PHPJack blogs

Solar Framework Shorts - Top 10 reasons to use Solar

richard — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:20:38 +0000

Here is a community built list with the top 10 most popular reasons to use Solar Framework, maybe if your not currently using Solar Framework one or two of these items will perk your interest up and get you to take a look.

Solar Framework Shorts - Basic Sql Profiling

richard — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:21:26 +0000

This one is really short and simple

<?php
// load the Solar environment
require 'Solar.php';
Solar::start('/path/to/config/Solar.config.php');

// configure
$config = array(
    'adapter' => 'Solar_Sql_Adapter_Mysql',
    'host'    => '127.0.0.1',
    'user'    => 'username',
    'pass'    => 'password',
    'name'    => 'database_name',
);

// instantiate
$sql = Solar::factory('Solar_Sql', $config);

$sql->setProfiling(TRUE);

// Do a whole lot of SQL

print_r($sql->getProfile());
?>

Using anything but php to test your new possible hires

richard — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 07:23:01 +0000

Most companies tend to have some sort of process they go through when hiring php programmers that involve some sort of php code challenge but have you ever considering using other languages to vet your new possible php programmers?

Take a look through your possibles resume and find a language they don't have listed, during the interview carefully verify they don't know this language then ask them to program a extremely simple task in this language! The only resources they can use are online docs for that language.

Do you know were your data is?

richard — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 02:54:11 +0000

Unless you have been hiding under a rock lately you have heard that all Sidekick data is currently MIA. You can read a bit more about this here http://www.hiptop3.com/archives/what-caused-the-sidekick-fail/

How can a company that size not have a working backup? Even an OLD backup doesn't seem to exist, they have nothing at all they can use to even semi-restore peoples data!

Solar Framework Shorts - Extending Solar's Page Controller

richard — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:25:04 +0000

Solars manual has a getting started section that walks you through setting up a basic app, This app extends "Solar_Controller_Page" which handles a lot of the backend work for you.

As you get into your project you will find that pretty much every controller you have needs access to some basic structures and information, how can you ensure these are always available?

How often do you recompile php?

richard — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 01:24:10 +0000

For what ever reason you compile php from source, or maybe you run pecl/other extensions..

How often do you recompile? Only for major php releases? Or maybe only if a major security issue pops up?

While recompiling during major releases or to cover known security issues in php, these issues don't always track security issues in the libraries that php compile against! How often do you update your OS? When updating do you pay any attention at all to what packages are being updated?

Self Induced torture at Zendcon09

richard — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 21:28:25 +0000

Zendcon09 is right around the corner, having been to the last 4 years? Hard to keep track... Anyway I figured it was time for me to be a little more then a seat holder and try talking so I submitted a few talks..

Those got rejected, so I submitted a Uncon proposal which you can vote on here http://joind.in/talk/view/939.

Now honestly I have never cared much for speaking in front of crowds but if I can get on stage for Karaoke http://www.flickr.com/photos/kbconferences/1565278195/ then speaking shouldn't be a problem right?

Solar Framework Shorts - Deleting caches

richard — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 06:11:23 +0000

This one is simple but sweet, In your Models directory you define your Models and the basic rules they follow but do you know you can also make changes at the record level..

Apache performance out of the box

richard — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 05:55:07 +0000

The worst thing in the world you can do if your worried about performance is use Apache OOTB (out of the box). Using it OOTB is like bringing your whole Snap-on tool chest with you when all you need is a tool belt.

The sad thing is most people don't take the time to pull out the tool belt when comparing Apache with other web servers, but that's a discussion for another day.

Solar Framework Shorts - Multitenant caching

richard — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 05:15:02 +0000

Pretty much everyone knows the best way to ensure site performance is caching data when ever possible. Normally this is pretty much a no-brainer but if your dealing with a Multitenant site you need to make sure you always use a per site unique key for most data.

This gets even more problematic if you support third party developers/modules as they have to follow the same rules as well.