I’ve recently migrated one of my applications over to Grails 1.4M1 (mainly because I was busting to try out the new testing stuff that Peter was writing about). In the process, I had a chance to kick the tyres on the new resources infrastructure that Marc has baked into 1.4. So what’s the verdict? The new Resources framework is jam-packed-full-of-awesome! This stuff has significantly reduced the amount of js/css dependency nightmares that I have been [...]

I’ve been incorporating more JavaScript into my Webapps lately, and have finally take some time out to have a look at some Unit Testing options for JavaScript. There’s quite a few solid libraries to look at including JSUnit, YUITest and QUnit (and many more BDD ones emerging), so the whole experience can be a little daunting at the start. For my particularly used case, I wanted something very lightweight and easy to integrate into my [...]

I’ve been doing some work for a Government client around making their cyber-safety info accessible to Aussie kids. One of the target devices is iPhone (actually Android is even higher priority since Android handsets are becoming far more common with kids, but that’s another bunch of excitement altogether). The issue with iPod/iPhone bookmarking is that the Safari Mobile bookmarking icon is so ambiguous that very few people know what it does! We were after a [...]

I’ve been on the hunt lately for some JavaScript based diffing routines.I’ve had a look at a few of them, and the one I’ve settled on is google-diff-match-patch which they use in the Grails wiki! (Thanks Peter Ledbrook for the pointer!) My particular need was around diffing a fairly complex “tree” structure. These tree structures are actually imported from files that 3rd party releases from time to time and client import them directly into our [...]

I’m very tempted to reference the failed Aussie Tourism campaign here.. I’ve been dark in the public space for ages, but there’s been a lot going on under the radar! Half way through last year I hooked up with a few other business partners and started working on the Grails-based product for the GRC sector. You probably won’t know this space, but this stuff is super big in the Australian Government areas I’ve previously worked [...]

Inspired by a mate’s list of tech goals, I thought I’d do some thinking about things I really want to get into in 2011. So here’s my current wish list of things to pursue this year (in no particular order). JavaScript – I’ve spent plenty of time with YUI in 2010 and just working with that library took my JavaScript skills to a whole new hardcore level. Matthew Taylor really excited me about JS when [...]

I’m presently working on a little side project that needs to generate a bunch of customisable client reports. One format of interest to our target market is the ubiquitous Word document. Now I know that Word switched to an zipped XML format a while back, so it’s given me a chance to do some researching into what Java libraries might exist for creating and editing the Word xml format. I’ve played with Apache POI before, [...]

In the leadup to JavaOne, I whipped up a little competition app in Grails using the new Redis support. Graeme has written up a great GORM for Redis intro post that gives you all the info you need to get underway, so I’ll just add my experience to those interested. Here’s my little JavaOne competition app in action: If you haven’t played with Redis before, think of it as a supercharged memcached. Except, of course, [...]

I’m speaking at the ACT Oracle User Group conference next week on Java EE6. Normally I’d do a talk on Grails to this set (and pump the book of course!), but Peter McNeil had already put a Grails talk together and I was already brimming with other ideas… Anyways, I’ve been doing some client work on JEE6 lately, and I was so inspired by Adam Bien’s live coding talk at JavaOne 2010, I’m going to [...]

The plans for the Groovy and Grails BOF at JavaOne are coming together and it’s gonna be a “full on double rainbow all the way across the sky” experience. “But what does it mean?” Glad you asked. This year we have our most comprehensive panel ever! We’ll have Peter Ledbrook (Grails Evangelist and Grails in Action co-author), Guillaume Laforge (Groovy lead), Andres Almiray (Griffon lead and Griffon in Action author), Dierk Koenig (Groovy in Action [...]