ejdraper.com

All new KickCode and introducing Hijax Games

Sat, 06 Jul 2013 01:43:26 +0100

I have completely forgotten to post on here about the relaunch of the KickCode site, or my new gaming focused development brand, d'oh!

First things first, I rebuilt and relaunched the KickCode site a good few weeks ago. The new site is smarter, cleaner and clearer, and focuses on what we do best - helping businesses improve. Whether it’s increasing revenue or users, decreasing churn, or another business goal you have, we can almost certainly help you achieve it. We’re providing lots of good business and technical content on the blog too, and you can sign up for the newsletter to get a nice round-up of things we’ve written, worked on, or found interesting. Check out the new site now!

I’ve also launched a separate gaming focused brand, called Hijax Games. The thinking behind this was to provide the same great focus we do on KickCode, but specific to the game development niche. We’ll be working on our own games and sharing development progress from those, as well as being available to work on client game development. Lastly, we’ll be providing great game development content to help other game developers, with the tools we’re best at, from RubyMotion and Joybox, to Unity3D. Expect lots of interesting stuff over the coming months, and again you can sign up to the Hijax newsletter to be kept in the loop.

So that’s that, busy few weeks launching those - let me know if you have thoughts, comments or questions on the new sites, and please get in touch if you think KickCode or Hijax Games can help you with your idea!

Ten Percent de France

Tue, 02 Jul 2013 15:43:19 +0100

With the Tour de France in full flow for the 100th edition of the famous cycling race, and my resumed interest in fitness and in particular, cycling (indoors, at least), I’ve decided to have a little fun, and try to match my daily goals on the bike with the riders in France. Of course, I have neither the time, nor the legs, to go ahead and match them km for km, so I figured I’d start off by aiming to do 10% of what they do on each stage. I’ve just about caught up now after the first three stages - and when it comes to the time trials, as they are shorter stages, I’ll do those full distances - so 25km is on the cards for todays team time trial. I don’t anticipate keeping pace with those guys, and of course, even if I did, I’m on the relatively comfortable confines of an indoor exercise bike, and not a sweltering French road course with undulations and category climbs. However, it adds a little fun dimension to my exercises, and my watching of this years Tour. If you fancy joining me, or perhaps even pushing it to 15% or 20% of the distances, then tweet at me and let me know how you’re getting on! Much like the Tour, perhaps we can all help drive each other on, like a virtual peloton headed for the Champs-Élysées in 19 days time.

Elliott has contributed to repositories in 9 different languages. In particular, Elliott is a serious Ruby expert with a surprisingly broad knowledge of JavaScript as well.

Sat, 25 May 2013 01:14:07 +0100

Elliott has contributed to repositories in 9 different languages. In particular, Elliott is a serious Ruby expert with a surprisingly broad knowledge of JavaScript as well.:

Fantastic site called “The Open Source Report Card” which takes a look at your public GitHub timeline and gives you a rundown of your skills based on project contribution, as well as when you are most active and productive. Very clever stuff, and makes for some rather ego-inflating snippets that you could post on your blog, if you were so inclined.

"Success isn’t about working hard, it’s about working smart"

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 13:31:53 +0100

"Success isn’t about working hard, it’s about working smart":

Interesting article by Andrew Wilkinson, the founder of MetaLab, giving an oft-overlooked and differing viewpoint to the usual “work around the clock to build your startup” rhetoric. I still think to be successful takes hard work as well, but being efficient and doing more in less time to make that happen sounds like a win.

kickcraft

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:02:00 +0000

I finally got chance to mess around with voxel.js the other night, and thought I’d have a little fun with it. You can do an awful lot of cool stuff with voxel.js and its associated modules, including generating terrain from a PNG heightmap. But I thought it might be cool to create structures from a PNG, so you can automatically have structures built and hoisted in front of you in the 3D world, based solely on a 2D graphic. Thus, kickcraft was born.

It works best with logos, where there is only a few colours in play and fairly distinct, simple shapes. It uses the incredibly useful png2json script from within the heightmap terrain module to turn a PNG image into a JSON document. From there, kickcraft loads it in, and looks up materials for the colours it finds in the RGB data for the PNG. There is a hosted demo here which loads the KickCode boot icon by default, but you can also click here to see it running with the image data for the full KickCode logo (you’ll need to keep walking to see the entire thing, as the draw distance comes into play). You’ll need to be using a browser that plays nicely with WebGL too.

I could do a lot of cool stuff to extend it - color shading/tinting the basic materials to match the source color would be a particularly nice first step forward, so then it could automatically deal with the entire RGB range, rather than as it does currently, matching specific colours to the materials to use. Then a hosted PNG to JSON converter would mean you could point it an image URL, and have it show up in the world!

In time it might well then work as a sort of mosaic structure builder for even more complex images, but for right now it was a fun little experiment to create a 3D world with a little something of mine in there. If you’re interested in getting started with WebGL then voxel.js is a great, fun way to dive in.

Getting started with Ruby 2.0 and Rails 4.0.0 beta 1

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 02:53:46 +0000

It’s an exciting time to be a Rubyist as we get lots of new versions of things to play with. Ruby 2.0 is finally out, and with it a raft of updates across the board for various Ruby related software, including the first beta of Rails 4!

To get up and running quickly with Ruby 2 and Rails 4 (using RVM), it’s pretty easy:

rvm get stable

rvm install 2.0.0-p0

rvm use 2.0.0-p0

rvm gemset use rails4 --create

gem install bundler

gem install rails --pre

If that last command doesn’t work, try:

gem install rails -v 4.0.0.beta1

And then when the gems are installed, you can create a new app using Rails 4 beta 1:

rails new new_rails4_app

If you have SSL cert issues with Bundler under Ruby 2.0 (it’ll error on the Rails app creation as it runs bundle install by default), then you might find that the following helps:

brew install openssl

rvm get head

rvm reinstall 2.0.0-p0

The latest RVM builds against packages found in Homebrew by default, so it’ll use the Homebrew OpenSSL. You’ll then most likely need something like these commands to sync the Homebrew OpenSSL CA certs with the system keychain, or indeed this tool will add a crontab entry that regularly keeps those certs in sync, useful if any certs change in future.

The other alternative is to skip bundling when creating the Rails app:

rails new new_rails4_app --skip-bundle

And then switch from HTTPS to HTTP in the Gemfile for the newly created app, although I wouldn’t recommend it and it’d be better if you can use the above instructions to get it working over SSL.

Once that’s all installed, you can get to grips with the latest changes in Ruby 2.0 and Rails 4.0.0, so have at it! I’ll be posting more about the features these new versions introduce shortly, so follow me on Twitter!

PlayStation More

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 22:15:59 +0000

I’ve not been too excited about the Sony PlayStation recently. The vast majority of big game releases are multi-platform, and most of them end up having better DLC support on Xbox 360, as well as the online aspect being a lot better on Xbox Live. In fact, since moving house six months ago, I haven’t even unpacked my PS3 and set it up. I did trade-in my PS Vita though and pick up a second Xbox 360 for the office (for lunchtime guitar learnings on Rocksmith, and not lunchtime online sessions of Halo 4, of course).

I am still excited about the PlayStation announcement shortly though. It seems pretty nailed-on that this is the PS4 unveil (look for Sony’s stock on the floor of Wall Street tomorrow if they don’t unveil a next-gen console), but obviously the specs, the look of it, the tech and features, and most importantly the launch games are all up in the air. I don’t imagine we’ll get a firm release date or price today, although it’d be nice if they were looking at a worldwide launch rather than EU being months behind like with the PS3, and if the UK price wasn’t just the US price with $ changed to £.

The games will most likely be a mix of franchise favourites, I expect an Uncharted, Gran Turismo, Final Fantasy, and maybe even an exclusive Metal Gear Solid perhaps. Unlikely that any of these will show off too much or even give final titles (Uncharted 4? Gran Turismo 6? Final Fantasy 54?). But it’ll get the Sony exclusive buzz back which they so desperately need.

The specs and look of the console will probably turn out to be fairly uninteresting. Specs wise I think the next-gen will be a lot more even, with both Sony and Microsoft looking to use more off-the-shelf components so that the launch price is cheaper and more affordable, and they can start to profit on each unit much quicker (traditionally very difficult at the beginning of a new console cycle). The looks won’t be as outrageous as some suggest I don’t think - people won’t be making any console the centerpiece of their living rooms, and I think these companies know that now. Instead look for something that fits in nicely amongst other AV components, but with a traditional Sony fit and finish that suggests quality.

The most interesting aspect by far is features. The PS3 lagged behind the Xbox 360 in terms of the online service and offerings by a mile, only recently starting to make inroads with PlayStation Plus. An extension of this, with the Gaikai acquisition finally being put to use as a PlayStation branded game streaming service so that you can play PS3 games on the PS4, would be pretty compelling. Still will be interesting to see how they’ll let people turn their physical PS3 game collections into games they can stream on PS4, but it’d lay down the gauntlet for MS and the next-gen Xbox.

If they could also get the hang of reasonably and competitively priced day one download releases for their flagship games, they might even have a true 21st century offering on their hands… and about time too. One thing is for sure though, it’s make or break time for PlayStation with this next-generation now, and I fully expect that Sony will have either entirely missed the point with PS4, or will have absolutely nailed it. We’ll hopefully find out tonight.

Gaming an A

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:27:07 +0000

Some more real life game theory application as a group of college students exposed a loophole in the scoring for their class. When told that the top score on their exam would get an A, with everyone else graded on a curve adjusted behind the highest score, they decided unanimously to boycott the exam. By all getting the joint top score of 0, they were each awarded an A!

More details over on the NYT Economix blog, but it just shows how knowing a bit of basic game theory and being logical can pay off!

Game theory in the wild

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 18:29:41 +0000

This is an interesting blog post, taking a look at an application of game theory in relation to a problem generally referred to as a “prisoner’s dilemma”, but this time it’s playing out on a television game show.

Pretty clever stuff, but one thought I had is that while the strategy is pretty cunning, it does rely somewhat on not encountering a destructive opposition force. Specifically, what if you were playing someone who didn’t trust you, and had the mentality “if I can’t have it, no one can”? They would choose to steal the money, knowing that if you followed through on your ultimatum, neither of you would win, and that if you were bluffing, they would win the lot.

The theory here is ballsy, and sides with the odds (and basic, compassionate, trusting human nature) - but isn’t without its own risks, given that in a case like this, you don’t really know the person you are playing against.

A more recent and in depth look at the logic behind the “prisoner’s dilemma” is here, and goes into a nice level of detail (along with links to some web based simulators) on the best strategies when playing the game. It too includes a link to a clip from the same game show, albeit a different clip, with a rather surprising result.

Bill Hicks on Freedom of Speech

Sun, 03 Feb 2013 21:57:24 +0000

Interesting to look back almost 20 years and see the late Bill Hicks brilliant response to a complaint from a priest about a screening of one of his live shows on Channel 4:

I myself am a strong supporter of the ‘Right of freedom of speech’, as I’m sure most people would be if they truly understood the concept. 'Freedom of speech’ means you support the right of people to say exactly those ideas which you do not agree with. (Otherwise, you don’t believe in 'freedom of speech’, but rather only those ideas which you believe to be acceptably stated.) Seeing as how there are so many different beliefs in the world, and as it would be virtually impossible for all of us to agree on any onebelief, you may begin to realize just how important an idea like 'freedom of speech’ really is. The idea basically states 'while I don’t agree or care for what you are saying, I do support your right to say it, for herein lies true freedom’.

You really have to wonder what he’d make of the day and age we live in right now though, where freedom of speech seems to have eroded away, and where if something isn’t censored or sanitized, it’s quite likely that it’ll be lambasted as not being politically correct. I think we can stand to learn a little from an excerpt such as this - just because we don’t agree with something, doesn’t change the fact that someone has the right to support it, so long as it’s not hurting anyone.

Believing in Tim Tebow

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:56:59 +0000

Believing in Tim Tebow:

He might not have gotten it done in yesterdays playoff game, but it appears that Tim Tebow really is one of the good guys.

This whole thing makes no football sense, of course. Most NFL players hardly talk to teammates before a game, much less visit with the sick and dying.

Isn’t that a huge distraction?

"Just the opposite,“ Tebow says. "It’s by far the best thing I do to get myself ready. Here you are, about to play a game that the world says is the most important thing in the world. Win and they praise you. Lose and they crush you. And here I have a chance to talk to the coolest, most courageous people. It puts it all into perspective. The game doesn’t really matter. I mean, I’ll give 100 percent of my heart to win it, but in the end, the thing I most want to do is not win championships or make a lot of money, it’s to invest in people’s lives, to make a difference.”

Pretty refreshing to see someone famous like this donate their time instead of just their money. I’m not a Broncos fan, but I’m now a Tebow fan.

The vim learning curve is a myth

Thu, 24 Nov 2011 02:35:26 +0000

The vim learning curve is a myth:

No one ever says “I’d love to learn Street Fighter 2, but there are just so many combos!” People don’t say this because learning a game is enjoyable. You start off with just the basic kicks and punches, and those get you by. Later, you learn more advanced moves, maybe even by accident.

Learning vim is like this.

Great article by the guys at thoughtbot about learning vim.

Van Halen and contractual integrity

Sat, 06 Aug 2011 00:59:17 +0100

Van Halen and contractual integrity:

Fantastically interesting article about the rather strange contractual stipulation that the rock group Van Halen put in the contracts for their gigs back during their big tours in the 80s. With exceedingly complex stage setups, the group wanted to be sure that their extensive contracts were being followed to the letter, so that the shows would go ahead without any technical glitches. What better way to do that than to insert an asinine, arbitrary clause into the middle of an otherwise dull contract, and see if it was carried out or not? The following, taken from the article by Jim Cofer, outlines how it worked:

In case you weren’t around during the 80s, the rock supergroup Van Halen had a clause in their concert contracts that stipulated that the band would “be provided with one large bowl of M&M candies, with all brown candies removed”.

Here’s the thing, though: the band put the “no brown M&Ms” clause in their contracts for a very good reason.

The band needed a way to know that their contract had been read fully. And this is where the “no brown M&Ms” came in. The band put a clause smack dab in the middle of the technical jargon of other riders: “Article 126: There will be no brown M&M’s in the backstage area, upon pain of forfeiture of the show, with full compensation”. That way, the band could simply enter the arena and look for a bowl of M&Ms in the backstage area. No brown M&Ms? Someone read the contract fully, so there were probably no major mistakes with the equipment. A bowl of M&Ms with the brown candies? No bowl of M&Ms at all? Stop everyone and check every single thing, because someone didn’t bother to read the contract.

What a brilliant idea, putting in something that doesn’t particularly involve a lot of work or added cost, but that does verify the attention to detail of the people they were working with, to ensure that their end product (the stage shows) were as awesome as they wanted them to be. Great thinking.

Designing GitHub for Mac

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:19:44 +0100

Designing GitHub for Mac:

A really interesting look at how the design for GitHub for Mac came together.

"Being a racing driver means you are racing with other people, and if you no longer go for a gap that..."

Sat, 25 Jun 2011 20:47:07 +0100

“Being a racing driver means you are racing with other people, and if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver.”

- Ayrton Senna

"To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed. They are just a multiplier. Execution is worth..."

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 11:31:20 +0100

“

To me, ideas are worth nothing unless executed. They are just a multiplier. Execution is worth millions.

That’s why I don’t want to hear people’s ideas. I’m not interested until I see their execution.

”

- Derek Sivers, Ideas are just a multiplier of execution

"In many ways, the 11.6-inch Air is technically more impressive than the iPad. Having taken apart..."

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 11:26:00 +0100

“In many ways, the 11.6-inch Air is technically more impressive than the iPad. Having taken apart hundreds of Macs, I know how Apple designs the insides of its machines, and as good as they are at it, this notebook still seems impossible.”

- Forkbombr — Size Doesn’t Matter: My Review of the 11.6-inch MacBook Air

eyeonspringfield: Director: We’ve got to do the “jiminy...

Sat, 18 Jun 2011 10:55:49 +0100

eyeonspringfield:

Director: We’ve got to do the “jiminy jillikers” scene again, Milhouse.

Milhouse: But we already did it. It took seven hours, but we did it. It’s done.

startupquote: Learn by doing. Theory is nice, but nothing...

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 14:40:14 +0100

startupquote:

Learn by doing. Theory is nice, but nothing replaces actual experience.

- Tony Hsieh

If you combine “learn by doing” with “try to never make the same mistake twice” then you’ll be on to a winner.

Refresh

Sat, 11 Jun 2011 13:03:02 +0100

If you’re reading this in a feed reader, you won’t notice much difference, but if you’re reading this at ejdraper.com, then you’ll spot that I’ve changed the theme on this blog, to the awesome cardstock theme by Parker Ehret. As the transition from my sole trader ejdraper.com business to KickCode Ltd has now been complete for a few months, I think it makes sense to retire the old ejdraper.com brand as a professional entity, and reclaim ejdraper.com as a personal site of sorts. Expect more links and things I can’t fit into 140 characters on Twitter. For technical stuff I’ll probably post on the KickCode blog, but will link back here too.