Shane Rutter Blog

Category: General

  • Windows 10 Subsystem for Linux Ubuntu

    I have always been more of a Windows based developer and used Linux based systems for server technologies, I have tried in the past to move to Linux but I am to fixed in my way and prefer the tools I have on windows! Is that a bad thing, I dont no? however with Windows 10 comes Subsystems which allows you to run a Linux based Ubuntu as part of a subsystem working jointly with your windows 10 operating system.

    Im not talking about a VM or dual booting, I am talking about the ability to go to windows command line and type “ubuntu” and a full fledged ubuntu system from the command line starts up and allows you to run various tools, applications and services all within Ubuntu within Windows 10!

    Microsoft site has a simple guide to follow to install the linux subsystem here.

     

    1. Enabled windows subsystems for Linux

     

    2. Install Ubuntu via Windows Store

    Open Microsoft Store and search for Ubuntu and click install
     

    3. Initialise Setup

    Open command line and type ubuntu to start the ubuntu instance, it will take you throught a initialisation stage

     

    What next? have play around with Ubuntu on windows. For development purposes I am going to be using it with Docker! allowing me to control my Windows Docker environment from the Ubuntu Linux, as it allows me to use all the Linux based command structures and pipes making the experience even smoother and more powerful.

  • htaccess: HTTP to HTTPS redirect

    It is recommended to you SSL on your website even when not required. Google Chrome and other browsers have begun to flag non-SSL websites as insecure. Don’t lose your visitors due to appearing as an insecure website.

    With the introduction of LetsEncyrpt and other free SSL certificate providers, there is no reason for websites to not be secured. Google Chrome is now beginning to flag websites which are non-HTTPS as secure leading to your visitors and customers believe your website is insecure. Make sure your using and SSL and redirecting all non-HTTP traffic to HTTPS using the below htaccess config setting for Apache.

  • Local website & services remotely accessible via secure tunnels with ngrok

    Need an easy way to allow external network users to access services or websites on your local machine? ngrok allows you to easily create a secure tunnel from ngroks servers to your machine. For a web developer, this is a dream come true, this is a great way to demo a development whilst in the early stages, saves time uploading to a server.

    • Allows access to your locally hosted web server from a unique domain
    • Can use your own domains
    • Works with vHost files
    • Allows testing of website which require an external accessible point such as payment gateways or oAuth
    • Can tunnel other services such as PhoneGap allowing users external to your network to test your mobile app
    • Various API and IoT implementations
    • Easy / quick private networking, VPN benefits

    These are only a short list of what is possible using ngrok. Look at their website for a full list of its powerful features and get started.

    https://ngrok.com/