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this space intentionally left blankThu, 18 Feb 2010 13:13:16 +0000http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2enhourly1Excuses
http://www.optera.net/2010/02/excuses/
http://www.optera.net/2010/02/excuses/#commentsThu, 18 Feb 2010 13:13:16 +0000M. Holgerhttp://www.optera.net/?p=81
So, the last time I bothered updating this thing was in July of 2009. Over half a year ago. Now, that’s not too unusual, but this place probably deserves more than that. So, I could ramble on about how I’m going to refocus my efforts, make it a goal to write more, rehash the same [...]]]>http://www.optera.net/2010/02/excuses/feed/0Getting Cozy with Android
http://www.optera.net/2009/07/getting-cozy-with-android/
http://www.optera.net/2009/07/getting-cozy-with-android/#commentsTue, 14 Jul 2009 23:57:54 +0000M. Holgerhttp://www.optera.net/?p=77
Having been using a T-Mobile G1 “with google” for quite some time now, but it wasn’t until recently that I managed to actually make myself feel at home with the device.
The original wrap of Android that comes installed on the “with google” branded phones is pretty spartan, and only integrates Google’s apps. This is understandable, [...]]]>http://www.optera.net/2009/07/getting-cozy-with-android/feed/0The Language of URLs
http://www.optera.net/2008/11/the-language-of-urls/
http://www.optera.net/2008/11/the-language-of-urls/#commentsTue, 18 Nov 2008 12:18:20 +0000M. Holgerhttp://www.optera.net/?p=55
So, here’s a thought that occured rather spontaneously this afternoon. What if URLs had a codified set of rules, akin to linguistic grammar? Right now there is a minimal required form, that of protocol://host/<arbitrary-and-optional-stuff>, which is perfectly reasonable in a limited fashion. What I’m suggesting is that <arbitrary-and-optional-stuff> have a set of rules as well.
Earlier [...]]]>http://www.optera.net/2008/11/the-language-of-urls/feed/0Personal Development
http://www.optera.net/2008/10/personal-development/
http://www.optera.net/2008/10/personal-development/#commentsThu, 09 Oct 2008 00:31:27 +0000M. Holgerhttp://www.optera.net/?p=40
Muddling through the interwebs, as I do every day, I came across a few interesting thoughts on personal development, “Business-2.0,” and blog categorization.
Starting with the last element, is the addition of a “Thoughts” category. A good place to drop half-formed ideas, random thoughts, and things that just don’t fit elsewhere yet deserve better than ‘Uncategorized.’ [...]]]>http://www.optera.net/2008/10/personal-development/feed/0The Switch Case
http://www.optera.net/2008/10/switch-case/
http://www.optera.net/2008/10/switch-case/#commentsSat, 04 Oct 2008 00:28:57 +0000M. Holgerhttp://www.optera.net/?p=43
While working on some code recently, I noticed a preponderance — neigh, an outright overabundance — of swith/case logic blocks to control content. What’s worse is that the input variable to the switch block happened to be the value of a specific hash key, which got me to thinking — what is the purpose of [...]]]>http://www.optera.net/2008/10/switch-case/feed/0More on Code as Data as Code
http://www.optera.net/2008/06/more-on-code-as-data-as-code/
http://www.optera.net/2008/06/more-on-code-as-data-as-code/#commentsThu, 05 Jun 2008 23:54:15 +0000M. Holgerhttp://www.optera.net/?p=33
As an addendum to yesterday’s little writeup on data-driven design, here’s another little (perl) trick I’m particularly fond of, that relies on storing perl code as a hash element. The cool thing about this approach is that you can actually have a configuration file written in, say, XML, that can then reference procedures which [...]]]>http://www.optera.net/2008/06/more-on-code-as-data-as-code/feed/0Data Driven Designs
http://www.optera.net/2008/06/data-driven-designs/
http://www.optera.net/2008/06/data-driven-designs/#commentsWed, 04 Jun 2008 21:45:45 +0000M. Holgerhttp://www.optera.net/?p=32
One of the main paradigms I’m interested in working with when writing new bits of code is the concept of ‘data driven’ logic. On the surface this seems simple enough, but for the uninitiated the premise is that one should be able to dictate the logic of a routine via the input data, while [...]]]>http://www.optera.net/2008/06/data-driven-designs/feed/0WordPress as a CMS
http://www.optera.net/2008/05/wordpress-as-a-cms/
http://www.optera.net/2008/05/wordpress-as-a-cms/#commentsWed, 14 May 2008 12:00:30 +0000M. Holgerhttp://www.optera.net/?p=28
I don’t want to tip my hand too soon, but there’s a few things about WordPress that I find myself writing code for that, really, I shouldn’t have to write code for. Especially since the foundations of making things “just work” are all already in WP, and in most cases, have been around for [...]]]>http://www.optera.net/2008/05/wordpress-as-a-cms/feed/0Arduino!
http://www.optera.net/2008/05/arduino/
http://www.optera.net/2008/05/arduino/#commentsTue, 13 May 2008 21:15:34 +0000M. Holgerhttp://www.optera.net/?p=27
I broke down and ordered an Arduino (ok, the Freeduino SB, specifically) from HVW Tech. Piece of advice – to save on the $5 handling fee “on orders under $30″ — add an L293D motor driver for to your order for $3.95. You know you’re gonna need one anyway… ;)
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Share this [...]]]>http://www.optera.net/2008/05/arduino/feed/0PICAXE, Arduino
http://www.optera.net/2008/05/picaxe-arduino/
http://www.optera.net/2008/05/picaxe-arduino/#commentsWed, 07 May 2008 12:12:18 +0000M. Holgerhttp://www.optera.net/?p=21
So, I ordered a PICAXE 28X1 board from Advanced Micro Circuits (aka World Educational Services), and it arrived yesterday. It’s a bit smaller than I expected (which isn’t a bad thing at all!), but it was also sans-interface cable, which was a bit of a let down (the cable is, however, en route!). [...]]]>http://www.optera.net/2008/05/picaxe-arduino/feed/0