C. Bess Wonders

Mac Android SDK Setup

2009-10-28T18:32:00.000-07:00

Android in now in my sights. I am recalling Java, my favorite language when I was 15-16 years old.

The below is a concise guide to installing the Android Development Environment on Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard).

Download and install Eclipse
Download and extract the Android SDK (which is contains the SDK tools) - http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
run `sdk/tools/android` from Terminal.app (it will launch the Android SDK UI) and install SDK components - http://developer.android.com/sdk/adding-components.html
Install ADT plugin - http://developer.android.com/sdk/eclipse-adt.html
Create an Android device (emulator). In the same window from #4, in the left pane, click "Virtual Devices". Then click "New", in the window, change "Target" to Android. Then fill out the other information as necessary.

Don't forget to add the SDK library to Eclipse (from Preferences -> Android)

http://developer.android.com/guide/index.html

Thats about it. Anything else is all you.

Mail.app deleted my subject column!

2009-09-05T00:48:00.001-07:00

Like most who prefer a more readable and efficient mail view, you may have used WideMail (or LetterBox) before Snow Leopard. I did, and apparently the Snow Leopard ripped into my plugins and mauled the subject column.

I restored it by deleting a couple nodes from: ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.mail.plist

#1 Quit Mail.app

#2 double click the plist file and remove:
Root/ActiveViewers
Root/TableColumns

#3 Save the plist and start Mail.app

Subject column is now present, done.

Palm webOS emulator fun?

2009-07-17T17:22:00.000-07:00

In my excitement of the release of webOS SDK, I downloaded and installed the emulator. To my surprise I found no instructions on how to use the more advanced features/gestures.

#1 How do you rotate the emulator to landscape?
iPhone emulator: press Cmd + left or right
Palm emulator: ?

#2 How do you perform multi-touch gestures?
iPhone emulator: press Option (Alt) and mouse down.
Palm emulator: ?

If you zoom in on something, best of luck returning it to full view without closing the app.

Python SUDS with Windows Authentication (SOAP)

2009-01-07T15:06:00.000-08:00

While intergrating Plone with CRM4, I stumbled upon Suds. However, it didn't support NTLM. Then I found python-ntlm, and merged the two libs.

Below is the result.

You can add it at the bottom of suds/transport.py


[code]
class WindowsHttpAuthenticated(HttpAuthenticated):
    """
    Provides Windows (NTLM) http authentication.
    @ivar pm: The password manager.
    @ivar handler: The authentication handler.
    @author: Christopher Bess
    """
    
    def __init__(self, options):
        # try to import ntlm support
        try:
            from ntlm import HTTPNtlmAuthHandler
        except ImportError:
            raise Exception("Cannot import python-ntlm module")
            return
            
        HttpTransport.__init__(self, options)
        self.pm = u2.HTTPPasswordMgrWithDefaultRealm()
        self.handler = HTTPNtlmAuthHandler.HTTPNtlmAuthHandler(self.pm)
        self.urlopener = u2.build_opener(self.handler)
        u2.install_opener(self.urlopener)
        pass # end class

[/code]


[code]
from suds import transport
#>>>
from suds import client
#>>>
from suds.options import Options
#>>>
options = Options(username='DOMAIN\username',
                  password='password')
#>>>
c = client.Client(url='http://0.0.0.0/mscrmservices/2007/CrmServiceWsdl.aspx',
                  username='DOMAIN\username',
                  password='password',
                  transport=transport.WindowsHttpAuthenticated(options))
#>>>
c
#---

[/code]

Plone: Reverse Folder Contents in TAL Define

2008-10-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

Using TAL, I needed to display the folder contents with dates ascending (newest first). By default context/folderlistFolderContents returns the tuple descending.

So I fixed it by using a ternary statment hack, that evaluates both entries/blocks.


[code]
    <metal:fill fill-slot="main">
      <metal:main_macro define-macro="main"
            tal:define="portal_type python:here.getPortalTypeName().lower().replace(' ', '_');
            folder_list context/folderlistingFolderContents;

            folder_list python: (folder_list.reverse(), folder_list)[1];

            base_macros here/base/macros;
            view_template python:'%s_view' % portal_type;
<!-- rest of code -->
[/code]

Plone: Reinstall Product Button

2008-10-24T07:34:00.000-07:00

While creating Plone Products, I noticed that Plone will delete any created Portal objects, once a product associated with it has been uninstalled. Since I created a ZCatalog, which had data in it, I don't want that feature. After marching through the QuickInstaller code, I decided to add a "Reinstall Button" to all the respective products, to prevent uninstallation.

In your egg or product code root, simple add:
version.txt

Directory Structure Example (Python Pkg):
myproduct.stuff/myproduct/stuff/version.txt

The contents should be:
1.0-alpha build 1

When ever the version.txt is changed it will display the reinstall button.

Note: If you add the version.txt file to an existing product, you will have to manually uninstall the Product, then install it again. Otherwise, pressing "reinstall product" will anger the QuickInstaller (very bad).

The Fix for angry QuickInstaller:
If you manage to click "reinstall product" before you uninstall and install again, shame on you. To resolve, simply delete the QuickInstaller from the ZMI, then go to portal_setup, click the "Import" tab, select "QuickInstaller" from the list of profiles, then at the bottom, click "Import All Steps". This will cause all the installed products to go back to the "Products available for install" section, simply tick all the ones previously installed, and install them again.

ObjPCRE on iPhone

2008-09-02T19:02:00.001-07:00

I have been having fun with my ObjPCRE framework and the iPhone SDK.

Just drop the contents of this archive in your Xcode project and build.

The archive contains the debug libs, for the simulator and the release builds, for iPhone.

ObjPCRE iPhone Libraries

If you use ObjPCRE for iPhone or anywhere else, please comment.

Custom Grep Format via Python

2008-07-09T20:59:00.000-07:00

I really wanted a custom output format for the great grep, I used standard Python to do it.

Needs Python 2.4+

GrepOut is the name and grep formatting is it's game.

Its free, its BSD.

Download Here

Combat the WTF in iPhone Development

2008-05-26T06:43:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share some information for those that may be new to iPhone development, or may have forgotten.

If you see this: __TERMINATING_DUE_TO_UNCAUGHT_EXCEPTION__
popup during a runtime error, check here: Console.app
for a more verbose explanation.

Most of the time you will find the WTF.

Google Open Source Blog: Develop with Git on a Google Code Project

2008-05-20T21:50:00.000-07:00

Google Open Source Blog: Develop with Git on a Google Code Project

Also check out: github.com (free 100MB git repo host)

Find the WTF in iPhone Xcode builds!

2008-05-10T15:08:00.000-07:00

I'm an avid iPhone developer and I've been developing with Xcode for Mac OS X a while (about 4 years) now. In all my days I have never seen an error from Xcode (even the crazy ones from objc) so sick and twisted that it takes almost an hour to fix.
Luckily this fellow ran into the same issue (and posted it). I wasn't using a button, but a "search bar"; and when I removed it everything built just fine. I don't think IB files like multiple "bars". Oh well, back to hard coding GUIs.

[error-message]
*** -[UIImage encodeWithCoder:]: unrecognized selector sent to instance 0x44d470
[/error-message]

I also learned that Xcode or IB doesn't like "lonely" outlets. Meaning, if you assign an instance to an outlet in IB, you better make sure the instance variable is in the corresponding class file. It will build and launch, but crash with some error like: __TERMINATING_DUE_TO_UNCAUGHT_EXCEPTION__

Fun with WTFs.

Fun With Creating Kate Plugins Using KDevelop

2008-03-16T01:27:00.000-07:00

To use KDevelop Kate Plugin Templates:
-> Create a project using the respective Kate Plugin template as normal.
-> After the build, change line 6 in the created *.desktop file (in your "src" folder)

Old:
X-Kate-Version=2.2

New (working):
X-Kate-Version=2.5

I never knew the *.desktop file only installed the plugin for the target Kate version.

The story:
During my first attempt at creating a C++ Kate Plugin (used Python [Pate] prior), I noticed KDevelop had a project template for it! It was great all the way up until the 'make install'. Then I noticed my plugin was showing up. Well after about 20mins of following make install paths... I started comparing rc files, with those plugins that were working. Everything looked fine. Then I noticed the lonely *.desktop file, and wow it was the culprit. "Kate Version", must be set to 2.5 (or whatever version you are using).

Now on to creating some plugins for the Kate community!

KDE Mime Type Issue

2008-03-15T15:34:00.000-07:00

KDE3 freaked out on me recently.

If KDE says: "could not find mime type" (application octet-stream)
You do:
-> Delete '~/.kde/share/mimelnk/application/octet-stream.desktop'
-> reboot
OR
sudo kcontrol
-> File associations
-> "Add"
-> group: application
-> type name: octet-stream

Now do: happy dance

NSView Screenshots Using Cocoa

2008-03-09T12:19:00.001-07:00

While hacking away with the iPhone SDK & Cocoa, I discovered (from Ryan Britton) this code to capture a NSView as a NSImage.


[code]

NSView *view = self;
[view lockFocus];
NSBitmapImageRep *bitmap = [[[NSBitmapImageRep alloc] initWithFocusedViewRect: [view bounds]] autorelease];
[view unlockFocus];
 
NSImage *image = [[[NSImage alloc] initWithSize: [view bounds].size] autorelease];
[image addRepresentation:bitmap];

[/code]

ref: http://lists.apple.com/archives/cocoa-dev/2005/Oct/msg00771.html

Other references: http://www.cocoadev.com/index.pl?ScreenShotCode

QuTags - Easy Ajax Usage, Fast PHP Results

2007-09-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

QuTags - http://qutags.sourceforge.net - has finally hit 1700+ downloads (since 05/2007). I guess its about time I post a little blog entry about its existence.

QuTags is the culmination of thoughts and examples of great ways to implement AJAX for PHP, without knowing any JavaScript; none. But this implementation actually does hide the JavaScript from the PHP programmer. Don't get me wrong, its not invisible to the advanced user, but most of the time (if not all), you can do without touching the JavaScript. QuTags allows you to easily and rapidly bring Ajax advantages to ANY existing PHP web application. Simple, fast and supported. The framework is young but extremely powerful. It dominates every other attempt at simplicity; seriously.

The following example demonstrates the Javascript-less Ajax framework. Its a simple page that changes the DIV's text when the user clicks the button.

Ex:
[code]


<?php
 # include qutags script (if you're no using the Apache module)
 require_once("qutags.php");
 init_qutags();

 function show_new_text() {
  # send the new inner html to the client
  send_quinnerhtml("divId", "this is the new inner html!");
 }

 echo "<form>";

 # output <div> tag
 qudiv("divId", "i'm innerhtml stuff");

 # output html button
 qubutton("bt", array(onclick=>"show_new_text", quvalue=>"Click Me"));

 echo "</form>";
?>

[/code]

That's it! From start to finish, you stay in PHP land and never need to know what the JavaScript has to do. There are so many different ways to utilize QuTags... But most notably you would take advantage of its ease of use and performance. Oh yes, not only is QuTags crazy easy to use, but the server <--> client conversations are fast, really fast. The average request is less than 200ms.

More examples can be found at: QuTags.com - Live Ajax Demos

A Christopher Bess Creation sponsored by Quantum Quinn

Load .NET Assembly Using Python

2007-08-24T15:03:00.000-07:00

To load .NET assemblies via Python you should use Python.NET. I choose Python.NET over IronPython, because IronPython seems less compatible with standard Python libraries (amongst other things).

Once you've downloaded and installed Python.NET (http://pythonnet.sourceforge.net/), you can begin the integration.

Integration Code Sample:
[code]

import sys

# import Python.NET module(s)
import CLR
from CLR.System.Reflection import Assembly

# get the root path (for the dlls)
pythonLoc = sys.path[0]
pythonLoc = pythonLoc[0:pythonLoc.rindex("\\")+1]

for dllName in ["MyDLL.dll",
"Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Common.dll",
"Microsoft.Practices.EnterpriseLibrary.Data.dll"]:
Assembly.LoadFile(pythonLoc+dllName)
# end for

# create instance of .NET class
csharpClass = clr.MyDLL.MyCsharpClass()

# call member of .NET class
result = csharpClass.SomeMethod()

[/code]

As you can see the key here is to use absolute paths. The variable 'pythonLoc' can be the path to any directory that contains your target .NET assembles.
If only Python provided intellectual property protection we would be in business!

wxPython with Python .NET intergration

2007-08-24T13:59:00.000-07:00

To use wxPython and Python.NET together is a simple task. Luckily Python.NET is an interpreter and wxPython are modules.

This will allow you to utilize wxPython and the .NET framework all from Python. Its a Win32 Python programmer's dream, leverage .NET assemblies, wxWidgets UI, and Python!

1.) Download wxPython (http://www.wxpython.org/download.php) & Python.NET (http://pythonnet.sourceforge.net/)
2.) Install Python.NET (and remember the install directory)
3.) Install wxPython in the same directory you installed Python.NET

Notes:
To access PyCrust (interactive wxPython shell), go to 'C:\PythonNet\Lib\site-packages\wx-2.8-msw-unicode\wx\py\pycrust.py'

To access XRCed (XRC editor), go to 'C:\PythonNet\Lib\site-packages\wx-2.8-msw-unicode\wx\tools\XRCed\xrced.py'

PPC to Intel Mac - Migration Assistant

2007-06-30T15:26:00.000-07:00

Its really easy to migrate from PPC to Intel (or from Intel to Intel).

Extra step:
- If you are transferring an existing user, as in you want the "from" mac to be used on your "to" mac, make sure you are not using the Migration Assistant from the "to" account on your "to" mac.

Old mac user Account to New mac old user account:
1.) Create a temp administrative account on the "to" mac, and launch the Migration Assistant
2.) Once the account transfer is complete, logoff/restart and your "from" account will be available.

Migrate from PPC to Intel:
1.) Grab a male to male (6-pin) firewire cable.
2.) Connect only one end of the cable to the "from" mac.
3.) restart the "from" mac, with the keyboard ready
4.) as soon as you hear the restart chime, hold "t"
5.) release "t" after you see the firewire icon on the screen of the "from" mac
6.) now connect the other end of the cable to the "to" mac
7.) begin or finish the steps to using Migration Assistant

Also you can ignore the "Estimated transfer time", I transferred approx. 30gb in less than an hour.

The key here is to NOT have any devices connected to firewire or USB (other than a keyboard), until the mac is in "Target Disk Mode".

I transfered the data from my PPC (mac mini) to my Intel (MacBook) with no problems. Of course, you may have to re-enter your registration info for some software, all your keychains will have to be updated, and the old "System" folder can be deleted.

Quantum Quinn® (A Next Generation Software Company)

2007-03-25T18:56:00.000-07:00

A software company that reaches a higher plateau. A software company that prizes making high quality software, but not charging high profit prices. Quantum Quinn believes that everyone should have a chance to own enterprise level software, not just enterprises. Working with Qu and being sponsored by Qu is a great opportunity to share equal beliefs.