Comments for CyberFOX Software Inc. http://cyberfox.com/blog Coding, Connections, and Other Bloggy Bits of Goodness Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:57:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Comment on How I Learned To Stop Worrying About Core Data And Love MacRuby by Cyberfox http://cyberfox.com/blog/120-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-about-core-data-and-love-macruby/comment-page-1#comment-19491 Cyberfox Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:57:04 +0000 http://cyberfox.com/blog/?p=120#comment-19491 Greetings, @George - I'm experimenting with building a Mac-specific version of JBidwatcher, specifically for the Mac OS X App Store. I prefer Ruby as a programming language, so I've been exploring how well MacRuby can work as a desktop application development language. I figure the first major app I build, I should have some solid domain knowledge in first. :) Multiplatform JBidwatcher is <em>not</em> going away. I will continue to develop it for Mac OS X, Linux and Windows, although once I release MacBidwatcher I'll have to think about the work that goes into the Mac OS X version. There's also a real possibility that as time goes on I'll move more of JBidwatcher's code into Ruby, using JRuby (Ruby under Java) which would let me share the important code base between all the programs. It's less about Apple lowering Java's profile, than about my own love for Ruby as a programming language. :) Among other things, Ruby has a lot of capabilities 'built in' that I've had to agonizingly hand-craft over the eleven years I've worked on JBidwatcher. I'm trying to constantly evolve JBidwatcher, to keep it interesting to me, and useful to as many people as possible. I've spent time exploring iPhone apps, web apps, and now a Mac-specific desktop app. Someday hopefully most of those will come to fruition. Or eBay will ban me from their service. :) Best of luck with your auctions! -- Morgan Schweers, Cyber<strong>FOX</strong>! Greetings,
@George – I’m experimenting with building a Mac-specific version of JBidwatcher, specifically for the Mac OS X App Store. I prefer Ruby as a programming language, so I’ve been exploring how well MacRuby can work as a desktop application development language. I figure the first major app I build, I should have some solid domain knowledge in first. :)

Multiplatform JBidwatcher is not going away. I will continue to develop it for Mac OS X, Linux and Windows, although once I release MacBidwatcher I’ll have to think about the work that goes into the Mac OS X version.

There’s also a real possibility that as time goes on I’ll move more of JBidwatcher’s code into Ruby, using JRuby (Ruby under Java) which would let me share the important code base between all the programs.

It’s less about Apple lowering Java’s profile, than about my own love for Ruby as a programming language. :) Among other things, Ruby has a lot of capabilities ‘built in’ that I’ve had to agonizingly hand-craft over the eleven years I’ve worked on JBidwatcher.

I’m trying to constantly evolve JBidwatcher, to keep it interesting to me, and useful to as many people as possible. I’ve spent time exploring iPhone apps, web apps, and now a Mac-specific desktop app. Someday hopefully most of those will come to fruition. Or eBay will ban me from their service. :)

Best of luck with your auctions!

– Morgan Schweers, CyberFOX!

]]> Comment on How I Learned To Stop Worrying About Core Data And Love MacRuby by George Janczuk http://cyberfox.com/blog/120-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-about-core-data-and-love-macruby/comment-page-1#comment-19490 George Janczuk Tue, 12 Apr 2011 23:42:58 +0000 http://cyberfox.com/blog/?p=120#comment-19490 Hi Morgan, I'm a long-time software developer, and my wife is a non-IT person but still fairly computer literate. I put her on to JBidWatcher years ago; it just does what it should without fanfare - the way I like my software. Anyway... I can see a screenshot for MacBidWatcher on this artice? Are you moving away from Java to Ruby and/or Objective C for MacBidwatcher and/or ?BidWatcher in general? Is this possibly because of Apple lowering the status of the JAVA environment within the MacOS eco-system? Will Windows (&/or other platforms) be supported with your new MacBidWatcher project? Anyway... Just curious! George. Hi Morgan,

I’m a long-time software developer, and my wife is a non-IT person but still fairly computer literate.

I put her on to JBidWatcher years ago; it just does what it should without fanfare – the way I like my software.

Anyway… I can see a screenshot for MacBidWatcher on this artice? Are you moving away from Java to Ruby and/or Objective C for MacBidwatcher and/or ?BidWatcher in general? Is this possibly because of Apple lowering the status of the JAVA environment within the MacOS eco-system?

Will Windows (&/or other platforms) be supported with your new MacBidWatcher project?

Anyway… Just curious!

George.

]]> Comment on How I Learned To Stop Worrying About Core Data And Love MacRuby by Saul http://cyberfox.com/blog/120-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-about-core-data-and-love-macruby/comment-page-1#comment-18444 Saul Sun, 13 Feb 2011 05:33:08 +0000 http://cyberfox.com/blog/?p=120#comment-18444 Hi, nice work. I have used Core Data for nearly all my Cocoa apps, and I have a little framework that may be helpful to you. I turns fetching into something more akin to the Rails Active Record model. It's written in ObjC, but I've had success using it for my MacRuby tests. Take a look and I hope it's as helpful for you as it has been for me: http://github.com/magicalpanda/activerecord-fetching-for-core-data Hi, nice work. I have used Core Data for nearly all my Cocoa apps, and I have a little framework that may be helpful to you. I turns fetching into something more akin to the Rails Active Record model. It’s written in ObjC, but I’ve had success using it for my MacRuby tests. Take a look and I hope it’s as helpful for you as it has been for me: http://github.com/magicalpanda/activerecord-fetching-for-core-data

]]> Comment on How I Learned To Stop Worrying About Core Data And Love MacRuby by Terry http://cyberfox.com/blog/120-how-i-learned-to-stop-worrying-about-core-data-and-love-macruby/comment-page-1#comment-18412 Terry Fri, 11 Feb 2011 10:04:39 +0000 http://cyberfox.com/blog/?p=120#comment-18412 Morgan Great blog! It expresses a feeling of rubyism(ness) that that macruby needs to embrace. I often get disheartened thinking that macruby is just an objective c wrapper/bridge( like java) but your effort shows that the ruby view is going to make a huge difference. Not only fun but practical.... perhaps I'm just slightly ruby biased :) Terry Morgan

Great blog! It expresses a feeling of rubyism(ness) that that macruby needs to embrace. I often get disheartened thinking that macruby is just an objective c wrapper/bridge( like java) but your effort shows that the ruby view is going to make a huge difference.

Not only fun but practical…. perhaps I’m just slightly ruby biased :)

Terry

]]> Comment on An informal survey of Rails web application pricing by Bruce Denney http://cyberfox.com/blog/68-an-informal-survey-of-rails-web-application-pricing/comment-page-1#comment-12357 Bruce Denney Tue, 27 Jul 2010 08:07:13 +0000 http://cyberfox.com/blog/?p=68#comment-12357 I think that the charges should be based on two criteria "the amount the software is used", "the value of its functionality" and "the amount of resources needed to run it" The objective is to create a financial structure that mirrors reality. If you code a very useful premium function that is barely used you might earn the same as from a very basic function that is used a huge amount. This is in itself an application, a micro billing platform that allows users to pay for what they use. I think that the charges should be based on two criteria “the amount the software is used”, “the value of its functionality” and “the amount of resources needed to run it”

The objective is to create a financial structure that mirrors reality. If you code a very useful premium function that is barely used you might earn the same as from a very basic function that is used a huge amount.

This is in itself an application, a micro billing platform that allows users to pay for what they use.

]]> Comment on An informal survey of Rails web application pricing by Cyberfox http://cyberfox.com/blog/68-an-informal-survey-of-rails-web-application-pricing/comment-page-1#comment-8075 Cyberfox Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:11:39 +0000 http://cyberfox.com/blog/?p=68#comment-8075 Greetings, While my phone number is (thankfully) somewhat hard to find (it's on the WHOIS record for this domain though :( ), my email address is pretty easy. I have to admit I'm always curious about interesting projects; I have since found a good position, however. The post was in July, and I started work at the end of September. If you want to talk about your interesting project, feel free to email me at gmail.com. 'cyberfox' is the user name. If I can't help you, maybe I can point you to some other resources. -- Morgan Schweers, Cyber<strong>FOX</strong>! Greetings,
While my phone number is (thankfully) somewhat hard to find (it’s on the WHOIS record for this domain though :( ), my email address is pretty easy.

I have to admit I’m always curious about interesting projects; I have since found a good position, however. The post was in July, and I started work at the end of September.

If you want to talk about your interesting project, feel free to email me at gmail.com. ‘cyberfox’ is the user name. If I can’t help you, maybe I can point you to some other resources.

– Morgan Schweers, CyberFOX!

]]> Comment on Tap two cheddar and a mozzarella, play a fondue… by Cyberfox http://cyberfox.com/blog/7-tap-two-chedder-and-a-mozzerella-play-a-fondue/comment-page-1#comment-8074 Cyberfox Fri, 08 Jan 2010 09:00:40 +0000 http://www.vixen.com/blog/?p=7#comment-8074 Greetings, Wow! Glad you enjoyed! Hopefully it worked out well for you... We did not flour (or corn starch as some folks use) the cheese; the primary reason to do so is to prevent the cheese solids from separating from the oils. We stirred gently, and used a gentle heat, so it never separated for us. Sadly, in the four+ years since, my wife has given up her World of Warcraft account. (Actually early last year, when I ended up unemployed for a while and we were cutting costs.) Now we keep our MMOing to Lord of the Rings: Online. Partly because of a love of the subject matter, and partly because it's a low-stress MMO, and lots of it can be taken on in 2-person fellowships. We don't get on there much either, what with a 20mo. old running around. :) I'm very glad you enjoyed the article; hoist a fork for us next time you get over to La Fondue! -- Morgan Schweers, CyberFOX! Greetings,
Wow! Glad you enjoyed! Hopefully it worked out well for you…

We did not flour (or corn starch as some folks use) the cheese; the primary reason to do so is to prevent the cheese solids from separating from the oils. We stirred gently, and used a gentle heat, so it never separated for us.

Sadly, in the four+ years since, my wife has given up her World of Warcraft account. (Actually early last year, when I ended up unemployed for a while and we were cutting costs.) Now we keep our MMOing to Lord of the Rings: Online. Partly because of a love of the subject matter, and partly because it’s a low-stress MMO, and lots of it can be taken on in 2-person fellowships.

We don’t get on there much either, what with a 20mo. old running around. :)

I’m very glad you enjoyed the article; hoist a fork for us next time you get over to La Fondue!

– Morgan Schweers, CyberFOX!

]]> Comment on An informal survey of Rails web application pricing by Gary Mart http://cyberfox.com/blog/68-an-informal-survey-of-rails-web-application-pricing/comment-page-1#comment-8061 Gary Mart Thu, 07 Jan 2010 20:12:47 +0000 http://cyberfox.com/blog/?p=68#comment-8061 "while I’m unemployed"; perhaps if it were easier to get in touch with you (I was unable to find a phone number for you) this would not be the case. Anyway, I have an interesting project for which you may be a good fit. Please contact me. “while I’m unemployed”; perhaps if it were easier to get in touch with you (I was unable to find a phone number for you) this would not be the case. Anyway, I have an interesting project for which you may be a good fit. Please contact me.

]]> Comment on Tap two cheddar and a mozzarella, play a fondue… by Erin http://cyberfox.com/blog/7-tap-two-chedder-and-a-mozzerella-play-a-fondue/comment-page-1#comment-7717 Erin Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:25:23 +0000 http://www.vixen.com/blog/?p=7#comment-7717 Thank you SO much for posting this recipe! My husband and I are La Fondue lovers as well; and now that we live so far away (only about an hour drive...but driving home on a full tummy isn't fun) I'm going to make this for him as a Christmas present. Now, did you flour the cheese before adding it to the mixture? Everywhere I've read has said that flouring it was an absolute necessity. Oh, and what server is your wife on? My husband and I are both on Killrog (my first 80, alliance) and Earthen Ring (DKs). It would be great to get to know another couple with similar interests to ours!!! Merry Christmas! ~Erin Blomquist Thank you SO much for posting this recipe!

My husband and I are La Fondue lovers as well; and now that we live so far away (only about an hour drive…but driving home on a full tummy isn’t fun) I’m going to make this for him as a Christmas present.

Now, did you flour the cheese before adding it to the mixture? Everywhere I’ve read has said that flouring it was an absolute necessity.

Oh, and what server is your wife on? My husband and I are both on Killrog (my first 80, alliance) and Earthen Ring (DKs). It would be great to get to know another couple with similar interests to ours!!!

Merry Christmas!
~Erin Blomquist

]]> Comment on An informal survey of Rails web application pricing by Brian http://cyberfox.com/blog/68-an-informal-survey-of-rails-web-application-pricing/comment-page-1#comment-5615 Brian Wed, 12 Aug 2009 20:15:04 +0000 http://cyberfox.com/blog/?p=68#comment-5615 Thanks for this information. We are also working on pricing for our SaaS product. Our clients will be businesses (Universities to start). The big part missing from from your analysis is that it does not have any data on the actual functional value of the different services. I am not familiar with a number of these websites, so I wonder if there is some metric that can measure SaaS pricing compared to the scope and utility of functionality that it is buying. We are having a hard time finding a similar service to help set a value for our service (this, I guess, is agood thing for competition). We have attempted to do some analysis on what the cost would be to our clients to perform the same service without our software, but this is a difficult analysis. Ultimately, I keep coming back to what seems "fair", and what would I consider paying for it myself. I do think this tends to undervalue the product, though. If anybody has some thoughts, check out our website demo at www.datacookbook.com and send us soem pricing ideas. I would be happy to do the same. (Note: The software is scheduled to be released in November) Thanks for this information. We are also working on pricing for our SaaS product. Our clients will be businesses (Universities to start). The big part missing from from your analysis is that it does not have any data on the actual functional value of the different services. I am not familiar with a number of these websites, so I wonder if there is some metric that can measure SaaS pricing compared to the scope and utility of functionality that it is buying. We are having a hard time finding a similar service to help set a value for our service (this, I guess, is agood thing for competition). We have attempted to do some analysis on what the cost would be to our clients to perform the same service without our software, but this is a difficult analysis. Ultimately, I keep coming back to what seems “fair”, and what would I consider paying for it myself. I do think this tends to undervalue the product, though. If anybody has some thoughts, check out our website demo at http://www.datacookbook.com and send us soem pricing ideas. I would be happy to do the same. (Note: The software is scheduled to be released in November)

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