5 Ways to Supercharge Your Projects With Serverless Functions

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5+ Things Software Developers Should Do Before Building Their Own Product

<h3>A crash course on using Leaflet Maps in\xa0NextJS</h3>\n<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*vVM13L6I1UGekROEMx8gpw.jpeg"></figure><p><em>Originally published on my\xa0</em><a href="https://tomisin.dev/blog"><em>blog</em></a><em>.</em></p>\n<h1>Installation</h1>\n<ol>\n<li>First, install the leaflet library and its React wrapper with the following command:<br>npm install leaflet react-leaflet</li>\n<li>(For TypeScript projects) Install the types for the leaflet library<br>npm install -D @types/leaflet</li>\n<li>Install a library containing the default icons (icons might not display properly if this step is omitted)<br>npm install leaflet-defaulticon-compatibility</li>\n</ol>\n<h1>Usage</h1>\n<h3>1. Define your Component</h3>\n<p>In a component outside the page where you wish to display the map, create and export a map component similar to\xa0this:</p>\n<pre>// src/components/Map.tsx<br>import { MapContainer, Marker, TileLayer, Tooltip } from "react-leaflet"<br>import "leaflet/dist/leaflet.css"<br>import "leaflet-defaulticon-compatibility"<br>import "leaflet-defaulticon-compatibility/dist/leaflet-defaulticon-compatibility.css"<br><br>export default function MyMap(props: any) {<br>  const { position, zoom } = props<br><br>  return &lt;MapContainer center={position} zoom={zoom} scrollWheelZoom={false}&gt;<br>    &lt;TileLayer<br>      attribution=\'&amp;copy; &lt;a href="https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright"&gt;OpenStreetMap&lt;/a&gt; contributors\'<br>      url="https://{s}.tile.openstreetmap.org/{z}/{x}/{y}.png"<br>    /&gt;<br>    &lt;Marker position={position}&gt;<br>      &lt;Popup&gt;<br>        A pretty CSS3 popup. &lt;br /&gt; Easily customizable.<br>      &lt;/Popup&gt;<br>    &lt;/Marker&gt;<br>  &lt;/MapContainer&gt;<br>}</pre>\n<h3>2. Dynamically import your Component</h3>\n<p>Next, you’ll need to import your component into your page dynamically. This would eliminate the need to perform Server-Side Rendering (SSR), thereby walking around the compatibility issues that LeafletJS has with\xa0SSR.</p>\n<pre>export default function MyPage() {<br>  const Map = useMemo(() =&gt; dynamic(<br>    () =&gt; import(\'@/components/Map\'),<br>    { <br>      loading: () =&gt; &lt;p&gt;A map is loading&lt;/p&gt;,<br>      ssr: false<br>    }<br>  ), [])<br><br>  return &lt;div&gt;<br>    &lt;Map /&gt;<br>  &lt;/div&gt;<br>}</pre>\n<p>There we have\xa0it!</p>\n<p>If you found this article helpful, do clap, share and subscribe!</p>

A crash course on using Leaflet Maps in NextJS

Displaying a Leaflet Map in NextJS

<h3>Learn how this module can help you get richer search results, more easily, than Python’s built-in “filter” method</h3>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*bs9ox6xXQXHYFkU8gw4l-A.jpeg"></figure><p><em>Originally published on my </em><a href="http://tomisin.dev/blog"><em>blog</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p>For the umpteenth time, you are having to implement a search functionality in your Python application. As a no-brainer, you turn to Python’s filter method.</p>
<p>Half the time, the filter method rightly serves you just fine.</p>
<p>But, as you increase the requirements of your “search” function, you realise that you need to put substantial effort into improving the robustness of the filter function’s results.</p>
<p>For instance, you’re looking to return more “interesting” (<a href="https://redis.com/blog/what-is-fuzzy-matching/">fuzzy</a>) results, say your application gives users a list of songs matching their search input, and you want the result to include songs which closely match the input, permitting spelling errors, <a href="https://pypi.org/project/huntela/"><strong>Huntela</strong></a> is made for you.</p>
<h2>What is Huntela</h2>
<p><a href="https://pypi.org/project/huntela/"><strong>Huntela</strong></a> is a module that contains several methods that could help you get robust search results. A simple illustration</p>
<pre>&gt;&gt;&gt; import huntela<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; <br>&gt;&gt;&gt; huntela.fuzzy_search(term='app', items=['app', 'apps', 'phone'])<br>[<br>    {'confidence': 1, 'index': 0, 'value': 'app'},<br>    {'confidence': 0.8, 'index': 1, 'value': 'apps'}<br>]</pre>
<p>Right off the bat, we notice some…</p>
<h2>Advantages of Huntela over Python’s filter Method</h2>
<ol>
<li>
<strong>Fuzzy Matching: </strong>The fuzzy_search function uses a character comparison method that includes close matches in its results, allowing for fuzzy matching and increased flexibility in searching for similar or related terms.</li>
<li>
<strong>Confidence Values: </strong>The fuzzy_search function returns results with a confidence score that indicates the level of similarity between the search term and the matched item, providing a more precise indication of how well the search term matches the desired results.</li>
<li>
<strong>Index Values: </strong>The fuzzy_search function method also returns the index of each matching item in the original list, which can be useful for further processing.</li>
<li>
<strong>Lots of Utility Search Functions: </strong>Now, guess what! The same juiciness of the result of the fuzzy_search function applies to several other search functions the module provides. These include binary_search, search_for_least_frequent_items, search_for_most_frequent_items.</li>
<li>
<strong>Consistent Interfaces: </strong>The fuzzy_search method returns a list of Result objects representing the search results, which provide additional information such as the confidence value and index.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Ready to give Huntela a try?</h2>
<p>Open up your favourite command line, and type in:</p>
<pre>pip install huntela</pre>
<h2>Practical Examples With the Huntela Library</h2>
<h3>Autocorrect &amp; Text Suggestion Feature</h3>
<p>You are tasked with returning words which closely match a user’s input. This would be a great use-case for <a href="https://pypi.org/project/huntela/"><strong>Huntela</strong></a>.</p>
<pre>&gt;&gt;&gt; import huntela<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; <br>&gt;&gt;&gt; user_input = input("Type in a word: ") # hellu<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; <br>&gt;&gt;&gt; vocab = ["hello", "run", "jump", ...]<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; results = huntela.fuzzy_search(user_input, vocab)<br>[<br>    {"confidence": 0.8, "index": 0, "value": "hello"}<br>]<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; print(f"Did you mean: '{results[0]['value']}'?")<br>Did you mean 'hello'?</pre>
<h3><strong>Improving User Search Experience in a Shopping Site</strong></h3>
<p>Suppose you are assigned to fetch products from an e-commerce platform that closely resemble the user’s input in a search query. You can achieve this by using the fuzzy_search function of the <a href="https://pypi.org/project/huntela/"><strong>Huntela</strong></a><strong> </strong>module.</p>
<pre>&gt;&gt;&gt; import huntela<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; <br>&gt;&gt;&gt; user_input = input("What would you like to buy? ") # t-shirt<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; <br>&gt;&gt;&gt; store = [<br>    {"name": "Headphones", "price": 59.99},<br>    {"name": "Shirt", "price": 19.99}<br>]<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; results = huntela.fuzzy_search(user_input, store, key='name')<br>[<br>    {"confidence": 0.8, "index": 1, "value": "Shirt"}<br>]</pre>
<h3>Searching for a specific value in a sorted list</h3>
<p>Suppose you have a sorted list of integers, and you want to find if a specific value exists in the list. You can use binary search to do this efficiently.</p>
<pre>&gt;&gt;&gt; import huntela<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; <br>&gt;&gt;&gt; results = huntela.binary_search(term=5, items=[1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11])<br>[<br>    {"confidence": 1, "index": 3, "value": 5}<br>]</pre>
<h3>Analytics</h3>
<p>You could also use this function to analyze large datasets and find the most and least frequent values. For example, you could use this function to find the most common search queries on a website or the most popular products purchased by customers.</p>
<pre>&gt;&gt;&gt; import huntela<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; <br>&gt;&gt;&gt; site_visitor_ids = [101, 102, 103, 101, 105, 103, 101, 102, 104]<br>&gt;&gt;&gt; <br>&gt;&gt;&gt; most_frequent = huntela.search_for_most_frequent_items(2, user_ids)<br>[   <br>    {'confidence': 1, 'index': [0, 3, 6], 'value': 101},<br>    {'confidence': 1, 'index': [1, 7], 'value': 102},<br>    {'confidence': 1, 'index': [2, 5], 'value': 103}<br>]</pre>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>If you’re looking to get more robust and flexible search results than Python’s built-in filter method can provide, <a href="https://pypi.org/project/huntela/"><strong>Huntela</strong></a> is definitely worth a try.</p>
<p>With its fuzzy matching, confidence values, and index values, <a href="https://pypi.org/project/huntela/"><strong>Huntela</strong></a> can help you implement features like autocorrect and text suggestion, improve user search experiences in an e-commerce platform, and efficiently search sorted lists.</p>
<p>Additionally, <a href="https://pypi.org/project/huntela/"><strong>Huntela’s</strong></a> other search functions like searching for most and least frequent items provide valuable utility for analysing large datasets. The module is easy to use and consistent in its interfaces, making it a powerful alternative to the filter method.</p>
<p>So why not give it a try and see how it can enhance your Python search capabilities?</p>
<h3>Ready to give Huntela a try?</h3>
<p>Open up your favourite command line, and type in:</p>
<pre>pip install huntela</pre>
<p>If you found this article helpful, clap, share and subscribe.</p>
<hr>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/geekculture/maximize-your-python-search-capabilities-with-huntela-a-powerful-alternative-to-the-filter-method-5e95a80f166c">Maximize Your Python Search Capabilities with Huntela</a> was originally published in <a href="https://medium.com/geekculture">Geek Culture</a> on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.</p>

Learn how this module can help you get richer search results, more easily, than Python’s built-in “filter” method

Maximize Your Python Search Capabilities with Huntela

<h3>Understand the basics of encryption and learn how to protect your sensitive information with this comprehensive guide written in plain English.</h3>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*iviywtlq65ScgY7J"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@towfiqu999999?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Towfiqu barbhuiya</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h2>Objectives</h2>
<p>After reading this article, you will be able to:</p>
<ol>
<li>Define what encryption is in computing</li>
<li>Understand why encryption is important</li>
<li>Know how encryption works</li>
<li>Be aware of common different encryption techniques.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Background</h2>
<p>In the realm of cyber security, encryption plays a crucial role by converting data from its original, readable format into a highly secure, encoded format.</p>
<p>This process ensures that the data cannot be accessed or understood by unauthorised individuals, as the encrypted information can only be read and processed after it has undergone the decryption process.</p>
<p><strong>Encryption</strong> acts as a shield that protects sensitive and confidential information from falling into the wrong hands, thereby preventing data breaches and cyber attacks.</p>
<h2>How Does Encryption Work</h2>
<p>Data transmitted over the public internet is vulnerable to interception or theft. Encryption in network security can help to reduce this risk by using specialised software or hardware.</p>
<p>Encryption involves converting human-readable plaintext into incomprehensible text, known as cipher text, to prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information.</p>
<p>The encryption process uses a cryptographic key, a set of mathematical values agreed upon by both the sender and recipient. The recipient uses the key to decrypt the data and turn it back into readable plaintext. The complexity of the cryptographic key directly affects the security of the encryption, as more complex keys are more difficult to decrypt via brute force attacks.</p>
<h2>Encryption Techniques</h2>
<p>The two widely used types of encryption methods are symmetric and asymmetric encryption. These names differentiate based on the usage of a single key for both encrypting and decrypting the data or different keys for encryption and decryption respectively.</p>
<h3>A. Symmetric Encryption Keys</h3>
<p>This method of encryption is commonly referred to as private key encryption. In this technique, the key utilised for encryption is the same one used for decryption, making it an ideal solution for single users and closed systems.</p>
<h3>B. Asymmetric Encryption Keys</h3>
<p>Asymmetric encryption uses two distinct keys, a public key and a private key, that are connected through mathematical means. These keys are large numbers that are associated with each other, but are not identical, hence the term asymmetric. The owner of the encryption keeps the private key confidential, while the public key is either distributed to authorized recipients or made publicly accessible.</p>
<h3>Symmetric Encryption vs Asymmetric Encryption</h3>
<ol>
<li>Symmetric (private key) encryption is faster compared to the asymmetric encryption method.</li>
<li>Symmetric encryption is typically used for bulk data encryption, while asymmetric encryption is used for secure communication, such as digital signatures and secure key exchange.</li>
<li>Symmetric encryption provides strong security for the encryption of data, but the distribution of the key can be a security risk. Asymmetric encryption provides a higher level of security, as the private key remains confidential and is never transmitted over the internet.</li>
</ol>
<p>In summary, symmetric and asymmetric encryption each have their own strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between the two depends on the specific use case and the level of security required.</p>
<h2>Examples of Encryption Algorithms</h2>
<h3>DES Encryption (obsolete)</h3>
<p>The Data Encryption Standard (DES) is a symmetric encryption algorithm that has since become obsolete. It is no longer considered secure enough for modern applications and has been replaced by more advanced encryption algorithms.</p>
<h3>3DES Encryption</h3>
<p>Triple Data Encryption Standard (3DES) is a symmetric encryption algorithm that involves three iterations of the DES encryption process, hence the name “triple.” Although it is gradually being replaced by more advanced algorithms, 3DES remains a reliable encryption solution for financial services and other industries in hardware form.</p>
<h3>AES Encryption</h3>
<p>The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) was created to replace the outdated Data Encryption Standard (DES). This encryption algorithm is widely used in various applications, such as messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp, as well as the file compression software WinZip.</p>
<h3>RSA Encryption</h3>
<p>RSA, an acronym for Rivest, Shamir, and Adleman, is an asymmetric encryption algorithm named after the mathematicians who first described it. RSA encryption is widely used for secure data transmission due to its long key length. As an asymmetric algorithm, RSA uses a pair of keys, a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption.</p>
<h3>RC4 Encryption</h3>
<p>The RC4 encryption algorithm is utilised in the WEP and WPA protocols, which are popular encryption methods utilised in wireless routers.</p>
<h2>End-to-End Ecryption</h2>
<p>End-to-end encryption is a common term when discussing data encryption. It refers to systems where only the two communicating parties, who both have keys, can decrypt the conversation. Even the service provider is unable to access end-to-end encrypted data.</p>
<p>Resetting end-to-end encrypted data can be necessary in certain cases. For example, if you forget your password on an iPhone, you may need to reset the device to regain access. However, doing so will make all previously encrypted backup files inaccessible. But you can back up your iOS device again using iTunes and set a new password for the backed up data.</p>
<p>End-to-end encryption is a crucial security feature for users who prioritize privacy. By only allowing the users to access the encrypted data, it ensures that even the service provider cannot access it. This makes it ideal for secure communication and the protection of sensitive information.</p>
<p>It provides an added layer of security to user data. While resetting end-to-end encrypted data may be necessary in certain cases, it is important to keep in mind that previously encrypted backup files will be lost. However, this can be mitigated by backing up the device again and setting a new password for the backed up data.</p>
<h2>Signing vs Encryption vs Hashing</h2>
<h3>Signing</h3>
<ol>
<li>Involves attaching a digital signature to an electronic document to verify its authenticity and integrity</li>
<li>Utilizes public key cryptography to sign and verify signatures</li>
<li>Can prove that the sender of a message is who they claim to be and that the message hasn’t been tampered with</li>
<li>Typically used for contracts, legal documents, and sensitive business communications</li>
</ol>
<p>PS: To learn how to sign data in Django, read this <a href="https://tomisin.dev/blog/simple-signing-and-unsigning-in-django">article</a> which simplifies it.</p>
<h3>Encryption</h3>
<ol>
<li>The process of converting plain text into unreadable (encrypted) text to protect its confidentiality</li>
<li>Utilizes both a public and private key for encryption and decryption</li>
<li>The encrypted message can only be read by the person with the private key that corresponds to the public key used for encryption</li>
<li>Commonly used to protect sensitive information like credit card numbers, passwords, and personal data</li>
</ol>
<h3>Hashing</h3>
<ol>
<li>The process of generating a fixed-size string of characters (hash) from a message or data</li>
<li>The hash is unique to the original message and will change if even a single character in the message changes</li>
<li>Used to verify the integrity of data and to detect any changes made to it</li>
<li>Commonly used in data structures like hash tables and in digital signatures to verify that a message has not been altered in transit.</li>
</ol>
<p>Now that we know about encryption, let’s learn why it is important and why we should use it.</p>
<h2>Importance of Encryption</h2>
<ol>
<li>
<strong>Protects confidentiality</strong>: Encryption helps to ensure that sensitive information, such as financial data, personal information, and confidential business information, is protected from unauthorized access.</li>
<li>
<strong>Prevents unauthorized access</strong>: Encrypted data can only be read by individuals with the proper decryption key, preventing unauthorized access to the information.</li>
<li>
<strong>Increases security in transit</strong>: Encrypting data when it is being transmitted over networks, such as the internet, helps to ensure that the information is secure while in transit and cannot be intercepted by unauthorized third parties.</li>
<li>
<strong>Comply with regulations</strong>: Encryption is often required by law and industry regulations, such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), to help protect sensitive information.</li>
<li>
<strong>Protects against hacking and cyberattacks</strong>: Encryption helps to protect data against hacking and cyberattacks by making it more difficult for cybercriminals to access and use sensitive information.</li>
<li>
<strong>Supports privacy</strong>: Encryption helps to support privacy by giving individuals and organisations control over their personal information and who has access to it.</li>
</ol>
<p><em>That’s all for this article, my guy! Till next time.</em> ??</p>
<p>Don’t forget to clap, share and subscribe.</p>
<p><a href="https://tomisin.dev/subscribe">Subscribe * Tomisin Abiodun</a></p>

Understand the basics of encryption and learn how to protect your sensitive information with this comprehensive guide written in plain English.

Encryption in Plain English

Learn how to sign and unsigned content in few lines of Django code

Simple Signing and Unsigning in Django

<h3>Learn how Django models could implement soft delete, without modifying the interfaces and contracts of models and querysets.</h3>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*0jvWLbXENhbH5Q2b"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/fr/@markuswinkler?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Markus Winkler</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p><em>Originally published on my </em><a href="https://tomisin.dev/blog"><em>blog</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p>In contemporary architecture, or by design requirements, we often have the need to keep certain records even after they’ve been “deleted” by the user — that’s where soft deletion comes in.</p>
<p>In this article, we would learn how to implement soft delete, while our application maintains its Django-ness (for lack of a better word), and we can still maintain the same interface with our model objects in the same way as we would, if we had hard deletion in place.</p>
<h3>What is Soft Delete</h3>
<p>Soft delete is the process of deleting records in such a way that it is still present in the database while made unavailable to the user. It involves using a flag to mark the record as unavailable, rather than deleting the record from the database.</p>
<h3>Benefits of Soft Delete</h3>
<ol>
<li>Records are easier to restore.</li>
<li>Soft delete operations are faster because we run an UPDATE command in the database. For hard delete, we will run a DELETE command which is generally slower, especially when there are related records across tables.</li>
<li>It keeps are related records in-place.</li>
<li>It is the safer option, in cases where users may need to retrieve deleted information.</li>
</ol>
<h3>Cons of Soft Delete</h3>
<ol>
<li>Added complexity of filtering out records that have been flagged as deleted.</li>
<li>Unique constraints need to be refactored to include the column representing the delete flag, so records which have been soft deleted could be recreated.</li>
<li>In some cases, records might need some unique implementations when soft deleted. For example, when soft deleting card information or payment methods, we might need to clear some sensitive fields like PAN or CVV.</li>
</ol>
<p>Some of these fetch queries will start to look like</p>
<pre>SELECT * FROM users WHERE is_deleted=false;</pre>
<p>Unique constraints would also start to look this, with soft deletion in place:</p>
<pre>CREATE UNIQUE INDEX "users_unique" ON users(is_deleted, email) WHERE is_deleted=false;</pre>
<h3>Implementing Soft Delete in Django</h3>
<p>When implementing soft delete in Django, the first thing that’s required is a base model. This would reduce the complexity and help eliminate the aforementioned cons, as we wouldn’t need to duplicate the soft delete logic in all our models. All we would need to do, is to extend from this BaseModel.</p>
<pre>class BaseModel(models.Model):<br>    class Meta:<br>        abstract = True<br><br>    # common fields go here</pre>
<p>The first thing we want to add to our base model, is the delete flag. The is_deleted field will inform us about the availability of the record.</p>
<pre>class BaseModel(models.Model):<br>    # ...omitted for brevity...<br><br>    is_deleted = models.BooleanField(default=False)</pre>
<p>Next, we override the delete method of the model. So, we can change the default behaviour of our model’s delete from hard deletion to soft deletion.</p>
<pre>class BaseModel(models.Model):<br>    # ...omitted for brevity...    <br><br>    def delete(self):<br>        """Mark the record as deleted instead of deleting it""" <br><br>        self.is_deleted = True<br>        self.save()</pre>
<p>With this piece of code in place, we could soft delete records as we would normally hard delete records, and maintain a Django-ic codebase.</p>
<pre>class User(BaseModel):<br>    class Meta:<br>        unique_together = ['email', 'is_deleted']<br><br>    name = models.CharField(max_length=24)<br>    email = models.EmailField()<br><br>new_user = User(name="Bolaji", email="user.test@example.com")<br>new_user.save()<br><br>print(User.objects.all()<br># &lt;QuerySet [&lt;User: Bolaji&gt;]&gt;<br><br>new_user.delete()<br><br>print(new_user.is_deleted)<br># True<br><br>print(User.objects.all())<br># &lt;QuerySet []&gt;</pre>
<p>Now that we can soft delete easily, we have to make sure that our query results never actually include any deleted record. We do so by creating a custom manager which filters out the deleted.</p>
<pre>from django.db.models import Manager, QuerySet<br><br><br>class AppManager(Manager):<br>    def get_queryset(self):<br>        return QuerySet(self.model, using=self._db).exclude(is_deleted=True)<br><br><br>class BaseModel(model.Model):<br>    # ...omitted for brevity...<br><br>    objects = AppManager()</pre>
<p>With this in place, we can replace the default objects field of our Model with our AppManager. This would ensure that when we query using the familiar syntax, we are getting expected</p>
<pre>class User(BaseModel):<br>    # ...omitted for brevity...<br><br><br>user.objects.filter(...)<br>user.objects.all()<br># queries now exclude records flagged as deleted.</pre>
<p>Wowza! Now, you can soft delete records while maintaining Django-ic code. Or, maybe there’s one more thing…</p>
<p>It’s possible to invoke delete on a queryset, instead of invoking it on an object. We have already catered for the latter my having a custom delete method in our BaseModel. To cater for the former scenario, we can make a custom queryset class.</p>
<pre>from django.db.models import Manager, QuerySet<br><br><br>class AppQuerySet(QuerySet):<br>    def delete(self):<br>        self.update(is_deleted=True)<br><br><br>class AppManager(Manager):<br>    def get_queryset(self):<br>        return AppQuerySet(self.model, using=self._db).exclude(is_deleted=True)</pre>
<p>Putting this altogether, we have:</p>
<pre>from django.db.models import Manager, QuerySet<br><br><br>class AppQuerySet(QuerySet):<br>    def delete(self):<br>        self.update(is_deleted=True)<br><br><br>class AppManager(Manager):<br>    def get_queryset(self):<br>        return AppQuerySet(self.model, using=self._db).exclude(is_deleted=True)<br><br><br>class BaseModel(models.Model):<br>    class Meta:<br>        abstract = True<br><br>    is_deleted = models.BooleanField(default=False)<br><br>    def delete(self):<br>        self.is_deleted = True<br>        self.save()<br><br><br># Sample model<br>class Post(BaseModel):<br>    content = models.CharField(max_length=140)<br><br>    def __str__(self):<br>        return self.content<br><br><br># Create a post<br>post = Post(content="Hello World")<br>post.save()<br><br># Get all posts<br>print(Post.objects.all())<br># &lt;QuerySet [&lt;Post: Hello World&gt;]&gt;<br><br># Delete the post<br>post.delete()<br><br>print(Post.objects.all())<br># &lt;QuerySet []&gt;</pre>
<p>Finally, you have soft delete implemented, and you didn’t have to change your contract. Thanks for reading, buddy!</p>
<p>Leave a clap, share this article and do subscribe, if you found this article helpful.</p>
<p><a href="https://tomisin.dev/subscribe">Subscribe * Tomisin Abiodun</a></p>

Learn how Django models could implement soft delete, without modifying the interfaces and contracts of models and querysets.

Implementing Soft Delete in Django: An Intuitive Guide

<h3>Discover websites, tools and resources which would ease the design process in web development, and make you a self-sufficient designer-developer.</h3>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*s9Fvn5oZWwgGrmmZ"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@danielkorpai?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Daniel Korpai</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p>As frontend developers, we occasionally share the need to introduce some unique design elements into our projects. This could get especially tedious, as we need to keep up with the ever-changing design trends. We get stuck, sometimes, within the constraints of the framework or UI library we’re using in the project.</p>
<p>In this article, we will look at some tools which could make it easier to introduce unique design elements into our design, and be self-sufficient developers, with modern design trends.</p>
<p>We will explore tools ranging from sources for royalty-free photos and videos, to blob and gradient generators.</p>
<h2>Free Photos Sources</h2>
<ol><li>
<a href="https://unsplash.com/">Unsplash</a>: Unsplash has a large collection of freely-usable images that are uploaded by photographers from all over the world. It also has an API should you wish to integrate with it on the frontend, or pull images from it in your backend service. Unsplash is so incredibly vast, that even Medium uses it in its editor.</li></ol>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*eBIkxTmMVEwsQnratHjQxg.png"></figure><p>2. <a href="https://www.pexels.com/">Pexels</a>: This is another great source of royalty-free stock photos, royalty free images &amp; videos shared by creators. It also has an API for searching for images and videos.</p>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*FA-zfALaPnmAyDsVyBOm0A.png"></figure><p>3. <a href="https://shotstash.com/">Shotstash</a>: If you run out of choices with the aforementioned sites, you could always explore free HD stock pictures for creative professionals. It has a pretty robust collection, though, not as polished as Unsplash or Pexels.</p>
<h2>Best Blob Generators</h2>
<ol><li>
<a href="https://haikei.app/">Haikei</a>: An all-around generator for making blobs, blurry gradients, low poly, waves and much more. If you’re ever lost on ideas for making that landing page pop, this tool is for you. You could pick from one of the template settings, randomise them, or even customise them to your taste.</li></ol>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*pPAMTm0aFgEiCKsIibG8NQ.png"></figure><p>2. <a href="https://blobmaker.app/">Blobmaker</a>: This is a more simplistic solution for generating blobs. The interface allows for generating random blobs and/or tweaking them to our taste. Users could then copy out the SVG of the resulting blob, or download the file and use them in projects.</p>
<p>3. <a href="https://getwaves.io/">GetWaves</a>: This tool generates random waves you could utilise to spice the bottom of your divs and sections. GetWaves is totally free! You could generate random waves, tune the generator to the precise waviness you wish, change the colour and download the resulting blob as an SVG or PNG.</p>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*paPdw7yGDZirmBUHk96pXQ.png"></figure><h2>Best Gradient Generators</h2>
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://piggment.co/">Piggment.co</a>: You could browse from a ton of carefully curated gradients, get the colours of the selected gradient, view related gradients, or even customise and tailor the gradients to the look and feel of your application.</li>
<li>
<a href="http://coolors.co/">Coolors.co</a>: This is my personal favourite gradient generator. Though it has a paid offering, its free-tier is still quite generous enough for users to generate smooth gradients. Its user-friendly and intuitive interface allows users alter and experiment with several shades/hues of the colours, and also allows users to save the gradient generated.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://cssgradient.io/">CSS Gradient</a>: You could explore presets and popular gradients on CSS Gradients, as well as guides on how to apply gradients. There is also an interface for you to tweak the gradient to your taste.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://uigradients.com/#AquaMarine">UI Gradients</a>: This is majorly a large collection of gradients you could leverage for your next big project.</li>
</ol>
<p>Gradients have a way of catching the eye. If you want to make that CTA be more attractive and memorable, you might want to consider using a gradient.</p>
<h2>Top Illustrations Generator</h2>
<ol><li>
<a href="https://drawkit.com/">Drawkit</a>: Beautiful vector illustrations. Free and premium vector SVG illustrations for you to use on your next project. Vector illustrations, icons, 3D illustrations, animation, and more. No attribution required!</li></ol>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*ILniju-ImLoI4Am8J_sRPA.png"></figure><p>2. <a href="http://undraw.co/">unDraw</a>: The design project with open-source illustrations for any idea you can imagine and create. Create beautiful websites, products, and applications with your colour, for free.</p>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*MgFtjtT3xfSyhb0X"></figure><p>3. <a href="http://icons8.com/">Icons8</a>: Get free icons, photographs, clipart illustrations, and music design elements for free. All the assets are made by designers. There is a paid tier to get higher resolution icons and assets, but the free tier is generous enough.</p>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*r9vh6hGMceBYakce"></figure><p>4. <a href="http://blush.design/">Blush</a>: A digital playground for you to make your own free illustrations, tailored to the feel of your designs. Play with fully customisable graphics made by artists across the globe.</p>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*DnPEFkRqPOo8GFs5"></figure><p>5. <a href="http://storyset.com/">Storyset</a>: Customise, animate and download illustrations for free. Edit and animate all our customisable illustrations to enhance your projects totally free.</p>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*yewSEyIQtwA-J98a"></figure><h2>Best Colour Scheme Generators</h2>
<ol><li>
<a href="http://coolors.co/">Coolors.co</a>: This is my personal favourite colour scheme generator. Though it has a paid offering, its free-tier is still quite generous enough for users to generate colour schemes. Its user-friendly and intuitive interface allows users alter and experiment with several shades/hues of the. Coolors also allows users to save the schemes generated.</li></ol>
<h2>Miscellaneous</h2>
<ol>
<li>
<a href="http://animista.net/">Animista</a>: Animista is a CSS animation library and a place where you can play with a collection of ready-made CSS animations and download only those you will use.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://neumorphism.io/">Neumorphism</a>: Generate CSS code for neumorphic designs. The project has provision for tweaking the look and feel of the neumorphic blob. You will definitely find this handy.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://ui.glass/generator/">Glassmorphism</a>: A modern CSS UI library based on the glassmorphism design principles that will help you quickly design and build beautiful websites and applications.</li>
<li>
<a href="https://getcssscan.com/css-box-shadow-example">CSS Shadows</a>: A collection of box shadows for your next project. It features shadows from Dropbox, and other prominent tech organisations.</li>
</ol>
<p>Pin this, bookmark this, share this, and don’t forget to leave a clap (or many) if you found this article useful.</p>
<p><em>Till next time, amigo!</em></p>

Discover websites, tools and resources which would ease the design process in web development, and make you a self-sufficient designer-developer.

Top Frontend UX/UI Tools 2022

<h3>A look into the hierarchy of log levels in Software Engineering. What they mean, as well as some practical use cases.</h3>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/0*2-zjQaIsF4S8FtZV"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@cgower?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Christopher Gower</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><p>Monitoring is an essential part of quality software engineering. It helps us know if and when something goes wrong in our software.</p>
<p>In the case something goes wrong; if we know where to look, we can find out what is wrong; debugging and troubleshooting will become a hundred times easier — this is where logging comes in.</p>
<p>Every good programming language/framework has support for logging. If you’re reading this article, chances are, you wish to find out what log level to use when logging out certain information.</p>
<p>In this article, we’ll take a look at the entire hierarchy, learn what each level means, as well as some appropriate use-cases.</p>
<h2>Log Level Order</h2>
<ol>
<li><strong>Trace</strong></li>
<li><strong>Debug</strong></li>
<li><strong>Information</strong></li>
<li><strong>Warning</strong></li>
<li><strong>Error</strong></li>
<li>
<strong>Critical</strong> (or Fatal)</li>
</ol>
<h2>What Each Log Level Means</h2>
<p>Before delving further, it is important to know that an application will log out anything falling above, or matching the set loglevel.</p>
<h3>Trace</h3>
<p>This log level captures all the details about an application. Trace is mostly used to identify issues with a program. This level is ideal when you need to see what happened in your program or perhaps, identify what happened in a third-party library you used. Trace ideally shows every single step in an algorithmic process.</p>
<h3>Debug</h3>
<p>This level is a bit higher up the hierarchy than Trace. Think of this, as showing the result of some <strong>crucial </strong>computation. When something goes wrong, this is the level most developers will look, so be sure to log out the results of crucial computations and steps here. If something could potentially go wrong, a good practice, is to log out statements before and after the step, at Debug level.</p>
<h3>Information</h3>
<p>This is the standard log level. At this level, we generally give updates about state changes in an application. While it’s difficult to draw a fine line between Debug and Information levels, a good rule of thumb in deeming something fit for the Information level, is if they are not things to be worried about. A good fit for an information-level log, will be logging out a message, when a record is saved in a database, or when a request is received in an API Controller, or a response is returned.</p>
<h3>Warning</h3>
<p>This level is used to show when you have detected something not usual about the application, but at the same time is not an error, neither is it fatal to the program. This could include things like an out-of-date library, or a vulnerability with a package.</p>
<h3>Error</h3>
<p>At this level, developers will be able to view the exception messages their applications and programs encountered. As not all exceptions are fatal for a program, at this level, we want to log the non-fatal exceptions. Examples of this may include “ArgumentException”, “ValueException”, “NullPointerError”, etc.</p>
<h3><strong>Critical (or Fatal)</strong></h3>
<p>This is the highest log level. Here, all the developers would see, are the reasons an application or program exited unexpectedly. This may be when the operating system manually closes a program, or a user manually closes a program abruptly.</p>
<p><em>Till next time, compadre!</em></p>
<img src="https://medium.com/_/stat?event=post.clientViewed&amp;referrerSource=full_rss&amp;postId=8758bbbd0686" width="1" height="1" alt="">

A look into the hierarchy of log levels in Software Engineering. What they mean, as well as some practical use cases.

Log Level Hierarchy

<h3>A full walkthrough on creating your very first React library and publishing it on npm.</h3>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*JfzgCMz4CfaP9w9UvmwbEw.png"></figure><p><em>Originally published on my </em><a href="https://tomisin.dev/blog"><em>blog</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p>For the sake of reusability, and to dodge the dangers of repetition, we in the field of Software Engineering, have had to extract some code out to modules and scripts, which we could so easily reference across several projects and implementation. The nature of ReactJS is no different — especially with the advent of Components.</p>
<p>In this article, we will be walking through creating a simple React library, testing it with a sample project, and then publishing it on npm.</p>
<h2>Step 1 — Initial Setup</h2>
<p>You’ll only need to do this step once. If you have already created an npm account, and you are currently logged in to npm on your terminal, feel free to skip this step.</p>
<h3>Create an npm Account</h3>
<p>To create an npm account, you need to head to <a href="https://www.npmjs.com/signup">npm’s Signup Page</a>.</p>
<h3>Login to npm on Your Terminal</h3>
<p>Next, open your favourite terminal, and type in the following command:</p>
<pre>npm login</pre>
<p>Or, you could also use this command if you wish:</p>
<pre>npm adduser</pre>
<p>Thereafter, you will be prompted for your username, password and email address. There’ll also be a one-time password required, if you opted in for two-factor authentication.</p>
<p>If you’re successfully logged in and setup, you should see something like this. Now, you are set to create the library we wish to share with the world, or perhaps reuse within our private projects.</p>
<h2>Step 2 — Create a New React Library</h2>
<p>To create a React library, you can do one of two things. You could either leverage the pre-existing create-react-library spec to initialise your library. Or, you could create a vanilla npm project and then, install all the typical dependencies we’ll need to build a React project.</p>
<p>In this article, we’ll be exploring the first option. Navigate to your working directory, and run the following command:</p>
<pre>npx create-react-library &lt;LIBRARY_NAME&gt;</pre>
<p>Alternatively, you use npm init.</p>
<pre>npm init react-library &lt;LIBRARY_NAME&gt;</pre>
<blockquote>Side note: npx create-&lt;spec-name&gt;is a shorthand which we could substitute for npm init &lt;spec-name&gt; — which is executed under-the-hood as npm exec create-&lt;spec-name&gt; (ex. npx create-react-app is the same as npm init react-app)</blockquote>
<p>You’ll get a number of prompts. Ensure you select the following when prompted, as the rest could be changed easily in package.json</p>
<ol>
<li>
<strong>Package Manager</strong> &gt; yarn</li>
<li>
<strong>Template</strong> &gt; typescript</li>
</ol>
<blockquote>Side note: yarn does make the work easier along the way. For one, it makes versioning easier.</blockquote>
<p>This may take a couple of minutes. After which you should have a project that looks something like this:</p>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/243/1*1MjrARgpknBx-08wI_RIDQ.png"></figure><h2>Step 3 — Write Your Custom npm Library</h2>
<p>In typical NodeJS fashion, you would be working inside of the src directory. So, open up the src directory, and you’ll find the index.tsx — which will be the API the user of the package will interact with.</p>
<p>In the index.tsx is where you want to export all the components, hooks and so on, which you want your user to implement.</p>
<p>While you make changes, it is important to have the package compiled and optimised — so that it’s possible to test it in a sample React project. In your terminal, run the following command:</p>
<pre>yarn start</pre>
<p>Now, as you make changes, your package will be built and compiled into your project’s dist directory.</p>
<h3>Testing your library</h3>
<p>For the sake of easy testing, there is a full-blown React project in the example directory. You will be using this React project to test the package you are working on.</p>
<p>The React project in the example directory is already linked with your new library in package.json (where your library is added as a dependency).</p>
<pre>cd example<br>yarn start</pre>
<p>If you get an error message with referencing your custom package, you could just add a reference to it in the dependencies object inside package.json by adding the following line:</p>
<pre>"sample": "link:.."</pre>
<h2>Step 4 — Publish Your npm Library</h2>
<p>When you’re happy with the work done so far, you can publish your library to the world (or your personal space).</p>
<h3>Publishing Your npm Library in a Private Feed</h3>
<p>If you are working on an npm library for your company’s internal use, or maybe you’re working on a library solely for your personal use, you can opt to leave it out of npm public directory, by using the command:</p>
<pre>yarn publish</pre>
<blockquote>Note that private libraries are a paid service offering by npm, and you’ll get an error message if you have not subscribed for it.</blockquote>
<h3>Publishing Your npm Library to the Public</h3>
<p>Alternatively, if you wish to share your library with the world, you could simply add an additional --access argument, as shown below.</p>
<pre>yarn publish --access=public</pre>
<p>You can use the same command to update your library, subsequently.</p>
<p>If you successfully publish your package, you’ll get this message.</p>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/283/1*iXexih5PpjLM686LEWwRow.png"></figure><p>If you immediately try to install your library in your React app, and you get a 404 error, just wait a few minutes for your package to be fully available on npm, and try again.</p>
<p><em>There! You have your first React component live on npm. <br>Till next time, compadre!</em></p>

A full walkthrough on creating your very first React library and publishing it on npm.

Publishing Your First React Library on npm

<h3>Lessons from Startups and Microsoft</h3>
<figure><img alt="" src="https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*wc2gncSnXfmbuLdijmwWvg.jpeg"></figure><p>We all want our work to matter, to feel like we’re making a genuine difference. But defining “impact” in the workplace can be tricky. <strong><em>Is it just about big wins? Not necessarily.</em></strong></p>
<p>While impact can certainly seem like delivering measurable results, it is often more multifaceted.</p>
<p>I’ve spent the better part of a decade as a Software Engineer, working across the spectrum — from early-stage startups and Y Combinator-backed ventures to fintech unicorns and Microsoft. Over those years, one thing has stood out to me: how we think about <em>impact</em> often needs a serious rethink.</p>
<p>Essentially, impact can be made through three distinct paths:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Delivering meaningful results for your team, business, or customers</strong></li>
<li><strong>Guiding others to success</strong></li>
<li><strong>Innovating on existing solutions</strong></li>
</ol>
<p>While business results often happen naturally, special efforts often need to be made to amplify the efforts of those around you, contributing directly to their successes.</p>
<p>Let’s explore how you can cultivate impact in all these forms.</p>
<h3>Path 1: Delivering meaningful results for your team, business, or customers</h3>
<p>This goes beyond completing tasks — it’s about creating tangible value that your team, business, and customers can clearly see and build upon.</p>
<p>Now, naturally, this might trickle down the organisation ladder, as your goals would be tied to your manager’s goals, and so on and so forth till it gets to the arm of the organisation that’s responsible for the needle.</p>
<p>To be more pragmatic about delivering meaningful results,</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Focus on high-leverage work</strong>: High-leverage tasks deliver big results with minimal effort. Skip the busywork and prioritize actions that truly move the needle — especially those that make future tasks easier or obsolete.</li>
<li>
<strong>Improve knowledge breadth: </strong>A wider knowledge base helps you spot opportunities and connect dots others miss. Read, explore, network, and stay curious to contribute more strategically.</li>
<li>
<strong>Be proactive (Solve problems early): </strong>Don’t wait to be told what to do. Anticipate needs, take initiative, and make yourself indispensable by solving problems early.</li>
<li>
<strong>Solve actual problems: </strong>Focus on issues that actually matter. Solving real, impactful problems adds far more value than checking off minor tasks.</li>
<li>
<strong>Communicate, communicate, communicate: </strong>Your work only matters if others understand it. Communicate clearly and consistently to share progress, align with others, and build influence.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Path 2: Guiding others to success</h3>
<p>One of the most effective ways to amplify your impact and build lasting relationships, is helping others succeed.</p>
<p>When you actively support your peers, you create an environment of trust and collaboration, ultimately benefiting everyone — including yourself. Here are practical ways to help others reach their potential:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Share what you know: </strong>Pass on knowledge freely. A quick explanation or shared resource can unblock someone and accelerate their growth.</li>
<li>
<strong>Make space for others: </strong>Create opportunities for others to shine—step back when it’s their turn, and cheer them on when they do.</li>
<li>
<strong>Give thoughtful feedback: </strong>Always look to give feedback that’s honest, constructive and kind. The goal is growth, not perfection.</li>
<li>
<strong>Celebrate wins publicly: </strong>Recognition boosts morale and reinforces good behaviour. Call out great work in meetings, chats or emails.</li>
</ul>
<h3>Path 3: Innovating on existing solutions</h3>
<p>One of the most powerful approaches to innovation is not creating something entirely new, but thoughtfully building upon what already exists.</p>
<p>When you expand on existing ideas, you leverage established foundations while adding your unique perspective, creating solutions that are both grounded and forward-thinking.</p>
<p>Here are practical ways to effectively build upon existing work:</p>
<ul>
<li>
<strong>Ask “what if” questions:</strong> Challenge assumptions about current solutions. Small shifts in perspective can reveal untapped opportunities and improvements.</li>
<li>
<strong>Connect across disciplines:</strong> Bring techniques and insights from other fields. Often the most innovative ideas come from applying established concepts in new contexts.</li>
<li>
<strong>Iterate with purpose:</strong> Make deliberate, incremental changes with clear goals. Each iteration should solve specific problems or enhance particular aspects.</li>
<li>
<strong>Acknowledge foundations:</strong> Give credit to the original thinking that inspired you. This builds goodwill and creates a culture where ideas can flourish collectively.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>Often the most innovative ideas come from applying established concepts in new contexts</blockquote>
<h3>Takeaways</h3>
<p>Maybe you’re great at solving tough problems that bring quick results. Or perhaps you shine when helping others work together and grow. You might be the one who always spots ways to improve systems and make them better.</p>
<p>The key is to focus on what comes naturally to you, as it’s often where you can make the biggest difference. Take a moment to think about it:</p>
<p>• Where can you make the biggest impact right now?</p>
<p>• Is there a tough problem you can solve?</p>
<p>• Could you help a teammate?</p>
<p>• Is there an idea you can improve?</p>
<p>Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do. Start looking for ways to contribute in your everyday tasks.</p>
<p>By actively making these contributions, you’ll not only add value but also feel more fulfilled, knowing your work truly matters.</p>
<p>There’s always more content on my blog, if you’re interested: <a href="http://tomisin.dev/blog">tomisin.dev/blog</a>.</p>
<p>Till next time, pal!</p>
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