Another computer question...

[Black Hole]

My Internet speed has been consistently better since I ran some speed tests. Curious that.

 

[Black Hole]

What's going on here? It's been popping up when I run a search from the browser bar – anyone else getting similar?

 

[antipodean]

What's going on here? It's been popping up when I run a search from the browser bar – anyone else getting similar?

View attachment 7680

Looks like AI trying to be too clever.

 

[trog]

Looks like AI trying to be too clever.

Or BH rapidly sending requests to anything with a pulse on dating apps

 

[Black Hole]

Well, there is that rather attractive pulsar over in the Centaurus super-cluster...

 

[prpr]

But how long until you get a reply to your advances...?

 

[Black Hole]

Only about half a lifetime.

 

[EEPhil]

What's going on here? It's been popping up when I run a search from the browser bar – anyone else getting similar?

View attachment 7680

I don't usually use Google but I switched (temporarily) to it and didn't get the message. Probably didn't do enough searching to trigger it. One possibility is that you or someone using the same ISP have been bombarding Google with rapid requests. I've had similar messages from other sites when I've only accessed it once. As far as I could tell I wasn't infected with a virus/bot or whatever. So it must be another user(s) on the same ISP (?).

 

[EEPhil]

I had BBC News on in the background and caught a bit of "Tech Now". Some deformed code scrolled up the screen and I saw a construct which I've probably used but I don't think is good practice.
The code appeared to be Python and went something like

For i,j in something
    # some code
    if raw < T:
        continue
    # some more code
# end of loop

Isn't it preferable to reverse the condition in the "if" such that

For i,j in something
    # some code
    if raw >= T:
        # some more code
# end for loop

(In Python the indent replaces { and } in C, Java etc.)

I will probably still use the first construct occasionally, but I think it hampers clarity and complicates debugging. What do other programmers think?

 

[Black Hole]

I have no idea about Python, but in general it is easier to read code (it requires less nesting) if the exception is tested first. That way, the "break" (if the exception is true) is only one line and nested +1, while the non-exception code doesn't need to be nested at all.

 

[prpr]

I think it hampers clarity and complicates debugging. What do other programmers think?

I use whatever feels right in each particular case, but generally would do what you suggest. Sometimes if the indentation level gets too annoying I'll stick the "continue" or "break" in, but generally that means the function needs splitting up anyway.
I get annoyed with stuff that sticks religiously to 80 character limits as well. It's 2026, not 1986 and we are not using 80x25 displays any more. Of course, excessively long lines get even more annoying, so I usually limit them to about 120.

 

[EEPhil]

That way, the "break" (if the exception is true) is only one line and nested +1, while the non-exception code doesn't need to be nested at all.

All true, and excessive nesting is a right pain.
It just had me thinking of the old argument that followed early BASIC and FORTRAN IV - the goto statement. The continue is behaving like a "goto end of loop".

I have no idea about Python,

I've written one very short program and waded through other people's code. I only quoted Python as this appeared to be what was listed on "Tech Now". I would have preferred C or, at a push, C++ or Java.

 

[Black Hole]

Anybody got ideas...

Short of installing zeroconf on network-addressable devices (which I can't), I am reduced to freezing their IP addresses at my router and typing numbers from memory into the address bar. I do have a private web page with links coded, but that's an external access to act as a look-up table for internal accesses, and complex to keep updated!

What I need is a local DNS. Always-on things I could possibly run a DNS on are the Humii or my router (Netgear DGND3700v2). I can't find any such option in the Netgear admin panel.

 

[prpr]

1. Use the HDR. It already has dnsmasq installed, but it's ancient and you'd need to write your own config. file and get it to use it. And you'd need your DHCP server to tell its clients the address (can it?). Gets messy.
2. Use a Raspberry Pi with dnsmasq or Pi-hole setup. The DHCP thing applies here too - maybe install your own DHCP server and disable the router's.
3. Get a better router which has DNS capability built in.

 

[Black Hole]

And you'd need your DHCP server to tell its clients the address (can it?).

Well, I presume that would then mean no access to a real DNS for everything else, so no!

Use a Raspberry Pi

Yes it would have to take over DHCP, but that means something else having to run 24/7. At least it could be physically local to the router.

Get a better router which has DNS capability built in.

Do they? Sounds like a plan, but for the moment I'll handle the local DNS using neural processing!

 

[HugeMaximum]

I would go for option 3, as the other options rely upon another device being up (in addition to the router) for all devices on your network to use DNS.
With an Asus router running ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware, you name the devices on the network (the ones you're interested in), make sure your router's IP is advertised for DNS, set your router's local DHCP domain name to 'home' (or your own preference - but not 'local') and set "Forward local domain queries to upstream DNS" to "No".

 

[prpr]

Well, I presume that would then mean no access to a real DNS for everything else, so no!

Well obviously you presume wrongly.

Do they?

Mine does. I can't speak for any of the domestic cr@p since I haven't used it for about 10 years. My former DG834s were set to bridge mode and just used as modems until they got replaced with VDSL/fibre equivalents.

 

[prpr]

set your router's local DHCP domain name to 'home' or 'local'

I use ".lan". I thought ".local" was reserved for mDNS use only.

 

[HugeMaximum]

I use ".lan". I thought ".local" was reserved for mDNS use only.

My mistake. Edited my earlier message.

 

[Black Hole]

And you'd need your DHCP server to tell its clients the address (can it?).

I presume that would then mean no access to a real DNS for everything else, so no!

Well obviously you presume wrongly.

To configure my DHCP to "tell its clients" about a local dnsmasq server running on a HDR-FOX means not telling them about a proper DNS.