After the better part of 8 hours of development, I believe I have collected enough experience to begin a very brief review of Flex on Grails. But, before I dive into that, I should explain how I even got to this very point.
Bridget and I have been looking to digitalize a lot of our files. However, most programs out there are pretty feature-less, and I decided it may be best to whip up a Grails app to cover the job. Now, being nothing of a GUI designer, I find Javascript/CSS/HTML to be a lot of work for myself -- since I'd have to generate some graphics, create a CSS layout on top of HTML, etc. So, I decide to give Flex a look, since it's been stirring up a lot of topics in Grails forums lately.
Flex is basically an SDK created by Adobe, that allows programmers to have access to a "widget" library of components, which are laid out using MXML & Actionscript. At runtime, a SWF is generated, essentially landing the developer a Flash application. This is great, since I don't want to deal with browser compatibility issues, and Flash is probably the best way to dodge that bullet.
The pros of Flex though really lie with how, well, flexible it is. Connecting to a number of backend frameworks is usually no issue, as I have demonstrated thus far by using Grails. BlazeDS automatically is compatible with JMS/ActiveMQ -- so you can create some pretty interesting applications using that technology (though I haven't gotten there yet). And, like Groovy, Flex has AWESOME xml support, so parsing and using RESTful services is a breeze in my situation.
So far, 8 hours has bought me a simple database, a sweet looking UI, and RESTful web services. I'll be working on file upload, data encryption, and logins -- which will take me about 4 hours I believe. With any luck, my next post will include a full "howto" for getting Flex up and running in Grails (though there are plenty of tutorials, and it's only three commands really), some screenshots, and some features I hope to implement along the way.
Also, I'm developing this all as a Grails plugin, so it can be used in a larger application in the future. If it wasn't for the quick Grails setup, I think I wouldn't have had time to spend looking into Flex -- and I would have missed the boat on what seems to be a promising UI alternative for web applications.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
So Close....
It's been a pretty long week for me. I've had some serious brain farts at work, I was context switching almost every twenty minutes for a couple days, and needed to work from home to get anything done correctly. My sleep schedule is WAY out of whack (9am to 2am for those who are wondering), and my living room currently is residing in my dining room. Don't get me wrong, I've had some great moments this week, but overall I still feel quite beat up.
Usually when I'm feeling down in the dumps, I tend to try doing a lot of mindless work. I have this living room project I started a year ago, and haven't quite finished up to this point. So, I decided it may be best to take my aggression out on spackling. After three long nights and one LONG day of working at it, I'm happy to say I'm almost ready for primer. After tomorrow, I can move on to prepping the walls for paint and looking to purchase carpet.
I've almost forgotten what it feels like to "accomplish" something so large. A lot of the projects at work are small and easily completed, and you get more a sense of relief to close a ticket then a feeling of accomplishment and pride in your work. The living room has been a thorn in my side for most of 2009, and it feels great to think that by next weekend it could be done.
Now...if I could just get around to that home office....
Usually when I'm feeling down in the dumps, I tend to try doing a lot of mindless work. I have this living room project I started a year ago, and haven't quite finished up to this point. So, I decided it may be best to take my aggression out on spackling. After three long nights and one LONG day of working at it, I'm happy to say I'm almost ready for primer. After tomorrow, I can move on to prepping the walls for paint and looking to purchase carpet.
I've almost forgotten what it feels like to "accomplish" something so large. A lot of the projects at work are small and easily completed, and you get more a sense of relief to close a ticket then a feeling of accomplishment and pride in your work. The living room has been a thorn in my side for most of 2009, and it feels great to think that by next weekend it could be done.
Now...if I could just get around to that home office....
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Keep Posted
Hey everybody, I wanted to give you all a heads up. Bridget and I are starting to look into using SmugMug to post a majority of our pictures and videos, so when I get that up and working, I'll post a link here on this blog.
Also, I registered a domain name for myself. Inspired by my nickname at work, I've registered http://www.angrygiant.com. Nothing too exciting there now (just the GoDaddy parked page), but I will use this site to create my Internet image that I lack so much. So keep checking on that every week or so, since I'll be working on it.
Also, I registered a domain name for myself. Inspired by my nickname at work, I've registered http://www.angrygiant.com. Nothing too exciting there now (just the GoDaddy parked page), but I will use this site to create my Internet image that I lack so much. So keep checking on that every week or so, since I'll be working on it.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Finally, a place I can "fit" into
My entire life has been full of awkward visits to malls, stores and outlets in search for the clothes I must wear on a daily basis. Big & Tall stores don't work for me, cause I'm tall, but not as "big" as they expect me to be. Department stores never work because they sell the "tall" portion of the pant, but their always two inches short of being wide enough.
But, finally, I found a thing I fit into. In the kayak world, playboats are the thing that many people get into and enjoy. You can spend a day on the river flipping, spinning, and cartwheeling your day away. However, like all things, playboats were designed for the smaller guy or gal. But not anymore!
Bliss Stick makes a playboat for the giants, called the RAD 195. I have never seen or sat in the boat, but it's smaller cousins have made a real name for themselves. I've set my heart on trying it, since it was (for the time being) the only boat I'd fit in for playboating.
But leave it to EJ & Company, Jackson Kayak released news of the "Mon-star", a big man playboat that looks like it'll accommodate as well. Not only is the name and graphic cool, but EJ I think is a guy who knows his playboats, and is surrounded by a crew who know them too. I am interested in trying out this boat as well.
Why is it that kayaking, of all sports, is the only thing that gets it? Big guys wanna ride the waves too, and thanks to companies like Bliss Stick and Jackson, that dream is finally coming true. Now if I could just get AE or Levi to join on board...
But, finally, I found a thing I fit into. In the kayak world, playboats are the thing that many people get into and enjoy. You can spend a day on the river flipping, spinning, and cartwheeling your day away. However, like all things, playboats were designed for the smaller guy or gal. But not anymore!
Bliss Stick makes a playboat for the giants, called the RAD 195. I have never seen or sat in the boat, but it's smaller cousins have made a real name for themselves. I've set my heart on trying it, since it was (for the time being) the only boat I'd fit in for playboating.
But leave it to EJ & Company, Jackson Kayak released news of the "Mon-star", a big man playboat that looks like it'll accommodate as well. Not only is the name and graphic cool, but EJ I think is a guy who knows his playboats, and is surrounded by a crew who know them too. I am interested in trying out this boat as well.
Why is it that kayaking, of all sports, is the only thing that gets it? Big guys wanna ride the waves too, and thanks to companies like Bliss Stick and Jackson, that dream is finally coming true. Now if I could just get AE or Levi to join on board...
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Who said punching stuff never fixed anything...
My quest for a reliable roll has taken me to new heights of research. After each failed roll session, I take what I felt I was doing wrong, and researched the proper position or action, only to go back to the pool with tweaks. The hardest part about a kayak roll is the fact that you're doing SO much underwater, and the more you overload your brain with, the less likely it is you'll roll.
After my last post, I went back to the drawing board. I have all the elements, but a roll that's only 25% effective at it's best is not good enough for whitewater. Each roll attempt takes five to ten seconds, which means I could be spending a lot of time upside down getting to know the fish. Or, in worse case, the rocks they live in as well. So, I researched each "piece" of the roll (there are four total pieces to the C to C), and look at what the correct posture was. Then, I'd analyze what I do instead, and hopefully find a big enough difference that it'd solve all my rolling issues.
Last night, I think I nailed it. Without too much detail, I've already been told by instructors that my hip snap is strong, but my paddle index is off. What they didn't tell me is the most important -- I'm not getting my hands high enough above the water line before phase two of the roll. This leaves my paddle deep in the water, and normally means I never fully complete a roll, or when I do, it's way wobbly cause I barely got up. It also means my center of gravity is away from the boat, making more work for me to roll up.
My phrase for this session was "punch through the water line." I repeated it through each roll, making sure to get my hands well above the water line, setting me up for a solid brace. I'd hip snap, pull the paddle, and what do you know -- I'd land right side up. And not just right side up, but with a solid feel to it, knowing I wouldn't roll back over. I did this five times, each time successful, leaving me with goosebumps.
How does one go from a rather crappy rate of effectiveness to 100% effective rate? The only thing here is that I'm scared in my next practice (in two days) I will fail miserably. I know, as a boater, that a roll will never be 100% effective all the time. I know I may need to swim, or at best case, nail it on a second try. But in the pool, it feels good to all of a sudden feel the surge of confidence that when upside down you know you can easily get right side up.
So to anyone who might read this, and may be teaching themselves or learning from someone how to roll, it's important to really analyze your technique. Instructors are a great resource for learning, but they can't tell you what you're feeling -- and that makes all the difference. Stick to it, keep practicing, and just remember to follow technique. I guarantee you'll be successful if you just "punch through" your barriers and keep your eyes on the goals you set.
After my last post, I went back to the drawing board. I have all the elements, but a roll that's only 25% effective at it's best is not good enough for whitewater. Each roll attempt takes five to ten seconds, which means I could be spending a lot of time upside down getting to know the fish. Or, in worse case, the rocks they live in as well. So, I researched each "piece" of the roll (there are four total pieces to the C to C), and look at what the correct posture was. Then, I'd analyze what I do instead, and hopefully find a big enough difference that it'd solve all my rolling issues.
Last night, I think I nailed it. Without too much detail, I've already been told by instructors that my hip snap is strong, but my paddle index is off. What they didn't tell me is the most important -- I'm not getting my hands high enough above the water line before phase two of the roll. This leaves my paddle deep in the water, and normally means I never fully complete a roll, or when I do, it's way wobbly cause I barely got up. It also means my center of gravity is away from the boat, making more work for me to roll up.
My phrase for this session was "punch through the water line." I repeated it through each roll, making sure to get my hands well above the water line, setting me up for a solid brace. I'd hip snap, pull the paddle, and what do you know -- I'd land right side up. And not just right side up, but with a solid feel to it, knowing I wouldn't roll back over. I did this five times, each time successful, leaving me with goosebumps.
How does one go from a rather crappy rate of effectiveness to 100% effective rate? The only thing here is that I'm scared in my next practice (in two days) I will fail miserably. I know, as a boater, that a roll will never be 100% effective all the time. I know I may need to swim, or at best case, nail it on a second try. But in the pool, it feels good to all of a sudden feel the surge of confidence that when upside down you know you can easily get right side up.
So to anyone who might read this, and may be teaching themselves or learning from someone how to roll, it's important to really analyze your technique. Instructors are a great resource for learning, but they can't tell you what you're feeling -- and that makes all the difference. Stick to it, keep practicing, and just remember to follow technique. I guarantee you'll be successful if you just "punch through" your barriers and keep your eyes on the goals you set.
Friday, August 14, 2009
I know it's late, I know you're weary....
But I feel like blogging :) Not because you may care about the subject matter, but to keep some record of what I need to think about while upside down in my kayak next time.
So for anyone who has talked to me in the past month, Bridget and I went to the Potomac where we got some beginner's instruction. Part of the class was the "basics" of the C to C roll, where I successfully completed six rolls for the day. This was an extreme pick-me-up, and I'm glad I could come home successful.
But there is so much to think about while rolling. My biggest issues are my wrist indexation and my tendency to lift the paddle too early, pulling myself back under the water. So, I went to my parents pool today to practice for the first time in a week and a half. My overall thoughts for the session: eh. I attempted four rolls with a paddle in hand, only one successful. So what was my issue? Here's what I'm thinking in hindsight.
First, I am not hip-snapping enough, and my hip pads are crap in the boat. I need to make some outfitting modifications to make them a bit tighter, and I need to remember to hip snap hard -- since the instructor told me I have a much more powerful hip snap then most beginners. I also need to focus my mind on getting the boat off of me, something I forgot to do a lot tonight.
Second, I put the paddle WAY behind my head, causing me to pull my shoulder again. I really need to stop this, since I'm going to end up hurting myself really bad someday. I think next time I need to wear some goggles so I can focus on my arm position more -- and commit it to muscle memory.
And finally, I need to really stop indexing the paddle so far past flat. I'm slicing the water, which helps nothing during the roll and only hurts me later. Goggles again should fix this, but it's something I may have to watch on tape from different angles.
The big thing is I CAN roll. It's def. not consistent, but I think in the long term I can perfect it. I've always been good at muscle memory, so once I get it figured out, I'll be able to execute it over and over again.
So for anyone who has talked to me in the past month, Bridget and I went to the Potomac where we got some beginner's instruction. Part of the class was the "basics" of the C to C roll, where I successfully completed six rolls for the day. This was an extreme pick-me-up, and I'm glad I could come home successful.
But there is so much to think about while rolling. My biggest issues are my wrist indexation and my tendency to lift the paddle too early, pulling myself back under the water. So, I went to my parents pool today to practice for the first time in a week and a half. My overall thoughts for the session: eh. I attempted four rolls with a paddle in hand, only one successful. So what was my issue? Here's what I'm thinking in hindsight.
First, I am not hip-snapping enough, and my hip pads are crap in the boat. I need to make some outfitting modifications to make them a bit tighter, and I need to remember to hip snap hard -- since the instructor told me I have a much more powerful hip snap then most beginners. I also need to focus my mind on getting the boat off of me, something I forgot to do a lot tonight.
Second, I put the paddle WAY behind my head, causing me to pull my shoulder again. I really need to stop this, since I'm going to end up hurting myself really bad someday. I think next time I need to wear some goggles so I can focus on my arm position more -- and commit it to muscle memory.
And finally, I need to really stop indexing the paddle so far past flat. I'm slicing the water, which helps nothing during the roll and only hurts me later. Goggles again should fix this, but it's something I may have to watch on tape from different angles.
The big thing is I CAN roll. It's def. not consistent, but I think in the long term I can perfect it. I've always been good at muscle memory, so once I get it figured out, I'll be able to execute it over and over again.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
My Ideal Home Office
After a rather long "rant" with my wife last night about my lack of a home office, I spent the night thinking of how to fix my situation. I'm finding it harder and harder to focus on the tasks I am responsible for, such as bills and learning new programming skills, without having workplace for it. I've noticed that working from home destroys my evening, because the same chair I just spent all day in programming for work now has to become the chair I try to relax in.
The rant actually started with a discussion about a desk my dad made for me when I was five years old. It's an executive desk, built of solid oak (I believe) and is pretty heavy. It's also the earliest thing I remember him making for me that was usually the focal point of any hobby I took on. When I was five, models were my hobby and I spilled countless bottles of enamel paint on the top of the thing, many stains still present today. When I was ten, programming was beginning to take over my life, and I had an old IBM PC jr. that I used for learning BASIC on. It sat on the right side of the desk, keyboard in front. When I hit high school, it contained a 486 tower on the floor and monitor to the left now, and was where most of my homework was done.
The desk sits now in my basement, and is the focal point of my server rack. However, I miss using the desk, and the dining room table is not the place I enjoy doing bills -- cause I eat there. I need a place where I can leave my work on the table/desk, walk away, without getting told it looks "messy". Bridget likes a clean home, and I'm her enemy when it comes to meeting that goal.
So, I've decided it's time to upgrade the attic. I'll place my desk up there, but I'm not going to just sit a laptop on the desk and call it quits. I need music, I need a second monitor (thanks Versatile for spoiling me on that), and I need file organization. I think as I start the construction, I'll post my pictures here.
If you have any "home office" suggestions, send them my way. I'd be interested in hearing what everyone has, or wishes they had, that I can add to my project. I'm already thinking a 24" monitor, but anymore ideas would be appreciated :)
The rant actually started with a discussion about a desk my dad made for me when I was five years old. It's an executive desk, built of solid oak (I believe) and is pretty heavy. It's also the earliest thing I remember him making for me that was usually the focal point of any hobby I took on. When I was five, models were my hobby and I spilled countless bottles of enamel paint on the top of the thing, many stains still present today. When I was ten, programming was beginning to take over my life, and I had an old IBM PC jr. that I used for learning BASIC on. It sat on the right side of the desk, keyboard in front. When I hit high school, it contained a 486 tower on the floor and monitor to the left now, and was where most of my homework was done.
The desk sits now in my basement, and is the focal point of my server rack. However, I miss using the desk, and the dining room table is not the place I enjoy doing bills -- cause I eat there. I need a place where I can leave my work on the table/desk, walk away, without getting told it looks "messy". Bridget likes a clean home, and I'm her enemy when it comes to meeting that goal.
So, I've decided it's time to upgrade the attic. I'll place my desk up there, but I'm not going to just sit a laptop on the desk and call it quits. I need music, I need a second monitor (thanks Versatile for spoiling me on that), and I need file organization. I think as I start the construction, I'll post my pictures here.
If you have any "home office" suggestions, send them my way. I'd be interested in hearing what everyone has, or wishes they had, that I can add to my project. I'm already thinking a 24" monitor, but anymore ideas would be appreciated :)
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