Databases

This week we're diving into MySQL databases in PHP class. I can already see how databases are going to allow us to make dynamic changes to a page based on who you are or what you want to see. Think log-ins, shopping carts, flowers by number, etc. Super cool.

Bug Simulation

I worked on the Bug Simulation in Java a lot this last week. I was also sick. :( Logan came over and taught me a few critical things that made a huge difference in my ability to program it:

• my understanding of how 'this' works
• realizing that we were really dealing with POINTERS to arrays in Java
• thinking of classes as INSTANCES of an object, not just a generic version of one

After these concepts settled in, programming from there was quick and painless!

Forms

This week we're working with forms in two of my classes. The PHP is a little more complicated than other things we've done, but I think I'm still understanding it well enough. We're using some borrowed code, so understanding it takes more time than when you make it yourself.

reCAPTCHA is awesome. I'm blown away by what a good idea it is! reCAPTCHA works by using text that was hard for computers to read while scanning old books and crowdsourcing the problem while simultaneously making sure people and not bots are submitting real data. So cool!

Meetings

I've been having good meetings with my client, Bri, for her website redesign. We've met twice for interview questions, once for followup to ACTUALLY start taking over the website, and a meeting later this week to meet her web developer in a Google Hangout. I'm looking forward to this work, even though I know nothing about Joomla.

I enjoyed writing up multiple user personas in great detail. It's like the pre-writing for a play.

We Wait Update

I updated the We Wait web app with new things we learned today in class, specifically $_POST instead of $_GET to hide data from the user and a THIS_PAGE define to make moving the page in the future easy. Useful stuff!

Check it out: We Wait

"We Wait" uses the number of people waiting as a clue to arrival time. The formula is top secret, but essentially, as your gut tells you, more people waiting means the bus is coming sooner. It's surprisingly accurate!

Opera

Today I read a lot about Opera.

• Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera_(web_browser)
• Brain Transplant? http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57569106-93/opera-embraces-webkit-in-browser-brain-transplant/
• Loss of Independence: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57569159-93/web-world-bemoans-loss-of-opera-independence/
• Why Belarus? http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/11/why-is-belarus-the-only-country-where-opera-is-the-most-popular-browser/265406/#
• Skyfire: http://www.itproportal.com/2013/02/18/opera-seeks-faster-mobile-browsing-with-100m-skyfire-acquisition/
• Upstart Opera: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/the-upstart-browser/article5211078.ece
• So Long, Opera: http://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/digital-living/9308625/Web-browser-that-surpassed-the-rest

I like Opera is a backup browser, and Opera Mini is nice in a [data] pinch. I also like Opera's newish browser for the iPad, Coast, though I think it has a ways to go before catching on. It feels slow even though my initial tests show it to be nearly the same as Safari, which shouldn't be too surprising since it uses the WebKit engine that it is required to for Apple products.

I caught up on my PHP page splitting homework last night after being sick all week. I'm still farther behind than I'd like to be on homework at this point. I'm trying to free up my day tomorrow as much as possible for The Big Game.