I am helping a friend start a new project. While I can’t talk about the details, I can say that it will be a Facebook application.  I am writing the back end in CakePHP, which is an interesting framework to say the least. Some parts I like, and others not so much.

The good news is, all this Facebook application coding is getting me motivated to make a Picwala application.  We’ll see where it goes.

It needs to

• Check required files against an inventory list (done)
• Verify the server has MySQL and GD Library support
• Instruct the user to create a database schema and a user account
• Instruct the user to edit the picwala_global.php file
• Check the picwala_global.php file
  • Default passwords changed
  • Can connect to the database
• Check the database has all required tables or create them
• Check all required folders exist
  • Option to create them
• Display copyable html to insert a link into other web pages

After a bit of twiddling, I made the test script a proper HTML page with doctype etc.

And, added the link to the .css into the test script.  It appears that when you insert innerHTML, and the inserted html contains a link to a .css file, only Firefox actually reads that file.  The easiest fix is to include the .css link in the parent document.

There are some minor formatting issues still out, but it all looks easily solvable.

Anybody want to add a picture index to your web page? I am looking for beta testers, and can even host the pictures here if need be.

I have a couple of little bugs to swat, and need to test on Safari and IE.

And I’ll make a handy-dandy installation program to help set up an empty database and test everything.

I’m looking for testers. Anybody want to set up your own photo library?

• Picwala can be inserted into any web page simply by adding a few lines of html
• All new object oriented php code
• Found a way to insert a Picwala screen in a different domain from where it is hosted
• The javascript page loader works well
• Search and single image display pages are done and working well
• File uploads working, and messages show success or errors encountered
• Log in and privileges working well

To be done:

• Edit tags page
• Tag images page
• Internet Explorer and Safari testing and formatting tweaks

This will bring the following:

• Insert Picwala into any web page simply by inserting a tag like
  <div id=”picwala_div”>
  <SCRIPT language=”JavaScript” SRC=”http://localhost/picwala2.0/picwala.js”></SCRIPT>
  </div>
• Add picwala to your existing web pages without editing PHP code (similar to embedding youtube)
• Easy to install and configure
• All object oriented code, css-based layout

Still jet lagged, and already starting to think about the next trip!

I went out at dawn to get a few pictures with the magic sunrise colors.  Some time I will have to come back with a tripod and 20mm lens. Still, the pocket sized Sony didn’t do too bad.

Off to Chiang Mai tomorrow, which is much more photogenic.

The space and SF images are down for the time being. I like them, but think they will only distract from the direction I am taking.

There are only a few pictures up at the moment, but I hope to be adding more shortly.  Keep checking back. Clicking new on the pictures tab will bring up all the latest.