Atom FeedArchive of January 2005
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Documentation System
I've had a need at work to create some online documentation. So I searched around and found PHP Doc System. This software allows you to create documents by building a table of contents file and then you make "modules" for each page represented in the the TOC. This isn't software for the average guy as it requires at least a basic knowledge of PHP in order to use it. I'm not sure, but I think I have that covered —but feel free to argue otherwise! Anyhow, I did some hacking on it to add a few improvements and also to get it to work with our stone-aged version of PHP that I'm currently strapped with at work. (Another story unto itself!) I sent these changes to the author, Alex King along with some ideas and suggestions regarding building a DB back-end system for it. Alex was kind enough to reply and seemed generally accepting of my changes. Of significance though was the DB back-end. He lists this as something he'd like to add on the web site, and in his reply he seemed interested in, but only because he realizes that that this would simplify adding the search functionality. But he seems reluctant to do this as he wants a stand-alone search ability for the static pages. A reasonable consideration I would say.Since corresponding with Alex, I've made further changes to the code to meet my immediate needs at work. But although I'm happy with what it churns out, it's less than ideal. I've also been looking at the documentation for PolarBlog and although I think it is reasonably complete and contains lots of useful information, it's somewhat disorganized and unwieldy. Thus I've been contemplating rewriting it, possibly using Alex's PHP Doc System. This would be an improvement and also allows the ability to generate static documentation to ship with releases. But I don't find this solution or any others that I consider "complete" enough to easily generate online documentation. I don't want to rewrite it only to have to rewrite it again because I'm still not happy with the end result. Thus I've been thinking…
What about writing a new system largely from scratch, but incorporating some of the concepts of PHP Doc System? The analysis:
Pros
- DB Back-end
- Unlimited TOC element nesting.
- Easy search for dynamically generated content.
- Collapsible TOC elements.
- A good deal of good code reuse (or at least concepts) from the PolarBlog project.
- A desire to do it!
- Development takes time!
- Managing yet another project.
- Reduction in time available for my current projects.
- A reluctance to do it!
PolarBlog V1.5.0 will be released this coming Monday. The V1.6.0 release will definitely contain Trackback support. Other features that I'd like to implement that may be in this release or the next couple releases are Pingback support and the ability to post entries via email.
The MyClient project has been idle for quite sometime. A couple of weeks ago I began work on a complete ground up rewrite, starting with a new tabbed interface window. This adds some flexibility to the program as well as updates the interface to a modern design. This project really isn't overly complicated, but these things always seem to take more time than one anticipates!
Thus I now ponder "PolarDocs"… January 22, 2005 @ 10:00 am | Category: Brainwork
Friday, January 21, 2005
The Arms Race
The Arms RaceDay after day, it's always the same
Someone's going against the grain
Paper brings word of another joining the chase
All out to be, the superior race
Lead, blood and tears, they bring up the rear, as the great gears of the war machines turn.
Some day they'll learn, we're all equal in some way, shape or form
But it'll be too late, we all know our fate
We're all going to die because of one's hate for another in that great arms race.
8/6/1981
12:25am January 21, 2005 @ 12:43 pm | Category: Writing
Say it ain’t so SpongeBob!
It seems another uptight, ultra-conservative group is laying out the "homosexual card". This time it's on one Mr. SpongeBob SquarePants. It's a cartoon character folks, chill out. Don't make us send you to Abu Graib for some "reeducation"! January 21, 2005 @ 12:40 pm | Category: BrainworkThursday, January 20, 2005
The Rain
The RainComes a time when I wonder why
Stand in the rain and freeze
Drive along and hit a tree
Buy a gun and blow your brains
Waste your time on sidelines
Wait in line until the end
Step aside he's a big head
He can go through, but not you
What is this fascination in life?
Step outside and into my mind
Feel the strange vibration
The rain it falls cold and sharp
It's totally random, makes no sense
Feel the rain run down
Feel the pain as they kick you when you're down
Hear them laugh, you're the clown
What a cold strange place it is
The sound of a guitar fills the ears
They don't understand, they don't care
Fear reigns over you, what will they say?
Will they laugh, cry or scream?
Tears rain from eyes that cry
And you can't come in to freeze with me
It's my mind, even if you do care
You can't change my minds pains and fears.
8/3/1981
1:07am January 20, 2005 @ 12:39 pm | Category: Writing
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
PolarBlog V1.5.0 Released
PolarBlog V1.5.0 has been released. This release contains…Enhancements
- SafeSQL - All queries have been rewritten to use SafeSQL in order to prevent SQL query injection problems. There were not any known problems of this sort and this was strictly a precautionary change.
- Entry & Comment Auto-Linking has been added.
- Comment Email - Comment email notifications now indicate who posted the comment.
- PolarBlog now supports Mozilla Live Bookmarks. If you are using a modified and/or different index.php on your blog, you will need to edit it if you want to utilize this feature.
- Link Anchors - Link anchors for comment/reply entry and viewing have been added. These will now take you to the appropriate section on a page so you don't have to scroll down on long entries/replies.
- Comment Double-Space - Added HTML non-breaking space entity replacement on comment double space when adding or editing. This is the same functionality that is provided on entry add/edit.
- Changed Entry Index to display topic before name.
e.g. Topic: Entry Title
Bug Fixes
- The Entry Preview has been updated to use I18N_DATE_FORMAT instead of the deprecated DATE_FORMAT.
- The entry comment count has been fixed to exclude counting comments that have the display set to OFF.
Configuration Changes
- None
If you have not done so, please read the entries regarding your PolarLava Link and the PolarBlog User's Page. January 19, 2005 @ 02:31 pm | Category: Software Development
Southern Law
Cue the Dueling Banjos! It's time for a little southern courtroom, jury action. January 19, 2005 @ 12:25 pm | Category: That's Funny!Living In Fear
Living In FearTwo people in the street —United together
taking every move with such care
One hoping the other won't leave
Time passes fast, without pain
[chorus]
Living in fear, are we all sincere?
Can we always look straight ahead
No disillusion, distractions, nor fears…
Always staying near
Two people in different places —Drawn apart
Time pullling them apart with allure
Both hoping the other is still there
Time drags out as the knife is thrust in
Two people no longer in the same game — The blade
The steel pushes deep but there's no pain
One pushing the blade, the other unaware
Time speeds forward toward confrontation
[chorus]
Two people back together — Stiff conversation
The pain is felt, of one who rubbed the salt
What is to be said? The blood has been shed
The tears flow by, the blade now points the other way
I feel the pain and your anguish today
[chorus]
Two people again together —Reunited
Putting the pieces in place
Will the time pass from this standstill?
[chorus]
Always staying near…(repeat, fade)
(spoken) For the love is too strong to die, we'll live in fear. From day to day for the other, and the love we share.
7/7/1981
1:45am January 19, 2005 @ 12:19 pm | Category: Writing
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
