Good morning! Let’s play Connections, the NYT’s clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you’ve finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I’ve also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc’s Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,400 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today – or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc’s Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

Ruadhri McGarry explores the DevOps career route and offers advice to professionals considering work in this sector.

“The DevOps space in 2026 is certainly busy but more selective,” according to Ruadhri McGarry, an associate director at IT Search and a DevOps, cloud and cybersecurity specialist recruiter. 

While hiring is active, companies are moving more slowly than in recent years, he explained, leading to an environment in which platform engineering teams are generally stable, despite ongoing expectations to continue to automate, and workplaces are subject to a more measured pace of hiring. 

“Overall, the market is stable with steady demand, with growth expected to remain consistent as organisations continue to invest in platform modernisation,” McGarry told SiliconRepublic.com. 

So, with that in mind, what should students and professionals aiming for a career in this space know about the current landscape?

In the know

Qualifications and certifications are, for many, the first step into the DevOps or platform engineering world. McGarry noted cloud certifications across AWS, Azure or GCP can enable candidates to demonstrate foundational knowledge and understanding of modern infrastructure environments. 

“However, for more senior positions a key differentiator is the ability to demonstrate experience working on production workloads building, scaling and operating systems. In practice, candidates who have ownership of infrastructure and clear exposure to automation and delivery pipelines will stand out.”

A major advantage in today’s STEM landscape, when building a career, is the improved access to roles and opportunities that may have previously required a third-level degree. DevOps is no different and there are multiple alternate routes, which McGarry said reflects the range of the discipline itself. 

“Many professionals transition from software engineering, infrastructure or systems administration backgrounds. Others move from networking or security roles, particularly as DevSecOps continues to grow in importance.

“It is also increasingly common to see candidates move into DevOps from adjacent areas such as data engineering, particularly where MLOps and real-time platforms are involved.”

When it comes to employment, he explained that opportunities remain strong, though there is specific demand in certain areas, namely in Kubernetes and cloud-native engineering, site reliability engineering (SRE), DevSecOps and cloud security automation. 

“There is also steady demand in observability and FinOps-related DevOps, alongside a growing increase in hybrid data/DevOps roles, particularly within MLOps and real-time platforms.”

Skills and challenges

While skills and abilities often evolve and change on the job, and experience is a teaching moment in itself, there are still a number of skills that McGarry believes experts and students should prioritise. 

He explained that the most critical skills combine technical depth with an operational mindset, adding that from a technical perspective, key capabilities include depth of cloud experience in AWS, Azure or GCP; Kubernetes and container orchestration; infrastructure as code using Terraform, CloudFormation or Helm; CI/CD pipeline ownership, particularly across GitHub or Jenkins; security fundamentals, including least-privilege IAM and secrets management.

“Beyond tooling, candidates who can demonstrate ownership of platforms and systems, rather than just execution of tasks, are consistently the most in demand.”

Experts also need to have a number of soft skills, one of them being the ability to adapt to emerging challenges: for example, the breadth of DevOps, which spans infrastructure, software delivery, security and operations. 

McGarry said, “This can make it difficult for individuals to develop sufficient depth. Another challenge is the pace of change. Tools, platforms and practices continue to evolve rapidly, requiring continuous learning and adaptation.

“These challenges are typically overcome by focusing on core principles of automation, scalability, reliability and security rather than individual tools, and by gaining hands-on experience in real-world environments. From an organisational perspective, success depends on embedding DevOps practices into engineering culture, rather than treating it purely as a tooling function.”

Ultimately, McGarry finds that the DevOps space is on an evolving trajectory, moving from simpler roles into a broader engineering discipline where the key focus is on building reliable, scalable and secure platforms.

Looking to the future, he expects there to be fewer senior generalist DevOps roles, and for more value to be placed on defined platform engineering, SRE and DevSecOps skillsets. 

“AIOps and automation will continue to expand, particularly within observability and incident management. In my opinion, engineers who can design systems, automate processes and build strong feedback loops will be best positioned for long-term success.”

Don’t miss out on the knowledge you need to succeed. Sign up for the Daily Brief, Silicon Republic’s digest of need-to-know sci-tech news.

Looking for the most recent Wordle answer? Click here for today’s Wordle hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Connections, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s Wordle puzzle is a tricky one, featuring one letter I almost never guess. If you need a new starter word, check out our list of which letters show up the most in English words. If you need hints and the answer, read on.

Read more: New Study Reveals Wordle’s Top 10 Toughest Words of 2025

Today’s Wordle hints

Before we show you today’s Wordle answer, we’ll give you some hints. If you don’t want a spoiler, look away now.

Wordle hint No. 1: Repeats

Today’s Wordle answer has no repeated letters.

Wordle hint No. 2: Vowels

Today’s Wordle answer has two vowels and one sometimes vowel.

Wordle hint No. 3: First letter

Today’s Wordle answer begins with E.

Wordle hint No. 4: Last letter

Today’s Wordle answer ends with Y.

Wordle hint No. 5: Meaning

Today’s Wordle answer can refer to a diplomatic representative.

TODAY’S WORDLE ANSWER

Today’s Wordle answer is ENVOY.

Yesterday’s Wordle answer

Yesterday’s Wordle answer, April 4, No. 1750, was SANDY.

Recent Wordle answers

March 31, No. 1746: SWAMP

April 1, No. 1747: FIZZY

April 2, No. 1748: SOBER

April 3, No. 1749: SINGE

To use Area mode, you first have to define the boundaries of the area. This is done in the app via a process similar to what I’ve encountered on some competing hardware devices. You fire up the mapping mode, and the sprinkler engages. Then, using a simple remote-control system, you dial the water pressure to the appropriate level, aiming at the edge of your yard but not the fence; once the water is where you want it, you drop a pin to mark the boundary of the watering area. You then rotate the nozzle on top of the sprinkler a few degrees and repeat, setting the strength of the flow to cover the desired area. Repeat again and again until you’ve gone through 360 degrees and have dropped pins to visually represent the entirety of your yard. The company says the maximum supported area is a vast 4,800 square feet, with spray reaching up to 39 feet.

ScreenshotAiper app via Chris Null

In the app, you can watch this area map being created in real time. The process is quite intuitive except for the final couple of points, where Aiper’s system makes it difficult to complete the 360-degree circuit. If you look at the completed map in the screenshot below, you’ll see a tiny sliver of yard that no amount of finagling could get Aiper to close up.

Watering runs can be initiated on demand or on a schedule, and you intriguingly define not an amount of time to run but a “water consumption limit,” measured in inches of water you want applied to the soil. While it’s nearly impossible to measure how accurate this is, qualitatively, those estimates felt about right in my testing.

In Area mode, the IrriSense 2 delivers water by spraying a jet in a single direction, rotating clockwise through its 360 degrees until it’s gone all the way around the map you’ve set before turning back and doing it again in a counter-clockwise direction, repeating this cycle until the desired irrigation depth has been reached.

While the IrriSense 2’s spray system is officially described as a gentle “mist,” it’s really more of a jet, particularly when it has to reach the far-away parts of the yard near the terminus of its range. That results in a lot more water being delivered to the edges of the yard than to the central portion of the mapped area, but that’s a common issue I’ve seen with rotary sprinklers like this. To account for this, the IrriSense 2 doesn’t just blast at full speed for the entirety of its run. Instead, repeated rotations reduce the pressure delivered bit by bit, until the final rotations are little more than a trickle of water hitting just a few inches away from the unit. (Note that canceling a run early means that only the outermost portions of the area will receive water.)

Photograph: Chris Null

Honorable Mentions

During the winter, a whole WIRED crew tests ski clothes almost constantly. Here are a few other items that we like.

Courtesy of REI

Hestra Fall Line 3-Finger Gloves for $152: I’ve long admired Hestra gloves from across the lift line, impressed by the Swedish company’s elegant stitchwork and thoughtful design touches. This was the year I finally got to try a pair for myself, and the Fall Line are exactly what they look like. There are six sizes available so you can get the perfect fit in this glove. The cowhide is buttery smooth and has already broken in a bit with five days’ use. The wrist strap means you never have to fret about dropping your glove from the lift when checking your phone, and they’re very warm without making me sweat. If you do sweat, the lining is removable so you can wash it without damaging the leather. —Martin Cizmar

Obermeyer Steibis Bibs for $281: These soft, three-layer shell bibs work just as well with or without a jacket, thanks to plenty of zippered pockets. You get two articulated chest options and two on the thighs. Adjustable straps and multi-way adjustable hems with zippers and snaps, a two-way zip drop seat that can dump heat when zipped open from the bottom, 30k/30k waterproofing and breathability, snow gaiters, reinforced insteps, a Recco reflector, and a mesh panel on the lower back for zoned breathability round out the top-notch features on these bibs. —Kristin Canning

Courtesy of Crab Grab

Crab Grab Snuggler Mitts for $62: These mini sleeping bags for your fingers are packed full of Primaloft insulation and benefitting from a sherpa fleece lining, they are toasty warm, and with a 15K membrane, impressively waterproof too. All-season mittens with durable construction for under $100? Yes Please!

Courtesy of Mons Royale

Mons Royale Yotei Merino Classic Long Sleeve for $77: As I type this, I’m nowhere near a mountain, but I’m still wearing the Mons Royale Yotei long sleeve top. It is ridiculously comfortable, made from 190-gsm-weight, 100 percent merino wool, and has a mercifully relaxed cut, so I remain warm, but don’t feel like a sausage. On the mountain however, the merino wool works its magic, wicking away sweat—especially on a hike up to some fresh powder—and keeping me comfortable. Paired with a shell and the Patagonia R1 Thermal Hoodie, I’m warm during a bitter Arctic blast.

Seniq Powder Puff Down Jacket and Bib

Photograph: Kristin Canning

Seniq Powder Puff Down Jacket for $249: Seniq is another all-women’s outdoor brand that launched in 2024. It’s styled a little more Gen Z, leaning into fun color blocking over the monochromatic look. The Seniq Powder Puff Down Jacket has a dry-touch finish. It’s meant for drier days on the mountain, but a PFC-free DWR coating and YKK AquaGuard zippers do provide water resistance. The asymmetric front zipper helps you avoid chin rub when you have the jacket fully zipped. It also features cool asymmetrical quilting lines, side pockets-in-pockets that provide access to your bib (their bibs have a pocket on the front, so you can get in there without unzipping your jacket), an oversized removable hood, a forearm pass pocket, soft and stretchy wrist gaiters, and a large internal pocket that can absolutely handle a sandwich. This jacket was warm, pillowy, and comforting, like a super-soft hug. —Kristin Canning

Photograph: Kristin Canning

Marmot Gore-Tex Orion Jacket for $385: This kit feels simple in the best way: It has the features you need, without any overkill. The super lightweight, three-layer Gore-Tex shell material is packable and durable. The bibs have two zippered, articulated thigh pockets (one contains a beacon harness), and one zippered chest pocket. Thigh zips help you dump heat, and clip-off adjustable suspenders help you go to the bathroom without stripping down, though they’re not as convenient as a drop seat. Reinforced insteps and snow gaiters protect your lower legs, where there’s also a Recco reflector. The jacket has four pockets and a pass pocket, a snow skirt, pit zips, a three-way adjustable hood, a Recco reflector, and Velcro adjustable wrist hems without gaiters, helping to cut down on bulk. The color blocking is flattering, with the lower half of the jacket matching the bibs, making your legs look longer despite the drop hem fit. “Affordable” is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to ski gear, but compared to many kits, this is a great option for the backcountry-curious. —Kristin Canning

Mammut Sender In Hooded Jacket for $259: This puffy hoodie is a great mid-layer for under a shell jacket. The insulation is made from recycled rope scraps, and the outer is coated in wind-resistant PFC-free DWR coating. The hem falls at the hips, and the high collar and tight hood keep most of the face covered. I like wearing this piece under shells for snowboarding, but I know it’ll pull double duty as a comfy hiking and camping jacket, too, so it’s a solid multipurpose investment. It’s exceptionally lightweight and warm, though from a volume standpoint, it is on the bulkier side for a mid-layer and isn’t the most packable piece. —Kristin Canning

Photograph: Kristin Canning

Wild Rye Bassett Lite Base Layer Raglan Top for $49 and Leggings for $49: These poly/wool- blend base layers from Wild Rye are incredibly soft and stretchy, and light as a feather. They’re perfect for warm spring ski days, and the mid-calf cut means you can pair them with ski socks without much—if any—overlap, helping you avoid overheating, bulk, and pressure points in your boots. —Kristin Canning

Helly Hansen Evolved Air Half Zip for $70: This grid fleece pullover traps heat and wicks moisture. With a high zippered collar and cinchable hem, you can adjust the fit to make it more air-tight or breathable. This mid-layer felt wonderfully lightweight while still keeping my toasty. It’s not bulky at all, only a little thicker than a base layer, laid comfortably under my jackets, and moved with me on the mountain. —Kristin Canning

Helly Hansen Lifa Base Layer Long-Sleeve Crew for $115 and Pants for $87: These base layers hit the weight sweet spot; they’re not too thick or thin, but just right. They’re slightly looser than other options on this list, so if you prefer something that isn’t so fitted, these are a great pick (but note that they run long too). These combine merino wool with Helly Hansen’s LIFA fibers, which add more moisture-wicking capabilities. They’re soft, lightweight, warm, and don’t hold onto smells. I love the cute designs and how well they regulate my temperature under insulated jackets and pants. The waist digs in a bit but doesn’t roll, and they stay in place and move well. —Kristin Canning

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