How to Avoid WordPress Security Issues

If you own a WordPress website, you probably understand the importance of WordPress security. Keeping your website secure is necessary as it helps keep attackers and hackers away. Just like you would not leave your valuable assets exposed to thieves, you should safeguard your WordPress with the same security level.

Essentially, WordPress developers are constantly working towards preventing any potential hacking. But that's not enough to keep your website secure. You need to apply other measures to safeguard your site.

In this article, we will discuss ways of improving your WordPress website security;

Add WordPress security plugins 

Security is key in running a website. There are various plugins to enhance your site security. These include Wordfence, Shield Security, iThemes, and Sucuri. WordPress security plugins have a lot of features to meet your security needs. These are features such as WordPress firewall, File changelogs, strong password generator, IP and User blacklisting, Force password to expire, and more.

Scan your site for malware 

If you've started experiencing low traffic in your website or you are dealing with weird performance issues, or you can detect suspicious behavior, you should check your website for malware.  It is recommended that you do a malware scan regularly, even if everything seems fine.

Keep in mind that some hacks breach your data anonymously. So, you may not even know that malicious activity is happening until extreme damage is done. It may reach the extent of Google pulling down your site from the search results due to security issues. You might even get blacklisted and suffer a huge loss. This explains why it's crucial to scan the website for malware often.

Pick a reliable hosting provider 

Server security is crucial as it helps protect your website from malware and hackers. So, it's essential that you pick a reliable hosting provider who understands website security's importance. The best company understands many things concerning WordPress security. They also have safety systems and offer prompt and dependable support in case anything unexpected happens. A good hosting provider offers the following;

  • Server-level firewalls
  • DDoS protection
  • Malware scanning
  • Backups
  • Latest OS (Operating System), hardware and software, and more.

Secure your website with superb credentials 

Hackers apply hacking techniques such as Brute force attacks because they are easy to implement. Anyone with little tech knowledge can execute a brute force attack with basic hacking tools. Other than that, executing a Brute force attack is effortless since most website owners use extremely weak admin passwords. For instance, most people love to use passwords such as '12345….' Among others that are easy to guess. This makes your website prone to attack. So, having a strong credential is a plus as it will secure your WordPress site from brute force attacks. A good password has characters such as &%$" £ and more.

Update your Themes, Plugins, and WP

WordPress websites release frequent updates with new features, enhancements, bug fixes, and security patches. The updates also enhance the feel and look of your website, not to mention that they improve functionality and stability. The updates also help seal website vulnerability.

Use 2-factor authentication 

2-factor authentication is a prominent security technique that helps safeguard online accounts. It's a protection process involving two steps. The first step entails entering your username and password, while the second requires you to provide a verification code sent to your email or phone.

Surprising Technology In Top Mattresses

When you think of the technology that's changed a lot over the past few years, your phone may be the first thing that comes to mind. After that, you might consider your vehicle, laptop, tablet or television. Your mattress is unlikely to be in your list of the top five or even 10 things that use a lot of innovation. However, it's true that new mattresses incorporate a great deal of research and technology. Today's mattresses are entirely different from those made just a decade ago. Here are a few of the types of technology that top mattresses use.

Sleep Research

When mattress manufacturers develop new products, they turn to sleep medicine physicians and sleep science to drive their decisions. New technology for performing sleep studies, tracking movement and monitoring the quantity and quality of sleep is helping mattress companies update their products. New information about sleep habits, cycles and quality ensures that the mattress you get will help you fall asleep and stay asleep. The right mattress also helps ensure that you wake up feeling well-rested.

Coils

Coils in mattresses aren't a new thing. They became common in the early 1900s. Over the past 100 years, the coils have changed. They're separated and enclosed. Some mattress manufacturers are even using nanotechnology. Today's coil mattresses are more complicated than those that were produced 10 years ago. When you choose a coil mattress today, you can expect motion isolation, more support and less noise when you move. The coil, like the rest of the mattress, really comes into its own when it's paired with other components.

Copper Infusion

Why would you want a copper-infused mattress, and what could possibly be the advantage? Well, copper has several sleeping advantages, such as breathability. It's no secret that many individuals (especially those who reside in hot climates) have difficulty sleeping because their mattresses can't keep up with the amount of air required to remove heat from the body. A layer consisting of a copper infusion will make heat transfer easier and manage your body temperature while you sleep, allowing you to rest like a baby all night long. Ideal for battling sleep sweats.

Organic Materials

A growing proportion of people are concerned about the chemicals to which they are exposed. Customers want mattresses that don't have as many chemicals. When an item releases chemicals, it's called off-gassing. Organic mattresses don't off-gas. Some mattresses are certified by independent organizations. The certifications include free of volatile organic compounds and 100% organic.

For example, the OEKO TEX Standard 100 Certification is for mattresses that contain no harmful chemicals. Mattresses with this certification don't off-gas. Some mattresses are made of soybeans, and others use recycled wool and cotton. Choosing an environmentally friendly mattress will help you feel confident that you're doing your part to protect the environment and conserve natural resources.

Sleep Sensor Technology

Have you ever questioned how good of a night's sleep you were getting? Many people ask for sleep studies to assess their average nightly sleep quality and quantity, but some mattresses now come with sleep sensor technology that can provide the same data without requiring you to depart from home. The breathing, heart rate, and the number of times you get out of bed are all tracked by these mattresses. Advanced beds with this technology can accurately tell you how many hours of excellent sleep you received on any particular night.

Mattress Covers

While a mattress cover is technically separate from a mattress, it is an important part of your bedding. The mattress covers protect the mattress. They keep shed skin cells, sweat and oils out of the mattress's fabric. Mattress covers prevent dust mites from infesting your bed. If you're allergic to dust or dust mites, a mattress protector is essential. Mattress covers also reduce stains caused by sweating. Your mattress will last longer and smell better if you get a cover for it.

Bamboo is one of the softest fabrics that exist. It's also a good insulator and highly breathable. A bamboo mattress cover will keep your bed clean and comfortable. The fibers in a bamboo mattress are woven to prevent tearing, even with repeated washing or use of an iron on it.

Foam Materials

Foam is a relative newcomer to mattresses. However, memory foam mattresses have become increasingly popular in the last two decades, accounting for around 20% of all beds sold.

There are different types of foams used in today's mattresses. You may prefer a plant-based foam for environmental and health reasons. There are also synthetic foams, which may be a good option if you have certain allergies. Keep in mind that foam traps heat. If you get hot while you sleep, be sure to pick a mattress that has a gel layer on top of the foam layer. The gel moves heat away from your body. The result is a more even temperature across your skin and the surface of your bed.

Ikea recently introduced a new memory foam mattress to the market that includes cooling gels and graphite. It has been met with both overwhelmingly positive reviews as well as concerns from consumers who have experienced issues with it.

Air/Number

Air/number technology is also a newer innovation. This technology allows you to control how firm your mattress is. With a remote or an app, you adjust how much air fills the spaces of the foam. More air results in a firmer bed. Large air/number mattresses allow each side of the bed to be set to a different firmness level. Choose this option if you have a sleep partner whose mattress firmness preferences are different from yours. An air/number mattress is also an excellent choice if you have a chronic pain condition that periodically flares, such as arthritis.

New technology will continue to advance mattresses. Each mattress manufacturer is incorporating this information and changing its materials, construction and techniques in order to improve upon its products. You benefit from this technology-driven innovation. The use of technology in mattress development will continue, and consumer demand for more features will hasten the pace of these beneficial changes. Choosing one of these new mattresses may help you sleep better and feel relaxed, rested and energetic when you wake up in the morning.

ESP8266 Operational WiFi Modes

In previous articles, we connected the ESP8266 to a pre-existing WIFI network. It is the commonly used method in projects, especially when there is interest in internet access.

For these cases, the ESP8266 operates as a “station” on the network. But we can find scenarios where there is no WIFI network to connect. Can we still use the ESP8266 in these cases? Yes, we can!

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ESP8266 Operational Modes

The ESP8266 WiFi module can operate in 2 different modes:

  • STA (the module operates as a station and is available to connect to an Access Point).
  • AP (the module creates a network with customizable SSID and Password. We will discuss how each mode works, its limitations, and how to use

STA Mode

We use the STA mode to connect the ESP8266 to a pre-existing Wi-Fi network. This connection is made from an Access Point, which will be responsible for managing information traffic.

For configuration and use on the Arduino platform, we use the ESP8266WiFi.h library. Simple to use and extremely powerful, this library offers us all the tools to configure the WiFi module, without overloading us with flags and registers.

For our configuration, there are two more relevant functions, begin() and config().

begin() function

The begin() function needs some parameters necessarily and others optionally. This is because this function is of type overload, which provides more flexibility when calling the function. For a better example, let's look at the begin() function in its full form and its minimal form:

  • Complete form: begin(ssid, password, channel, bssid, connect)
  • Minimum Form: begin(ssid, password)

Same function, two ways to call it. And both works. This is because it was built with more than one declaration format in the library.

Let's take a look at the parameters it accepts:

  • SSID: The name of the network we want to connect to. Required field, and can contain up to 32
  • password: password for the chosen Required field, must be between 8 and 64 characters.
  • channel: Defines the bandwidth to be This parameter is optional and can be useful in areas with many different networks. Choosing a good channel can minimize interference and increase network range. If omitted, it will be selected automatically.
  • bssid: One more optional parameter. If set to true, the function will return the MAC of the AP it was connected
  • Connect: A Boolean parameter which, if set to false, will save the parameters defined in the function, but will not connect to the

This information will be saved in a reserved area of FLASH and in case of loss of connection, the attempt to reconnect will occur automatically.

Another important point is that, by default, the station is configured as a DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) client. This means that when connecting, the ESP8266 will ask the Access Point for an IP address. If the AP has DHCP enabled, we will receive a random IP within the network range configured there.

Config() function

The config() function is not mandatory for a connection such as a station. But you will need it if you want to connect to the network with a fixed IP address. The function has the following format:

  • config(local_ip, gateway, subnet, dns1, dns2) Where the parameters represent:
  • local_ip: IP address we want to assign to the
  • gateway: Access Point IP address.
  • Subnet: IP mask of the network where we will
  • dns1 and dn2: optional fields for IP address of DNS servers (Domain Name Server).

When we call the config() function, the DHCP mode is automatically disabled. Then the station will force the use of the address we choose. This method is useful when connecting over a network that does not have a DHCP server, or when having a fixed address is an essential project requirement.

You need to be careful when choosing the IP address and the subnet, as if it's incompatible with the network configuration, we will connect, but we won't be able to interact with anything.

In the image, we have a code for configuration and connection as a station.

Access Point Mode (AP)

In AP mode, the ESP8266 creates its WiFi network, allowing stations to connect to it. The figure below should help you better understand how it works. The ESP8266 configured as AP, replaces the role of the router in the network (with some limitations, but the principle is the same).

Strictly speaking, the name of this mode is Soft Access Point, because the functionality as an AP does not use any hardware resources equivalent to that of a common AP. It's like a Virtual AP. This does not impact health, but it does severely impact performance.

The main limitation is the number of connections it can manage. Although the manufacturer suggests up to 8 stations connected, you will have serious problems if you go beyond 5. If your application has a heavy data flow, I recommend that you limit it to 4 connections.

Another limitation is that the created network is not connected to the internet. So keep in mind that this is a model for applications that work well on local networks and for a few devices.

An example application for this format is an access control system. Approach with your cell phone, connect to the ESP8266 network, and be authorized to open a door.

Setting up this mode is very similar to that of a station. We have an overload function for begin and another one for configuration.

softAP() function

It would be the equivalent of our station mode begin() function.

  • softAP(ssid): to create an open network, without a password.
  • softAP(ssid, password, channel, hidden, max_connection): to create a protected network.

Let's take one for each parameter:

  • SSID: The name of our network, can contain a maximum of 63 This is the only mandatory field in the role and cannot be empty.
  • password: This field contains the password that the station needs to enter to connect. If not informed, the network will be open and can be accessed without any security. If you include one, it must contain a minimum of 8 characters, following the WPA2-PSK network security standard.
  • Channel: As we discussed for the station, this field defines the wifi operation It must receive a numeric value from 1 to 13. If not informed, it will receive 1 as the default value.
  • Hidden: If set to true, the SSID will be invisible and cannot be detected by identifiers (in your mobile's WiFi network list, for example. The network can still be connected if the station writes
  • Max_connection: Defines the maximum number of stations allowed. Receives values from 0 to 8, with 4 as the default.

softAPConfig() Function

This function sets some parameters referring to IP addresses. It has the format: WiFi.softAPConfig(local_ip, gateway, subnet)

Where the parameters represent:

  • Local_ip: IP address of the access point
  • Gateway: IP address of the gateway (this is what stations will use as a switch)
  • Subnet: Defines the IP range to be

With the code, you will configure a simple access point visible to your cell phone or computer.

STA + AP Mode

As the name suggests, the esp8266 will operate both as a station (being able to connect to a network) and as an Access Point (allowing stations to connect to it) at the same time.

The purpose behind this method is to use esp8266 in mesh network configurations. The idea is interesting, but if the performance is not already excellent operating as AP, imagine as AP and STA.

The documentation for this format is very scarce and, in a way, abandoned by the manufacturer itself. Espressif, when launching the successor of ESP8266, ESP32, included a specific library for MESH.

12 Tips to Make Your Beginner Designs Stand Out

Graphic design is an exciting field. It may seem daunting as you begin to create your own images, but becoming a graphic designer is just like learning a new language - you start with simple words and phrases and gradually build your way up to more complex topics.

Studying graphic design can be a lot of work, especially if you haven’t had any prior experience in it before. It can be pretty overwhelming at times to handle, but don’t worry - we can ease your load a little bit! With this website, you can hire a professional paper writer to help you! You can get professional 24/7 help with any paper topic at an affordable price - and a free plagiarism report, too! Make sure to check them out and save your precious time for more important tasks!

1. Experiment with fonts

Fonts can make your titles look more prominent, your body text looks bolder, and better still, they can make your images look more immersive! They're tools in a designer's arsenal and should be used creatively rather than strictly for aesthetics.

Fonts are powerful tools in the hands of an effective artist! They can help communicate your ideas constructively and suggest alternatives. A particularly useful typeface can help you make your points clearer and more persuasive, as well as give off an emotion you desire.

2. Go big or go home

When starting out, many beginners make a mistake by getting too focused on the details. This usually leads to something less than stellar. It is easier to create a simple but effective art than a complex but ineffective one.

If you want to become a top visual artist, you need to handle large objects and elements in your art effectively. Sometimes, the most important thing is that you use your eyes and not your brain. Tools like Instagram story viewer can also provide a fresh perspective by helping you analyze how your visuals are received in real-time, offering inspiration for refining your designs.

3. Use contrasting colors

Colors can be used in many ways when it comes to creating. Since color can affect the mood of an image or presence, it’s essential to use colors that will stand out against the background.

A Black and white palette is also an excellent way to communicate a message or emphasize a certain point. Although there are many ways to use colors in art, one very effective way is by contrasting them using different hues. As an example, two different hues can be used in one design to convey entirely different messages!

4. Sketch your ideas

When starting out as a graphic artist, it can be helpful to think that the most powerful tools are pencil and paper. Make a fresh start by drawing with markers and practicing drawing in perspective before moving on to larger, more complex pieces.

Playing around with perspective and shape reminds you that whatever you draw will ultimately be a manifestation of your creative process.

5. Use consistent images

When you’re a beginner, it is easy to get carried away by the many choices available. It is tempting to look through each image type and decide which is the best option. You can do that, of course, but keep one thing in mind - consistency is key in choosing images!

While there are many different types of images available, follow a few simple guidelines when selecting them. Make sure they’re of the similar:

  • Color palette
  • Size
  • Feel
  • Motif
  • Style

6. Be consistent in general

When starting your graphic design, you will need a lot of visual tools. But choosing the best is not so simple. You should try to understand how colors, lines, and shapes work together and try new techniques to get more varied and exciting patterns. Playing around and experimenting is always a way to go!

But keep one thing in mind - try to be as consistent as possible. That doesn’t mean not having variety; it means giving structure to your work.

Summary? Be consistent with your fonts, images, paragraphs, and overall style!

7. Use symmetry and balance

For a graphic artist, the difference between good art and great art can often be found in the subtlety of a line or the balance between colors and letters. Symmetry refers to how similar two elements are in shape, size, and color, and balance indicates that different parts of an object or image are in harmony with each other.

Implementing both in your artistry is essential - they give off a professional vibe. And not to mention, humans are wired to love symmetry; use it to your advantage!

8. Get inspired by the best designers out there

Graphic design is an ever-changing field that offers endless opportunities for those willing to put in the hard work. Each new designer presents their own style, method, and inspiration!

Learning from them will allow you to follow their lead as they break new ground in their own unique way. As you become more experienced and gain knowledge about the industry, you’ll become an artist others will look up to!

9. Implement shadows

Shade and light are an essential part of any art. They help direct the viewers’ attention where you need it to be. They also play an important role in gradients, color palettes, and texture.

Shadows are one of those magic features of light that can make your pictures look much more vivid. They help draw your eye from one part of the picture to another and create a sense of depth and atmosphere. They add dimension and clarity without adding much bulk or distracting from the main composition. Learn how to use them effectively and see the difference for yourself.

10. Start with a flat design

It may not be what you wanted initially, but once you get used to it, you'll find its strength is in its simplicity. It's always been easier for artists to get started with flat design because there are fewer rules to follow. You can still create beautiful things, but you need to think more logically and strategically to do them well!

Before choosing your first program, it’s a good idea to learn about flat design. Flat is easy to follow and understand - since there are no complicated rules or guidelines to follow, it can be a great way to gain confidence in your artistic abilities!

11. Keep it simple

The most powerful graphic design beginner tips are all about keeping things simple. Ensure that the colors you use are complementary, that the shapes are consistent, and that all the elements in your art fit together seamlessly.

The more complicated an artwork becomes, the harder it is to make and relate to it. With too many options, it's easy to get distracted - so choose one basic graphic design technique in a project and try to stick with it! Keep adding details only when they’re more than necessary, and make sure those details really do make a difference.

12. Practice, practice, practice!

Learn by doing. When you practice a skill, you become better at it. Even if you don’t have formal art training, you can go and practice on your own! See how many resources are available to help you learn more about graphic design and keep growing!

Becoming a master designer takes time and practice. Arm yourself with patience and persistence - they’ll lead you to places you’ve never been before!

The wrap-up

Graphic design is the art and science of visual communication. Always looking to push the boundaries of what is possible, graphic designers create visuals to engage with their audience. Their work expresses their ideas through form and color, and their goal is to communicate something through their work that has not been said before.

If you’re a beginner designer, realize that the world is patiently waiting for you! By implementing some of these steps, you’ll be recognized as a successful, brilliant artist, others will look up to with admiration!

Create Webserver with ESP8266 using SPIFFS

Hello friends, I hope you all are doing great. In today's tutorial, we will have a look at How to Create Web Server with ESP8266 using SPIFFS.

We've already seen how to create a web server and how to provide an HTML page on our ESP8266. We use the PROGMEM command to store an HTML code in FLASH memory. For a simple page, this works fine, but what if we have a more complex webpage? With a better style? What if we want to include images?

Today we will learn how to use SPIFFS with ESP8266 to store files (regardless of type) in FLASH memory.

Where To Buy?
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1ESP8266AmazonBuy Now

What is SPIFFS?

  • SPIFFS (SPI Flash File System) is a system designed for managing SPI flash memory in embedded devices. Its main goal is to use minimal RAM to access files. It's very useful when using pen drives, memory cards, and the ESP8266's flash memory.
  • SPIFFS allows you to access files (create, read, write, delete) just like on a computer. But with a much simpler folder structure.
  • To show how the tool works, we will create a web server with a styled page and an image. Then when accessing the webserver, the browser will receive the HTML file, the CSS file, and the images.

Create Webserver with ESP8266 using SPIFFS

  • For that, we will need two things:
    • Library to manage SPIFFS.
    • Tool to load the files in FLASH.
  • The upload tool is a plugin called ESP8266fs that integrates python into the Arduino IDE.
  • Download the ESP8266FS-0,5.0.zip file from Github and unzip the files into Arduino's tools folder ( Possibly C:\program files x86\arduino \tools).
  • Restart Arduino IDE and the tool should appear available as shown in the image.
  • Now let's take a look at how it works.
  • Your sketch will always be saved inside a folder. The Arduino IDE cannot open an .INO file if it is not inside a folder with the same name.
  • Our upload tool will look inside that folder and look for another folder called “data”. Everything inside that folder will be transferred to the ESP8266's FLASH memory.

Our page will have 3 main objects:

  • An image that will change depending on the status of the LED.
  • A text with the status of the LED.
  • A button to change the status of the LED.

Files on Webserver

And to build this page we will use 4 files:

  • html, which will contain the page itself.
  • css, containing the styling to make the page more beautiful.
  • Image of the lamp
  • Image of the lamp
  • The two images were chosen from the pixabay repository. You can use another one. But I recommend not using very large files as it takes a little longer to load. I also recommend using some service to resize the image, such as tinypng.
  • In our index.html file, we will have:
  • In our style.css file, we will have:

Understanding ESP8266 Webserver Code

  • Created and saved, we used ESP8266 Sketch Data Upload to load the file into FLASH memory.
  • Before we look at the code, it's important to understand how the browser behaves when accessing a page.
  • When accessing the web server address, the browser sends an HTTP GET command in the path “/” and waits for an index file in response.
  • Inside index file it can be informed that it needs other files. What happens in our code.
  • In line 7 of the index.html file, it is informed that the style.css file will also be needed and that it is of type text/css.
  • Then the browser sends another HTTP GET command with the path “/style.css” and expects to receive a file with that name.
  • In line 13, the <img> tag informs the path to an image, and the browser sends another HTTP GET command to the address “/bulb-off.png”, this time the browser expects an image file.
  • The browser will send GET commands each time we click the Toggle button (“/toggle” path) and every 1 second to receive an updated status (“/state” path).
  • Doing yet another GET to the lit lamp image (path: “/bulb-on.png”).

So we will need to handle it in our .INO code the GET requests in the paths:

  • “/”
  • “/style.css”
  • “/bulb-off.png”
  • “/bulb-on.png”
  • “/toggle”
  • “/state”

Our style.css file sets sizes, alignments, and colors for components. We start our .INO file by importing four libraries:

  • h – That will take care of our WiFi connection.
  • h and ESPAsyncWebServer.h – Which will manage the webserver (including HTTP GET commands).
  • h – File System Library that will take care of our SPIFFS.

We define the pin for our LED. We create variables with SSID and password of the wifi network where we will connect. We created our server on port 80 and a variable to monitor the LED status.

  • The wifiConnect() function will connect the ESP8266 to the chosen wifi network by printing the IP address on the serial monitor.
  • Pay attention to this number. You will need to access the webserver from the browser.
  • The processor() function is responsible for updating the variable with the status of the LED.
  • We will use it in handling our GETs.
  • The toggleLed() function toggles the LED state. We will use it in the GET “/toggle”.
  • And finally, our setup() function. We start by setting our LED to OUTPUT (otherwise, our toggle won't work.
  • Next, we start Serial with a baud rate of 115200 to view the IP address on the Serial Monitor.
  • With SPIFFS.begin(), we initialize our filesystem in flash memory.
  • If an error occurs, our code stops here and reports on Serial Monitor. In that case, upload the files again.
  • And finally, we've included our GETs.

The “server.on” structure is an event manager provided by the ESPAsyncWebServer.h library. In short, we inform a route, a method (HTTP-GET, for our case), and action when receiving the request. But we need to take a closer look at some variations of the function.

  • The server receives a request for the “/” route with the HTTP GET method.
  • In request->send, we inform that the response is a SPIFFS file with the name index.html and that it will be sent in string format.
  • The last two fields (“false” and “processor”) inform that the index.html file is a template that depends on more information. This information will be provided by the processor() function.

It is necessary to send the index file with the updated LED state value.

For style files and images, we use a similar principle, but these files are not being changed before they are uploaded. So we only inform the origin, name, and type (if you want to know a little more about file types in HTTP, I recommend a study on MIME TYPES. Any type of file can be sent, but MIME standardizes what browsers can understand).

Lastly, we have the “/state” returning the stateValue variable on each update and the “/toggle” which changes the state before sending the same variable. The response format has a small change. As we are sending only one variable, we inform the MIME TYPE “text/plain”, the response code 200 (default for success over HTTP), and the variable converted to a string.

Results

  • With the code compiled and recorded, check the IP of the webserver in the Serial Monitor and access it in the browser.
  • Example: for IP: 10.10.10.11 access: http://10.10.10.11.
  • Attention: As we use port 80 on the web server, we use HTTP and not HTTPS. The result on the screen should look like the images below:

So that was all for today. I hope you have enjoyed today's lecture because it will improve the presentation of your project. If you got any queries, ask in the comments. Thanks for reading!!!

Create Web Server with ESP8266

Hello friends, I hope you all are doing great. Today, we will create a web server with ESP8266 microcontroller to control the activation of an LED. The goal is to understand how the ESP8266 connects to a WiFi network, how it sets up a web server, and how it is possible to exchange information between the browser and the esp8266.

Where To Buy?
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1ESP8266AmazonBuy Now

Components Required

  • 1x Computer/notebook with Arduino
  • 1x Mini-USB cable.
  • 1x NodeMCU (ESP8266 Breakout Board)
  • Internet Browser (Chrome, Firefox, IE…)

ESP8266 Libraries for Arduino IDE

For this project, we will use two libraries:

  • ESP8266WiFi: This library carries all the functions necessary for the ESP8266 to connect to a wifi network.
  • ESPAsyncWebServer: This library carries the functions needed to create and manage an EB server.

Creating the code

  • We can divide the code into three main functionalities:
    1. Control the LED.
    2. Connect to Wifi
    3. Create the webserver.

And we'll treat this building in blocks.

Importing Libraries

  • The Libraries must be included at the beginning of the sketch so that their functions are already available elsewhere in the code.

LED Control with ESP8266

  • Our first step is to define the pin to be used. For our example, we will use the LED of the NodeMCU module.
  • And set this pin as output in the setup function.
  • We will also create a variable to monitor LED status. This variable is not used to control the LED, but it will be important for the webserver so, we will include it here.
  • So, we'll create a function that, whenever triggered, will change the state of the LED (and the variable).
  • The toggleLed() function makes a function nesting in its first line:
  • The digitalWrite() function receives as a value for writing, the inverse of the reading of the pin itself. So each time the function is called, it reads the current value of the pin and toggles its value.
  • The following conditional is only used to update the stateValue variable. To test the function, you can include it in the loop as follows:
  • With these inclusions, we will have this code:
  • With this code, the NodeMCU module LED, we expect to change state every 3 seconds. Remember to remove the data inside the loop function when you finish the test. We will not use them in the next steps.

Connect ESP8266 to WIFI

  • Now let's connect the ESP8266 to your WIFI network. We'll start by creating a variable to store the network name and another one for the password.
  • The connection could be executed directly in the setup function, but we will create a standalone function to make the code more organized and so that it can be reused if you want to create a reconnect function.

The wifiConnect() function will send a connection request and wait for it to be approved.

With Wifi.begin(), ESP8266 will search the network informed in the ssid variable and send a connection request, informing the password (just like what a cell phone would do).

The WiFi.status() function can return the following values:

  • WL_CONNECTED: assigned when connected to a WiFi network;
  • WL_NO_SHIELD: assigned when no WiFi shield is present;
  • WL_IDLE_STATUS: it is a temporary status assigned when WiFi.begin() is called and remains active until the number of attempts expires (resulting in WL_CONNECT_FAILED) or a connection is established (resulting in WL_CONNECTED);
  • WL_NO_SSID_AVAIL: assigned when no SSID are available;
  • WL_SCAN_COMPLETED: assigned when the scan networks is completed;
  • WL_CONNECT_FAILED: assigned when the connection fails for all the attempts;
  • WL_CONNECTION_LOST: assigned when the connection is lost;
  • WL_DISCONNECTED: assigned when disconnected from a network;

In this project, we are not handling connection failures, so we are only interested in the WL_CONNECTED return. The function will wait while this is not the connection status and, when identifying it, it will look for the IP address it received on the network.

Here is a point of attention. The WIFI network must allow the connection and provide an IP by DHCP. If any device can connect to your network just by offering the password, don't worry. This configuration must already exist.

We've added some information to be viewed on the Serial monitor, so the serial needs to be initialized before we call the wifiConnect() function.

  • This should be our code so far:
  • The expected result on the Serial Monitor is as follows:
  • From this point on, the ESP8266 can be found by network tools like the Advanced IP Scanner or a simple PING at the command prompt.

Creating the Webserver with ESP8266

  • Spoiler Alert: At the end of this step, you can view our webserver at the address
  • HTTP://”IP address”, for our case http://192.168.18.76.
  • We will start by creating an instance of AsyncWebServer operating on port 80.
  • In short, a webserver operates as a file manager that delivers on-demand. Then the browser makes a request, the web server responds and continues to wait for new requests.
  • All this happens following communication protocols (HTTP, FTTP, or both), rigorous error handling, and high-security logic.
  • The library takes care of preparing the backstage of the webserver, which saves us a lot of time and lines of code. But we still need to configure what happens on each request.

We will handle two requests:

  • When the page starts or refreshes
  • When we press the LED state change

The first will occur when we send a GET request to the root “/”. What the browser does automatically when we go to http://192.168.18.76.

  • The server will respond with status 200 (default success response), the information on the type of file sent ("text/html"), the HTML file (which we will create next and save in the variable index_html), and the return of the processor( ) (which we will also create now).
  • The processor function simply returns the value of the updated stateValue variable.
  • The HTML file the browser expects tends to be large for a variable, and even with the good SRAM memory space the ESP8266 has, it could cause problems.
  • That's why we'll use the PROGMEM utility so that the variable is written to FLASH memory.
 
  • Don't worry if you don't know HTML or javascript. We won't go into details, but we'll explain the most important ones for now.
  • On line 23, the page displays the value returned by the processor() function.
  • In line 24, the button calls the “toggleLED()” function when activated.
  • The toggleLED() function makes a GET request at address “/state” passing the toggle valceue.
  • After 1 second it refreshes the page to receive the updated value. We need to handle this request:
  • When the server receives the request at the address “/state” it calls the toggleLed() function
  • and just replies to the server that everything went fine. And last but not least: We started the server:
  • This will be our final code:
  • In our browser:

Conclusion

In this project, we saw a very simple application of the power that the ESP8266 WiFi has. In the HTML file, page styling could also be included to make the page prettier.

And with that base, it's possible to expand into several cool projects. A temperature monitor via Wifi? Security systems? Home automation systems? These are just a few examples. The limit is up to your creativity.

How to Become a Licensed Residential Architect?

Designing homes and landscapes is a dream job for many individuals, but the challenges of becoming a licensed architect often stand in the way of this dream. To become a licensed architect, you’ll need to be willing to put in a lot of hard work throughout the education and apprenticeship stages of certification and study extensively for the ARE accreditation exam. Once certified, many individuals choose to work for a residential architectural firm to design custom homes and assist with planning remodeling projects.

There are many education and experience requirements involved with qualifying for the ARE exam and becoming a residential architect. In this article, we’ll go over the details for each of these requirements and answer some of your questions regarding this profession. To successfully complete these requirements and receive accreditation, prospective architects will need dedication, attention to detail, and advanced problem-solving skills.

What Does a Residential Architect Do?

A residential architect plans and designs buildings that will serve as residences. The assistance of a residential architect is a necessity for building new homes, condominiums, and apartment buildings. Individuals interested in custom homes will often consult with a residential architect directly, to discuss how their new space will accommodate their needs and lifestyle.  However, the property owner or construction company will reach out to or directly hire a residential architect for many projects. Most residential architects work with a team in a firm or dedicated office within a construction company.

What Level of Salary is Available as an Architect?

Becoming a licensed architect requires many years of experience and education, which means architects are generally in frequent demand. According to learn.org, the median salary for residential architects is approximately $80,000 a year. This salary varies based on the hiring company and the type of consultation for which the architect is available. Many architects are self-employed therefore will have a fluctuating yearly income.

What Skills Do I Need To Work as an Architect?

Drawing and CADD (Computer-Aided Drawing and Drafting) are essential technical skills for working as an architect. However, a considerable portion of this career lies away from the drafting table. Meeting with clients and project managers is essential throughout the lifespan of a project and so requires strong interpersonal and communication skills. Many architects also spend a great deal of time traveling to project sites and overseeing construction or meeting with vendors.

Education Requirements

Beginning a career in architecture requires completing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in architecture accredited by the NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board). There are many degree programs available through liberal arts and design schools that are notably not accredited- it’s important to check in with the university or school to ask about their accreditation beforehand. The educational institution hosting the degree must maintain its NAAB certification throughout the duration of your studies.

Accredited bachelor’s degree programs typically span five years and cover all aspects of project management, environmental planning, and design technology. Throughout these programs, students will assemble portfolios and present projects for professional review to showcase their work. Architecture master’s degree programs cover many of the same topics as the bachelor’s degree and work well for students who picked a different undergraduate major. However, many architecture bachelor’s degree students will choose to take on the master’s degree in addition to their prior education.

Students wishing to proceed with a career in architecture will ultimately need to complete either the accredited bachelor’s degree program or the accredited master’s degree program. Doctorate-level studies are available but focus more on the academic field associated with architecture rather than the licensing process.

Experience Requirements

After completing the educational requirements associated with becoming a licensed architect, you’ll need to gather architectural experience through NCARB (National Council of Architectural Registration Boards). The NCARB organizes a program called the AXP, which stands for Architectural Experience Program.

The AXP targets a number of specific proficiencies (96, to be exact) and requires a total of 3,740 hours across all disciplines. The experience component of earning your architectural license will take, at a minimum, around two years. Previously, this hours requirement was much higher- 5,600 hours were required through the IDP (Intern Development Program), which typically needed an extra year or two of work to complete.

Architects will need to log their hours for the experience component according to specific AXP guidelines. Non-licensed architects can bypass part of this component with a portfolio displaying architectural competencies across the 96 AXP task areas. You can read more about AXP guidelines here. The experience required for an architectural license is essentially an apprenticeship or internship that will give candidates a look into how architectural firms and offices operate.

Exam Requirements

Once a licensed architect candidate has completed an accredited education program and the AXP experience requirements, they will be eligible to take the ARE (Architect Registration Examination). The exam is divided into six parts, each of which focuses on a specific architectural discipline. These exam portions are as follows: Practice Management, Project Management, Programming and Analysis, Project Planning and Design, Project Development and Documentation, and Construction and Evaluation.

Prospective candidates for licensure will need to study extensively for several months before the exam, which typically occurs in the fall. Many architects will need to take the exam several times, though it is important to know that each full exam attempt currently costs around $1500. Examination is the final step in becoming an officially licensed architect. You will need to renew your license every few years, though you won’t need to take the ARE again once you’ve passed.

Conclusion

Becoming a licensed architect requires many years of hard work and determination but can lead to a fulfilling career with many opportunities to build residential and commercial spaces. The residential architecture field is growing steadily as many cities and urban areas expand to accommodate a growing population. To learn more about this field of work, speak with an experienced residential architect today and ask about their journey towards designing homes and commercial spaces.

Do You Need a Dedicated Server? 

If you’re hosting a website, eCommerce business, or even just the latest online game with your friends, you know that performance, reliability, and security matter. To take your web hosting to the next level, consider what a dedicated server could do for you. With full access to your own web server, you’ll have more control and better performance from your hosting service. What’s not to love about that?

But how do you know when you really need a dedicated server? Many smaller websites can perform just fine without one, but for larger sites and businesses, the benefits quickly become apparent. Here, we’re taking a closer look at dedicated servers and what they can offer for your online experience. We provide some key information about dedicated servers to help you determine if you need one for your hosting.

What is a Dedicated Server?

If you’ve just started a website or an eCommerce company, you probably went with a cheaper web hosting option. This just makes sense. For smaller websites and online businesses, you most likely don’t need the power and capabilities of a dedicated server or the more costly hosting options out there. However, as your site grows in terms of traffic, bandwidth, and storage requirements, you may find that your previous hosting methods simply aren’t cutting it anymore for what you need.

This is when you should look into a dedicated server. When you’re hosted from a dedicated server, this essentially means that you have an entire server to yourself, enabling you to take advantage of the server’s full capacities and power. At this point, some might opt for a virtual private server (VPS). A VPS is still an upgrade from a shared server, but it doesn’t give you your own server. Rather, a VPS provides you exclusive space on a server that may still be shared with other web owners. While this option may come at a cheaper cost, it simply can’t match the benefits, security, and full capability of having your own dedicated server.

Benefits of a Dedicated Server

In comparison to traditional hosting options, there are quite a few benefits to hosting your site, eCommerce business, or online gaming experience from a dedicated server. Here’s a look at some of the top benefits that might convince you that you need to make the upgrade to a dedicated server.

  1. Exclusive server usage: when you really break it down, do any of us want to share our server capabilities? Exclusive server access is one of the primary benefits of using a dedicated server for your hosting needs. You’ll receive all the disk space, bandwidth, RAM, and storage for your website and hosting needs. A dedicated server also offers root access. This can be incredibly important because it allows you to configure specific settings and add or remove access for other users. If you want complete control over your web hosting, a dedicated server is a way to achieve this.
  2. Better security: especially true for those hosting an eCommerce site, web security is critical to ensure customers will shop with you again. With web hacking on the rise, the security of your site needs to be a top priority to protect yourself and the personal information of your customers. The infrastructure of a dedicated server incorporates 24/7 web monitoring and firewalls so that you can rest easy knowing your data and information are secure. Dedicated servers also offer an unmatched level of customization so that you can find the security measures you need.
  3. Better performance: when it comes to web hosting, you shouldn’t ever have to sacrifice performance. Even if you’re just online gaming with friends, slow load times and lag can quickly ruin your favorite game and your entire online experience. For eCommerce companies, poor performance translates to fewer sales. Dedicated servers provide access to the best performance in the industry with unmatched RAM, memory, and faster page loading speeds. Take your web hosting to the next level with the power of a dedicated server.
  4. Reliable web hosting: whether you’re hosting a website or an online game, there’s nothing worse than a sudden server crash. A server crash can keep your site down for an extended period of time, and if this becomes a frequent occurrence, hurt the overall reputation of your site and your business. Reliability is one of the most important benefits of using a dedicated server. With a dedicated server at your disposal, crashes become far less likely, and with additional resources available for your hosting needs, the server will perform even during times of high traffic. More bandwidth also gives you more capabilities to expand the potential of your online gameplay and your site.

Do you need a Dedicated Server?

While the benefits of a dedicated server are quite clear by now, this doesn’t mean this technology is necessary for everyone. A dedicated server, as expected, comes with higher costs, which means that you may not want to make this upgrade unless you actually need it. But as your website or eCommerce business grows, you should also factor in the risks of having a website that fails to perform. In the long run, this could hurt more than the upfront costs of having your own dedicated server.

Conclusion

The right web hosting is essential for the success of any website or eCommerce company. Web hosting is essentially the engine behind your site, providing RAM, memory, speed, and performance for all your users. While shared hosting may work fine for smaller sites, as you grow you may find that you simply need more. If this sounds like your situation, a dedicated server could be the answer for you.

Dedicated servers provide exclusive access to a server for your site or online gaming experience. With better performance, faster loading speed, enhanced security, and customizable options, a dedicated server can transform your hosting experience and take your website to the next level. To make the jump, check out a dedicated server provider today.

Top Reasons to Leave Technical Tasks Like House Painting to the Professionals 

When the time comes to commence house renovations, one of the first things you might ask yourself is whether you should undertake some of the tasks on your own. While you might save money on some jobs, it can sometimes be at the detriment of a high-quality finish. This holds true when it comes to interior and exterior painting and decorating. When your property is in need of a fresh lick of paint, here are just a few of the many reasons why calling in the experts can be the best option for you.

They Boast Years of Experience

When you entrust painting and decorating experts like Dublin Painters with the task of refreshing your home’s interior and exterior, you can rest assured that they have the necessary experience to do the job to a high standard.

Even though it might seem like anyone can decorate if they have a tin of paint and a paintbrush, it can be quite a complex process that requires a certain level of skill. Decorators with years of experience can be relied upon to understand the intricacies of their trade and make the right decisions regarding your property.

You Can Save Time

Picture: Lukas Blazek

Between watching hours of tutorial videos, learning the technical details of different decorating products, and going on a shopping spree to purchase all the tools you need, you can spend a great deal of time preparing to decorate.

A painting job that may take professionals a few days to complete could take you much longer, especially if you have a household to run and a job to go to. Save time, effort, and stress by paying someone to give their complete focus to the task and have it completed to a professional standard.

They Have the Right Tools for the Job

If you have never undertaken any home renovation projects before, there is likely no need for you to own tools for those very jobs. Painting and decorating projects can require a large number of tools and equipment, which can come at a high cost if you were to purchase them brand new for your refurbishment project.

The amount you spend to make sure you’re as well-equipped as a professional painter could be what you spend on hiring one in the first place. Save your money and time by outsourcing this project instead.

They Are Insured

Picture: Oli2020

As unlikely as it is for anything to go wrong during a painting and decorating project, things can happen. When they do, you’ll want peace of mind that any financial implications will be limited.

That can often be the case when you hire professionals. Most, if not all, high-quality painting and decorating businesses carry insurance. If anything goes wrong, they will be able to correct the problem and do their best to ensure you’re not impacted by the problem. If you were to undertake to decorate yourself with what little knowledge you have, you might be spending more money than you planned if anything goes wrong.

A Focus On Perfection

When an experienced painter decorator is being paid to provide a service, they will go above and beyond to make sure it’s one you can be satisfied with. They understand that a core part of successful advertising and engagement is word of mouth. Any business owner can expect to enjoy more business when they boast an excellent reputation.

They Take Care of Cleaning for You

Picture: Sven Brandsma

If you have ever had the displeasure of cleaning a paintbrush or roller after dabbling in a DIY paint job, you are likely familiar with how frustrating and time-consuming this task can be. Cleaning tools and a work area after a decorating project can be arduous, and it can save you both time and frustration to let professionals handle this process.

You can also enjoy much-needed peace of mind knowing that some of the best painters go above and beyond to ensure their workspace is clean at all times, both before and after the job is done. They lay ground sheets and put protection measures in place to ensure no other parts of your home are affected by their tools of the trade.

For Expert Advice

Even though you may have a renovation project more than once in your lifetime of homeownership, that doesn’t mean you’ll always know the best ways to embark on specific projects. You may not even understand if some colors will work better than others, or if you should be choosing one product type over another.

Even though a painter decorator’s primary task is to decorate to your specifications, they will be more than happy to offer their advice if they believe there are better options available for your unique needs.

Task Efficiency

Painters have all parts of the painting and decorating process down to fine art. They understand the importance of productivity and want to keep as much profit in each job as possible. Their years of experience also equate to a high level of speed and efficiency in everything from masking skirting boards to rolling paint on walls. Without those years of experiencing yourself, you may not understand the most efficient way to complete each task.

Product Knowledge

If there’s one thing you will learn when researching your renovation options, it’s that there are many products to help you along the way. Unfortunately, you may not always know whether some products are better than others for your home’s construction materials and whether some have a better reputation.

Professional painters have a wealth of industry knowledge to make informed decisions. Rather than relying on guesswork or the help of a sales assistant, they rely on their own knowledge and past experiences. As a result, you can enjoy knowing that the products they use are going to be highly regarded in the industry and suitable for your home or business.

It’s only natural to want to save money when undertaking home renovations. However, there can certainly be value in relying on experts, as well. Their product knowledge, task efficiency, and overall project experience can give you complete confidence that their services are money well spent. 

Why Should You Back Up Your Business Files and Data?

Almost everyone has experienced losing data that is very important to them. Have you experienced this too? Some people have lost personal data. For example, there may be some videos and images of a special event that can never be retrieved again.

People who have started their businesses may have created data that will help them improve their business. Then, they can lose it just like that. Without backup data, they need to start from scratch. This will take a lot of time, money, and effort to do.

You have important data, and you need to make an effort to ensure that you will get to keep them. You can look into people who can do business process outsourcing to help you gather and keep your data safe. You need your data to help your business grow and flourish.

Advantages of Having Backup Data

Data backup is having a backup copy of your data on another device. This means that you have created your information. You will be storing the information in a safe place aside from the main place where you may store it. Just remember that you should not forget where you have stored your data. Better yet, the help of the business process master can make a lot of difference with how well you will store your backup data.

These are some of the advantages that you should know:

  1. Data backup is affordable. This is a misconception of a lot of people. They assume that backing up their data will require a lot of money. You can store your backup data in the cloud. It can be accessed and improved by a business specialist. You can find a business specialist soon.
  2. You can access the data anytime. It doesn't matter where you are or what time it is. The moment that you have to access data, you will be able to do it. Just make sure that you are connected to the internet. It will make a lot of difference that way.
  3. Keep the data backup off-site. There are always going to be people who will try to get your data. Having data backup can be very helpful, especially when it needs to be accessed outside the office.
  4. There are many places where data can be stored that do not require people to be very techy. They are usually simple and easy to understand. A few clicks of your mouse will allow you to access your data immediately.
  5. Automatic backups are available. It can be problematic for some people to manually backup the data all the time. You can just set the data to update automatically, and you will not have this problem.

Tips to Backup Data Properly

You need to figure out some things that you cannot do on your own. You can outsource your business. Let other people do what needs to be done correctly. You can focus on your expertise, and the people you hire can focus on what they need to do.

There are some simple tips to remember so that data backup can be done properly:

  • Regularly update the data. Nothing can be more frustrating than realizing that your data backup is outdated. This means that you still have to do some work when you access it to be up-to-date.
  • The backups should be done in reliable media. Some companies would prefer placing their data in the cloud. This will be up to you. You can also ask people who do IT outsourcing for more details.
  • If you need to place the data on a device, make sure to keep it out of the office. There are so many things that can happen in an actual office. The device can get wet. It can also be ravaged in a fire. There are so many things that can happen. Remember to always keep the gadget in a place where it will not get affected.
  • Always identify the data that needs to be backed up. There is some data that you may not need now, while others are crucial. If backing up needs to be done fast, figure out which data you would need more.
  • You can set up automatic data backing. This will lessen the chances of manually thinking about when you will be backing up the needed data. Remember that you need to backup everything from the many files you have up to the emails you may keep.

Apps or Services Where You Can Keep Data

Image from: Mobilunity

You do not want to waste valuable space on your PC or your device anymore. You want to make sure that you will have a safe place where you can keep your data. Some of these apps and services are the following:

IDrive

If you want an online backup service that will provide all of the features you want, this is your best bet. This is easy to use with an interface to help you understand what you have to do next. There may be some minor drawbacks, but the pros will outweigh the cons.

Microsoft One Drive

Many people are familiar with this, and for a good reason: this will offer many powerful features that are better than the competitors. People are familiar with this because of Windows 10 and Office 365. This may be one of the best ones that you can check.

Dropbox

This is one of the simplest apps you can use to keep your data safe and secure. It comes with a simple interface so you know that using it will not be hard. Some collaboration features too will make it ideal if you need to share data with other officemates. Remember that this will be more expensive than the other apps and services included in this list.

Google Drive

Most people think of Google Drive as an online version of Microsoft Office. They may have some similarities, but with Google Drive, you know that your data will be stored in the cloud rather than your device. This is slick, and it comes with a lot of fun and creative features that will help you work better. You do not have to worry about accessing your data as well.

CertainSafe Digital Safety Deposit Box

Not many people are familiar with this, but it can be one of the top ones you should check now. Security is its top priority, so if you are anxious about your data getting lost or stolen, this can be the best choice. It can be used easily, too, unlike other apps wherein it would take time before figuring out how to use it.

Take note that there are still a lot of other apps and services that you can check out. Always be open to trying out the different available choices. Just make sure that customers have given these apps and services great reviews.

Conclusion

Editing and viewing your files will feel more natural when you have to access your backup data from the cloud. If you are checking it from a device, make sure that your device will handle the data and be able to keep it safe. Business outsourcing can help you make some sound decisions that will make a lot of difference.

Syed Zain Nasir

I am Syed Zain Nasir, the founder of <a href=https://www.TheEngineeringProjects.com/>The Engineering Projects</a> (TEP). I am a programmer since 2009 before that I just search things, make small projects and now I am sharing my knowledge through this platform.I also work as a freelancer and did many projects related to programming and electrical circuitry. <a href=https://plus.google.com/+SyedZainNasir/>My Google Profile+</a>

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Syed Zain Nasir