On the derivations and automorphisms of the algebra $k x, y/(yx-xy-x^N)$

We consider the algebra AN=k x, y/(yx-xy-xN), with k a field of characteristic zero and N a positive integer. Our main result is a complete description of the first Hochschild cohomology HH¹(AN) of AN that consists both of explicit derivations of AN whose cohomology classes span it and a description of its Lie algebra structure. As we do this, we compute the automorphism group of the algebra, as well as certain characteristic subgroups thereof related to locally nilpotent derivations, classify the finite groups that act on AN and, finally, show that there are no inner-faithful actions of generalized Taft Hopf algebras on AN. We establish this last result thanks to another calculation of Hochschild cohomology, now with twisted coefficients.