A gentle introduction to Bayes theorem
Bayes theorem, invented by Thomas Bayes in the 18th century, describes a simple and powerful methodology for calculating the probability of a belief/hypothesis occurring given a new piece of evidence/observation.
Throughout history, the Bayes theorem has been applied to find nuclear bombs and is the basis for machine learning algorithms (classifiers). It’s used in spam filtering, self-driving cars, to access financial risk and more.
The algorithms can accurately identify the probability of an event occurring and therefore make good decisions.
Let’s go through a classic example.
Imagine you’re not feeling well and suspects it could be something serious. You then…
An overview of relational, document and graph data models
Designing how to represent and store the data is a key element of developing software. From the user input in the screen all the way to the computer electrical current. Each layer’s data model representation is built based on the next lower layer.
What’s the latest on these two front-end frameworks mostly used in the mid-to-late 2000s
JavaServer Faces (JSF) and Struts. Do you remember them?
The other day, I talked to a friend about how the web frameworks we used in the mid-to-late 2000s, such as Struts and JSF, are so different from the ones most people are using today — for example, React and Angular. They’re nothing alike, right?
They’re part of two different worlds and it can be challenging to switch from one to the other the first time.
Not so long ago, my company advised that all web applications should begin to use a React-based framework that they had implemented. It was the…
Analysis of different coding styles on whether they can be considered a bad practice or only a matter of preference.
We all have different styles and preferences in everything in life, including how we write code. Imprinting your personality in the code brings originality and a sense of ownership and responsibility for it. This is important to keep us motivated; it makes us feel good (at least I do).
However, is the coding style always just a harmless style? Or does it impact readability and hence maintenance?
For example, during a code review, I often find myself questioning whether I should bring certain ways of coding to discussion or not — is it readable, is it easy to maintain? …
It’s not about being good at maths or logic
The other day I asked a friend of mine if he ever considered coding. He‘s in law school in Portugal, and from other friend’s experience that graduated in this area, it’s an unstable profession, and it looks quite hard to succeed in it.
I say that mostly based on a few friend’s experience. I honestly don’t know for sure.
I also asked my friend if he ever considered coding because I know he has two fundamental attributes to any good programmer.
He answered no to my question because he’s not good at math, but I told him it has nothing…
TALES OF A CODING FACTORY
It was good, but I don’t miss it
More about the coding factory here and here.
When you’re working for too many hours and consequently late at night, there are good chances your eating habits are poor. Eating junk food/snacks is often the go-to option.
That was the case for a few periods of my life and mainly when working in the coding factory, back in 2006/2007.
It was my lowest point diet or exercise-wise. For three months I mostly ate McDonald’s, greasy Yakisobas, sandwiches and drank loads of coca-cola. It was crazy. I was working 15+ hours a day and, and there was no time for exercising.
…
It’s about time we treat mental health with the importance it deserves
A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their lives and their legal and social standing by appearing in the arena.
No, Naomi Osaka is not a gladiator. Not a criminal. She doesn’t fight animals, and she’s definitely not a volunteer as she gets paid millions per year. It may seem outrageous to draw such a comparison. I get it.
BUT,
To force her, or any athlete, to speak to the media after every game…
What research shows and my take on it as one living abroad for 10+ years
I often say I’m grateful for the hardships of life. The lessons from overcoming/controlling homesickness and anxiety made me mentally stronger and more prepared for other difficult times ahead.
But do I really mean that? Am I really mentally stronger?
Eleven years ago, soon after graduating from college, I decided to leave friends, family and comfortable life at my parents’ house in Brazil to move to Portugal and later to Ireland.
I remember the moment when I was five meters away from the departure gate, saying goodbye as if nothing major was about to happen. …
Microsoft’s scheme to increase its Edge Browser popularity
With a 69.28% slice of the market (desktop/laptop), Google Chrome is the most popular browser by far. It overtook Internet Explorer in 2012, and since then, it has grown and grown. I personally always use Chrome, and chances are, you do too, even if it’s so damn slow sometimes!
Among Chrome’s competitors, there is Microsoft Edge, its greatest contender. Despite Edge being in second place and making several enhancements over the years, it’s still far behind. It accounts for only a 7.75% (desktop/laptop) share of the market.
Now the tech giant Microsoft is making the most aggressive move to date.
