Elasticsearch, Search

Search related techno-functional tips – Part 1

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  • We can search a lot of things using Elasticsearch / SOLR or similar appliances by Google etc. but we can’t load everything in memory generally. It will simply overwhelm the heap and the processing engine with lot of calculations depending on type of system.
  • That necessitates us to device proper UX / UI with below points:
  • Filter by timeline sliders.
  • Use lazy loading from backend where possible.
  • Restrict background results so that front end system is not overwhelmed.
  • Give advanced filtering capabilities by date, time, topic, NLP / semantic search, AI prompting and so on.
  • Be careful of ASC / DESC sorting and deep pagination.
  • Focus on boosting / accuracy / indexing / relevance / shards / full text search / caching / top queries / optimizations / categorization-based search / metrics measurement / relevance / privacy / security and so on.
  • What is important is to search everything but not return everything.
  • Search should be as specific as possible.
  • If you want all results in a return result, then search is not the optimal solution, better work with caching / DB / in-memory products / etc.
  • Email me: Neil@HarwaniSytems.in
  • Website: www.HarwaniSystems.in
  • Blog: www.TechAndTrain.com/blog
  • LinkedIn: Neil Harwani | LinkedIn
Liferay

How to debug Liferay? – Some pointers – Part 2

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Practical tips to debug Liferay – further to my two earlier posts:

How to debug Liferay when nothing is printed in logs and there is a problem? – ChatGPT & BARD Generated | LinkedIn

How to debug Liferay? – Some pointers – Part 1 | LinkedIn

  • Setup automated heap dumps when out of memory happens.
  • Setup automated thread dumps when Liferay slows down.
  • Set up Glowroot persistence.
  • Set up Glowroot in central pattern in production especially.
  • Use ycrash.io to analyze thread and heap dumps if possible or an offline tool as per your policy.
  • Cannot emphasize enough on the above five.
  • Check Liferay logs.
  • Check DB connection pool settings via Hikari pool or others as set and it’s exhaustion.
  • Check configuration files: setenv.sh/bat server.xml, osgi/configs, other app server configurations, etc.
  • Check logs of Elasticsearch, Database, Webserver, Load balancer, Web application firewall, Content Delivery Network and more.
  • Use CAT API of Elasticsearch to check status of Elasticsearch.
  • Check if any schedulers or integrations are putting load on the system.
  • Check if things like caching, content delivery, security, etc. are as much as possible offloaded from app server.
  • Check network delays & errors across all component deployments and debug layer by layer for: LR, app nodes, WS, ES, DB, WAF, CDN and so on.
  • Automate via scripting monitoring of CPU, threads and Heap especially on all servers in deployment.
  • Analyze trends for traffic.
  • Email me: Neil@HarwaniSytems.in
  • Website: www.HarwaniSystems.in
  • Blog: www.TechAndTrain.com/blog
  • LinkedIn: Neil Harwani | LinkedIn
Cyber Security

Commands, Menus, Architecture & Features of Wireshark – Open source product dissection – Part 1 – Generated by Gemini & ChatGPT

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Wireshark is a renowned network protocol analyzer, often considered the standard across many industries. It’s an essential tool for network administrators, security professionals, and anyone looking to monitor and troubleshoot network traffic. Here’s an overview of its main features and architecture:

### Main Features of Wireshark

1. Live Capture and Offline Analysis: Wireshark allows for the capture of real-time network traffic as well as the analysis of previously captured files.

2. Broad Protocol Support: It supports hundreds of protocols and media types, with more being added regularly thanks to its open-source nature.

3. Deep Inspection of Hundreds of Protocols: Wireshark can drill down into the detail of network traffic, displaying each packet’s contents according to the protocol it belongs to.

4. Multi-Platform: Wireshark runs on Windows, macOS, and various UNIX and Linux distributions, making it widely accessible.

5. Graphical and TShark (CLI) Interfaces: While Wireshark is known for its graphical user interface, it also offers TShark, a powerful command-line interface tool, for those who prefer or need to work in a terminal.

6. Filtering and Search Capabilities: Users can filter network traffic displayed based on various criteria (such as IP addresses, protocol types, and ports) and search for specific packets.

7. VoIP Analysis: Wireshark can analyze Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) traffic, making it useful for troubleshooting complex voice communication issues.

8. Rich Visualization Options: It offers color coding and graphical visualization of network conversations and traffic patterns, aiding in the easier identification of problems.

9. Export and Conversion Features: Captured network data can be exported into various formats or converted into a different form for analysis in other tools.

### Architecture of Wireshark

The architecture of Wireshark is modular, consisting of several key components:

1. Capture Engine: Wireshark uses pcap (packet capture) libraries to capture live traffic from a wide range of network media types. On Windows, it uses WinPcap/Npcap, and on Unix-like systems, it uses libpcap.

2. Dissectors: For each supported protocol, Wireshark has a dissector – a module that understands how to interpret the structure of a packet belonging to that protocol. Dissectors parse the packet data and present it in a human-readable format.

3. Graphical User Interface (GUI): The GUI presents the captured and analyzed data to the user, allowing interaction through filters, search functionalities, and detailed views of individual packets.

4. Command Line Tools: Apart from the GUI, Wireshark comes with several command-line tools like TShark for capturing and analyzing traffic, editcap for editing capture files, and mergecap for merging multiple capture files.

5. Plugins and Extensions: Wireshark supports plugins in C, Lua, or Python, allowing users to extend its functionality with new dissectors or features.

The modular design of Wireshark, combined with its wide range of features, makes it a flexible tool for anyone working with network traffic. Its ability to analyze traffic in real-time or from captured files, along with its deep inspection capabilities, makes Wireshark an invaluable tool for diagnosing network issues, security analysis, and understanding network protocols in depth.

Wireshark offers a comprehensive set of commands and menu items that cater to various network analysis needs. Understanding the core functionalities available through its Graphical User Interface (GUI) and command-line tools can significantly enhance your efficiency in using this powerful network protocol analyzer. Here’s an overview of some important commands and menu items in Wireshark:

### Important GUI Menu Items

1. File Menu

– Open: Opens a saved capture file for analysis.

– Save As / Export: Allows saving the current capture in a different format or exporting specific data like HTTP objects.

– Close: Closes the current capture file.

– Quit: Exits the application.

2. Edit Menu

– Find Packet: Enables searching for packets by various criteria such as packet content or protocol fields.

– Preferences: Access to Wireshark’s settings and options for customization and configuration.

3. View Menu

– Colorize Conversation: Highlights packet conversations in different colors to differentiate between them easily.

– Zoom In/Out: Adjusts the size of packet details displayed.

– Font & Colors: Customizes the appearance of the packet list, packet details, and packet bytes panes.

4. Go Menu

– Go to Packet: Jumps to a specific packet number.

– Next/Previous Packet: Navigates through packets according to the applied display filter.

5. Capture Menu

– Start: Begins capturing packets on a selected network interface.

– Stop: Stops the current capture session.

– Options: Configures capture settings like filters, limits, and interface options.

6. Analyze Menu

– Display Filters: Configures filters to display only certain types of packets.

– Decode As: Allows the user to specify how packet data should be interpreted, useful for protocols over non-standard ports.

– Expert Information: Provides a summary of potential issues found in the capture, such as retransmissions or malformed packets.

7. Statistics Menu

– Summary: Displays a summary of the capture, including the number of packets, capture duration, and data rates.

– Protocol Hierarchy: Shows a breakdown of protocols observed in the capture.

– Conversations and Endpoints: Lists communication flows and network endpoints, respectively, providing insights into network interactions.

8. Help Menu

– About Wireshark: Provides version and license information.

– Wireshark Help: Access to the user guide and FAQs.

### Important Command-line Tools

1. tshark

– The command-line version of Wireshark, useful for capturing and analyzing packets in a terminal or scripting environment. Examples of commands include:

– tshark -i eth0 to start capturing on interface eth0.

– tshark -r file.pcap to read and analyze packets from a file.

2. editcap

– A tool for editing and converting capture files. Commands include options like:

– editcap -d infile.pcap outfile.pcap to deduplicate packets.

– editcap -s 64 infile.pcap outfile.pcap to truncate packets to a certain length.

3. mergecap

– Used for merging multiple capture files into one. An example command:

– mergecap -w merged.pcap file1.pcap file2.pcap to merge file1.pcap and file2.pcap into merged.pcap.

4. capinfos

– Provides summary information about a capture file. Use it like:

– capinfos file.pcap to get detailed information about the capture file.

Understanding and leveraging these commands and menu items will help you navigate through Wireshark more efficiently, making it easier to capture, analyze, and interpret network traffic data.

Absolutely! Here’s a breakdown of Wireshark’s main features and its underlying architecture:

Main Features

  • Deep Packet Inspection: Wireshark allows you to analyze the contents of network packets at a granular level, delving into various protocol layers and dissecting their headers and payload data.
  • Live Capture: Capture and examine network traffic as it flows in real-time.
  • Offline Analysis: Open and analyze previously captured traffic files (common format: .pcap).
  • Filtering: Powerful display filters let you zero in on specific packets or types of traffic using complex criteria. This is essential for making sense of the noise on a busy network.
  • Decoding and Dissection: Wireshark supports a massive range of networking protocols, automatically decoding them and presenting them in a human-readable format.
  • Reconstruction: Wireshark can reassemble TCP streams or other data flows, making it easier to follow conversations or file transfers across multiple packets.
  • Statistics and Reports: Generate various statistics and reports to visualize network traffic patterns and potential issues.

Architecture

Wireshark is built with these core components:

  1. libpcap/WinPcap (Packet Capture Engine): This library provides cross-platform access to low-level network interfaces. It handles the actual capture of network packets.
  2. Core Engine: Wireshark’s core is responsible for: Reading Packet Data: Reading from libpcap/WinPcap or from saved capture files. Protocol Dissection: Applying dissectors to break down packets based on their protocols and extract the relevant fields. Packet Analysis and Filtering: Applying display filters and performing deeper analysis on the decoded packet data.
  3. Graphical User Interface (GUI): Wireshark primarily uses the Qt framework for its GUI. This provides the visual interface where you see the packet lists, detailed packet views, and various configuration options.

Workflow (Simplified)

  1. Wireshark tells libpcap/WinPcap which network interface to listen on.
  2. libpcap/WinPcap grabs raw network packets.
  3. Packets are passed to Wireshark’s core engine.
  4. The core engine applies the appropriate dissector to decode the packet based on its protocol.
  5. Filtered and dissected packets are displayed in the GUI with detailed breakdowns of fields and data.

Key Points

  • Wireshark’s power comes from its vast library of protocol dissectors.
  • The GUI makes it easier to work with the complex information captured from network traffic.

Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into a specific aspect of Wireshark’s features or architecture!

Here’s a breakdown of important Wireshark commands (mainly through the toolbar) and frequently used menu items:

Toolbar Commands

  • Start Capturing Packets: The iconic blue shark fin icon initiates a packet capture session.
  • Stop Capturing Packets: The red square halts the current capture.
  • Restart Capturing Packets: Begins a new capture discarding the contents of the current one.
  • Open: Opens a previously saved capture file.
  • Save: Saves the currently displayed capture data.
  • Find Packet: Opens a dialog to search for specific packets based on criteria.
  • Reload: Reloads the current capture file (useful if it was modified externally).
  • Go to First/Previous/Next/Last Packet: Navigation controls for moving through the packet list.
  • Colorize Packets: Toggles on/off color-coding of packets based on protocol type.

Menu Items

  • File Open, Open Recent, Save, Export (in various formats), Close, Quit
  • Edit Find Packet, Find Next/Previous, Time References (setting and marking), Preferences
  • View Coloring Rules (manage colorization), Zoom in/out, Expand/Collapse Subtrees, Time Display Format, Name Resolution (enable/disable)
  • Go Go to Packet, Go to First/Previous/Next/Last Packet, Back, Forward (navigation)
  • Capture Options (set interfaces, filters), Start, Stop, Restart, Capture Filters (manage)
  • Analyze Display Filters (create and manage), Follow (TCP Stream, etc.), Expert Info (view analysis results)
  • Statistics Offers a wide array of statistical analysis tools: Conversations, Endpoints, Protocol Hierarchy, Flow Graph, and many more.
  • Help Online documentation and resources

Important Note:

  • Display Filters: The power of Wireshark largely lies in its display filters. Learning the extensive display filter syntax is crucial for effective analysis. You can find tutorials and a filter reference guide on the Wireshark website.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Wireshark supports a rich set of keyboard shortcuts for faster navigation and actions. Check the official documentation or the Help menu for a complete list.

Additional Tips

  • Context Menus: Right-clicking on a packet or in various areas of the interface provides additional contextual options.
  • Customization: The toolbar, menus, and many other aspects of Wireshark are customizable to tailor it to your workflow.

Let me know if you want a focused guide on display filters or have any specific menu categories you’d like to explore in greater detail!

Cyber Security

Cyber security tips for Portals – Generated by ChatGPT & GEMINI – Part 1

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Cyber security is a critical concern for portal applications, which often serve as gateways to a wide range of resources and services. Here are some vital tips to enhance the cyber security posture of portal applications:

1. Use Strong Authentication Mechanisms: Implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security beyond just usernames and passwords. Consider integrating biometric authentication, security tokens, or one-time password (OTP) systems.

2. Encrypt Data In Transit and At Rest: Use strong encryption protocols like TLS (Transport Layer Security) for data in transit. For data at rest, ensure that databases and file storage are encrypted using robust encryption standards.

3. Regularly Update and Patch Systems: Keep all software components, including the web server, database, and any third-party libraries, up to date with the latest security patches. Regular updates protect against vulnerabilities that attackers could exploit.

4. Implement Access Control and Authorization: Use role-based access control (RBAC) to ensure that users can only access information and functionalities relevant to their roles. Principle of least privilege should be strictly followed.

5. Secure APIs: If your portal interacts with other services through APIs, ensure those APIs are secured against common threats as defined by the OWASP API Security Top 10. Implement API rate limiting, access control, and ensure sensitive data is not exposed unnecessarily.

6. Conduct Regular Security Audits and Penetration Testing: Regularly assess the security of your portal application through audits and penetration testing. This helps identify and mitigate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.

7. Protect Against Web Application Attacks: Use web application firewalls (WAF) and secure coding practices to protect against common web application attacks such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF).

8. Monitor and Log Activity: Implement comprehensive logging and monitoring solutions to detect suspicious activities early. Regularly review logs for anomalies and signs of breaches.

9. Secure Session Management: Ensure secure session management practices are in place, including secure cookie handling and session timeout policies to prevent session hijacking and fixation attacks.

10. Educate Users: Conduct regular cybersecurity awareness training for all users of the portal. Educating users about phishing, safe browsing practices, and the importance of strong passwords can significantly reduce security risks.

11. Backup Data Regularly: Regular backups are essential for recovery in case of a cyber attack leading to data loss. Ensure backups are secure and tested regularly for integrity.

12. Compliance and Privacy: Ensure compliance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or CCPA, which may dictate specific security and privacy measures.

Implementing these security measures can significantly reduce the risk of cyber attacks and data breaches in portal applications. Continuous attention to security, regular updates, and educating users are key components of a robust cyber security strategy.

Here’s a breakdown of cybersecurity tips specifically tailored for portal applications:

1. Authentication and Authorization

  • Strong Passwords: Enforce complex password policies (length, special characters, periodic changes). Consider password managers to help users.
  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Add an extra security layer with MFA (e.g., SMS codes, authenticator apps, hardware keys).
  • Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Define granular access permissions based on user roles and responsibilities to limit the impact of any compromised account.
  • Session Management: Implement idle session timeouts and proper logout mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access.

2. Secure Coding Practices

  • Input Validation: Sanitize all user input to prevent injection attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
  • Output Encoding: Encode output to mitigate XSS vulnerabilities.
  • Secure Development Lifecycle (SDLC): Integrate security from the design phase, through development and testing. Include regular vulnerability scanning.
  • Use Established Frameworks: Choose well-maintained frameworks that prioritize security.

3. Encryption

  • HTTPS Everywhere: Use TLS (HTTPS) to encrypt all portal traffic in transit, protecting sensitive data.
  • Data at Rest Encryption: Encrypt sensitive data stored within databases or file systems.
  • Password Hashing: Store passwords using strong, salted hashes (like bcrypt, scrypt), never in plain text.

4. Network Security

  • Firewalls: Implement network and web application firewalls (WAF) to filter out malicious traffic.
  • Intrusion Detection/Prevention (IDS/IPS): Monitor network activity for anomalies and block potential attacks.
  • Segmentation: Separate sensitive areas of your network to minimize the attack surface.

5. Vulnerability Management

  • Regular Patching: Keep operating systems, web servers, frameworks, and third-party libraries up-to-date with security patches.
  • Penetration Testing: Conduct regular penetration testing to discover and address vulnerabilities proactively.

6. Logging and Monitoring

  • Extensive Logging: Implement comprehensive logging of authentication attempts, user activity, configuration changes, and security events.
  • Centralized Log Management: Use a SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system to collect and analyze logs for anomalies.
  • Auditing: Regularly audit logs to identify potential security breaches.

7. Incident Response

  • Have a Plan: Develop an incident response plan for handling suspected breaches quickly and effectively.
  • Clear Communication: Establish clear communication channels internally and for reporting incidents to users or authorities if necessary.

8. User Education

  • Security Awareness Training: Educate portal users about phishing, social engineering tactics, password hygiene, and how to spot suspicious activity.

Additional Considerations:

  • Zero-Trust Approach: Adopt a zero-trust model where no user or device is inherently trusted. Verify and authenticate continuously.
  • Data Minimization: Collect only the data absolutely necessary for the portal’s functionality.

Remember: Cybersecurity is an ongoing process. Stay up-to-date with emerging threats and continuously evaluate your portal’s security posture.

Let me know if you’d like more details on any of the specific tips or want to discuss specific portal technologies!

Core Engineering

Let’s study core engineering (non-Tech) via Gemini – Part 3 – What are the basic laws of chemistry? Created by Gemini

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While there’s a vast array of principles and theories driving organic and inorganic chemistry, here’s a breakdown of some fundamental laws and concepts that form the basis for understanding these fields:

Basic Laws of Chemistry (Applicable to both Organic and Inorganic)

  • Law of Conservation of Mass: Matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, only transformed.
  • Law of Definite Proportions: A specific chemical compound will always contain the same elements in the same fixed proportion by mass.
  • Law of Multiple Proportions: When elements combine to form multiple compounds, the ratios of the masses of one element that combine with a fixed mass of another element can be expressed as small whole numbers.
  • The Periodic Table: The cornerstone of chemistry, organizing elements based on atomic number, electron configuration, and recurring properties. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periodic_table)

Key Concepts in Organic Chemistry

  • Covalent Bonding: The primary bond in organic chemistry, involving the sharing of electrons between atoms, usually carbon and other elements like hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen.
  • Structural Isomerism: Organic compounds can have the same molecular formula but different structural arrangements of atoms.
  • Functional Groups: Specific groups of atoms within a molecule that impart characteristic chemical reactions and properties (e.g., alcohols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes).
  • Organic Reactions: Understand the key types like substitution, addition, elimination, and rearrangement reactions.

Key Concepts in Inorganic Chemistry

  • Ionic Bonding: A major type of bonding in inorganic compounds involving the transfer of electrons between atoms, often between metals and non-metals.
  • Coordination Chemistry: Explores metal complexes where a central metal ion is surrounded by ligands (atoms or molecules) via coordinate bonds.
  • Crystal Structures: The study of the arrangement of atoms, ions, or molecules in crystalline materials.
  • Acid-Base Chemistry: Reactions involving acids (proton donors) and bases (proton acceptors) are central to inorganic chemistry.

Important Notes:

  • Overlaps: There’s significant overlap between the fields. Organometallic chemistry, for example, bridges organic and inorganic.
  • Vast and Evolving Fields: This is just a starting point. Both organic and inorganic chemistry encompass numerous other laws, theories, and reactions.

Resources for Learning More

  • Textbooks: Look for introductory organic and inorganic chemistry textbooks.
  • Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/science/chemistry
  • University Chemistry Websites: Many universities have excellent online resources explaining basic concepts.
Core Engineering

Let’s study core engineering (non-Tech) with Gemini- Part 2 – Notes on radar engineering – Created by Gemini

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Here’s a breakdown of the main points of radar engineering:

Fundamentals

  • Electromagnetic Transmission and Reflection: Radar operates by sending electromagnetic waves (usually in the radio or microwave frequencies) and interpreting the echoes reflected from objects.
  • Range Determination: Radar measures the time it takes for a signal to travel to a target and back, using the speed of light to calculate distance.
  • Velocity Measurement: The Doppler Effect is used to determine the relative speed of a target based on the frequency shift of the reflected signal.
  • Antenna Design: The antenna is essential for focusing the radar beam, increasing transmit power, and directing the received signal.

Key Components

  • Transmitter: Generates the powerful radio or microwave signals.
  • Antenna: Often a directional antenna, responsible for transmitting the signal and receiving echoes.
  • Duplexer: Isolates the receiver from the transmitter’s high-power signals, allowing use of a single antenna.
  • Receiver: Amplifies and processes the weak reflected signals.
  • Signal Processor: Extracts target information (range, velocity, size) from the received signal, often amid noise and clutter.

Types of Radar

  • Pulse Radar: Transmits short, powerful pulses and analyzes the timing of the returned echoes.
  • Continuous Wave (CW) Radar: Continuously transmits a signal and is specialized for measuring velocity using the Doppler shift.
  • Phased Array Radar: Uses multiple antenna elements that can electronically steer the beam, providing agility and multifunction capabilities.

Applications

  • Air Traffic Control: Tracking aircraft, managing airspace, and assisting with landings.
  • Weather Monitoring: Detecting precipitation, analyzing storm severity, and tracking wind patterns.
  • Military: Surveillance, missile guidance, target detection, and weapons control.
  • Automotive: Adaptive cruise control, collision avoidance, self-driving cars.
  • Mapping and Remote Sensing: Generating geographical maps and assessing terrain from airborne or spaceborne platforms .

Challenges and Advancements

  • Signal Processing: Separating faint target echoes from noise and clutter is a core challenge.
  • Stealth Technology: Designing aircraft and vehicles to reduce their radar cross-section (RCS) and evade detection.
  • Adaptive Techniques: Radar systems adaptively change their behavior to optimize performance depending on the environment.
  • Electronic Warfare: Radar jamming and countermeasures.

References:

Fundamentals

Components

Types of Radar

Applications

Challenges and Advancements

Core Engineering

Let’s study core engineering (non-Tech)with Gemini – Part 1 – Design philosophies for civil, mechanical and electrical engineering – Created by Gemini

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Here’s a breakdown of major design philosophies across the three core disciplines of civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering:

Civil Engineering

  • Working Stress Method (WSM): A classic approach focusing on keeping stresses in materials well within their elastic limits. It applies factors of safety for additional protection against unforeseen loads.
  • Limit State Method (LSM): A more comprehensive philosophy that considers various limit states a structure might reach (collapse, excessive deflection, cracking, etc.). Both loads and material strengths have safety factors applied. LSM is preferred in modern codes and standards.
  • Ultimate Load Method/ Load Factor Method: Focuses on the theoretical collapse load of a structure to determine safety margins. Employs load factors to increase anticipated loads and reduce allowable material strength.

Mechanical Engineering

  • Factor of Safety: A core concept where the failure load or stress is divided by the expected working load/stress. This provides a safety margin, with factor values often mandated by standards.
  • Reliability-Based Design: Incorporates statistical models into design to account for variability in loads, material properties, manufacturing, etc. This offers a more probabilistic view of failure risk and helps optimize designs.
  • Design for X (DFX): A family of philosophies with these notable ones: Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DFMA): Emphasizes designing for ease of manufacturing and assembly, reducing costs and production time. Design for Sustainability Prioritizes minimizing environmental impact through material choices, energy efficiency, and end-of-life considerations.

Electrical Engineering

  • Codes and Standards: Electrical engineers heavily rely on national and international codes (e.g., National Electrical Code (NEC), IEC Standards). These codes prescribe safety practices, component ratings, wiring methods, etc.
  • Reliability and Redundancy: Especially important in power systems and critical infrastructure. Redundancies and fail-safes are built-in to maximize reliability and mitigate failure risks.
  • Circuit Design Methodologies: Worst-case Design: Considers the most extreme parameter variations components might have and designs for the worst possible scenario. Statistical Design: Leverages statistical models of component tolerances to assess the probability of circuit performance falling within acceptable ranges.
  • Signal Integrity: In high-speed digital design, minimizing signal distortion, noise, and interference is crucial, impacting design philosophies, transmission line choices, and grounding approaches.

Important Considerations

  • Overlaps and Shared Principles: Lines blur between the disciplines. Factors of safety are used across branches, and sustainability is a growing concern for all engineers.
  • Project-Specific Needs: The project’s context and requirements dictate the most suitable philosophy. A simple component might only need the Factor of Safety approach, while a critical nuclear power plant would employ multiple methods with rigorous safety and simulation.
  • Design as a Process: Engineering design is an iterative process. Philosophies guide choices but are integrated with analysis tools, codes/standards, and continuous evaluation.

Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into a particular philosophy or its practical application within one of these engineering fields!

References:

Civil Engineering

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Core Concepts:

Types of Circuits

Design Techniques and Analysis:

Additional Useful Links

FPM

Keywords from my FPM journey – Part 1

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Some keywords from my FPM journey till now – Part 1 below (in no particular order):

  • Regression
  • Structural equation modelling
  • Research design & methodology
  • Questionnaire design
  • Statistics
  • Factor analysis
  • Exploratory vs. confirmatory
  • Formative vs. reflective constructs
  • Latent variables
  • Measurement scales
  • Types of data
  • Entrepreneurship theories
  • Literature review
  • HR & OB theories
  • PL-SEM
  • JASP
  • SPSS
  • Research paper
  • Quantitative techniques
  • Fundamentals of management
  • Financial Reporting & Statement’s Analysis
  • Accounting
  • Marketing theories
  • Qualitative vs. Quantitative
  • Data coding
  • Theory hub
  • Journals
  • Q1, Q2, A* / Journal quality checker
  • Review and seminal papers
  • Sci-Hub
  • AMOS
  • Research objectives
  • Leadership, motivation, team work related theories
  • Business value canvas
  • Research canvas
  • Ontology
  • Philosophy
  • Discipline and profession
  • SCOPUS
  • Web of Science
  • ABDC
  • Framing research questions
  • Research model
  • Scales & measures
  • Parametric and non-parametric tests
  • Handbook of questionnaires & scales
  • Publish or perish
Prompt Engineering

Notes on prompt engineering – Part 1 – Generated by ChatGPT & BARD

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Prompt engineering involves crafting inputs (prompts) to effectively communicate with AI models like GPT-4 to achieve desired outputs. Here are some best practices:

1. Be Specific and Clear: Clearly define what you want from the model. Specific prompts lead to more accurate and relevant responses. For example, instead of asking “Tell me about dogs,” specify “Provide a summary of the evolutionary history of domestic dogs.”

2. Use Relevant Context: Provide necessary background information to guide the model’s response. For example, if you’re asking about a specific event or concept, include relevant details or parameters in your prompt.

3. Iterative Refinement: Start with a broad prompt and refine it based on the responses you get. This iterative approach helps narrow down to the most effective prompt for your needs.

4. Prompt Templates: Use structured templates for similar types of queries to ensure consistency and efficiency. For example, for data analysis, you might use a template like “Analyze [data points] and provide insights on [specific aspect].”

5. Balance Between Open-ended and Directed Questions: Depending on your need, you might want an open-ended response for creativity or a directed question for specific information. Adjust your prompt accordingly.

6. Use of Instructions and Examples: For complex tasks, consider providing instructions or examples within the prompt. This can help guide the model to the type of response you’re looking for.

7. Leverage Keywords: Use keywords relevant to your query to help the model understand the context and domain of your request more quickly.

8. Adjust Tone and Style: Specify the tone, style, or format if it’s important for your application. For example, “Write a formal email to a client discussing X” or “Explain concept Y in simple terms for an 8-year-old.”

9. Break Down Complex Requests: If you have a complex request, break it down into smaller, more manageable prompts. This can help in getting more detailed and focused responses.

10. Feedback Loop: Use the responses you get to refine your prompts further. If the output isn’t what you expected, tweak your prompt and try again.

11. Understand Model Limitations: Be aware of the model’s limitations, including its knowledge cutoff date, and avoid prompts that require real-time information or assume the model has personal experiences.

12. Ethical Considerations: Ensure your prompts adhere to ethical guidelines and do not promote harmful, biased, or sensitive content.

13. Experimentation: Don’t hesitate to experiment with different types of prompts to see what works best for your specific need.

Prompt engineering is an iterative and creative process. These best practices can serve as guidelines, but the most effective prompts often come from understanding the model’s capabilities and experimenting with different approaches.

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Best Practices for Prompt Engineering:

Prompt engineering plays a crucial role in unlocking the potential of large language models (LLMs). Here are some key best practices to follow:

Clarity and Specificity:

  • Be clear and concise: Clearly state the desired outcome and avoid ambiguity. LLMs excel at executing specific instructions.
  • Provide examples: Illustrate your expectations with relevant examples to guide the model’s understanding.
  • Use domain-specific terms: Employ accurate terminology from the relevant field for precise outputs.

Structure and Formatting:

  • Break down complex prompts: Divide long prompts into smaller, focused prompts for better comprehension and control.
  • Organize information: Use clear formatting like bullet points or numbering to structure your prompt logically.
  • Utilize delimiters: Separate different parts of your prompt (e.g., instructions, examples) with clear delimiters to assist the LLM.

Context and Guidance:

  • Provide background information: Share relevant context about the task or domain to enhance the model’s understanding.
  • Specify desired style and tone: Indicate whether you want the output to be formal, informal, creative, etc.
  • Set clear expectations: Define the length, format, and level of detail you expect for the response.

Experimentation and Iteration:

  • Start simple and refine: Begin with basic prompts and gradually add complexity based on the results.
  • Test different phrasings: Experiment with various rephrasings of your prompt to observe how the LLM responds.
  • Analyze outputs and adapt: Pay attention to the model’s responses and adjust your prompts accordingly.

Additional Tips:

  • Use positive language: Frame your prompts positively to encourage the LLM to generate constructive outputs.
  • Avoid biased language: Be mindful of potential biases in your prompts to ensure fair and inclusive results.
  • Utilize pre-trained models: Consider using pre-trained models fine-tuned on specific tasks for better performance.
  • Leverage community resources: Explore existing prompt examples and discussions within the LLM community for inspiration.

Remember, prompt engineering is an ongoing process. By following these best practices and continuously experimenting, you can effectively harness the power of LLMs and achieve your desired outcomes.

Liferay

How to debug Liferay when nothing is printed in logs and there is a problem? – ChatGPT & BARD Generated

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Debugging issues in Liferay when nothing is printed in the logs can be challenging, but there are several strategies you can employ to identify and resolve the problem. Here are some steps to guide you through the debugging process:

### 1. Enable More Verbose Logging

– Action: Adjust the logging level for specific packages or components within Liferay to capture more detailed information. This can be done via the Control Panel under “Server Administration” → “Log Levels”, or by modifying the portal-ext.properties file to include more verbose logging for the suspected components.

– Goal: To capture more detailed logs that might not be visible under normal logging levels, which could provide insights into the underlying issue.

### 2. Use External Debugging Tools

– Action: Connect an external debugger to the Liferay JVM. Most IDEs (like Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA) allow you to attach a debugger to a remote Java process. You will need to start Liferay with remote debugging enabled by setting appropriate JVM options.

– Goal: To step through the code in real-time to understand the flow and pinpoint where the issue might be occurring.

### 3. Thread Dump Analysis

– Action: If the problem seems related to hanging or performance issues, generate a thread dump from the JVM. This can be done using tools like jstack or from the operating system’s command line.

– Goal: To analyze the state of threads within the JVM and identify any deadlocks, long-waiting threads, or other anomalies that might indicate where the system is getting stuck.

### 4. Memory and Heap Analysis

– Action: Use Java profiling tools (like VisualVM, YourKit, or Eclipse Memory Analyzer) to analyze memory usage and heap dumps. This can help in identifying memory leaks, excessive memory usage, or other memory-related issues.

– Goal: To understand memory allocation and garbage collection patterns which might be affecting the performance or functionality of Liferay.

### 5. Enable Request Tracing

– Action: Utilize Liferay’s built-in request tracing capabilities (if available in your version) or use external tools like browser developer tools or network traffic analyzers to trace the HTTP requests and responses.

– Goal: To understand the flow of requests and responses in the system, helping to identify any failures or bottlenecks in the request processing pipeline.

### 6. Review Front-End Console and Network Activity

– Action: Use the browser’s developer tools to inspect the console for JavaScript errors and the network activity for failed or stalled requests.

– Goal: To catch any client-side issues that might not be apparent on the server side, such as failed AJAX requests, loading errors for resources, or JavaScript execution issues.

### 7. Check External Dependencies

– Action: Ensure that all external systems and services that Liferay depends on (like databases, external APIs, LDAP servers) are operational and accessible.

– Goal: To rule out connectivity issues, authentication failures, or other problems with external dependencies that might cause Liferay to behave unexpectedly.

### 8. Perform A/B Testing

– Action: If possible, compare the behavior on another environment where the issue is not present (e.g., development, staging, or another production environment). This can help identify environmental or configuration differences that might be contributing to the issue.

– Goal: To isolate the problem to either code, configuration, or environment-specific issues.

### 9. Review Recent Changes

– Action: Review any recent changes to the system, including software upgrades, configuration changes, custom developments, or deployed plugins, which might have introduced the issue.

– Goal: To identify if the issue correlates with a specific change, which can then be rolled back or further investigated.

### 10. Consult Community Forums and Support

– Action: Search for similar issues in Liferay community forums, Stack Overflow, or official Liferay support channels. If you have a Liferay subscription, consider opening a support ticket.

– Goal: To leverage collective knowledge and experiences from the Liferay community or get direct support from Liferay experts.

Debugging complex issues in Liferay or any large enterprise platform can be a process of elimination and investigation. Patience, systematic troubleshooting, and leveraging available tools and resources are key to identifying and resolving the problem.

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Here are steps you can take to debug Liferay when there are no logs and a problem persists:

1. Verify Log Configuration:

  • Check Log Levels: Ensure log levels are set to DEBUG for relevant components in portal-log4j-ext.xml.
  • Confirm File Paths: Verify that log files are written to the correct locations and have appropriate permissions.
  • Review Logging Configuration: Ensure logging is enabled in Liferay’s Control Panel (Server Administration -> Log Levels).
  • Disable Custom Filters: If you’ve implemented custom log filters, temporarily disable them to rule out interference.

2. Inspect Server Logs:

  • Examine Server Logs: Check server logs (e.g., Tomcat’s catalina.out) for clues, as some errors might be logged there instead.
  • Analyze Stack Traces: Look for stack traces or error messages that might hint at the issue’s origin.

3. Activate Additional Logging:

  • Enable Finer-Grained Logging: Temporarily increase logging levels for specific classes or packages to capture more detailed information.
  • Utilize Debugging Tools: Employ Java debugging tools (e.g., Eclipse’s debugger) to step through code execution and identify the problem area.

4. Isolate the Issue:

  • Simplify the Scenario: Reproduce the issue in a minimal environment to pinpoint the root cause more easily.
  • Disable Customizations: Temporarily disable custom plugins or themes to see if the problem persists in a standard Liferay configuration.

5. Analyze Browser Developer Tools:

  • Inspect Network Requests: Examine network requests and responses in browser developer tools to identify any failed requests or unusual behavior.
  • Check Console Errors: Look for JavaScript errors or warnings in the browser console that might provide additional insights.

6. Check for Known Issues:

  • Refer to Liferay Documentation: Consult Liferay’s documentation and community forums for similar reported issues and potential solutions.
  • Search for Bug Fixes: Check Liferay’s issue tracker for bug fixes or workarounds related to the problem you’re experiencing.

7. Seek Community Support:

  • Engage with the Community: If you’re still stuck, provide detailed information about your setup, Liferay version, and the specific problem in Liferay community forums or support channels for expert assistance.

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