Google App Engine works

This weekend I set to add some more features to one of my existing Google App Engine application, Our countdown app. I wanted it to send reminder emails once the events near their due date. (Something like Google Calendar).

Now I could have done it the easier way, and have a cronjob executing every day to check for the dates and send the mails. But I found that the appengine has a neat service called the "Task Queue". One can schedule tasks in this queue, and then set up a "web-hook", which the appengine would invoke as and when it finds appropriate. This is much more neat and scalable for an enterprise application. (In my case, I have only 2 mails to configure :-), but I am happy to know that my design will scale under heady load). Among other features of the Task Queue, one can configure the rate at which the tasks can be executed and also the HTTP request type (GET or POST).

Next would be to once again enable the map application part on the page, and make it mobile (GPS enabled) devices aware. This is possible since the Google geolocation APIs support the detection of the iPhone and Android devices on the client side. Shall post the update, once that's done.

Timing of disclosure

The timing of disclosure is very important. Things when disclosed at one time may result in a totally different situation, than when disclosed at a later time. Strange are the ways of life!

On the other front, have started to explore a bit on the iPod/iPhone devices. I find Apple restricting a lot. The fact it runs on Darwin and that people have made great progress outside of Apple world, should provoke Apple to a more "open" environment. Of course, I have already "jailbroken" my wife's new iPod Touch and experiencing the new world of Cydia. I have backed up my 4.0 SHSH blobs on Cydia as well as grabbed then from the iPod, using tinyumbrella.

With the release of iOS 4.0.2, Apple released the patch for the "PDF hole" stopping the famous jailbreakme method, but I rather installed the "PDF Patch" released by Saurik. I hear that the jailbreakme team released their full source demonstrating the use of the PDF patch, after Apple released the fix in iOS 4.0.2. Way to go!

अच्छा है... (All is well)

Sometimes we so casually respond to the equally casual question, "How are you?" with "Ya.. I am (we) (are all) fine".

We may be keeping a poor health, or facing a critical problem but we hide it from people. There could be various reasons for hiding it, probably from the near and dear ones, so that they do not worry too much.

Unlimited Happiness

Life is such that, a small event in one's life can bring unlimited happiness. It is just a single line in a 22 page visa decision page document, that changed the mood of one entire family!

Well so far so good, waiting and hoping the rest from here on goes off smoothly.

WC2010 fever

Well, the entire world is gripped with this fever now. The first & second round matches have thrown so many surprises. Who could think of Germany, France and Italy (as of now, they are 1 down to New Zealand).

So one can watch the matches live on the "links" available, which I do not want to share here for obvious reasons :). But there are some good alternatives. NDTV has come up with a cool match cast concept. The match is "cast-ed" live using icons and alerts. Try it out here. Another option is the BBC live commentary. But it seems, it is not available due to rights restrictions.

Whatever it be, The World Cup does bring in a fresh dose of enthusiasm in the sport each time in me. I have Brazil as my favourites, let us see....

Those days and those nights

I am happy that my last post evoked mixed response (and some emotions) from either side of the roles in which my friends work in their respective jobs today. I was also reminiscing my initial days in the industry, the associated struggle and slogging overtime. Oh! how very 'a dedicated resource' I used to be.

I also remember this ghazal by JS and CS. I used to hum this ghazal during my walk from Janpath to South Avennue, 11'o clock at night, to catch Bus Nos, 620, 604 or 680 to Moti Bagh or Sect-8 R K Puram. That ticket cost me Rs. 2/= instead of Rs. 5/= if I took the bus from Janpath!

The Superman of a software project

This post is dedicated to the supposed "Superman" of a software project. In any software project, you will find one or two blokes who have this habit of taking on the responsibility of the entire project on their heads, even when there is no need for such drastic actions.

Over the years I have analysed some traits of these "Supermen":

1. The basic habit of "I'll do all" comes from the fact that they wish to become the "hero" of the project.

2. In their hearts they are so insecure about their position in the project/organisation, that they start to involve themselves in all unnecessary tasks, be it trivial or complex.

3. These guys are naturally poor at time management. You will find them slogging till late hours just to prove to management that they are the most "hard working" blokes around. (And also "secure" their insecurity mentioned in point no. 2 above).

4. Naturally, their output in terms of quality is pathetic, since only a "real Superman" can work 10-11 hours a day and produce a decent quality.

5. At the end of the year (more precisely after the appraisal cycle), they will always complain to the management that they were not rated appropriately.

Well I understood long ago, that in this trade, you need to work smart and not slog. And also the fact that pick up only that much work that is possible for one to do within a decent time with a decent quality in it.

God bless the "Supermen"!!!!