Jun

25

PBS 36 of x – More HTML Text Input | More Cellular Automata

Filed Under Computers & Tech, Software Development on June 25, 2017 | 3 Comments

This post is part 36 of 92 in the series Programming by Stealth

In the previous instalment we took at first look at text input in HTML, and we made a start on a new project – building a set of JavaScript prototypes for creating cellular automata so we can implement Conway’s Game of Life. In this instalment we’ll continue down both of those paths. Later in the project the two paths will finally merge when we use web forms to build a UI around our game of life.

We’ll start on the HTML track where we move on from generic text input with single and multi-line basic text boxes to some more specific types of text input, including some nice new input types that HTML 5 brought to the table. This will set up up to learn about HTML 5 form validation in the next instalment.

When we switch to the JavaScript track we’ll start by having a quick look at my sample solution to the previous instalment. Then, we’ll make a start on a JavaScript prototype to represent a Cellular Automaton together, which will set up the next assignment.

I’ve zipped up my solution to the previous assignment, a sample file that accompanies this instalment, and the starting point for the next assignment which you can download here.

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Jun

9

Getting Fit with Tech – One Year On

Filed Under Computers & Tech on June 9, 2017 | 1 Comment

Screenshot of progress graph in My Fitness PalI few days ago I got an email from iTunes to let me know that my annual subscription to the pro version of My Fitness Pal had just renewed. That means it’s been a year since I got really serious about taking control of my health, so it seems like a good time to reflect on how things are going. Last July, a few months in, I blogged about how tech was helping me on my quest. This is partly a followup, and partly a more general reflection.

I won’t keep you in suspense – the TL;DR version is that with the help of tech, I’ve gone from being officially morbidly obese in January 2016 to being in the lower half of the healthy BMI range today. I had to squeeze into a 38″ waist, now, I have three fingers to spare on a 32″ waist. If you’re hoping I’ll give you a magic formula, think again, there is no shortcut – it really is as mundane as eating better and exercising more. I did the work, and I had to have the will-power, but I found tech extremely helpful in getting onto the right track in the first place, and then in staying there. The tech can’t do this for you, it can only help you do it for yourself.

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Jun

5

FYI – Expect Changes & Some Disruption

Filed Under Computers & Tech, Software Development on June 5, 2017 | 1 Comment

This post is more than a little meta, but bear with me. This is basically a blog post to let you know that things are going to be a little chaotic around here as I transform this site from a blog into a true website, and that transformation is gonna happen while the site remains live, or at least mostly live most of the time. There will be an entirely new theme, but the real changes will be happening much deeper down as I transition from using WordPress as a blogging platform to using it as a true content management system (CMS).

The TL;DR version is that things may look a bit weird here from time to time over the next few weeks, and entire features may go AWOL for a few days.

Those of you who are curious about how the sausage gets made can read on, but really, the reason for this post is to let you know not to panic if you land here some day and everything looks weird.

So, what am I up to?

Well, firstly, I’m building out a bespoke WordPress plugin which will define the data architecture for this site. In WordPress jargon, that plugin is registering a number of custom taxonomies and custom post types, and adding a bunch of custom meta boxes (custom form fields) into various parts of the admin interface to allow me to associate metadata with the various pieces of content that will be hosted on the site. The plugin is coming along well, and I’m really happy with the structure it’s allowing me to put on things.

Now that the data architecture is coming together, I’ve also started work on a bespoke theme that will make use of the new data architecture to present the content in the way I want. I’ve given up on the idea of transforming someone else’s theme into what I want, and started with a completely blank page – yes, that’s right, I’m building my own custom theme from scratch. I always find blank pages scary, but this was a particularly big and particularly scary blank page. I’m making progress though, and it’s a real joy to get to build a WordPress site with all my favourite web tools – the structure of the pages is based on Bootstrap 4, the dynamic elements are being provided with jQuery, and I’m making heavy use of Font Awesome to add iconography through the design.

At the moment the design is basically monochrome because I’m focusing on getting the structure and layout right, and making sure everything is nice and easy to read. Once that’s done I’ll finish the site off with a custom Bootstrap theme to inject a little colour for personality, but not much, I want the site to remain elegantly spartan. The final piece is this big project is a new logo I’ve been working on, or more honestly procrastinating over, for the past few months. When I commit to a logo, that will give me the colour pallet and the font-styles that I’ll use to inject some personality into the theme.

I have to say I’m learning a lot, but this is still a really big job that’s gonna take me quite some time, so bear with me, and wish me luck!