Django Smuggler Import/Export

Just started using Django Smuggler (http://github.com/semente/django-smuggler) for importing/exporting data from the Django admin (in JSON or XML). It's very easy to get going. And it's very useful.

Easy install:

sudo easy_install django-smuggler

It's an excellent, do-one-thing-well utility. Check it out.

Android Development in Kansas City

I just setup a new site advertising my mad Android development skills: kcappdev.com.

If you are looking for Android application development and/or testing in Kansas City, go to kcappdev.com.

They Make Apps

http://theymakeapps.com/

A newly discovered site for finding Android and iPhone developers.

For Sale: Technology and Website for creating and selling user-customized Android applications

For Sale: Technology and Website for creating and selling user-customized Android applications.

See everything in action: http://redbirdapps.com

The web-application allows anyone to create, purchase, and share their own Android application (no programming required).

The technology behind the site is for sale, including: website code and Android code. (The company/domain is not for sale. There are no obligations to existing customers.)

The buyer could have their own site up and running, creating Android apps and charging customers within days.

The app currently built by the site is an "Android Business Card" (check out the above URL for a full demo). The system could also be modified for building and selling other customizable Android applications.

The ability to monetize is built into the site. Users can build and test their application for free and pay to get a releasable and shareable version.

Similar services that build applications for the iPhone are charging $199-$499 per app. Getting a developer to build an app similar to that produced by the site would cost several thousand dollars.

The technology behind the site: Python/Django, Android SDK, Amazon S3, and Google Checkout for charging. I have developed all code behind the site and can make transitioning it fast and easy.

Email bennybeta (gmail) for offers and inquiries.

If you are an entrepreneur interested in the mobile apps space this could be an excellent opportunity.

If you run an Android-targeted website and are interested in a referral fee, please spread the word.

Working with VirtualEnv and Pip

I've just begun working with VirtualEnv and Pip for my Python project package management. So far I'm impressed. Rather than just rehash the tutorials I've read I'll just point you to some good ones...

• http://arthurkoziel.com/2008/10/22/working-virtualenv/
• http://www.b-list.org/weblog/2008/dec/15/pip/
• http://www.saltycrane.com/blog/2009/05/notes-using-pip-and-virtualenv-django/
• http://clemesha.org/blog/2009/jul/05/modern-python-hacker-tools-virtualenv-fabric-pip/

Okay, here's a few commands I've used...

virtualenv --no-site-packages env

pip install -E env yolk

source env/bin/activate

yolk -l

pip install -E env -e svn+http://code.djangoproject.com/svn/django/trunk/

pip freeze -E env > requirements.txt

pip install -E env -r requirements.txt

Happy New Year with AndTip.Me

I just launched a new site on Jan.1 2010 (Happy New Year) called AndTip.Me. The site is for Android users to get and share tips for using their powerful mobile devices.

The site is still in progress, but the cool things is how fast it was put together and launch (thanks in large part to the power of Django). Basically the site went from idea to launch in less that a week with only a couple hours a day of work (probably about 12 hours total).

So if you are an Android user, learn some new tips and tricks at http://AndTip.Me.

I'll try to do some more posts on the technologies behind the site, including: Haystack, Whoosh, django-comments, django-voting, and Amazon EC2.

Ubuntu 9.10 on Dell Studio 1555

I recently got a new laptop, a Dell Studio 15(55). Of course the first thing I did when I got it was wipe it (remove Windows 7) and install Ubuntu 9.10.

To make a long story short, I had some problems with the laptop display (though plugging in an external monitor worked fine). The issues had to do with Intel's GMA and integrated graphics support.

The first problem was during installation. After the initial live boot/installation menu (pic below) I would get a blank (lit black) screen.

First I used Ubuntu's alternate installer. Then on the installation menu:

1. Select the Install Ubuntu item (don't press Enter yet)
2. Press F6 and select (X) the apic=off option
3. Press F4 and type nomodeset as input
4. Press Enter to install

After installation or a restart though you'll still get a blank screen until you permanently set the nomodeset option.

,

These resources helped me solve the problems:

• http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/910
• https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/395932

To get things working I had to set the "nomodeset" option in the Grub2 (boot loader) configuration.

When using the default kernel-mode-setting (KMS) option in Ubuntu 9.10, users with Intel 82852/855GM cards will find that they are unable to use the Xv extension for playing videos. This may show up as high CPU usage or stuttering during video playback, or a failure to play videos at all with some applications. As a workaround, users can add the option nomodeset to the kernel boot options in the grub config (for GRUB 2: edit /etc/default/grub and add nomodeset to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX, then run sudo update-grub; for GRUB 1: edit /boot/grub/menu.lst and add nomodeset to the line beginning with # kopt=, then run sudo update-grub), to disable the use of KMS

From the above excerpt:

1. For Grub2 (the default for Ubuntu 9.10), edit /etc/default/grub
2. Add nomodeset to GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX
3. run sudo update-grub

Then you should be good to go.