OpenLampTech No. 177
phpswitcher | Malicious PyPI package targets WooCommerce stores | Open-source SaaS tools | NoSQL, SQL, or something else? | Zero jQuery | SQL CASE expression
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All commentary is mine unless otherwise quoted.
Paying for software is stupid: Open-Source tools to Destroy Your SaaS Expenses
I mean, at some point, yes.
However, in my experience, this is not always the case.
I agree that many open-source options are oftentimes better.
However, some proprietary software for specific use cases is really the only option (I’m thinking of AutoCAD Civil 3D as an example that I use a great deal).
[Medium]
SQL, NoSQL, or Something Else — How Do You Decide Which Database? (Recap)
I don't necessarily have any experience with the “Something Else” and have limited NoSQL use or knowledge, but I have used a lot of SQL.
Each has its pros and cons, and with the variety of current data ingestion sources, there likely isn't a one-size-fits-all solution.
[Level Up Coding]
Carding tool abusing WooCommerce API downloaded 34K times on PyPI
WooCommerce owners and developers, be aware of this malicious PyPI package being used to target stores' payment gateways.
Quote from the source article:
“The script specifically targeted WooCommerce stores using the CyberSource payment gateway to validate cards, which is a key step for carding actors who need to evaluate thousands of stolen cards from dark web dumps and leaked databases to determine their value and potential exploitation.”
[Bleeping Computer]
Mission jQuery Zero: How FreeAgent removed jQuery from our application
I am a (guilty) jQuery user myself.
jQuery is quite dated.
jQuery is quite handy, too!
It is common to see jQuery used in WordPress a good bit as well.
Using many frameworks already, this company decided jQuery was the first one to go.
However, being part of the application for several years, just snatching jQuery out was not an easy task and required planning and consideration.
[Grinding Gears]
Why I stopped using AI code editors
I never started.
Not with AI code editors, at least.
AI, yes (somewhat).
Quote from the source article:
“I chose to make using AI a manual action, because I felt the slow loss of competence over time when I relied on it, and I recommend everyone to be cautious with making AI a key part of their workflow.”
[Luciano Nooijen]
My Drupal, AI, and Schema.org Manifesto
I'm on board with a lot of this content. This is really a good read, and you should read it, no matter your stance on AI.
Below is a (current) personal rant on AI that has nothing to do with this particular article.
Me to AI: Give me the CodeIgniter Controller code for an API endpoint. Bam! No problem. Very little editing needed.
Me to AI: Create a comma-separated list of 21 ? placeholders I can use in an SQL query.
I received 20 back. Prompted again. Then 19. 🤔
AI is so inconsistent.
Saw this on Reddit, and based on the description, I thought maybe some readers of OpenLampTech would find this tool useful and/or interesting.
Quoting the description from the GitHub page here:
“A simple CLI tool to manage multiple PHP versions on macOS using Homebrew. Linux and Windows support planned.”
[GitHub]
The SQL CASE expression is one mighty feature. CASE is like an IF statement with a fallback or default (the ELSE block) that can be used in various locations of an SQL query.
CASE can return a different value depending on the data it encounters, and I use it quite a bit.
Using CASE in the ORDER BY clause is a great option for powerful and custom sorting.
WooCommerce and WordPress news and updates
WooCommerce 9.8 and 9.9 release cycle update (April 7th, 2025)
Join us for April Office Hours: Woo email experience (April 8th, 2025)
WooCommerce 9.8: Modernized Designs and Email Previews (April 9th, 2025)
WooCommerce 9.8.1: Dot Release (April 10th, 2025)
Thank you for reading OpenLampTech. I hope you have a great rest of your week.
Take care.
Josh Otwell
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