cfyves.com - Software

CentOS 5 YUM Repository for Zend Optimizer

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:37:00 -0300

I had the task of installing Zend Optimizer on a client's new VPS and it was proving a bit challenging, not necessarily because I could find any info on Zend Optimizer or anything on the server.... but because my home office internet connection kept crappin' out on me!

When I was getting ready to attempt the install it occured to me to look around to see if I could find a YUM repo. I first became familiar with YUM repositories a few years back while working with a server which used CentOS.

This new VPS that we setup is using CentOS 5 and out of the blue I thought... ."What if I could find a repo for Zend Optimizer"... I thought for sure I wouldn't find one.

But as I looked I found.

This is a short "how-to" explaining how to set it up on the Question-Defense website.

The anti-IE6 movement is getting noticed

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 13:55:00 -0300

As some of you have experienced working with Internet Explorer 6 can be frustrating. Increasingly harder to support.

There's been a movement towards trying to free the world of Internet Explorer 6. One such website called "IE6 No More" explains in a simple way what the goal of the movement is.

I saw that CNN took notice of the movement and wrote an article about it entitled "Web citizens trying to kill Internet Explorer 6". Great name.

They estimate that there are still 15 to 25 percent of people still using IE6. Still a very large number.

OpenBD 1.1 has been released

Mon, 27 Apr 2009 10:05:00 -0300

For anyone who uses CFML OpenBD 1.1 was released.

I've used both ColdFusion (Adobe) and BlueDragon (NewAtlanta) in my years of using CFML... for those who don't know, OpenBD in an open sourced release of BlueDragon.

Interesting times if you're using CFML (or thinking of it) because the old argument about cost has been thrown out the door with the open source releases of Railo and OpenBD.

New functionality of note (for me) in this OpenBD 1.1 release is cfvideoplayer, although the recent "tweaking" of OpenBD by Vince Bonfanti to run on Google's cloud is pretty darn neat.

Conficker Worm removal

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 10:32:00 -0300

Just found this post on removing the conficker worm that is supposed to hit today.

Check it out here:
http://www.tech-recipes.com/rx/4095/how-to-remove-the-conficker-c-worm/

I haven't seen any computers affected yet.... but the day is still young.

Peace!

SES URLs with Apache and htaccess

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 20:07:00 -0300

After spending a little bit of time trying to see if I could setup an upcoming site with SES URLs on Apache.... I found out how.

Thank you Google. And... Thank you Simon Whatley.

I managed to find a few things with Google quite rapidly.. .and then I found this gem of a blog post.

To make a long story short (you gotta go read his post).... server was setup... but the only thing missing was the .htaccess file's settings.

So, after I added the following in my .htaccess file it worked flawlessly.

 RewriteEngine On
 RewriteBase /
 RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
 RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
 RewriteRule ^(.*)$ index.cfm/$1 [L,QSA]

Obviously this example is form a ColdFusion (or CFM) template... but adapting to PHP is nice and easy.

Time tracking and the art of knowing time VS production

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 23:19:00 -0300

Not sure what's out there really. But I can tell you what I've used.. although I haven't ALWAYS used it.

Lately, since I've been self-employed again one thing that's quite evident is time management. And time VS production. How fast can you accomplish the tasks at hand?

I've seen some different project managers, I actually use one now to track tasks... although it doesn't really work as I would like. Since there is no time to build one... I use it. But when it comes to actually (and accurately) tracking the amount of time you're working on your tasks this project manager is not the tool.

A couple (or maybe a few) years ago, I bought a very small piece of software that does just that... as long as you're committed to using it of course.

This program is called AllNetic Working Time Tracker.

I got it from a download site like CNET or somewhere and used a trial version.... I got quite comfortable with it and bought a license for the full version.

This program has always worked well for me. Although I'll admit that I haven't used tools like this all the time... whereas I believe I should have. It would have certainly helped in time management and even in estimating projects (quotes).

I'm writing this blog post right now because I'm actually setting up some tasks in the Time Tracker tonight, for upcoming tasks which I will be charging an hourly rate. Personally I find this tool helps me to be a bit more comfortable because I know that I'll "know" exactly how much time it took to complete the tasks that I have to do.

Just thought I'd share.

Anyone use anything in particular?

Yahoo's new social networking move

Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:03:00 -0300

I've always been a fan of Yahoo's web apps..... and not to mention their Developer network...

http://developer.yahoo.com/

Found out from SitePoint (on Twitter) that Yahoo! has just released part of their next "Social Networking" phase....

The "smarter inbox"... and there's also some new web apps released with this...

Can't wait 'till I can try out the beta!

I use Gmail alot, but I also have a yahoo account that I use quite regularly.

Check out the SitePoint article!

New Internet Explorer vulnerability.... be aware..

Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:24:00 -0300

It seems that a new vulnerability has been found for Internet Explorer... spanning several versions and several operating systems.

I imagine they will be working to patch this ASAP..... but in the mean time please be aware.

And... make sure you have an updated anti-virus... and make sure you are performing windows updates.

Here's a blog piece from ZDNet blogger Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Mac users get your anti-virus!

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:56:00 -0300

I posted about this a few posts ago... and actually, I mentioned this before.

But people who believe there are no viruses for Apple computers or linux for that matter are wrong.... and those who think there won't be are dreaming a bit much....

Apple it's self has posted on their support site encouraging that users to have anti-virus programs on their computers.

I just cleaned some windows computers recently and there are no shortage of infected computers out there.

Here's a link to an article by PC Blogs:
Apple Says You Need Anti-Virus For Your Mac

And here is a link to Apple's support page:
Mac OS: Antivirus utilities

Mac OS X and new Trojan

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:26:00 -0300

For those of you who believe there are no viruses for Macs... you are wrong.

Here's a short article of a new threat.

And if you do have a Mac, think security... I wouldn't "not worry" just because it's not windows.

http://news.zdnet.com/2424-9595_22-251586.html

New OpenOffice gets good reviews

Tue, 14 Oct 2008 22:27:00 -0300

Well, I'll start by saying that I have not tried to new OpenOffice and I certainly have not read every review written.

But, the reviews I have read have been positive.

I've used prior versions of OpenOffice as my main "office" type software for at least 4 years now. I for one don't really use all of the advanced features that OpenOffice seemed to lack compared to MS Office and OpenOffice had always helped me to do exactly what I wanted it to do.

On my MacBook I've used NeoOffice, which is basically OpenOffice for the Mac (although there was a version of OpenOffice for the Mac, it wasn't flawless). I've used NeoOffice.

According to what I've read, the new OpenOffice works very well with Mac OS... so I'll be trying it out... both on windows and on the Mac.

You can download OpenOffice on the website.
http://www.openoffice.org/

Some new browser comparisons

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 00:29:00 -0300

Well.... it didn't really take very long to find some comparisons online.

Google Chrome VS Firefox 3.0 VS IE8 Beta2 VS IE7...

There are some numbers and explanations of the tests as well as some graphs on Adrian Kingsley-Hughes ZDNet blog.

I'm now running Chrome, the new Opera 9.52 and Flock 0.9.1.5... as I write this. I'm posting with Flock.

Browsers - A new player and comparisons

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:33:00 -0300

Well.... today, Google Chrome became available and I (of course) downloaded, installed and have been playing with it for some time.

I've found it to be pretty good... I've checked a few sites out, tried Gmail (which... it has to run well.... because it is family!!!) and Yahoo mail.... also tried it on Facebook. I would give it decent grade so far.

As I write this, I have 2 browsers open... Chrome and IE 8 Beta, which I just installed a couple of days ago.

In IE 8, I have 4 tabs open. In Chrome I have 6 tabs open.

This is not a true comparison between the 2.... since I have different things open in each. But, in IE8, I have

Google Search
2 browser speed comparison sites
This blog, which I'm writing this in.... it includes fckeditor

In Chrome, I have this open:

Gmail
Facebook
http://habsinsideout.com
Google Reader
RDS main page
RDS Video player (watchin' some habs videos!!)

IE 8 is eating up a bit more RAM then Chrome is.....

This brings me to this link.... I found a comparison of what would be considered the more popular browsers on the web, it is a comparison between them, different versions and etc.

I got to thinking that someone will (I really hope.... anyone listening or better yet reading??) make another such comparison including the new IE8 Beta 2 and Google Chrome Beta. I'd love to see some numbers including Chrome. It (Chrome) seems to run a few things quite fast... and I'd like to see numbers, just incase it's my imagination pushing me to want to crown it as king.

As a side note, I do use Firefox 3 extensively.

Anyways, here is the link mentioned:
http://cybernetnews.com/2008/03/26/cybernotes-browser-performance-comparisons/

And here are links to all of the browsers mentioned.

IE 8 Beta

Google Chrome

Firefox

Ad revenu in PDF files

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:14:00 -0300

Revenu from ads on the net is huge.... so so huge.

Some publications available in PDF format that were previously given away may now have a new form of advertising.... Yahoo and Adobe now have "Ads for Adobe PDF".... which can be found here:
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/adsforpdf/

Many sites generate tons of $$ through ads on the net (not mine, trust me!).... and being able to add advertising in yet another format is just another way that publishers will be able to pay their bills..... or make huge profits.

Because of the nature of computers (well, user based computers) and the internet..... being that it's all something you "see", or "hear".... you can imagine that advertising will only increase in this medium.