# blogs

title: Welcome
published_at: 2025-03-18 10:59:31
created_at: 2025-03-18 10:59:31
updated_at: 2025-03-18 10:59:31
slug: welcome
blog_category_id: 1
content:
  [{"insert":"Blog entries here will be added on a semi regular basis on various topics including programming, software design, Linux, computer repair, etc.\n"}]


title: Optimization vs Understandibility
published_at: 2026-06-19 03:51:38
created_at: 2025-03-18 20:36:45
updated_at: 2026-06-19 03:51:38
slug: code-optimization-vs-readability
blog_category_id: 4
meta_title: Code Optimization vs Readability: Finding the Right Balance
canonical_url: https://nexxuz.co/blog/code-optimization-vs-readability
content:
  [{"insert":"Finding the right balance between code optimization and code readability is a tricky one to get right.\n\nLets take a look at the following code:\nif( !isset($title) ) {"},{"attributes":{"code-block":"plain"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"  $title = \"default\";"},{"attributes":{"code-block":"plain"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"}"},{"attributes":{"code-block":"plain"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Even someone not familiar with PHP would be able to recognize that we are trying to set a default value to $title if it is not already set.\n\nA small optimization would be to re-write it as such:\n$title = isset($title) ? $title : \"default\";"},{"attributes":{"code-block":"plain"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You would need to be aware that PHP has the ability to use the ternary operand but since the language has this ability since version 5.3, most developers should be aware of this feature.\n\nAs you continue down the rabbit hole of optimization, you might think that you are clever by using the Null Coalescing Operator introduced in version 7.0:\n$title = $title ?? \"default\";"},{"attributes":{"code-block":"plain"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"But it has been my experience that most that know that trick still get it confused with Elvis Operator ?: which is nearly the same but does not check the isset() of the left hand of the operand.\n\nIf you write the following code you are either trying to show off your PHP skills or trying to make sure only you and God knows what your code does... and lets hope in six months you still remember if you don't add comments.\n$title ??= \"default\";"},{"attributes":{"code-block":"plain"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIn conclusion, there is always a balance between optimization and understandability. If you choose the highly optimized route then please comment so others can understand your thoughts because chances are, that other person will be you!\n"}]

meta_description:
  Should you optimize your code for performance or prioritize readability? Learn practical strategies, real PHP examples, and when to choose one over the other from Nexxuz IT services in Coppell, TX.


title: Dev Tools - 2025
published_at: 2025-08-19 20:28:19
created_at: 2025-03-20 20:41:09
updated_at: 2025-08-19 20:28:20
slug: dev-tools-2025
blog_category_id: 9
content:
  [{"insert":"Everyone has their own preference of which text editor or IDE to use and why every other choice is wrong. I'm not here to say why you shouldn't use one tool over another, rather what tools can help you overcome specific problems.\n\n1. Version Control"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Before any code is written we must ensure that our work is safe. The vast majority of developers use version control in one form or another. Currently Git reigns supreme.\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://git-scm.com"},"insert":"https://git-scm.com"},{"insert":"\nGitHub alone boasts well over 300 million repositories alone. Navigating code can be daunting let alone multiple versions of it. The command line is great for many things but for most people now a GUI is the way to go. Which brings me to my first recommendation: GitKraken\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gitkraken.com"},"insert":"https://gitkraken.com"},{"insert":"\nIf you are a seasoned veteran with many decades of development guiding you or you are a student learning your first \"Hello world!\" GitKraken makes navigating your repositories a breeze. It has a simple intuitive interface that allows you to get what you need done quickly but also adds many extras to speed up the development process including integrations with several code hosting providers, graphical merge conflict solutions, issue tracking integrations and a way for your organization to work together in a collaborative way.\n"},{"insert":{"image":"data:image/png;base64,[encoded data, 174900 characters]"}},{"insert":"\n2. Containers"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"In my experience, working with containers can be challenging when you first start but once it starts to click, everything just starts fall into place and the heavens open up and you are on cloud 9! But seriously it makes developing an application so much easier if you do not have to worry about differences between your development environment and production.\n\nI have found Docker to be the most versatile for my needs allowing me to re-create a client's aging server with ancient versions of Apache and PHP and then being able to test the code easily on new versions until I find things that break so they can be fixed and then I continue that process until I am at the desired versions.\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://docker.com"},"insert":"https://docker.com"},{"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"image":"data:image/png;base64,[encoded data, 291736 characters]"}},{"insert":"\n\n3. Cloud"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"And when I am ready to deploy to a server I prefer to use Digital Ocean. (Referral code to save you money!)\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://nexxuz.co/digitalocean"},"insert":"https://nexxuz.co/digitalocean"},{"insert":"\nIt allows me to easily deploy and scale my servers to my needs at a great price.\n"},{"insert":{"image":"data:image/png;base64,[encoded data, 315000 characters]"}},{"insert":"\n\n\n"}]


