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 ...

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 ...

Why Would I be the Ideal Solutions Architect? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 In today’s fast-moving technology landscape, organisations need more than just technical expertise - they need strategic thinkers who can bridge the gap between business goals and technical reality. A Solutions Architect must translate complex requirements into efficient, scalable, and maintainable systems, while communicating effectively with technical teams and stakeholders alike. I believe my journey — from a mature computing student at Sheffield Hallam University to a creative problem-solver with hands-on experience in software, hardware and real-world projects - uniquely positions me for this role. A Solid Technical Foundation My journey into tech wasn’t traditional — I returned to study computing as a mature student, driven by curiosity and a passion for solving problems in elegant, efficient ways. On my GitHub profile , I describe myself as “The Man of Many Moments” — which reflects both my varied interests in...

  My Multi-project Method I have developed a method for dealing with procrastination and I have named it “My Multi-project Method”.   🕐🕑🕒🕓🕔🕕🕖🕗🕘🕙🕚 I procrastinate on a project by working on a different project.  I will always do what needs to be done in time but if I’m leaving a task to the last possible moment then I may as make that time productive by working on one of my other projects.  If I’m avoiding my emails I’ll procrastinate on that task by updating my CV.  Whenever I’m working on my githubpages.io site I’ll make progress for a while before I hit a wall so instead of doing no work at all I’ll step back from that project to work on one of my Python based projects instead.  Sometimes stepping back from a project for a few days or even a week can give me a better perspective on it when I get back into working on it. 📤📥📤📥📠📟📡💾💽💻💻💻💻💻💻 My current projects include: Working with PostgreSQL Databases. My Python based imperial u...

  Test Yourself then Check Yourself Pushing myself to grow has always been at the heart of my journey through the world of IT, computing, and data analytics. These fields evolve at lightning speed, and I’ve learned that staying still is the fastest way to fall behind. Whether it’s a new programming concept, a data modeling technique, or a tool I’ve never touched before, I’m constantly seeking out ways to stretch my abilities. But with that drive comes a responsibility to recognize when I’m approaching my limits. The tech world can be intense, and curiosity can quickly turn into overload if I’m not careful. Early on, I realized that challenging myself doesn’t mean pushing to exhaustion—it means being intentional about growth, not reckless. 🙏🙏🙏 One of the biggest influences on how I manage that balance came from an extracurricular course I once took: “Connecting with Yourself on a Spiritual Level.” It might sound far removed from coding or data analytics, but the meditation te...

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...

I n a world that celebrates productivity and visible output, thinking time can often be undervalued. We're so used to equating work with motion — typing, emailing, attending meetings — that stillness can feel like laziness. But the best ideas, the clearest plans, and the most innovative solutions usually begin in the quiet moments when nothing appears to be happening. Before diving into action, we need to give ourselves space to think things through — to explore possibilities, test assumptions, and map a direction. S tepping away from your desk can be one of the most productive things you do all day. A short walk, a moment by the window, or even just sitting with a notebook can shift your perspective entirely. When we remove ourselves from the constant tug of the screen and allow our minds to wander, we often find connections and insights we wouldn’t have spotted while knee-deep in tasks. It’s not procrastination — it’s preparation. I n the early stages of any project, pen and pa...