Yahoo Open Hackday: Awesome Event!!!!

In this post, I am only talking about the event, my experience and in the next post follows the actual details of the hack!!!! 

I started from my place at 13.00pm, reached Taj Residency @MG Road.

Went upstairs, and Met Joe Arnold, I met him during D-Camp as well. Bhosky was already there. Vibhash, Prashant Mishra, Shourya Sarcar, Yousuf, Bala, Alagu were all there.

Finally around 15:30pm it all started with talks from Chirstian Heilman, Shivku and other folks.

At 1700pm the Hackday began and everyone started working on their hacks.

We formed a team, Me, Bala, Vibhash and Yousuf and after a lot of brainstroming, we decided to work on Yahoo Search Mashup!!!!
<wink>The details follow in next post, with code and demo </wink>

While the hack, we even had fun on the IRC Channel. Ventat from Y! even helped us with Y! Answers API.

The arrangements were just perfect from wireless setups to bean bags to coffee to food to drinks to video games to just everything.

During break session, I even met Sidu and we shared some thoughts on Start-ups, Entrepreneurship etc etc. It was informative.

I got even chance to speak to Mr.Bharat Vijay, the man who started Yahoo India operations

We had to present our hack in 90 seconds, and everyone showcased the stuff they worked on. I must admit, every idea was brilliant, lot of thought process and hard work behind it. The best part was that everyone present were awake for more than 24 straight hrs and still charged!!!! Amazing, thanks to tons of cofee and Red Bull

We didnt get any prize , but some people appreciated the efforts. We were happy about it

During Dinner, I even got a chance to speak to Yahoo’s Co-founder David Fil0. Yusuf quickly catched the moment in the camera. Even, got a snap with Chirstian Heilman as well.

Finally, when the time came to say goodbye, we all got a bean bag from Yahoo as well.

The best part was the gathering of some many talented people under one roof, you interact, you learn so many things and the energy was just flowing all around!!!!

I will soon be updating the post with pictures as well. Next post is abt the Yahoo Search Mash-up we have hacked!!!! So stay tuned.

For complete coverage:
1. Loads of Flickr images
2. List of Winners
3. Developer Network post

One of the best weekend, I have ever spent in my life. Thanks to all the folks at Yahoo!!!!

CHeerz
Shri

PS: Photo courtesy from hackers who have uploaded in Flickr.

HackDay begins!!!!

Me@Yahoo Open HackDay, Taj Residency!!!

And, the hacking begins now….

Cheerz
Shri

Yahoo SDK & YUI are simply awesome!!!!

I must appreciate the fact on how much Yahoo gives freedom and power to developers through libraries and toolkits.

I am currently using YUI and Yahoo SDK for building a small application and I am highly impressed with the libraries.

For sure Y! are doing great job, making our life lil more simpler

I have been using some libraries like Rico, scriptaculous, Dojo and trust me when I say, YUI stands tall here.

If you havent tried it yet, get yourself hooked on http://developer.yahoo.com. Loads of tutorials, code, demos. For FREE

Try it now…

Cheerz
Shri

Trip to Bhimeshwari!!!

Last saturday our practice team for a small outing to a near by place called Bhimeshwari. {Near, bole toh, 2hrs run from Blore}

It was a nice place, but yes it lacked lot of stuff. First and foremost, Network!!!!  If you are planning to make a trip to Bhimeshwari, you can leave your cell at your place. No nice hotels

Muthathi is another place, very close by which has a river flowing so obivous you can try Coracle, River Rafting and ofcourse having bath

We were “planning” to do lot of stuff, BUT didnt do much. We did Jungle Trekking {Dont ask me what it means, we coined it}. If you have seen Bollywood movie, Kaal, imagine this jungle as same as the one shown in movie

Soon would post some pics of the trip

In short, had a nice change after a long time

Now, back to work!!

Cheerz
Shri

Im coming to Yahoo Open HackDay!!!! R u?

Yup, I am coming to Yahoo Open HackDay. I got a confirmation from Yahoo about this today.

So, now what next? Think of an idea we can build during those 2 days and enjoy it.

I have thought of a small widget kind of an application called “Mini-Yahoo”

If you also have got Invitation for HackDay, please drop me a mail. we can discuss on the idea and build it.

CHeerz
Shri

PS: Did I tell you, hacking in Taj Residency could really be fun!!!!

Yahoo HackDay!!!!!

Yahoo HackDay is on 5-6th Oct 07

Its the first time in India, Yahoo has opened HackDay for everyone.

You can find the details and can also register it here

http://Hackday.org

Cheerz
Shri

PS: Thanks to Alagu for the info

Introducing the winker : iwinkr.com

iWinkr.com is the web start-up I have registered today

In my coming posts I shall reveal all the details about this project and ofcourse we will soon open up Beta test sign-ups.

So just hang on….till then.  And, ofcourse keep Winking!!!!!

I leave you with a simple question…. What are you winking today???

Cheerz
Shri

Creating cheap Indic web pages!!!

Yes, “cheap” in terms of ease to create a Indic language web pages.

For instance, first have a look at this Yahoo site in Hindi language. That would give a clear picture.

http://in.hindi.yahoo.com

Now, how many apps we have which helps us create simple Indic web pages? Yes, we have enough CMS packages available and great applications like Yudit. But how much easy it is actually?

I figured out it is not “really” simple to do that, simple for me is something which a lay man can also understand and use.

So what can be the solutions for the problem?
1. Create a application like Yudit from scratch
2. Just build a simple Plug-In for the existing CMS editors which can be used with ease and effectively.

I am trying on something which if it works, could add up as second solutions. And, yes it is ofcourse under OpenKey project.

Any other solutions have u tried? or come across which helps u build simple Indic Web pages? Drop in comments and share with us.

Cheerz
Shri

Back from Home…Back to Work!!!

Okay, I am back from home, had good time Will write about the trip soon 

Now, getting back to work.

Btw, check out this video song, its from Beatles, Imagine. Its awesome. Beautiful lyrics and touching music. Njoy Maadi

Lyrics of the song:

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today…

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

Video

Home Sweet Home!!!

No. I am not writing this post from my home

But, YES I am going home today….yippppyyyy

Ciao…and will write more when I come back.

Cheerz
Shri
 

India Still an IT giant? Lifting Website data from Singapore.

Delhi Police has “lifted” website structure, data, content and even Images from Singapore’s police website.

This news was first broken by NDTV on Saturday.

It is shame to see things like this happen, specially when the world considers India as a IT destination?

If they were desperate to get some simple HTML pages done with text and images, least they could have dropped me mail. Than doing this HOLY shit.

I guess it wouldnt be completely wrong to say that Delhi Police has done what Software Engineers in India do it on a daily basis.

Some of the “HOT” quotes from Delhi Police website.

”With the increasing number of bombing incidents around the world, no country including Singapore can take safety for granted.”

And just in case there’s a biological attack and you get anthrax, there’s no need to panic.
The website says: In Singapore, the SCDF, Police, Ministry of Health and Singapore Post have taken precautionary measures to deal with this threat.

Read the complete strip tease here

http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070024487

What do u think abt such things? And what we can do to solve such basic problems?

Drop in ur comments…..

–Sridhar 

Why should bloggers have all the fun????

And, when I use the word bloggers here, it refers to people who are using http://blogger.com

After the launch of Google indic translator, now bloggers can easily type in Hindi but what about WordPress users? <wink>I perosnally love wordpress platform</wink>

So, now Im trying to create a plugin by integrating my project OpenKey with TinyMCE{ the editor which WP is using}

Yes, we already have one such thing, thats from Indic Joomla group. But that doesnt fill the gap. So Im trying to that

For now, you take a look at how it would look when we are using it.

The picture you are looking at is TinyMCE editor being hacked for indic purpose.

What do u think about it? Would it be useful for u? Drop in ur comments

Cheerz

Shri

Tutorial: How to store UTF8 (indian language) data in mysql?

Well, let me put it straight this tutorial also applies to any other native languages like latin, spanish etc. But, since I have tried for Indian languages I am writing exclusive for it.

Okay, so before we say code I must tell you this tutorial intends, a thought provoking stuff

Lately, we have seen enough number of Indic-translators, and you must have got your hands on with typing in ur mail/blog. Now, just think for a while, when u sent a mail, and try to read it back from “Sent Mail”, u still see the indian language or even in that case blog articles. For that case, even in Orkut.

How are they stored inside database? Was what I was trying.

Again, I am not sure for any other DB, I have tried with MySQL. But, I guess should be same.

Quick Explanation:

We assume we have a DB with table articles, and a column named posts, which will save the article written in your blog. Best part, we know that all major DB’s support UTF8. And we shall explore that feature.

Now we write a article in hindi, हेल्लो वर्ल्ड

If the UTF8 is not specified, you should see something like ?????? in ur DB else u shud see the hindi data. Clear? Koool lets see the code

Quick Code:

First check for UTF8 compatibility with this query. If it supports you should see the output as “Character_set_system”| “UTF8″

SHOW VARIABLES LIKE ‘character_set_system’;

Now that being checked, alter the table and just modify the column, Posts in our above example and specify it as UTF8

ALTER TABLE articles MODIFY Posts VARCHAR(20) CHARACTER SET UTF8;

Now, try to insert the hindi value and save it. Query it and u shud see the hindi text

We have go ahead and use many other options as well, like Collate etc. But this tutorial intends to keep it simple.

I hope you find this useful and interesting. If you have tried any hacks similar to this, pls drop in comments and share with us.

Cheerz
Sridhar

D-Camp, Unconference About Beauty!!!!

Finally Im very much excited to tell you all about the D-Camp Bangalore which is been scheduled on 15th September 07 @Yahoo.

What is D-Camp?

Its an unconference about Design, UX & UI practices. Design can be on a hand-held device, mobile, web or for Enterprises.

I have honestly look forward for such event from long time where people can talk, share and discuss about the design principles and practices.

Why? coz, Most of the time, developers are the worst designers

Where to find more details?

http://www.socialtext.net/dcamp/index.cgi?dcampbangalore 

Date & Venue:

Its on 15th September 07 @ Yahoo, Airport Road Office. More details when organizers provide

Looking forward for the event

Cheerz
Sridhar

Project OpenKey: Update

Added Caps, Space and Enter keys functionality.

When we press Caps, Space and Enter button on the keyboard, we can see the result in our textarea and keyboard.

When u press “Caps” u can see the uppercase for the keyboard layout and again press it and u see lower case. Does it sound simillar to Our keyboard working?

Mouse events + Keyboard events, both mapped with the virtual Keyboard, so that user can either use mouse or type.

So, Shusha keyboard layout is almost done.

Now, from monday onwards, its phonetic and typewriter model.

Yes, I wanted to upload all the screenshots but time

Cheerz
Sridhar