Dingfelder.org

This is Day 4 of 30 (in 30 days of Geek)…

What is the greatest application written to date?

This is a tough one.  So many choices.

One project I have been working on for the last couple years is a common Java application framework, allowing multiple pages wrapped by an application layer which handles the UI elements such as the toolbar, statusbar, buttonbar etc, and has a page navigation tree on the left.  Each page is then displayed in the main area, inside a JXLayer pane.  The application framework has customised logging built in, a set of database tools allowing both embedded Derby DB and networked MYSQL access and DB tools such as importing and exporting databases, and has a built in thread manager to deal with spawned multi-threaded business logic.  Additionally, it has integrated java help, Google Earth KML exporting, serialio USB Serial communication, and lots of utility stuff that comes in handy.

I am using this framework for multiple applications, including the one I am working on right now, which is tied heavily to our customised satellite tracking collars.  It allows users to configure hardware used in wildlife tracking, allowing users to set up and deploy loggers and satellite transmitters, and deals with downloading near real-time data for GIS analysis etc.

The application (that I am working on a new version for right now) downloads data from fastloc transmitters, which are tiny devices that capture a super fast snapshot of what satellites are visible in the sky, and then transmits this data via Argos satellites.  The software downloads this data, and uses satellite RINEX data and custom C libraries to triangulate where the transmitter was when the snapshot was taken.  It allows tiny sized logger packages, but still gives GPS accuracy.   Out software then decodes this data and allows users to view it in Google Earth or export for subsequent analysis.

Definitely cool technology.

This is Day 3 of 30 (in 30 days of Geek)…

What does your day job involve?

At the moment, I am working on a Java software application, which is used by researchers tracking wild animals.

This tool is used to download and configure GPS data from tracking collars (via USB Serial connections), and also aquires location data from the Argos satellite network.  Once data is gathered, the software application stores it in a centralised database allowing the researcher to view and export data for external procesing, or save data for Google Earth.

In addition to Java development, I frequently dig into

• SQL (MYSQL, SQLServer and Apache Derby) for application development and reporting
• PHP (for our internal intranet)
• and even have to deal with embedded C (which runs on our tracking hardware)

I also administer our

• version control system (Subversion)
• documentation system (mediawiki)
• intranet website (joomla)
• issue tracking system (mantis)

To keep things interesting, I also am working on

• software test plans
• end user documentation
• database administration
• IT support
• customer (end user) support for software problems

We have some really cool applications, there is a never ending amt of work to do, and there is a pretty good variety of activities, so the work is never boring.

This is Day 2 of 30 (in 30 days of Geek)…

Day 02 – Preferred programming language?

This is an easy one for me:   Java

Why is Java the best choice for me?

• Java is portable – I write applications on Linux, and run them on windows and Mac, with no hassles.  And when I ant to write a Mobile App (Android, Palm, whatever)  I can do that too.
• Java is Free –  The tools I  use to write software are free (usually either Eclipse or Netbeans)
• The language is “Open” – I am not tied to one vendor, and the language I use is Open source (GPL).  This is too big a topic to really get into here.  see http://www.osnews.com/story/10806
• I dont need to re-invent the wheel – There are LOTs of libraries out there I can reuse instead of wasting my time redoing stuff that other people have already solved.
• Flexability – I can do a LOT of stuff in java.  Anything from a backend server application to a web applet or a fancy software front end.  Java can do it all.

Is Java perfect?  No. but it works for me 🙂

Recently read Jethro Carr’s post about 30-days of geek (http://www.jethrocarr.com/2010/10/17/30-days-of-geek/) and thought it sounded fun.

So… here we go… The next 30 posts will be about geek-y-ness 🙂

• Day 01 – Why do you consider yourself a geek?
• Day 02 – Preferred programming language?
• Day 03 – What does your day job involve?
• Day 04 – Greatest application written to date.
• Day 05 – Quick nifty hacks you’re proud of
• Day 06 – Primary geek fuel (snacks/drinks)
• Day 07 – Preferred smartphone platform. And which do you use?
• Day 08 – Preferred method of communication with humans
• Day 09 – What OS/distribution do you run?
• Day 10 – Picture, screenshot and specifications of your primary Computer.
• Day 11 – Favourite hacking environment – music, light, seating, etc
• Day 12 – What area do you want to expand your skills into?
• Day 13 – How did you become such a geek? Career? Personal interest?
• Day 14 – Favourite computer conference?
• Day 15 – Earliest geek experience
• Day 16 – First computer you’ve ever owned & your favourite ever.
• Day 17 – Post a useful HOWTO to solve a challenge you’ve come across recently.
• Day 18 – Most cringe-worthy geek moment
• Day 19 – Most hated computing environment.
• Day 20 – Where do you stand on Internet Censorship?
• Day 21 – Favourite thing & worst things about working in IT?
• Day 22 – Release some software under an open source license that you haven’t released before.
• Day 23 – Post a review of an application that you use.
• Day 24 – How do you feel about Open Source vs Proprietary software?
• Day 25 – Microsoft – friend, foe or other?
• Day 26 – Apple – friend, foe or other?
• Day 27 – Fix a bug in some open source software and commit the patch
• Day 28 – How many computers lying about the house?
• Day 29 – Looking back (at geek life), would you have done anything differently?
• Day 30 – Where do you see technology advancing in the next 20 years – and where will you fit in?

If you feel like joining me, please do! Post a comment to this article with your blog URL so others can find it easily and use the hashtag #30daysofgeek on social networks.

Cheers,

— Ding

I want Dell’s latest tablet PC, the Dell Looking Glass.

This latest iPad rival looks to be a larger-sized version of the Dell Streak / Dell Mini 5, depending on which rumoured name you want to attach to their forthcoming pocket tablet.

It’s seven inches in size, two larger than the Streak, and running Android 2.1 which will likely jump up to 2.2 before its release following the update roll-out due in May.

Step “through” the Looking Glass and get a look at it’s innards and you’ll be presented with a Tegra 2 processor.

It’s a shame then that the tablet looks to be retaining the Streak’s 800 x 400 resolution despite the extra potential here.

The leaked slides also suggest the Looking Glass will feature

• built-in 3G
• a digital TV tuner
• an accelerometer
• a-GPS
• a compass
• 4GB of RAM
• 4GB of flash storage and SDHC expansion up to 32GB.
• Oh and did we mention a 1.3MP camera for video calls?

Looking like another real contender in the tablet fray.

Due November 2010?