The Legit Baines Blog

  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...

📻📟📠  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...

I have always been good with numbers, when I was at school I did my Maths GCSE a year early and got a B. Unfortunately I had a lot of bad things going on in my life at the time so I didn’t go forward with University at that time.  Fast forward a decade or two and now I’m a recent graduate from Hallam University , I went there as a mature student to do a degree in computing and the course involved loads of data related modules. During my Computing course at Hallam University I spent a lot of time learning about data, databases, data cleaning , data processing, data management, data analytics and data visualisations . The course also involved a number of assignments that included a power point presentations in front of tutors and answering their questions about the work afterwards. Presentations were something I was very comfortable doing. I learned to collect raw sensor data using a Raspberry Pin (or from a pico using micropython/circuitpython), I learned that it is absolu...

What is Bar Billiards? Bar Billiards Auto-Score Project Outline BB Auto-score code on git hub. 🏆🏆🏆 Stage 1 of my Bar Billiards Auto-Score Project is complete.  It's not rocket science but my method for making progress is to go step by step.  If I can do something straight away I'll do it then make incremental progress.  Whenever I'm working on a new kind of project that involves doing things I haven't done before and using technologies that I haven't used before I try to simplify it as much as I possibly can just so I can get something working.  It's a lot easier to start with something small and simple that works than something big and expansive that isn't working.  When it's new, big, complicated and not working it will be incredibly difficult to work out what's gone wrong. 💻💾📈 Python command line is about as simple as it gets, I've done it this way because this is what's required for this project.  The next step will involve getting ...

  Bar Billiards Auto-Score 🏆🏆🏆 ─ President Cuthbert Baines The Bar Billiards Premier League Sheffield Overview We want to use IOT and smart technologies to create a computerised system that will automatically detect when a players has scored points, keep track of their score for them and display the score on screen for them. The system should also include the clock, the rules and instructions as required. Specifications The system should not have any affect on the Bar Billiards game itself, the players should not be required to stop playing to wait for a computer to load data or process data. Milestones Create Python based program that keeps track of the scores for the Bar Billiards players while displaying the scores on screen when the players manually input them into a hand held raspberry pi/pico powered device with an attachment that enables user input. The timer/alert indicating the bar dropping should become part of the program. Instructions/advi...

What My RiverProject is about and Why Sensor Data + MQTT is Revolutionising Environmental Monitoring  💻📶📡📠📉📊📈💹 River Project Repository My  RiverProject , hosted on GitHub, is an ambitious and practical environmental sensing system I built as part of my Year 2 project at Sheffield Hallam University. The core of the project involves collecting real-world sensor data - from a Sense HAT attached to a Raspberry Pi processing that data, and sending it in JSON format via the lightweight messaging protocol MQTT so it can be visualised and analysed elsewhere. GitHub At its heart, RiverProject exemplifies a modern approach to environmental monitoring: shifting away from manual data collection and towards continuous, automated remote sensing . In my project I gather environmental data, create rolling averages, and publish that information through MQTT to other platforms for dashboard visualisation - which can be invaluable for spotting trends or triggering alerts. GitHub Why...

  What is Embedded Systems and why am I into it? 📠📟📞📥📤📬📫📰📲📱📴📳💾💽💻💹 Embedded systems are the quiet workhorses of modern technology. They are specialized computers built into larger products to perform specific tasks, often with strict requirements around timing, reliability, and power consumption. Unlike general-purpose computers such as laptops or smartphones, embedded systems usually run a single application and are designed to do it extremely well. From washing machines and microwave ovens to cars, medical devices, and industrial robots, embedded systems are everywhere, even if we rarely notice them. 🚦🚨🚥 The role of an embedded systems engineer is to design, build, and maintain the software—and sometimes the hardware—that makes these systems function. This often means working close to the metal: writing low-level code in languages like C or C++, configuring microcontrollers, and interacting directly with sensors, motors, and communication interfaces. An embedd...

  I Graduated with a 2:1 in Computing from Sheffield Hallam University! I'm incredibly proud to share that I’ve officially graduated from Sheffield Hallam University with a 2:1 in BSc Computing! It’s been a challenging, rewarding, and ultimately fulfilling journey, and I’m grateful for all the experiences, both technical and personal, that have shaped me along the way. From learning core computing principles to diving deep into specialist areas, my time at university has equipped me with the tools and confidence to move forward in the tech world. One of the standout modules for me was Data Management. I found it fascinating to explore how data is structured, stored, and retrieved, and how good design can make or break the efficiency of a system. This module really laid the groundwork for many of my later projects, giving me the practical skills and theoretical understanding to handle data effectively and responsibly—something that proved crucial in my final year work. My Artific...

This is a summary of my GitHub Pages site!   https://cuthbert86.github.io/ It is my personal corner of the web where I’m showcasing a range of projects and experiments as I learn more about web design and development. Whether you’re a fellow tech enthusiast, a curious visitor, or someone interested in learning alongside me, I hope you’ll find something interesting and useful here. The site is a living portfolio, featuring examples of my work as I explore different technologies and programming concepts. You’ll see projects built with HTML and enhanced with popular web tools like Bootstrap, giving my pages a clean and responsive look. I’m always updating and improving the design as I pick up new techniques, and many of the pages reflect my journey in web development. One of the highlights is my exploration of Python and its many applications. I’ve included projects that demonstrate data analysis, working with CircuitPython and MicroPython, and even connecting devices using MQTT....

  CUTHBERT BAINES PROFILE Full-stack python/Django developer. Intellectually curious and open minded Computing graduate specialising in Internet of Things (IoT) and microcomputing solutions. Experienced in working with microcontrollers, data collection, transmission, analysis, and live dashboards. Strong problem-solving skills and a proven work ethic from years in diverse roles. I am completely focused on completing the project at hand. Always do what needs to be done to make the project a success. Inquisitive mind, always willing to learn. Approachable and supportive of other Developers and Users.  Enjoys finding Innovative solutions to any problems that arise. ROLE I love solving problems. Looking for my first main role ideally in python / micro python / circuit python and Embedded software systems, data hubs, dashboards. I also have hardware experience. Plus experience in various languages and systems. So also very open to working with other languages and frameworks. KEY SK...