stapler to appease the programming gods, inspiration struck. It was a long shot, but it was all we had. I remembered Gerald’s love of cheesy motivational posters. With trembling fingers, I coded a new message that scrolled across his miniature computer screen: “Believe in Yourself (and Maybe Don’t Use Ctrl+Alt+Shrink).”

There was a tense silence. Then, with a pop that smelled suspiciously like burnt popcorn, Gerald reappeared on my desk, blinking and slightly singed.

“Jenkins,” he began, voice back to its usual booming volume…

Love learning tech? Join our community of passionate minds! Share your knowledge, ask questions, and grow together. Like, comment, and subscribe to fuel the movement!