September 06, 2008
meuon
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PHP
Data
Visualization
| Low Tech Data Display. |
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 There is a lot of push towards incredibly powerful web toolkits. Very complex javascript, lots of embedded flash. But that requires powerful client computers, and all that JavaScript/ActionScript has fits crossing domains, for good reasons. So you have to go back to old school. Enter PHP and GDlib creating graphics on the fly at the web server. Geeky kWh Gauge example in PHP will create (given some assumptions) nice looking graphs as an image and will try to resize itself and the data nicely based on parameters given.
It's useful for embedding data displays low tech browsers as well as things like Chumby's, Google Electricity/kWh Gadgets and other widgets where everything but images seem to be cached, relayed, or protected from embedding data from other sources. The best part is the looks you get when showing to "Web 2.0 kids" who can't conceive of doing it without an IDE, JavaScript/ActionScript and possibly a fat embed/object download.. |
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August 03, 2008
Meuon
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Ubuntu
CellModem
Verizon
| Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron and Verizon USB727 |
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Sometimes, Linux just makes things too easy to believe. Especially Ubuntu. We needed to make a laptop online, just about anywhere.
We bought an Verizon USB 727 and plugged it into an Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy Heron powered laptop. Tailing /var/log/messages, I see an Airprime driver installed as /dev/ttyUSB0 (actually, /dev/ttyUSB0-/dev/ttyUSB15). Lets see if we get lucky:
as root:
#ln -s /dev/ttyUSB0 /dev/nodem
#pppconfig
- create a connection,
- named provider
- dynamic dns
- PAP Authentication
- use:YourDevicePhoneNumber@vzw3g.com as a login
- vzw as a password.
- 115200 as speed
- tone (of couse)
- #777 as number to dial
- /dev/modem as modem (or /dev/ttyUSB0)
- Pick "Finish".
And now, the commands "pon" will initiate the connection (mine worked the first time) and "poff" will hang up.
"plog" is useful for seeing the log as it connects.
Because of the Airprime driver, it will get amazing speeds, my speed tests are showing bursts in the 800kbps range.
WooHoo!
The bad news: $60 per month for a high usage plan from Verizon. Keeping the sales droids from trying to configure WiFi or networking while at a clients location: Priceless.
The USB727 Card
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March 29, 2008
Meuon
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| UtiliFlex Smart Metering |
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 A few month ago I got started in an interesting rebirth/renewal/upgrade of an existing company, UtiliSol. That's now become a new business formed by Joe Gordon of UtiliSol and myself (GeekLabs) called UtiliFlex. Working with Joe's been a pleasant reminder of what it's like to work with a competent experienced professional with focus and a non-nonsense let's do business right attitude. It's stupid little things like UPS dropping off an Aeron chair for me, ordering two of gadget's it'd be nice to have one of as well as some fantastic work with clients, contracts, proposals.. good stuff for both parties.
We're coming out of the gate with a bang, some big projects in the works, and a pleasant surprise; we got nominated for the Chattanooga Technology Council's Early Innovator Award. The press and attention is both welcome, and distracting at the same time. The price of fame.
Anyway, this is also a time sink, While we've hired some talent for key parts, I've got to get and keep my head down on what we are now calling "Juice 2.0" - which is more than just software, it's a whole collection of systems working well together.
Nancy and I went out to a play last night.. and I turned down two projects bumping into people. It's an interesting world out there, why is it when you are busy, they come out of the woodwork, and when you -need- paying work, it's scarce. The Murphy's law of freelancing?
Well, I think my freelancing days are over for a while. :)
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February 07, 2008
Meuon
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| Proud Papa |
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| The NFPA's web based learning system came online tonight on version 3.2 of "NextLMS", which is a very comprehensive learning management system I built over the last 2 years. It is GAS based, or at least it started that way, Add a few thousand lines of JavaScript, several thousand lines of PHP, and a team of really good smart people editing and providing content and it makes quite a complete system. It's easily the biggest system I have coded by myself and I'm proud of it. Have the NFPA using it makes me feel good, brings me back to my Clinical and Plant Engineering days. |
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November 18, 2007
meuon
0 comments
keywords:
Code
Widget
| Widget at Work |
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Widget is a GAS (GeekLabs Application Starter) based website framework. It's essentially GAS with FCKeditor and a CSS menu.
It runs this website as well as some others like:
ewichattanooga.org - Executive Women Intl.
astd-chatt.org - American Society of Training and Development, Chattanooga
UtiliFlex.com - Prepaid Electricity Utility Payment / Metering
In some ways, it is "Yet another CMS (Content Management System)" . It is almost what happens anytime you start working with PHP. I'm mentioning it because it's a good example of a GeekLabs philosophy that a good foundation can build many different kinds of systems, and it's useful partially because it is "not baked". This makes it easy to add special functions like membership directories and picture albums, or special content/article areas. While Widget is a wonderful tool, it's not the only thing we do at GeekLabs, but it's one of the few things that get seen by the general public. Most of our code and applications live behind the scenes, and range from Human Resources/eLearning applications with SCORM and AICC capabilities, to payment gateways and banking applications.
Widget is in constant development, is far from "polished" and someday I'll package it with a "README" file and post it as "Code" - but until then if you want a copy, send me an e-mail and I'll zip up the current version for you and e-mail it. We (GeekLabs) does not "sell" but we do make money modifying it and hosting things built with it for people. |
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