Developer's Corner

Incredible Readers

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 17:34:00 +0000

Here I was thinking I'd post some notes about development because no one is looking. I thought I'd post notes here that I could share with myself across several platforms. Then realized that notes in google works better for this. All the tagging.

I just started to look at the viewing stats that blogger provides and found that there were a number of people coming to the site from various web pages. Not anything that would amaze a "real" blog but cecertainly greater then what I was thinking. So my appologies to those coming to this blog I have been less than entertaining.

Lexi Scriptio Site Bought

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 19:58:00 +0000

Now using this as just a notes area and will need to clean up after I release.

Icon Library
http://www.seanau.com/kits/index_5.htm

http://www.axialis.com/free/icons/

Testing Update

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 21:34:00 +0000

Wanted to show some examples so the first is up close of the application. Note that you don't type in the application itself but instead write into another tool like word, the internet, or instant messages.

To test download (download not available anymore; expect new release in January love to hear feedback to make changes to the upgraded version)..

This is showing the servant being used with notepad. It shows smart synonym and smart type functions being used.

Test Request

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 17:06:00 +0000

This is for the writer's servant the software that provides a constant connection to a dictionary resource, thesauras along with integration into any application your writing in.

This is the tool to speed up that tetedious work.

Download at.
(not available... New release planned for January)

"Install" Instructions:
1. Select URL or if URL can't be clicked copy URL into the browser and select Enter. This will ask if you want to save or open.
2. Select Save (instead of open).
3. Save the servanttest03.zip into a folder of your choosing best to put where it can be easily deleted.
4. Go to where the zip file is and use the right mouse button when highlighting the file.
5. On the menu that shows when right mouse button is selected on zip file choose extract all. File will extract about 50 megabytes within the folder the zip file was saved in.
6. Go into the Servant Test02 folder and double click on the Servant Test03.exe

Draft Help
http://servanthelp.quickgrowth.com/help.html

Functions running on different settings:
I've described the functions that can be run followed by what setting on the Store Rapid Words drop down selection activates which set of functions.
* Smart Type - As you type letters the dictionary list gets queried and possible words your trying to write show in a numbered list. Typing the number of the word you intend to finish writing and hitting the space bar auto completes the word corresponding to the typed number.
* Smart Synonym - When a word has been completed getting a list of the synonyms occurs when you type a question. Example: Typing "help?" will list all the synonyms for help. The list of synonyms are numbered and so typing a number corresponding to a synonym listed and selecting the space bar will replace the previously typed word with the synonym. Example: Typing "help?1" will result in the text being replaced with "aid" the first synonym listed for help.
* Smart Dictionary - Each time a word is completely typed out correctly and the space bar or "." is typed the definition of the word in the dictionary is displayed.
* Rapid Words - Each time any of the follwoing keys are typed "!@#$%^&*" an alphabet list of the rapid words previously saved and associated to that character is displayed. Typing the letter corresponding to previously saved text then replaces the special character and letter combination with that previously saved text. Example: Typing "!a" will be replaced by "some writing that is longer than 25 characters". (default saved text when this is replaced this example no longer applies).
* Saving Rapid Words - Copy some text into the clipboard and then select the Store Rapid Words dropdown list notice !@#$%^&* are all individual options in the drop down list. Selecting one of these options tells The Writer's Servant what is the first letter of the two letter combination to record the text into. After selecting one of the 8 options the writer's servant will show a listing of existing recorded text and which letters correspond to those recordings along with letters that dont' have any recorded text associtated to it. Type any letter of the english alphabet and then the text that you previously copied is now saved and associated with that two character combination.
A Sleep - A pause mode that allows the user to write without the servant interacting with the typing.
==============================================
STORE RAPID WORDS drop down selection corresponding to function being run.
[Store Rapid Words]:Active (default)
This is all the features running. When typing a password or is using Excel you may want to change to either Sleep or RW Off. Read below for more details.
*Smart Type
*Smart Synonym
*Smart Dictionary
*Rapid Words
*Application dispalys always on top of other applications
------------------------
[Store Rapid Words]:RW Off
This is the Rapid Words off. Typing !@#$%^&* with a letter does nothing. This setting is so when writing formulas or programs that require special characters followed by a letter the text doesn't get replaced automaticly.
*Smart Type
*Smart Synonym
*Smart Dictionary
*Application dispalys always on top of other applications
------------------------
[Store Rapid Words]:Sleep
This puts the Writer's servant into a paused mode so when typing your password the text doesn't get displayed or for some other reason to temporarily halt the interaction of your servant with your writing. This feature is available so the application doesn't need to be closed each time the writer needs the application to quit working only later to be needed a later.
*
A sleep
------------------------
[Store Rapid Words]:!
Shift 1 or ! is a record rapid word setting that works when the clipboard (copy any text from an application) has already been done. ! displays all of the letters of the english alphabet along with a shortened display of which letters have already recorded copied text into it and which have not.
* Saving Rapid Words

------------------------
[Store Rapid Words]:@
Shift 2 or @ is a record rapid word setting that works when the clipboard (copy any text from an application) has already been done. @ displays all of the letters of the english alphabet along with a shortened display of which letters have already recorded copied text into it and which have not.
* Saving Rapid Words
------------------------
[Store Rapid Words]:#
Shift 3 or # is a record rapid word setting that works when the clipboard (copy any text from an application) has already been done. # displays all of the letters of the english alphabet along with a shortened display of which letters have already recorded copied text into it and which have not.
* Saving Rapid Words
------------------------
[Store Rapid Words]:%
Shift 5 or % is a record rapid word setting that works when the clipboard (copy any text from an application) has already been done. % displays all of the letters of the english alphabet along with a shortened display of which letters have already recorded copied text into it and which have not.
* Saving Rapid Words
------------------------
[Store Rapid Words]:^
Shift 6 or ^ is a record rapid word setting that works when the clipboard (copy any text from an application) has already been done. ^ displays all of the letters of the english alphabet along with a shortened display of which letters have already recorded copied text into it and which have not.
* Saving Rapid Words
------------------------
[Store Rapid Words]:&
Shift 7 or & is a record rapid word setting that works when the clipboard (copy any text from an application) has already been done. & displays all of the letters of the english alphabet along with a shortened display of which letters have already recorded copied text into it and which have not.
* Saving Rapid Words
------------------------
[Store Rapid Words]:*
Shift 8 or * is a record rapid word setting that works when the clipboard (copy any text from an application) has already been done. * displays all of the letters of the english alphabet along with a shortened display of which letters have already recorded copied text into it and which have not.
* Saving Rapid Words

Visual Pharm for graphic design

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:27:00 +0000

This company has a nice set of free to use icons see fine print at their website that I thought I’d just link to. I’m still considering what graphic interface to go with while adding more to the dictionary.

Working with a butler image that I modified from a PowerPoint to get a feel for what the application could look like. I have decided to go through some alpha & beta tests prior to deciding on the type of graphics I’ll need to purchase for the software.

http://www.visualpharm.com/

Outsourcing artwork - Linked to

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:27:00 +0000

As I get closer to completing the yet to be finally named spelling / dictionary / thesaurus tool I need to figure out what what designs to use to have a polished looking product. Reading some blogs on other sites came across this suggested site which I plan on using in the near future.

a

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:27:00 +0000

http://successfulsoftware.net/2009/02/16/outsourcing-artwork-through-99designscom/

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 08 May 2009 19:57:00 +0000

Detecting Misspells

So this is the easy part. It’s simply a compare of what is written against the words in the list. This portion of the code is very simple. I plan on utilizing SQL statement to identify if the word is correct. Then when you hit the space bar a period or comma the query is performed.

Synonyms, definition and the structure

The Princeton database does a wonderful job of classifying words. As I went through their literature I really learned a lot more about just the whole linguistic science. In their database each definition statement has one or more words associated to it. They have a core table of words called the sense.index which tells the developer what kind of word it is (adjective, verb, etc...) and where to get its definition. The def is found by a ref number that is used to look up in their data file the line definition that applies to it. Most words show up more than once in the sense.index file and so have many different uses/defs of the word. The synonyms then show up in the data file where each definition statement has multiple words that it applies to.

This means the application will allow you to see the definition of correctly spelled words as you type along with their synonyms and antonyms. Is it the right word for that context? Well you can know instantly. Also maybe a better word will show in the synonym list.

Word Suggestions

Ok honestly this is going to be difficult. Creating a suggestion list that is relevant and good is critical to the success of this application. I plan on utilizing a soundex utilized by the Census Bureau described in 2007 by this thread, along with Levenshtein Distance method and create a list of known typos to corrected words. I recall that MS Word 95 suggestions didn't get even close to the words that I meant. I've noticed the correct spell suggestion lists have become incredibly more accurate and are frequently correct within the first or second word on the list. So this will require lots of testing to get it right. Fortunately spelling isn't my forte. ;)

2009 Writing Assistant Tool

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:10:00 +0000

As I complete the functionality I realize the spell checking software is morphing into a writing assistant that will spell & suggest, smart type, define each word, thesaurus them and provide macro rapid words. The usability and light desktop footprint is critical for the acceptance for each writer that utilizes this tool. The spelling b program that was, looked interesting but is the wrong experience for the type of functionality that is being designed.

School in the way

My MBA program is currently taking some steam away from software development but I have done a bit of research on how to incorporate a feedback mechanism right from the software into my systems. I’m really going on the idea that I need that customer voice. I’m certain that how I believe this tool will add the most value for each writer will in fact be different then how the customer in the end utilizes the tool.

Value versus effort

What functionality ends up in the release and is minimum for the first release is up for debate. Quick to market is talked about by everyone in the industry. The banquet of functions to put into this tool I find to be interrelated and instead of just inclemently adding value they are multiplying value. I picture this as a spider web of functions and its knowing how many weaves are needed to have the right strength to work as a web.

Customer Value

Where I believe I can have some bang for the buck on the value for the customer is all the online sites where people comment, in software development tools where labels need correctly spelled captions but the code shouldn’t have a bunch of red marks on it because they aren’t English words my tool will add value because it’s just looking one word at a time and won’t mark up the page.

File Size

The dictionary file from Princeton has a very complicated structure, a number of large files and is going to make my program a larger download then I’d like it to be. As I consider the download size I’m not sure what is large now. The average download speed for the average computer user has increased greatly over time. So for many the size of the program may not seem to big.

Adjusting Approach and Delaying the Spelling B program

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:00:00 +0000

I have discovered that I'm working on two spelling programs. The spelling B will be released for kids on a separate website after completion of this spell checking program I'm working on. I've got a bunch of different names in mind for what it will be called but really don't have the right one yet. I realized this as I was experimenting with the functionality and I realized just how much I wanted a ubiquitous spell checker and the bee looked childish. I need a spell checker and well I suspect others also need it. I'm sick of opening up word at the last minute and stuffing my blog or comment in there to find out how much my grade school failed me. ;) J/K Palmer Lake

The following link is to a real gem of a micro ISV (micro as in one developer) independent software vendor. He makes the Bingo Card Creator. I find that to be fascinating. What is great is he provides transparency into his business thinking and sales results as the months go by. Of course even better is that he is successful within a relative short period of time and used a method that appears repeatable. Who would have thought bingo? There are now a number of micro ISVs providing transparency into their thinking and into their business model. When I started Quickgrowth llc. back in 2004 I read an article written by Eric Sink a founder of SourceGear that gave me some guidance on how to look at the shareware software industry.

I created Time Fencer, a time tracking tool that is simple and quick to use, setup and benefits areas where time tracking is used a lot (bill by the hour anyone?). I was an analyst at the time for Target Corporation and was fascinated with six sigma, value creation, processes and utilizing software to automate business problems away. I created Quickgrowth llc. in the hopes of designing and selling software that helped the small to medium sized company build value.

Prior to designing Time Fencer I wrote a sampler application for inventory acceptance for SBS technologies (now part of GE). I wrote that and was excited about the potential of small utilities and how they can transform business.

My blogging skill still needs help so sorry about going all over the place. I really wanted to talk about Time Fencer being in my eyes a failure. I had submitted it to a hundred shareware sites at the time and in the end I sold just 3 copies. But later I realized the real disaster was leaving the software out there without improving it. I was terrified of changing anything in fear of making something worse. Of course with the sales numbers I got clearly this is irrational.

So what are the lessons of Time Fencer?

1. Focus only on a few download sites as partners. My feel is download.com and tucows.com are really where to start. This way my time could be focused on improving the software or the shopping experience on the website and making it easier to manage new releases.

2. The shopping experience on my website needed work. Lots of it. I used regsoft for selling my software and the forms they had were just horrible. So prior to releasing my next software product my website will go through changes for a new shopping experience. One of the main reasons I went with regsoft is they had an affiliate program and I thought well I'm new to connecting with this customer base but someone who knows the customer base may pickup my software and sell it for the right commission. Now I realize that isn't true and other mISVs are describing similar results. I think this commission sales approach works once the software hits a certain popularity point then others would take it up. So my passion for the software is my responsibility for communicating its value and listening to what needs to be changed.

3. Iterate with small improvements that consistently occur.

4. Continue to take small financial risks and tweak the hell out of the software and purchasing experience until the sales begin to come.

Last I wanted to point to Steve Pavlina’s article on Sharewaer Amateurs vs. Shareware Professionals. It’s a recipe of success and it’s proven by Patrick’s for mentioned results.

Bottom line is I love to solve problems for businesses and have a real need to create the software. Of course I’m not quitting my day job but I will move from being the amateur shareware developer to the professional mISV. ;)

Inside AdWords: Introduction to the ad auction

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:13:00 +0000

Inside AdWords: Introduction to the ad auction

Spelling B software Video 1st Glimpse

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:19:00 +0000

This is the spelling b program. Type into any application and it will check the spelling. This is a new application that I have written and am still working out the bugs.

Ok a bit boring watching me write the blog but wanted to show that I had a working version and why it would add value. A ubiquitous application covering your spelling needs. Watch the video for the first paragraph to make sense.

Progress & Frustration

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:23:00 +0000

Spelling B now tracks words written in any application and checks the spelling.

A few issues though when I type faster it gets confused on identifying the words. Also as the list of words typed gets longer the updates to the words typed and resorted becomes obvious.

Now considering changing some of the controls from a list box to a grid control. The list box automaticly appends new items onto the bottom of the list. My thought was that the last typed word should show in the top of the list rather than be barried in the bottom. To achieve that I resort the list through an array but as the list gets long I can see the posting change.

Its possible that the spelling validation request as it goes out to the web to validate is slowing down the capture of keys.

Perhaps I have it check when someone isn't typing. I'll just capture the key strokes and identify the words as a test.

I'm now looking at both a web service of a few dictionaries and a dictionary web site I crawl. Still determining whats best to use. The free web service dictionaries are from 2003 or older but the website is uptodate (litteraly updated daily). The website doesn't have a robots.txt that explicityly forbids web crawls. So these various factors are coming into play to determine what to use for the final product.

First Glimpse

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 02:50:00 +0000

Here is the first web image of the spelling b program I'm writing. The menu isn't added in yet and I just have a simple text box for input, a red colored button for executing the spelling and the result being displayed to the right.

My idea is to have the bee be the cener of selecting spelling. The other pieces will have to be removed and replaced. I don't think people would like to have it look at 1 spelling word at a time. Need to think through how that should be displayed. Also though you can see the desktop this API i'm using doesn't allow the click through in vista. On xp it would work though.

Though you can't see in the image the wings are flapping. Ok working on just the damn bee. Need to get back to the spelling functionality. :)

Working on Layout Spelling Software update

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 18:10:00 +0000

I'm working on making a customized form for the spelling software. Historically I could use a translucent form to make the image the form. This would allow a click through where the image was not at. The windows attributes API doesn’t work like that in Vista anymore. Well, so much for the customized skin being easy.

So I’m learning about region. There is a way to create a form on the fly. This is a real learning process. I’m not strong with graphics so definitely going out of my comfort zone. Takes a lot more math to calculate the edge of the image to create the form.

I look at the image I made and hope it isn’t hokey. It’s a bee that I took from an image from power point and tried to make look friendly. But the main function of the software is to spell check on the fly and I’m wondering am I getting to far away from the main functionality? A polished piece of software has a good look that is appealing and easy to use. That’s what I’m shooting for but this is taking a bit more time than I wanted to spend on it.

The next development step for the spelling software is removing the xml tags, coding to spell check for many words at a time, displaying a marker to show a misspelling for a word that is in a sentence or paragraph, graphic changes for moving the spelling bee near the mouse (something I’ll have to see if it adds value or detracts). I will need to create a menu for accessing spell checking functionality along with a display of spell checked words.

It should be an easy process but I see different possibilities for deciding which dictionary to use, opening a URL to dictionary and encyclopedia sites, and adding in some translate services.

I’ve also thought about adding in speech, spell quiz, and auto sub menuing other software to allow spell checking in other applications.

I think I’ll chunk these features into release sets. First release will be free.

Coming Along

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:42:00 +0000

Last night had a break through and found a webservice that offers spell checking. I was able to utilize the service and check spelling on a local client. So the spelling software looks clunky right now and isn't how I envision it but its coming along.

Stay tuned and I'll be posting some images of where I'm going right now with the spell checking software along with the service I utilized.

The web crawling method worked as well but not having a lic with a site bothered me.

Writing a spell checking software

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 14:26:00 +0000

OK so why am I writing code that checks spelling with it available in word and available in Gmail?

I frequently spell incorrectly and would love to be able to have a spell checker that is quick to use and doesn't slow me down. So I'm creating another one to speed up the access to spell checking tools. In truth I won't be writing the algorithm to suggest the spelling words others have mastered that way beyond my capability but instead I plan on web crawling a dictionary site that can quickly give suggestions to misspelled words.

I have already created a basic design of a bee it doesn’t yet have the means to access the spelling yet but it’s a concept that I have already worked out.

Where I see challenges at this point is the crawl through websites to identify the suggested spellings, identify that the word is misspelled and to get permission to utilize their information in this way.

I’m calling this project spelling b. I’ll keep the blog posted to progress.

Discoverd Knol and some great SEO articles

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 19:09:00 +0000

A large list of SEO tools:
http://knol.google.com/k/moose/seo-knol-group/56p4t4e0ve75/2#

Aaron Wall's knol article. A wonderful explanation of what to think through in SEO.
http://knol.google.com/k/aaron-wall/seo-basics/38v8wakla8f98/2#

Speeding Tickets; Government hidden tax

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 00:11:00 +0000

I just saw an article regarding speeding tickets and how thier inforcement increases as the revenue for a community from taxes goes down. I linked to a study by the Federal Reserve that strongly links this relationship.

It really distrubs me to know that our government allows for the incentive of enforcement of laws based on thier revenue streams. It smacks of corruption to me.

http://research.stlouisfed.org/wp/2006/2006-048.pdf
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/speeding-youll-pay-higher-taxes.aspx

Tiny URL

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 21:43:00 +0000

Ever recieve a long url that just doesn't copy over well? I changed this URL http://www.quickgrowth.com/order.asp to this http://tinyurl.com/b4kavm. Easy to send in emails and utilize on twitter. I noticed NPR and other news agencies using URLs that didn't match there sites on their twits.

To get to this blog http://iamtestingthisfornow.blogspot.com/ now can use http://tinyurl.com/b8hffx.

Rice Pudding Twitting and rambiling

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:38:00 +0000

Forgive me I'm going to be writting junk until I get my groove on. I just looked at my previous post and thought OMG how do the bloggers and writers do it. So I'm all over the place off message.. grrr don't have a message.. So expect the ramblings to appear in this blog for quite some time.

So I just got on twitter and am thinking about creating a tool to mine the site. Just a thought for now cause I see there are some apps out there now. But it does appear to be an interesting new way of messaging. Wierd that a one way IM would be so popular. Like I want to talk to you but don't say anything back. Guess we all just do want to hear our selves.

Rice pudding is something I have just been making for the last few days. I've been experimenting with this betty crocker reciepe. It works pretty well. The reciepe calls for cooked rice and then its backed in the oven. I've seen basicly two types of rice puddings out there one being over the stove and the other backed. I rember as a child my Dad making a quick over the stove version where he'd cook up some raisons in some water then add the rice and milk until simmered. Placed some sugar on that and here you go son. Hey it's ok but I do remeber the oven style and it being great but I only recall getting that version once. So tada I'm off experimenting with rice pudding.

A little Background

noreply@blogger.com (John) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 02:26:00 +0000

I’m John and I thought I’d start blogging to the world. So I am currently calling this test though it is open to anybody just because I’m not sure what I should discuss. I have interest in software, finance and business. I’m a news junky and currently am a MBA student at Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
I have a web site at www.quickgrowth.com where I am the sole owner of this LLC company. I started it as a hobby business to discover more about software development in the ISV world in 2003. I’m a IT business analyst by trade though I started at a broker firm in 1995 after getting an undergrad in Finance.
I’ve also done some social science working for a firm in Asset Protection. There wrote strategic documents for a fortune 500 company on the various probabilities of crime at given locations for that firm. Hello World. The first quick program to write to start to get a grip to how this works.