Friday, August 21, 2009

An AskTom about database APIs

An interesting note by Tom regarding APIs in the database.
API's -- all about API's. The applications don't do table level stuff, the apps don't even really *know* about tables. I have a schema. On top of schema we have an API that does the data stuff. In the application we call this API but have our own application logic as well (only application logic is in the application, data logic is -- well, right where it belongs -- next to the data, waiting for the 'next great programming paradigm to come along') [...] Applications -- a dime a dozen. They come, they go, they have programming paradigm of the week. Data -- priceless. Most of it has been here for a long long long time. Most all of it will be here after we are dead.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

What does "flatdown" mean?

It's referenced in the OPML spec. Here's an explanation:
First, flatdown, in UserLand's outliner terminology, is a direction. The complete list of directions is: up, down, left, right, flatup, flatdown and nodirection. They are used as parameters to the op.xxx verbs which take a direction as a parameter. The first four are structured directions. Going up from an outline element takes you to its previous sibling, down takes you to the next sibling. Left takes you to the parent, right takes you to the first child. The flat directions, flatup and flatdown view the outline as a linear sequence, not structured. Imagine the outline displayed on a screen. To go flatup you'd go to the outline element displayed immediately before, to go flatdown you'd go to the outline element displayed immediately after.

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Note to a Software Vendor, regarding Document Managment Integration

Hi ----, Thanks for getting back so soon. I hope you can look at this issue over your entire product line. Here's the situation as I see it. Ancient Times:
  • I had "my" computer, "my" files, I managed everything myself. It was all about me, Me, ME! If you wanted a file, I would mail it to you or copy it to a network share.
Modern Times:
  • I have at least two computers, a desktop and a laptop. My files are under revision control and stored in a central repository. I sync files to my local box and work on them. Sometimes I work on the same file on two boxes -- my desktop coz it has a big screen, and my laptop coz I can take it to meetings. If you want a file, I can just tell you where it is on the central server and you can access it at your leisure. And good news for you, I have two copies each of [your product].
Most existing software works well in the first case. Software that works in the second case will, IMHO, start to replace software that does not, even if the other software is better in most other regards. As an example, we've installed [a web-based package] on our wiki. Butt ugly and limited, but certainly matching the modern time requirements and very "friction free" with regards to sharing files. Of course, it's hard for any local app to beat a web app in the sharing arena, but I hope that all your products become "so close" that there's no temptation for people to switch. As a practical thing, here's what I would love to see for all your products.
  • easy to check in / check out in revision control system.
This means either
  • - making documents into single files
  • - adding support for various revision systems
  • - adding hooks so revision system plugins can be created
  • easy multi-machine usage.
This is a big deal for something like [the project tracker package]. I'm sad to say I've got two copies but I stopped using it, because I would leave it running on my desktop, and then I couldn't run it on my laptop at home. Or I would add some action items in a meeting on my laptop, close the lid, and at my desktop, not have them show up. For programs like this, you should look at how IMAP email works. It is very convenient, I have my desktop mail open, my laptop mail open, my PDA mail open, and no matter what I do they all just magically stay in sync. Anyways, all IMHO, of course, and I hope this is useful feedback to you. Regards, Mark