The Legit Baines Blog

Why the ACM Code of Ethics Matters More Than Ever During my time studying Computing at Sheffield Hallam University , one of my tutors introduced me to the ACM Code of Ethics . At first, it felt like one of those documents that sits in the background, important in theory, but easy to overlook when you’re focused on building projects and learning technical skills. But the more I worked on real systems, especially those involving data and IoT , the more I realised how relevant it actually is. The ACM Code of Ethics puts a strong emphasis on doing work that benefits society and contributes to human well-being. That idea has stuck with me. It sounds simple, but in a world where technology can be used in so many different ways, it’s actually a powerful filter for decision-making. Just because something can be built doesn’t always mean it should be built. The question becomes: who does this help, and is it genuinely improving things? All of my projects so far have been guided by that mindset,...

 Why We Need to Rethink Feedback, Criticism, and Being Told We’re Wrong  There is something fundamentally broken in the way many of us think about feedback, criticism, and being told we’re wrong. For a lot of people, these things feel uncomfortable, even personal. We tend to avoid them, soften them, or remove them entirely. But in doing so, we are also removing one of the most important mechanisms for growth. If no one ever tells you that you’re doing something wrong, how are you supposed to get better at it? I’ve experienced this problem firsthand through applying for a wide range of roles with Sheffield City Council . These roles span different departments and skillsets, and on paper, many organisations like this emphasise inclusivity and openness to candidates from alternative backgrounds. That sounds great in theory. But in practice, I’ve consistently received little to no feedback when unsuccessful . Just a rejection and that’s the end of the process. The issue here isn’t...

I'm Trying to Get Better at Everything (and Accidentally Building another IoT Network at the same time) I don’t really know where I’m going in tech yet — and for a while, that bothered me. There are so many different paths: backend engineering, embedded systems , web development, networking… and it feels like everyone else has already picked a lane.  I’m trying to see that as a strength rather than a weakness. Instead of specialising too early, I’ve been focusing on getting better at as many areas as I can. Not in a scattered way, but by building things, testing them and testing myself as I go. One of the best examples of that mindset has been my recent dive into IoT . How I've Ended Up Building another IoT System Someone told me about their business idea and it involves IOT which was a big part of my course at Hallam University so I told him that I'm probably the ideal person to build him a prototype IoT system that he can present to his potential funders.  He knows more ...

  My Journey of Learning C++ with LearnCPP.com  💪💪💪 As someone who's always been curious about programming, I decided it was finally time to dive into learning C++. It's a powerful language used in everything from game development to system programming , and I wanted to broaden my skill set. After some research, I stumbled upon LearnCPP.com , a website that seemed like the perfect place to get started. It’s a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to mastering C++, and it has become my go-to resource as I venture into this new programming language. What I love most about LearnCPP.com is how well-structured the tutorials are. The site breaks down each concept in a way that’s easy to understand, even for someone like me who's just starting out. It begins with the basics, things like variables, data types, and loops, gradually moves into more advanced topics like memory management , object-oriented programming , and multi-threading . Each section is designed to build on the pre...

Trying to   Understanding APIs and FastAPI : Practical Tools for Modern Software Development ✌ Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are one of the fundamental building blocks of modern software development. An API allows different programs, services, or devices to communicate with each other in a structured way. Instead of one program needing to understand the entire internal workings of another, it simply sends a request and receives a response using clearly defined rules. APIs are everywhere: when a mobile app fetches weather information, when a website processes payments, or when a sensor device uploads data to a cloud service. In essence, APIs act like translators that allow separate systems to exchange information reliably. 💪 One of the most common ways APIs are used today is through web-based APIs that operate over HTTP. These are often referred to as REST APIs ( Representational State Transfer ). In a REST-style API, clients send requests such as GET , POST , PUT ...

  Cuthbert Baines Is Finally Ready Willing and Able to Relocate   🚚🚚🚚 For many new graduates in computing, software engineering, or data analytics, the moment of graduation is both exciting and intimidating. The world of technology offers enormous opportunity, but it also demands flexibility, persistence, and sometimes a willingness to go where the opportunities are. Increasingly, graduates are discovering that relocation can be one of the most powerful ways to accelerate the start of a career in the IT sector. Being open to moving cities can expose young professionals to larger job markets, stronger industry clusters, and networks of companies actively searching for new talent. 💪💪💪 One of the greatest advantages of relocating as a new IT graduate is simple economics: bigger technology hubs naturally contain more companies, more vacancies, and more specialisations. Digital technology employment across the UK has grown rapidly in recent years, with tech jobs expanding r...

📻📟📠  I've been exploring potential options for designing a private network that gathers sensor data and delivers it securely to a central hub while also supporting two-way communication requires careful consideration of range, bandwidth, latency, security, and scalability. Whether you’re managing environmental monitors across farmland, tracking machinery in a factory, or aggregating building automation data, the right architecture ensures reliability and long-term flexibility. Below are four proven approaches, each suited to different operational needs. The first method is a local Ethernet or wired LAN architecture . In this setup, sensors connect via Ethernet (often using Power over Ethernet to simplify cabling) to switches that route traffic to a central on-site server or data hub. Two-way communication is straightforward: the hub can push configuration updates, firmware patches, or control commands back to the devices over the same secure channel. This method offers high ba...