Chris http://chrischris.posterous.com Most recent posts at Chris posterous.com Mon, 12 Jul 2010 23:57:19 -0700 Web services - love em' and what a cluster! http://chrischris.posterous.com/web-services-love-em-and-what-a-cluster http://chrischris.posterous.com/web-services-love-em-and-what-a-cluster So, a little late night googling and it turns out that there is somewhat of a schism in the web services world. Now, without too much history I am kindof a services nut! However, I do not know how I missed this fight on the WSDL, REST, WADL acronym soup debate. As it turns out often enterprise-y tools do an amazing job at creating compatible (and even usable) web services endpoints, often in the form of SOAP with WSDL's describing the endpoint. A little investigation here reveals though just how hard it is to integrate a REST-ful endpoint to these service (often the value add of the extensible schema and type definitions quickly negates the simplicity of the REST). IMO this really leaves people in two camps - those with the automated *tools* to read the service endpoints (and quickly gain traction on interacting with the objects) and the simplicity of the REST interfaces that have very little overhead since they exploit the existing underlying architecture. I am not going to go into a tizzy here on why this seems really stupid (note to self - I should really write up some thoughts on this...)... because through this research I have stumbled onto a nifty google project: REST API code-gen (in all its computer science-y acronym laden goodness) - this is really cool (short description here)!! 

Bam - Magic!
REST Compile

Woohoo - bringing robots to simple web services interfaces - I feel the future coming (unless its already dead)!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Fri, 21 May 2010 06:52:00 -0700 I walked into the office the other day to this: http://chrischris.posterous.com/i-walked-into-the-office-the-other-day-to-thi http://chrischris.posterous.com/i-walked-into-the-office-the-other-day-to-thi

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Sun, 16 May 2010 14:18:00 -0700 Drupal: Features: Moving a CCK (content type) from one feature to another http://chrischris.posterous.com/drupal-features-moving-a-cck-content-type-fro http://chrischris.posterous.com/drupal-features-moving-a-cck-content-type-fro

3086495495_ab338eecc4.jpg Recently ran into an interesting problem - I wanted to move a content type (cck) that I had created from one feature to another (specifically to move it into a spaces enabled feature to gain some of those benefits - thanks devseed!); however, as you might be aware (if you are stumbling across this) features is pretty smart - often *too* smart. When removing the content type from one feature it will effectively remove the content type from your drupal install; whilst if you add the content type to another feature in parallel features will ingeniously mark the other feature you have as a dependency. What we are going to exploit: drupal features caches with a version control system (VCS - I prefer git) and drush:

 
vernacular:
* laterBranchOrTag - the later time we are trying to get to in our source
* earlierBranchOrTag - the time when our feature we are coming *from* was correct
* featureNameOld = old feature (to delete from)
* featureNameNew = new feature (to be added to)

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git checkout laterBranchOrTag
// (add the CCK fields/types that need to be migrated tofeatureNameNew- delete the references from featureNameOld. note: this will cause the field to be deleted)
git commit
git checkout earlierBranchOrTag
drush features revert featureNameOld
// (cacheclear, etc...extra: add the variables and some other items to featureNameNew from featureNameOld - i.e. they will exist in both for now)
git checkout laterBranchOrTag
drush features-updatefeatureNameNew
git commit

What we have done - we have basically loaded many of drupal's caches (note: some items like variables, with strongarm, do not use the db for cacheing - this is a different animal) with the feature and CCK defs and then switched the code base beneath it. When the features-update occurs the items that are cached are written out into features code, but in the featureNameNew namespace.
 
simple enough?
 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Sun, 16 May 2010 13:03:10 -0700 So much mandated technology http://chrischris.posterous.com/so-much-mandated-technology http://chrischris.posterous.com/so-much-mandated-technology "So much mandated technology...they [generally large companies] just take the [provider] with the most steaks and the most strippers; typically from companies who have expense accounts and sales people who can sell them very expensive application servers over six months." http://twit.tv/floss79

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:55:01 -0700 DrupalCon SF 2010 http://chrischris.posterous.com/drupalcon-sf-2010 http://chrischris.posterous.com/drupalcon-sf-2010

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Sat, 10 Apr 2010 22:37:18 -0700 Penguin Game J2ME edition http://chrischris.posterous.com/penguin-game-j2me-edition http://chrischris.posterous.com/penguin-game-j2me-edition A while back (2006ish) I wrote a small game for a class (Java mobile) and was curious if it would run on my phone today - what do you know?! Woohoo - it works!

Click here to download:
penguin_game.jar (29 KB)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:09:24 -0700 Images I like - a post for the memories http://chrischris.posterous.com/images-i-like-a-post-for-the-memories http://chrischris.posterous.com/images-i-like-a-post-for-the-memories Just some old images I had laying around I wanted to get out there...

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:42:56 -0700 Doom and gloom - crystal ball on Apple http://chrischris.posterous.com/doom-and-gloom-crystal-ball-on-apple http://chrischris.posterous.com/doom-and-gloom-crystal-ball-on-apple "...if Apple implemented a trial period it could really soften the blow (iPhone OS 4.0, perhaps?). The iPad could perfect the shareware model that almost has worked on the PC, and it wouldn't hurt to have trials on the iPhone either." Really?!?! Almost worked - I would argue total failure!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Sun, 04 Apr 2010 12:42:49 -0700 What apps really are - services http://chrischris.posterous.com/what-apps-really-are-services http://chrischris.posterous.com/what-apps-really-are-services
This weekend I was hypothesizing how three apps I think are very cool operate, specifically: Google Voice search, Shazam, Square. What shocked me about all of them was how available they were across platforms - particularly mobile. Then I came to quickly realize the only investment in development for each platform was front-end work; the piece they all had in common was the backend. Now, some might be familiar with some patterns that make this possible like MVC; but what really surprises me is how unbelievably seamless these apps work in the face of having to support different platforms. This leads me to a more philosophical question about touting an "app for that..." - really what we are seeing is that behind many of the good apps there is a terrific service that is capable of being abstracted from that devices interface.

Caveat Emptor: Its probably very short sighted to assume that this is a one sided conclusion, but I think there are some great reasons to follow this pattern; there are many great reasons to have a fantastic UI, but when thinking about reaching the maximum audience it is comforting to know that following this pattern can help development remain agile in the face of new device releases (see: iPad).

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Fri, 02 Apr 2010 20:59:00 -0700 Data - its really important! http://chrischris.posterous.com/data-its-really-important http://chrischris.posterous.com/data-its-really-important This is true: http://bret.appspot.com/entry/we-need-a-wikipedia-for-data
This is how it can be done:http://where.tommacwright.com/
This is a result: http://mapbox.com/

amazmagorical!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Sun, 28 Mar 2010 15:21:43 -0700 Beautiful day at the Rock http://chrischris.posterous.com/beautiful-day-at-the-rock http://chrischris.posterous.com/beautiful-day-at-the-rock

sent via mobile

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Thu, 25 Mar 2010 06:58:57 -0700 How is this even possible?!?! http://chrischris.posterous.com/how-is-this-even-possible-0 http://chrischris.posterous.com/how-is-this-even-possible-0 http://blogs.adobe.com/jnack/2010/03/caf_in_ps.html

I used to think blurring out jewelry in PS was amazing - now I can make whole pieces of the world appear and disappear!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Tue, 23 Mar 2010 12:10:38 -0700 Screen shot 2010-03-20 at 11.00.29 AM.png http://chrischris.posterous.com/screen-shot-2010-03-20-at-110029-ampng http://chrischris.posterous.com/screen-shot-2010-03-20-at-110029-ampng

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Sun, 29 Nov 2009 00:43:00 -0800 Chrome OS running on EEE 900 (wifi, audio, internal HD) http://chrischris.posterous.com/chrome-os-running-on-eee-900-wifi-audio-inter http://chrischris.posterous.com/chrome-os-running-on-eee-900-wifi-audio-inter Got the Chrome OS running on my EEE 900 this weekend; here's the details:
Started with the VM image (http://gdgt.com/google/chrome-os/download/) - cool, but didn't run on the netbook...
So, got the Chrome OS image installed on a USB drive (http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/download-google-chrome-os-and-run-on-a-real-computer/) - easy to use, instructions get this on a bootable USB drive. This works great on may laptops and netbooks.

One step further (get the USB image on internal HD of the netbook):
Boot the netbook with something like DSL (http://www.pendrivelinux.com/all-in-one-usb-dsl/). Also, make sure you have your Chrome OS USB key plugged in as well while booting...
Open up a terminal (on DSL boot).
Type (may need to alter the /var/* targets):

dd if=/var/sda of=/var/hdc

Give it ~20 mins...
And bam - boot your EEE 900 from the HD connect to your wireless network and have audio!! FTW!!

Results:
- Pretty fast...
- Very simple
- Terminal accessible from ctrl+alt+F2
- Looks nice

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Tue, 20 Oct 2009 20:24:49 -0700 Hello World!! http://chrischris.posterous.com/hello-world-1736 http://chrischris.posterous.com/hello-world-1736

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Sun, 08 Feb 2009 09:30:00 -0800 What we have to look forward to: 64-bits and beyond http://chrischris.posterous.com/what-we-have-to-look-forward-to-64-bits-and-b http://chrischris.posterous.com/what-we-have-to-look-forward-to-64-bits-and-b
The emergence of the 64-bit architecture effectively increases the memory ceiling to 264 addresses, equivalent to approximately 17.2 billion gigabytes, 16.8 million terabytes, or 16 exabytes of RAM. To put this in perspective, in the days when 4 MB of main memory was commonplace, the maximum memory ceiling of 232 addresses was about 1,000 times larger than typical memory configurations. Today, when over 2 GB of main memory is common, the ceiling of 264 addresses is about ten trillion times larger, i.e., ten billion times more headroom than the 232 case.

I can't wait to see what the future holds!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Tue, 30 Dec 2008 10:38:00 -0800 Impressive math program: Maxima http://chrischris.posterous.com/impressive-math-program-maxima http://chrischris.posterous.com/impressive-math-program-maxima Searching for an Open Source software (OSS) solution to the famous math program 'Mathematica'; I stumbled across this jewel: Maxima 

It looks like a lot of the work is done through python and some of the fantastic scientific libraries that already exist.

Bravo!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:24:00 -0800 A Small Story: about science and observation http://chrischris.posterous.com/a-small-story-about-science-and-observation http://chrischris.posterous.com/a-small-story-about-science-and-observation In 7th grade science class with a teacher known as Mr. Martin – we had a room full of all kinds of creatures, from tropical lizards, iguanas, tree frogs, to large constrictor Boas. Now although I might liken this to an immersion experience in the middle of the jungle I think one of the more meaningful lessons was described on the first day of class. He asked all the students to go around the room and find the most deadly creature out of all. After we all walk around, Mr. Martin performed a quick poll of what people thought. (update: Someone mentioned that maybe the most obvious and deadliest creature would be ourselves - humans) Several students guessed the large constrictor Boa as it would be able to squeeze you to death, several other students postulated that maybe it was a lizard that could squirt poison into your eyes. The moral of the story, however, had nothing to do with knowledge on the subject matter of animals; it was a test of observation skills. The 'most deadly' animal in the room was easily identified by the cage it was in, as it was the only cage with padlocks holding all of the doors tightly shut (keeping the animal in and student fingers out).

The scientific method, hypothesis, conclusions, observations, and the thought experiment.
(futher fun: YouTube: Bill Nye)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Tue, 21 Oct 2008 02:15:00 -0700 Albert Einstein http://chrischris.posterous.com/albert-einstein-63 http://chrischris.posterous.com/albert-einstein-63
"Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love."

How on earth can you explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity.
Albert Einstein
US (German-born) physicist (1879 - 1955)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen Sun, 19 Oct 2008 04:08:00 -0700 Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering - SMU http://chrischris.posterous.com/bobby-b-lyle-school-of-engineering-smu http://chrischris.posterous.com/bobby-b-lyle-school-of-engineering-smu


Awesome!

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/257305/Snapshot_of_me_2.png http://posterous.com/people/36oUtztLGEWR Chris Christensen Chris Chris Christensen