Michael's Tech Blog

Some of you know about ActiveMQ – an open source (Apache 2.0 licensed) Java Message Service 1.1 (JMS) message broker packed with many enterprise features. One of the way to communicate with it from none-Java programm languages is STOMP (Streaming Text Orientated Messaging Protocol). STOMP is very simple and looks like HTTP-protocol.
Perl has at least two ways to communicate with ActiveMQ over STOMP:

• Net::Storm
• Stomp

Using ActiveMQ may help you to integrate your applications with others on Enterprise level.

Mister Tipster is an another way to read RSS:

The small, stylish display unit allows users to keep current on all the latest headlines, financial news, weather reports, sports scores, blog updates and even jokes – all without taking space away from the spreadsheet, document, browser or game on their computer screen.

Mister Tipster has monochrome LCD display and needs open USB port and Internet connection to bring RSS. The device is $150. Maybe I missed something but you can add another $150 and buy Nokia770 which is much power and useful than this old-style gadget.

[via eHomeUpgrade]

The line of mini devices is expanded by Sony Ericsson. It announced Adriana – a DVB-H (Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld) enabled device that boast 10GB of built-in memory, a 3.5-inch touchscreen display, and Wi-Fi. Mo any information is available yet.
The new gadget is too close with Mylo – others Sony WiFi-enabled communicator but with some cool extra functionality.

[via Slashphone]

I came across this post of GuyKawasaki about new book – “Mavericks at Work: Why the Most Original Minds in Business Win”. Here is an brief interview with Polly LaBarre who is the co-author of this book:

Mavericks are so different, so edgy, and so independent of spirit that their personal style or message may not appeal to everyone. But that’s precisely the point: mavericks are defined by the power and originality of their ideas. They stand out from the crowd because they stand for something truly unique. What’s more, they take stands-against the status quo, in defiance of the industry elite-and offer compelling alternatives to business as usual.

And also the quote which I like very much:

Question: Do mavericks drive out bozos or do bozos drive out mavericks?
Answer: Both. Bozos tend to drive mavericks out of a company-but mavericks often go on to create companies that drive bozo companies out of business.

The new era of business is coming and now it’s time to choose who’re you: maverick or bozo.

It looks like Nokia started to design geek phones:

Nokia’s new Aeon concept phone comes with a complete touchscreen surface with looks that are set to melt your heart the moment you set your eyes on it.

[via Ubergizmo]

I started thinking about moving my photo album to the Flickr. It’s good idea. Especially because Flickr offers an excellent integration with WordPress. To insert a bar with your Flickr photos into your blog you can easily use badge. Passed just six simple steps you’ll get HTML-code with customized view to insert it into blog. It may be used to notify blog-readers about your new photos.
To integrate Flickr albums belonged to you use Flickr Photo Album plugin for WordPress. It allows to embed your sets into wordpress design. This is definitely what I need. I’m going to buy pro account and start to moving all my photos right after my vacation.

I came across Ovid’s CGI Course. It’s definitely good tutorial. Both experts and beginners will find there something interesting and helpful. I found the third part – Basic Security the most important and interesting for me. I’d like to add that you can find many useful extensions for CGI like CGI::Forms, for example. This module will do all routine work for you to produce web forms. Or here is a CGI::Framework – a simple-to-use, lightweight web CGI framework.
But notice that using plain CGI is defensible in case of simple web script. If you’re going to develop something serious have a look some Perl framework such Catalyst, Gantry or Maypole. They’re enough powerful to be a base of scalable and efficient web applications.

When you manage some serious system where users can change their passwords you’ll face with problem of quality of those passwords. There is a Perl module – Data::Password, which may do all work to check user passwords: length or the number of character groups. Also, it’s possible to make more complicated checking: the password does not contain the same chars repeatedly or ascending or descending characters, or charcters close to each other in the keyboard. You can use system dictionary files (/usr/share/dict/words for Fedora Core 5, for example) or create you own. The module has only two methods and six variable which can be imported into your script/module to customize checking. Here is a small example of using Data::Password: