CF Objective https://www.cfobjective.com Current Problems of Systems and Software Engineering Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:12:35 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.2 https://www.cfobjective.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/cropped-code-6127616_640-32x32.png CF Objective https://www.cfobjective.com 32 32 Existing Dilemmas in Online Casino Software Development https://www.cfobjective.com/existing-dilemmas-in-online-casino-software-development/ Fri, 13 Oct 2023 13:12:34 +0000 https://www.cfobjective.com/?p=266 As the demand for immersive and secure online casino experiences continues to surge, Red Dog Casino software engineers face a multitude of challenges in ensuring the seamless operation of these platforms.  One of the foremost challenges in online casino software engineering is maintaining compliance with a labyrinthine web of international gambling regulations. Red Dog Casino, …

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As the demand for immersive and secure online casino experiences continues to surge, Red Dog Casino software engineers face a multitude of challenges in ensuring the seamless operation of these platforms. 

  1. Regulatory Compliance

One of the foremost challenges in online casino software engineering is maintaining compliance with a labyrinthine web of international gambling regulations. Red Dog Casino, like all online casinos, must navigate a myriad of legal frameworks to ensure their operations are above board. This necessitates constant monitoring and adaptation of the software to adhere to evolving rules and regulations. The slightest oversight in compliance could result in severe penalties, damaging the reputation and profitability of the casino.

  1. Data Security

Ensuring the security of sensitive player information and financial transactions is paramount in online casino software engineering. The magnitude of financial transactions occurring daily at online casino platforms underscores the criticality of robust data security measures. Protecting against cyberattacks and data breaches is an ongoing battle, with hackers continually evolving their tactics. Engineers must stay at the forefront of cybersecurity developments to safeguard player data effectively.

  1. Scalability

The success of online casinos like Red Dog Casino can lead to rapid growth in user numbers. Managing this scalability is a complex engineering task. Infrastructure, databases, and server systems must all be prepared to handle surges in traffic without compromising performance or stability. Balancing the need for scalability with cost-efficiency is a perpetual challenge in this industry.

  1. Game Development and Integration

Online casinos are synonymous with a wide array of games that cater to diverse player preferences. Developing and integrating these games is no small feat. Engineers at gambling platforms must work closely with game providers, ensuring that new games are seamlessly incorporated into the existing framework. Maintaining game variety and quality is essential for attracting and retaining players.

  1. User Experience and Interface Design

Creating an engaging and user-friendly interface is an essential aspect of online casino software engineering. Red Dog Casino, for instance, invests heavily in user experience design to provide an intuitive and enjoyable platform for players. Engineers must constantly refine the interface to optimize player engagement while maintaining accessibility and responsiveness across various devices and screen sizes.

  1. Payment Processing

Efficient and secure payment processing is fundamental to the success of online casinos. Players expect quick and hassle-free deposit and withdrawal options. Engineers must integrate various payment methods, ensure their security, and maintain the uptime of payment processing systems. The platforms must contend with diverse global banking systems and regulations.

  1. Fairness and Randomness

Online casinos must prove the fairness and randomness of their games to gain player trust. Implementing random number generators (RNGs) that meet stringent standards is a significant engineering challenge. Moreover, Red Dog casino and its counterparts must undergo regular audits to demonstrate the integrity of their games and ensure that players have a fair chance of winning.

  1. Mobile Optimization

As mobile devices increasingly become the preferred medium for accessing online casinos, engineers face the task of optimizing software for mobile platforms. Engineers need to balance the demands of mobile performance with the limitations of smaller screens and varying device capabilities.

  1. Customer Support Integration

Providing excellent customer support is vital in the online casino industry. Engineers must integrate chatbots, email systems, and other support tools seamlessly into the software to address player inquiries and concerns promptly. Red Dog Casino’s reputation partially hinges on its ability to provide top-notch customer support, making this a critical engineering challenge.

Conclusion

In the realm of online casino software engineering, complex challenges abound. Red Dog Casino, as a prominent player in this industry, grapples with a multitude of technical issues daily, from regulatory compliance to data security, game development, and user experience. Overcoming these challenges requires a dedicated and highly skilled engineering team that remains adaptable and innovative in the face of a rapidly evolving landscape.

As the online gambling industry continues to expand, the role of software engineers in addressing these challenges becomes increasingly pivotal. Their ability to tackle these issues head-on will determine the success and sustainability of platforms like Red Dog Casino, ultimately shaping the future of online casino gaming.

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How Good Are Poems Written By Robots? https://www.cfobjective.com/how-good-are-poems-written-by-robots/ Wed, 13 Sep 2023 14:34:43 +0000 https://www.cfobjective.com/?p=255 The fact that artificial intelligence can easily beat even world champions in intellectual games can hardly surprise anyone. This is one of its purposes ‒ to quickly calculate alternative solutions and choose the optimal one. But the success of robots in art and literature has become a discovery for many. In poetry and visual arts, …

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The fact that artificial intelligence can easily beat even world champions in intellectual games can hardly surprise anyone. This is one of its purposes ‒ to quickly calculate alternative solutions and choose the optimal one. But the success of robots in art and literature has become a discovery for many. In poetry and visual arts, they turned out to be so good that their works can hardly be distinguished from those made by people. It is quite possible that in just a few years, choosing a book on the shelves of bookstores, we will not understand who actually wrote it ‒ a robot or a person.

How Neural Networks Write Poems and Draw Pictures

The principles of AI learning are somewhat similar to teaching a child. Specialists train a neural network on thousands of works of art in any genre, using issue management software like https://elsitech.com/, and then receive a unique product generated by it. However, there is an important difference:

  • No matter how many masterpieces of art you show to a small child, an attempt to draw their own picture in 99% of cases will give exactly a childish drawing, and not a copy of an adult piece of art.
  • The same goes for poetry. Even if you read Byron and Shakespeare to a child daily, a verse written by a kid will hardly match the level of sophistication of these authors. At the same time, AI strives for similarity, so its creation will style exactly the patterns that you set as guidelines.

The Pros of AI-Poetry

Boundless Creativity

AI-generated poetry has this amazing ability to whip up poems on all sorts of stuff. It has a power creates verses that’ll leave you pleasantly surprised. It’s like a never-ending stream of poetic inspiration.

Speedy Output

AI can generate poems at a speed no human can match. This quick content generation is especially nifty when you need a snappy response, like generating stuff for news or social media.

Rocking the Boat with Unusual Styles

AI has a thing for exploring different styles and playing around with words in ways that human poets might not even imagine. AI isn’t afraid to start new poetic paths, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible and discovering fresh genres and structures in the poetry universe.

The Cons of AI-Poetry

Missing that Genuine Emotion

While AI can mimic human emotions, it often sounds a bit short when it comes to genuine emotional depth. AI-generated poems lack that emotional connection you get from human poets. Algorithms are not able to recreate the subtle feelings, heartaches, and triumphs experienced by humans.

No Personal Life Stories

AI doesn’t have personal experiences or life stories to describe. Things that often work as the source of inspiration for human poets cannot affect AI writing. That’s why the poems may feel like they’re not really part of the human experience. Human poets bring their unique journeys and viewpoints into their work, infusing it with realness – a quality that AI finds hard to replicate.

Has Artificial Intelligence Succeeded in All Kinds of Art?

The boom of neural networks in recent years witnessed by Technology Report https://techreport.ngo testify to the clear success of AI in the visual arts. The rapid proliferation of websites that can bring photos to life and generate non-existent faces with photographic accuracy is the best proof of that. Also, pieces of art that were created by neural networks, many would be happy to hang at home, because they are extremely good.

In the literature, the success of AI is not yet so great. You are unlikely to want to read a novel written by a robot or even a short story. Beautiful high-quality prose with philosophical connotation is the height that AI has not yet overcome. However, the verses turned out to be simpler for AI. It was not difficult to train a robot to write poetry in the style of a particular poet. You can hardly call them masterpieces, but you will definitely catch the familiar rhythm and voice of your favorite poet.

AI learns quickly: paintings created by neural networks are exhibited and even sold at auctions. Therefore, it won’t be a surprise if soon it will even receive literary prizes and awards for its contribution to the development of world art.

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Automated testing in 2023 https://www.cfobjective.com/automated-testing-in-2023/ Thu, 11 May 2023 10:59:02 +0000 https://www.cfobjective.com/?p=248 In just a few short years, the world of automated testing is set to absolutely explode! With the help of new technologies, like artificial intelligence and machine learning, testing software is set to become faster, more efficient, and more reliable than ever before. No longer will developers have to sift through endless lines of code …

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In just a few short years, the world of automated testing is set to absolutely explode! With the help of new technologies, like artificial intelligence and machine learning, testing software is set to become faster, more efficient, and more reliable than ever before. No longer will developers have to sift through endless lines of code in order to ensure their product is working as it should – instead, automated testing will take care of it all. And with the possibility for real-time testing and even predictive analysis, the possibilities for this technology in 2023 are truly endless. As a software developer, it’s hard not to get excited about the possibilities that await us!

What is the role of automated testing in software development?

Automated testing is a game-changer in the world of software development, and it’s hard not to get excited about it! This powerful tool represents a major step forward in the development process, with the potential to streamline testing procedures and drastically reduce the risk of human error. In essence, automated testing allows developers to write code that tests other code, which can then be run over and over again with no user intervention required. With this approach, developers can catch bugs and errors early on in the development process, avoiding costly delays and keeping their projects on track. The bottom line? If you’re not taking full advantage of automated testing in your software development workflow, you’re missing out on a huge opportunity to optimize your productivity and ensure the highest possible quality in your products.

Why is it extremely important for a tester to master the skills of writing autotests

Imagine being able to run tests on your code with the click of a button – without the need for manual intervention. That’s the power of autotests. In today’s fast-paced software industry, it is essential for testers to master the skills of writing autotests. Not only does it save time and effort, but it also ensures that your code is working as expected, every time. As a tester, being able to automate your testing process gives you more time to devote to other critical aspects of your job, such as analyzing test results and implementing necessary changes. By mastering the art of writing autotests, you can stay on top of your game and deliver high-quality software products with ease.

What software is best covered by autotests, and which software should be tested manually

When it comes to software testing, automation is a game-changer. Not only does it save time and reduce human error, but it also allows us to constantly monitor the quality of our product. However, not all software is created equal, and some programs need more manual attention than others. Ultimately, the best approach is a hybrid one: some tests should be automated, while others are done manually. For example, autotests excel at checking repetitive tasks such as user authentication or data entry. On the other hand, more complex software that requires significant creativity or human input should be manually tested. By knowing which type of software requires what kind of testing, we can ensure that our products are thoroughly checked and ready for launch.

Software of modern casinos

The world of casinos has come a long way since the days of spinning roulette wheels and clunky slot machines. Now, with the advent of modern technology, software has taken over the reins, ensuring that everything runs like clockwork. The excitement of winning big is now just a few clicks away with sophisticated software powering the operation. Programs that analyze player behavior, track gaming statistics, and process financial transactions all work together to provide an optimal gaming experience. Bet on it, the software of modern casinos has raised the bar and set a new standard for how we play and win.

How the software market for offline casinos is developing

The world of offline casinos is experiencing a revolution like never before, thanks to the advancements in software technology. Today, more and more players are preferring the offline casino experience over the digital one, and that’s exactly why the software market for offline casinos is booming. The industry has witnessed a steady growth in the number of innovative software providers who are pushing the boundaries of offline casino gaming. From state-of-the-art slot machines to interactive poker tables, the offline casino industry is becoming more diverse and engaging than ever before. And with every passing day, we’re seeing more exciting developments that promise to take the offline casino gaming experience to new heights. It’s an exciting time to be a part of the offline casino gaming industry!

Whether casino software is tested with autotests

If you’re a fan of casino games, you might not have thought about the software behind the games you play – but it’s an essential part of any online casino experience. That’s why the news that some casinos are using autotests to ensure their software is top-quality is really exciting. Autotests mean that a software program is used to run a series of tests automatically, checking for things like bugs and errors that could affect your gameplay. This is great news for players, as it means that the casinos are taking the quality of their products seriously – and that you can enjoy your favorite games without worrying about any glitches. So if you’re looking for a top-quality casino experience, make sure to look out for those that use autotests to ensure their software is up to scratch.

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What are the most effective automated testing tools for software development? https://www.cfobjective.com/what-are-the-most-effective-automated-testing-tools-for-software-development/ Mon, 20 Mar 2023 16:03:54 +0000 https://www.cfobjective.com/?p=243 In the modern world, there are numerous automation tools you can use to expedite the attainment of various goals. Software testing is one of the domains where automation is crucial.  Automated tools substitute manual testing, resulting in decreased company expenses and enhanced product speed-to-market. There are so many automated testing tools available on the market …

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In the modern world, there are numerous automation tools you can use to expedite the attainment of various goals. Software testing is one of the domains where automation is crucial.  Automated tools substitute manual testing, resulting in decreased company expenses and enhanced product speed-to-market.

There are so many automated testing tools available on the market that it can be difficult for beginners to make the right choice. We have compiled a list of the most in-demanded tools that will help you make up your mind faster.

Selenium

Selenium is a popular open-source testing tool that is primarily used for web application testing. It supports multiple programming languages such as Java, Python, Ruby, C#, and JavaScript, so QA specialists can write test scripts in their preferred language. The tool also provides web app testing on all popular browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.

In Selenium IDE, testers can record and playback test cases without the need for coding. This helps them speed up the testing process and is especially useful for non-technical users. One more advantage of this tool is parallel testing: using Selenium Grid, you can run tests on multiple machines simultaneously, thus reducing the overall execution time.

Appium

Appium is a popular choice for mobile app testing. This open-source tool allows testers to write test scripts once and run them on Android, iOS, and Windows. In addition, Appium supports the testing of both native and hybrid mobile applications on real devices or emulators. It provides different locators and methods to interact with the UI elements of the application. Due to its user-friendly interface, the creation and execution of test scripts are convenient and easy.

JMeter

JMeter is written in Java and is platform-independent. It can be run on different operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and macOS. This open-source tool is used for load, functional, and performance testing of web applications. It supports a variety of protocols such as HTTP, FTP, and JDBC.

Customization is available with JMeter: testers can tailor the test plan as per their requirements. This includes setting up the test scenario, creating HTTP requests, and adding listeners to collect the results.

Cucumber

Based on a behavior-driven development (BDD) framework, Cucumber allows for writing test scenarios in plain English language, which makes it easier for non-technical stakeholders to understand the test cases. The tool is open-source and cross-platform. For writing test scenarios, it uses Gherkin syntax, which is easy to read and understand and can be used by testers, developers, and business analysts.

HP UFT

HP UFT is a powerful automated testing tool that provides a wide range of features to test desktop, web, and mobile applications. However, it is a commercial tool and can be expensive compared to other open-source tools available in the market.

It supports various platforms, provides different ways to identify objects (ID, name, class, and XPath), and allows testers to create scripts using keywords, thus reducing the need for programming knowledge. One more interesting feature of HP UFT is image-based testing, i.e., the ability to compare images to verify the application’s UI elements.

Of course, there are many other options available. Your choice should always be based on your team’s experience, resources you can use, and project requirements.

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Software Engineering Services for Ecommerce: Expert Sitecore Development https://www.cfobjective.com/software-engineering-services-for-ecommerce-expert-sitecore-development/ Mon, 20 Mar 2023 14:15:04 +0000 https://www.cfobjective.com/?p=237 The ecommerce industry is experiencing rapid growth nowadays, with a significant increase in the number of individuals embracing online platforms in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic shift towards online shopping, encompassing groceries to lifestyle products. This has resulted in the rise and evolution of software engineering services for digital marketing …

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The ecommerce industry is experiencing rapid growth nowadays, with a significant increase in the number of individuals embracing online platforms in recent years. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a dramatic shift towards online shopping, encompassing groceries to lifestyle products. This has resulted in the rise and evolution of software engineering services for digital marketing and commerce in the post-pandemic era.

Sitecore is a powerful and versatile content management system (CMS) and digital experience platform (DXP) that is widely used by businesses of all sizes to deliver exceptional experiences to their customers. As a result, there is a growing demand for expert Sitecore development services to help companies fully leverage the platform’s and drive their ecommerce growth. This article introduces you to the most in-demand software engineering services offered by Sitecore experts.

Customization and Integration Services

Sitecore is a highly flexible platform that can be adjusted to meet the unique needs of different businesses. Development companies offer customization services to help businesses tailor Sitecore products to specific requirements. This includes creating custom templates, designing custom workflows, and integrating third-party tools and applications.

Customization services are also essential for ensuring that Sitecore seamlessly integrates with existing systems and workflows. Experts can help businesses integrate Sitecore with their existing CRM, ERP, or other enterprise software, ensuring that data flows smoothly between different systems.

Development Services

Sitecore development services include everything from creating custom modules and components to designing and building custom websites and applications. End-to-end development enables businesses to create personalized and engaging digital experiences that are tailored to their customers’ needs and gain a competitive advantage in today’s digital landscape. The creation of data analytics solutions allows businesses to gain valuable insights into their customers’ behavior, preferences, and needs, enabling them to optimize their digital experiences further.

Migration Services

Turning to migration services, businesses can move their existing websites and digital content to the Sitecore platform. Experienced developers can help businesses migrate their content, design, and functionality from other CMS platforms, such as WordPress, Drupal, or Magento.

Sitecore migration also includes upgrading the platform to the latest version and ensuring that all content is migrated securely and efficiently. This ensures that businesses can benefit from the advanced features and capabilities of Sitecore without losing any existing content or functionality.

Support and Maintenance Services

Sitecore is a complex platform that requires ongoing maintenance and support to ensure that it runs smoothly and efficiently. Software development providers offer support and maintenance services to help businesses manage and maintain their Sitecore installations.

These services include troubleshooting issues, resolving bugs and errors, providing technical support, and ensuring that the platform is secure and up-to-date. Sitecore experts also offer training and guidance to client’s employees to make the most of the platform and improve their digital content management processes.

Performance Optimization Services

This type of services implies the improvement of the speed, performance, and scalability of Sitecore products. With the help of Sitecore experts, businesses can optimize their website and digital content to improve the user experience, reduce page load times, and increase site speed.

These services include improving caching and indexing, optimizing the database and server infrastructure, and enhancing the performance of individual pages and components. Sitecore performance optimization is essential for businesses that want to provide a fast and seamless experience to their users, improve their search engine rankings, and increase conversions.

Wrapping Up

Sitecore experts offer a range of software engineering services that can help businesses get the most out of this powerful content management system. From customization and integration to development, migration, support, and optimization, these services can help businesses streamline their digital content management processes and achieve their business objectives.

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Label Printing – What kind of printer is best equipped to handle this job? https://www.cfobjective.com/label-printing-what-kind-of-printer-is-best-equipped-to-handle-this-job/ Fri, 07 Oct 2022 12:56:24 +0000 https://www.cfobjective.com/?p=222 This is a query of almost every person who has taken the decision of printing their own labels. Some people might already own a printer and must be thinking if it is capable of printing labels, while others might be wantingto purchase a label maker, or printer as answer to how to print Avery labels …

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This is a query of almost every person who has taken the decision of printing their own labels. Some people might already own a printer and must be thinking if it is capable of printing labels, while others might be wanting
to purchase a label maker, or printer as answer to how to print Avery labels in Google Docs. We would like to go through some of the points to be considered when making the decision of buying a printer. What is the design of your label? What volume of printing are you planning to do? Do you anticipate using the
printer for purposes other than label printing in the future? Let’s see what features our ideal label printer should have.

1. Print Resolution

Print quality is determined by print resolution. In general, the print will be sharper and crisper the higher the print resolution is. To print stickers and labels with high-quality results, use a print resolution of 1200
dpi. This is especially important for labels with pictures and illustrations. Anything above 1200 dpi is sometimes unnecessary because the quality changes are barely discernible. Keep in mind that printing will take longer
if the print quality is increased. A printer with a resolution of 300 to 600 dpi will work for printing shipping or address labels, and other prints that only have text on them. It is not advised to use a printer with a
resolution of less than 300 dpi.

2. Printing Speed

Another aspect to consider is printing speed, which is inversely proportional to print resolution. Look for a printer that prints at the best print resolutions at a respectable rate. By examining their rating in pages per
minute, you may determine the speed of a printer (ppm). Laser printers are normally faster than Inkjet ones.

3. Running Cost

Always keep in mind that a product’s operating costs are more crucial than its pricing. So, keep the supply costs in mind while you look for the ideal kind of printer for product labels. Many companies may
advertise their printers at a low cost in an effort to tempt you, only for you to discover that the ink and toner will cost a lot more. So, before you purchase any product label printer, check out how much replacement
materials cost. A choice is the best if its operating costs are within your budget.

4. Paper Handling

Although producing high-quality product labels may be your main objective, you should also consider the other things that you will probably print with your printer. legal envelopes, paper stock, index cards or check stock
likely to be printed at any point? you ought to think about purchasing a printing device that is capable of handling more than just standard 8.5 x 11-inch paper. Different paper sizes and thicknesses can be used with
many different printer models. These printers serve a variety of functions and are very practical.

5. Inkjet vs Laser

These are the two most common type of printers and to determine which of these would be ideal for you is kind of necessary. Depending on the product labels you’ll be printing and the amount of printing you’ll be
performing, you should make this decision.

The greater popularity of inkjet printers is due to their versatile functions. They print effectively on a variety of printing substrates, including papers of different densities and sticky papers. Inkjet models are
especially well-liked due of how quickly they print, which makes them the best option for handling large-scale printing projects.

Contrarily, monochrome printing works well with laser printers. If your label design contains shipping barcodes, they are your best option. There are color laser printers as well. If you’re looking for a printer best for
small businesses and home offices, laser printers need to be your first choice.

When does the choice of printer matter, and when does it not?

Matching the printer type and labels is an important thing. Using incompatible printers and labels will wreak havoc on your labels and, in some situations, even break your printer. For instance, using a laser-printable sheet
in an inkjet printer will cause smearing because the sheet won’t absorb the ink. In contrast, Inkjet sheets may melt when heated up in a laser printer, and thus damaging the parts. You only need not to be concerned about
the printer type when using printable products that are specifically made to function with both laser and inkjet printers.

In a nutshell,

When printing labels, where it is necessary to ensure the kind of labels you are using to print your product labels and sticker, it is also essential to use the correct kind of printer. If you’re using a printer with
low resolution and low printing speed, while the maintenance costs are high, you are probably going to end up facing failure and losses in your bosses. That is why, choosing the right printer is important when printing
labels.

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What are the most current systems and software engineering problems? https://www.cfobjective.com/what-are-the-most-current-systems-and-software-engineering-problems/ Tue, 02 Nov 2021 10:21:46 +0000 https://www.cfobjective.com/?p=208 In recent years, as the Internet grows and develops, the development of high-performance distributed systems has become one of the most important tasks. Achieving efficient performance with low latency (especially in real time applications) is becoming more and more challenging. There are also many problems related to building complex web-based systems that involve various types …

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In recent years, as the Internet grows and develops, the development of high-performance distributed systems has become one of the most important tasks. Achieving efficient performance with low latency (especially in real time applications) is becoming more and more challenging.

There are also many problems related to building complex web-based systems that involve various types of dynamic data structures (such as graphs), work with unstructured or semi-structured data (JSON), provide high availability and fault tolerance (a typical example is the de facto standard REST architecture for web services). And all these new paradigms make software engineering even more interesting!
A short interview with a CF Objective Conference participant follows.

Can you specify any particular tools or practices, which you believe should become widespread in the community of software engineers?

I guess everyone nowadays knows about DevOps and CI/CD (Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery). Both terms are usually used together, but it is worth mentioning them separately. DevOps helps to solve many problems related to integration of code written by different developers. It also helps with the creation of features that work correctly on the first try. CI helps not only with testing but also makes it possible to build a release immediately after successful tests (and this means that there will be no manual errors). All these processes help improve both efficiency and product quality; they reduce time spent debugging production issues and eliminate delays caused by waiting for manual testing.

Can you name any specific books, blogs or other resources that are worth reading by software engineers?

I guess everyone nowadays knows about StackOverflow. It is not only a very popular question-and-answer site for programmers but also an amazing source of knowledge, which includes lots of interesting articles on software engineering best practices . There are many excellent books available on the website too. For example I’d recommend The Clean Coder by Robert Martin. This book can be read online for free here .
Other good readings include the blog posts from the ThoughtWorks company (especially those written by Martin Fowler ) and Pragmatic Programmer, as well as Andrew Stellman’s articles. And don’t forget to look through the blog posts of your colleagues!

What software engineering conferences, seminars or other events can you name? Which ones would you recommend visiting?

There are lots of software engineering conferences and seminars. I guess everyone knows about FOSDEM. In recent years it has become one of the largest European open source developer conferences. If you want to visit a more “academic” event, there is always PLDI, which presents academic research in the field of programming languages and their semantics. It also includes many interesting invited talks by prestigious speakers from industry and academia. Last year’s edition was very successful – I’d encourage you to check out the videos for some amazing presentations!
If you prefer something less formal – take a look at EuroPLoP , the premier European conference on Practical Aspects of Declarative Languages. It’s also a great opportunity to attend workshops dealing with various programming languages – there are many presentations related to functional, object-oriented and logic programming.

Finally, if you want to meet other “interesting” people, take a look at Strange Loop. This is one of the biggest annual conferences about functional and dynamic programming languages and systems. It takes place in St Louis (Missouri) and includes lots of interesting presentations every year! There is no need to mention that these events usually end up with an amazing afterparty.

Can you name any books, articles or resources that aren’t directly about software engineering but influence your work?
WhenI started writing my own software almost 20 years ago, I was heavily influenced by the bestseller Code Complete. This book has become an instant classic and is still considered to be one of the most useful resources for programmers. It was written by Steve McConnell (a well-known expert in software engineering – watch his presentation here). The second edition of this book is available both on Amazon and as a free online version on Safari.

Another good read is Peopleware, a must-have book for all those involved in people management! Thomas J. DeMarco and Timothy Lister have done a great job explaining why good developers don’t necessarily make good team leaders… But if you want to switch your role from developer into some more senior position, you should definitely read this book!

What advice would you give to software engineering students?

Two words: learn how.
Believe it or not, but knowing the syntax of your programming language of choice is just a tiny part of being a good developer. You have to constantly improve yourself, go beyond just using some tool and be aware that there is always something new to learn. Always ask yourself why things are done in a certain way – never accept anything as “this is how it’s supposed to be”. This approach will help you understand many concepts quickly and avoid lots of errors at the same time.
I guess every programmer has his/her own tricks and recommendations on how to be a good developer. What advice would you give to beginner programmers?
Learn how to write simple tests for your code, learn about ways to deliver and promote your application (packaging, deployment and so on). When you finish writing some piece of software – don’t forget about documentation!
Justin F., CF Objective Conference

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Why do the creators of the best online casinos participate in Software Engineering conferences? https://www.cfobjective.com/why-do-the-creators-of-the-best-online-casinos-participate-in-software-engineering-conferences/ Tue, 02 Nov 2021 10:18:44 +0000 https://www.cfobjective.com/?p=205 Why is it so difficult to implement a blackjack server? What algorithm issues will such service require and how can we overcome them?The next article is dedicated to these questions. I won’t tell you lies: the task itself is not that grandiose as, for example, writing an operating system or even a full-fledged application which …

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Why is it so difficult to implement a blackjack server? What algorithm issues will such service require and how can we overcome them?
The next article is dedicated to these questions. I won’t tell you lies: the task itself is not that grandiose as, for example, writing an operating system or even a full-fledged application which does complex measurements in atomic physics and implements all possible types of numerical algorithms for this purpose.

But still there are some peculiarities: firstly, it’s very important for us that our servers work correctly; secondly, no one has ever implemented such thing before (at least we didn’t find anything similar on the Internet), and therefore we have to make everything from scratch; thirdly, there are plenty of subtleties which make the task more complicated. By subtleties I mean corner cases (for example, how to behave with the player if he enters an empty deck?) and difficulties connected with making it all fault-tolerant under varying network conditions (the game is played at best online casino canada, remember?).
Blackjack algorithm
Well now let me describe what has to be done in general. For this purpose I will give you an example: suppose that now our server supports one room only; let’s call it #sajiha; there are 10 players; each of them is playing against the dealer; everyone makes his decision before the others do. According to house rules we need to deal two cards firstly to the dealer and secondly to the player who sits on the left from him. So we have a deck of 52 cards and 2 cards are dealt. The same rules apply to the other players: two cards each before he makes his decision. In case if at least one player has made a bet, it is checked whether the current result forms a “blackjack” or not (i.e., whether there are 3-4-5-6 or 7-8-9 in total). If yes, he wins; otherwise – loses.
After this step we need to move all the actions which were performed by players to a special list, sort them according to time and make an appearance of every player simultaneously (i.e., show his window with the numbers of his cards and the result of the game). In order to do that we need a message queue between our server and its clients.
Implementing the game process
To implement such functionality it is necessary to have a separate thread for every player in the process of his work with us. But how can we realize this? After all, there are only 2**32 open file descriptors available on modern OSes, so one cannot create a thread for each of them! Of course one may use non-blocking sockets, but if you take other tasks into account (for example, time control), I don’t think it’s worth describing such a technique here. So what should be done instead? The answer is simple: threads communicate via pipes or other data streams. As far as I know, all browsers implement this algorithm.

In other words, every player should have a pipe opened to our server process. When the client is finished with his actions, he should pass a special signal to the other end of the pipe and this will make it possible for us to know what exactly has been done by him.

When we’ve got such information from all other players as well, we can compare them and calculate the result of each hand according to the rules of the game. In essence it’s quite simple: if there are any duplicates in cards’ numbers – somebody has cheated; if one card repeats more than twice – somebody has cheated too; etc. As soon as we finish checking all hands we should perform some actions depending on the result of the game, for example, pay out money to players who won https://canadianonlinecasino.bet/.

There are some subtleties of course, but I won’t dwell on them now.
Finally it’s time to inform all players about the results. For this purpose one should pass the corresponding numbers of wins and losses into pipes (it concerns all players). To my mind there is no sense in describing how exactly this function works after what has been said above, so let’s just note that disconnection of clients occurs very rarely here – usually all 94 lines of C++ code are executed for every new card dealt; moreover, such algorithm allows us to deal with hundreds or even thousands of opponents at once. And we haven’t described an important feature yet: figuring out if any one player is cheating or not. It can be done by changing the sequence in which people send us the result of their actions. The order should be random. If one client sends his action much earlier than others, he must have cheated somehow – either manually or with the use of a special program.

Michael R., conference participant

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Heisenbug 2021 – testing conference https://www.cfobjective.com/heisenbug-2021-testing-conference/ Sat, 10 Apr 2021 09:56:00 +0000 https://www.cfobjective.com/?p=168 The Heisenbug 2021 Big Testing Conference was held April 6-9, online. Experienced QA experts from around the world gave several dozen workshops and presentations on all aspects of testing: Tools; Functional testing; Load testing; Best practices; AR/VR testing; ML/AI testing; Visual testing; Mobile testing; SDET; DevOps in testing; And much more. And it’s all in …

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The Heisenbug 2021 Big Testing Conference was held April 6-9, online. Experienced QA experts from around the world gave several dozen workshops and presentations on all aspects of testing:

  • Tools;
  • Functional testing;
  • Load testing;
  • Best practices;
  • AR/VR testing;
  • ML/AI testing;
  • Visual testing;
  • Mobile testing;
  • SDET;
  • DevOps in testing;
  • And much more.

And it’s all in 4K, with the ability to pause or change playback speed and access to recorded presentations. And also activities with prizes, discussions with speakers and even a platform game mode, which simulates the real site: locations, scenes, communication with colleagues and much more.

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Artificial intelligence was taught to control the distance between people https://www.cfobjective.com/artificial-intelligence/ Fri, 19 Mar 2021 11:11:34 +0000 https://www.cfobjective.com/?p=42 During the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing proved very effective in slowing the spread of the disease. But while millions of people remain at home to work together to defeat a dangerous infection, many employees in the food, mining, pharmaceutical and other industries still have to go to work every day. They depend on them to …

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During the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing proved very effective in slowing the spread of the disease. But while millions of people remain at home to work together to defeat a dangerous infection, many employees in the food, mining, pharmaceutical and other industries still have to go to work every day. They depend on them to make sure that a food delivery person comes to you tomorrow, or that the nearest pharmacy is always open in case you suddenly have a toothache. So how to ensure safety in these cases? In addition to wearing masks, there is another way to control the distance between people. And artificial intelligence is a big part of it.

To help control the distance between people in the workplace, the startup Landing AI has developed an artificial intelligence-enabled tool to track people’s whereabouts. It can determine whether people are at a safe distance from each other by analyzing video streams from surveillance cameras in real time.

For example, a factory that makes the masks and other protective equipment so needed during a pandemic could integrate this software into its surveillance camera systems. As shown in the demo below, the detector will highlight in red people whose distance between them is less than the minimum allowable distance and draw a line between them to call attention to it. The system will also be able to loudly alert and remind people to keep a safe distance.

The software is installed on the computers that control the security system with video surveillance, and the artificial intelligence itself integrates into the elements it needs. It is a kind of “mini big brother” who monitors every movement of the employee. But not to control whether he’s working or not, but to keep employees at a safe distance from each other. I remember seeing something like that in the TV series “Suspect” – there was an artificial intelligence machine that recognized the movements of every person in the city. It wasn’t really to control the distance between people, though.

Nothing prevents the algorithm from being refined in the future and using such a neural network to monitor a person’s movements on city surveillance cameras. The only thing that this would require is high-quality optics that would be able to recognize a face and characteristic features (gait, physique) without errors. And if a person commits an offence and the camera notices him, later on the neural network will follow him home. We think that such a system will be implemented in the future.

According to Input, Amazon has already implemented similar technology in its warehouses. Employees are also monitored during their shifts and warned that violating social distancing rules could get them fired.

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