As we cruise through 2024, AI Generated Images seem to be improving by the second. I asked a few popular AI Image Generators to create images for me using the term "mouse doing web development". Here are the results:

I asked ChatGPT to ELI5 (explain like I'm five) the difference between HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) and HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure):

"Alright kiddo, let's talk about the internet! You know when you go to a website like your favorite game or cartoon site? Well, there are two ways you can visit it: HTTP and HTTPS.

HTTP is like sending a postcard in the mail. Imagine you write a message on a postcard and send it to your friend. Anyone who sees the postcard while it's on its way can read what you wrote. Similarly, when you use HTTP to visit a website, the information you send and receive is like a postcard that anyone can read. That's not always safe because someone sneaky might see what you're doing online!

Now, HTTPS is like sending a letter in a special locked envelope. When you write a letter to your friend and put it in a locked envelope, only your friend can open it because they have the key. HTTPS is like that locked envelope for websites. It keeps your messages safe from sneaky people who might want to see what you're doing online. So, when you visit a website with HTTPS, your information is kept safe and only the website and you can understand what's going on. Cool, right?"

I then asked how does the "secure" get added to the end of HTTP to create HTTPS?

"Alright, let's break it down! Imagine you're playing a game with your friends, and you want to send them a secret message. Now, the regular way to send messages is like using plain paper where anyone can see what you wrote. That's HTTP, where your messages travel openly on the internet.

But when you want to make sure no one else can read your secret message, you need to make it secure. That's where the "S" in HTTPS comes in! It's like putting your message in a special envelope that can only be opened by your friend. So, when you add that "S" to HTTP, it means your messages are locked up tight and only the right people can read them. That's why HTTPS is super important for keeping your online stuff safe from prying eyes!"

If you were alive around the turn of the millennium, you likely remember all the hubbub surrounding the “Y2K Bug”. This was the concern that the year 2000 would cause massive disruptions to computer systems since many had been written using two digits to represent years. Some systems mistakenly treated the year 2000 as 1900, causing malfunctions. The crisis was mostly averted as there was a massive initiative to update systems before the new millennium.

Since leap year comes essentially every four years, (see here for details on why it isn’t always every four years The Science of Leap Year | National Air and Space Museum (si.edu)), you would think that computer systems would be prepared to handle it. However, 2012 proved to be a bit of stumble for certain systems:

• Leap Year Bug in 2012: In 2012, several high-profile software systems experienced issues due to incorrect handling of the leap year. For example, Microsoft Azure's cloud storage services experienced a leap year-related bug, causing some services to become unavailable. Additionally, some Sony PlayStation 3 consoles encountered problems due to the incorrect handling of the leap year date.
• Google Calendar Outage in 2012: In 2012, Google Calendar experienced a brief outage due to a leap year-related bug. The bug caused some calendar events to be duplicated or deleted.

As a developer it is important to remember that leap years can expose flaws in software systems that incorrectly handle date and time calculations. These issues can range from minor bugs to significant system failures, depending on the context and impact of the software.

If you are not familiar with Codecademy, it is an online learning platform that offers various coding courses and interactive coding exercises in multiple programming languages. Not sure where to begin? Codecademy has it covered with their Sorting Quiz that helps you determine your programming personality and directs you towards which careers, languages, and courses suit your personal interests and strengths best. My result? Problem Solver. Logic, patience, communication, and attention to detail are your underlying strengths. You have a knack for not panicking in the face of complexity. You break things down into manageable chunks, and tackle them with the tools at your disposal. Things you’re into: planning, building structures, thinking in systems, puzzles, adapting to change and learning new technologies.