Tools
- How I add a watermark without ruining the image
A watermark should identify or discourage reuse without making the image unreadable. The Watermark Tool tool is useful because it lets me check the result in a small, controlled place before I use it in a bigger …
- How I break a URL into parts before debugging it
A URL contains several parts: scheme, host, path, query string, and sometimes a fragment. Debugging is easier when those parts are separated. The URL Parser tool helps me inspect the input and output without writing a …
- How I build a basic nginx config without starting from an empty file
An nginx config is easier to write when I start from the kind of site I am serving: static files, SPA, PHP, or reverse proxy. The nginx Config Generator tool helps me inspect the input and output without writing a …
- How I build a find command without deleting the wrong files
The find command is one of the most useful Linux commands, but it is also one of the commands I treat with respect. It can search thousands of files very quickly, and with the wrong option it can also delete thousands of …
- How I build an nginx reverse proxy config without memorising everything
An nginx reverse proxy config can look intimidating when you are still learning: server { listen 80; server_name app.example.com; location / { proxy_pass http://127.0.0.1:3000; proxy_set_header Host $host; …
- How I build mock API responses that look real enough for frontend work
Mock responses help frontend and integration work move before the real backend endpoint is finished. The API Mock Response Builder tool gives me a safe place to test the idea before I put it into a script, server, or …
- How I build UTM links that I can still understand later
UTM links are normal URLs with tracking parameters added to the end. A plain URL: https://example.com/pricing A UTM URL: https://example.com/pricing?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=launch The …
- How I check a file hash before trusting a download
When I download an installer, ISO image, backup, or release archive, I sometimes see a checksum published next to it: SHA256: 4a1f... That checksum is there so I can check whether my downloaded file is exactly the same …
- How I check a JWT when an API login looks broken
A JWT is one of those strings that looks scary the first time you see it. It often appears in a login response, browser storage, or an API request header:
- How I check a PDF digital signature without confusing it with a drawn signature
A PDF digital signature is cryptographic metadata. It is not the same thing as an image of a handwritten signature placed on a page. The PDF Signature Checker tool gives me a safe place to test the idea before I put it …