May 23rd, 2008
by Joey
in
Projects, Uncategorized, development |
4 Comments →
If I have ever spoken to you regarding mail servers, it was probably a frustrating conversation. Me and mail servers just do not get along. I have tried numerous times on all sorts of platforms from unix to linux and windows to get sendmail, postfix, even iis to work correctly.
Well, as a developer, I am needing mail functionality in my php applications. I also would like my joeyadams.net and other domains to be able to have unique email addresses. I already have a windows 2k3 server set up for file/print and previously mail with exchange, which actually worked… well some of the time.
So here is my plan, on my redhat box, ditch sendmail, use postfix. On win2k3 setup simple iis smtp and pop3 services.
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May 18th, 2008
by Joey
in
Projects, development, php |
1 Comment →
I have created a MYSQL abstraction layer that I am pretty proud of.
Here are some of the features:
- Maintain only one persistent connection to database
- Can create multiple stored connections at runtime
- Error Logging
- Select between 3 return type with each query, including all new iObject
- iObject (improved Object) has helper methods, and is extensible via Plugin
- Escape function for variables/array before using them in query
- Get results in xml or html format, great for reports/test
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May 12th, 2008
by Joey
in
Zend Framework, development, php |
2 Comments →
In the first part, we looked at the simple way to do 2 step views in Zend Framework prior to 1.5 using a front controller plugin. Now, with the release of 1.5, we have access to Zend_Layout, which is native support for implementing 2 step views.
First off, Visit Akra’s site, there is a lot of information of the Zend Framework there, and a great tutorial on Zend_Layout. You can find the article here, http://akrabat.com/2007/12/11/simple-zend_layout-example/, Also take a look at the official documentation here, http://framework.zend.com/manual/en/zend.layout.html
First off, I’ll assume you have a functioning bootstrap, and working application.
Inside your bootstrap you must start Zend_Layout’s MVC Helper. This can take a number of arguments in array fashion, the most important being the directory that you are going to store the templates in. I suggest views/layouts. See the official documentation for more options.
Zend_Layout::startMvc(array('layoutPath' => '../application/views/layouts'));
Now, before we go further, Here are some methods you can use in the controllers in your application.
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April 21st, 2008
by Joey
in
Projects, Zend Framework, development, php |
19 Comments →
If you know anything about me and my profession, you know that I am a extreme advocate of the Zend Framework and its standardization of PHP programming, well Zend has just release v1.5 of the framework.
To be honest, I could beat a dead horse by reiterating what is new in 1.5, however I am going to focus on what I have been working with and so far love about the new version.
Also, You can download my compiled skeleton 1.5 project, complete with the 1.5 Library at the end of this article. Read the rest of this entry »
March 16th, 2008
by Joey
in
Projects, Zend Framework, development, php, security |
2 Comments →
I have mentioned a few times possibly starting a IT Security consulting and web development venture. Here lately, while working a full-time job, going to college full-time, taking care of my son, training MMA, and studying for the MYSQL-DEV exams, I don’t have time to put this together.
However in down time I have gone over ideas, talked to some people, and have some pretty neat things planned for this. I have a lot of great ideas for the site, including frequent blogs on security for both business owners and individuals wanting to become more secure. Video demonstrations of how attacks work. Read the rest of this entry »
February 29th, 2008
by Joey
in
development, php |
No Comments →
If you are a programmer, and utilize all the goodness of OOP, and you have not heard of fluent interfaces, then you have been missing out!
Using them further establishes object relationship, tidies up code, and gives access to a whole array of new uses.
A quick example of fluent interfacing is this
company::getInstance()->selectStore(31)->addEmployee(array('fname'=>'Joey','lname'=>'Adams'));
Get It?
Basically, to achieve fluent interfaces, just return object references in methods. This can be Read the rest of this entry »
February 21st, 2008
by Joey
in
Electronics, Media, Projects |
1 Comment →
I installed a Dlink green ethernet switch last night. Network is perfect, all bars with no loss or defects, and navigating the menus are super fast.
I figured out the deal with the video not being wide screen. Turns out, since we have analog cable, video is sent in 4:9 format, not 16:9 which I was setting the TV for. Amazingly, when showing 4:9, there is no deformations, video is very clear. So it is win win.
I have also begun ripping DVD’s I own into MPEG format so that I can watch them on the extender.
All in all, after tweaking, I would say it was definitely worth the effort.
February 18th, 2008
by Joey
in
Electronics, Media, Projects |
No Comments →
OK so I’ll start out by popping off with issues that have not been fixed.
- I am still unable to get full-screen video playback, however mysteriously, some online content does play back in full-screen mode.
- Composite video connections do not work, yet I have not tried resetting the device (an action that requires a menu to finish, I think, which is quite stupid imho).
So I increased the power of my wireless AP, however it is very limited, and quite old, so that is one factor in the horrible performance when using wireless, especially when the device is able to use Wireless N technology. I suspect a newer AP with N technology would perform vastly better. Instead , I replaced the antenna on the device with some high gain ones I had lying around:
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February 15th, 2008
by Joey
in
Electronics, Media, Projects |
1 Comment →
Today I received the Linksys DMA-2100. I already had my Vista PC setup with a tuner card and media center, so I was ready to get the DMA2100, which I’ll call the extender for the rest of this article, hooked up to the plasma in the living room.
Setup was very easy, just connect power and A/V cables, then go through on-screen GUI on the extender and media PC and you’re done.
Here is my review, which I’ll explain:
Pros:
- Easy Installation
- Does what it says it does
- No Monthly fees
- Stunning interface
- Connections for all devices.
Cons:
- Wireless Network graph is horrible, when PC and Extender are but 10 ft apart, room to room.
- Wide-screen, but does not fill the 46″ Plasma.
- Composite on my unit does not work.
- The network issue makes the unit unusable.
- Some buttons on remote do not work.
WAIT! Some of these issues are addressed farther down, do not stop reading if you are considering this product. Read the rest of this entry »
February 13th, 2008
by Joey
in
Zend Framework, development, php |
6 Comments →
I am a complete advocate of the Zend Framework, it is nothing but good. I will probably post sometime in the near future why I believe it is the best development option out there, but for now we are going to be talking about views.
Views coincide with the framework’s MVC architecture. The view is the presentation, or basically the templates that display the dynamic data manipulated by PHP.
For each Action you have in a controller, you have a view script, which is a phtml file. One solution to creating a uniform site, was on each phtml file, to include header and footers, like this:
<?php echo $this->render('header.phtml'); ?>
<h1><?php echo $this->title; ?></h1>
<?php echo $this->content; ?>
<?php echo $this->render('footer.phtml'); ?>
The problem with this is obvious, redundancy. In case you don’t know, programmers hate redundancy. Once you find yourself repeating code over and over again, in this case, rendering the header and footer, then it is time to create an automated solution. Read the rest of this entry »
