The Legit Baines Blog

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 ...

Hallam University Taught Me New Things Plus Also How to Learn Even More Now that I've finished my university journey, I’ve been reflecting on how much I’ve grown, not just in terms of knowledge, but in the very process of learning itself. University has opened my eyes to entire worlds of technology I never imagined exploring, from databases to Artificial Intelligence (AI), and from the Internet of Things (IoT) to programming. But what stands out most to me is how university has taught me not just new things, but also how to learn new things, even on my own. The New Things I’ve Learned When I first walked into university, I had a basic understanding of technology and programming. But the subjects I’ve encountered throughout my studies have completely transformed my perspective on what is possible. Here are just a few of the most exciting things I’ve learned: 1. Databases Learning about databases has shown me how the power of data is structured, stored, and retrieved. I never tr...

 Reintroducing Cuthbert Baines For New People In His Network As a recent IT graduate I'm new to the IT industry so I don't have the kinds of professional connections I need to be given a head-start, I'm one of the many new IT graduates applying for the relatively few  graduate jobs out there.  I am prioritising my personal and professional development right now.  I wish I had gone to University 20 years ago but for reasons outside my control I was written off at 16 so I missed out.  I don't give up easily up so I finally went to Hallam University when I was 35 and got a 2.1 in computing in 2025, now I'm willing to go the extra mile and do what needs to be done to make up for lost time!  I had to get a job when I was 18 so I've got the professionalism, life experience and wisdom of a (late) 30-something who's worked his entire adult life combined with the youthful intellectual energy of an explorer and a pioneer new to the IT sector with his own fresh innov...

 Becoming an IT Graduate as a Mature Student: The Reality No One Talks About Going to university as a mature student was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I’ve ever done. Studying IT later in life meant juggling responsibilities, self-doubt, and the pressure of starting again in a completely new industry. Graduating felt like a huge achievement. But stepping into the job market as a new IT graduate who isn’t new to work at all came with its own set of challenges. What I quickly realised is that breaking into IT as a mature graduate isn’t just about technical skills. It’s about confidence, reframing experience, and learning how to tell your story in a way employers understand. Sheffield Hallam University Challenging the Assumptions of Employers and Recruiters One of the first hurdles I encountered was assumption. There’s a quiet expectation in some recruitment processes that a “graduate” is young, fresh out of university, and at the very start of their working life. ...

  Imperial measurement system converter app  I decided to spend an evening making a unit converter app without using an api to do the heavy lifting for me *and* with a python based gui because I haven't really made anything with one of them before and this is the result: 👍👍👍      I installed Tinkter to get the GUI ( graphical user interface ) This is the GUI it produces when it's running.     The next job is to tidy up the code, it needs it.  Then I want to add some more functionality to it.  I can add volume conversion or weight .  I've always wanted to do some research into old money so I can add that to the app. After I've added a bit more functio Link to the app on github nality to it I'll find a way to host it on the public internet.     This is my advice to any other programmers out there:  Once you've got something working make the most of it because it's easier to add things onto something that's ...

If you're a young IT professional, you're probably no stranger to long hours, screen fatigue, and the eternal quest for something meaningful to do outside of GitHub, Jira, and terminal windows. You’ve tried the gym (too sweaty), gaming (you already do that all day), or craft beer tasting (fun, but your wallet is crying). What if I told you there's a hobby that mixes relaxation, social interaction, light physical activity, and just enough competition to keep your brain sharp? Let’s talk about Bar Billiards — the criminally underrated pub game that might just be the perfect hobby for the modern techie. First, What Is Bar Billiards? Bar Billiards is a traditional British pub game that dates back to the 1930s. Unlike regular pool or snooker, Bar Billiards is played on a table with no side or corner pockets. Instead, you pot balls into holes on the table surface, each with different point values, while avoiding the dreaded skittles (tiny pins that act like mines — knock one...

Stay Focused on Raising Yourself to the Next Level Software Development  In the world of tech, it's easy to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. Maybe it's the developer on your team who seems to solve problems twice as fast, or that person on Twitter who contributes to five open-source projects and still has time for a blog and a podcast. But the truth is, trying to be the “best” in class is a moving target—and a distracting one. A more sustainable and rewarding mindset is to focus on raising your own level, day by day. Progress, not perfection, is what actually moves you forward. One of the most powerful habits in tech is deliberate practice . It's not just about writing more code; it's about writing it thoughtfully, reflecting on what went wrong, and iterating. Whether you're learning a new language, framework, or debugging a tricky issue, take time to understand why things work the way they do. Set mini-goals for yourself like “understand closur...

 Introduction When we think of great programmers, we often picture long nights of coding, complex algorithms, and coffee-fueled problem-solving. But what truly separates the most productive programmers from the rest isn’t just skill — it’s discipline. One of the most effective habits they cultivate is the practice of deliberate time blocking — a focused approach to managing work sessions and avoiding the chaos of constant context switching.  ☝ The Power of Time Blocking Time blocking involves setting aside specific chunks of time dedicated to deep, uninterrupted coding. During these blocks, programmers silence notifications, close unrelated tabs, and focus solely on the task at hand. This technique helps them enter a state of “flow” — that powerful zone where creativity, logic, and problem-solving converge effortlessly. Instead of scattering attention across multiple tasks, productive programmers give their full cognitive energy to one priority.  ☝ Protecting Focus i...