[Wxc2jjJmST9XWWL]

Sorry for being unappreciative but... is this... satire? I honestly don't know...

'easier way to test my ping than pulling up a terminal', ... so a non https website that needs javascript is better than terminal-shortcut + <terminal>$ ping 8.8.8.8</terminal> (or whatever you want to ping, you also could set up an alias/function in your .bashrc to do something more complex)...

can I hit that point home: "easier way than pulling up my terminal", answer: a non-https javascript needing website!!!

>>> 'super simple: clone it to some device that's always on, compile it, set up some systemd stuff, and it's ready to rock on port 8180'

"super simple"... sounds... super simple... installing rust nightly as we speak to build it /s

this world of ours

[PNWChris]

Fair enough. I think technical users probably don't need this site, but I think there is value to be had (even for those technical users!).

For a bit of context:

I found myself using this site via my xbox's web browser to make sure my wifi latency is acceptable where I put the xbox.

Also, my spouse and I just moved to a new place, so I used this site on my phone to get a quick idea of the latency on wifi in my spouse's office.

There's tons of web-based tools to test your bandwidth, but I feel there just isn't a similar ecosystem of quick, web-based "ping" (well, latency, since I can't send ICMP packets from a web browser) tools.

-

RE: HTTP only, good point. I've set up certbot and the page supports https now. I am not certain how HTTPS will impact the latency measurements, it appears the results are typically a bit higher and occasionally much higher when using HTTPS.

-

I don't get the disappointment with the use of JS. It's just a bit of inline JS, easy to manually audit if concerned. JS is quite safe IMO and is a very powerful tool, it makes a rich universe of interactive applications possible in the humble web browser. I basically got into CS because of the fun I had creating things for and sharing things on the web.

[alrlroipsp]

> so I used this site on my phone to get a quick idea of the latency on wifi in my spouse's office.

Sure you did. But there's a whole category of phone apps called Wifi Heat maps, that would actually be "super simple" for a non-techie to use.

People are commenting on your use of javascript, where you are arguing that you built a super simple solution. As many already pointed out, the ping command is already there and is more "super simple" to use than to self host a website to get a skewed HTTP "ping" from some cloud service...

[ipsum2]

How was it possible to read "easier way to test my ping than pulling up a terminal" but not finish the sentence to "especially when I'm on my phone or any other device that doesn't have a terminal"?

[userbinator]

especially when I'm on my phone or any other device that doesn't have a terminal

Mine does, and in fact I have used the ping command from it before. I highly recommend having a terminal app.

[smabie]

Why do you highly recommend it? Don't think I've ever thought while using a phone "damn I wish I had a Linux terminal handy"

[userbinator]

I suppose if you don't think of your phone as the general-purpose computer that it really is, then it won't seem obvious. But otherwise, I also recall using dig, netcat, traceroute, and a few other network tools a few times. Having a shell, even a root one, is one of those things that you don't need often, but when you do, you really do.

[the_only_law]

I mean I know what my phone is. I just do not want to use that interface for those sort of tasks. Tiny little screen, virtual keyboard that tries to hard to be clever, etc.

Even browsing the web to read wikis and documents and stuff is a complete pain half the time.

[dinom]

How I miss my galaxy S3!

I'd hook it up to a proper display using an MHL cable then connect a Bluetooth keyboard. It was a sweet setup and the assorted tools (plus root shell) actually came in very handy. It could fill in for a laptop quite nicely.

These days it seems there's no legitimate alternative to MHL... can any phones directly connect to a display anymore via wire? Or is the only option screencasting to a smart TV?

FWIW, I generally like my appliances on the dumb (or open) side.

[forgotpwd16]

>I just do not want to use that interface for those sort of tasks.

That is your preference. For others the advantage of utilizing a familiar interface outweighs the disadvantages (that maybe even aren't for some) mentioned.

[userbinator]

Neither do I. Yet sometimes that's the only thing you have on hand.

[yjftsjthsd-h]

> Don't think I've ever thought while using a phone "damn I wish I had a Linux terminal handy"

Then maybe it's not for you, but some of us absolutely have had that thought and find it incredibly useful.

[smabie]

Again, why is it "incredibly" useful?

[MayeulC]

You need to diagnose something on your laptop that has stopped accepting input or with a blank screen. plug in your Android phone, enable USB tethering, ssh in.

You are on holidays, your need to help someone (or yourself) with some server issues. Use your teminal to ping them, ssh, etc. Later, no Internet at your rental house. No computers. Fire up the terminal,diagnose the issue. nmap the network if you need to find the IP of something (also, to check for cameras? IDK).

It's just a huge toolbox, batteries included. You might not need it. It can certainly come handy, especially if you have no Internet to download the corresponding app.

I don't use it often, but when I do, it's much better to have it than not having it.

[emj]

FWIW This ping/latency tool is a great tool and impressively terse, I've had to implement it myself several times the last 20 years for reasons. So I am glad someone actually shipped a tool for it.

To answer your question: I think your point of view need to change. The need we want to full fill is to do computer stuff, we have a pretty neat computer in our hand it is clear we want to use it as such.

[alrlroipsp]

I mean most of us techies know better ways.

On your phone you run for example Fing

Fing iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/fing-network-scanner/id4309211...

Fing Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.overlook.a...

With Fing App’s free tools and utilities help you:

• Scan networks with Fing’s Wi-Fi & LAN network scanner and discover all devices connected to any network

• Get the most accurate device recognition of IP address, MAC address, device name, model, vendor and manufacturer

• Run WiFi and Cellular internet speed tests, download speed and upload speed analysis and latency

• Browse internet outages in your area, ISP ratings, reviews and speed statistics

• Advanced device analysis of NetBIOS, UPnP, SNMP and Bonjour names, properties and device types

• Includes port scanning, device ping, traceroute and DNS lookup

• Receive network security and device alerts to your phone and email

[dicknuckle]

Can't say I've ever felt the need to test ping from my phone other than finding out if my wifi AP was dead while I was in the attic troubleshooting. There's an app for that.

[yjftsjthsd-h]

My phone does have a terminal, and I run ping in termux regularly.

[thehappypm]

This isn’t Shark Tank. OP built something to share, not looking for seed funding or a Nobel. Relax!

[dicknuckle]

It's even easier to have a ping going in the corner of my laptop screen. Since the Win7 days I've used SimplePing, on my work Mac the app store wanted 99c for this privilege but there's a free one that does the same thing.

[goodpoint]

Looking at the readme I really thought it was satire:

https://github.com/cjjeakle/network-monitor

[hatware]

Definitely has a "but why?" vibe to it. OP probably learned a lot getting this up and that's usually what motivates me to learn.

[andrepd]

I for one welcome the era of PaaS (ping as a service).

[goodpoint]

...for only $9 a month.