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[16th March 2025] Interesting Things I Learnt This Week

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After a brief hiatus I am back at publishing this. Had been heads down at getting Sudama Clinic operational. Not that I did not learn during this time, but was struggling to find time to pen down all that. Got a little breathing time now, so here is it is.    1. Dillo Browser : Dillo is a remarkably lightweight and fast web browser, prioritizing speed and efficiency above all else. Designed for minimal resource usage, it excels on older or less powerful systems. By focusing on core web functionality and avoiding complex features like JavaScript and advanced CSS, Dillo achieves a streamlined experience. This minimalism also contributes to enhanced security by reducing potential vulnerabilities. Available across various platforms, including Linux and BSD, Dillo caters to users seeking a basic, no-frills browsing experience. Its simplicity makes it ideal for specific use cases where speed and resource conservation are paramount, offering a practical solution for those who requi...

[15th December 2024] Interesting Things I Learnt This Week

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1. Why you should never use !! in Kotlin - Using double-bang operator(!!) is a bad practice; multiple alternatives cover every other possible case. Using it is a hack and a shortcut that will backfire while not saving you much time at the time of writing using it. You shouldn’t use it unless you're writing a short personal script. My Take : The double-bang operator (!!)  which throws null pointer exception in Kotlin might very well be considered " Billion Dollar Mistake ." While it offers a concise way to assert that a variable is not null, I believe it's preferable to have slightly more verbose code that explicitly handles nullability and avoids potential runtime exceptions. Null pointer exceptions have plagued programmers for decades, and introducing a feature that can easily lead to them seems counterproductive. I'm uncertain whether all Kotlin linters currently check for excessive or inappropriate use of the !! operator, but if yours don't, I strongly re...