Atomic Spin

DevOps & System Admin. • Dec 02, 2011

Creating a Custom Yum Repository for Puppet

Puppet's automated management of installed applications and libraries can be enhanced with custom package repositories, such as a custom yum repository.

Embedded Systems • Dec 01, 2011

A Practical Example of TDD Working

UX/Design Practices • Nov 30, 2011

Inexpensive UX Display Boards: Cheap Tools & Good Process

You can build a UX display board inexpensively with foam core boards and stands to keep UX design artifacts visible and help guide the team.

Web Apps • Nov 25, 2011

Integrating Paypal Express with Rails 3.1 – Part 2

How to integrate Paypal with Ruby on Rails 3.1. A step-by-step tutorial.

DevOps & System Admin. • Nov 23, 2011

Bash, Pipes, and Standard Input

If we simply drop the less than character, we will be providing our script to bash as an argument, leaving standard input untouched. Life is good.

Software Science • Nov 23, 2011

Binary Serialization Tour Guide

A list of most of the choices for serializing and communicating binary data structures.

Web Apps • Nov 17, 2011

libiconv Problems with MAMP, PHP, and Ruby

Solution to a problem executing a Ruby script from PHP using MAMP on Mac OS X where the wrong libiconv was being picked up.

Development Practices • Nov 15, 2011

From Pigment to Pixels: What Art History Can Teach Us about Software Design

This post compares and contrasts software design for hire with art done for patrons.

Embedded Systems • Nov 15, 2011

C Tips and Tricks, Part I

This post focuses on how to construct constant and volatile pointers, and how to avoid a common pitfall when dealing with floating point constants.

Ruby on Rails • Nov 08, 2011

Running Multiple Rails Applications with Pow

Configuring Pow, a zero-config Rack server for Mac OS X, to work from external devices.

Extracurricular Activities • Nov 06, 2011

Investigating Verizon’s Network Optimization

Verizon re-compresses media sent across its wireless data network, reducing quality, but increasing transfer speed.

Evolving the Industry • Nov 05, 2011

Book Review: Code by Charles Petzold

Code is a unique book that mixes lessons in logic, electronics, and math with history and narrative in a deep but relaxed exploration of computer technology.