Business people leverage data for decision-making, sourced either publicly or from their company's databases. However, when internal data is necessary, most lack the expertise in SQL, Cypher, or other database-specific languages. This creates a gap bridged by data analysts who act as business-to-database interpreters, translating human questions into the language the database understands.
These days, large language models (LLMs) like GPT or Mistral can fulfill some of the tasks performed by data analysts. For instance, LLMs can:
Imagine a beautiful piece of furniture crafted from rotten wood or a high-fashion shirt made with poor-quality fabric. The quality of the material affects the final product. So why would data insights, the main product of your company’s vast data management efforts, be any different?
It doesn’t matter how powerful your data management ecosystem is or how advanced your data integration, analytics, and visualization tools are. The ultimate quality of your business insights is rooted in the quality of the raw data used to generate them.
In Part 1 of this series, we looked at MongoDB, one of the most reliable and robust document-oriented NoSQL databases. Here in Part 2, we'll examine another quite unavoidable NoSQL database: Elasticsearch.
More than just a popular and powerful open-source distributed NoSQL database, Elasticsearch is first of all a search and analytics engine. It is built on the top of Apache Lucene, the most famous search engine Java library, and is able to perform real-time search and analysis operations on structured and unstructured data. It is designed to handle efficiently large amounts of data.
In the realm of containerized applications, Kubernetes reigns supreme. But with great power comes great responsibility, especially when it comes to safeguarding sensitive data within your cluster. Terraform, the infrastructure-as-code darling, offers a powerful solution for managing Kubernetes Secrets securely and efficiently. This blog delves beyond the basics, exploring advanced techniques and considerations for leveraging Terraform to manage your Kubernetes Secrets.
Understanding Kubernetes Secrets
Kubernetes Secrets provides a mechanism to store and manage sensitive information like passwords, API keys, and tokens used by your applications within the cluster. These secrets are not directly exposed in the container image and are instead injected into the pods at runtime.
Things on the internet are always changing. Sometimes websites themselves change. Sometimes things on a website dynamically change values in JavaScript while you’re interacting with it. This is where my interest peaks. I’ve always noticed little things like this in...
In the interconnected realm of modern software architecture, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are the fundamental building blocks that allow disparate systems, applications, and services to communicate with each other. They facilitate the exchange of data and functionality, enabling a seamless integration across the vast digital landscape. However, with this essential role comes a critical responsibility — ensuring the security of APIs.
The necessity for API security cannot be overstated. Inadequate protection can lead to data breaches, unauthorized access, and potentially devastating exploits. As APIs become more prevalent and the volume of sensitive data they handle increases, so too does the attack surface for malicious actors. Therefore, developing APIs with a robust security posture is not just a recommendation; it is imperative to safeguard both providers and consumers in the digital ecosystem.
Navigating the intricate world of software development is not merely a solitary pursuit; it's a collaborative journey where seasoned engineers play a pivotal role as mentors. Drawing from my personal experiences in the industry, which spans over a decade, I embark on a thoughtful exploration of effective mentorship in software development. In this post, I'll delve into the profound significance of mentorship, share insightful anecdotes from my own journey, and offer actionable tips for senior engineers eager to become impactful mentors.
The Crucial Role of Mentorship in Software Development
Mentorship in software development is akin to a dynamic dance between experienced professionals and those at the inception of their careers. It goes beyond the traditional hierarchical structures, serving as a conduit for the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and guidance. The landscape of software development, with its ever-evolving technologies and methodologies, makes effective mentorship indispensable.
When we talk about "data at rest," we're referring to data that is stored on a device or a backup and is not actively moving from network to network or being processed. Think of it as your digital data taking a nap on your hard drive, USB stick, or cloud storage. Much like a bear hibernating, just because it's static doesn't mean it's safe from threat. Enter: encryption.
The Role of Encryption in Protecting Data at Rest
Encryption is the digital equivalent of a high-security lock on your files, only allowing access to those who have the right key. It works by converting the original representation of the information, known as plaintext, into an alternative form known as ciphertext. This ciphertext appears as a random string of characters to anyone who doesn't have authorization.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly expanding, creating a tapestry of networked gadgets that create a symphony of data. However, for many of these devices, particularly those located at the edge, processing power and memory are valuable resources. Traditional databases meant for powerful servers will simply not work on these resource-constrained devices. So, how do we store and manage data on these RAM-constrained miniature titans?
The RAM Reaper: Understanding the Challenge
Before diving into the solutions, let’s acknowledge the enemy: limited RAM. Unlike their server counterparts, many IoT devices operate with mere kilobytes (KB) of RAM. Storing and manipulating data within these constraints requires a different approach. Traditional relational databases, with their hefty overhead and complex queries, simply won’t do. We need leaner, meaner machines specifically designed for the edge.
In the age of digital content creation, the power of smartphones continues to astonish us with their ever-evolving capabilities. Among these, the iPhone stands out as a formidable tool for capturing high-quality videos on-the-go. But...
Are you looking for an easy way to monitor multiple WordPress websites and keep them up to date?
Luckily, there are some great tools on the market that will help you manage multiple websites that use separate installations of WordPress.
In this article, we will show you how to manage multiple WordPress sites with Solid Central (formerly iThemes Sync).
What Is Solid Central?
Just because you manage multiple websites does not mean you need to start using a WordPress multisite network. They are difficult to manage, and if one site gets hacked or goes down, then they all do.
You may find it easier to manage several sites using separate installations of WordPress. But moving from site to site to monitor them all and keep them up to date can be very time-consuming.
Luckily, third-party WordPress management tools can make it easy to manage all of your sites from a single dashboard. They let you perform maintenance tasks without switching back and forth between websites.
Solid Central (formerly iThemes Sync) is an easy-to-use WordPress maintenance plugin that allows you to manage multiple WordPress sites in one dashboard. It is a hosted service, which means you can manage your sites from the SolidWP website.
Installing and Setting Up Solid Central
First, you will need to purchase a license from the Solid Central website and download the plugin. You need to choose a paid plan that matches the number of sites you wish to manage.
After signing up, you will be able to download the Solid Central plugin from your member’s panel on the SolidWP website.
Once you have downloaded the plugin, you’ll need to install and activate it on all WordPress sites that you want to manage. For more information, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.
Upon activation, the first thing you need to do is connect your website to your Solid Central account.
Simply go to Settings » Solid Central and enter your SolidWP username and password.
Make sure you click the ‘Connect’ button to store your settings.
Next, you need to confirm the site’s licensed URL.
Head over to the Settings » SolidWP Licensing page and enter the address of the current WordPress website that you wish to add to your SolidWP account. This will normally be entered for you automatically.
You’ll then be asked to provide your SolidWP username and password again.
This will allow you to receive automatic updates for Solid Central.
Don’t forget to click the ‘License Products’ button to store your settings.
You will need to repeat the same process on all WordPress sites that you want to manage from one dashboard.
Managing Multiple Sites in Solid Central
Solid Central provides a single dashboard where you can manage all your WordPress site updates.
After you sign in to your SolidWP account, you can click on the ‘Log in to Central’ button, which will show all the sites you have added.
If you are a WordPress developer managing WordPress sites for your clients, then you can hide the Solid Central admin menu on a website while you remotely manage it from the Solid Central website.
Simply select the ‘Hide Central Plugin’ option from that site’s cog menu.
Clicking on a site in the list will show you more options for that site.
For example, you can manage the plugins, themes, posts and pages, comments, users, and analytics for each website in the ‘Admin’ tab. Solid Central also allows you to perform a site audit and manage the security settings for each site.
Notice that there are handy buttons at the top of the page that allow you to visit that WordPress site and its admin dashboard. This makes it easy to navigate to your websites when you need to add content or upload files.
You might like to back up your site using Solid Backups (formerly BackupBuddy), which is one of the best WordPress backup solutions. Once you install it on each website, you will be able to create new backups straight from Solid Central.
Another great feature of Solid Central is the mobile-responsive design of the dashboard. This means you can manage your sites, update them, and create backups from your mobile device.
Solid Central provides a great user experience for anyone updating and backing up multiple WordPress sites.
It won’t help you write posts or jump between sites without a login, but it does make WordPress maintenance tasks simple.
Bonus: When You Don’t Have Time to Manage Multiple Sites
If you have a busy schedule, then it can be hard to find time to manage multiple sites. Instead, you can hire a website maintenance service to do the work for you, including taking care of backups, updates, security, and website edits.
For example, Seahawk Media offers a WordPress maintenance services package called SeaCare. They monitor your websites 24/7 and perform cloud backups, theme and plugin updates, malware removal, provide emergency support, and much more.
You will simply have to pay for the services monthly or annually, and you’ve freed up valuable time to work on other aspects of your business.
Note: WPBeginner founder Syed Balkhi is an investor in Seahawk Media. We made this investment because we believe they offer great WordPress services at revolutionary prices.
Expert Guides for Running Multiple WordPress Websites
Now that you know how to manage multiple WordPress sites with Solid Central, you may like to see some other guides related to running multiple WordPress websites:
In the rapidly evolving landscape of Kubernetes, security remains at the forefront of concerns for developers and architects alike. Kubernetes 1.25 brings significant changes, especially in how we approach pod security, an area critical to the secure deployment of applications. This article dives deep into the intricacies of Pod Security Admission (PSA), the successor to Pod Security Policies (PSP), providing insights and practical guidance to harness its potential effectively.
Understanding Pod Security Admission
With the deprecation of Pod Security Policies in previous releases, Kubernetes 1.29 emphasizes Pod Security Admission (PSA), a built-in admission controller designed to enforce pod security standards at creation and modification time. PSA introduces a more streamlined, understandable, and manageable approach to securing pods, pivotal for protecting cluster resources and data.
In the rapidly evolving world of cloud computing, managing resource scalability in response to service demand has emerged as a critical challenge. To address this challenge, we developed Smart Scaler, a tool designed to automate infrastructure and application resource scaling. By predicting service demand in advance, Smart Scaler ensures that resources are precisely aligned with needs, optimizing both performance and cost.
The idea for Smart Scaler came out of my experience running SaaS platforms. Over the years, I’ve collaborated closely with various teams to ensure systems function properly. I’ve also led a Cloud Ops team whose primary responsibility was to ensure that systems consistently met the service-level objectives while keeping the cost of the cloud services aligned with the cost of sales. However, this presented a significant friction point in current operating models.
Why Do Organizations Need Secure Development Environments?
The need to secure corporate IT environments is common to all functions of organizations, and software application development is one of them.
At its core, the need for securing IT environments in organizations arises from the digital corporate assets that they carry. It’s often data attached to privacy concerns, typically under regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA, or application source code, credentials, and most recently operational data that can have strategic significance.
Need a full-fledged calendar for scheduling events on your website? Just download one of these and get started. We have curated a collection of some of the best calendar components available in the market that are worth the investment for your next big project. Whether you want to simply use their default set-up without touching the source code or roll up your sleeves to dive deep and customize everything to your heart’s content, these calendars have something to offer for everyone.
Bryntum Calendar
Convenience is the theme. The Bryntum Calendar can be used with vanilla JavaScript or popular JavaScript frameworks like React, Angular, and Vue, giving you considerable flexibility for easy integration into a wide range of projects. The component seamlessly connects with the other Bryntum power widgets, such as the Data Grid.
The out-of-the-box calendar has a modern and clean design with crisp icons. It renders nicely and executes fast. The user controls have smooth transitions and resize well for different screen sizes. Drag and drop for the events is supported.
Need more than the five nifty themes the calendar comes with? The customization possibilities, using CSS/Sass, go beyond just the calendar views — day, week, month, year, and agenda — and include ways to restyle tooltips and user controls with a lot of liberty and just a few keystrokes. Extensive configurations are at hand to update both the impression and functions of the calendar.
The Bryntum Calendar features include multi-user assigned tasks and time zone support, making it ideal for global teams to collaborate and plan together. For potent project management, there’s the ingenious resource view to monitor at a glance every member’s agenda and see who is free to be scheduled.
All configuration options and features are well documented with interactive and customizable live examples, and you will also find helpful integration guides for Outlook and Google Calendar. Additionally, there’s an impressive collection of customized calendar examples that you can browse and choose from.
A 45-day free trial is available, which includes over thirty examples for you to get started with. If you have any queries regarding the pricing and license, you can contact Bryntum at https://bryntum.com/contact/. Bryntum also has an easy-to-use technical support forum for its clients and offers paid professional services like migration assistance for their products.
Whatever you need, it’s in the KendoReact UI bundle, including an easy-to-integrate calendar with a contemporary design for React applications. Options for other frameworks, such as jQuery and .NET MVC, are also available depending on which plan you purchase.
The Calendar/Scheduler, as it is, has a nice, comprehensible look and is easy to navigate. It is WCAG compliant and supports accessibility, something that screen reader users and keyboard navigators will appreciate.
All the basic calendar features are impeccably executed, including showing different calendar views, like monthly, and creating recurring events and timelines. For easy customization, it comes with some built-in themes, or you can build your own with custom Sass variables.
For global teams, KendoReact Scheduler does support different timezones, as well as globalization support for other languages.
A comprehensive feature and API documentation, with built-in sample code editors, is available. To learn more about the pricing, you can request a quote at https://www.telerik.com/purchase/request-a-quote. There’s technical support for customers in the form of a ticket system and forums. A 30-day free trial that includes technical support can be opted for.
Apt to dive straight into work, DevExtreme Scheduler has distraction-free but detailed features that now include work shifts. It is available for Angular, React, Vue, and jQuery.
You’ll find a standard collection of demos on the website for you to preview and make up your mind. Additionally, there’s a comprehensive theme builder for customization. For pinpoint touchups, the CSS can be updated.
The calendar is responsive to mobile screens and includes a drag-and-drop feature, timezone support, and Google Calendar integration.
You can take advantage of a 30-day free trial and a 60-day money-back guarantee. For queries, DevExtreme can be reached at https://js.devexpress.com/Support/. Ticket-based technical support is also available.
Responsiveness is at the forefront. If you are meticulous about how the calendar should look in different screen sizes, go through Mobiscroll’s documentation, for they have demo presets for different sizes in both desktop and mobile versions.
The calendar is available in JavaScript, jQuery, Angular, React, and Vue. The default calendar has a minimalist look and comes with a few base themes. Its appearance, including that of the tooltips, can be customized in CSS.
The calendar supports a drag-and-drop function for ease of use and different time zones for global collaborations. It also provides third-party calendar integration, with Google Calendar, for instance, which is available only during the non-trial period.
A 90-day trial is available, and there’s also a 30-day money-back guarantee. For queries on license and fee, Mobiscroll can be contacted at https://mobiscroll.com/contact. Both standard and priority customer support are provided, along with a community forum for any questions.
Just drop this in and get started. Webix Scheduler is a JavaScript calendar widget that’s easy to fit into your website. The default look is a pastel theme — there’s a full-screen live demo — but it is customizable via the preset skins, API, or the theme builder.
It includes all the basic calendar views and functionality. New events can be added using drag-and-drop. There’s a collection of JavaScript coding samples with a live code editor for you to test and learn from.
Webix Scheduler comes with standard online documentation for the API and user guide. There’s a 30-day free trial you can sign up for. For more information, Webix can be contacted at https://webix.com/contact-us/. For clients, technical support is available from ticket-based systems to live chats, depending on the plan purchased. There’s also a community forum to ask questions.
And that’s the end of the calendar round-up. If you want to share with our community a commercial web calendar (or an open-sourced one) that you’ve tried and loved, let us know in the comments. Happy scheduling!
In an era where digital data drives business operations and critical decision-making, the resilience of IT infrastructure against data loss is paramount. Virtual machines (VMs) stand at the core of this infrastructure, hosting applications, services, and databases that are essential for daily operations. However, the convenience and efficiency of VMs come with vulnerabilities. Hardware malfunctions, software errors, cyber-attacks, or even simple human mistakes can lead to catastrophic data losses. The absence of a robust VM backup strategy not only risks critical data but also threatens operational continuity. Recognizing the importance of backups is the first step toward safeguarding your digital assets against unforeseen disasters. This article delves into the why and how of backing up virtual machines, providing a blueprint for establishing a fail-safe backup regimen that protects your organization's digital heartbeat.
Understanding Virtual Machines and Their Importance
Virtual machines emulate computer systems, allowing multiple, isolated OS environments to coexist on a single physical host. This virtualization technology maximizes hardware utilization, reduces operating costs, and enhances the flexibility of IT operations. VMs can be easily created, replicated, moved, and restored, making them ideal for a wide range of applications—from software development and testing to server consolidation and cloud computing. Their ability to isolate different computing environments also enhances security and simplifies management. However, the very digital nature of VMs makes them susceptible to data loss. Backing up VMs is thus not just a precautionary measure but a critical component of modern IT strategy, ensuring that businesses can quickly recover from data loss incidents without significant downtime or impact on operations.
Are you looking for a way to convert your Figma design into a WordPress theme or page?
Figma is a cloud-based design tool that allows you to create an attractive user interface for your website. It lets you quickly test ideas through prototyping and also supports real-time collaboration. By converting these designs to WordPress, you can make your website more visually appealing for users.
In this article, we will show you how to easily convert Figma to WordPress, step by step.
Why Convert Figma to WordPress?
Figma lets you create beautiful layouts for your website and offers amazing tools like animation effects, prototyping, vector editing, and more.
If you have a WordPress website, then using this tool to create a layout for your site will allow multiple designers and developers to work on the same Figma file. This can improve collaboration and reduce the need for back-and-forth emails.
Plus, you can create interactive mockups of your blog to test user flows and get feedback before your site goes into development.
You can also use Figma’s advanced tools like grids, guides, layers, and auto layouts to create visually appealing pages and templates including:
However, keep in mind that Figma does not integrate with WordPress by default, so you will need to use a conversion tool. That being said, let’s see how to easily create a Figma design and convert it to WordPress, step by step:
To design a page with Figma, you will first need to create an account on the website.
To do that, visit the Figma website and click the ‘Get started for free’ button in the top right corner of the screen.
This will open a new tab in your window, where you must provide your email address and password.
After that, click the ‘Create Account’ button.
Once you do that, you will be sent a verification email.
Simply open this email from your inbox and click the ‘Verify email’ button.
You will now be taken to the Figma website, where you will be asked for your name.
After that, you must provide some details on how you plan to use the tool and then click the ‘Continue’ button at the bottom.
You will then be asked to choose a pricing plan. You can select the ‘Starter’ plan, which is free, and click the ‘Continue’ button.
Step 2: Design a Page on Figma
You will now be directed to your Figma dashboard
Once you are there, go ahead and click the ‘Design File’ button at the top right corner to create a Figma page.
The Figma builder will now open up on your screen. Here, you have to select the ‘Frame’ option from the top.
This will open a list of design frames in the right column, where you must select the ‘Desktop’ option. This is because the plugin we will use to convert Figma to WordPress currently only supports the desktop canvas.
Next, you can add images to the canvas by clicking on the square icon at the top and choosing the ‘Place image/video’ option.
This will open your computer folder, where you can upload an image or video of your choice.
You can also add text to your page by clicking on the ‘T’ icon at the top of the screen.
Once you do that, you can adjust the text size, alignment, font, and spacing from the settings in the right column.
You can also use free style tools like ‘Pen’ and ‘Pencil’ from the top, add feedback questions, create more layers and pages, change the background color, and much more.
If you are a developer and want to add CSS code to the page, then you can also do that by switching to ‘Dev Mode’ using the toggle in the top right corner of the screen.
Step 3: Copy the Figma Page’s API Key
Once you are satisfied with your Figma page’s customization, it is time to get its API key. This key will allow the plugin to embed the Figma page in WordPress.
To do this, click on the ‘Figma’ icon in the top left corner of the screen. This will open a menu prompt, where you must select the Help and account » Account Settings option.
A new prompt will now open up on the screen.
From here, scroll down to the ‘Personal access tokens’ section and click the ‘Generate new token’ link.
This will open some new settings, where you must provide a name and expiration date for the token that you are creating. We recommend selecting the ‘No Expiration’ option for the token if you don’t want the Figma page to disappear from your website after a specific time period.
After that, you can set all the scopes except for File Content to ‘Write’ and then click the ‘Generate token’ button.
You will now be taken back to the ‘Personal access tokens’ section.
From here, you can copy the newly generated token and paste it into Notepad or another plain text editor.
Step 4: Convert Figma to WordPress
Once you have gotten the API key, it is now time to convert your Figma page to WordPress.
Upon activation, open up the page or post where you want to add the Figma page. Once you are there, simply click the ‘Import From Figma’ button at the top of the screen.
This will open a prompt, where you must paste the Figma page access token that you copied earlier.
After that, you have to add the Figma page URL into the ‘FIGMA FILE URL’ field.
To get this URL, open your Figma file and copy the link in the browser tab. Keep in mind that the desktop frame should be selected before you copy the URL.
Upon pasting the link in WordPress, click the ‘Start Import’ button.
The plugin will then convert your Figma page into the Group block. You can now customize the block’s alignment, position, typography, and color from the block panel.
After that, click the ‘Publish’ or ‘Update’ button to store your settings.
This is how the converted Figma file looked on our demo website.
Alternative: Use Seahawk Media Services to Convert Figma to WordPress
If you have created your entire website using Figma, then the above method will not be suitable because the plugin only works with the desktop frame.
Plus, the plugin may have trouble transferring complex designs accurately because Figma focuses on design only while WordPress requires coding for dynamic content and functionality. This means that some of the elements that you have added in Figma may not work in WordPress.
That’s why we recommend using Seahawk Media services to convert Figma to WordPress because they consider all these factors during the conversion.
Seahawk Media is a premier WordPress services company that offers numerous services, including development, design, maintenance, migration, support, and more.
They are trusted by over 1000+ businesses and will perform a fully responsive, cleanly coded, SEO-ready, and pixel-perfect Figma to WordPress conversion for you.
All you will have to do is send your Figma files to the business.
After understanding your requirements, Seahawk will set an approximate timeline and convert your Figma files to a WordPress site in just a few days.
You can also use the company’s services for an SEO audit, content writing services, white label services, support, and hacked site repair.
Bonus: Use SeedProd to Build a Visually Appealing Website
If you feel like it’s too much to work to build pages with Figma and then convert them to WordPress, then you can use SeedProd instead.
It is the best WordPress theme builder and page builder on the market that it super easy to build custom themes and landing pages for your website using drag and drop.
SeedProd comes with a user-friendly drag-and-drop builder, 300+ premade templates, advanced WooCommerce blocks, and integrations with email marketing services.
You can easily drag and drop images, headings, videos, CTA, optin forms, giveaways, or paragraph blocks from the left column in the builder to create an attractive page.
Once you’ve done that, simply click on the block you added to open its settings in the left column. From here, you can insert dynamic text and change the font size, alignment, color, and more.
Finally, click the ‘Save’ and ‘Publish’ buttons at the top to store your settings and make your changes live. For detailed instructions, you can see our tutorial on how to create a landing page in WordPress.
For more information about the plugin in general, see our SeedProd review.
Frequently Asked Questions About Converting Figma to WordPress
Here are some questions frequently asked by our readers about Figma and WordPress.
Do Figma and WordPress work together?
By default, Figma and WordPress cannot directly integrate. However, you can use tools and plugins like UiChemy, pxCode, or Animation and Design Converter for Gutenberg Block to convert a Figma design to WordPress.
If this method is too complex for you, then you can simply hire a developer or dedicated company like Seahawk Media for this conversion.
Do I need to know coding to convert Figma to WordPress?
You don’t need to know coding to create and convert Figma designs to WordPress because you can easily do it with a plugin or hire a developer.
However, if you want to do it yourself without a plugin, then you must know HTML, CSS, and possibly PHP to hand-code your website. This is because some of the Figma design elements will need to be coded to provide functionality in WordPress.
Does converting from Figma to WordPress hurt SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?
If you convert a Figma design to WordPress, then your content or backlinks won’t be affected. However, Figma designs can negatively affect your website structure, page speed, and images.
That is why we recommend using Seahawk Media services for a Figma to WordPress conversion because they will make sure that your website is fully responsive, cleanly coded, and SEO-ready after the conversion.
