10 Nov 2010

Quick tip: Firebug console output

Source code

I’ve found debugging my JavaScript projects much easier since using the Firebug add-on for Firefox, but more specifically outputting to the Firebug console.  It’s as easy as this: var myVar = 42; console.log(‘my variable: ‘ + myVar); This will output ‘my variable: 42‘ to the Firebug console, just like using System.out.println() in Java. There are […]

2 Nov 2010

Coffee break: Clients from hell!

Clients from hell

I found a very interesting website called clients from hell. After scrolling through just one page I feel so grateful for the good people I work with 🙂  If you’ve ever worker for yourself or deal with clients often this is a must see during your lunch break!

1 Nov 2010

jGauge a 100% JavaScript dial gauge

jGauge 0.3.0 alpha 3

jGauge is a 100% JavaScript dial gauge I created to be a free, lightweight, and powerful alternative to Flash-based gauges. It can be used on web based dashboards like a speedometer / fuel gauge. Code base Google code (archive): https://code.google.com/p/jgauge/ Github (future development): https://github.com/dariancabot/jGauge Screenshot Changelog Version 0.4.0 – 20110511 Now hosted on GitHub Version […]

14 Oct 2010

IE9 is the IE6 of CSS3

If you’re anything like me when it comes to IE9 you’re viewing Microsoft’s hype with a measure of skepticism.  Microsoft’s Internet Explorer is both the most popular web browser and the biggest pain in the ass for us web developers.  When I first heard that Microsoft were making an effort to support the latest standards […]

10 Oct 2010

jQuery: Automatic HTML element manipulation

Source code

When working on my latest project I discovered a feature of jQuery that wasn’t apparent to me in the API.  When using the .append() method I noticed it would automatically close HTML elements.  After taking a closer look at the jQuery 1.4.2 code, I found that .append() makes use of an internal function called domManip(). […]

20 Sep 2010

Quick tip: Linux Xkill

Need a fast and easy way to kill an unresponsive application in Linux? Press Alt + F2. Type xkill in the Run Application dialog. Click the application with the X (or skull and crossbone) cursor. I discovered this after having a fullscreen Java app freeze on me a few times in Ubuntu. Further reading Xkill […]

18 Sep 2010

Do I have enough memory for Windows?

RAM sticks in a motherboard

Recently I was tasked with resolving a performance issue on some PCs in the office.  They weren’t that old but seemed to get progressively slower after switching on until they were practically unusable.  Like many package PCs on the market, they had a decent CPU speed but were quite anaemic in the memory department. The […]

17 Sep 2010

Connective Icon Calculator: iPhone app review

When I began in building controls engineering just six years ago, function block diagram programming was already an established engineering tool for may control systems.  I began my controls programming with an older technology control system that used mostly point-oriented boolean algebra which was surprising very powerful, but difficult to get an overview of the […]

14 Sep 2010

DoDonPachi: Tactical Guide and Walkthrough

DoDonPachi title

I’ve always been a bit of an arcade game nut.  I remember spending countless dollar coins at the Tilt arcade on Hindley Street in Adelaide years ago playing Street Fighter Alpha 3 and Raiden.  I moved interstate, and sadly Tilt closed it’s doors a while back along with many other arcade parlours.  They now seem […]