Old Lane 17

Indifference...causes a lot of problems but also offeres a lot of opportunities, but are they worth it? This article is slightly different in nature, as it aims to abstract the influences of today's technology on society. What I say here is expressed more with the intention of at least trying to make a difference. Illustration: What we see, is not always correct nor sharp It is hard to imagine everyday life without the media presence we have today; we are constantly surrounded by it. Everyday life is becoming more hectic, non-stop, and always geared toward optimization, regardless of any short- or long-term setbacks.  This bombardment of media can quickly become overwhelming and tempt us to approach the media selectively or not at all, indulging in (selective) ignorance. Occasionally, during periods when one needs peace and quiet, or perhaps during vacations, this may be helpful. However, one might consider that if one only allowed oneself this during vacations, as in the past, the...

Performance – how fast a program runs – matters a great deal in computing. In tasks like heavy numerical simulation, processing large files, or running many concurrent operations, a few extra seconds (or minutes) can make a big difference. At one end of the spectrum are low-level compiled languages like C++ that give programmers direct control of the hardware, and at the other end are high-level languages like Python that prioritize ease of use but may incur overhead. Java sits in the middle as a managed language with a sophisticated runtime, while Julia is a newer language explicitly designed for scientific and numerical computing with high performance in mind. In this article, we compare how Python, C++, Java, and Julia typically perform on three kinds of tasks – numerical computation, file I/O, and concurrency – and explain what language features and architectures cause the differences. Illustration: The speed of code Numerical Computation Python: Pure Python code (e...

Images now make up nearly 50% of a typical website's total page weight . In an era where both  user experience and search engine rankings are tied to page speed , optimizing images is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity. This article will guide you through two powerful techniques to address this: implementing responsive images with srcset and converting your entire library to the modern WebP format . Illustration: A webP image Why Your Website Needs Responsive Images The "one-size-fits-all" approach to images is broken. Serving a massive, high-resolution desktop image to a mobile user wastes bandwidth and slows loading times . Conversely, stretching a small image on a high-resolution screen makes it look blurry or pixelated . Responsive image technologies solve two main problems: The Art Direction Problem : Delivering a differently cropped or composed image depending on the display size. For example, a wide header image on desktop might be cropp...

Want to glue Python to the rest of your system  -  call a compiled program, run a shell script, invoke Node.js, call Java, or pipe data to/from R? Enter subprocess . It’s Python’s standard way to start external programs, control their input/output, check return codes, set environments and timeouts — all with a solid API. Below is a practical, friendly guide: what subprocess is, why you’d use it, examples, best practices, pitfalls, and which languages/tools you can call from it. What is subprocess ? subprocess is a standard Python module that lets your Python program spawn new processes, connect to their input/output/error pipes, and obtain their return codes. It replaces older modules like os.system , popen and friends with a unified, safer interface. Key high-level primitives: subprocess.run() — simple, recommended for most cases (Python 3.5+). subprocess.Popen — lower-level, use when you need streaming IO, advanced control, or long-lived processes...

In photography, the choice between prime (fixed focal length) and zoom (variable focal length) lenses is rarely black or white. Although general trends exist, the “best” lens often depends on context, style, and shooting conditions. Let’s explore the typical strengths and trade‑offs of each, while acknowledging that unique models—and photographer preferences—can flip the script. Prime Lenses (Fixed Focal Length) Advantages: Superior optical quality & sharpness Primes often deliver crisper images due to simpler designs optimized around one focal length, resulting in fewer aberrations and distortions.  Greater maximum apertures Many prime lenses open wider (as low as f/1.2 or f/1.4), enabling better low-light performance and glorious background separation (bokeh).  Compact, lightweight, and faster Typically smaller and lighter than zooms, primes are more portable and better suited for handheld shooting, with faster autofocus in many cases.  Encourages...

A camera isn’t just about megapixels or body design—it’s the lens and exposure settings that truly shape your photos. Whether you’re capturing sweeping landscapes or intimate portraits, knowing how lenses, focal lengths, and exposure settings interact helps you take control of your photography. This beginner-friendly guide breaks it all down clearly so you can start shooting like a pro. What Is a Camera Lens? A camera lens is an optical tool that focuses light onto your camera’s sensor. Without a lens, your camera can’t form an image. This makes the lens not just a necessary component—it’s the most important part of your setup. Why does this matter? Because even the best camera body can’t overcome the limits of a bad lens. On the other hand, a good lens on a budget camera can yield sharp, vibrant images. And with interchangeable lens systems (like DSLRs or mirrorless cameras), you can switch lenses depending on the type of photography you're doing—portraits, landscapes, sport...

In user interfaces, transparent elements are fully see-through (like clear glass), while translucent elements are semi-see-through (like frosted glass) that often blur or soften whatever is behind them. Both techniques let background content show through, but translucent layers typically add blur or tint to create depth. In code, transparency and translucency are controlled by opacity or alpha values and, for blurring effects, by special APIs (like backdrop filters or blur effects). We’ll explore how to make UI components transparent or translucent in HTML/CSS , Android ( Jetpack Compose and XML), and iOS (SwiftUI and UIKit), with examples and technical details. Finally, we’ll look at iOS 26’s new Liquid Glass material – Apple’s latest adaptive translucency effect – and how it builds on these concepts. Web (HTML/CSS) On the web, CSS offers simple ways to make elements transparent or translucent: Opacity and RGBA/HSLA : You can set an element’s opacity (0.0 = f...