Latest News >> 2008-07-20 2008-06-25

I’ve been completely fed up with news/feed/rss/atom readers these days. I use Linux as my primary operating system, and I only have a few feeds that I want to rip through quick so I can get to reading the content. Yet, trying to find a reader that doesn’t suck donkey balls has been a chore.

2008-06-21

Wanna know what all the Ruby vulnerabilities are? Or at least have a fun look at how to search through code for clues? It’s a blast.

2008-06-13

I’m dropping a large blog post on everyone to just say that I haven’t died, I’ve just been busy working on my book for A/W about Mongrel. I had contracted with them to do a book about deploying Mongrel, but then decided it wouldn’t be a very good book since we’d already done one about that topic and there wasn’t too much more to say.

Well, well, well. Google comes out with their App Engine thing and what do you know, they use YAML for their application descriptions.

I don’t see any Pythonistas complaining about it publicly. Imagine that.

See, that pisses me off because several people said nobody would adopt a project if it didn’t use Python from stem to stern. I personally think if you can’t think in a few languages on a project then your a dumbass, but I obliged folks and wrote a Python parser for Vellum’s builds.

Then people said they didn’t like that format either.

This folks is the classic problem with programmers today. They absolutely refuse to learn anything new unless they can see that learning the new hotness will give them an immediate 200% boost in salary or get them hot honeys at the next conference.

I use a YAML format for a build file and it’s not good enough. I write a Python one and it’s still not good enough.

Google uses YAML and people can’t wait to blow Eric in the back bathroom as thanks for using Python.

Well, since that’s the case I’ve decided to just write my own damn format for Vellum. And it’s got strippers, and blackjack, and uh fewer symbols to deal with, and less typing. Wait, screw the strippers and blackjack, how about just less typing? Awesome. Since I can write a parser in about an hour I just did it. So there.

That’s right, Vellum just has its own syntax. It’s obvious Pythonistas can learn a new format when it’s tied to the handle of a massive pot of gold. My format is even cooler than YAML or Python, will give you a 300% boost in salary, and will eventually hand mold a Jenna Jameson Real Doll™ for you since you can’t get hot honeys no matter what language you learn.

Check out this abreviated grammar for the whole data format:

rule input: ( reference | COMMENT LINE)* ENDMARKER 
rule expr: atom | reference | structure
rule reference: NAME expr 
rule atom: NUMBER  | STRING  | SH LINE 
rule structure: LSQB elements? RSQB  | LPAR dictmaker? RPAR 
rule elements: (expr)+ 
rule dictmaker: (reference)+

That’s right! My format is only 7 productions and it can produce the same structures Python and YAML can (minus retarded shit like references). Take a look at the sample now and bask in my skills as the format makes you calm and clean. I was definitely channeling REBOL on this one.

And this only took me like 3 hours to craft and make Vellum use again (thank god for tests). That’s right, I’ve changed formats for the Vellum build file 4 times and I’ve written two parsers for it and I’m having fun so fuck you all. (sniff).

All Kidding Aside, GAE Is The Shit

Alright, I actually think it’s hilarious that Google came out with their stuff just a few weeks after PyCon2008 and didn’t seem to clue in any of the web framework developers. I was hanging out with the Turbo Gears and Pylons guys for most of PyCon2008 and they didn’t mention anything. I wonder how they feel about that?

I’d be a little pissed, but just for a few seconds before I started counting my mountains of cash cause Python is gonna be hot! I’ve already got two or three learning applications lined up and I’m even thinking of a slick little script to make cranking out simple GAE applications easier.

Yes, GAE is incredibly cool and I’m am so glad I jumped on the Python trail just before they released it. I can now take my new found fancy Python learnin’ and go do some real programming for a change. I don’t have an account because Google is a stingy bastard, but who cares. I can actually download their whole SDK and have fun tinkering on it. By the time I get done making something to share they should be open for business.

What I’m very impressed with is the deployment mechanism. After working on Mongrel for years and watching all the hosting companies barely make any headway with Ruby, it is so nice to see someone get it right. Just set it and forget it. None of this binding together 6 shitty services with duct tape like you do with AmazonWS.

Echo2 -> Campfire -> HuddleChat -> Utu

Everyone seems to like 37signals’ Campfire so much they came out swinging with claims of a ripoff from Google’s HuddleChat.

Well, silly boys and girls, rails-core ripped off the idea and probably most of the workings for Campfire from NextApp Echo2 ChatClient Demo. I know this because I was in the rails-core IRC channel and I showed them how cool this Echo2 framework was, including that chat demo. A few weeks later they had Campfire and since they say it took them two weeks to write it, I’m guessing they got lots of inspiration.

Sure, they probably won’t admit that, since they’re “innovators” you know, but it’s a really odd coincidence.

Who knows, maybe they were working on Campfire all along and they just used their psionic telepathy to will that I go find the Echo2 Chat demo and paste it into their IRC. Or, maybe I just remember it differently, who knows. My brain don’t work that well anyway.

However, there is a precedence. They also admitted stealing the mechanism for updating two divs at the same time from one Ajax call from the Nitro project. At the time this was the biggest barrier for things like RJS to work, and rather than figure it out themselves they stole it from poor George and never gave him credit.

Sure this simple Echo2 demo is a pale pathetic competitor to the glorious Campfire, but it also is just a demo that hasn’t changed in years. I actually dump it on Java application servers when I need to do some simple chat with people. It’s pretty damn useful, so I can see why 37s would take the time to rip it off.

Now, I will gladly admit that My Time With The Rails Core Cult was a major inspiration for the creation of Utu and that their Campfire actually did make me hate stupid people so much that I felt I needed to create a weapon of destruction for weeding them out. Probably the reason I haven’t worked on Utu in a while is that I stopped hanging out with the Ruby dickheads so I’m not so inclined to hate the flesh of all who type “fuck you” at me.

Therefor, I’ll freely admit that rails-core, you guys inspired me to find new ways to hate people over chat. Thank you.