Stuff I learned today:

  • It is quite advantageous to take advantage of serialize() to store large amounts of options in a database without having to create a separate column for everything. For example, you could store all crossposting login information as one array in PHP, then serialize that data to a string, and store it in one column.
    • It's even MORE advantageous to compress that string using gzcompress() to save on hard drive space. In Tabulas' case, the database server is physically separate from all the other servers, so compressing the amount of data required to travel between database server to other servers is A Good Thing. However, when you compress, you want to make sure your column type is a BLOB since gzcompress() seems to return a binary string. Of course, when you do this, you don't want to forget to use mysql_escape_string_real() for the binary data; using addslashes() is useless!
    • Of course, if you are like me, you are very paranoid about user input, so to be on the safe side, Tabulas strips out all HTML tags by default (unless specifically overriden). But running strip_tags() on binary data ... can strip crucial characters out of your binary string, meaning it can never be uncompressed.
  • PHP has built-in EXIF functions; just reconfigure PHP.

Things I've gotten done the past few days:

  • Nested albums
  • Square thumbnails just for the control panel (you have no idea how much more aesthetically pleasing it is)
  • Image backups
  • Thumbnail regeneration (allows you to recreate all your thumbnails and images)

I'm about one or two days away from finalizing all the features I want in the control panel for galleries. The only gallery-related feature that probably won't make it in to 2.1 is smart image conversions.

It also looks like I'm not going to hit my August 1st launch date for 2.1. Looks like I'm off by at least two ... three weeks. At the earliest. Apologies to anybody who's waiting (doubt it).

Alright, enough of this foolishness. Time to pass out.

. . .

Currently listening to: Gorillaz - Feel Good, Inc.
Posted by roy on July 24, 2005 at 02:42 AM in Web Development, Tabulas | 9 Comments

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Comment posted on July 26th, 2005 at 11:21 AM
Hey roy, I'm not sure if you know, but radio blog just updated its convertor files. It's different for XP users, so that's why some user couldn't convert their files. So you might want to update your file too. :)

ravenwingedangel (guest)

Comment posted on July 25th, 2005 at 11:31 PM
I can not access my own account for some undefinable reason... i am imploring you...fix this oversight because i cannot survive without my account.....
Also, he has a point,dont put any time frame on future projects...its likely to come back and haunt you...

ravenwingedangel (guest)

Comment posted on July 25th, 2005 at 11:31 PM
I can not access my own account for some undefinable reason... i am imploring you...fix this oversight because i cannot survive without my account.....
Also, he has a point,dont put any time frame on future projects...its likely to come back and haunt you...

MacDaddyTatsu (guest)

Comment posted on July 25th, 2005 at 04:24 PM
Never...ever...everever imply a release date. That gives the goblins a goal to work with.
Comment posted on July 25th, 2005 at 04:18 AM
Hi Roy, Is backup for content pages also present in Tabulas 2.1 If not, I think it should also be included.
Comment posted on July 24th, 2005 at 04:07 PM
you know what i miss with tabulas? like a "edit this" link for each entry on the main page. =)
Comment posted on July 24th, 2005 at 12:58 PM
huh?
Comment posted on July 24th, 2005 at 12:06 PM
I'm waiting for T2.1 too. ^_^ Three weeks, hu? *faints*
Comment posted on July 24th, 2005 at 10:49 AM
I've been waiting for 2.1 since you first started working on tabulas 10 years ago damn it.