C E Marx | Expert Web Development in Cape Town http://c-e-marx.co.za Expert Web Development in Cape Town Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:37:25 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.5.1 How Has The WeThinkCode Program Been So Far? http://c-e-marx.co.za/wethinkcode-program-south-africa/ http://c-e-marx.co.za/wethinkcode-program-south-africa/#respond Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:37:25 +0000 http://c-e-marx.co.za/?p=1924 To sum it up in one word: challenging. I started knowing nothing about Python, and so far I have developed 12 small programs in a month and a half. I haven’t cried yet which is a good sign and in terms of stress, it’s definitely a step down from the bootcamp. However I’m struggling with […]

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To sum it up in one word: challenging. I started knowing nothing about Python, and so far I have developed 12 small programs in a month and a half. I haven’t cried yet which is a good sign and in terms of stress, it’s definitely a step down from the bootcamp. However I’m struggling with how complexed the tasks are becoming and I feel I’ve missed out on learning some of the basics because of how we’re taught.

There are no lectures, no teachers and no how-to’s. It’s peer to peer learning in it’s most primal form. We’re plonked in a room of computers, given a terminal and instructions on what they want us to achieve – and we have to figure out how to do it. There are a lot of people here with previous experience. Some have dropped out of computer science or engineering degrees, some were working as programmers full-time. Those people are doing really well with the work. The rest of us, with no programming experience, are having a hard time.

There’s generally a good vibe between the cohort. Most everyone is friendly and excited to be here. On Friday’s they all leave early to go for a beer (or 5) at Brauhaus. There is a noticeable spirit of community between us and we keep in touch even after hours. It’s really nice to be at a college where everyone is like me – slightly nerdy and offbeat.

I’m coming in at 8 and leaving at 4 every day which is pretty civilized.

I’ve developed the following programs so far:

  • A text-based hangman game (3 iterations, each more complexed)
  • A program that prints out different-sized shapes based on user input
  • A text-based version of the Mastermind board game
  • A program to do stuff using recursion (very specific – I know)
  • A program to process words in different ways (very specific again)
  • A text-based simulation of a robot (3 iterations and I’m currently busy on the third)

The robot simulation is the most difficult so far and to be honest, I’m losing hope. We have to enable the program to replay commands entered by the user, allow for a ‘silent’ version of this replay, enable a command to replay the commands backwards and enable a command to replay the commands backwards and silently. I’m stuck on Step 6 where we have to enable the program to play back user-specified range. I’m not wording this very well. My apologies if it’s confusing. Just know: what they’re asking us to do is hard!

Would I recommend the program to you?

I’ve been asked by several friends if I’d recommend doing the 2-year program. I think WeThinkCode_ is an incredible opportunity and I think the skills you may learn here are unparalleled. They don’t discriminate when it comes to accepting students into the course – you can even apply if you don’t have a matric certificate. WTC Students are sought-after by the industry and have great employment opportunities after the program.  If you like creative problem solving and can cope in a stressful, fast-paced environment I would encourage you to apply. Go to the bootcamp and see if it’s for you. Decide from there.

Knowing what I know now, would I apply again?

Yes. A 2 year bursary is an amazing opportunity and I am being pushed to grow every day. While dealing with the challenges of learning to program has been quite painful, I feel it will be well worth it once my two years are up. I’ve learnt so much already. I would absolutely apply again, but this time around, I would try not to let the stress get to me as much.

I’m excited to see how much I’ll know in the next 2 months and, dear reader, will continue to update you.

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WeThinkCode_ 2020 Cohort: The First Week http://c-e-marx.co.za/wethinkcode-2020-cohort-coding-program/ http://c-e-marx.co.za/wethinkcode-2020-cohort-coding-program/#respond Fri, 07 Aug 2020 10:42:16 +0000 http://c-e-marx.co.za/?p=1779 Monday: Day 00 It’s my first day in the WeThinkCode_ 2020 cohort. I survived the intensive C bootcamp in February and made it into the program which was promptly delayed due to the Corona Virus outbreak. Though extremely grateful, I arrive feeling nervous. The walk through the empty V&A Waterfront was bizarre. Most of the […]

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Monday: Day 00

It’s my first day in the WeThinkCode_ 2020 cohort. I survived the intensive C bootcamp in February and made it into the program which was promptly delayed due to the Corona Virus outbreak. Though extremely grateful, I arrive feeling nervous. The walk through the empty V&A Waterfront was bizarre. Most of the usual corporate personel are working from home, and the air feels polar opposite to when the crowds were ever-present earlier in the year.

The C Bootcamp is was one of the most gruelling three-week periods of my life. I can’t believe how much I learned. I can’t believe how much I cried. I think everyone, regardless of whether you want to be in the program or not, should do this bootcamp. WeThinkCode_ not only teaches grit, they forge it!

Tuesday: Day 01

Yesterday went off with a slight hitch. We were temperature scanned and given a bracelet to show we had been tested. Our online in-campus induction was delayed to today at 1 pm because the internet stopped working. I find the staff members to be really on the ball at keeping us informed about when the next meetings will be.

I have some time to kill until our official induction with the Joburg campus happens at 1:00 pm. There’s a really great tea stand just down the road that I am thinking about at this very moment. They have a wicked flavour called Devil’s Advocate. A hearty mix of chilli and ginger. I’m considering putting together a tea budget, limiting myself to one R20.00 cup per week. I think I’ll need it.

The curriculum has changed this year. Instead of doing C, we’ll be doing Python. We have another induction tomorrow to take us through the curriculum which I’m looking forward too. I’ve done some Python exercises in preparation for the program and found it was much more pleasurable than C. I’ve also heard that we’ll be learning a lot through developing text-based games. Cool.

The Day 01 induction was interesting. Each staff member spoke on their area of expertise, covering everything from general admin to the WomenThinkCode= program. Our CEO Nyari Samushonga, as fabulous as ever, reminded us of the values of our institution. Grit, curiosity, ubuntu and responsibility. Ubuntu is uniquely South African concept. In a peer to peer learning environment you can only rely on each-other and I hope our cohort can internalize these values and use them for the benefit of our country. How patriotic.

As I was beginning to feel a surge of inspiration, our internet cut out again so we took a break to sort that out.

Wednesday: Day 02

It was so cold this morning I felt like my hands were going to fall off. The brisk walk through the harbor helped and now I sit at my desk, patiently awaiting the technical induction at 10:00. Today we’re going to go over our curriculum. I’m not sure what to expect, we’ll go over what assignments are due in the next couple of weeks and probably be shown what IDE to use. It’s 4 and a half hours long. I know I’m not the only one feeling anxious about the upcoming assignments. Feeling as though the next two years will be as intense as the bootcamp has got me on a permanent baseline of anxiety. I’ve been reassured by my second year friends that this will not be the case.

I’ve already broken my tea budget and am considering investing R100.00 into a pack of fancy tea. The pack contains 100 grams of loose leaf. A big average tea bag weights around 5 grams so I could yield about 20 cups of tea from the pack. However then I would be limited to only 1 flavour of tea until the pack runs out. It makes economic sense but I’m not sure if I am ready for that kind of commitment.

It’s 9:48 and we’ve been informed that today’s induction has been delayed by an hour because of technical issues at the Joburg campus. Oops.

Advice to those in the Bootcamp

If you are currently in the WeThinkCode_ 3 week bootcamp, the best advice I could give you is to stick with it. You’ll cry a lot and be tired to the core of your being but if you can make it through the 3 weeks you will come out the other side having a basic knowledge of C and a newfound feeling of self-reliance. It’s as tough as it is worth it. I found a sense of community and peer support I didn’t know could be a thing. The people around you are the best part and your biggest resource. Don’t get caught up in the chaos of it all, and don’t let overwhelming emotions push you out of finishing.

Thursday: Day 03

We came in to a surprise this morning, our operating system had been changed to Devian! After some confusion we were able to access the WeThinkCode Learning Management System, for which we are the guinea pigs. We struggled through setting up our new environment and went through the Getting Started module. Peer collaboration is vital. Some of the tasks didn’t work because of system errors and we had to work around or exclude them entirely. Things feel disorganized but I understand this is the first time they are trying the new curriculum out.

Overall, I feel exhausted and generally discouraged. I’m guessing once we’ve settled in and gotten used to the systems things will feel less stressful. We’ve been given a task to create a hangman game in Python. To check if it works or not we need to submit the file as a test, but the program they have to test the files is down.

I leave college today wondering whether the next two years are going to make me feel like the bootcamp. Big ouch to my self-esteem.

It’s Friday. All in all,

I feel much less emotional today. A good friend and I went for a walk mid-freakout and he gave me a little pep talk.

We continued working on hangman.py and came to a solution for the first part of the exercise. We’re starring the second part next week.

It was a good week. A structured week. If you’re not sure what to expect when joining WeThinkCode_’s next couple of cohorts, I would tell you not to expect anything. The staff will tell you where to go and what to do. You will be informed. You will figure it out. All you need to survive Week One is to listen, collaborate with the people around you and check your damn email.

Good luck out there soldier. I believe in you.

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What is a humans.txt file? http://c-e-marx.co.za/what-is-a-humans-txt-file/ http://c-e-marx.co.za/what-is-a-humans-txt-file/#respond Tue, 21 Jul 2020 09:50:12 +0000 http://c-e-marx.co.za/?p=1764 Started by humanstxt.org, the idea was to put more of a focus on people rather than machines. A humans.txt file is a text file a website owner can put in the site root file, the same place you would put your robots.txt file. It gives users more information on the people behind the website. Users […]

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Started by humanstxt.org, the idea was to put more of a focus on people rather than machines. A humans.txt file is a text file a website owner can put in the site root file, the same place you would put your robots.txt file. It gives users more information on the people behind the website. Users can access it by typing /humans.txt behind a domain name.

The team behind it describes the initiative as helping with “knowing the people behind a website”. You can mention whoever you feel contributed to the website, be that the developer, designer, website owner or marketing team.

Cool examples

Sometimes the best way to understand something is to see it. Google has one. The creators of humans.txt have one you can check out.

Is it mandatory?

No. You don’t have to have one and you won’t be punished for not having one. It’s just something you can do if you have a little extra time, or if you want to properly credit individual team members who helped with the site.

Check out my humans.txt here

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Free Python Resources | freecodecamp.org and Video Tutorial http://c-e-marx.co.za/free-python-resources-south-africa/ http://c-e-marx.co.za/free-python-resources-south-africa/#respond Thu, 16 Jul 2020 10:18:08 +0000 http://c-e-marx.co.za/?p=1603 I’ll keep adding new resources as I find them. 4 Hour Basics of Python Course I came across a super comprehensive Basics of Python Course that is so brilliant I couldn’t resist sharing. Mike Dane from Giraffe Academy made this awesome course for freecodecamp.org. I’ve been taking it and learning a lot. If you are […]

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I’ll keep adding new resources as I find them.

4 Hour Basics of Python Course

I came across a super comprehensive Basics of Python Course that is so brilliant I couldn’t resist sharing. Mike Dane from Giraffe Academy made this awesome course for freecodecamp.org. I’ve been taking it and learning a lot.

If you are looking to learn Python there are a lot of great free resources out there. Don’t be discouraged – use the available tools around you and keep programming.

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Simple Programming: ft_print_comb.c http://c-e-marx.co.za/simple-programming-ft_print_comb-c/ http://c-e-marx.co.za/simple-programming-ft_print_comb-c/#respond Mon, 22 Jun 2020 10:49:51 +0000 http://c-e-marx.co.za/?p=1504 This is a fun one. Ft_print_comb.c is an exercise given to those in the WeThinkCode bootcamp on Day02. You’ll be challenged to “create a function that displays all different combinations of three different digits in ascending order, listed by ascending order”. I went through the 3 week intensive C bootcamp earlier this year and it […]

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This is a fun one. Ft_print_comb.c is an exercise given to those in the WeThinkCode bootcamp on Day02. You’ll be challenged to “create a function that displays all different combinations of three different digits in ascending order, listed by ascending order”.

I went through the 3 week intensive C bootcamp earlier this year and it kicked my ass so if you need a hand for this exercise in Day02, here it is.

Include the ft_putchar which I believe was created by the school. We’ve created our own version of ft_putchar (cm_putchar) that allows us to print 3 different variables – instead of only 1.

We’ve created 3 variables to carry each of the digits (a, b, c) and initialized the first variable to 0 because that’s our starting point. The last number they give in the example is 789 so in our While loops we set the corresponding value smaller than or equal to that number.

We want the numbers to scale up at the same time, so we set the variable b as equal to a + 1, and c as equal to b + 1. Our If is there to add the spaces and commas between each item in the list. Then all that’s left to do is increment!


#include

int ft_putchar(char c) {
write(1, &c, 1);
c++;
}

void cm_putchar(char x, char y, char z) {
ft_putchar(x);
ft_putchar(y);
ft_putchar(z);
}

void ft_print_comb(void) {
int a;
int b;
int c;

a = 0;
while(a <= '7') { b = a + 1; while(b <= '8') { c = b + 1; while(c <= '9') { cm_putchar(a, b, c) { if(a != '7' || b != '8' || c != '9') { ft_putchar(','); ft_putchar(' '); } c++; } b++; } a++; } } }

If you want to test this, don't forget to add an int main() and call the function. Good luck friend!

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How To Enable Intel Virtualization | Asus Laptop TUF Gaming http://c-e-marx.co.za/enable-intel-virtualisation-asus-tuf-gaming/ http://c-e-marx.co.za/enable-intel-virtualisation-asus-tuf-gaming/#respond Mon, 20 Apr 2020 10:32:08 +0000 http://c-e-marx.co.za/?p=1471 I was trying to install Ubuntu through a program called VirtualBox when I ran into a problem. I couldn’t save my settings and was really confused about what to do next, so I got some great advice from my dear friend Allan. He told me I needed to enabled Intel Virtualization! Whether you want to […]

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I was trying to install Ubuntu through a program called VirtualBox when I ran into a problem. I couldn’t save my settings and was really confused about what to do next, so I got some great advice from my dear friend Allan. He told me I needed to enabled Intel Virtualization! Whether you want to run multiple operating systems or need Intel Virtualization enabled for another reason, I’m going to show you how to enable this setting on on your ASUS TUF Gaming Laptop. It’s surprisingly easy.

What is Intel Virtualization?

It’s provided in Intel processors and enables a user to use multiple operating systems at the same time, hosting on a single processor. Pretty cool right? Intel VT is the processor’s ability to host multiple virtual machines as well as their operating systems. It’s also called Intel Virtualization Technology and has also gone by the name Vanderpool in the past.

How to enable Intel Virtualization

I’m using an ASUS TUF Gaming laptop. Most computers have different bios interfaces. Don’t worry if yours is different to mine – the settings may be in different places but they’re generally similar and you will be able to find them.

First you’ll have to restart your laptop. Press the ‘escape’ key and f2 as the computer restarts and you’ll see your bios settings.

At the bottom right corner, you’ll see an option for ‘advanced settings’. Click on that.

There are some options in the top menu. You’ll see ‘main’, ‘advanced’, ‘boot’, ‘security’ and ‘save and exit’. Go to ‘advanced’.

We are looking for a setting called SVM Mode. Click the drop down menu and change the option from ‘disabled’ to ‘enabled’

Press f10 to save and exit!

Using a different ASUS model? Keep an eye out for SVM Mode in your Advanced Settings and change it to ‘enabled’. It might be under your CPU settings. Check out this great video tutorial. If you need a hand on how to enable Intel Virtualization don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m happy to help.

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Simple Programming: rot_13.c http://c-e-marx.co.za/rot-13-c-program/ http://c-e-marx.co.za/rot-13-c-program/#respond Tue, 31 Mar 2020 20:37:42 +0000 http://c-e-marx.co.za/?p=1384 Rot 13 is a character substitution, replacing an alphabetical character with the 13th letter after it. This fun program could be used to send coded messages or puzzle solutions. It could also be used to encode email addresses to hide them from spam bots. We’re using arguments today (int ac, char *av[]). Don’t forget to […]

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Rot 13 is a character substitution, replacing an alphabetical character with the 13th letter after it. This fun program could be used to send coded messages or puzzle solutions. It could also be used to encode email addresses to hide them from spam bots. We’re using arguments today (int ac, char *av[]).

Don’t forget to include the unistd.h library so you can use the write() function. Copy rot_13.c into your terminal and give it a try!


int main(int ac, char *av[])
{
int i;
int c;
int d;
i = 0;

if(ac == 2)
{
while(av[1][i])
{
if(av[1][i] >= 'a' && av[1][i] <= 'y') { c = av[1][i] + 1; write(1, &c, 1); } else if(av[1][i] == 'z') { d = av[1][i] - 25; write(1, &d, 1); } else { write(1, &av[1][i], 1); } i++; } } write(1, "\n", 1); return (0); }

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Simple Programming : Repeat_alpha.c http://c-e-marx.co.za/repeat_alpha/ http://c-e-marx.co.za/repeat_alpha/#respond Tue, 10 Mar 2020 06:21:36 +0000 http://c-e-marx.co.za/?p=1318 Today I’m excited to show you a fun C program I wrote that takes a string and display it repeating each alphabetical character as many times as its alphabetical index. It must be followed by a newline. There are a few limitations: I can’t use printf() and I must use arguments. Don’t forget to include […]

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Today I’m excited to show you a fun C program I wrote that takes a string and display it repeating each alphabetical character as many times as its alphabetical index. It must be followed by a newline. There are a few limitations: I can’t use printf() and I must use arguments.

Don’t forget to include the unistd.h library. Copy repeat_alpha.c into your terminal and give it a try!

int main(int ac, char *av[])
{
int i;
int j;
i = 0;
j = 0;

if(ac == 2)
{
while(av[1][i])
{
if(av[1][i] >= 'a' && av[1][i] <= 'z')
{
j = av[1][i] - 97;

while(j >= 0)
{
write(1, &av[1][i], 1);
j--;
}
}

else {
write(1, &av[1][i], 1);
}

i++;
}
}

write(1, "\n", 1);
return (0);
}

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Pros & cons of hiring a Freelance Web Developer in Cape Town http://c-e-marx.co.za/freelance-web-developer-cape-town/ http://c-e-marx.co.za/freelance-web-developer-cape-town/#respond Mon, 20 Jan 2020 08:54:43 +0000 http://c-e-marx.co.za/?p=1254 In short, it really depends on your situation if hiring a freelancer or an agency is better for you. However you should be aware of the pros and cons of both sides before you make a commitment. I want you to be able to make the right choice when choosing someone to build your website […]

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In short, it really depends on your situation if hiring a freelancer or an agency is better for you. However you should be aware of the pros and cons of both sides before you make a commitment. I want you to be able to make the right choice when choosing someone to build your website because I’ve had many clients come to me after being burnt both by agencies and freelance web developers, for many different reasons. Some were fly-by-nighters, others were unreliable or overcharging. At the end of the day, the most important thing is make sure there is a formal agreement between you two – and to use your discretion. The list below is advice I would give to my friends and family when they are trying to decide who to hire to build them a website.

The good: The pros of hiring a freelance web developer in Cape Town

Lower cost

When hiring a freelancer you can avoid the agency rip-off. For example, when I was working for an agency they would charge a client R550 for an hour of my time. In my personal capacity I charge R250 an hour. I don’t have other staff members to look after or high overhead costs which enables me to charge a fair rate based on my skills and capacity.

Fast and flexible

Freelancers are generally able to build websites quickly and are flexible with their time. This differs from person to person but from personal experience, the design usually takes me 1 week and the development 3 weeks. As for flexibility, we are able to work anywhere at any time we choose. Most freelancers have set office hours so their clients know when they are available, but we do a lot of work outside of those hours too.

It’s personal

When you are a freelancer, your name is on the line if you product bad work. You could be called out directly. For most this is an incentive to product high quality projects and build long term relationships with clients. If you are hiring a freelancer, make sure they are accountable and answer when you call them.

The ugly: The cons of hiring a freelance web developer in Cape Town

Not big enough

If you have a large project it would be better to have a whole team at your disposal rather than relying solely on an individual. They know how to work together and what to expect. Different parts of the project would be delegated to different team members. Of course you could create a team of freelancers, but going this way comes with it’s own unique set of challenges.

Not a one-stop-shop

Agencies have multiple team members who are each hired to do a specific job. They will have someone who can design a logo for you, another person who can design a website for you, another to build it and another to SEO it. They might even offer website hosting or other creative services like photography. This really makes them a one-stop shop for your website needs, although it comes at a price.

It’s personal

Do you ever read freelancer horror stories on Facebook? You might see a relative complaining about poor-quality work or someone having run off with their money. Some freelancers simply don’t care when their names are on the line. To avoid bad experiences, look for reviews online.

What would I recommend for you?

If you are a small business, a new business, a one-man band or have a low budget, I would recommend a freelancer. Most of my clients are mom-and-pop businesses who need guidance on the whole process and one-on-on attention. If you need advice on starting your own website, take a look at my free website advice or get in touch.

If you are a large and established company I would recommend going with an agency. It can be useful to have everything you need under one roof, if you are willing to pay a premium. Agencies can produce a super wide spectrum of work – usually including graphic design, photography, SEO and sometimes even website hosting.

If you need any advice on who to pick, I am happy to answer any questions you may have.

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What the hell is a DNS record? http://c-e-marx.co.za/what-the-hell-is-a-dns-record/ http://c-e-marx.co.za/what-the-hell-is-a-dns-record/#respond Mon, 13 Jan 2020 07:15:51 +0000 http://c-e-marx.co.za/?p=1184 I know how it is. Sometimes trying to understand your tech support person is like listening to a new language. While this is something that as a business owner you probably won’t have to deal with – sometimes curiosity gets the better of you. Not to worry, I am going to break down what a […]

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I know how it is. Sometimes trying to understand your tech support person is like listening to a new language. While this is something that as a business owner you probably won’t have to deal with – sometimes curiosity gets the better of you. Not to worry, I am going to break down what a DNS record is for you in plain layman’s English.

Every website has a specific IP address. Domain Name System (DNS) is used to point a domain towards an IP address of a server. If you have migrated from one website host to another, your website’s DNS records would have been updated. This allows you to change website hosts without having to change your domain name every time you move.

There are different types of DNS records

DNS records hold useful information about your website. For example, an A Record stores a hostname and it’s IP address, a CERT Record stores encryption certificates and an MX Record specifies an email server for the domain. There are a bunch of these types of records that fall under DNS and they can be used in many different ways. SimpleDNS provides a comprehensive list of these different types. Your hosting provider relies greatly on these records for debugging if you are having a problem with your hosting.

What is a Nameserver?

Now that you know what a DNS Record is, let’s do a brief look-over of Nameservers. A Nameserver is a server in a hosting providers’ data center with DNS software installed on it. It manages all of the domains hosted by the hosting provider. Simple enough right?

Your website’s DNS Records and Nameserver work together to get your website available on the internet. Your web host will specify which Nameserver your domain should point too. For example if you host with Xneelo, your Nameservers will look like this:

If you want to know what your Nameservers are you can do a check through the powerful MxToolbox. Simply follow the link, paste your domain name into the search bar and click enter.

Do I need to know this information?

Unless you are a hosting provider or a web developer, you won’t need to remember this information. Hosting is complex and your hosting provider should handle your DNS for you. I hope this post was able to answer the questions you had about what DNS is.

If you have any further questions about your hosting or would like a recommendation for a hosting provider, don’t hesitate to ask me. 

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