C Programming for dummies

There is always something new to learn (or is there).



I am currently reading "C Programming for Dummies" 2nd edition by Dan Gookin. I decided to take it out of my local library. mainly because I had it on my wish list and I don't have anything else to read at the moment. I have books on C that I have had since the 90's. I read through them when I am trying to figure something out. Usually, it has to do with pointers. I have not had any formal training on C. I have taken a class on C++. and that did cause some confusion as I assumed certain things I learned about C++ were inherited from C. While, one thing I discovered is function overloading is not in C. So I am reading this book to find things I did not already know about the C programming language. It has been 2 days and so far I am up to chapter 7 (of 27) and have not discovered anything of note yet. I have come across a few things that are simplified for the sake of not having to go down the rabbit hole on what may be edge cases. sort of like how teachers in grade school said "A sentence can't start with because" As I discover new knowledge I will write it here and post it when I am done with the book (and have edited the blog of course).

So, the first thing that catches my attention is in chapter 7. I don't often use the getchar() function, so it did catch me off guard that it returns an int and not a char. I assume there is a reason, such as that in some languages/character sets a single character is more than 1 byte. and I need to check the sizeof(char) but I think it varies, but an int is almost always more than 1 byte. off the top of my head, I believe the standard is at least 4 bytes but can vary depending on architecture. I have not done any coding on this (yet) . I am just free-writing as I read the book. I have had issues when I needed a data type to be exactly 1 byte and tried to use char with differing results depending on the system and compiler. The more reliable way is to use uint8_t. I will try later to see if that data type works with getchar(). This goes for putchar(int) instead of putchar(char).

Also in chapter 7, it does what several other books I have read when it comes to pointers. it introduces functions like scanf() before explaining pointers. it just says put a & in front of the variable without explaining why. When I first started teaching myself C, I just followed the syntax without questioning why. I think pointers are confusing to new programmers (and experienced programmers) partly because pointers are generally taught as an afterthought. The chapter on pointers is 18; I will see if they are mentioned before then. and as soon as I wrote that last sentence I turned the page and there is one line that said "Part 4 of this book covers pointers" Chapter 18 is in part 4 by the way.

in chapter 8 which deals with decision making the author discusses the ternary operator. I did know of the ternary operator from a video by Jacob Sorber (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfMV_wa0KY4), but I have not used it myself.

something I had not used in C but thought existed was until loops. While reading chapter 9 on loops I thought it was something they omitted at first, but I checked the keyword list and man documentation (or lack thereof) and discovered that I was getting syntax mixed up between languages (probably MS Basic and VB). An until loop is just a negated while loop so including it would be redundant to some degree. I assume a macro could be made so that they until(expression) equals while(!(expression)). I wonder if this book goes into macros.

In chapter 11 (the math chapter) something sounded familiar but I am not fully sure if I knew it. and this involves trig functions. I have used trig but I don't know if I used it in C (or any programming language) in C trig functions use radians and not degrees. This is kind of important to know. 90% of the time when I do use trig I am doing it in degrees, so I would need to make a conscious effort to use radians.

Another of these mathematical equations is with order of precedence. When you are writing literals it is easier to keep track of the order of operations. When you have variables and constants I like to add parentheses () to make things clearer on what happens first.

I read through chapter 12 (arrays) wondering when they will address pointers. and it was like the final paragraph. and they just said that it would be addressed in a later chapter. I don't understand why arrays are always taught that way after the fact. just pull the bandaid off and get through it. It makes things clearer.

On another note, I don't think I have used multidimensional arrays beyond 2 dimensions.

ok so in chapter 13 which deals with text manipulation, they say the "functions" in ctype.h are not functions but are macros. I mentioned before that they did not mention macros in the chapter on functions or when discussing #define. Now that is not going to confuse anyone. But, now I do want to read ctypes.h to see what the macros are doing.

The functions in string.h do give me issues and I tend to use the man pages often when dealing with string manipulation. and sometimes sprintf() is your friend, but snprintf() could be a safer path.


ok halfway through, nine days until I need to return (or renew) the book from the library.

Chapter 15 was on command line arguments using argc and argv depending on the compiler and os there could be others but this book does not discuss them and I am not sure if they are standardized. but if you are designing a program to be executed by a script or other processes then command line arguments are important. and without dealing with pointers (yet) and coping with argv as just an array and not a pointer aspect can get confusing down the line.

I am about to start chapter 16 on variables, let's see if they discuss pointers... halfway through the chapter and I don't see pointers mentioned. but I do want to talk about typedef and structs. For a while, I thought if you used something like "struct qwerty..." in C you could use qwerty as a data type like you can in C++. In C++ structs and classes are usable by the class name right away without using typedef.

again a perfect point to even just mention pointers... when discussing global variables and passing by value they could mention passing by reference and using pointers.

Chapter 17 is on binary/bitwise manipulation. This is a topic I know of but I need to look it up each time I use it. If you have seen my Raspberry Pi Pico video series on my YouTube channel you will see me using it in Python. but even then it was limited and I had to keep looking up the documentation. and That was a while ago so I need to recheck the code to see how I did it. I do know that when I went to reprogram it in C/C++ I didn't get that far. First, it is written in C++ because the SDK for the pico is set with C++ classes, but I code C++ like C with classes most times and stuff like that drives C++ programmers nuts. and I really need to get back to that project.

In the book they say XOR is pronounced "zor" . I have always heard it as "ex or". from programming classes to logic (philosophy) classes to YouTube tutorials. I am pretty sure Ben Eater says "ex or" when dealing with digital logic chips. and for those that don't know XOR is exclusive OR in logic.

I wish the book went more in-depth with hex. I don't know if they will but Chapter 17 sort of glossed over it. it does come in handy when dealing with binary with something like register flags.


chapter 18 and we finally get to pointers. it only took 269 pages (of 409 not counting appendixes). so I didn't start to understand pointers really until I started looking at assembly. I understand assembly at the concept level but I have coded basic stuff in 6502 and x86 assembly but I don't know any variant of assembly to program something from scratch in it. but when you understand what assembly is doing you understand that all variables are pointers. A variable name is just a reference to a place in memory where the value is stored. C adds a layer of abstraction to it and like all C instructions it is broken down into multiple assembly instructions. In assembly, the variable name is just a label. I would use the goto command as an example but I don't think this book even mentions goto besides listing it as a C keyword. Let's say we have a C variable X and X is an int. Let's say in this case an int is 4 bytes. So if we need the value of X what C does is it gets the value in memory of where X points to and the next 3 bytes (4 bytes total) this chapter did not really cover pass-by-value and pass-by-reference. I will guess the next chapter (also on pointers) will.

chapter 19 starts out with pointer arithmetic and comparing it to arrays. and then goes into strings are char arrays (which was mentioned earlier in the book) but then goes into strings are char pointers. Again once you understand how assembly treats memory (because this is how the computer handles memory) you can understand this better.

then it introduces the double-pointer. not to be confused with a double pointer. are you confused a double-pointer (**name) is a pointer to a pointer basically a 2-dimensional array (name[][]) where a double pointer is (double *name). so what is (double **name) is this a double-double-pointer? and with 2 pages left in the chapter they cover passing a pointer to a function (pass by reference)

Chapter 20 and now we have malloc(). I am speed-reading this. otherwise, I would be falling asleep on each page. and it is not because of the way it is written but because I know most of this already. Do I remember it verbatim? no. that is why I use man pages and other tools (stack overflow, google, etc) when I am programming. That being said it talks about casing when using malloc() but it does not mention that malloc() returns a void pointer. and in turn, does not discuss void pointers. I just checked the index and of the 3 pages listed for the void data type, only one has a sentence that mentions void pointers.

now to linked lists. something else that I am aware of but don't think I have used. Not much is new to me but if this was a book I owned and not a library book that I need to return in 3 days I would put a permanent bookmark on this chapter (like a piece of tape or dog-ear). I do think I will renew it so I am not rushed with this blog.

On a side note my library app has decided that it won't show me books I have checked out and in turn, I can't renew them via the app. so I will need to login to the website to do that. so that is new.

We are at chapter 21 so it is time for time. I would like to see how deep the book goes into time. Timing on a computer is very system and hardware-dependent. I wonder if it will dive into RTC (Real-Time-Clocks). This book does not mention embedded systems and that is a use case where how timing works is important because of the low-level nature of it.

They kind of gloss over how time works at the machine level. and to be fair C is a multi-platform programming language so everything may be different. That is the beauty of the C Standard Library: it does all that under the hood so you have a consistent performance and code can be used across platforms. they did mention the Unix epoch and that is important to know (and something I kind of forgot about). and they discuss how time can be used to seed a random number with srand(). In the future, I plan on using the Raspberry Pi Pico to use a hardware sensor to generate a random seed. look for that on this blog or my YouTube channel. The time chapter was short but it did express what needed to be said...or written...or read....you know what I mean.


chapter 22 introduces files and how to save, write, append, edit...etc them. The book uses the library function/file pointer method fopen() to open files as opposed to the system call/file descriptor method of open(). and the library function may be more consistent. I think I used open() with my ffmpeg project. Unfortunately, that laptop needs some love and care and I did not put the source on github. I was in the process of making a GitHub video and making a repository for the project, but I waited too long.


So along with file manipulation, we need to deal with file management which Chapter 23 covers. One of the things is directories. and this is definitely needed when a user needs to select a file or you need information on a file. if you saw my c/c++ work on my FFMPEG project I used a relative path when accessing files (../dir/dir/file, ./file, ./dir/file, etc) I could have used an absolute path, but that would make it less portable because everything would need to be in the exact same directory. Now here is a question: do you call them directories or folders?


Something I have difficulty in C is using multiple source files. my brain wants to say that as long as I use #include it is all good. and that is fine for the header (.h) files but for some reason you need to use the linker for multiple "source"(.c) at least that is my experience with compilers I have used. That is why I have been trying to learn more about Makefiles. and I just checked the index to see if Make is covered and it is not. probably because they expect you to use an IDE, another way is to use build scripts with bash (or your shell of choice). so using multiple files is what Chapter 24 covers. so the book puts the function prototype in the header file (ex2403.h) but puts the code for the function in main.c just under the main() function. If you are going to put the code for the main.c file why bother putting the prototype in a header file? That just seems worthless to me. I know the book is trying to teach how to put prototypes in the header and how to put code in a separate .c file, but why not culminate it with the prototype in the header file and the code for the functions in another .c file and show it working all as one.

There are bugs and bugs and bugs. As the book says, everyone writes bugs in their code. In Chapter 25 they start out by saying to use printf(). and yes I do that all the time, but many will tell you using printf() can obscure bugs, cause bugs, or negate what is causing the bug. A better way is to use tools like GDB. let's see if the book mentions that (I am only on page 1 of the chapter)

ok, something I didn't know was the __LINE__ macro. This macro displays the line number of the code that it is in. It is useful in debugging. and they do mention the GNU debugger but the book goes into the IDE Code::Blocks debugger. I don't use Code:Blocks often so I am just skimming this part. it does talk about breakpoints, I need to see if they have GDB for Dummies.

on to part six, which is called the parts of tens and chapter 6 is 10 common boo-boos. Before reading this I assume I have made all 10 multiple times. The first one is messing up conditionals and yes I do that all the time. especially using = instead of ==. the second one I don't think I have done. that is adding a semicolon ; instead of curly braces { }. if you don't use the curly braces to encapsulate the code block the loop does not know what code to run. missing the break keyword in a switch case, yup I have done that one. I do understand that you may want the switch case to roll over to the next case but that is an exception (to my knowledge). so missing braces is common for me. on this keyboard in particular because the close brace button is temperamental. ok, they added ignoring warnings. if it lets me compile I am guilty of this one. I will run it and see if it works. most of the time I will glance at it. Most of my warnings tend to be declaring a variable and not using it. This is because when I plan out something I try to add all the variables at the beginning. sometimes I am doing code in stages and don't need the variable. Other times I will use a variable for debugging and comment out the debugging code and not the variable definition. I will even use this with GDB because sometimes I want to see if a calculation is being computed correctly. generally to make sure the order of operations is going how I think it should. so they put endless loops, but I think they covered that already. I think they are forcing it to be a list of 10 things. and scanf() part of this is not knowing that you need to put pointers as arguments, and forgetting the ampersand (&). The funny thing is I know Ampersand from the show Wheel of Fortune. I think it was the category “same name” where they introduced the ampersand. so that was chapter 26


now 10 reminders and suggestions, that is chapter 27 the last chapter. So the first thing it says is to maintain good posture. This is funny because as I am typing this I am reaching over the book and my tablet to type this. not good posture at all. it says to use creative names for things like variables and functions, but I would argue creative is not the right word. Use descriptive names may be a better wording. I agree with the book you should write functions when doing repetitive tasks. The key is to not overdo it. I have seen code where almost everything is in its own function and main() is just the caller for them. In this case, you better know how to use pointers. The next reminder is to make little changes in your code, so if you are adding a feature or debugging you have a clear path of what to change or not to change. Making several changes in several parts of the code will make the map to how you got from part a to part b difficult. but sometimes you make a significant change to a function, like changing the arguments and you need to fix every place the function is called. A good example is say you have a code that takes a string (char array) and you discover you need to add an int for the string length for security purposes to avoid string overruns. you need to change the function, but now you need to find every place you called the function. One crude way is to compile it and go through the error messages one by one. and if you are doing it from the terminal and don't know where the function calls are this may be the quickest. if you are in an IDE that checks for syntax errors that may be another way. it tells you to know what a pointer is. After spending half the book avoiding pointers, now the author wants to make sure you know what they are. It talks about adding whitespace. If you are the only coder on a project use the white space to make it readable to you. If you are part of a bigger project there may be style guidelines for white space that you will need to follow; be flexible. it suggests to read your code out loud. I am not sure how well that would work for me, but it may work for you. For writing (like this blog) I run it through a text-to-speech website to make sure it sounds correct. I don't think that will help with code.


Finally the Appendixes. The first one (Appendix A) is the ASCII codes (0-127) there are -255 to -1 but this book does not cover that or utf-8 and utf-16 that may also apply so look this up. for nothing else so you know what they are if you come across it (utf-8 is common in HTML). appx B is the C17 keywords. As I am writing this C23 is due to come out. and it does give some of the C++ keywords (I guess for context). appx C is the Operators. This is a good thing to review from time to time. Appx D are the built-in data types but you may want to look into custom data types like uint8, uint16...etc. Appx E has the escape sequences (for use in functions like printf()). F is a conversion chart and G is order of precedence.

so that is the book. I had not planned on doing a chapter-by-chapter review. But that is what I did. Now I need to return this to the library. so I may not have it during editing (if I don't edit this soon).

.

Check Out My YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@samplesandtests/

How to Blog

 How is it that every time I have an idea for a blog (or a YouTube video for that matter), I don't have a way to write it down or am near a computer? I am not one to type too much on my phone or tablets. I  just hate the keyboards. I do have a Bluetooth keyboard I used to use for my iPad when I was out for work and needed to type an email or something that required more than a few words. Don't let me fool you I  am not a great typist on a keyboard. So on a side note typer is not a word. The red squiggly line is how I just found that out. I figured someone who types is a typer and someone who types professionally was a typist. But I am neither. and my handwriting is not great either, but I can read it so that is what matters in this context. I can sit with a spiral notebook and hand write a few paragraphs; free writing what is on my head much faster than with a phone keyboard. Or type free form like I am doing right now on a computer. well not really free writing because I am correcting errors as I type. I could let the spelling errors go and fix them later, but capitalization is what is getting me. This is because Firefox's spellcheck is just that a spell checker, not a grammar checker so if I type i instead of I it does not catch it, or if I miss a comma or forget to capitalize the beginning of a sentence. 

OK, I decided that I would just type it up in Blogger and then copy and paste it into Grammarly. It is said that we have come to rely on spell and grammar checkers. but when I watch YouTube ads for Grammarly I find it troubling that the whole writing process is going to AI. and if you are reading my blog you can see I do use AI but as an experiment. I want to know what they can do and how they compare. and just have fun with them. 

They do have a use as a search engine. I have noticed with Meta's AI that by default it gives you links to where it got its information. I have not deep-dived into the links for accuracy (yet).  with Chat GPT you generally need to ask it for references. and sometimes they are fictional. leave your thoughts on AI in the comments.

So back to what I was originally writing about. I tend to have ideas I would like to write about:

a) as I am driving

b) in bed

c) in the shower

d) sitting in the living room watching something

the shower and driving I can't do anything about, and for in bed even if I did keep a notebook on the bed stand I would need light, and that messes with trying to go to sleep. That leaves the living room. I should keep a notebook (and a decent pen) next to my chair in the living room.

and  I can't stand talking to my phone to make notes. The only time I use the voice AI on my phone is to call someone while driving. and I do have a Wake word setup on my Amazon tablet, it does have the "Alexa" Wake word setup. and it is funny because I will react to videos I am watching when someone says "Alexa" or anything that sounds similar. It is literally talking to itself.

so that is where I will leave it for now. in the next blog maybe I will go over the tools I use when writing.  for now, I will leave it and edit it a little later.

Check Out My YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@samplesandtests/

What does Meta AI think of this Blog

I asked Meta AI (within WhatsApp to analyze this my blog by gust giving the base URL for it. this is what I Got:

 😜

 The website  appears to be a personal blog hosted on Blogger, a free blogging platform. Here's a detailed description of the website:

*Content:*

The blog contains a collection of posts, most of which are short and concise. The content is quite varied, with no specific theme or focus. Some posts include:

1. Random thoughts and musings
2. Personal experiences and stories
3. Quotes and inspirational messages
4. Humorous anecdotes and jokes
5. Brief articles on various topics like technology, science, and current events

*Language and Writing Style:*

The blog is written in English, with a casual and informal tone. The writing style is conversational, with a touch of humor and wit. The author seems to be writing for a general audience, without any specialized knowledge or expertise.

*Design and Layout:*

The blog uses a simple, default Blogger template with a white background and a basic layout. There are no customizations or unique design elements. The focus is on the content rather than the presentation.

*Features and Functionality:*

The blog has the standard Blogger features, including:

1. A sidebar with a profile, archives, and labels
2. A comment section for reader engagement
3. Social media sharing buttons
4. A search bar for finding specific posts

*Author and Purpose:*

The author of the blog is not explicitly stated, but it appears to be a personal blog for self-expression and sharing thoughts with others. The purpose is likely to connect with like-minded individuals, share ideas, and document personal experiences.

*Overall:*

The blog (link unavailable) is a personal and casual online journal, where the author shares their thoughts, experiences, and interests. It's a simple and straightforward blog without any specific focus or expertise, but it can be an enjoyable read for those interested in personal stories and musings.

 Check Out My YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@samplesandtests/

 

 

Unlocking the Power of ChatGPT: A Comprehensive Guide to YouTube Video Creation

Introduction to ChatGPT for YouTube Video Creation:

Are you tired of staring at a blank screen, struggling to come up with content ideas for your YouTube videos? Do you find yourself spending hours writing and rewriting scripts, trying to make them engaging and interesting?

If so, you're not alone. Creating content can be a challenge, even for the most experienced YouTubers. But what if there was a tool that could help you generate ideas and scripts in a matter of minutes? That's where ChatGPT comes in.

ChatGPT is a powerful language model developed by OpenAI, based on the GPT-3.5 architecture. It uses artificial intelligence to generate human-like text based on a given prompt. This means that you can ask ChatGPT for content ideas, and it will come up with a list of suggestions based on your topic.

But ChatGPT isn't just for generating ideas. It can also help you write scripts for your YouTube videos. Simply give it a topic, and it will generate a script for you, complete with engaging language and interesting facts.

So how does ChatGPT work? Essentially, it's trained on a massive dataset of text from the internet, which allows it to understand language and generate human-like responses. When you give it a prompt, it uses its understanding of language to generate a response that's relevant and coherent.

Of course, like any tool, ChatGPT isn't perfect. Sometimes its responses can be a little off-topic, or it might generate text that's not quite what you were looking for. But with a little tweaking and editing, you can turn its suggestions into high-quality content for your YouTube channel.

In summary, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help you generate content ideas and write scripts for your YouTube videos. With its artificial intelligence capabilities, it can save you time and effort, allowing you to focus on creating engaging content for your viewers. Give it a try, and see how it can transform your content creation process.

How to Generate YouTube Video Ideas with ChatGPT:

YouTube has become one of the most popular platforms for content creators to showcase their talent, build their audience, and earn a living. However, coming up with fresh and exciting video ideas can be a daunting task. This is where ChatGPT comes in - a powerful tool that uses artificial intelligence to generate creative ideas and scripts for YouTube videos.

In this blog post, we will walk you through the process of using ChatGPT to generate YouTube video ideas and refine them to find the best ones for your channel.

Step 1: Sign up for ChatGPT

To get started, you'll need to sign up for ChatGPT. Once you've created your account, you'll be able to access the tool's features and start generating video ideas.

Step 2: Enter Your Topic

The first step is to enter a general topic or keyword related to your YouTube channel. This could be anything from "cooking" to "video games" to "travel." ChatGPT will then use its machine learning algorithms to generate a list of related ideas.

Step 3: Filter and Refine Your Ideas

Once you have a list of generated ideas, it's time to filter and refine them to find the best ones for your channel. You can do this by selecting the ideas that are most relevant to your niche, have the most potential to go viral, or align with your brand's values and mission.

Step 4: Create a Script

Once you've chosen the best ideas for your channel, it's time to start creating your video script. ChatGPT can also help with this by generating a script for you based on the idea you've chosen. You can then modify and customize the script to fit your style and tone.

Step 5: Create Your Video

Now that you have your script, it's time to create your video. With ChatGPT, you'll be able to generate ideas and scripts quickly and easily, allowing you to focus on the creative aspect of video production.

In conclusion, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help YouTube creators generate new and exciting video ideas. By using this tool, creators can streamline their content creation process, allowing them to focus on the creative aspects of video production. If you're struggling to come up with new ideas for your YouTube channel, give ChatGPT a try and see what ideas it can generate for you!

How to Write YouTube Video Scripts with ChatGPT:

As a YouTube creator, coming up with ideas for your videos can be challenging, and writing a script that engages your audience can be even more difficult. But what if you could get help with generating ideas and writing scripts from an AI-powered tool that learns from vast amounts of data? Enter ChatGPT.
ChatGPT is a natural language processing AI model developed by OpenAI, capable of generating human-like text based on the input provided to it. With the help of ChatGPT, you can generate ideas and write scripts for your YouTube videos with ease. In this blog post, we'll explore how to use ChatGPT to write YouTube video scripts.

Step 1: Input the Topic or Idea

To generate a script with ChatGPT, start by inputting the topic or idea for your video. You can do this by typing the topic or idea into the text box provided on the ChatGPT website or interface. For example, if you want to create a video on "How to Make a Delicious Pizza at Home," you can input that as your topic.

Step 2: Choose the Prompt

After inputting your topic, you will be presented with a list of prompts generated by ChatGPT. These prompts can be used to help generate ideas for your video or serve as the foundation for your script. Choose the prompt that best aligns with your video topic or idea.

Step 3: Refine and Edit

Once you have chosen a prompt, you can start to refine and edit the generated text to fit your video's purpose and audience. ChatGPT is excellent at generating text, but it's up to you to ensure that the script is coherent and engaging. You can add or remove text, change the structure, and modify the tone of the script to fit your needs.

Step 4: Review and Finalize

After refining and editing the generated text, review the script to ensure that it's coherent, engaging, and fits the purpose of your video. Make any final adjustments or edits, then finalize the script.

In conclusion, ChatGPT is an excellent tool for YouTube creators looking to generate ideas and write scripts for their videos. It's essential to remember that ChatGPT is an AI model and not a replacement for your creativity and expertise as a content creator. Use ChatGPT to help you generate ideas and guide your scriptwriting process, but always remember to add your unique touch to make your content stand out.

ChatGPT vs. Traditional Research for YouTube Video Creation:

When it comes to creating content for YouTube, coming up with ideas and writing scripts can be a time-consuming and challenging process. In the past, creators relied on traditional research methods, such as reading books, watching videos, and conducting interviews, to gather information and generate ideas. However, with the advancements in technology, there is now a new tool available that can help simplify this process: ChatGPT.

ChatGPT is a language model developed by OpenAI that is capable of generating human-like responses to text prompts. It uses deep learning algorithms to analyze large amounts of data and generate responses based on patterns and trends in the data. This technology can be applied to a variety of tasks, including generating ideas and scripts for YouTube videos.
In this blog post, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of using ChatGPT versus traditional research methods for YouTube video creation.

Advantages of Using ChatGPT

Speed: One of the most significant advantages of using ChatGPT is speed. Traditional research methods can be time-consuming, requiring hours of reading, watching, and interviewing. ChatGPT, on the other hand, can generate ideas and scripts in a matter of minutes, saving creators valuable time and resources.

Creativity: ChatGPT is not limited by human biases or preconceptions, which means it can generate unique and creative ideas that humans may not have considered. This can help creators stand out from their competitors and create content that is fresh and engaging.

Consistency: ChatGPT is also consistent in its output, which means it can generate ideas and scripts that are coherent and well-structured. This can help creators avoid writer's block and ensure that their content is of a high quality.

Disadvantages of Using ChatGPT

Lack of Context: While ChatGPT is capable of generating responses based on patterns and trends in the data, it may not always understand the context of a particular topic or idea. This can result in responses that are inaccurate or inappropriate.

Limited Input: ChatGPT can only generate responses based on the input it receives. If the input is not well-formulated or contains errors, the output may also be flawed. This means that creators must be careful when inputting prompts to ensure that the responses are relevant and accurate.

Over-reliance: Another potential disadvantage of using ChatGPT is over-reliance. While it can be a useful tool for generating ideas and scripts, creators should not rely on it exclusively. Traditional research methods, such as reading and interviewing, can still provide valuable insights and perspectives.

Tips for Using ChatGPT in Conjunction with Traditional Research Methods

Use a combination of methods: Creators should use a combination of traditional research methods and ChatGPT to generate ideas and scripts. This will ensure that they have a well-rounded perspective and can produce content that is accurate, informative, and engaging.

Refine the output: Creators should refine the output generated by ChatGPT to ensure that it is relevant and accurate. This can be done by filtering the results and removing any responses that are not relevant or appropriate.

Verify the information: Creators should verify the information generated by ChatGPT using traditional research methods. This will help ensure that the information is accurate and up-to-date.

Conclusion

In conclusion, ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can be used to generate ideas and scripts for YouTube videos. While it has its advantages, it is not without its disadvantages, and creators should be aware of these when using the tool. By using a combination of traditional research methods and ChatGPT, creators can ensure that their content is accurate, informative, and engaging.

Advanced Techniques for Using ChatGPT for YouTube Video Creation:

ChatGPT is a powerful language model that can be used to generate content ideas and scripts for YouTube videos. While the basics of using ChatGPT are relatively straightforward, there are several advanced techniques that can help users get even more out of this powerful tool. In this blog post, we will explore some of these advanced techniques and provide tips for using ChatGPT effectively for YouTube video creation.

Using multiple prompts

One of the most powerful features of ChatGPT is its ability to generate suggestions based on a single prompt. However, using multiple prompts can help users generate even more varied and interesting ideas. For example, if you are creating a video about technology, you could try using prompts such as "latest tech trends," "upcoming technology releases," and "future of technology." By combining these prompts, you can generate a wide range of ideas that may not have been possible with a single prompt.

Adjusting the temperature and top-p

ChatGPT generates suggestions based on a combination of its training data and the input provided by the user. By adjusting the temperature and top-p parameters, users can control the creativity and randomness of the suggestions generated by ChatGPT. For example, setting the temperature to a lower value will result in more conservative and predictable suggestions, while setting it to a higher value will result in more creative and surprising suggestions.

Similarly, adjusting the top-p parameter can help users control the diversity of the suggestions generated by ChatGPT. Setting the top-p value to a lower value will result in more common and predictable suggestions, while setting it to a higher value will result in more varied and surprising suggestions.

Combining ChatGPT with other tools

While ChatGPT is a powerful tool for generating ideas and scripts for YouTube videos, it is not the only tool available. By combining ChatGPT with other research tools such as Google Trends, Buzzsumo, and social media analytics, users can generate even more targeted and effective content ideas.

For example, by using Google Trends to identify trending topics and keywords, users can generate prompts that are more likely to generate interest and engagement from their target audience. Similarly, by using Buzzsumo to identify popular content in their niche, users can identify gaps in the market and generate content ideas that are more likely to stand out.

Conclusion:

ChatGPT is a powerful tool for generating ideas and scripts for YouTube videos, but it is only as effective as the techniques used to leverage its power. By using multiple prompts, adjusting the temperature and top-p parameters, and combining ChatGPT with other research tools, users can generate more varied, creative, and effective content ideas for their YouTube channels. With these advanced techniques, users can take their YouTube video creation to the next level and stand out in a crowded online marketplace.

Labor, Land, Tax, & Profit

 I was going to write a different blog post when I realized I was going on a tangent. I think I need to explain my thinking first.

I have been exploring the concept of inflation and I was trying to figure out if it was the products(materials) or labor that was causing the increases in prices. In this blog post, I hope to conceptual deep dive into what it takes to get the products we buy to market.

“If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe” - Carl Sagan. I am not going to go down to the atomic or subatomic level, but I am going to go with the premise that there are four elements that go into the cost of the items we purchase. These are labor, land, tax, and of course profit. I am going to show how each of these plays a role and how some overlap.

Labor may seem like an obvious element for the production of a product. In cost accounting, we look at both direct and indirect labor when calculating the cost of goods (sold) manufactured. But labor costs go beyond that. There is the labor for marketing/advertising, selling, and administrative expenses for running the business. What if I told you that labor goes deeper than that? Let's consider the labor that goes into the raw materials that are used to make the product. For this example, we are going to assume that the product uses lumber that is delivered as a main raw material. Labor (and all 4 elements) goes into the cost of the lumber. There is the cost to have the lumber loaded on the truck, the labor to deliver the lumber, and the labor for the vendor to offload the lumber from their supplier's trucks. Now let's take into account other labor for this supplier. What about their clerk who schedules the deliveries, the worker who cleans their warehouse, the worker who maintains their fleet of trucks, the salesperson's salary, and so on? And this goes all the way back through the supply chain to the lumberjack that fell the tree.

And this concept does not just go towards the labor for materials. All four of these elements go towards anything that adds cost to the product, either as a direct cost or as they call it in cost accounting “factory overhead”. So what about the factory? What labor costs does the buildings and facilities a business use have? There are somewhat obvious labor costs like the cost to maintain the building: like plumbers, painters, gardeners, etc. but what about the labor cost to build the building? These labor costs don’t just include the people swinging hammers, but all the labor for the builder's administrative expenses, the inherent labor costs of the materials used (as I demonstrated in the paragraph above), and the inherent labor in the machinery used to build the building.

So, what about machinery? Let's go back to that original product that we were discussing. That product used lumber as a main material. But tools are needed to transform the lumber into the end product. So we can assume some type of saw is needed. There are labor costs that the company pays because of that saw. They need someone to purchase the saw. If it is a big saw they need someone to unload it. For safety, the person or people that operate that saw need to be trained. Now let's dive deeper. The cost of the saw has labor built-in. and these are similar (if not the same) costs as the lumber. And labor is a factor all the way back into the supply chain to the miner that dug up the iron ore used in the saw blade.


Now that we covered labor and inherited labor, let's look and land. At first glance when thinking of land we think of the property that the business occupies. If the business owns the land then the purchase price of the property is the land. We already discussed how the labor is associated with any buildings on that land. So the purchase price is not just land. It is labor, taxes, and profit too. Even if the business rests, the property land is still a factor. Now what about that lumber? Obviously, those trees needed land to grow, but what about all the other steps in the supply chain? The company that the business purchased the lumber from needed land for their warehouses and facilities; and this goes for each of the businesses from the sprouted tree to the end product. And what about the machinery used by all of these companies, the manufacturing, sale, and resale of that saw we mentioned needed land? This started with that iron ore mine all the way to the saw blade used to cut the lumber. And each of these companies has tools and equipment that need land (and all 4 factors). It is a supply web rather than a supply chain.


‘Tis impossible to be sure of anything but death and taxes’ - Christopher Bullock 1716. For our discussion taxes are any government fee. This can include property, sales, or labor taxes, but it can include regulatory and licensing fees. So, that land we mentioned in the paragraph above most likely has property taxes imposed on it. And this goes to any land that is used in the supply chain (or supply web). And that labor probably has payroll and income taxes associated with them. Unless they are using off-the-books labor, but we will assume they are doing everything legally. Now what about any business licenses? Or the fees paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the trucks they use? And what about the profit that we have not discussed yet? So the other three elements have something in common; taxes! Now let's dig into those taxes. So every string on the supply web has taxes just like they have labor and land, but do taxes have labor and land? They do; governments are run by people who have salaries. And governments also have land for their facilities. And while someone holds the deed to the land that the businesses in the supply web are on, does the municipality, state, and/or country own the land within their borders? Even if they don’t own it they exert a level of control over that land.


And then there is profit. We won’t go into gross profit vs net profit. But we will touch on profit before and after taxes. Just like land and labor of taxes, so does profit. If you purchase this hypothetical product we are discussing the company that sold it to you is expecting a profit. And the companies that hired the lumberjack and miner expect a profit. And so does every middle man (or middle woman) in between.  And each of these companies serves a purpose (hopefully) in the supply web. It would not be practical for the end company to chop down, mill, and transport their own trees. Or to mine, refine, and fabricate their own saw blades. Companies try to reduce or eliminate costs when possible. But they can’t do everything (unless they are a multi-billion dollar conglomerate ).

Do you agree with me on these four factors? Are there any other factors that I omitted? Which factor do you think is the most responsible for prices to continue to increase?

Cost Accounting

 # Understanding Cost Accounting: Unveiling the Financial Backbone of Businesses

In the complex world of finance, where every penny counts, cost accounting stands as a pivotal process. It is the unsung hero behind the curtains of many successful businesses, aiding in informed decision-making and ensuring optimal resource allocation. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve deep into the world of cost accounting, exploring its essence, methods, and why it matters.

## **Chapter 1: The Foundation of Cost Accounting**

Cost accounting is a specialized branch of accounting that focuses on tracking, recording, and analyzing costs associated with business operations. Its primary objective is to provide detailed insights into the cost structure of a company, allowing for efficient cost management and strategic planning.

### **1.1 Cost Types**

In cost accounting, costs are classified into several categories:

#### **1.1.1 Direct Costs**

Direct costs are expenses that can be directly traced to a specific product, project, or activity. For example, the cost of raw materials used in manufacturing a product is a direct cost.

#### **1.1.2 Indirect Costs**

Indirect costs, also known as overhead costs, are expenses that cannot be traced directly to a particular product but are incurred to support overall business operations. Examples include rent, utilities, and administrative salaries.

#### **1.1.3 Variable Costs**

Variable costs fluctuate with changes in production or activity levels. These costs increase as production or activity increases and decrease as they decrease. Examples include the cost of materials used in production and hourly wages for temporary workers.

#### **1.1.4 Fixed Costs**

Fixed costs remain constant regardless of changes in production or activity levels. These costs must be paid even if the business is not producing anything. Examples include rent for office space and the salaries of permanent employees.

### **1.2 Cost Accounting Methods**

To achieve its objectives, cost accounting employs various methods, including:

#### **1.2.1 Job Order Costing**

Job order costing is used when products or services are produced in response to specific customer orders or contracts. Costs are tracked for each job or order separately. This method is common in industries like custom manufacturing and construction.

#### **1.2.2 Process Costing**

Process costing is used when products are produced in a continuous, mass production environment. Costs are averaged over all units produced during a specific time period. This method is common in industries like food processing and chemical manufacturing.

#### **1.2.3 Activity-Based Costing (ABC)**

ABC assigns costs to activities, and then these costs are traced to products, services, or customers based on their usage of these activities. ABC provides a more accurate way of allocating indirect costs and is beneficial in complex business environments.

## **Chapter 2: The Significance of Cost Accounting**

### **2.1 Informed Decision-Making**

Cost accounting equips businesses with the data needed to make informed decisions. Managers can analyze the cost structure of different products or services, helping them determine which offerings are profitable and which require adjustments or discontinuation.

### **2.2 Pricing Strategies**

Cost accounting plays a crucial role in pricing strategies. By understanding the costs associated with producing goods or delivering services, businesses can set competitive prices while ensuring profitability.

### **2.3 Budgeting and Planning**

Budgeting relies heavily on cost accounting data. It enables companies to allocate resources effectively, set achievable financial goals, and monitor performance against these objectives.

### **2.4 Performance Evaluation**

Cost accounting helps in evaluating the performance of various departments, products, or projects within an organization. It aids in identifying areas of improvement and optimizing resource utilization.

## **Chapter 3: Cost Accounting in Action**

### **3.1 Manufacturing Industry**

In the manufacturing sector, cost accounting is paramount. It helps in:

- Determining the cost of producing each unit of a product.
- Analyzing variances between actual and budgeted costs.
- Evaluating the efficiency of production processes.

### **3.2 Service Industry**

Even in service-oriented businesses, cost accounting is essential. It assists in:

- Allocating indirect costs, such as administrative expenses, across different services.
- Setting service prices based on the cost of delivering them.
- Identifying areas where cost reductions can be made without compromising service quality.

## **Chapter 4: Modern Trends in Cost Accounting**

Cost accounting has evolved significantly over the years, and modern trends continue to shape its landscape. Some of these trends include:

### **4.1 Technology Integration**

The advent of accounting software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems has streamlined cost accounting processes. Automation reduces errors, enhances data accuracy, and provides real-time insights.

### **4.2 Sustainability Accounting**

As sustainability becomes a central concern for businesses, cost accounting now includes the measurement and analysis of environmental and social costs. This helps organizations make sustainable decisions and report on their environmental impact.

### **4.3 Predictive Analytics**

With the power of data analytics, cost accountants can now forecast future costs more accurately. Predictive analytics helps in proactive cost management and risk mitigation.

## **Chapter 5: Challenges in Cost Accounting**

Despite its many benefits, cost accounting is not without challenges:

### **5.1 Overhead Allocation**

Allocating indirect costs can be complex and may lead to misinterpretations if not done accurately.

### **5.2 Rapid Technological Changes**

The rapid pace of technological advancements requires constant updates and adjustments in cost accounting methods.

### **5.3 Data Security**

As cost accounting relies heavily on data, maintaining data security and privacy is of utmost importance.

## **Chapter 6: Conclusion**

In conclusion, cost accounting is the backbone of financial decision-making for businesses across various industries. It empowers organizations to understand their cost structures, make strategic choices, and thrive in competitive markets. As technology continues to evolve, cost accounting will adapt, providing even greater insights and value to businesses worldwide. Embracing cost accounting is not merely an option; it is a necessity for sustainable growth and success in today's business landscape.

So, whether you're a business owner, manager, or aspiring accountant, understanding cost accounting is key to unlocking the financial potential of any organization.

The Evolution of Learning: From College Classrooms to AI Education

I was browsing through YouTube and came across a video from a young woman from Russia. In this video, she discussed how she had applied to university and was not accepted. Then she said she was not done learning. This is not a new idea of learning outside of formal education. I did start thinking about how learning has changed over time. Here in 2023 you can go online and find what you want to learn. This could be learning how to fix your car, a hobby, etc. But, you can learn many things that are traditionally taught in a college classroom. During the Covid-19 pandemic college professors and grade school teachers discovered that many of their lesson topics had online academic articles and YouTube videos. Because they were trying to transition their classroom lessons to a remote learning environment. Why create their own videos or printed material when the material already existed online? There is nothing wrong with that, the student still received the information (in many cases) and the educator did not need to recreate the wheel. A side effect of this is that in many cases this information is sharable. I actually learned several subjects from class material of classes my friends had shared with me. In some instances, I was able to use these resources for my own classes, and I can assume my friends could have used what I shared for their classes. And no these were not the same classes, None of us were enrolled in the same college. But a history class on labor in the United States and a psychology class on industrial psychology have overlapping material. Recently I was discussing organic chemistry with someone, and they asked when I took organic chemistry. I have not taken that subject (or any college-level chemistry class), but a friend of mine did and they shared the class material with me. I continue to learn even when not in school. and there are whole YouTube channels dedicated to educating. Some have been around for years like CrashCourse and others have emerged from the pandemic. These traditional educators who had to create online material for their classes have realized that they could share this material online, and in some cases even make some money off of it.

A college degree is a key to getting past a barrier of entry. In many professions, once you have your first job in your career path, they don't care where you went to college. Some employers don't care if you have a diploma if you have relevant job experience. now this is not to say jobs that require a degree would overlook it, such as lawyers and accountants. A computer programmer with a decent portfolio and a good job history may be more valuable than a computer science graduate looking for their first job. A college degree shows more than that you learned a subject. it shows that you have learned a broad range of subjects. it also shows you have the discipline needed to get a degree. 

If I look back at the history of learning, I wonder how advancements in technology and teaching affected past barriers of entry.  Big ones that come to mind are things like the printing press. Books and the written word becomes less scarce. More people have access to the written word and are able to read. As the written word becomes more accessible, formal grammar and spelling increase. this reduces ambiguity in written communication. with so many languages and regional dialects, this still occurs to this day, but it is reduced. another advancement is transportation. As people are able to move through the world, so does knowledge. The movement of knowledge is the backbone of education. The internet is a prime example of this. Many see the internet as the end-all of this movement of knowledge. But, the internet evolves. The way knowledge is spread on the internet changes. Now the new game changer is AI, or is it?

What AI can do is amazing, but what is new is how assessable it is. What we call AI is not set in stone. Is the spelling and grammar checking I am doing right now with Grammarly AI? Was the spell check I used with Word Perfect 25 years ago AI? What has changed is the data set that these new products have. Another new thing is the level of automation. If I wanted I could take this blog when I am done writing it and feed it into Bard or ChatGPT and have it rewritten to be more SEO-friendly. I do this with my YouTube titles and descriptions. I have written whole blogs with these websites while I tested them.  The next question is can AI produce consumable knowledge? As I have tested these two sites I have discovered that when it does not have the information it could do two different things. it could tell you that it is beyond its capabilities. or it could make stuff up.  If this is not a disturbing human trait that AI has learned, I don't know what is. Sometimes the incorrect information is clearly incorrect and it is clear that the AI misunderstood the request. the biggest thing it makes up is references. it can make formal citations look legit. But, if you don't check the primary source you may be in for a rude awaking.  sometimes it is dead links, other times it points to something that is not relevant.  Will we get to the point where AI is teaching us (reliably)? and will we lose the ability to teach? I am not even discussing the loss of employment of educators. AI can assist in distributing knowledge, but I don't feel it can generate new knowledge.  Will AI search for a new insect and discover how it interacts with its environment? or explore the universe?  I do not doubt that AI can be programmed to use a telescope and find new celestial bodies, but will it be able to analyze what it means?

So how do you learn?

How do you see learning evolving?