The Legit Baines Blog

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...

  Wars of the Roses and Edward the 4th related info/planning doc This is just my planning document for a future video or workshop.  I'm posting it on here to make it easy for people to correct anything I've got wrong so please ignore the formatting and spelling. Thanks. “Warfare began in 1455 with York's capture of Henry at the First Battle of St Albans , upon which York was appointed Lord Protector by Parliament . Fighting resumed four years later when Yorkists led by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick , captured Henry again at the Battle of Northampton . After attempting to seize the throne, York was killed at the Battle of Wakefield , and his son Edward inherited his claim per the controversial Act of Accord . The Yorkists lost custody of Henry in 1461 after the Second Battle of St Albans , but defeated the Lancastrians at the Battle of Towton . The Yorkist Edward the 4th was formally crowned in June 1461.”  The Wars of the Roses have been so politicised the ...

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...

  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...

  5 Reasons Why AI Tools Can Be Useful — And 5 Reasons Why AI Is Becoming a Bubble Artificial intelligence has quickly become the center of global attention. It promises efficiency, creativity, automation, and entirely new business models. But as the hype grows louder, so do concerns that we may be entering bubble territory — a cycle of inflated expectations, overinvestment, and unrealistic assumptions about what AI can deliver. Below is a balanced look at both sides: why AI tools truly are useful, and why the current boom may be a bubble in the making. 5 Reasons Why AI Tools Can Be Useful 1. They dramatically speed up repetitive work From drafting documents to generating code templates, AI automates time-consuming tasks. This frees humans to focus on higher-level judgment, strategy, or creativity. 2. They democratize access to advanced capabilities You no longer need to be a programmer, designer, or data scientist to perform tasks once reserved for specialists. AI expands...

 💻💻💻 Staying health- and safety-aware can be surprisingly difficult when your job keeps you glued to a screen, focused on reports, dashboards, and deadlines. These simple but effective tips will help you protect your wellbeing while maintaining productivity. 1. Prioritize Proper Desk Ergonomics 💺💺💺 Set up your chair, monitor, and keyboard so your body stays in a neutral, supported position—this reduces strain on your neck, shoulders, and back. 2. Follow the 20-20-20 Rule for Eye Health Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to reduce eye strain from extended screen time. 3. Take Scheduled Micro-Breaks Short, regular breaks improve your comfort and concentration—set reminders to stand, stretch, or walk for a minute or two. 4. Keep Your Workspace Clutter-Free A tidy area prevents trip hazards, spilled drinks on electronics, and the stress that comes from a chaotic environment. 5. Stay Hydrated Throughout the Day Drinking enough water keeps yo...