<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><feed xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" ><generator uri="https://jekyllrb.com/" version="4.3.4">Jekyll</generator><link href="https://log.notiustin.com//feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/atom+xml" /><link href="https://log.notiustin.com//" rel="alternate" type="text/html" /><updated>2026-04-14T11:49:41+00:00</updated><id>https://log.notiustin.com//feed.xml</id><title type="html">my log files</title><subtitle>Datadump for my thoughts</subtitle><entry><title type="html">storing here some game ideas</title><link href="https://log.notiustin.com//2024/09/21/new_ideas_for_a_game" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="storing here some game ideas" /><published>2024-09-21T00:00:00+00:00</published><updated>2024-09-21T00:00:00+00:00</updated><id>https://log.notiustin.com//2024/09/21/new_ideas_for_a_game</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://log.notiustin.com//2024/09/21/new_ideas_for_a_game"><![CDATA[<h2 id="lasts-in-the-sea">Lasts in the sea</h2>

<p><strong>Game Mechanics Overview:</strong></p>

<p>In Lasts in the Sea, you’re immersed in a survival game with a refreshing twist. Rather than focusing heavily on crafting, the game leans into trading, looting, and ship battles to keep the excitement alive.</p>

<ul>
  <li>3D but isometric style</li>
  <li>Survival gameplay: Stay alive while navigating the vast ocean.</li>
  <li>Minimal crafting: The focus isn’t on building but on acquiring through other means.</li>
  <li>Trade &amp; loot: Gather resources by exploring abandoned oil rigs and trading with other survivors.</li>
  <li>Ship battles: Defend your ship or attack others to gather their loot.</li>
  <li>Ship upgrades: Enhance your ship to survive the dangerous waters.</li>
</ul>

<p><strong>To be continued…</strong></p>]]></content><author><name></name></author><category term="logs" /><category term="game-ideas" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[Lasts in the sea]]></summary></entry><entry><title type="html">Time Tracking&amp;amp;Limiting Program 4 Parents</title><link href="https://log.notiustin.com//2024/09/18/build_a_windows_user_time_limit" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Time Tracking&amp;amp;Limiting Program 4 Parents" /><published>2024-09-18T00:00:00+00:00</published><updated>2024-09-18T00:00:00+00:00</updated><id>https://log.notiustin.com//2024/09/18/build_a_windows_user_time_limit</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://log.notiustin.com//2024/09/18/build_a_windows_user_time_limit"><![CDATA[<h2 id="why-create-this-program">Why Create This Program?</h2>

<p>I want to limit my brother’s time on the PC because he can get a little too attached to Minecraft and forgets about his homework and other responsibilities. I know that this exist with Microsoft Parental Control but it only works with online windows users; and i have a local user.</p>

<h2 id="the-ideea">The ideea</h2>

<ul>
  <li>The program will be simple. During setup, it will ask for the user account to track, along with a time limit in hours and minutes (h:m). Once the user logs in, a countdown will start. When 10 minutes remain, a notification will be shown, reminding the user to save their game and any other open work, as they will soon be logged out.</li>
  <li>Another feature to consider is how the child could still do homework if they need the PC. I’m thinking of sending an SMS or WhatsApp message to the parent’s phone with a generated code that allows temporary access for homework purposes.</li>
</ul>

<h2 id="the-implementation">The implementation</h2>

<h3 id="1-defining-the-core-features">1. Defining the Core Features</h3>

<p>Before jumping into coding, I defined the core functionality of the program. The main features include:</p>

<ul>
  <li>Selecting the user account for which screen time will be limited.</li>
  <li>Setting a time limit in hours and minutes.</li>
  <li>Starting a countdown when the user logs in.</li>
  <li>Sending notifications when time is running out.</li>
  <li>Automatically logging the user out when the time limit is reached.</li>
  <li>A feature to allow parents to temporarily grant more time (for homework, etc.).</li>
</ul>

<h3 id="2-choosing-the-tech-stack">2. Choosing the Tech Stack</h3>

<p>For this project, I had to decide which programming language and tools would work best for the task. Given the need for Windows-specific features like managing user logins and sending notifications, I decided on:</p>

<ul>
  <li><strong>Python</strong>: For its ease of use and extensive libraries for both GUI and system-level control.</li>
  <li><strong>Tkinter</strong>: For building a simple, user-friendly GUI.</li>
  <li><strong>pywin32</strong>: To interact with Windows user accounts and manage logins.</li>
  <li><strong>time or schedule libraries</strong>: To handle the countdown timer and triggers.</li>
</ul>

<h3 id="3-program-structure">3. Program Structure</h3>

<p>The program is divided into three key components:</p>

<h4 id="31-user-setup">3.1. User Setup</h4>

<p>The setup allows the parent (or admin) to:</p>

<ul>
  <li>Select the user account whose screen time will be limited.</li>
  <li>Input the time limit in hours and minutes (e.g., 1 hour, 30 minutes).</li>
</ul>

<p>For this, the GUI (built with Tkinter) will have:</p>

<ul>
  <li>A dropdown menu to select the user.</li>
  <li>Time limit input fields.</li>
  <li>A save button to store the configuration.</li>
</ul>

<h4 id="32-countdown-timer-and-user-notification">3.2. Countdown Timer and User Notification</h4>

<p>Once the user logs in, the countdown will start in the background. As the time decreases:</p>

<ul>
  <li>When 10 minutes are left, the program will trigger a desktop notification using a library like <code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">plyer</code>.</li>
  <li>The user will be informed to save their progress before they are logged out.</li>
</ul>

<p>This part involves checking the user’s login time and triggering notifications or actions at set intervals.</p>

<h4 id="33-auto-logout-feature">3.3. Auto-Logout Feature</h4>

<p>When the time limit is reached:</p>

<ul>
  <li>The program will automatically log the user out by invoking Windows API commands (using <code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">pywin32</code> or <code class="language-plaintext highlighter-rouge">os</code> commands).</li>
  <li>This ensures that the user can’t continue using the PC until the parent grants more time or the next allowed session starts.</li>
</ul>

<h4 id="34-temporary-access-for-homework">3.4. Temporary Access for Homework</h4>

<p>If the child needs to use the PC for homework:</p>

<ul>
  <li>The program can send a notification to the parent (via SMS or WhatsApp) with a code that temporarily unlocks the PC for homework purposes.</li>
  <li>Using services like <strong>Twilio</strong> for SMS or <strong>WhatsApp Business API</strong> could make this part of the system work.</li>
</ul>

<h3 id="4-implementing-the-code">4. Implementing the Code</h3>

<p>In this section, I wrote the code in small, manageable pieces:</p>

<h4 id="41-the-gui-setup">4.1. The GUI Setup</h4>

<p>A simple Tkinter GUI to input the user and time limit.</p>]]></content><author><name></name></author><category term="projects" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[Why Create This Program?]]></summary></entry><entry><title type="html">First experience in work env</title><link href="https://log.notiustin.com//2024/07/01/first_experience_in_work_env" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="First experience in work env" /><published>2024-07-01T00:00:00+00:00</published><updated>2024-07-01T00:00:00+00:00</updated><id>https://log.notiustin.com//2024/07/01/first_experience_in_work_env</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://log.notiustin.com//2024/07/01/first_experience_in_work_env"><![CDATA[<h2 id="my-little-experience-as-a-web-dev-wordpress-designer-dont-laugh">My Little Experience as a Web Dev (WordPress Designer… Don’t Laugh)</h2>

<h3 id="and-what-ive-learned-working-on-a-startup-web-agency">And what I’ve learned working on a startup web agency</h3>

<p>My journey as a web developer, or more accurately, a WordPress designer, has raised a few questions. Here are some thoughts based on my experiences working with my boss and other clients:</p>

<ol>
  <li>Why Do We Need to Be So Pushy? - Why do we always seem to be begging for work? It feels like the main goal is to secure jobs just for the sake of making money. Is there a better way to approach this? Shouldn’t our focus be on providing value and building relationships rather than just closing deals?</li>
  <li>Why Do We Need to Be Excited About Everything? - Why is there an expectation to be constantly enthusiastic and dive headfirst into every task? It’s exhausting to maintain that level of energy all the time. Is genuine passion being replaced by forced excitement, and is this sustainable in the long run?</li>
  <li>Is a Good Team Really Possible? - A good team is supposed to be built on mutual respect and care for one another. But what happens when someone doesn’t do their job? Do we address the issue directly with the person involved, or do we talk behind their back? Should we go to our boss, and what if the boss is friends with the person in question? Are we truly a good team if we focus solely on performance, or should we be empathetic and try to understand the reasons behind someone’s lack of performance?</li>
  <li>The “WTF?!” Moments - Not knowing all types of people has led to some “WTF?!” moments for me. For instance, I’ve been asked questions that weren’t related to work but were within my field of expertise. These questions seemed to be thrown out just for the sake of conversation, not because they needed real answers. How do we navigate these situations effectively? Or is it necessary to answer them?</li>
</ol>]]></content><author><name></name></author><category term="logs" /><category term="business" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[My Little Experience as a Web Dev (WordPress Designer… Don’t Laugh)]]></summary></entry><entry><title type="html">Making a home server</title><link href="https://log.notiustin.com//2024/05/24/making_a_home_server" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="Making a home server" /><published>2024-05-24T00:00:00+00:00</published><updated>2024-05-24T00:00:00+00:00</updated><id>https://log.notiustin.com//2024/05/24/making_a_home_server</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://log.notiustin.com//2024/05/24/making_a_home_server"><![CDATA[<p>I kind of liked the idea of having my own server just to tinker around. And finally 2-3 months ago i bough a second hand pc, with an i5 6500 and 8gb ram. From then i slowly added 1TB HDD, 2TB HDD and a 512GB SSD. As a beginner it’s hard to know from start what are the next steps, what OS to install and what services would be good to have plus… how would i install them (inside docker, in a VM, or run an LXC).</p>]]></content><author><name></name></author><category term="projects" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[I kind of liked the idea of having my own server just to tinker around. And finally 2-3 months ago i bough a second hand pc, with an i5 6500 and 8gb ram. From then i slowly added 1TB HDD, 2TB HDD and a 512GB SSD. As a beginner it’s hard to know from start what are the next steps, what OS to install and what services would be good to have plus… how would i install them (inside docker, in a VM, or run an LXC).]]></summary></entry><entry><title type="html">find THE problem to resolve</title><link href="https://log.notiustin.com//2024/01/23/find_THE_problem_to_resolve" rel="alternate" type="text/html" title="find THE problem to resolve" /><published>2024-01-23T00:00:00+00:00</published><updated>2024-01-23T00:00:00+00:00</updated><id>https://log.notiustin.com//2024/01/23/find_THE_problem_to_resolve</id><content type="html" xml:base="https://log.notiustin.com//2024/01/23/find_THE_problem_to_resolve"><![CDATA[<p>All I hear when searching for side project ideas.. is to find a problem and resolve that. But how can I find THE problem?(not too big.. not to unimportant).</p>

<h2 id="idea-1---openorders">idea 1 - openOrders</h2>

<p>One idea struck me when I was reading a post made by a restaurant owner. He was asking if it’s okay to contact a local firm for his restaurant website, and he also wanted to take orders from the website, or to search on Fiverr for someone to do it. Many comments were about why he is not using a delivery platform like Glovo or Bolt Food. He replied that the cut was too big to even have a 0% ROI (the platforms take a 30% cut of the order price). So, I think that an open-source, self-hosted platform is a good idea. As for profit, I can just ask for hosting fees and a fixed amount of money based on the number of orders in a month. I will still need to make that profitable for the customer, in this case, the restaurant owner.</p>

<h2 id="idea-2---tbd">idea 2 - TBD</h2>

<p><em>pref.</em> This is more a solution, and not a problem; but i can still see the problem for home owners with multiple “assets”</p>

<p>A few days ago, I was browsing Reddit and came across a mention of a platform for apartment block administration. This platform allows owners to view announcements and pay their “maintenance” bills. In Romania, we pay a “maintenance fee” which includes expenses like garbage collection, water, commonly used electricity for lights and elevators, salaries for the administrator and the cleaning staff, among others. The platform also provides administrative features, allowing administrators to manage each apartment, calculate fees, and even has an automatic system to help with accounting and invoice creation.
However, this platform may not be suitable for me, as I would need more information on how all the bills are calculated, along with other administrative details about the finances in this department of block administration.</p>

<h2 id="idea-3---short-movie-platform-like-youtube-but-non-profit">idea 3 - Short movie platform like Youtube but non-profit</h2>

<p>I have a friend that is a film directing student. And one thing that he mentioned when we spoke about the problems with financing a production of short films</p>

<h2 id="idea-4---clinic-resources-management-system">idea 4 - Clinic resources management system</h2>

<p>This will be a system that will help the clinic to manage the resources and the appointments.
I am working on developing this idea through a “academy” program by <a href="https://dvloper.io/">Dvloper.io</a>, and I will post more about it in the future.</p>

<h2 id="idea-5---ngo-for-stray-cats-and-dogs">idea 5 - NGO for stray cats and dogs</h2>

<p><em>pref.</em> This idea came to life when I saw a stray cat struggling to find warmth during a freezing winter outside my apartment building.</p>

<p>The goal is to create a non-profit organization focused on helping stray cats and dogs by providing them with cozy shelters during the cold months. Here’s what the plan includes:</p>

<ul>
  <li>Affordable Production: Keeping costs low so we can create as many shelters as possible.</li>
  <li>Open Source Design: Making the designs available for everyone, so anyone can build these shelters and help animals in their community;</li>
  <li>Easy Setup and Maintenance: The shelters should be simple to install and maintain, making it accessible for everyone;</li>
  <li>Weather-Resistant Features: Using materials that can withstand the elements—heat-resistant and water-resistant; also using recycled materials;</li>
  <li>Connections with Local Vets: Partnering with local veterinarians to provide discounted services for the animals we help;</li>
  <li>Donation Management System: Setting up an easy way for people to donate food and other supplies to support our furry friends;</li>
</ul>]]></content><author><name></name></author><category term="logs" /><category term="project-ideas" /><summary type="html"><![CDATA[All I hear when searching for side project ideas.. is to find a problem and resolve that. But how can I find THE problem?(not too big.. not to unimportant).]]></summary></entry></feed>