MVC For Webcomics

I’m officially starting a project to write software for hosting webcomics using Microsoft’s MVC (Model View Controller) framework for Asp.Net.

Of course there are two main reasons for doing this:

  1. Learn MVC and use it on a real project
  2. Profit (well, hopefully generate revenue by hosting other people’s webcomics)

Don’t know if numero dos up there will ever pan out, but I can’t go wrong with number one unless I actually knock something else out of my head by learning MVC.

I’m only just starting to dig in to MVC but so far I like it. It is Microsoft’s answer to things like Ruby On Rails.

Kind of begs the question why I don’t just use Ruby On Rails, doesn’t it? Well my reasoning is that I can use C# and .Net for MVC (or Web Forms) and also use it for Silverlight (I want to make casual games too…). I also plan to dig-in to XNA for XBox 360 and Windows games as well. Hmm. Guess I’d better work on the time dilation device first…

Posted on 4/14/2009 11:13:00 PM by jeffa

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Categories: .Net | Webcomics

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Quick Peek At Microsoft MVC

This is the text of a presentation I am making for GGMUG.com (Gwinnett, Georgia, Microsoft User Group).

Rather than post the PowerPoint ppt file, I’m going to extract the text here so you can read it without downloading a file.

This isn’t a long presentation (shooting for about 20 minutes), and I’m not an MVC expert. I’m just now getting started. As I get farther along, I plan to do a feature length presentation.

I’m not posting the demo here because it is just a walk through of the basic code you get when you File:New up a project.

What is MVC?

  • Pattern (Model/View/Controller)
    • Hello! 1979 calling. They want their pattern back! Smalltalk! W00t!
  • Microsoft Web Framework
    • OPEN SOURCE
    • Really
    • NOT an April Fool’s Joke

Design Pattern

  • Model
    • Data
  • View
    • UI
  • Controller
    • Biz logic and plumbing

How is it different?

  • No "heavy" controls
  • No code behind
  • Not event driven
  • Closer to the metal (well, more direct control of HTML rendered)
  • More URL control

Why use it?

  • Separation of concerns
  • Test Driven Development
  • Code gen
  • Them Rails guys is cool (apologies to David Letterman)

Where does it fit?

  • Asp.Net
    • Web Forms
    • MVC

Quick demo

  • Every time the demo breaks, take a drink
  • BSOD means you have to chug your drink

Good examples

  • StackOverflow.com
  • NerdDinner.com
  • Cruvee.com

Requirements

  • ASP.NET 3.5 SP1
  • Windows Server that will run ASP.NET 3.5…
  • Visual Studio 2008
  • Keyboard
  • Mouse
  • Internet connection
  • Electricity
  • Food
  • Oxygen

Links

Posted on 4/8/2009 11:52:00 PM by jeffa

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Categories: .Net | ggmug

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Gadget Fever or If I Were A Rich Man

You know that game where everyone sits around and talks about what they’d do if they won the lottery?

Bob would go to Fiji, Carol would own houses all over and Fred would head to Montana, create a compound and start a cult. Yeah that game.

I know what I would do. Oh, I’d give some to charity, but a HUGE amount would go to buying electronic gadgets.

Well, I decided to write down the April 2009 list of gadgets I’d like to have right now to play with. Oh, I’ll tell myself some of them would make me more productive, but the truth is they are the 21st century, all-grown up version of the Tonka Trucks and Matchbox Cars I had way back in the 20th century.

Oh, and should you feel a burning urge to buy one of these goodies, just click the picture to jump over to my Amazon whatchamacallit site where I'll get a couple cents on each dollar. I figure if i can convince a few hundred people to buy these things, then I'll be able to buy one myself! Kind of like a Tupperware party. But with stuff I like.

Kindle2

 

Yeah, I want a Kindle. No, I'm not willing to shell out $350+.

I’ve been drooling over e-Ink for more than a decade. I followed all the stories back in the 90s about how it was being developed. Heck, I followed the stories about how it SHOULD be developed.

Back in my PDA totin’ days I read a slew of books on the Palm Sized Windows PDA then Sony CLie/Palm and then Dell Axim/Pocket PC.

Crazy cool feature: built in cell modem to download books darn near anywhere.

You know what I really want? I want to get Kindles for myself, my wife and my two kids. Yeah, for $1,400 we could READ BOOKS. No way to do that any less expensively… oh, wait. The library. Riiight. Paper. Seriously? Sure, you COULD read that way, but who would want to? Pfft! I just might as well be illiterate until Amazon drops their price.

Sony EBook Reader

OK, next best thing to a Kindle? Sony Reader Digital Book.

Yeah I have an ebook fetish. Bad.

Down side? $300. No cell connection.

Upside? More formats without having to pay for every frickin’ blog you want to read.

Nintendo DSi

Dual screen (one’s a touchscreen) game machine with built in wi-fi and Opera browser. That's pretty frickin' sweet!

The dual cameras are of dubious value to me. Until someone creates face tracking software for interacting with the apps.

Oh, and Nintendo needs to turn their new app store into a real app store like Apple’s App Store. No stupid restrictions on who can develop for it.

 

Downside? Stupid Nintendo stupid restrictions on stupid developers! Hopefully this will change. Didn’t we say that back in 1998?

Apple iPod Touch

This is the sweetest PDA to come along in a long time!

You know what would make this REALLY cool? If it were a CELL PHONE TOO! Think about that! Wouldn't that be TOO COOL? Maybe someday Apple will get on the stick and make a cell phone like that.

They what? Oh my.

 

Enough!

That really is enough for now. I’m starting to hyperventilate.

More gadgets and goodies later.

Posted on 4/3/2009 10:15:00 PM by jeffa

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Long time no blog

Been a very long time since I posted anything here.

The last post was about the first Funzietown comic, and now I'm up to number 44.

Haven't made any money with the comic, but I really enjoy doing it.

There is something about working with India ink and a pen (sometimes brush) that is very soothing.

I've been working as a programmer now for a long time, and I realize that I was really missing the purely creative act of writing. Programming is creative as well, but on the other side of the brain. When I take those left brain/right brain tests I always come out just about completely balanced between the two. I find I need activities that satisfy both sides in order to be really happy. Never thought I'd be drawing, but here I am. Granted I don't draw well, but I am improving and it is very satisfying.

Never fear technical readers! I have three long technical posts in the works. We have a GGMUG meeting next week and only one other person has signed up to speak. These are 20 minutes sessions, so I plan to be prepared to three sessions myself. After the meeting I'll convert those talks into blog posts.

Posted on 4/1/2009 11:37:00 PM by jeffa

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Categories: Funzietown.com | Webcomics

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