I just upgraded this blog to Bloo alpha build 6, so if things look funny press your refresh button (lots of stylesheet work was done).

I’ve finally upgraded this blog to the latest version of Bloo (alpha build 5).

It’s good to be up to date (and ironic that I let this one languish).

If the image looks funny (text overlayed) press your refresh button.

I’ll get the ESV daily passage back up soon (need to write the extension for it in the new architecture)

Have a great weekend!

Tonight I released Bloo version 1.00 alpha build 3. As some of you may know, I’ve been working on a public domain blogging package named “Bloo” for awhile. Currently my solo blog Out of the Bloo and the Bloo Development Blog are two blogs based on this software. Bloo is fully object-oriented and differentiates itself in other important ways from most packages out there. It is also, of course, still in it’s toddlerhood.

Earlier this month I released it into the public domain. I’ve had a dozen or two downloads since then, but haven’t been making too huge a noise as there were some specific features I wanted to add to it before calling for alpha testers. Well, at this point I think I’m ready for some people to load this thing up and take it for a test drive.

You can read more about Bloo at The Bloo Wiki and can get the latest version at the SourceForge Project Page.

What I’m looking for is one of two types of people to alpha test.

Person 1: You are a person who has some webspace of your own that supports PHP and MySql and wouldn’t mind uploading the software, installing it (I have a pretty straightforward install program that comes with it) and kicking the tires. There’s no limit to how many of these kinds of testers I could use. A bonus would be if some of the people in this group are experienced PHP developers with a good handle on Object Oriented concepts and the willingness to learn how Bloo is put together, and the philosophy behind it, as I could use the help. This would probably require me to do some documentation but I need to do that anyway.

Person 2: You aren’t necessarily technical or posessed of webspace, but you are an experienced blogger. I would be willing to setup blogs for 2 or 3 people of this sort under the outofthebloo.com domain. The blog would be, basically, [a name you choose].outofthebloo.com. All I would ask is that you spend some time doing some testing and blogging. I would come up with some specific tasks for you to try.

There is a third type of person as well – someone who has webspace but isn’t keen on installing Bloo themselves. I’d be glad to do that for you.

In short, I’m looking for some people interested in getting involved at the ground level in helping move Bloo along. So, if you’re interested in alpha testing this thing, please let me know! You can write me at supportAToutoftheblooDOTcom and we’ll talk. Of course, the key word here is “alpha” – this software has been working pretty well for me for almost a year, but no doubt there are plenty of gotchas lurking under the surface.

I will refrain from many more technical/geek posts, but I will ping you with news regarding the development of Bloo as things develop. I won’t wax eloquent about Bloo anymore in this space, as I now have a Bloo Development Blog where I can do that. And there was much rejoicing!

Also, due to a rising clamor, I think I need to explain just what Bloo is, as a vast majority of the three people who still read this blog have been cocking inquisitive snooks at me about what the heck I am blathering on about. Simply put, Bloo is the software I have written that runs this blog. I put it in the Public domain (meaning: I have made the source code publicly available) and have it out in a SourceForge project as well. For more info, check out the Bloo wiki, which is my growing repository of information on all things bloo.

Now, to the latest Bloo news: I released the second alpha build last night. It fixed a few glaring and dumb errors.

Good night all.

In theory . . .

I’ve been Mr. Mom the past two days, as Jill is in the northeast seeing her parents off to the Ukraine. I’ve taken advantage of the time at home while the kids are at school to refactor the daylights out of Bloo, and am currently creating all those nice-to-haves (an install program, for instance). I “think” I’m on track for releasing this thing tomorrow. I mean today (it’s past midnight). I’ve put in a lot of work over the past few days, and at times I wondered if I wasn’t being a bit of a perfectionist, but I’m of the opinion that spending minutes fixing problems now while Bloo is swaddled in its cradle will save spending days fixing the problems after it’s become a gangly adolescent (or, even worse, just living with them). Assuming “gangly adolescence” ever happens. And how was that for a strained metaphor?.

In any event, I believe it’s been worth it. And I am relieved to have made some of the fixes I made, because they were buggin . . .

I’m tired. But having fun. How is that possible you say? Well, I’m a nerd. A pocket-protector, taped-glassed, propeller-head nerd. It would be sad, really, if it wasn’t so cool! (yes, that’s how we nerds think. Come join us. You know you want to . . . )

And – I promise – once this is released I will return this blog to its true personality, i.e. my personal devotional space. Mainly because I will also unveil the Bloo Developer’s Blog simultaneously with the release. And these kinds of posts will go there.

My three readers are surely getting tired of my Nerdvana posts. Things are good, just busy. God is good, all the time.

More details coming. Watch me for the changes!

Things are going good in the development of Bloo. However, I set the bar pretty high for myself. I’ve architected the Extensions module and I’m pretty happy with the results, but there are a million things left to do to get release candidate 1 out there. I mean, the software works now, but this is my last chance to be able to easily rearchitect things (once people start using** this that gets a lot harder).

But I’m having fun. I’m a nerd.

Looks like a Thursday release!

Watch me for the changes . . .

** of course, it’s a pretty big assumption to assume that’s anywhere near imminent.

Bloo has been upgraded to version 0.18!

I will put release notes out tomorrow. This was a big one – lots and lots of changes, although most of them are things in the background that you probably won’t notice. But I’m pumped! 🙂

We’re getting very close to a release into the wilds of the public domain.

Watch me for the changes . . .

I’ve been working on Bloo version 0.18 and definitely feeling the wind in my hair! In fact, I believe I achieved “nerdvana” on the bus ride the other day. Check this out:

On the ride in to work (approximately 40 minutes) I came up with the TemplateModifier architecture, which will facilitate mucho flexibility in the Overlay templates used by a SnapOn. Basically, a developer can add display functionality to a SnapOn without having to inherit from the SnapOn or create a whole new Overlay, and with no real concern for other TemplateModifiers attached to that SnapOn. And of course, the original SnapOn is fat, dumb and clueless regarding how it’s being morphed on the display. I plan on implementing a display filter for gravatars in comments in the next version.

On the busride home I came up with the SnapOnDisplayFilter architecture, which allows for filtering and morphing of the data rendered in a SnapOn. This also will achieve max coolness. I think it’s pretty cool that the Bloo architecture made it so easy for me to create these so quickly, if I do say so meself.

For what it’s worth, developing Bloo has been hugely enjoyable. I’m heading toward public domain release soon [Cue Kronk voice: “Riiiiiiight”].

Watch me for the changes . . .