How often do you recompile php?
Submitted by richard on October 5, 2009 - 6:24pmFor what ever reason you compile php from source, or maybe you run pecl/other extensions..
How often do you recompile? Only for major php releases? Or maybe only if a major security issue pops up?
While recompiling during major releases or to cover known security issues in php, these issues don't always track security issues in the libraries that php compile against! How often do you update your OS? When updating do you pay any attention at all to what packages are being updated?
Self Induced torture at Zendcon09
Submitted by richard on September 29, 2009 - 2:28pmZendcon09 is right around the corner, having been to the last 4 years? Hard to keep track... Anyway I figured it was time for me to be a little more then a seat holder and try talking so I submitted a few talks..
Those got rejected, so I submitted a Uncon proposal which you can vote on here http://joind.in/talk/view/939.
Now honestly I have never cared much for speaking in front of crowds but if I can get on stage for Karaoke http://www.flickr.com/photos/kbconferences/1565278195/ then speaking shouldn't be a problem right?
Solar Framework Shorts - Deleting caches
Submitted by richard on September 27, 2009 - 11:11pmThis one is simple but sweet, In your Models directory you define your Models and the basic rules they follow but do you know you can also make changes at the record level..
Apache performance out of the box
Submitted by richard on September 24, 2009 - 10:55pmThe worst thing in the world you can do if your worried about performance is use Apache OOTB (out of the box). Using it OOTB is like bringing your whole Snap-on tool chest with you when all you need is a tool belt.
The sad thing is most people don't take the time to pull out the tool belt when comparing Apache with other web servers, but that's a discussion for another day.
Solar Framework Shorts - Multitenant caching
Submitted by richard on September 18, 2009 - 10:15pmPretty much everyone knows the best way to ensure site performance is caching data when ever possible. Normally this is pretty much a no-brainer but if your dealing with a Multitenant site you need to make sure you always use a per site unique key for most data.
This gets even more problematic if you support third party developers/modules as they have to follow the same rules as well.
Solar Framework Shorts - Table creation
Submitted by richard on September 16, 2009 - 10:01pmOne of the nice things about the Solar Framework is the ability to define table layout within the models.. Its not something you have to do but when you do Solar will auto create the table if it does not exist.
This makes development fun because when ever you change a model you can just drop the table and it will get remade on the fly.
Auto create however has 2 issues.. 1. Pre populating data, 2. Table settings outside of Solar's realm (like temp tables).
Rolling codes for web security
Submitted by richard on August 17, 2009 - 11:11amI was programming my garage door opener the other day and for some reason I started wondering why we don't use "rolling codes" for web security..
The closest most common thing would be "nonce" which in the most generic sense is hash(timestamp + secret), or in some cases to protect middle man attacks, hash(timestamp + secret + parameters)
Zend Certification verification
Submitted by richard on July 21, 2009 - 3:48pmNoticed a broken link on my site.. The one that shows I am a "Zend Certified" engineer..
Thought maybe they changed how you should be linking to this and didn't tell anyone..
Nope its still http://zend.com/zce.php?c=ZEND001662&r=3ab51cf according to http://www.zend.com/en/services/certification/zce-logo
But that no longer works.. You get sent to the zend store..
Try to look myself up in the "Zend Yellow Pages"... Thats no longer available either..
Sure its a mistake and will be fixed soon...
Need help keeping house cool, Alert will help
Submitted by richard on July 16, 2009 - 7:16pmOk so maybe "Alert" is a lame name but I really wasn't going for "cool".
My new house gets a little warm some afternoons and I don't always remember to close the windows in the morning to keep the cool air in, or open them at night to cool things down.
What is a programmer to do? Pull out the Solar Framework and throw together a simple solution that will email him when certain conditions are met.
Behold http://alert.cyberlot.net/
A quick taste of Solar Framework model flexability and power
Submitted by richard on May 21, 2009 - 7:45amNot all frameworks support true models and this is one thing that really sets the Solar Framework apart from a lot of frameworks.
So what sets Solar apart? Lets replicate what Zend Framework references on models in Solar.. You can find the ZF Docs Here

