Ravi S. Iyer: Software Development

Last updated on 5 Jun 2025 I recently upgraded Node on both my Windows 11 desktop PC (DPC) and old low-config Windows 10 Dell Mini Laptop (DML) to v22.16.0. I wanted to have same Node version on both the computers. DPC earlier had Node v22.13.1. DML seems to have had much older Node (probably v20.x.x).  I then copied over all files of a Timestamp React native and Expo project which works with Expo Go from DPC to DML (using WiFi transfer of zip file of the project). The project folder size was around 205 MB (including node_modules) (zip file was around 66 MB). The code was working for both web and Android using Expo Go on DPC. The code ran right away on DML too (with npm run start)! I tested it (DML project) both on web and Android using Expo Go. Note that on DML I cannot run Android Emulator as it is too low-config for that. But I could use Expo Go on my Samsung Android phone and run the Timestamp app running (perhaps I should say being bundled, to be more accurate) on DM...

Last updated on 31 May 2025 I wanted to have a dark theme and larger than normal text setup on my old Dell Mini Laptop (DML): Inspiron 11 3137 (Inspiron 11 series, model 3137), https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_laptop/esuprt_inspiron_laptop/inspiron-11-3137_reference%20guide_en-us.pdf . Key specs. of my Dell Mini Laptop(MDL) Intel Celeron 2955U (Dual core, 1.4 GHz) 4 GB RAM (upgraded from 2 GB RAM) 11.6 inch WLED touch display Around 240 GB SSD (upgraded from earlier HDD) Key settings for Dark Theme workaround and Large Text Display & Appearance Settings Display resolution: 1366 x 768 (default for Dell Mini Inspiron) Display scaling (Make everything bigger): 125% Text size (Ease of Access → Display → Make text bigger): 140% Brightness slider (Ease of Access): set to 100% (maximum readability) Theme: Enabled High Contrast mode (e.g., “High Contrast Black”) Improves selected file visibility in File Explorer Dark mode for apps (I think once above Hight Contrast m...

Last updated on 4 Jun 2025 Summary (Slightly Long) A) File transfer using PC-to-PC WiFi hosted network The below procedure may work for for connecting a Window 10/11 computer directly to another Windows 10/11 computer using WiFi and then be able to do file sharing over the connection. I have given summary info about how I am using it with my PC & laptop. Procedure to set up file sharing between my old Dell Mini Laptop (DML) which is on Windows 10 and desktop PC (DPC) running Windows 11, using direct WiFi connection between the two, is given below. Check Windows Firewall settings on DML and DPC whether Private profile networks have Enabled status for various 'File and Printer Sharing' (and, optionally I think, 'Network Discovery') Inbound rules. If they are not enabled, set them to enabled. [Windows Firewall settings -> Advanced settings (towards bottom of screen) -> Inbound rules (left pane) -> Locate rules in list]. Do NOT turn off firewall for any profile...

Most of the contents below are copy-pasted from ChatGPT responses in a very interesting recent chat I had with it:  https://chatgpt.com/share/682da650-909c-8013-a534-87ddb38181c8  . [The extracts are from the last parts of the chat.] React Native Has a Smaller Ecosystem than React (Web) React (Web) has been around longer (since 2013) and has a huge open-source community building: UI component libraries (MUI, Chakra, Ant Design) Data handling tools (React Query, Apollo) Form helpers, animations, charts, etc. React Native (mobile) has more constraints: It targets native platforms , not the DOM It requires bridging to native code for many features (e.g., camera, Bluetooth, gestures) Fewer contributors are comfortable working with both JS and native platforms (Java/Kotlin/Swift/Obj-C) So yes — the volume and variety of high-quality npm packages for React Native is less than for React Web. But It’s Not a Desert — React Native Has a Solid Core Eco...