So after only having my new site up for about 3 months or so I gotta retire it as a Freelance service because of this new job that I accepted. No big deal really, I'll just toss it into my portfolio like I've done before. The thing is that I had planned on turning my current site into a blog type site where I can post some tutorials and down loadable scripts in whatever programming language I feel.
That's all fine and dandy but many of my geeky buddies are suggesting that I go the Word Press route but I'm not sure if that's the way I would like to go. I do know that it would be the more sensible route to take but I'm the kind of person that takes pride in the work that I do, and if I use an application that was already built, I won't have the glory of saying I did it. Don't get me wrong, I use scripts that I find here and there to cut development time in half like many other coders but by using an entire application is not my style.
As for what language to use, I'm think PHP but it would be cool to do it in ASP.NET only for the reason that I like to use the technology that I'm currently learning and put it into action and use it as a learning curve. Problem with that is I am still a noob to the language of ASP.NET.
My current site is coded in ColdFusion (which is flippin awesome) and would definitely program every site in CF if I could but in the real world it's not like that. In the real world, your given a site (sometimes a completed site) and asked to do it right there on the spot, basically asking you to learn this new language, right now. I've gone through this many times and find it to be one of the best ways to learn something new but can be rather frustrating at times.
To end this babble, I'll just say, PHP? Or just go ahead and do the ASP.NET deal. I'm sure I'll do what I feel is best.
- Pete
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Freelance stuff
So, I'm gonna say that the site for my freelance work has been up for a bit now, not too long but a good amount of time I presume. It's looking like I may have to turn it into a portfolio site for myself do to the fact of this new job that I have acquired. It seems as though I will not be able to do any freelance work while working for this company which I do believe is nonsense but hey, it's an opportunity that I'm willing to going along with. But I will tell you one thing. Since I'm so proud of the work I did with my new site, you better believe that I will definitely be putting it into my portfolio. There's no way I'm gonna scrap all that work.
As for my future plans, I'm thinking about doing what basically every programmer does; create my own personal blog site that will have scripts that can be downloaded along with tutorial videos.
I know I know, please god not another programmer with a site with scripts that barely ever work and are a massive pain in the neck to get up and running. I look at it this way. If I feel like posting my scripts for free and allow people to download them for free then stop your belly aching and either download the free stuff or be on your way to another site to get some free stuff.
- Pete
As for my future plans, I'm thinking about doing what basically every programmer does; create my own personal blog site that will have scripts that can be downloaded along with tutorial videos.
I know I know, please god not another programmer with a site with scripts that barely ever work and are a massive pain in the neck to get up and running. I look at it this way. If I feel like posting my scripts for free and allow people to download them for free then stop your belly aching and either download the free stuff or be on your way to another site to get some free stuff.
- Pete
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Gaining more knowledge
I'm sure that I can't be the only developer out there that has a language that they call their primary and preferred coding language. For myself, I would definitely say that I am a ColdFusion buff to the highest level. I love the stuff! Especially for it's ease and speed of development and a must is the simplicity of creating a database connection to virtually any major database application available today.
But, the time has come where I feel the need to add another language to my brain. Which one to choose? Well, I am quite handy when it comes to ColdFusion, PHP, Classic ASP, SQL and how can we forget AJAX (it's pretty much a must these days). So, which language do I go forth with? There's actually an easy answer for this question and sorry to say but is includes learnign some Microsoft technology, and yes, I am not a big ole fan of MS stuff. But I have selected to start getting my hands dirty with some ASP.NET and of coarse there is reason behind this decision.
Recently, I have been going on a couple interviews, all going rather well I must say and was offered a developer position at a local Web company. I did accept the offer for reasons that should be obvious without me saying and I'm definitely very interested to see how this company plays it's role in the community. The thing is that I was hired to develop in Classic ASP, PHP and of coarse do those little and not so little updates, upgrades and changes to existing web sites and application along with doing some developing in ASP.NET.
Now, I am not one of those guys that shows up for an interview and lies just to get the job. If I don't know something I will make it very clear that I have no clue but if given the chance, I'm a quick learner and could definitely pick it up quick.
That's why I have decided to make an attempt at ASP.NET. I also think I got everything I need to get a going with it. Download and install of silly ole Visual Web Developer 2008, SQL Server 2008, I have Dreamweaver still although I don't really use it too often because Eclipse and Aptana do the same stuff (and are FREE).
That's about it, I got a new job and I hope it works out good (WOOT Me!!!).
- Pete
But, the time has come where I feel the need to add another language to my brain. Which one to choose? Well, I am quite handy when it comes to ColdFusion, PHP, Classic ASP, SQL and how can we forget AJAX (it's pretty much a must these days). So, which language do I go forth with? There's actually an easy answer for this question and sorry to say but is includes learnign some Microsoft technology, and yes, I am not a big ole fan of MS stuff. But I have selected to start getting my hands dirty with some ASP.NET and of coarse there is reason behind this decision.
Recently, I have been going on a couple interviews, all going rather well I must say and was offered a developer position at a local Web company. I did accept the offer for reasons that should be obvious without me saying and I'm definitely very interested to see how this company plays it's role in the community. The thing is that I was hired to develop in Classic ASP, PHP and of coarse do those little and not so little updates, upgrades and changes to existing web sites and application along with doing some developing in ASP.NET.
Now, I am not one of those guys that shows up for an interview and lies just to get the job. If I don't know something I will make it very clear that I have no clue but if given the chance, I'm a quick learner and could definitely pick it up quick.
That's why I have decided to make an attempt at ASP.NET. I also think I got everything I need to get a going with it. Download and install of silly ole Visual Web Developer 2008, SQL Server 2008, I have Dreamweaver still although I don't really use it too often because Eclipse and Aptana do the same stuff (and are FREE).
That's about it, I got a new job and I hope it works out good (WOOT Me!!!).
- Pete
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Haven't blogged in a while for good reasons
Well it's been sometime since I've written my last blogged, mainly because I've been very busy working on my new web site for my freelance service that I call Blue Web Techniques. In fact, I can't remember when I got a site together as quick as I did with this one. I mean everything came to me unbelievably easy and I pretty much knew what I wanted right away instead of constantly pondering about small details.Some new features on my new site include, slick and simple navigation, live Twitter feed (not always about tech stuff), A tag cloud that is updated whenever someone does a search, a new search box that opens up in a light box, almost all new content that gets right to the point, a very basic contact form (no more non sense fields), Language Translation with the Google API, new portfolio content and I think that's about it, but of coarse, I'm always working on something so expect many more additions.
I hope you like my new site, click here to check it out.
I'm also more active than ever on Twitter.
- Pete
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Coldfusion Developer Pay Scale, Which is correct?
I've been doing some mild research with pay scales from all over the web. Some from Career Builder, Pay Scale, and Monster, all of which probably get the most traffic as far as I know (Just a guess). Reason being that I believe that I am insanely under paid Coldfusion Developer. I think it's safe to say that I am not over exaggerating on this one bit because my yearly salary is no more than 31,000 a year. Not only do I develop in Coldfusion, I am also fluent in the necessary languages to develop web sites such as the obvious: HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Not only that but I do in house tech work when needed. Again, I am also quite handy when it comes to putting together databases and codeing out the SQL for the applications.
After saying to myself, man, I need to take a look and get a general idea of what I should be making. Just an estimated salary would even set my mind at ease. That's not exactly what happened after I took a look at some of these pay scales. To be honest, I was a bit shocked to see that the average developer salary is 52,197 a year. Now if I was getting that I would be able to pay my bills and not be living pay check to pay check.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm the best developer out there but I do know my stuff and I can and will code my brains out. I just wish I would get what I should be getting and hell, I would button my mouth up if I even got to 50,000 a year. I'm not a complainer, I just need the salary that should come with the position so I can take the next step in my life.
Linkages for pay scale sites:
Pay Scale
Career Builder
- Pete
After saying to myself, man, I need to take a look and get a general idea of what I should be making. Just an estimated salary would even set my mind at ease. That's not exactly what happened after I took a look at some of these pay scales. To be honest, I was a bit shocked to see that the average developer salary is 52,197 a year. Now if I was getting that I would be able to pay my bills and not be living pay check to pay check.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think I'm the best developer out there but I do know my stuff and I can and will code my brains out. I just wish I would get what I should be getting and hell, I would button my mouth up if I even got to 50,000 a year. I'm not a complainer, I just need the salary that should come with the position so I can take the next step in my life.
Linkages for pay scale sites:
Pay Scale
Career Builder
- Pete
Monday, March 2, 2009
Oracle Studies Day 2
Since I'm stuck at home today because of a pretty hefty East Coast snow storm, I figured why not toss up a quick blog about the past 2 days of Oracle studying.
Now, I have never touched Oracle until 2 days ago but I have done some SQL programming, and SQL is basically SQL where ever your using it so that wasn't the problem. Getting Oracle 11g up and running was a bit odd and very different than getting MySQL running and many tutorials available show you how to install Oracle but I couldn't seem to find any to show how to configure it.
Here's a quick tutorial on how to get Oracle 11g up and running in no time:
1. Download your the proper version of Oracle here (Note: you must have a user account with Oracle to download the installer and I'm installing Oracle 11g on a Windows XP Professional machine with SP3)
2. After your download has completed, run the Oracle 11g setup.exe (Be patient, it's Java so it may take a bit to load up)
3. Once the Oracle 11g installer has appeared, untic the "Create Starter Database" checkbox and choose "Advanced Installation", then click next.
4. When the Oracle 11g installer appears again, choose"Custom" and click next
5. Now, Oracle will create a default location with the current Windows logged in user. You can change this directory name and also change the Software location name as well. Click next to proceed.
6. If all checks are successful in the following window, click next to proceed.
7. The new window will show tons of optional packages that you can install. Leave the default selections for now. If you find a need later to install a new package, it's easy to install it using Oracles Universal installer. Click next to proceed.
8. You should now see a window titled "Create Database". Tic the "Install satabase software only" radio button and click continue.
9. Finally, you should now see a summary of all to be installed. Click install and go get a cup of coffee for the reason that it may take sometime to complete the installation.
10. After your installation has completed without any errors I'm hoping. You now need to create a listener.
11. To create a listener, Click Start and find your Oracle installation, and go to listing Configuration and Migration Tools and choose Net Configuration Assistant.
12. Once the Net Configuration Assistant has loaded, leave the default of "Listener configuration" selected and click next.
13. Leave the default of "Add" selected and click next.
14. Here's where you give your new Listener a name. Name it anything you wish and click next.
15. Now select the protocol type of TCP and scoot it over to the selected protocols box and click next.
16. Leave the default port of 1521 and click next.
17. Finally, leave the default of "No" selected and click next.
18. You now have a listener, now you can create a Local Net Service Name by using the "Net Configuration Assistant" once again.
19. Once you have loaded the "Net Configuration Assistant" choose "Local Net Service Name Configuration" and click next.
20. Click "Add" and click next.
21. Give you service name a name and click next.
22. Leave the default of TCP selected and click next.
23. Now enter your hostname by either using localhost, 127.0.0.1, or your static ip address if thats what your using and click next.
24. Now Click the "Yes, perform a test" radion button and click next.
25. Now, my test came back as a failure but everything is working just fine. Click next or finish to complete the wizard.
26. Now that you have all that is needed to get started. It's now time to try and login to Oracle by creating a new connection using the SQL Developer.
27. Click start and go to your Oracle installation and go to list "Application Development" and select "SQL Developer".
28. Once the SQL Developer has loaded, right click "Connections" and select "New Connection"
29. Where "Connection Name", enter a name for this connection
30. Now you need to enter a username and password. You can either user the "system" user and the password you provided during installation or create a new user. To create a new user open SQL*Plus and enter system as the username and your password to login to SQL*Plus. Enter the following command CREATE USER new_user IDENTIFIED user_password;. Where new_user is your new username and where user_password is the new users password. Hit enter and your new user should be created. Now you need to edit permissions for the new user. Enter the following command GRANT connect, resource TO new_user and hit enter. You should be prompt with a granted line in SQL*Plus.
31. Now back to SQL Developer, enter you new login criteria into the Username and Password fields.
32. Leave the Role set to default
33. Leave the connection type as the default of Basic
34. Enter your hostname localhost, 127.0.0.1, or a static ip address
35. Leave the default port of 1521
36. Select "Service Name" and enter the service name you created earlier
37. Click "Save" and then click "Test"
38. If your test status is "Successful", you will be able to login to you new connection
39. If a failure occurs, double check all your settings and previous configuations
It may seem like a lot of work but its really not that bad and shouldn't take too long to get Oracle 11g installed and configured. Hmmm, maybe I'll create a tutorial video on this one.
Hope this helps anyone and please feel free to leave me comments.
- Pete
Now, I have never touched Oracle until 2 days ago but I have done some SQL programming, and SQL is basically SQL where ever your using it so that wasn't the problem. Getting Oracle 11g up and running was a bit odd and very different than getting MySQL running and many tutorials available show you how to install Oracle but I couldn't seem to find any to show how to configure it.
Here's a quick tutorial on how to get Oracle 11g up and running in no time:
1. Download your the proper version of Oracle here (Note: you must have a user account with Oracle to download the installer and I'm installing Oracle 11g on a Windows XP Professional machine with SP3)
2. After your download has completed, run the Oracle 11g setup.exe (Be patient, it's Java so it may take a bit to load up)
3. Once the Oracle 11g installer has appeared, untic the "Create Starter Database" checkbox and choose "Advanced Installation", then click next.
4. When the Oracle 11g installer appears again, choose"Custom" and click next
5. Now, Oracle will create a default location with the current Windows logged in user. You can change this directory name and also change the Software location name as well. Click next to proceed.
6. If all checks are successful in the following window, click next to proceed.
7. The new window will show tons of optional packages that you can install. Leave the default selections for now. If you find a need later to install a new package, it's easy to install it using Oracles Universal installer. Click next to proceed.
8. You should now see a window titled "Create Database". Tic the "Install satabase software only" radio button and click continue.
9. Finally, you should now see a summary of all to be installed. Click install and go get a cup of coffee for the reason that it may take sometime to complete the installation.
10. After your installation has completed without any errors I'm hoping. You now need to create a listener.
11. To create a listener, Click Start and find your Oracle installation, and go to listing Configuration and Migration Tools and choose Net Configuration Assistant.
12. Once the Net Configuration Assistant has loaded, leave the default of "Listener configuration" selected and click next.
13. Leave the default of "Add" selected and click next.
14. Here's where you give your new Listener a name. Name it anything you wish and click next.
15. Now select the protocol type of TCP and scoot it over to the selected protocols box and click next.
16. Leave the default port of 1521 and click next.
17. Finally, leave the default of "No" selected and click next.
18. You now have a listener, now you can create a Local Net Service Name by using the "Net Configuration Assistant" once again.
19. Once you have loaded the "Net Configuration Assistant" choose "Local Net Service Name Configuration" and click next.
20. Click "Add" and click next.
21. Give you service name a name and click next.
22. Leave the default of TCP selected and click next.
23. Now enter your hostname by either using localhost, 127.0.0.1, or your static ip address if thats what your using and click next.
24. Now Click the "Yes, perform a test" radion button and click next.
25. Now, my test came back as a failure but everything is working just fine. Click next or finish to complete the wizard.
26. Now that you have all that is needed to get started. It's now time to try and login to Oracle by creating a new connection using the SQL Developer.
27. Click start and go to your Oracle installation and go to list "Application Development" and select "SQL Developer".
28. Once the SQL Developer has loaded, right click "Connections" and select "New Connection"
29. Where "Connection Name", enter a name for this connection
30. Now you need to enter a username and password. You can either user the "system" user and the password you provided during installation or create a new user. To create a new user open SQL*Plus and enter system as the username and your password to login to SQL*Plus. Enter the following command CREATE USER new_user IDENTIFIED user_password;. Where new_user is your new username and where user_password is the new users password. Hit enter and your new user should be created. Now you need to edit permissions for the new user. Enter the following command GRANT connect, resource TO new_user and hit enter. You should be prompt with a granted line in SQL*Plus.
31. Now back to SQL Developer, enter you new login criteria into the Username and Password fields.
32. Leave the Role set to default
33. Leave the connection type as the default of Basic
34. Enter your hostname localhost, 127.0.0.1, or a static ip address
35. Leave the default port of 1521
36. Select "Service Name" and enter the service name you created earlier
37. Click "Save" and then click "Test"
38. If your test status is "Successful", you will be able to login to you new connection
39. If a failure occurs, double check all your settings and previous configuations
It may seem like a lot of work but its really not that bad and shouldn't take too long to get Oracle 11g installed and configured. Hmmm, maybe I'll create a tutorial video on this one.
Hope this helps anyone and please feel free to leave me comments.
- Pete
Monday, February 23, 2009
Getting in deep with some Oracle studying
Lately I've been doing a very large amount of database work and SQL programming. Thus the reason I have decided to drop what I have been studying (I'm a Java newbie) to go full strength with studying Oracle PL/SQL. Why Oracle? Simply answered would be that when I got out of school and was working hard to find a company that would hire a noob. I like many others was getting attacked by all the head hunters and what I always told them was that I am interested in a job where I can do some Oracle work and I always got the same response, "If your just out of school, you're not ready for Oracle". Though this was definitely correct, I now believe that I'm ready to get my feet wet with some serious database programming.
Today, I FINALLY received my Oracle book from Amazon. Though I do know SQL, it could always be better so I decided to start out with "Oracle Database 11g SQL, Master SQL and PL/SQL in the Oracle Database". I know it's a saturday and I also know the weekend is the time to let loose and relax, but I am actually excited to dig into this book as soon as I can, so being the geek I am, I'll probably jump right in today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
