This is a recurring post to discuss programming or other technical projects that we've been working on. Tell us about one of your recent projects, either at work or personal projects. What's interesting about it? Are you having trouble with anything?

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/14

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/15

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/18

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Have any of you tried out fossil as an alternative to git? I have been using it for about a week, and I think I am in love. I have used git for years, since having some sort of source control is absolutely essential in programming. But I never liked git or felt comfortable using it. Within a week of messing with fossil, I feel like I understand it and can use it without a guide or external tools. It also has an issue tracker, forums, and a wiki built in.

Fossil Versus Git

I recommend reading all of that, especially section 2.5. Their description of cathedral style development lines up much more closely to everything I have worked on than git's bazaar style. Another thing I love is the ability to have the same repo open in multiple different folders at the same time. Basically everything about fossil lines up much more closely with what I think a source control program should be, at least for my use.

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/17

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

I have a NAS with a ton of photos and documents that have remained untouched for around 6 years. I uploaded all that stuff to OneDrive. Tidied it up and kept using OneDrive mostly. But I also sent stuff to the NAS. They have diverged.

I'm thinking about ways of restructuring/sorting my NAS to match my OneDrive so that I can then sync the two. I thought about making a python script that would just match on file names and move them to the correct location.

Figured before I did I'd ask if anyone else had any other suggestions

This is a recurring post to discuss programming or other technical projects that we've been working on. Tell us about one of your recent projects, either at work or personal projects. What's interesting about it? Are you having trouble with anything?

This is a recurring post to discuss programming or other technical projects that we've been working on. Tell us about one of your recent projects, either at work or personal projects. What's interesting about it? Are you having trouble with anything?

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/12

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/13

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/11

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/9

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/10

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/8

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/7

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/6

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/5

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

Hi all,

There is a tar.gz whose contents I would like to access. The file itself is quite old, last being updated ~20 years ago if I had to guess (I am not sure if this is relevant). The file contains legacy scientific code that I would like for archival purposes and can be found via the "code site" link here. However:

• When I download the file and run tar -xvzf radpack.tar.gz I get an error: tar: Error opening archive: Unrecognized archive format.
• Likewise, if I try to gunzip it I get gunzip: radpack.tar.gz: not in gzip format.
• Running file radpack.tar.gz only yields radpack.tar.gx: data, indicating file cannot find anything out about it.
• head radpack.tar.gz outputs a string of unintelligible unicode.

These are the different solutions I have come across after searching this problem, and to me is good evidence that the file has been corrupted in some way and that may very well be the case. However, for archival and historical purposes it would be great if I could access the contents, so I am compelled to search out other solutions. Are there other options I can try here? Is there some way to confirm that the file is in fact corrupted beyond recovery? Any help on this point would be greatly appreciated. I posted this on stack exchange as well but figured maybe the smart folks here might know.

EDIT:

Just to be clear this has been solved — a functioning copy of the archive was found.

General Programming Q&A thread! Ask any questions about programming, answer the questions of other users, or post suggestions for future threads.

Don't forget to format your code using the triple backticks or tildes:

Here is my schema:

```sql
CREATE TABLE article_to_warehouse (
  article_id   INTEGER
, warehouse_id INTEGER
)
;
```

How do I add a `UNIQUE` constraint?

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/4

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

In the comments of the previous AoC post @first-must-run asked if there is a private leaderboard for Tildes, and I didn't manage to find one, so I decided to share my invite code so that we can track our progress together.

Please LMK if there is already an existing leaderboard from a previous year.

The join code is 2183006-a14e4b86, you can join here.

Today's problem description: https://adventofcode.com/2023/day/3

Please post your solutions in your own top-level comment. Here's a template you can copy-paste into your comment to format it nicely, with the code collapsed by default inside an expandable section with syntax highlighting (you can replace python with any of the "short names" listed in this page of supported languages):

<details>
<summary>Part 1</summary>

```python
Your code here.
```

</details>

This is a recurring post to discuss programming or other technical projects that we've been working on. Tell us about one of your recent projects, either at work or personal projects. What's interesting about it? Are you having trouble with anything?

I recently started having an issue on my windows machine with folder permissions. The start menu folder suddenly became inaccessible to any program that tried to create a shortcut there. I worked around it by just taking ownership.

Now I'm facing a much worse problem where many operations that require admin elevation suddenly doesn't work even after a UAC prompt. This has really become a problem now that I want to install wsl on this machine. Running wsl --install just returns the wsl usage info and wsl --update throws a UAC prompt, but fails saying "The requested operation requires elevation" even while logged into the built in Administrator windows account.

Normal programs can still use admin elevation (mostly), but everything that windows prompts for behaves as if I'm a regular user despite still giving and accepting a UAC prompt. The Microsoft Store has also seemingly lost the ability to update or repair itself also so that's probably related.

I've tried all the usual stuff with /DISM, /sfc, every Microsoft troubleshooter. They found no issues. Creating a new admin account lets me create the account but then it inherits the same issues. I can't even gain admin elevation in safe mode. I'm really at a loss. I don't want to have to do a system refresh because it takes so much time to get set back up, but at this point I don't know what else to do.

Has anyone else ever encountered an issue like this? I've tried searching for this and just end up on a bunch of identical 'help' pages telling me to right click -> run as admin or the generic Microsoft employee pointing me to reinstall again.

Windows version 10.0.19045 Build 19045 in case that matters

Edit: I never did find a solid reason why this was happening. It wasn't my university Maya account. While reinstalling windows on a freshly formatted drive I kept getting errors that eventually led me to discoving my ram was going bad. Got it replaced and installed windows just fine. I have to assume the problem started because of memory errors. Thanks for the suggestions everyone.

So, last night I undertook some surgery, and replaced the motherboard and processor in my old gaming rig with a slightly upgraded combo so that I can squeak in under the minimum specs for Star Citizen. After the bootup, windows started telling me that my copy was no longer licensed.

Now, I had used the free upgrade from win 7 Pro, and as such had a win 10 pro install for the last 3 years or so. All above board. Now, the system is telling me I only have a win 10 home license showing on the system, and that I need to install home to use it.

Why would this happen, and how can I get my win 10 pro license back in good standing on the new hardware? Again, only the motherboard and processor have changed...

EDIT

I ended up purchasing a new license from StackSocial as suggested by pseudolobster below, and the issue is now resolved. Thanks to everyone for all the helpful responses!

I'm attempting to make my company's online software documentation ADA-accessible. We have several JavaScript elements that are currently not accessible to a screen reader. The one I'm working on is a set of tabs that show/hide content depending on which one you click. I am trying to use ARIA tags to make the tabs accessible. I have based my code off of this page, with some modifications. Namely, they use <a> tags as the active element and I do not want to use <a> tags.

While I'm able to get the tabs to work fine for me (a sighted person), testing with a screen reader shows mixed results. I can get the tabs to work using the Windows Narrator screen reader on Microsoft Edge in Windows 10, but not Chrome or Firefox in Windows 11. In those configurations, it is impossible to switch tabs. (I haven't tested every possible permutation, but it's probably a browser issue.) I don't know why this is happening because I have set up all my ARIA tags, and it does work on Edge.

Can anyone help me understand what I'm doing wrong so I can debug the issue and improve the code? Requirements are:

• The first tab must be selected (showing content) by default. Other tab content must be hidden by default, except the tab button to click on
• Sighted users must be able to navigate between tabs by clicking on the tab headers via mouse
• Visually impaired users must be able to navigate between tabs via keyboard/screen reader
• The presence, function, and usage of the tabs must be clear to the screen reader
• I do not want to use an <a> tag nested in the <li> as the active element because this causes the page to jump around when sighted users click on it. I would like the entire "button" (right now, the <li> tag) to be clickable.
• Must work on all/most common browsers and popular operating systems

I suspect this is a JS issue, but I'm at a loss here and I don't know how to proceed.

<ul class="tabs-list" role="tablist">
    <li class="tab current" aria-controls="example-1" aria-selected="true" href="#example-1" id="tab-example-1" role="tab">Example 1</li>
    <li class="tab" aria-controls="example-2" aria-selected="false" href="#example-2" id="tab-example-2" role="tab">Example 2</li>
    <li class="tab" aria-controls="example-3" aria-selected="false" href="#example-3" id="tab-example-3" role="tab">Example 3</li>
</ul>

<div aria-labelledby="tab-example-1" class="tab-panel current" id="example-1" role="tabpanel">
    <p>Example 1 content goes here</p>
</div>

<div aria-labelledby="tab-example-2" class="tab-panel hidden" id="example-2" role="tabpanel">
    <p>Example 2 content goes here</p>
</div>

<div aria-labelledby="tab-example-3" class="tab-panel hidden" id="example-3" role="tabpanel">
    <p>Example 3 content goes here</p>
</div>

ul.tabs-list {
	margin-left: 2px;
	margin-right: 2px;
	padding: 0px;
	list-style: none;
	position: relative;
    line-height: 8pt;
}

ul.tabs-list:after
{
	position: absolute;
	content: "";
	width: 100%;
	bottom: 0;
	left: 0;
	border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd;
}

ul.tabs-list li {
	color: #333;
	display: inline-block;
	padding: 10px 10px;
	cursor: pointer;
	position: relative;
	z-index: 0;
}

ul.tabs-list li.current {
	background: #fff;
	color: #d9232e;
	border-top: 1px solid #ddd;
	border-bottom: 0px solid white;
	border-left: 1px solid #ddd;
	border-right: 1px solid #ddd;
	z-index: 100;
}
 
ul.tabs-list li:hover {
	background: #c2c2c2;
	color: #000;
	display: inline-block;
	padding: 10px 10px;
	cursor: pointer;
	border: 1px solid transparent;
}

ul.tabs-list li.current:hover {
	background: #fff;
	color: #d9232e;
	margin-left: 0px;
	border-top: 1px solid #ddd;
	border-bottom: 1px solid transparent;
	border-left: 1px solid #ddd;
	border-right: 1px solid #ddd;
	z-index: 2;
}

div.tab-panel {
	display: none;
	background: #ededed;
	padding: 15px;
	background-color: transparent;
}

div.tab-panel.current {
	display: inherit;
}

$(function(){
  var index = 0;
  var $tabs = $('li.tab');

  $tabs.bind(
  {
    // on keydown,
    // determine which tab to select
    keydown: function(ev){
      var LEFT_ARROW = 37;
      var UP_ARROW = 38;
      var RIGHT_ARROW = 39;
      var DOWN_ARROW = 40;

      var k = ev.which || ev.keyCode;

      // if the key pressed was an arrow key
      if (k >= LEFT_ARROW && k <= DOWN_ARROW){
        // move left one tab for left and up arrows
        if (k == LEFT_ARROW || k == UP_ARROW){
          if (index > 0) {
            index--;
          }
          // unless you are on the first tab,
          // in which case select the last tab.
          else {
            index = $tabs.length - 1;
          }
        }

        // move right one tab for right and down arrows
        else if (k == RIGHT_ARROW || k == DOWN_ARROW){
          if (index < ($tabs.length - 1)){
            index++;
          }
          // unless you're at the last tab,
          // in which case select the first one
          else {
            index = 0;
          }
        }

        // trigger a click event on the tab to move to
        $($tabs.get(index)).click();
        ev.preventDefault();
      }
    },

    // just make the clicked tab the selected one
    click: function(ev){
      index = $.inArray(this, $tabs.get());
      setFocus();
      ev.preventDefault();
    }
  });

  var setFocus = function(){
    // undo tab control selected state,
    // and make them not selectable with the tab key
    // (all tabs)
    $tabs.attr(
    {
      tabindex: '-1',
      'aria-selected': 'false'
    });

    // hide all tab panels.
    $('.tab-panel').removeClass('current');

    // make the selected tab the selected one, shift focus to it
    $($tabs.get(index)).attr(
    {
      tabindex: '0',
      'aria-selected': 'true'
    }).focus();

    // handle <li> current class (for coloring the tabs)
    $($tabs.get(index)).siblings().removeClass('current');
    $($tabs.get(index)).addClass('current');

    // add a current class also to the tab panel
    // controlled by the clicked tab
    $("#"+$($tabs.get(index)).attr('aria-controls')).addClass('current');
  };
});

I want to keep this short and sweet:

I used Macrium Reflect to clone a Windows 11 install from one bad SSD to a new one. I had to reinstall to repair the Windows install, but it's a done deal, but I feel burned by Macrium and want to find an alternative.

I was wondering if anybody had any leads on great cloning software for general use? I'm willing to pay money, and it can be online or offline software (in OS or via USB).

I have two drives, a 4TB and 1TB HDDI'm cloning to 4TB SSDs to have on newer devices, since these two are quite old and I got a deal on a pair of Crucial SSDs on Amazon (a brand/line I'm familiar with, they're good drives). These largely have games that aren't installed, legacy data old music rips I want access to, and currently active user profiles.

My goal: clone the partitions over to the new drives, pop them in with hopefully the same drive letters, and expand the partitions to use all free space and be done with it. Ideally I would also have tool I can recommend to others without concern, assuming they have basic computer literacy.

Will CloneZilla do this just fine? Is there anything better, proprietary or otherwise? Any idea how long this can be expected to take over Sata II (I've got a hotswap port I'll be cloning to outside my case, then popping it open to swap the drives).

Hi folks

Keeping in with the theme of people of Tildes are generally really good people (hopefully), I may have a gig early next year that I want a quote on for a network redesign. It's not massive at 3 sites of roughly 100 people per site, 2 sites are dark fibred together, a couple of IPSec routes between UK and USA. It's mostly building out IP subnets, correct router and firewall configs, vLANing up the sites correctly.

If anyone is interested or knows anyone, please reach out to me on this thread for a bit more info, we can take it from there.

Else, I'm going to reach out to some UK based tech companies for the work. You may ask "Why not do this yourself?" That would require planning and testing which I don't have enough time for; I'd rather a Pro designed, and implemented.