• 03 Feb 2011
• rails

I have a custom date_select in my view and want to parse it in the controller to get back a date.

• 30 Jan 2011
• rails

If you switch to Rails 3 and Ruby 1.9.2 (or 1.9.1) you will get the error

• 20 Jan 2011
• ubuntu

I think I have been using Linux permanently since 9 years. Lots of things have improved since then, I can remember that I had to reboot my Laptop if I hadn’t plugged in my mouse at startup. I remeber I had to create some hot- or coldplug scripts later, so it worked while it was running. Anyways, one of the things still is not working is a simply plug n play of an additional monitor, at least on KDE. KDE inludes a Dual Monitor Configuration settings panel, however it doesn’t recognise my second monitor when I plug it in (or I can’t set it up as a scond, can’t remember really anymore). Xrandr is a great tool that comes preinstalled on Kubuntu, that allows to switch on monitors / or monitor ports easily and also recognizes if a monitor is connected. Below is a simple script that checks if a monitor is connected, if its connected it extends the desktop and puts the notebook monitor (LVDS1) left of the connected monitor (VGA1). If you use the script check if your monitors are called VGA or VGA1, same for LVDS.

• 18 Jan 2011
• thoughts

Having watched and read all about CES that happened two weeks ago, I think only two things really stayed in my mind. First thing is Android. Android was everywhere @CES, every manufacturer it seemed had at least one device running with Android. There is no question about that Android will be the OS of the future. We will find it on mobile phones, tablets, cars, tvs, fridges probably it will be on every device a screen makes sense (or even, where it doesn’t make sense). In my opinion, Android will truly lead to a new innovation decade where all devices will be connected through Android (and the cloud). Apple, still in the lead with it’s usability and overall unified experience will slowly decline in its importance of being the dictator of a connected world.

• 12 Jan 2011
• tools
• productivity
• rails

Some time ago I discovered a small little helper called Livereload. Its a little ruby gem and chrome/chromium extension that saves you a reload of a page when editing changes. CSS and JS changes are injected even without reloading the page, other changes, like erb changes are refreshed by reloading the page.