#Job-Ready Developers

[dropoutdeveloper]

Web Development with Dropout Developer's Unique Free Project-Based Learning Approach 2023

Are you looking for a new career in web development, but struggling to find the best way to learn? Are you tired of traditional learning methods that leave you feeling uninspired and unmotivated? Look no further than Dropout Developer, the go-to platform for mastering web development through project-based learning. At Dropout Developer, we believe that project-based learning (PBL) is the key to…

[sysig]

Ellen McLain’s commentary from my trivia playthrough

[kidokear]

I haven't made an OC in years. So please, do ignore the rust and dust. XD

Anatolius: The Records Keeper.

A bit of extra info/elaboration:

He's not a Councilor, but he does work closely to them- keeping records of the trials or (very rarely) they might seek his judgment. (Some of the Councilors are dear friends to him)

He's very vocal about upholding the angelic image painted by The Father and would take it upon himself to teach angels how they should behave appropriately when he could (amongst the standard things I imagine angels should know)

He takes a lot of pride in being an angel (the closest beings to God)

He will keep respectable distance from others and expect them to do the same (There are very few exceptions).

Blessed with never-ending memories. (Still, the repository is vast and he needs aid: Hence the little helpers!)

Gabriel is a star student of his. Anatolius sees him as the exemplary angel. He was incredibly proud of him...

A lot of Heaven's citizens looks up to him as a mentor figure (which meant that he had to pick up the majority of the pieces left in Gabriel's wake)

He could fight, but he's not a warrior.

Fragile. Doesn't take much damage to take him down. (Which is why he would rather stay out of fights and keeps some sort of barrier between him and his opponent. If he could, he will try to 'even the playing field' first)

Throw daggers, usually laced with something to amplify the damage.

Stuck in his ways. (Might lead to his downfall).

I have a lot of thoughts about him, but they're a mess, so I hope this come across as comprehensive.

[wildsaltair]

Ranting in the tags isn’t enough so I’m going to say one more time that just because Maximus isn’t morally gray doesn’t mean he isn’t complex

[songbirdieart]

I know that the musical theater fandom has kinda moved on at this point, but personally have not moved on from Bad Cinderella and the fact that it had GENUINE POTENTIAL no, no listen, look at me, don’t run away—

[vanyafresita]

actually, you know what ? im glad my ex gf ghosted me, i dodged a bullet it seems

[humunanunga]

Walking back into your old job for your last paycheck really does feel like letting your ex see how much you're flourishing without them.

[sunnebeam]

hey friends im so sorry for the radio silence 😭 i'm currently in between jobs & it's not been going so well. i s2g i need to find a job asap or im fucked

[aquilamage]

on one hand I don’t wanna be that boring bitch who keeps writing the nonhuman characters as humans but also what is the bug equivalent of “Mothiva will strip down (and/or have her hair/makeup not done) in front of Zasp without any thought, warning, or feeling to it?”

[tofupixel]

⭐ So you want to learn pixel art? ⭐

🔹 Part 1 of ??? - The Basics!

Hello, my name is Tofu and I'm a professional pixel artist. I have been supporting myself with freelance pixel art since 2020, when I was let go from my job during the pandemic.

My progress, from 2017 to 2024. IMO the only thing that really matters is time and effort, not some kind of natural talent for art.

This guide will not be comprehensive, as nobody should be expected to read allat. Instead I will lean heavily on my own experience, and share what worked for me, so take everything with a grain of salt. This is a guide, not a tutorial. Cheers!

🔹 Do I need money?

NO!!! Pixel art is one of the most accessible mediums out there.

I still use a mouse because I prefer it to a tablet! You won't be at any disadvantage here if you can't afford the best hardware or software.

Because our canvases are typically very small, you don't need a good PC to run a good brush engine or anything like that.

✨Did you know? One of the most skilled and beloved pixel artists uses MS PAINT! Wow!!

🔹 What software should I use?

Here are some of the most popular programs I see my friends and peers using. Stars show how much I recommend the software for beginners! ⭐

💰 Paid options:

⭐⭐⭐ Aseprite (for PC) - $19.99

This is what I and many other pixel artists use. You may find when applying to jobs that they require some knowledge of Aseprite. Since it has become so popular, companies like that you can swap raw files between artists.

Aseprite is amazingly customizable, with custom skins, scripts and extensions on Itch.io, both free and paid.

If you have ever used any art software before, it has most of the same features and should feel fairly familiar to use. It features a robust animation suite and a tilemap feature, which have saved me thousands of hours of labour in my work. The software is also being updated all the time, and the developers listen to the users. I really recommend Aseprite!

⭐ Photoshop (for PC) - Monthly $$

A decent option for those who already are used to the PS interface. Requires some setup to get it ready for pixel-perfect art, but there are plenty of tutorials for doing so.

Animation is also much more tedious on PS which you may want to consider before investing time!

⭐⭐ ProMotion NG (for PC) - $19.00

An advanced and powerful software which has many features Aseprite does not, including Colour Cycling and animated tiles.

⭐⭐⭐ Pixquare (for iOS) - $7.99 - $19.99 (30% off with code 'tofu'!!)

Probably the best app available for iPad users, in active development, with new features added all the time.

Look! My buddy Jon recommends it highly, and uses it often.

One cool thing about Pixquare is that it takes Aseprite raw files! Many of my friends use it to work on the same project, both in their office and on the go.

⭐ Procreate (for iOS) - $12.99

If you have access to Procreate already, it's a decent option to get used to doing pixel art. It does however require some setup. Artist Pixebo is famously using Procreate, and they have tutorials of their own if you want to learn.

⭐⭐ ReSprite iOS and Android. (free trial, but:) $19.99 premium or $$ monthly

ReSprite is VERY similar in terms of UI to Aseprite, so I can recommend it. They just launched their Android release!

🆓 Free options:

⭐⭐⭐ Libresprite (for PC)

Libresprite is an alternative to Aseprite. It is very, very similar, to the point where documentation for Aseprite will be helpful to Libresprite users.

⭐⭐ Pixilart (for PC and mobile)

A free in-browser app, and also a mobile app! It is tied to the website Pixilart, where artists upload and share their work. A good option for those also looking to get involved in a community.

⭐⭐ Dotpict (for mobile)

Dotpict is similar to Pixilart, with a mobile app tied to a website, but it's a Japanese service. Did you know that in Japanese, pixel art is called 'Dot Art'? Dotpict can be a great way to connect with a different community of pixel artists! They also have prompts and challenges often.

🔹 So I got my software, now what?

◽Nice! Now it's time for the basics of pixel art.

❗ WAIT ❗ Before this section, I want to add a little disclaimer. All of these rules/guidelines can be broken at will, and some 'no-nos' can look amazing when done intentionally.

The pixel-art fundamentals can be exceedingly helpful to new artists, who may feel lost or overwhelmed by choice. But if you feel they restrict you too harshly, don't force yourself! At the end of the day it's your art, and you shouldn't try to contort yourself into what people think a pixel artist 'should be'. What matters is your own artistic expression. ��👍

◽Phew! With that out of the way...

🔸"The Rules"

There are few hard 'rules' of pixel art, mostly about scaling and exporting. Some of these things will frequently trip up newbies if they aren't aware, and are easy to overlook.

🔹Scaling method

There are a couple ways of scaling your art. The default in most art programs, and the entire internet, is Bi-linear scaling, which usually works out fine for most purposes. But as pixel artists, we need a different method.

Both are scaled up x10. See the difference?

On the left is scaled using Bilinear, and on the right is using Nearest-Neighbor. We love seeing those pixels stay crisp and clean, so we use nearest-neighbor. 

(Most pixel-art programs have nearest-neighbor enabled by default! So this may not apply to you, but it's important to know.)

🔹Mixels

Mixels are when there are different (mixed) pixel sizes in the same image.

Here I have scaled up my art- the left is 200%, and the right is 150%. Yuck!

As we can see, the "pixel" sizes end up different. We generally try to scale our work by multiples of 100 - 200%, 300% etc. rather than 150%. At larger scales however, the minute differences in pixel sizes are hardly noticeable!

Mixels are also sometimes seen when an artist scales up their work, then continues drawing on it with a 1 pixel brush.

Many would say that this is not great looking! This type of pixels can be indicative of a beginner artist. But there are plenty of creative pixel artists out there who mixels intentionally, making something modern and cool.

🔹Saving Your Files

We usually save our still images as .PNGs as they don’t create any JPEG artifacts or loss of quality. It's a little hard to see here, but there are some artifacts, and it looks a little blurry. It also makes the art very hard to work with if we are importing a JPEG.

For animations .GIF is good, but be careful of the 256 colour limit. Try to avoid using too many blending mode layers or gradients when working with animations. If you aren’t careful, your animation could flash afterwards, as the .GIF tries to reduce colours wherever it can. It doesn’t look great!

Here's an old piece from 2021 where I experienced .GIF lossiness, because I used gradients and transparency, resulting in way too many colours.

🔹Pixel Art Fundamentals - Techniques and Jargon

❗❗Confused about Jaggies? Anti-Aliasing? Banding? Dithering? THIS THREAD is for you❗❗ << it's a link, click it!!

As far as I'm concerned, this is THE tutorial of all time for understanding pixel art. These are techniques created and named by the community of people who actually put the list together, some of the best pixel artists alive currently. Please read it!!

🔸How To Learn

Okay, so you have your software, and you're all ready to start. But maybe you need some more guidance? Try these tutorials and resources! It can be helpful to work along with a tutorial until you build your confidence up.

⭐⭐ Pixel Logic (A Digital Book) - $10 A very comprehensive visual guide book by a very skilled and established artist in the industry. I own a copy myself.

⭐⭐⭐ StudioMiniBoss - free A collection of visual tutorials, by the artist that worked on Celeste! When starting out, if I got stuck, I would go and scour his tutorials and see how he did it.

⭐ Lospec Tutorials - free A very large collection of various tutorials from all over the internet. There is a lot to sift through here if you have the time.

⭐⭐⭐ Cyangmou's Tutorials - free (tipping optional) Cyangmou is one of the most respected and accomplished modern pixel artists, and he has amassed a HUGE collection of free and incredibly well-educated visual tutorials. He also hosts an educational stream every week on Twitch called 'pixelart for beginners'.

⭐⭐⭐ Youtube Tutorials - free There are hundreds, if not thousands of tutorials on YouTube, but it can be tricky to find the good ones. My personal recommendations are MortMort, Brandon, and AdamCYounis- these guys really know what they're talking about!

🔸 How to choose a canvas size

When looking at pixel art turorials, we may see people suggest things like 16x16, 32x32 and 64x64. These are standard sizes for pixel art games with tiles. However, if you're just making a drawing, you don't necessarily need to use a standard canvas size like that.

What I like to think about when choosing a canvas size for my illustrations is 'what features do I think it is important to represent?' And make my canvas as small as possible, while still leaving room for my most important elements.

Imagine I have characters in a scene like this:

I made my canvas as small as possible (232 x 314), but just big enough to represent the features and have them be recognizable (it's Good Omens fanart 😤)!! If I had made it any bigger, I would be working on it for ever, due to how much more foliage I would have to render.

If you want to do an illustration and you're not sure, just start at somewhere around 100x100 - 200x200 and go from there.

It's perfectly okay to crop your canvas, or scale it up, or crunch your art down at any point if you think you need a different size. I do it all the time! It only takes a bit of cleanup to get you back to where you were.

🔸Where To Post

Outside of just regular socials, Twitter, Tumblr, Deviantart, Instagram etc, there are a few places that lean more towards pixel art that you might not have heard of.

⭐ Lospec Lospec is a low-res focused art website. Some pieces get given a 'monthly masterpiece' award. Not incredibly active, but I believe there are more features being added often.

⭐⭐ Pixilart Pixilart is a very popular pixel art community, with an app tied to it. The community tends to lean on the young side, so this is a low-pressure place to post with an relaxed vibe.

⭐⭐ Pixeljoint Pixeljoint is one of the big, old-school pixel art websites. You can only upload your art unscaled (1x) because there is a built-in zoom viewer. It has a bit of a reputation for being elitist (back in the 00s it was), but in my experience it's not like that any more. This is a fine place for a pixel artist to post if they are really interested in learning, and the history. The Hall of Fame has some of the most famous / impressive pixel art pieces that paved the way for the work we are doing today.

⭐⭐⭐ Cafe Dot Cafe Dot is my art server so I'm a little biased here. 🍵 It was created during the recent social media turbulence. We wanted a place to post art with no algorithms, and no NFT or AI chuds. We have a heavy no-self-promotion rule, and are more interested in community than skill or exclusivity. The other thing is that we have some kind of verification system- you must apply to be a Creator before you can post in the Art feed, or use voice. This helps combat the people who just want to self-promo and dip, or cause trouble, as well as weed out AI/NFT people. Until then, you are still welcome to post in any of the threads or channels. There is a lot to do in Cafe Dot. I host events weekly, so check the threads!

⭐⭐/r/pixelart The pixel art subreddit is pretty active! I've also heard some of my friends found work through posting here, so it's worth a try if you're looking. However, it is still Reddit- so if you're sensitive to rude people, or criticism you didn't ask for, you may want to avoid this one. Lol

🔸 Where To Find Work

You need money? I got you! As someone who mostly gets scouted on social media, I can share a few tips with you:

Put your email / portfolio in your bio Recruiters don't have all that much time to find artists, make it as easy as possible for someone to find your important information!

Clean up your profile If your profile feed is all full of memes, most people will just tab out rather than sift through. Doesn't apply as much to Tumblr if you have an art tag people can look at.

Post regularly, and repost Activity beats everything in the social media game. It's like rolling the dice, and the more you post the more chances you have. You have to have no shame, it's all business baby

Outside of just posting regularly and hoping people reach out to you, it can be hard to know where to look. Here are a few places you can sign up to and post around on.

/r/INAT INAT (I Need A Team) is a subreddit for finding a team to work with. You can post your portfolio here, or browse for people who need artists.

/r/GameDevClassifieds Same as above, but specifically for game-related projects.

Remote Game Jobs / Work With Indies Like Indeed but for game jobs. Browse them often, or get email notifications.

VGen VGen is a website specifically for commissions. You need a code from another verified artist before you can upgrade your account and sell, so ask around on social media or ask your friends. Once your account is upgraded, you can make a 'menu' of services people can purchase, and they send you an offer which you are able to accept, decline, or counter.

The evil websites of doom: Fiverr and Upwork I don't recommend them!! They take a big cut of your profit, and the sites are teeming with NFT and AI people hoping to make a quick buck. The site is also extremely oversaturated and competitive, resulting in a race to the bottom (the cheapest, the fastest, doing the most for the least). Imagine the kind of clients who go to these websites, looking for the cheapest option. But if you're really desperate...

🔸 Community

I do really recommend getting involved in a community. Finding like-minded friends can help you stay motivated to keep drawing. One day, those friends you met when you were just starting out may become your peers in the industry. Making friends is a game changer!

Discord servers Nowadays, the forums of old are mostly abandoned, and people split off into many different servers. Cafe Dot, Pixel Art Discord (PAD), and if you can stomach scrolling past all the AI slop, you can browse Discord servers here.

Twitch Streams Twitch has kind of a bad reputation for being home to some of the more edgy gamers online, but the pixel art community is extremely welcoming and inclusive. Some of the people I met on Twitch are my friends to this day, and we've even worked together on different projects! Browse pixel art streams here, or follow some I recommend: NickWoz, JDZombi, CupOhJoe, GrayLure, LumpyTouch, FrankiePixelShow, MortMort, Sodor, NateyCakes, NyuraKim, ShinySeabass, I could go on for ever really... There are a lot of good eggs on Pixel Art Twitch.

🔸 Other Helpful Websites

Palettes Lospec has a huge collection of user-made palettes, for any artist who has trouble choosing their colours, or just wants to try something fun. Rejected Palettes is full of palettes that didn't quite make it onto Lospec, ran by people who believe there are no bad colours.

The Spriters Resource TSR is an incredible website where users can upload spritesheets and tilesets from games. You can browse for your favourite childhood game, and see how they made it! This website has helped me so much in understanding how game assets come together in a scene.

VGMaps Similar to the above, except there are entire maps laid out how they would be played. This is incredible if you have to do level design, or for mocking up a scene for fun.

Game UI Database Not pixel-art specific, but UI is a very challenging part of graphics, so this site can be a game-changer for finding good references!

Retronator A digital newspaper for pixel-art lovers! New game releases, tutorials, and artworks!

Itch.io A website where people can upload, games, assets, tools... An amazing hub for game devs and game fans alike. A few of my favourite tools: Tiled, PICO-8, Pixel Composer, Juice FX, Magic Pencil for Aseprite

🔸 The End?

This is just part 1 for now, so please drop me a follow to see any more guides I release in the future. I plan on doing some writeups on how I choose colours, how to practise, and more!

I'm not an expert by any means, but everything I did to get to where I am is outlined in this guide. Pixel art is my passion, my job and my hobby! I want pixel art to be recognized everywhere as an art-form, a medium of its own outside of game-art or computer graphics!

This guide took me a long time, and took a lot of research and experience. Consider following me or supporting me if you are feeling generous.

And good luck to all the fledgling pixel artists, I hope you'll continue and have fun. I hope my guide helped you, and don't hesitate to send me an ask if you have any questions! 💕

My other tutorials (so far): How to draw Simple Grass for a game Hue Shifting

[codedusoftware]

How Custom Software Development Transforms Modern Businesses: Insights from CodEduIn an era dominated by rapid technological advancements, businesses are under immense pressure to stay competitive, efficient, and customer-focused. Off-the-shelf software, while useful, often falls short in addressing the unique challenges and dynamic needs of individual businesses. This is where custom software development steps in—a solution tailored specifically to meet the requirements of a business.

CodEdu Software Technologies, based in Cochin, Kerala, specializes in creating innovative, customer-centric software solutions that empower businesses to streamline operations, improve productivity, and enhance customer experiences. In this blog, we’ll explore how custom software development is transforming modern businesses and why partnering with CodEdu can be a game-changer.

What Is Custom Software Development? Custom software development involves designing, developing, and deploying software solutions tailored to meet a business's specific requirements. Unlike generic, off-the-shelf software, custom solutions are built from the ground up to align with a company’s processes, goals, and challenges.

This personalized approach allows businesses to create tools that integrate seamlessly with their existing operations, enhancing efficiency and providing a competitive edge.

The Key Benefits of Custom Software Development

Tailored to Specific Business Needs Custom software is designed to address a company’s unique requirements. Whether it’s automating a workflow, integrating with other tools, or solving specific challenges, the solution is built to fit seamlessly into the business ecosystem.

For example, an e-commerce business may require a software system that combines inventory management, personalized customer recommendations, and a secure payment gateway. Off-the-shelf software may provide one or two of these features but rarely all in an integrated manner.

Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity Custom software eliminates redundancies and streamlines operations. By automating repetitive tasks and integrating seamlessly with existing tools, businesses can significantly reduce manual effort and focus on core activities.

CodEdu has worked with several businesses to create custom solutions that enhance efficiency. One notable example is a manufacturing client who needed real-time tracking of production cycles. The tailored solution reduced delays and optimized resource allocation, saving the client both time and money.

Scalability for Future Growth One of the major limitations of off-the-shelf software is its inability to scale. As businesses grow and evolve, their software needs change. Custom software, on the other hand, is designed with scalability in mind.

CodEdu’s solutions are built to grow alongside businesses, allowing for easy updates and additional features as new challenges and opportunities arise.

Improved Security Data security is a top concern for businesses today. Custom software allows for the integration of advanced security features tailored to the specific vulnerabilities of the organization.

Unlike generic solutions that use standard security protocols, custom software incorporates unique safeguards, making it harder for malicious actors to breach the system.

Cost-Effectiveness in the Long Run While the initial investment for custom software may be higher than purchasing off-the-shelf solutions, it offers significant savings in the long run. Businesses avoid recurring licensing fees, third-party tool integration costs, and inefficiencies caused by mismatched software capabilities.

Real-World Applications of Custom Software Development Custom software development is revolutionizing industries by offering solutions that address specific operational challenges. Here are some examples of how businesses are leveraging tailored solutions:

E-Commerce Industry E-commerce companies face unique challenges, such as managing large inventories, providing personalized customer experiences, and ensuring secure transactions. Custom software can integrate inventory management systems, CRM tools, and AI-driven recommendation engines into a single platform, streamlining operations and boosting sales.

Healthcare Sector The healthcare industry requires solutions that ensure patient confidentiality, streamline appointment scheduling, and manage medical records efficiently. Custom software allows healthcare providers to deliver telemedicine services, maintain compliance with industry regulations, and improve patient outcomes.

Education and Training Educational institutions and training academies are leveraging custom Learning Management Systems (LMS) to provide personalized learning experiences. CodEdu has developed platforms that enable online assessments, real-time feedback, and interactive learning tools for students.

Logistics and Supply Chain Logistics companies require software that provides real-time tracking, route optimization, and automated billing. CodEdu has partnered with logistics providers to build solutions that reduce operational costs and enhance customer satisfaction.

How CodEdu Approaches Custom Software Development At CodEdu Software Technologies, we believe in a collaborative, customer-centric approach to software development. Here’s how we ensure the delivery of high-quality solutions:

Understanding Business Needs Our process begins with a detailed consultation to understand the client’s goals, pain points, and operational workflows. This ensures that the solution aligns perfectly with the business’s requirements.

Agile Development Methodology We adopt an agile approach to development, breaking the project into smaller, manageable phases. This allows for flexibility, regular feedback, and timely delivery of the final product.

Cutting-Edge Technology Our team leverages the latest technologies, including AI, machine learning, cloud computing, and blockchain, to deliver innovative and robust solutions.

Ongoing Support and Maintenance Software development doesn’t end with deployment. We provide ongoing support and updates to ensure the solution remains effective as the business evolves.

Future Trends in Custom Software Development The world of custom software development is continuously evolving. Here are some trends that are shaping the future:

AI and Machine Learning Integration Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning are enabling businesses to automate processes, predict trends, and provide personalized customer experiences. From chatbots to predictive analytics, these technologies are transforming industries.

Cloud-Based Solutions Cloud computing is revolutionizing software development by offering scalability, accessibility, and cost efficiency. Businesses are increasingly adopting cloud-based custom software to enable remote access and collaboration.

IoT-Driven Solutions The Internet of Things (IoT) is creating opportunities for custom software that connects devices and collects data in real-time. This is particularly beneficial in industries such as healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing.

Low-Code and No-Code Platforms Low-code and no-code platforms are simplifying the development process, allowing businesses to create custom software with minimal technical expertise. While not a replacement for traditional development, these platforms are enabling faster prototyping and iteration.

Why Choose CodEdu for Custom Software Development? CodEdu Software Technologies stands out as a trusted partner for custom software development. Here’s why:

Experienced Team: Our developers bring years of experience in crafting innovative solutions for diverse industries. Customer-Centric Approach: We prioritize your business goals, ensuring the software delivers real value. Proven Track Record: With a portfolio of successful projects, CodEdu has earned a reputation for delivering quality and reliability. End-to-End Services: From consultation to development and post-deployment support, we handle every aspect of the project. Conclusion Custom software development is no longer an option but a necessity for businesses aiming to stay competitive in today’s digital landscape. It empowers organizations to streamline operations, enhance security, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.

CodEdu Software Technologies, with its expertise in innovation and customer-centric solutions, is the ideal partner to help businesses harness the power of custom software. Whether you’re a startup looking to establish a strong foundation or an established enterprise aiming to optimize operations, our tailored solutions can drive your success.

Ready to transform your business? Contact CodEdu Software Technologies today and let’s build the future together.

[kids-worldfun]

Understanding Vocational Skills for Future Jobs

As technology evolves and industries shift, the types of skills employers seek are also changing. Vocational skills are more valuable than ever for securing stable, well-paying jobs. These specialized capabilities range from technical trades like welding to service-oriented roles such as medical assisting. Understanding which vocational skills will be in demand can help you navigate your career…

[efoxinstitute]

[3zenx]

Salesforce institute in Hyderabad with placement

[marketxcel]

36 Genius ChatGPT Prompts to Help You Prep for Job Interviews

Unlock your potential with 36 brilliant ChatGPT prompts designed to supercharge your job interview preparation. Get ready to impress and excel in your next interview!