Website Redesigned!

At long last, I've had the opportunity to redesign my website. The chance came with my enrollment in LSC 597: Digital Libraries. The primary feature of this new site, aside from its new address, is that it is a database-driven dynamic site, rather than flat HTML. I'm hosting it myself, on the SquareOne. You are encouraged to check it out.

The Photos section is currently up and running, though you have to be a local (i.e. in my apartment) user to see the full sized images. This will change when I build the user login system.

Keep in mind that advanced search and Documents searching is as yet unimplemented. The collection is small enough right now that that's not too big a deal. When the collection grows, so too will advanced searching.

There is a lot of other stuff on the list to do; I know there are several broken links, and the CSS I'm using is horribly boring. One of the nice features that will come with the user login is the ability to choose amongst several CSS, and have the system remember your choice (without those pesky cookies!). Again, coming soon.

I welcome comments and feedback.

Addressing the lack of recent updates...

This semester, like most of them, is ridiculously busy. Hence, I haven't updated this blog on what's going on in my professional development in quite a while. I don't have much time right now to do so, but I'll outline a list of things for me to address, and hopefully once the semester ends, I can start filling out the details.

• The GSLIS website is almost ready to go live; just need to do a few more adjustments, and get faculty approval.
• I've been handed the Webmaster-ship of the Rhode Island chapter of SLA.
• My CSC 305 course in Software Engineering has proven to be a bit of a revolution in my way of thinking about website projects.
• My CSC 536 course in XML databases has started to produce fruit (namely, viable XQueries on the initial version of my household catalogue).
• I got the new Square One Personal Internet Server, from Quad Microworks, for my birthday, and will soon be hosting my own website.
• I'm going to SLA Annual in Denver, and Boston Chapter of SLA is financing it (I won their annual travel stipend!)
• My thesis topic has pretty much settled itself: the organization of music, at the song level, using XML, Native XML databases, and user-generated content.
• I've been having visions of a new method to use in library school to not only teach students the core material and the latest technologies, but to also develop a powerful resource for the professional community. The feasibility is not all that high right now, but if I laid out the details clearly... just maybe...

There is undoubted more than that, but I'll try to catch up on those things first. Only one week of classes left (until summer starts, that is).

CSC 212 and Website development plans

I've been working my way through my Data Structures and Abstractions class, re-acquainting myself with Java and programming. Combine that with working as a Graduate Assistant in GSLIS, and I don't have too much time to make updates to the webpage. This is especially frustrating since I just took all those great courses at SLA 2006. So, just to get it straight in my mind what I want to do, I create this plan:

1. Keep updating the schoolwork section with worthwhile applets and essays.

2. Get my own domain name.

3. Integrate RSS feeds, including the new one for updates to the site.

4. Upload my gallery content to the new domain. Also update my intro picture.

5. Move this blog and the update feed to my domain.

6. Create something in Flash to help learn the ins and outs of Flash 8.

7. Redesign the website, using the principles I learned in my Wireframing course. I will keep the architecture, but the visuals will be upgraded. There will be subplans in this section:

• Have the corner graphic automatically rotate between various kanji each time you visit
• Use div sections to make changing navigation less of a pain
• Stop using the rotating orbs, and put in more custom GIFs/Flash.
  
• Integrate Flash and Javascript to make a CSS-rotation interface, allowing users to pick from 3 different styles (I get complaints about the green on black, but I don't want to abandon it entirely). This means I pretty much have to make the page visually three different times, but keep all the names of tags consistent. Could be tricky...
• If I ever create that Dr. Who CCG computer game, I will find a way to integrate it into site, so my friends can come and play me online (this might not happen, but I'd like it to).
  

If I can get as far as number 5 by the end of the year, I'll be doing well. I mean, if I'm busy now, think how bad it'll be with 3 times the creditload, and twice the work hours!