Security & Obscurity

You & I – We care a lot security these days…

Security through obscurity isn’t really security anyway.
Viper007Bond

 

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2007

2006

Better Management

Lately, I’ve experienced  2 incidents that frustrated me a lot. The curse sounds simple: lost data!

First, I lost my 1-hour or so of work through LibreOffice. I have to admit, word document management is one of few drawbacks, together with hardware support probably (? – music played in Windows seems to sound better than in Ubuntu though its support certainly keeps improving), of Linux compared to Windows as Libre and its predecessors Open Office still can’t match the fellow M. Office in Windows. One encountered this before should know how it feels like…

Second, I’ve lost an entire archive folder without having any back-ups at all. Then in an attempt to recover it, I almost lost my whole disk storage for some stupid ignorance. What a pity! At least I managed to get the later back.

These 2 curses show how poor my (files) management is considering I’m an developer.. So I decide to do some researches & make some changes. I considered signing up for an online auto backup for my local files but I know it wouldn’t gonna help before I manage my local files better.

Two of my major changes are files/folders management (store it securely, access it easily & never lose it) and password management. I’m gonna talk a little a bit about the later.

To this day, to be honest, I still store all my passwords in a text files and just-a-little-better on Google Drive.

I don’t know how you do it but Google Drive at first seems not a bad choice for me.

First it’s a cloud services meaning I could access it everywhere.
Second I use Two-Step Verification meaning no one could access it without literally stealing my phone – damn secure isn’t it? Since I accept the fact that if I could ever lose my google account, I would lose all my other accounts that stored inside, this process makes sense.

After doing some research, I realise this is not perfect as it seems to be:

1. Google Drive is a 3rd party services, Google could stop it anytime they want.
2. Google could sell our data – we never know.
3. Passwords are stored manually & in the plain text
which means I would eventually have to create my own passwords for each site
which would then make me tend to use short, easy to remember passwords and eventually the same password thorough a list of sites.

Then I find KeePass who as a dedicated software does an arguably much better job than the Google Drive who is supposed to be just an advanced online storage like Dropbox.

As for the security, Google 2-step auth seems pretty decent but how about when your friends wanna borrow your laptop and accidentally see sth they’re not supposed to see. For KeePass, you have to enter your master password everytime you login. This is sometimes irritating but is 100% safe. KeePass do everything an “cascadeur” like Google can’t and offer even great features! Go explore!

As a dev, I know the secret shortcut Shift + Delete. But after a few catastrophes, I realize human errors won’t always happen but when it happens, it’s costly. I try not to be lazy again. I would just “soft” delete it first and later go to the bin and trash it. I’m trying and would never ever use Shift + Delete again.

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2007

2006

Top WordPress Plugins

A list of top WordPress plugins that I’ve actually installed & used. Some are popular; some are not – but they are all extremely useful (at least to me)!

Plugin NameRatingCategoryNo. of DownloadsPersonal Exp
Breadcrumb NavXT****Blog/Breadcrumb
Contact Form 7***Form18,418,137big No for non-developer
Contact Form****Form2,232,966
Google XML SitemapsMUSTSEO
TablePress****BE/Table
Add thisSocial
Adrotate****Ads
Advanced Custom FieldsMUSTBE/Custom Fields
Alpine PhotoTile for InstagramSocialExcellent!
Digg Digg****Social
Disqus Comment System*****Comments
Horizontal scrolling announcementOthers
Modal DialogPop-up
More FieldsBE/Custom Fields
mTouch Quiz****Quiz
Post Type Switcher****BE/Blog
Remove slug from custom post type****BE
scrolltriggeredPop-up
ShareThisSocial
Soliloquy Lite****Sliders
Subscribe2Subscription
Tabber Tabs Widget****Widget
Thank You Counter Button****Social/Likes
theme-my-loginLogin & Reg
Ultimate Tag Cloud Widget****Widget
Ultimate TinyMCE / WP EDIT****BE/Editor (Emoticons, etc.)
User Access ManagerLogin & Reg
Visual Form Builder****Form4 everyone!!
W3 Total CacheMUSTPerformance
Wordpress Popular Posts****Blog
WordPress SEO by Yoast****SEO
WP Polls****Blog/Polls
Yet Another Related Posts Plugin*****Blog
PhotoDropper***Image142,5094 Creative Commons license. Good!

WP Smush.it
Performance883,338
WP Migrate DB ProDev163,472a Must 4 dev
WordPress Backup to Dropbox833,180
Top Wordpress Plugins
* Number of downloads as per July, 2014

Note:

BE = For Back-end Usage only
MUST = the word already speaks for itself***** [5 start] = Top quality plugins, almost a must for most sites
**** [4 start] = What I’m using but may not necessary for all sites

Let me know if I’ve missed any great plugins! Thanks!!

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2007

2006

Rexy.me goes minimalist

I started revamping the site as early as Sep 13. After so many delays, it’s first launched at Nov 17 & then took me roughly 2 weeks to complete all the makeover. Alright, let me go through some of the major changes in this latest, minimalist design.

What’s new?

To begin with, font size is probably the most striking difference. I’ve increased the base font size from 16 to roughly 20px (1,25rem). The left side animated line which makes use of HTML5 canvas is another highlight. It’s absolutely a fun replacement for the navigation line “flop” which was somewhat minimal and creative but didn’t seem to pass the usability test in the last design ;( The search and footer are both removed as part of a cleaner, more minimalist theme.

In the blog home page, there is no more page pagination – meaning there is only 1 page now featuring current month’s best moments (I create it for me not only to save my good moments but also to be grateful for everyday I have – which I shouldn’t let it pass wastefully), 3 latest posts & the Best of Rexy. Archive page is used in favour of the unnecessarily long blog page pagination.  As you may notice, the page is completely redesigned (partially based on Paul Irish’s if I’m not wrong). One of my favourite new design!

One of my favorite new function is the so-called magic dot button which is always flashy after a few seconds and will lead you to a random old post of mine upon click. I steal the idea from my friend’ tumblr blog, which I find it very useful in such a way that I’m now able to read my old posts randomly. This is also where the small & hidden navigation is located.

There is a header banner at the top in each post just before the title which now actually consists of a link to facilitate sharing (testing). Inside the content, blockquote & links are changed dramatically. The post footer is also vastly changed to an awesome Laughing and minimalist way. The original date of publish comes first followed by the latest modified time if applicable then there is my nickname, post’s categories & tags & lastly <3 love it –  a personal “facebook likes”.

Another feature worth mentioning is the brand new 404 page – which bases on my fun song & animation. Click here to see it in action 😛

Admin-wise, there is no more wp annoying “top fixed” admin bar. Post edit is now still conveniently at each post’s footer.

Design makes what is complex feel simpler, and makes what is simpler feel richer — John Maeda

Last but not least, this design is responsive – meaning it would work well in various devices no matter it’s desktops, tablets or mobiles.

What else?

Search which is deemed unnecessary for a personal blog is removed. So do the comments – bad news for spammers. Sometimes comments serve good purposes but usually it’s a bad thing to have. It’s only closed by default not completely removed. I do leave it open for some posts.

This launch also marks a new milestone where What I wish I had done has topped Money won’t make you rich to be the number one article in Rexy. It’s justified by growing number of regrets of people who have lived more than two third of their lives.

Unlike the last 2 major revamps, I think this minimalist theme will last long – much longer than its predecessors. For me, this version is absolutely stable (framework-free, styling-free), minimal & overall fantastic – my most enjoyable design thus far!

Colophon

Version 2.0 – minimalist
Built on WordPress. Make use of HTML5. jQuery. CSS3. SASS.

ps: I’m gonna release this  rexy theme – standalone version – for free. Will try my best to release it asap. As of now, it’s still a child them with minimal dependence on its parent’s

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2007

2006

Quick Fixes

Quickfix is a fast, dirty & temporary solution or workaround to a complicated problem. They’re generally easier, less costly to implement and faster to get results. Because of their short-term advantages especially in such fast-paced work environment nowadays, they’re often times favorable and the person who do those quick fixes is usually praised as “clever”.

Fix the root not the roof!

Unfortunately, these quick fixes have too many downsides. They’re temporary, create dependencies and don’t mean to last. Most importantly, they fail to address the underlying problems. It’s like giving fishers a life vest so that he doesn’t die at sea today without teaching him how to swim.

Update on Dec 31, 2014: In Vietnam, they want to have buses specifically for women to avoid sexual molest. Sure, it certainly would help a lot of women avoid sexual abuses. But the root problem is apparently not the men or the sexual abusing acts themselves; it’s the education, the laws, etc. These buses should only be used as simply a temporary solution while they popularize sexual education and increase the abuse penalties, etc. It could never be a real & permanent solution.

You can’t solve a problem by avoiding it. Face it instead!

Worst still, a quick fix might solve or offer a workaround to a (minor) problem but in return could cause potentially bigger problems to be solved.

Quick fixes are particularly popular in the world of programmers where they often have to write some quick fix codes to keep their programs working.

For example, MVC is a good old programming design which separates Model (database) from Controllers (does the name already tells it all?) and Views (display). It means you’ve gotta design your database on Model, do the logic on Controllers and display the results on View. However, sometimes some `clever` programmers want to fix a logic issue directly on the View. They may somehow manage to fix that problem but it will leaves its team mates facing serious consequences in the near future.

Quick fixes are a damaging approach. They are for cleverly lazy people.

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2007

2006

Ikea – Unwrap Xmas

It’s one of my biggest projects this year. It’s lauched today. Just jot down some of its features & what I’ve learned:

  • Responsive mobile first
  • Tree Animation
  • Grid boxes – enlarging for today box
  • Email share

—-

  • GA Event tracking
  • Facebook share -> use lint tool (og:: meta tags alone will do) || share URL(!!)
  • Google share -> auto fetch
  • Weird characters in email phpmailer
$mail->CharSet = 'UTF-8';

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2007

2006

Ubuntu Edge

This is probably the best introductory video I’ve ever watched – high quality, informative & fascinating.

I was so excited that I checked its fund raising page out every night before sleep especially those last days of the campaign.

581062_10200686444148920_1205946706_n

Proud to be a founder – innovation supporter

s4-founder2

— From my FB —-

Though I do favor a lot of stuff, I hardly ‘promote’ anything unless it’s very helpful & impressive. This is one of those few.

It’s apparently a mobile phone – but not iphone, samsung galaxy nor another windows phones. It’s called Ubuntu Edge!
As a fan of Ubuntu, I’ve heard of their coming mobile phone but I didn’t know it’s this impressive:

+ 4.5 in
+ Saphire Crystal boasts a screen that only diamonds can leave scratches (while door keys already can leave lots of scratches on my galaxy s2)
+ fastest multi-core processor, at least 4gb of ram & 128gb of storage
+ silicon anode tech for battery & many more

Watch the introduction here http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ubuntu-edge?c=home
Life’s never been this easy for me. It takes me only an hour or so since my boss sent me the video to get a S$800 deal done.
(Of course it’s not cheap but I feel like it’s a good deal
Honestly if i’m lucky enough to meet a girl like that, I’d just say “Hey, let’s get married tomorrow!”.
The phone is so impressive that it’s no wonder they’ve raised $3.5 MILLIONS in the first 40 hours.

actually I wanted to find someone to share a $1,400 for 2 but all of a sudden they offer a $625 deal so i’ve bought it
If you’re interested, be fast. I think the $625 deal will be gone in the next hour.

—- end —-

2019

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2007

2006