Advogato blog for methodMatthew

16 Dec 2001

Sun, 16 Dec 2001 01:25:16 GMT

Installed linux mandrake v7 on computer today. Looks very promising. I am especially interested in the kde c++ IDE KDevelop. I also set up the JRE(Java Runtime Environment) build v1.2.2_008 distributed at java.sun.com. I proceeded in attempting to run my java database management system(BIM Standard Edition). So far so good. The application appears to be functioning. The application was developed using Windows 98. It works perfectly to the best of my knowledge in that environment. I did not have to change a single line of code before successfully executing the application on linux mandrake. I did take advantage of java's File and URL encapsulating capabilities. I am unsure of stability concerning the macintosh os because of its file encoding schema. Check out my home page url for locating my java application. The application is licensed under the BSD template. Comments are welcome.

29 Nov 2001

Thu, 29 Nov 2001 00:37:34 GMT

Added self extraction for the jar file containing BIM Standard Edition. Execute the jar file and the contents will be extracted to the folder that contains the jar.

New jar URL: http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/a70fe662/bc/StandardBase.jar? bcEvcV8AjQxAG7uE

By the way does anyone know of a decent file server for my application(must be free of charge)?

28 Nov 2001

Wed, 28 Nov 2001 18:31:56 GMT

Development of animation development environments is shaping up well. Some features included in the planning of this project are:

Support for runtime equation parameters.

Interfaces allowing for easy expansion of components that will be available for forms.

Two types of components that do not fall into the information gathering category. Dynamic components and Live components. Dynamic components equation sources can include items from context running the form displayer. Live components except developer's threads implementing provided interfaces to manipulate sources in the component equation.

Ability to save form configuration to persistant storage using markup language. This will also provide for easy transmission of the form to multiple work stations(The live components thread modules will most likely be transmitted in byte form to a classloader on the receiver's computer).

Form Displayer almost complete.

Form Developer almost complete.

Currently no live component thread modules created.

28 Nov 2001

Wed, 28 Nov 2001 00:03:48 GMT

Published my database management system(java) under the BSD license. The file URL is: http://us.f1.yahoofs.com/users/a70fe662/bc/StandardBase.jar? bcEvcV8AjQxAG7uE

Details on features can be found 2 or 3 entries back in this diary. Comments may be emailed to matthewFarhat@att.net

25 Nov 2001

Sun, 25 Nov 2001 14:51:41 GMT

This entry is in reference to the recent GPL freedom or power post. It becomes apparent just how important choice of licensing is after browsing the internet searching for sites that accept free software posting. Most of these sites state clearly that they will accept only certain free software licenses. NOT ALL. This is extended by many developer's opinions as well. If you look closely you will notice that this is an environment for monopoly. Imagine that GPL did get the upper hand and became the only free license. In effect this would influence the whole environment shutting out many potential free software developer's who do not wish to publish under the GPL. There is another factor to observe in the free software sector. People who contribute to the free software. People are not clones. Not all people follow laws. In general people are unpredictable. This brings up an issue of even if you do publish it free under the GPL there is no guarantee it will stay that way. Now lets take a look at what two different licenses accomplish. The GPL and the BSD. The above taken into account the GPL affectively cuts off a large limb of the free software tree of developers. This effectively divides and conquers the free software community, or at least severely impedes it. What does the GPL offer in return? No copyright. This severs the developer from any claim over the software. THIS PREVENTS THE DEVELOPER WHO WISHES THE SOFTWARE TO BE FREE FROM STATING "I WANT THIS SOFTWARE TO BE FREE". The community says "Who are you?" because there is no copyright and thus the developer is not known. People might say "That is why you can use dual licensing." This brings me back to the issue of a GPL monopoly which would prevent dual licensing. Next we can look at the BSD. Generally speaking the BSD is the same as the GPL with one exception (One very big exception). FREEDOM. ALL free software developer's may take part in contributions to software under this license. This includes the die hard free software users who create nothing but free software and part time free software developers who write propriety software as well. Many stead fast GPL developers attempt to argue that free developers must be all or nothing. However that is not the case. Whether you like it or not there are talented developers who do not agree with the GPL. Most free software developers have a goal. That goal is to make free software a standard. Chopping off all not GPL developers would be cutting progress in half. Lets put this into perspective. People are people and software is software. You can not call a person "propriety person" you can only call the software he/she writes propriety. What I am getting at is that a person can write propriety software then write free software or the other way around or both at the same time. Free software is free to reject this is to run in place. Lets face it there are many developers out there who need a license that provides freedom and freedom is power. Everyone has their own opinion of what freedom and power is. I believe that the BSD is the perfect license for free software because it excludes no one. This does not mean that GPL developers aren't writing good free software and helping the free software community thrive. What I do not like is the segregation that SOME GPL users would like to inflict on the community by attempting to shut the door on non-GPL free software developers.

18 Nov 2001

Sun, 18 Nov 2001 15:52:18 GMT

Recently I read the article about chewing up leaders and spitting them out so to speak. I am not familiar with these particular developers who have decided to exit the community. However I find it distressing that the dedication that they once held to the community is forgotten in the blink of an eye. That out of the way I will now brief the community with my current situation and a few beliefs that have guided me. I am twenty years old with 0 income attempting to earn a name for myself in the software engineering community. Those who would agree with me might say I am a determined perfectionist(those who would not would prefer to call me a stubborn mule). My goal is to create mass production in society through use of flexible easy to use GUI's providing distributed environments to computer users ranging from the personal to the corporation level. In these efforts I hope to gain returns in any or all of the following: Wide Scale Recognition of my Skills Research Contacts Revenue for Continuation of Research(this can take many forms. Cost of living, or scholarship receival from an educational institution.) Some of my requests may be critized, but the work that developing requires is not easy especially for someone with financial pressure such as mine. If you have managed to stick with this entry to this point even if you do not agree with all of my proposals then I will divulge some of the features that my completed OODBMS displays.

Written in java(used relative file names and took into account all platform dependant barriers although it is still untested on most platforms) Event Queue capable of processing events in the background. Also has the ability of turning on a cache which stores event instructions until the user desires to flush the queue and thus execute the events. Easy to navigate tree hierarchy used to navigate catalogs, templates, and tables contained in the database. Customizable templates allowing flexibility of columns, automatic image column, and partitioning of data contained within tables. Multiple table searches depending on data contained in columns. SQL mapping of add update delete(across the TCP). Copy and paste items from one table to another. Multiple tables initialized at the same time. Dynamic spreadsheets(Associations) with portions of the calculation equation comming from multiple tables(configuration is persistant). Store up to 20 static spreadsheets. Print tables, Associations, and automatic image displayer. Create HTML tables cloned from database tables(uses some javascript for displaying images). Partitioned or Full saving of tables. Create server sockets for receiving data into a certain table and client sockets for exporting data out of certain tables(TCP). Error logging.

Thankyou for your interest