Dev Dawn

Working on the next release of DeleteThem.

 

I’m convinced that I need to use a Recycle Bin kind of functionality.

 

However, the current code (thanks Roel for pointing me in the right direction) uses SHFileOperation, and it is SLOW. Take out the “Undo” flag, which of course is the “send to Recycle Bin” stuff, and bam, fast again.

 

So I’m not sure what to do.

 

Do I go with the slow but safe option?

 

Do I go with the fast but scary option?

 

Or, the third option, can I somehow create a cool Recycle Bin functionality of my own that combines Safety AND Speed. Hmmm. Interesting.

The last week or so has seen some fairly “aggressive public displays of communication” on my part. I stepped forcefully into a whirlwind of chaos, all because one morning at work I imagined up a story about a Fox and the Forest. Well, not _all_ because. _In part_ because.

 

It’s hard sometimes to know when to draw the line. When to respond, when to apologise, when to keep the six-gun blazing.

 

The Internet Never Forgets it was remarked to me recently. It’s true. Our lives are immeasurably changed by what people can find out, and the Internet makes that finding out quite a bit easier. Easier than a day when crows and pigeons were the preferred methods of communication.

 

It’s almost two months since I began building ATS. In that span of time I’ve had almost 100% concentration and energy on the go. Last night, after such a crazy week, I almost lost the vision. No. I did lose it. For a moment. I sat at the desk wondering. The tasks are there, I know what needs to happen. It’s just .. it is a long road.

 

Sounds like I’m whining, I know. Or sympathy begging. That’s not what this is.

 

I’m not certain what will happen in the next few weeks, months, and the years to come in the world of Clarion. Indeed, maybe in ten years I’ll be writing novels or making computer games. But for now, this is where I am. Does the vision I have for the Community of Clarion bear any merit? Hey, it’s only been a week or so. Some people need time. Others will never come around. Still more prefer to use the community when it suits, and build their own place.

 

So that’s what I’m going to do. Build my own place. I’m not going to stop trying hard to help unite a community. It won’t happen in a week. And i’d be a bigger fool than usual to think so. That particular vision will take time.

 

What I can do is forge ahead with the plans for ATS. There is a mountain of work to be done, people to cooerce, bands to book (ha ha), and software to write.

 

Stopping the melodrama now. Ha. Till next time,

It really does grind my gears. “It” will be explained shortly.

 

This blog I see as a breathing space for me apart from the professional face that I’m learning to have when dealing as “Archer Technology Services”.

 

So I’m definately going to have a rant now and again. Hopefully not too often.

 

Okay. Here goes.

 

I got whipped today on the Clarion newsgroups (comp.lang.clarion) for announcing DeleteThem. Why?

 

Because it is just a GUI for the command line DEL function.

 

Seriously. That’s insanity wrapped in stupid foil. Of course that’s what DeleteThem is! I would never proclaim it to be an awesome product filled with a multitude of magnificant functionality. It’s a nice GUI with a history of deleted files that you can browse or print. That’s about it. There will be more functionality as time goes on perhaps.

 

But that’s not the real heart of the matter is it?

 

Since “that article” yesterday, I’ve had a few sides of the coin weigh in. Some have earnestly put their words together. Others have used <g> way too much (of which I am guilty it pains me to say). Others still have just opened up with a six gun. And don’t presume I’m just talking about people who don’t agree with me.

 

What grinds my gears. What really grinds my gears is that, despite the fact that DeleteThem is a GUI on top of a single function, someone would take time to try and make me feel a fool for daring to announce such an application on the newsgroups. Because we are programmers.

 

I’d like to start firing off witty harsh phrases right now. They are burning within me.

 

But what roils within me, stronger still, is a need to call out these folk. Turn. Stop this foolishness. It’s not at all what the community needs. There are always fives sides to why someone says something, or does an act, or thinks a thought. Sure. But right now, the colors I’m wielding are Black and White.

 

Enough. I’m sick of it, and here I’ve only really been trying hard on the newsgroups for a few days. Can only imagine how some feel after years and years.

 

To all the readers of this blog who frequent the newsgroups and feel the same way, I have a request. Take an hour a week to post a couple of replies, thoughtfully, with the sole (single and pure) purpose of growing the community. This could be announcing a new product and following up any comments. It could be putting together an insightfully witty animal yarn. Perhaps you’d just like to encourage those new faces asking questions.

 

Whatever it is, please let’s bring it. Enough is enough.

Ha ha ha. I’ve been reading way too much fiction lately. Melodrama.

 

Anyway, a few things.

 

The Day The Whiner Cried .. A Call To Arms is an article done up for the nourishment and benefit of the Clarion Community. Read it and weep. No. Read it and Be Encouraged!

 

Work is progressing with Archer. I’m readying a new release of DeleteThem (this subdomain redirect seems to be broken, here’s the actual link). I’ll be pushing out releases of all three products within the next while. A major component of each release will be the Updating functionality, courtesy of SafeUpdate, another fabulous Capesoft product.

 

Apart from that I’m gearing up for sales. Have realised that each of the Product components on the Archer site needs a “Pricing” page. Will probably do that tonight. Sales is something I want to get right from the beginning, but the reality is, I won’t. So, I want to get as much right as I can. Be as prepared as possible, so that when something goes tutsup, I can respond quickly and efficiently.

 

Been having fun getting more active on the newsgroups. Am trying to make it a daily thing. Not the perusing, cause that’s easy. The active conversing. Pimping the site, products, but also just being a presence.

 

Lastly, I’d like to point you in the direction of Clarion Desktop. This is a product created by Gary James of Strategy Online. I’ve been rabbiting on lately (see article above, and the Fox story) about Community etc for a while. Gary has built a product that is _all_ about community. It’s a great piece of workmanship. Sure, there are probably things that could be done with it, I’m not worried about that right now. What I see in Clarion Desktop is a vehicle for great things. Purpose. Vision. A product such as Clarion Desktop allows us to pass something easy and awesome onto newbies. It’s going to make life for old timers, middle timers, and new timers a lot easier .. PLUS .. it’s a news portal. Gossip door. “Wha’s Happenin” linkage. This is good. Very. Good. So thumbs up for Gary! And at something like 30 dollars for a years subscription, it’s a no brainer for supporting the community.

 

Cheers,

There is something intoxicating about being special. A person defers to you in conversation. The team lifts you up after scoring the winning try. A son hugs his mother, asking her to tell him about dinosaurs.

 

See what that special is? It involves relationships. Relating to one another. One person, speaking, doing, thinking, with or toward another.

 

What makes a good developer?

 

That’s not a question I can answer. That’s up to you. We have to find it out for ourselves.

 

The question that needs to be answered, is not a singular internal question.

 

It’s .. larger. Unselfish beyond self.

 

What is true development? I believe, it’s community. It’s relationships. It’s a team working together.

 

So what makes a team? Better yet, what _breaks_ a team?

 

Being special in development means more than being awesome at code. Amazing with structures. Clarity of purpose beyond the ken of normal mankind. These are of themselves wonderful abilities. They make an individual special.

 

Being special means _more_.

 

Breaking is far easier than building.  Our insecurities, the lies we tell to cover our frailty. They all break. Some things, some words, some deeds more than others. Maybe it’s jealousy. Maybe lust. Maybe a desire to be someone we just can’t quite be. Whatever it be, it be broken. It breaks. Severs.

 

Being special means building.

 

What am I talking about? Seriously, what purpose did I have in writing this post?

 

Not really sure. I guess I’m searching through my thoughts in preparation for the time when I have a team. The things that are going to make a team work. That’s what is going to separate. A single successful development (I’m not there yet) is still single. To progress, a team needs to be formed.  To form a team, you need to understand people. To bring them together certain barriers have to be overcome. Insecurities delt with. Or at least addressed. Actually, I’m not talking about just any team. A successful team. A _special_ team.

 

Being special is important. We can’t be special to everyone. But we can be special to those around us. And they can be special to us. I’m not talking fluff here, that exists, but I’m talking about group dynamics. Teamwork. Relationships.

 

The night is young, or old.

 

And there’s another episode of Heroes left to watch.

Man alive, it’s crazy time again.

 

Usually, I’m well aware that I’ve stayed up late. Tonight though, I’ve only just realised, after finishing a big few hours of focussed work.

 

Check it out, http://www.archertechnologyservices.com. It’s undergone a couple of big changes. Not to bore you, I’ll keep them quick.

 

1. Found an image mambot for Joomla that implemented “lightbox”, which is a funky pseudo window viewer. Have a squiz at this link.

2. Redid the Product pages. Each of them has six i think. The last page (for each of them), called “Vision”, was a masterstroke. Ha ha. A foolish attempt that will probably get pulled down sometime in the near future no doubt.

 

Anyway. Was a productive night tonight, even though my initial aim was to work out why I can’t get see my installed Thawte Certificate with Safe Uploader. Looks like that will move to tomorrow night.

 

Done for the nonce, will hopefully post something .. fuller .. tomorrow.

 

Bam.

 

 

Following is a story I posted to the Clarion Newsgroups recently. I guess I was trying to be clever. Not sure if it works.

 

The Fox walked through the Forest. He was an intelligent Fox, especially when talking about Chickens. Oh boy, he knew Chickens alright. Of course, they were crafty Creatures themselves, and he had never actually _caught_ a Chicken.

 

The Fox didn’t let this minor detail discourage him.

 

The Fox had a secret. He didn’t _try_ to catch and eat any Chickens. Indeed, it was hard work, much harder than walking through the Forest. He couldn’t understand why you would want to go to all the effort of catching and eating Chickens when it was far easier just to tell the other Creatures of the Forest _about_ catching and eating them.

 

Every Creature in the Forest looked up and respected the Fox, he was sure. They whispered as he walked past, tail high, bristles clean and magnificent.

 

“They are whispering of my most excellent wisdom in the area of catching and eating Chickens.”

 

As at the start of every day, the Fox walked through the Forest to the High Hill.

 

The High Hill was the place of commerce and gossip and work for the Forest Creatures. Here goods were bought and sold in the open. Here friendships were made between Lion and Lamb. There wasn’t any bartering or haggling to speak of, except when a piece of fruit was rotten, or contained Flies. Mostly, it was gossip about other Forest Creatures and especially, the Lord of the Forest.

 

The Lord of the Forest was almost never present. He was a great Tree, Wise and Ancient. His head of green could be seen moving through the Forest, although the Forest was large enough so that some Creatures never caught a glimpse of him.

 

Today, as at the start of every Today, the Fox made his way up the High Hill, to the Summit. Proudly he trotted, pretending not to notice the whispering. His mission was of the utmost importance Today (as with every Today).

 

“I must alert my fellow Creatures to the danger. The Great Fox In The Sky has shown me the future, as he showed my forebears. I must preach this gospel to all who will listen. Nay, to ALL.”

 

Reaching the Summit of the High Hill, the Fox turned around, and waited for silence.

 

The Creatures of the Forest continued their commerce, gossip and work.

 

“Creatures of the Forest! I have grave tidings!” The Fox pronounced in somber but magnificent (he was sure) tones.

 

A Bear rambling past turned her head. “Grave Tidings?” She snorted. “Have you caught any Chickens yet oh Great and Mighty Fox?”

 

The Fox smiled. “Good Bear, why, that is not important. I cannot enter into such conversations when that which I came here to speak is of such import!”

 

The Bear shook her shaggy head and continued on.

 

“The Lord of the Forest loves us no more!”

 

This turned heads. Some Creatures came forward. A small Turtle, slow and ponderous began to make his way to the Summit. A Hare hopped across and watched the Fox.

 

“He has forsaken us! His true people, who have done nought but Love and Cherish him!”

 

More Creatures of the Forest came and sat in front of the Fox, listening. Although more still went about their business.

 

A Lion, down at the bottom of the High Hill looked at the Fox. The Lion looked, and the Fox pretended not to notice the Look.

 

“Fellow Creatures! Although my words may bring fear, let us be Brave and Courageous! It is no longer time for the Leaf! It is the Claw and the Tooth that will prevail, bringing us victory!”

 

The Snake, ever an ally of the Fox, joined him at the Summit.

 

“Yeessss. It is soooo. The Fox speaks great wisdom.”

 

The Turtle had finally made his way to the Summit.

 

“Fox. Why should we fight the Lord of the Forest? Without him, the Forest would not exist. You would have no home. All the Creatures of the Forest would have no home. The Forest provides us with safety. It provides us business here, at the High Hill, and the other Hills. And the Lord, he grows the Forest ever onwards.”

 

The Fox waited a moment.

 

“Yes Turtle. You are correct. We do have the Lord of the Forest to thank for our past blessings. But what of the Now? Where is he?”

 

The Snake whispered, although loud enough for those around to hear. “Yesssss, I have not seen the Lord of the Forest for months, even years.”

 

The Turtle persisted. “That doesn’t mean the Lord of the Forest has abandoned us. Why, just yesterday I spoke with him.”

 

The Snake laughed. “And where is your proof Slow One? What did the great lord say to you?”

 

The Turtle twisted slowly, uncomfortable. “I have no proof. And I cannot speak of what he told me. It will be revealed soon.”

 

The Fox joined in the laughter with Snake.

 

“Foolish Turtle. Why do you seek to deceive these loyal Creatures of the Forest who stand here, only wishing to hear the Truth. Begone with you.”

 

The Turtle turned, sadness in his eyes, and walked down the hill, slowly.

 

That day, the Today, many Creatures of the Forest were disturbed by the preaechings of the Fox (and the Snake). They went to their homes confused. Did the Lord of the Forest really care for them? Why hadn’t they heard him? Seen him? Or even, as the Snake had finished with, seen Evidence of his passing?

 

The dawn broke across the Forest. The Creatures of the Forest awoke, blinking in the sunlight.

 

The Forest was gone.

 

The Fox was gone, as was the Snake.

 

The Lord of the Forest stood before them.

 

“Beware the words of Foxes and Snakes, for they breed heresies and lies.”

 

Then he was gone.

 

They were no longer Creatures of the Forest.

 

In the days that followed, some Creatures sought out other Forests. Some passed away, longing for a place without Foxes and Snakes. Others stayed where they were, stubbornly refusing to leave their home. They began to grow new trees, or at least they tried.

 

Finis.

Words are failing me.

 

Shocking, I know. Perhaps it’s the swilling of caffienated liquid around my brain, or the long days and longer nights, I’m not sure.

 

Maybe once I get started they’ll come easier.

 

Anyway .. Rasp 0.3 is Released!

 

http://rasp.archertechnologyservices.com

 

Oh baby, it’s a doosey. Loads of new functionality, almost _brimming_. Heh.

 

In fact, it won’t be too much more before this puppy goes gold. As previously stated, I’m holding back a few things for release, File Uploading in Rasp Web is chief amongst them. But there are other valuable pieces of functionality that will be part of the main release. More details will come as I get feedback on this latest version.

 

What blocked me for the last 5 or so days was the Help file. It wasn’t so much putting stuff in there, as _what_ to put in there. I wanted a Help file that was meaningful. Not sure I totally achieved it, but it’s on the right track. I think some of the limitations of Dr. Explain might slightly affect the purpose, but not much. In fact, if I went to another Help authoring system, i’ve no doubt I’d miss the awesome window/image importing, that makes generating content quickly so simple.

 

So Rasp is out. I’m kind of in la-la land at the moment. It’s 2.50 am, and my head is pounding.

 

Freaking Out, because I know I left something out of the Install.

Stressing, because sometimes I’m not completely believing in the future of Rasp and ATS.

Relieved, because all those hours of work has come to a release.

Happy, because putting thoughts onto blog helps me clear the brain-sinuses.

Joyful, because now my belief-factor is back at max-power.

 

Bring It!

Then All I Were Was My Guitar.

 

Makes sense, surely.

 

The Help still hasn’t been touched yet. Tonight I discovered a couple of tiny pieces of shrapnel, buried within the ever-growing functionality of Rasp.

 

One of these was the caching of files by the browser. See, every time a User “actions” (Views, Uploads .. and one day, Changes) a File, Rasp records it. Well, this was my intention. IE worked a treat (whhhhaaaaaa????), but Firefox was craftier. It cached stronger, and so the Workflow recording would only fire the first time the User actioned the File (which in my case is just clicking on the File URL). The problem was fixed though, thankfully. Now working in IE and Firefox for tEh Awesomeness. They are the only 2 browsers in existence right? Right?

 

I’d like to think there’s a better way to get Help done. Something _more_ than just a file which people open up to find stuff. Although, realistically, that’s how I use Help files, so why wouldn’t it be this way?

 

I’m feeling like Drizzt Do’Urden when he _knew_ that the move his father was using against him was beatable, but he didn’t know how. I _know_ there’s a better way of delivering people a product that doesn’t need help, or that uses something special. I’m not sure, could be wrong .. but you know.

 

So.

 

No release of Rasp tonight. And it’s not so much a never-ending quest for perfection. Well, it is that. If you establish excellence from the beginning, then people will, yes, expect it .. but also, they will pride yourself on it. They will pride _yourself_ on it. Like, I use these guys a lot, Blizzard. Or Capesoft. Or that guy with a blog who makes it look so easy. But it’s the way it works. They uphold it, and it reaps rewards. Of course, my whole “day job” opposing “night job” is a battle. Not between them, but battling to not drain myself. Building an empire is more difficult than tackling a big prop running at full-steam 5 meters from the line. It’s a hundred props, running at you .. plus they’re wearing chainmail, wielding metal-ball morning stars, and shoot firebolts from their eyes.

 

So how do you build an empire?

 

I’m not sure yet. Secretly, most of what I’m doing is winging it on my own pre-conceived thoughts and dreams. But you know, a lot of those thoughts are based on what i’ve experienced before AND MORE, on what I’ve taken in from around me. Other people’s experiences, watching how big companies work, good and bad. Watching smaller entities begin, flourish, fail.

 

Maybe one day there’ll be enough stuff in my brain that’s TRUTH to write a book. For now, I’ll continue to blather in this little journal of jive. Master of Myseterious Code. Haven of Hellion Programmers.

 

I’ll stop now.

 

Rumors of Clarion 7 are arising. Nothing concrete .. just .. rumors.

 

Fare Thee Well,

 

Well. The next version of Rasp is done! Whooot. Seriously, it’s awesome. But it’s also 4.30 am. But

 

But ..

 

It’s going to be another night. I’m not going to release it without the Help being updated. Sure, I’d like for the program to be simple enough for people to just pick up and use .. and it is I believe .. but not having a Help file up to date sends a message I’m not willing to send at this stage in the game.

 

So be ready! Tomorrow night .. for sure!

 

It’s going to be a hard road tomorrow, but it’s worth it.

 

Oh. I’m also considering putting my Freight system up on the Archer site. The 4th product. It’s already done, and is a handy program in it’s own right. It’ll also come with both an up-front and monthly cost.

 

I do want to rewrite it from scratch one day, but not just now. Ha ha .. things are winding up.

 

Been watching Heroes. I’ve been swept away into their world of almost-magic. It’s pretty sweet. X-Men without the spandex. But more. It’s an amalgamation of all things awesome. Story-writing. Comics. Fantasy. Characters. Interweaving of plotlines, _intelligently_. Good stuff.

‘Nuff said,