# Utility Software Software that supports and manages computer infrastructure, including hardware, system software, and application software. This is one page of public article previews, not the complete archive. Follow Next page to continue. Summaries are not the original full articles. ## Raspberry Pi OS: A Complete Guide to the New Control Centre DevFeed: [Raspberry Pi OS: A Complete Guide to the New Control Centre]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Usman Qamar Published: 2026-07-08T05:00:00Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [RaspberryTips]() Topics: [GUI](), [configuration](), [App](), [Utility Software]() Tags: [beginner-s-guides](), [customization](), [gui](), [guide](), [how-to](), [os](), [raspberry-pi](), [raspberry-pi-os]() ### AI overview This guide introduces the Raspberry Pi Control Centre, a new desktop settings application in Raspberry Pi OS Trixie. It explains how the app brings system, display, interface, keyboard, mouse, appearance, and other configuration options together in one GUI. ### Source excerpt If you've just upgraded to Raspberry Pi OS Trixie, some settings may not be where you expect them to be. Tools like Appearance Settings, Screen Configuration, Mouse and Keyboard settings, and other small utilities have been grouped into a new app called Control Centre. I think it's a good idea, but the first time you... ## Coding Challenge #124 - Du DevFeed: [Coding Challenge #124 - Du]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: John Crickett Published: 2026-06-13T08:01:14Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Coding Challenges]() Topics: [Code Challenge](), [POSIX](), [Unix](), [Utility Software](), [Programming]() Tags: [coding](), [exercise](), [filesystem](), [posix](), [programming](), [programming-language](), [run](), [unix](), [utilities]() ### AI overview A coding challenge asks readers to build their own POSIX-compatible du utility. It covers recursively traversing directories, calculating disk usage, handling hard links and symbolic links, and presenting results in multiple formats. ### Source excerpt This challenge is to build your own du. ## Rethinking The Experience Of System Tools DevFeed: [Rethinking The Experience Of System Tools]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: hello@smashingmagazine.com (Kyrylo Levashov) Published: 2026-05-05T08:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Articles on Smashing Magazine -- For Web Designers And Developers]() Topics: [Utility Software](), [User experience (UX)](), [Software Engineering](), [Software]() Tags: [article](), [design](), [software](), [software-design](), [tools](), [user-experience](), [ux]() ### AI overview The article argues that utility and maintenance software should evolve beyond purely functional, chore-like experiences. Drawing comparisons to redesigned physical products, it advocates more intelligent, human, and emotionally engaging UX for system tools. ### Source excerpt Design always starts with function -- function shapes form. But if that function can't be made completely invisible and people still have to interact with it, it inevitably becomes part of their experience. In this article, Kyrylo Levashov shares four common software design assumptions. ## How I Use PowerToys Workspaces to Switch Contexts in Two Clicks 🫰 DevFeed: [How I Use PowerToys Workspaces to Switch Contexts in Two Clicks 🫰]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Dean Hume Published: 2026-03-12T14:32:13Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Dean Hume]() Topics: [Microsoft PowerToys](), [Windows](), [Utility Software](), [Command-line interface](), [vs-code](), [Edge](), [Terminal]() Tags: [cli](), [command-line](), [desktop](), [edge](), [powertoys](), [technical-program-manager](), [terminal](), [vs-code](), [windows](), [writing]() ### AI overview A practical guide to using Microsoft PowerToys Workspaces to save Windows app layouts and launch configured desktop setups quickly. It explains workspace creation, desktop shortcuts, and command-line arguments for apps such as VS Code and Edge. ### Source excerpt Tired of arranging windows every morning? PowerToys Workspaces launches your ideal Windows desktop management setup with two clicks 🫰. ## Set Safe Defaults for Flags DevFeed: [Set Safe Defaults for Flags]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Google Testing Bloggers (noreply@blogger.com) Published: 2026-03-03T14:47:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Google Testing Blog]() Topics: [Command-line interface](), [Utility Software](), [data](), [Shell]() Tags: [article](), [command-line](), [commands](), [documentation](), [google](), [how-to](), [safety](), [tott](), [zhe-lu]() ### AI overview This article explains how to choose safe defaults for command-line flags so that mistakes are less likely to cause harmful changes. It recommends strategies such as defaulting to dry runs, requiring confirmation for irreversible actions, and writing documentation commands with safer behavior. ### Source excerpt This article was adapted from a Google Tech on the Toilet (TotT) episode. You can download a printer-friendly version of this TotT episode and post it in your office. By Zhe Lu We all make mistakes. But big mistakes can cause big headaches! Suppose you're writing a utility to update production data for a launch. Before making changes to production data, you want to perform a dry run to validate the expected changes. In your excitement, you forget to include the --dry_run flag in your command: $ /scripts/credit_accounts --amount=USD10 # Oops, I forgot to include --dry_run You realize your mistake too late. Safe flag defaults can prevent a simple mistake from turning into a major outage: Flag has unsafe default: cliArgs.addBoolFlag(name="dry_run", default=False, help="If set, print change summary, but do NOT change data.") Flag has safe default: cliArgs.addBoolFlag(name="dry_run", default=True, help="If set, print change summary, but do NOT change data.") Safety depends on context: When defining flags, choose the default that minimizes the cost of potential mistakes. This might involve defaulting to a "dry" run, asking for user confirmation before irreversible actions, requiring a confirmation flag on the command line, or other strategies. If you're writing documentation that contains commands, always set values to minimize the damage if run blindly: Flag in documentation has unsafe default: ## How to commit changes Use this command to commit changes. Use --dry_run to test and compute and report changes. ```shell /scripts/credit_accounts --amount=[value] --filter=[conditions] ``` Flag in documentation has safe default: ## How to commit changes Use this command to compute and report changes. Use --nodry_run to commit the changes. ```shell /scripts/credit_accounts --amount=[value] --filter=[conditions] ``` Similarly, consider requiring that environment-specific flags (e.g., backend addresses and output folders) be explicitly set. In this situation, unspecified environme ## Neon Testing: a Vitest Library for Your Integration Tests DevFeed: [Neon Testing: a Vitest Library for Your Integration Tests]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Mikael Lirbank Published: 2025-09-09T18:20:19Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Blog -- Neon Docs]() Topics: [Testing](), [Databases](), [Library](), [Open Source](), [Utility Software](), [Transactions]() Tags: [community](), [database](), [library](), [open-source](), [parallel](), [postgres](), [testing](), [tests](), [transactions]() ### AI overview This article introduces Neon Testing, an open-source Vitest utility that automates Neon database branch lifecycles for integration tests. It gives each test file an isolated Postgres branch with the production schema and constraints intact, enabling realistic testing of behaviors such as unique constraints and transaction handling. ### Source excerpt You can mock database calls all day long, but when your code hits production, the real database doesn't lie. Unique constraints fail, transactions don't roll back as they should, and subtle behaviors that mocks can't reproduce, causing bad code to go into production. Running inte... ## Microsoft PowerToys Tutorial: Using and Customizing Windows Utilities DevFeed: [Microsoft PowerToys Tutorial: Using and Customizing Windows Utilities]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Techno Tim Published: 2023-08-20T13:00:00Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Techno Tim]() Topics: [Microsoft PowerToys](), [Windows](), [Tutorial](), [Utility Software](), [Open Source]() Tags: [apps](), [features](), [open-source](), [powertoys](), [productivity](), [shortcuts](), [tools](), [tutorial](), [utilities](), [video](), [windows]() ### AI overview A video tutorial introduces Microsoft PowerToys, an open-source suite of Windows utilities and apps. It explains installation and customization, then demonstrates features such as Always On Top and Awake for improving productivity. ### Source excerpt Today we're going to maximize your Productivity on Windows with Microsoft PowerToys. I'll show you step-by-step how you can use, customize, and be more efficient when using Microsoft PowerToys. 📺 Watch Video What are PowerToys for Windows? PowerToys is a set of utilities and apps that help you enhance the functionality of Windows and maximize your productivity. These tools provide a range ... ## Test Your Internet Speed from the Linux Terminal with fast DevFeed: [Test Your Internet Speed from the Linux Terminal with fast]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Techno Tim Published: 2023-02-05T15:00:00Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Techno Tim]() Topics: [Linux](), [Terminal](), [Command-line interface](), [Internet](), [Utility Software](), [Netflix]() Tags: [cli](), [dependency](), [download](), [internet](), [linux](), [netflix](), [open-source](), [terminal](), [tool](), [utilities]() ### AI overview This tutorial explains how to use the fast open-source utility to run FAST.com Internet speed tests from the Linux terminal on machines without a browser. It covers downloading the binary, making it executable, and running a speed test. ### Source excerpt What is FAST.com? FAST.com is speed test gives you an estimate of your current Internet speed. It was created by Netflix to bring transparency to your upload / download speeds and to see if your ISP may be prioritizing traffic.I've run this quite a bit in a browser to do a quick spot check or my speeds, but I've never had a great tool to check this from some of my Linux machines. Let me clari... ## Revision of restrictions on background work from Android 5.0 to 13 DevFeed: [Revision of restrictions on background work from Android 5.0 to 13]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Kirill Rozov Published: 2022-11-29T12:54:28Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Stories by Kirill Rozov on Medium]() Topics: [Android](), [Utility Software](), [Google](), [Google Play]() Tags: [android](), [android-app-development](), [androiddev](), [background-work](), [battery](), [firebase](), [google](), [google-play](), [notifications](), [permissions](), [services](), [sync]() ### AI overview The article reviews how Android background-work restrictions evolved from Android 5.0 through Android 13. It describes earlier background tools, including Alarm Manager, Broadcast Intent, services, Sync Adapter, and Download Manager, and explains that system-performance concerns led to tighter constraints involving background execution, battery use, file-system access, and permissions. ### Source excerpt Background restrictions in Android Once upon a time, running in the background was easy. Now Android has a lot of restrictions: running in the background, access to the file system, permissions that need to be approved by Google Play moderators, and others. Developers have to work with all of them. Let's remember where it all started and how the requirements changed with each new version of Android How it started Before Android 5.0, we had the set of tools to run tasks in the background: Alarm Manager. The tool that allows you to set an alarm on your system and receive notifications. Broadcast Intent. It sends notifications about events that are happening on the system (new messages, for example). Service -- Background, Foreground & Bound. Sync Adapter. A special ancient stuff, which is connected to account management for data synchronization. A clear example: when you set up a Google account in Android, you can set up synchronization of your calendar, contacts and other services. Under the hood, it works through the Sync Adapter. The tool has not lived up to our days. Download Manager. A utility that allows you to download files. It is not very smart, but it is simple and convenient. Google Play, for example, is what downloads files with it. The problems appeared because developers did not follow Spider-Man's rule: "With great opportunities for developers comes responsibility for the speed of the system". Google gave them huge opportunities from the first versions of Android, but did not warn them that they were working in a system that was responsible for quality. When users broke something, they didn't blame third-party developers, they said, "Android is lagging, but everything is fast on the iPhone." It turned out that the developers were good and Google was bad. Google decided to deal with this, but to do this, they had to find "enemies" affecting the quality of applications. They turned out to be: Battery size vs. device size. Everyone wants a thin device that ## Keyboard Maestro as a Text Expander replacement DevFeed: [Keyboard Maestro as a Text Expander replacement]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Kaushik Gopal Published: 2022-07-27T07:00:00Z Content type: opinion Language: en Sources: [Kaushik Gopal's Site]() Topics: [Utility Software](), [Visual Studio Code]() Tags: [productivity](), [utilities](), [vscode]() ### AI overview The author explains why they switched to Keyboard Maestro for text expansion, citing easier management across multiple computers, configurable delays that help expansion work in apps such as VSCode, and the ability to combine text replacement with macros. ### Source excerpt icon by Yoolk If you've recently needed a text expander utility, might I suggest the trusty Keyboard Maestro.1 I switched from TextExpander -> Alfred quite some time back. Somewhat recently, I again switched from Alfred -> KM for a couple of reasons: 1. One tool to rule them all ## Between work & home, I use multiple computers these days. Having to sync + maintain each of these different utilities across multiple computers is becoming tedious. Keyboard Maestro is a mainstay in my productivity toolbelt and isn't going anywhere. Might as well double down on it for the things it does well. 2. Fixing app quirks ## One of the big problems I found with utilities like Alfred is that the text expansion would activate too quickly. Consequently, the expansion wouldn't work in certain apps (like VSCode). With Keyboard Maestro though, you can add a micro delay,2 ensuring the snippets work flawlessly everywhere. You can also limit the scope to just a few apps if you're worried this delay will slow you down in non-problematic apps. 3. Mix text expansion with other macros ## Building on that, with Keyboard Maestro, you're not limited to just text replacement. You can execute full-fledged macros with your text expansion. Here's an example of how I add checklists in Google Docs.3 Keyboard Maestro remains one of the most powerful utilities for the Mac. Referral link ↩︎ I use 0.5s ↩︎ It puzzles me that they haven't assigned a default keyboard shortcut for this already. ↩︎ ## Analyzing and Detecting a VMTools Persistence Technique DevFeed: [Analyzing and Detecting a VMTools Persistence Technique]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: bohops Published: 2021-10-08T03:42:18Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Bohops]() Topics: [Persistence](), [configuration](), [Batch file](), [Process](), [Windows](), [Utility Software]() Tags: [batch](), [configuration](), [payload](), [persistence](), [process](), [script](), [uncategorized](), [utilities](), [windows]() ### AI overview This article analyzes a VMware Tools persistence technique on Windows virtual machines. It explains how VMwareToolBoxCmd.exe and the tools.conf file can configure batch scripts to run during VM power-state operations, and discusses detection strategies. The demonstrated payload runs as a child process of vmtoolsd. ### Source excerpt Introduction It is always fun to reexplore previously discovered techniques or pick back on old research that was put on the wayside in hopes to maybe finding something new or different. Recently, I stood up an ESXi server at home and decided to take a quick peak at the VMware directory structure after installing the [...] ## CVE-2021-0090: Intel Driver & Support Assistant (DSA) Elevation of Privilege (EoP) DevFeed: [CVE-2021-0090: Intel Driver & Support Assistant (DSA) Elevation of Privilege (EoP)]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: bohops Published: 2021-08-07T16:30:24Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Bohops]() Topics: [intel](), [Utility Software](), [bug](), [Software](), [Windows](), [Web](), [web browser]() Tags: [browser](), [bug](), [configuration](), [cve](), [driver](), [intel](), [local](), [mount](), [payload](), [software](), [technical](), [uncategorized](), [web](), [windows]() ### AI overview This technical advisory examines a local privilege-escalation vulnerability in Intel Driver & Support Assistant version 20.8.30.6 and likely earlier versions. It describes how an unprivileged user can alter download and data-folder settings and potentially use a reparse point to cause a privileged file-copy operation and execute unintended code. ### Source excerpt TL;DR Intel Driver & Support Assistant (DSA) is a driver and software update utility for Intel components. DSA version 20.8.30.6 (and likely prior) is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation reparse point bug. An unprivileged user has nominal control over configuration settings within the web-based interface. This includes the ability to configure the folder location [...] ## Rapps Enhancement - GSoC 2020 DevFeed: [Rapps Enhancement - GSoC 2020]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2020-06-04T00:00:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [App](), [GUI](), [Utility Software](), [Software](), [win32]() Tags: [application](), [bug](), [features](), [free](), [gsoc](), [gui](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [win32](), [winapi]() ### AI overview A GSoC 2020 project describes planned enhancements to ReactOS's RAPPS application manager. The work focuses on fixing bugs, improving its graphical interface and functionality, and adding software snapshot, icon, list, detail, command-line, and concurrent-download support. ### Source excerpt Hello, I am He Yang (@kernel.bin) from China. This year, I signed up for GSoC, and I'm very glad to be given the chance to work with the ReactOS team. My mentors for the project are Mark Jansen and Ioannis Adamopoulos. It's a great honor to have two mentors to guide me. My project is "Application manager RAPPS". RAPPS is used by almost everyone using ReactOS, thus making it essential to get RAPPS easy-to-use, powerful and bug-free. ## How to alias and navigate to directories with autocomplete in Linux DevFeed: [How to alias and navigate to directories with autocomplete in Linux]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Lazarus Lazaridis Published: 2019-04-10T13:00:00Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Lazarus Lazaridis]() Topics: [Shell](), [Script](), [Command-line interface](), [Linux](), [Utility Software](), [Scripting, bash]() Tags: [aliases](), [bash](), [completion](), [directory](), [how-to](), [installation](), [linux](), [opensource](), [productivity](), [programming](), [script](), [scripts](), [shell](), [tools](), [tutorial]() ### AI overview This tutorial introduces goto, a shell utility for navigating to registered directory aliases with autocomplete. It explains installation, alias management, navigation, cleanup, help, version commands, and directory-stack features. ### Source excerpt I use the terminal a lot and in my day to day work I tend to navigate to the same bunch of directories. There are some awesome tools out there (like autojump or z) but sometimes, especially when the directories are similarly named, there is a need to be explicit to navigate to the proper one. I decided to write a script to overcome this issue and to avoid having to edit my .bash* files to manage aliases each time I wanted to add or remove a directory. goto goto is a shell utility to quickly navigate to aliased directories with autocomplete (tab completion). goto repo at GitHub User registers directory aliases, for example: goto --register dev /home/iridakos/development and then cds to that directory with: goto dev Find below documentation on the script but make sure you check the script's documentation page for updates. Sorry for the name, I know it brings back memories but it's not what it seems :) Installation To install goto all you have to do is clone the repository locally: git clone https://github.com/iridakos/goto.git navigate to it cd goto and execute: sudo ./install You need to restart your shell after installation. Usage Change to an aliased directory Register an alias Unregister an alias List aliases Expand an alias Cleanup Help Version Extras Push before changing directories Revert to a pushed directory Change to an aliased directory To change to an aliased directory, type: goto Example goto dev Register an alias To register a directory alias, type: goto -r or goto --register Example goto -r blog /mnt/external/projects/html/blog or goto --register blog /mnt/external/projects/html/blog Notes goto expands the directories hence you can easily alias your current directory with: goto -r last_release . and it will automatically be aliased to the whole path. Pressing the tab key after the alias name, you have the default directory suggestions by the shell. Unregister an alias To unregister an alias, use: goto -u < ## Analysing Static Footprint DevFeed: [Analysing Static Footprint]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: John Lee Published: 2018-05-13T00:00:00Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Blog on Developer Portal]() Topics: [ESP32](), [Embedded Software Dev](), [toolchain](), [Utility Software](), [Code]() Tags: [blog](), [build-system](), [building-products](), [code](), [esp32](), [firmware](), [make]() ### AI overview This tutorial explains how to analyze the static memory footprint of ESP32 application firmware. It introduces the IDF idf_size.py utility and build targets such as size-components, then describes footprint categories including DRAM data, BSS, IRAM, flash code, and flash read-only data. ### Source excerpt The ESP32 is equipped with a 512KB of SRAM. While this may seem quite small, it can pack a lot of punch in this compact form if used well. As we use the various components and its features in our application firmware, the linker pulls in different functions and variables from these components. The linker will typically optimise out entities that aren't being used (or referenced) from the current application firmware. ## Lenovo ThinkPad battery calibration issue resolved by temporarily setting TLP charge thresholds to 100% DevFeed: [Lenovo ThinkPad battery calibration issue resolved by temporarily setting TLP charge thresholds to 100%]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Suresh Alse (noreply@blogger.com) Published: 2015-09-09T06:49:00Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Life Plus Linux]() Topics: [bug](), [Linux](), [Utility Software]() Tags: [battery](), [bug](), [laptop](), [lenovo](), [linux](), [power-management](), [thinkpad]() ### AI overview A personal Linux troubleshooting tutorial for a Lenovo ThinkPad whose battery indicator dropped from 30% to 6%. The author reports that temporarily setting TLP charge thresholds to 100%, restarting, and charging for almost a day corrected the observed calibration issue. ### Source excerpt My brand new Lenovo Thinkpad is a beast and is supposed to give up to 8hrs of battery backup. But there was a weird problem. As soon as the battery remaining reached 30%, it used to drop to 6% in a second. When I looked up on google, I found out that I was not the only one facing this problem. Most of them suggested that my battery was shot and that I had to buy a new one. This is highly improbable as it is brand new. I wanted to give fixing it a try before contacting customer care. And I was successful! Before - See the battery percentage drop from 30% to 6% For some reason, I suspected that it was somehow TLP's fault. TLP is the best power management utility for Thinkpad in Linux. It allows you to set max charging threshold so that you will be able to connect your laptop to the plug point without worrying about over charging (among many other features it provides). I felt that it is because of this, battery calibration was getting screwed up. So I set the maximum threshold to 100%. Open /etc/default/tlp and set following variables. START_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT0=100 STOP_CHARGE_THRESH_BAT0=100 Then I restarted my laptop to bring this to effect. As the calibration was already offset by a great extent, the only way to fix it was to keep it charged for a long time. I kept it charging for almost a day. After - Fixed! Then to test it I kept discharging it. And to my surprise, it didn't drop from 30% to 6% this time!! So the problem was with calibration and not because the battery is broken. If you face this problem, you can try this solution once before you spend $$$ on buying a new battery. Now that I have changed the battery threshold back to 85%, if this problem occurs again, all I have to do is follow the above steps. ## ack: a grep alternative for searching codebases DevFeed: [ack: a grep alternative for searching codebases]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2014-08-25T00:00:00Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Radek Pazdera]() Topics: [Command-line interface](), [Regular expression](), [Terminal](), [Unix](), [Utility Software](), [version-control]() Tags: [alternatives](), [command-line](), [expression](), [save](), [searching](), [terminal](), [tools](), [unix]() ### AI overview This article introduces ack as an alternative to grep for searching codebases. It explains that ack searches directory trees, ignores version-control directories, editor backups, binaries, and other irrelevant files by default, and highlights matches with terminal colors. It also discusses configuration files and command-line options. ### Source excerpt grep optimised for programmers ## PeaZIP Joins Open Source Support Program DevFeed: [PeaZIP Joins Open Source Support Program]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2014-05-28T00:00:00Z Content type: news Language: en Sources: [Front Page on ReactOS Website]() Topics: [ReactOS](), [Open Source](), [Utility Software](), [Zip](), [Users]() Tags: [convenience](), [free](), [open-source](), [os](), [react](), [reactos](), [users](), [win32](), [winapi](), [zip]() ### AI overview The ReactOS Project announces that PeaZIP has joined its Open Source Support Program. Participation will make it easier for users to pre-stage PeaZIP during ReactOS installation, but it does not mean PeaZIP will be bundled by default. PeaZIP supports archive formats including 7Z, RAR, TAR, and ZIP. ### Source excerpt The ReactOS Project is pleased another participant in the Open Source Support Program, PeaZIP. Many community members have been asking that some sort of zip utility be bundled with ReactOS for convenience and while participation in the program does not mean PeaZIP will be present by default, it will make it considerably easier for users to pre-stage PeaZIP so that it will be available to use once the installation of ReactOS is complete. ## Syncing the NIST National Vulnerability Database to Sqlite3 DevFeed: [Syncing the NIST National Vulnerability Database to Sqlite3]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2013-04-27T02:58:53Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Signs of Triviality]() Topics: [Database](), [Utility Software](), [Vulnerabilities]() Tags: [cves](), [database](), [local](), [map](), [nist](), [packages](), [sync](), [vulnerabilities](), [vulnerability]() ### AI overview The article describes nvd2sqlite3, a utility that populates and synchronizes NIST's Vulnerability Database in a local SQLite3 database. The database can be used to map public CVEs to internal tickets or packages and track known vulnerabilities. ### Source excerpt The 'nvd2sqlite3' utility will populate and sync NIST's Vulnerability Database into a local sqlite3 database to allow you to map public CVEs to internal tickets, packages, or otherwise keep track of the known vulnerabilities. ## Trappings: An easier way to do functional testing DevFeed: [Trappings: An easier way to do functional testing]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Published: 2012-06-10T00:00:00Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Tim Kellogg]() Topics: [Testing](), [Database](), [Utility Software](), [MongoDB](), [.NET](), [API]() Tags: [api](), [automated](), [database](), [functional](), [functional-testing](), [integration](), [mongodb]() ### AI overview This article introduces Trappings, a testing utility for .NET projects that creates test data for functional and integration tests and tears it down afterward. It is intended to keep tests independent and can use MongoDB ID generation to build related test objects. ### Source excerpt I've spent the last couple weeks piecing together a testing utility to fill a need. The problem is that we need to run functional and integration tests that hit the database, but it's actually quite difficult. There's a few techniques that are traditionally used for setting up test data for automated tests. ## switch-window reaches 0.8 DevFeed: [switch-window reaches 0.8]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Dimitri Fontaine PostgreSQL Major Contributor; Author Published: 2010-09-13T15:45:00Z Content type: article Language: en Sources: [Dimitri Fontaine]() Topics: [coding](), [Utility Software](), [GUI]() Tags: [keyboard](), [layout](), [split](), [string](), [window]() ### AI overview The author describes updating the switch-window utility to use the keyboard layout from quail-keyboard-layout, using the first ten letters as labels and direct-switch keys instead of hard-coded numbers. The change is intended to improve suitability for cssh users. The article also briefly mentions an upcoming el-get release and asks readers to test it and report problems. ### Source excerpt I wanted to play with the idea of using the whole keyboard for my switch-window utility, but wondered how to get those keys in the right order and all. Finally found quail-keyboard-layout which seems to exists for such uses, as you can see: (loop with layout = (split-string quail-keyboard-layout "") for row from 1 to 4 collect (loop for col from 1 to 12 ("q" "w" "e" "r" "t" "y" "u" "i" "o" "p" "[" "]") ("a" "s" "d" "f" "g" "h" "j" "k" "l" ";" "'" "\\") ("z" "x" "c" "v" "b" "n" "m" "," "." "/" " " " ")) So now switch-window will use that (but only the first 10 letters) instead of hard-coding numbers from 1 to 9 as labels and direct switches. That makes it more suitable to cssh users too, I guess. ## Some emacs nifties DevFeed: [Some emacs nifties]() Original publisher: [Read original article]() Author: Dimitri Fontaine PostgreSQL Major Contributor; Author Published: 2009-08-03T13:15:00Z Content type: tutorial Language: en Sources: [Dimitri Fontaine]() Topics: [Emacs](), [Utility Software]() Tags: [emacs](), [functions]() ### AI overview An Emacs-focused post presenting utility functions for retrieving the previous message from the *Messages* buffer and inserting it at the current position, along with another custom function inspired by unexpected behavior. ### Source excerpt First, here's a way to insert at current position the last message printed into the minibuffer... well not exactly, in *Messages* buffer in fact. I was tired of doing it myself after invoking, e.g., M-x emacs-version. ;; print last message ;; current-message is already lost by the time this gets called (defun dim:previous-message (&optional nth) "get last line of *Message* buffer" (with-current-buffer (get-buffer "*Messages*") (save-excursion (goto-char (point-max)) (setq nth (if nth nth 1)) (while (> nth 0) (previous-line) (setq nth (- nth 1))) (buffer-substring (line-beginning-position) (line-end-position))))) (defun dim:insert-previous-message (&optional nth) "insert last message of *Message* to current position" (interactive "p") (insert (format "%s" (dim:previous-message nth)))) (global-set-key (kbd "C-c m") 'dim:insert-previous-message) Now I stumbled accross Planet Emacsen and saw this Emacs Utility Functions post, containing a version of duplicate-current-line that I didn't like... here's mine: