The art of getting work done

The art of getting work done

In the madness that ensuing with the JBoss project we're trying to get working in my department, I've decided the best way to get work done right now is not to touch it at all. Instead, I spent my time today laying the groundwork for my 1% project that I'll be doing later this summer. So without further ado, I point you to the brand spanking new mercurial repository for Kefir:
My New Repo @ http://kefir.sf.net/hg/kefir/
Commiting is very easy, since it's using mercurial, so all you need to do is email me with patches, if you're interested in helping out.

If you don't know what Kefir is, it's a pretty simple concept. The graphic designer sketches out a great new concept for your GUI in Glade. It's gonna be the greatest thing since sliced bread, or at least Gnome HID compliant. Unfortunately, now the developer is screwed into writing massive amounts of boiler plate code to interact with libglade. Since you, the developer, is smart enough to be using Python, I'm guessing you're also smart enough to hate boiler plate code. This is where Kefir helps.

For every top level window in your GladeXML file, Kefir sketches a frameclass in Python, that when instantiated creates a replica of that window on your screen (or alternative). If you specify any callbacks for any GTK events, Kefir creates a call back function ready to be filled in. Sandino Flores Moreno wrote a brilliant guide on it's predecessor, Tepache, on how to write a web browser in under 100 lines of code. Kefir makes your life simple (and healthy if you drink it, providing you're not lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy, cows, or life.)

The funny thing is, whether you're a fan of Object-Proxy or MVC, Kefir can do them both. Kefir can function as both a Thick client proxy, or as the Controller in some elaborate MVC scheme. Writing a guide on how to do both is on the agenda this summer. Stay tuned for that and other fairly bizarre things, like my Todo list, and perhaps a look into my collection of old children's books.

Speaking of which, I went tag sale hunting this weekend, and picked up a few excellent finds. It's getting harder to collect old vinyl cover art, as everyone seems to want to hold on to their old vinyl's these days. The only ones that are being sold it seems are near perfect quality records at exorbitant prices. Alas. But I did walk off with a few nice things to add to my book collection. I now have yet another copy of the Hobbit, complete with yellowing pages, and the original artwork. I found two pieces illustrated by Maurice Sendak, which will be nice to add, a copy of "Butt Wars" I plan on passing on to the short people that run around my dad's house (after I'm done reading it of course), and to save the best for last "Elihu the Musical Gnu". This classic piece of literature features rhymes like

He had a Kazoo, brought from Kalamzoo,
which he blew and he blew.
But the tunes that he knew
-and he knew quite a few-
were sticky as glue.

I wonder if RMS has a copy yet.

Life is like a surrealists nightmare, it still makes too much sense.