Long live Subversion!

I took a big step forward today. I got to know source versioning tools.
Ever since my first encounter with CVS as an undergrad at UVa., I've had an irrational fear of SVC software. I'm not exactly sure why, but it probably had to do with one of my professors, who lumped it together with the waterfall method and formal methods in the same course. And up until now, I've rarely needed to use it, and when I have, I've completely wimped out and begged other folks to do it for me. But no more. I spent three hours today getting to know a few SVC tools, especially Subversion. And, although using them daily will definitely take some getting used to, I sure am glad I did, because adding folks to this project wouldn't be possible without it.

Almost there!

I've put together an admin page for the plugin and am working on a widget (hate that buzzword) for the blog's side panel that displays the blog's subscribers and allows you to subscribe. Should finish the widget by the end of this week.

Still working on the plugin

Still working on the plugin, but making great progress. Almost done with the update functionality, a chore which has been complicated by PHP's lack of typing and the need to use strings for manipulating binary data. And PHP's lack of unicode support (!). I'm a week behind schedule, but if I can finish these update messages in the next few days, I may be able to catch up. Can see the light at the end of the tunnel...

Still working on the plugin

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Working on the plugin

Still working on the WordPress plugin and it's going pretty well. PHP is a relatively easy language to pick up, albeit a quirky one, especially compared to stricter, strongly-typed languages I've used in the past. I've already finished implementing the SOAP endpoint that officially turns WordPress into a Content Provider and am now working on the real-time update functionality. After that I'll finish it with plugin semantics like installing the plugin and extending it to the multi-user version of WordPress, MU. All is going well!

Change of plans...

I have switched gears and am now working on a WordPress plugin that would allow WordPress bloggers to instantly and easily make their blogs subscribable, without any 3rd party support. Since I don't know PHP, it's going to be interesting going. This one may take a few weeks. I'll keep the blog updated with my progress.

Starting work on Subscribomatic

Since the AJAXification of Subscribable, I've switched gears and am now working on reviving the site that bloggers can use to make their own blogs subscribable, formerly known as Subscribomatic. Subscribomatic was kind of a proof-of-concept, and I'll be spending the next few weeks spiffing it up, renaming it, and adding some new features (no hints!). Hopefully, when I'm done, the-site-formerly-known-as-Subscribomatic will make it easy for bloggers to track who visits their blog, display their subscriber community on a blog's side panel, and allow subscribers to share the site with their friends.