Tools
- How I use a stopwatch with laps for small tests
A chronometer is useful for quick manual timing when a full benchmark is unnecessary. The Chronometer tool handles the repetitive part so I can focus on checking whether the result makes sense.
- How I use AES encryption without confusing it with hashing
AES is for keeping text confidential. It is different from hashing: encrypted text is meant to be decrypted later with the right key, while a hash is not meant to be reversed.
- How I use Base64 without calling it encryption
Base64 changes bytes into text that is safe to copy through systems that expect plain characters. It is encoding, not encryption. The Base64 Text tool helps with the mechanical part, but I still check the result before …
- How I use DNS lookup when a domain does not work
DNS is the phonebook layer that turns names into records such as IP addresses, mail servers, and verification TXT values. The DNS Lookup tool gives me a safe place to test the idea before I put it into a script, server, …
- How I use grep without fighting the flags
grep is the command I use when I know some text exists somewhere, but I do not remember which file contains it. The basic idea is simple: grep "database" app.log Plain meaning:
- How I use JSONPath when a JSON response is too big to read
Small JSON is easy to read. Large JSON is different. A real API response can contain nested objects, arrays, metadata, and fields you do not care about. JSONPath helps ask focused questions like:
- How I use sed safely for search and replace
sed is useful when I need to change text from the command line. It can replace words, delete matching lines, or print only the lines I care about. It can also edit many files quickly, which means I do not run it …
- How I use ULIDs when sortable IDs help
A ULID is an identifier that includes a timestamp part, so generated IDs sort roughly by creation time. The ULID Generator tool helps with the mechanical part, but I still check the result before using it somewhere real.
- How I use xargs without being surprised by spaces
xargs is useful when one command prints a list and another command needs that list as arguments. A simple example: printf '%s\n' one two three | xargs echo Output: one two three That looks too simple to matter, …
- How I validate JSON with a schema before blaming the API
When an API receives JSON, it usually expects a certain shape. If one field is missing or one value has the wrong type, the request may fail. A JSON Schema describes that expected shape.