As for the whole saving you hours of work deal. At how many hours cost? I once read a quote that went something like this, "Do not code for code re-use unless you know in advance you are going to re-use it at least 3 times. Else the time coding for re-use will simply not recovered".
I use my framework in 5 different intranet developments (two for the same company), so yes, it has saved me a lot of time. In fact, to start a new development, I just copy the code from the OTHER development and just erase the particular php / template files, and modify the config.php file. Ta-da.
I made the basic framework in about 3 weeks, in my previous job. I adapted it (and improved it) to my current job where I made my first development with.
About database abstraction, I agree with you. In my pre-previous job we had to stick to "standards" because our clients wanted to use Informix for later. Pfft... all the sql code was too generic and slow. Since at my current job we're using MySQL and not changing, I can use the proprietary features.
My templates are php-based (google for "Beyond the Template engine"). So the templates have mixed PHP and HTML, this is a very powerful approach, since it overcomes the "oh sorry that can't be done from the templates" limitation in most templating engines.
In fact, if I was ever forced into using (eeew) smarty or other template engines, I would stick my "php-templating" class and use smarty only for the cosmetic changes.
My modified class allows me to use sub-templates, so i have a "main" template (i.e. logged in / guest) for the main site look-and-feel, and a "body" template which deals with the web app.
In my development i often generate excel spreadsheets. So I can choose between an HTML and an EXCEL template. Since both of them are PHP-based, i have no problem, it's the same data. (I used PEAR spreadsheet class to generate the excel. Not what you'd expect from a "template", would you?;-) )
The fact that you believe that implementing an MVC pattern to organize your UI layer
Oh please, Where did I say i used all that just to implement my UI layer?
Maybe if you paid enough attention to what I said, you'd have realized that I never implied "templates = multitier". Templates are a NECESSARY part of the view, but they alone don't make a multi-tier app.
To clarify, this is how i build my web-apps:
a) I have the main ".php" files which implement the Controller. Actually i use a prepend that includes them, but that's my approach. Each main php file has a function "handle_request()" which does all the processing. I came with this concept while studying Apache Velocity. The main php files include() the particular libraries used in the model, which is split between the business and data-tier.
b) Also, the prepend.php includes (engine.php), which itself include()s security.php. I call this is the "security tier" which lies on top of the controller. The security tier verifies that no weird requests are done, and filters the unnecessary global and environment variables. It also checks the login, session, etc.
c) For the database class I used, has two subclasses: one for reading the data, and another for writing. These can have two different users connected to the MySQL database. All database operations are done thru these classes, saving the app from SQL-injections in read-only queries. Also, having the controller embedded in a function saves us from global variables injection and other nastiness.
d) The controller arranges the GET and POST parameters into an associative array, which it passes to the appropriate business-tier function. In reality, I have the business and data-tier a little bit mixed, but it's organized enough that it doesn't give too much trouble.
e) The business-tier returns another set of parameters, which are to be passed (later) to the template (which template to use is calculated also based on GET and POST, even SESSION).
f) Finally, the controller returns in an associative array, the template file and the e) parameters to the engine.php, which uses a template object to process the output.
As you can see, while processing I do not use a single echo statement. All the data (database output) is passed thru associative arrays. In other frameworks, I'd have returned an XML string which would be passed to an XSLT engine.
So, I hope that's multi-tier enough for you. If you were so kind to show us how YOU implement your multi-tier apps (you didn't), I'd really appreciate it.
I can't understand how a book which (according to the review) doesn't have a chapter dedicated to the concept of "multi-tier programming", can have the presumption to say it's '>everything you need'. Heck, it doesn't even MENTION templates.
As some of you know, multi-tier applications have (at least) 3 tiers: Database, business-logic, and interface. Java guys know this better: Model-View-Controller.
I have implemented for my webapps an MVC framework, and maintaining them or modifying them is a piece of cake. It's so easy i get bored with it sometimes. In comparison, recently I've had to adapt the OSCommerce 2.2MS2 (built in PHP) for one of our clients' store. Every single php file in it has database, business-logic and interface ALL MIXED. The only separation they have is wrappers around SQL functions (that's not true separation, but a mockery). Maintaining it is a LIVING NIGHTMARE.
So please do yourselves a favor: Study the MVC approach and implement an MVC framework in PHP. You can use any templating library you can find. (for database, i use an adapted version of phplib's sql library). This alone has saved me not hours, but weeks of work, and is worth ">everything" you could learn from that book.
Or Mexico. There are countrys [sic] with no cable internet at all.
*AHEM* excuse me?? I think you missed an "and" there.
Or Mexico. And of course, there are countries with no cable internet at all.
There.
See, I live in Mexico. Telecommunications here are almost completely de-regulated, except for VOIP (there was some lobbying I think, but it's not that critical). However, our main phone company (Telmex) owned by Carlos Slim, is not your father's Ma'Bell. Before the 90's, it was owned by the govt, and sucked. you often had cross-calls, noise problems, modem communication was nearly impossible
Then it was sold to Slim, and the service was revamped. So much that this month it started its videophone service. Yes, you heard it right. Videophone. WITHOUT internet. Just purchase your videophone at retail stores and whenever you call your loved ones, press the "video" button. Ta-da.
It's interesting. Here we come from excessive regulation and monopolies, to a free market. And in the US, it's going all the way backwards, to Big Brother govt. and hyper-non-plus-ultra(TM) monopolies. Have we suddenly entered the Twilight Zone? Who knows.
I was just thinking about that. ISPs can't block HTTP or SSL without breaking the whole WWW.
So this is how I'd do it:
1) Try to establish a connection with given port. If it works, go to step 6. 2) Establish an SSL connection with the other peer. This is guaranteed to not let ISP's get in the way. 3) Send a request for the port used to communicate. 4) test if said port is not blocked. If it's blocked, go to step 2. 5) Start the tunneling over said port. Encrypted, of course. 6) Success!
So this would require an additional "tunneling" network driver installed on your PC. The only problem is that unless you're installing this software on an external box, all the requests would come from localhost, so the driver would require its own firewall to prevent hacking.
..but the original article will do just fine. If you want to advertise your blog, fucking pay for an ad you cheap prick!
I have three arguments in his defense: #3: I just click on the original link. Problem solved. #2: The editors change the links in these cases (they have done the same with some of my submissions). #1 and the most important: He's not Beatles-Beatles!:P (yes, this one's a joke)
that entertainment will slip out from the big companies' hands. Suddenly people will start producing creative-commons TV shows, and broadcast them over the internet.
Plus, there is a tiny detail these companies have forgotten: They can't lobby other countries. Try passing a law that forbids analog recording in Venezuela, Argentina, Indonesia or Hong Kong (not to mention the great dragon).
What will happen when the average american finds himself at disadvantage with other countries?
If TV companies insist on closing the doors to their own viewers, suddenly they'll realize they only locked themselves out.
They can't get with the times. Elvis has to be a white man playing black mans music, and the attitude still didn't change so Vanilla Ice and Eminem followed. It's not racism, it's ultra-conservatism.
Everybody knows Vanilla Ice was an artificial product. Heck, his most famous song is a resampling of Queen's music. Without permission. In comparison, Eminem is a true rapper, his success wasn't due to the record companies (he started from the bottom), and his songs are inspired by his life. And certainly Eminem isn't an icon of "ultra-conservatism", just listen to the songs dedicated to his mother.
I agree with you on the rest, but please don't talk about things which you have no F'ing idea about.
At least with a 2.5D interface, our hands are resting on something.
An e-book! but FULL size. With REAL e-pages. With true point-and-click interface (stylus) instead of a mouse. Want to switch app? Change pages. With non-volatile memories, you can change the page from your full action game, to your homework.
You could use the tabs to have "virtual books", so one tab is the desktop, another is the PDF file you were reading, and so on.
Close the book, and you'll turn off the PC.
Of course, the book will be JUST a peripheral (even wireless), the real monitor can be 3D or whatever you like.
Thinking about it, a book is the *perfect* interface for a computer. Right now PDA's are bulky, hard, with delicate pages, not very practical to handle. But in the future, with e-paper, books will "just work".
where you could type your games... later it came with the Automatic Proofreader(TM), where you could verify each line's checksum, and it beeped with an error if the line you entered was wrong.
My dad had a huge collection of these magazines. But what interested me (at 6yo) was the ads, because they mostly were videogame ads, full of colors, etc.
Remember Summer Games? Summer Games II, Winter games? Pitfall II? H.E.R.O?
Mobile parts are going to become obsolete when flash memory gets cheaper. I can imagine in 20 years: "OMG look at that! A SPINNING hard disk! What CPU are you running, a Pentium? PFFT..."
Compare a car motor with a hypothetic algorithm to perform a database search. At some point there is a huge list that has to be scanned manually.
Then some guy says: "Hey! We could put a binary tree and search the list in logarithmic time!".
I imagine you could say something like: "Are you nuts? That's just reinventing the wheel, and the whole program would be more difficult to maintain".
this little steam add-on is nothing but an optimization of an abandoned part of the "algorithm". If it works, it won't only save some gasoline, but it will also contribute to mitigate global warming.
One more thing. In the future, don't be surprised if the poorest countries still use combustion engines instead of expensive hydrogen cells. A little help in the form of a steam booster wouldn't harm them either.
Slashdot Mirror
Can we call this number the "Optimus Prime"? :)
Hmmm something like this?
Starring Ben Affleck as the fucking robot.
I thought his name was "Kilroy! Kilroy!"
As for the whole saving you hours of work deal. At how many hours cost? I once read a quote that went something like this, "Do not code for code re-use unless you know in advance you are going to re-use it at least 3 times. Else the time coding for re-use will simply not recovered".
;-) )
:)
;-) Actually, I think we all are.
I use my framework in 5 different intranet developments (two for the same company), so yes, it has saved me a lot of time.
In fact, to start a new development, I just copy the code from the OTHER development and just erase the particular php / template files, and modify the config.php file. Ta-da.
I made the basic framework in about 3 weeks, in my previous job. I adapted it (and improved it) to my current job where I made my first development with.
About database abstraction, I agree with you. In my pre-previous job we had to stick to "standards" because our clients wanted to use Informix for later. Pfft... all the sql code was too generic and slow. Since at my current job we're using MySQL and not changing, I can use the proprietary features.
My templates are php-based (google for "Beyond the Template engine"). So the templates have mixed PHP and HTML, this is a very powerful approach, since it overcomes the "oh sorry that can't be done from the templates" limitation in most templating engines.
In fact, if I was ever forced into using (eeew) smarty or other template engines, I would stick my "php-templating" class and use smarty only for the cosmetic changes.
My modified class allows me to use sub-templates, so i have a "main" template (i.e. logged in / guest) for the main site look-and-feel, and a "body" template which deals with the web app.
In my development i often generate excel spreadsheets. So I can choose between an HTML and an EXCEL template. Since both of them are PHP-based, i have no problem, it's the same data. (I used PEAR spreadsheet class to generate the excel. Not what you'd expect from a "template", would you?
This is the true power of templates
Perhaps I am just allergic to buzzwords.
Yes, you are
If I recall correctly, the original Prince of Persia looked quite smoothly animated and drawn.
That's because it was rotoscoped.
The fact that you believe that implementing an MVC pattern to organize your UI layer
Oh please, Where did I say i used all that just to implement my UI layer?
Maybe if you paid enough attention to what I said, you'd have realized that I never implied "templates = multitier". Templates are a NECESSARY part of the view, but they alone don't make a multi-tier app.
To clarify, this is how i build my web-apps:
a) I have the main ".php" files which implement the Controller. Actually i use a prepend that includes them, but that's my approach. Each main php file has a function "handle_request()" which does all the processing. I came with this concept while studying Apache Velocity. The main php files include() the particular libraries used in the model, which is split between the business and data-tier.
b) Also, the prepend.php includes (engine.php), which itself include()s security.php. I call this is the "security tier" which lies on top of the controller. The security tier verifies that no weird requests are done, and filters the unnecessary global and environment variables. It also checks the login, session, etc.
c) For the database class I used, has two subclasses: one for reading the data, and another for writing. These can have two different users connected to the MySQL database. All database operations are done thru these classes, saving the app from SQL-injections in read-only queries. Also, having the controller embedded in a function saves us from global variables injection and other nastiness.
d) The controller arranges the GET and POST parameters into an associative array, which it passes to the appropriate business-tier function. In reality, I have the business and data-tier a little bit mixed, but it's organized enough that it doesn't give too much trouble.
e) The business-tier returns another set of parameters, which are to be passed (later) to the template (which template to use is calculated also based on GET and POST, even SESSION).
f) Finally, the controller returns in an associative array, the template file and the e) parameters to the engine.php, which uses a template object to process the output.
As you can see, while processing I do not use a single echo statement. All the data (database output) is passed thru associative arrays. In other frameworks, I'd have returned an XML string which would be passed to an XSLT engine.
So, I hope that's multi-tier enough for you. If you were so kind to show us how YOU implement your multi-tier apps (you didn't), I'd really appreciate it.
I can't understand how a book which (according to the review) doesn't have a chapter dedicated to the concept of "multi-tier programming", can have the presumption to say it's '>everything you need'. Heck, it doesn't even MENTION templates.
As some of you know, multi-tier applications have (at least) 3 tiers: Database, business-logic, and interface. Java guys know this better: Model-View-Controller.
I have implemented for my webapps an MVC framework, and maintaining them or modifying them is a piece of cake. It's so easy i get bored with it sometimes.
In comparison, recently I've had to adapt the OSCommerce 2.2MS2 (built in PHP) for one of our clients' store. Every single php file in it has database, business-logic and interface ALL MIXED. The only separation they have is wrappers around SQL functions (that's not true separation, but a mockery). Maintaining it is a LIVING NIGHTMARE.
So please do yourselves a favor: Study the MVC approach and implement an MVC framework in PHP. You can use any templating library you can find. (for database, i use an adapted version of phplib's sql library). This alone has saved me not hours, but weeks of work, and is worth ">everything" you could learn from that book.
Or Mexico. There are countrys [sic] with no cable internet at all.
*AHEM* excuse me?? I think you missed an "and" there.
Or Mexico. And of course, there are countries with no cable internet at all.
There.
See, I live in Mexico. Telecommunications here are almost completely de-regulated, except for VOIP (there was some lobbying I think, but it's not that critical). However, our main phone company (Telmex) owned by Carlos Slim, is not your father's Ma'Bell. Before the 90's, it was owned by the govt, and sucked. you often had cross-calls, noise problems, modem communication was nearly impossible
Then it was sold to Slim, and the service was revamped. So much that this month it started its videophone service. Yes, you heard it right. Videophone. WITHOUT internet. Just purchase your videophone at retail stores and whenever you call your loved ones, press the "video" button. Ta-da.
It's interesting. Here we come from excessive regulation and monopolies, to a free market. And in the US, it's going all the way backwards, to Big Brother govt. and hyper-non-plus-ultra(TM) monopolies. Have we suddenly entered the Twilight Zone? Who knows.
I was just thinking about that. ISPs can't block HTTP or SSL without breaking the whole WWW.
So this is how I'd do it:
1) Try to establish a connection with given port. If it works, go to step 6.
2) Establish an SSL connection with the other peer. This is guaranteed to not let ISP's get in the way.
3) Send a request for the port used to communicate.
4) test if said port is not blocked. If it's blocked, go to step 2.
5) Start the tunneling over said port. Encrypted, of course.
6) Success!
So this would require an additional "tunneling" network driver installed on your PC. The only problem is that unless you're installing this software on an external box, all the requests would come from localhost, so the driver would require its own firewall to prevent hacking.
..but the original article will do just fine. If you want to advertise your blog, fucking pay for an ad you cheap prick!
:P (yes, this one's a joke)
I have three arguments in his defense:
#3: I just click on the original link. Problem solved.
#2: The editors change the links in these cases (they have done the same with some of my submissions).
#1 and the most important: He's not Beatles-Beatles!
that entertainment will slip out from the big companies' hands. Suddenly people will start producing creative-commons TV shows, and broadcast them over the internet.
Plus, there is a tiny detail these companies have forgotten: They can't lobby other countries. Try passing a law that forbids analog recording in Venezuela, Argentina, Indonesia or Hong Kong (not to mention the great dragon).
What will happen when the average american finds himself at disadvantage with other countries?
If TV companies insist on closing the doors to their own viewers, suddenly they'll realize they only locked themselves out.
Smart move, really.
Why do they insist on NOT implementing them! :( This is the *ONLY* reason I'm still using MSN. So I'm still waiting...
They can't get with the times. Elvis has to be a white man playing black mans music, and the attitude still didn't change so Vanilla Ice and Eminem followed. It's not racism, it's ultra-conservatism.
Everybody knows Vanilla Ice was an artificial product. Heck, his most famous song is a resampling of Queen's music. Without permission. In comparison, Eminem is a true rapper, his success wasn't due to the record companies (he started from the bottom), and his songs are inspired by his life. And certainly Eminem isn't an icon of "ultra-conservatism", just listen to the songs dedicated to his mother.
I agree with you on the rest, but please don't talk about things which you have no F'ing idea about.
At least with a 2.5D interface, our hands are resting on something.
An e-book! but FULL size. With REAL e-pages. With true point-and-click interface (stylus) instead of a mouse. Want to switch app? Change pages. With non-volatile memories, you can change the page from your full action game, to your homework.
You could use the tabs to have "virtual books", so one tab is the desktop, another is the PDF file you were reading, and so on.
Close the book, and you'll turn off the PC.
Of course, the book will be JUST a peripheral (even wireless), the real monitor can be 3D or whatever you like.
Thinking about it, a book is the *perfect* interface for a computer. Right now PDA's are bulky, hard, with delicate pages, not very practical to handle. But in the future, with e-paper, books will "just work".
(Whoa... that was deep. )
Damn! I can't access my blog! I have to blog about this... uh... damn.
Overseas are frustrated with SP2 obsession with registering.
Think of a winamp plugin that plays calm music when you're angry, and upbeat music whenever you're excited, according to your preferences.
:)
I'd call this "emoti-music"
where you could type your games... later it came with the Automatic Proofreader(TM), where you could verify each line's checksum, and it beeped with an error if the line you entered was wrong.
:)
My dad had a huge collection of these magazines. But what interested me (at 6yo) was the ads, because they mostly were videogame ads, full of colors, etc.
Remember Summer Games? Summer Games II, Winter games? Pitfall II? H.E.R.O?
Ah... i feel so nostalgic about it
CowboyNeal is an interface?
No, but "KowboyNeal" is.
Mobile parts are going to become obsolete when flash memory gets cheaper. I can imagine in 20 years:
"OMG look at that! A SPINNING hard disk! What CPU are you running, a Pentium? PFFT..."
1. Patent obvious idea but never implement it
:D
2. Wait till a fool does
3. Sue / License
4. Profit!!
Don't we love America?
Now could the office teams please agree on a file format?
Pretty please?
Pretty please with sugar on top?
Recently there have been posts that after 5 or 6 "dupes!", have been deleted. I've seen 2 or 3 of these in the last month.
:)
Apparently the "dupe" tradition Slashdot has enjoyed for generations, is slowly falling apart
Choosing between PRODUCTS is good.
Choosing between STANDARDS is not.
Compare a car motor with a hypothetic algorithm to perform a database search. At some point there is a huge list that has to be scanned manually.
Then some guy says: "Hey! We could put a binary tree and search the list in logarithmic time!".
I imagine you could say something like: "Are you nuts? That's just reinventing the wheel, and the whole program would be more difficult to maintain".
this little steam add-on is nothing but an optimization of an abandoned part of the "algorithm". If it works, it won't only save some gasoline, but it will also contribute to mitigate global warming.
One more thing. In the future, don't be surprised if the poorest countries still use combustion engines instead of expensive hydrogen cells. A little help in the form of a steam booster wouldn't harm them either.