browse/

infrastructure/what-is-a-server-really-a-computer-that-waits-for-questions.md What is a server, really? A computer that waits for questions A server isn't a special kind of machine. It's an ordinary computer running a program that waits for someone to ask for something, then… 10 min read · 1 Oct computers/why-your-computer-forgets-unsaved-work-when-the-power-dies.md Why your computer forgets unsaved work when the power dies Your computer has two kinds of memory. Storage (the SSD or hard drive) is a big filing cabinet that keeps files with the power off. RAM is… 10 min read · 1 Oct security/how-websites-check-your-password-without-ever-storing-it.md How websites check your password without ever storing it A well-built website never saves your password. It saves a hash: a fixed-size fingerprint that's quick to compute and impossible to run… 9 min read · 1 Oct ai/machine-learning-by-example-how-a-computer-learns-apples-from-oranges.md Machine learning by example: how a computer learns apples from oranges Normal programs follow rules a person wrote. Machine learning turns that around: you give the computer examples with the right answers, and… 11 min read · 1 Oct languages/why-does-my-javascript-loop-run-one-time-too-many.md Why does my JavaScript loop run one time too many? A loop tells JavaScript to repeat some code until a condition says stop. A for loop packs three pieces onto one line: a setup that runs… 8 min read · 1 Oct networks/ip-addresses-and-ports-the-street-address-and-the-apartment-number.md IP addresses and ports: the street address and the apartment number Every message on a network needs two things to arrive: an IP address to find the right computer, and a port to find the right program on… 10 min read · 1 Oct software-design/functions-why-you-should-stop-copy-pasting-your-code.md Functions: Why You Should Stop Copy-Pasting Your Code Copy-pasting code works fine on the day you do it. It fails the day you need to change it, and have to find and fix every copy without… 9 min read · 1 Oct languages/what-a-variable-really-is-python-names-values-and-the-sign.md What a variable really is: Python names, values and the = sign In Python, a variable isn't a box that holds a value. It's a name tag tied to a value that lives on its own. That one picture explains why… 7 min read · 1 Oct