Busy with the latest version of File Transporter that I've been coding lately. I haven't spent time on it everyday, and I'm quite sure that if I sat on it day-in day-out I'd be far by now.
So here are some of the stuff that I did to the application since that last pre-alpha version I sent you:
- Added exception handling code to the application(like checking whether there's a network connection before sending or doing anything that requires the use of network).
- Tweaked the UI a little bit(I'm not sure if it looks great at this time, but it'll be tweaked further when neccessary - but it looks good).
- Added some dialog boxes to the application for confirmations, information and error messages.
- Reorganized the code and added some functions calls(the previous code didn't have any as it was a test simulation; this is just a formality). The code is no where near final(the algorithms) and I'll be optimizing it where neccessary and when possible.
- Reduced the number of sockets from six to four(actually to two sockets because they work in pairs(Server socket for listening, receiving commands and accepting client requests and Client socket for sending and receiving data).
- Oh, changed the application icon :)
It has some know bugs but they don't worry me at the moment(they do not affect the program's functionality). So those were a few things that I did thus far. I'm not quite sure how long it's going to take me to finish because software is complicated and takes too long to finish. No wonder every software program out there has some 50 or more people working on it, now I'm starting to understand why...
But this one is not too complex but sometimes you may lose focus on what you're aiming to achieve and that's where two heads are better than one. Anyway coding is fun and open some brai cells that were never touched before.
Check out the screenshots attached to see it in action...
So there,
AndrewM (AndFX)
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Back to work…
I’ve been developing File Transporter for quite some time in Borland C++ Builder. Now it’s time to go back to the Microsoft Developer Environment.
As you can see, I’m excited to add the IRC functionality to the download application. There are websites that give you IRC links to files for download. So instead of just downloading straight from the server (http://), you can have an option to download from IRC servers. Just like BitTorrent, you can download almost any piece of software in the world. Will be using ircspy.com to search for files to download. Got the .dll from the net now I’m ready to fly…
As you know, with the stealthier power of the Download App, your downloads will go unseen. mIRC always remain visible so anybody can cancel your download.
Hope to be finished soon with integrating the assembly into the application…
AndrewM.
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More on File Transporter
I've always took time to reflect on what I can do to simplify problems that are experienced by PC user everywhere. I would sit there and ask myself 'What could be the next big thing that will change the way people use computers?'. If you look at the guys who developed RSS technology, or say XML by Microsoft, you will notice that they hold rights to that technology as their intellectual property. So if I use that technology in my programs, then I may be required to pay some licensing fee yearly or something.
All you'll need to do to create such a standard is come up with a way that would act as a platform to solve specific problems. So technologies such as XML or ActiveX allows users to make computing a better experience.
So I feel that it would be nice to create a standard that other companies and users can use as a core of their business operations.
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Well I've been thinking about that USB Networkie thingie and, as I've said before is a neat concept. But everytime I do something I like to so a simple varification code to get me fired up, so this one should be 'Send a single byte via the usb cable', even though it means nothing. Well I know that it can be done easily, maybe by you if you look into it, but me (eish) I don't know if I'm geek enough.
So if that can be achieved, then a kind of a service can be build around that to allow for file transfers or something. But a driver would need to be developed that work intimately with the OS. Well Windows use DDK development kit to allow the creation of device drivers.
So it seems it's going to need a lot of geekness to be put together. And you are the man. Well we'll just have to see where this one goes...
Again, a very neat concept.
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Patch System
Deliver product updates and patches to a computer system through a compact file. Instead of
delivering the entire application, a single patch file can be used to update the entire
product suite.
Updates to an Internet site can also be delivered through the file so that the browser does
not need to get all content to be displayed. The file will use compression and the power of
the client PC to decode the data to be displayed.
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Beta Version (build 2068)
This is an extension in feature set to my major version (build 1999), which I forgot at home sitting on my 40GB Seagate hard drive. Well you obviously know that I’m running a Maxtor DiamondMax 9 SATA 160GB, which is a beauty with 8MB cache. Should I get the second 160 or maybe 2GB of RAM???
Anyway I use this small version to do some downloading stuff at Tech and some Internet café’s with broadband connections. It works well and I think I’ve downloaded over 500MB with it so far, which is pretty impressive(Used build 2039 then(just barebones), now on build 2068 that started adding intelligence to the app).
One thing I like about Software Development is that if you cannot find a specific application to do something for you, or if it’s not as customizable as you like, you can create your own, pretty nice hey. But one problem is that you have to sit and code all those lines of code, and it can take some time.
So my main aim with this application is to make a super great program for downloading large quantity of data, without your app being seen doing so. So you make batch with url’s and then let it sit there and do all the work for you, without it being interrupted. Well if something happens while it’s on the job, it must be able to make sure that it resumes successfully. It’s not near complete and I’m not sure how long it’s going to take to finish.
Feature Set (Some present in this code, but not yet concrete)
• Resume functionality (I know how it works, just can’t understand why I can’t put it into the code)
• Run on startup and complete unfinished jobs
• Send email notifications (especially to my phone via GPRS)
• Create many download threads (I did it before with 8 threads but it’s not in the code, strange)
• Make it impossible to interrupt
• Use IRC channels to download data
• Plus many more…
Did not add comments into the code, hope you follow it well. I don’t like commenting because I have it all rendered and itched in my brain cells. Plus I’ve hand written every other line and all functions, except all those IDE generated code. I’ve also discovered I work best between 1 am and 5 am. Quite unusual. Created this document at 3 am, I mean can you believe it. Strange.
Example of the fixes that I note when I code or debug the program.
Created per coding session…
(Normally I do not do this, I like to have all problems and bugs running all in my head. Anyway I’m just not used to making noted by nature – maybe I should start learning to do so).
So that’s some of the work that I’ve been doing on the application so far since I’ve came back home from holidays. I haven’t worked on it full time, just when something came to mind or when I needed a challenge.
Well as you can see some part of the code are not complete but I’m hoping that it will be complete soon.
I haven’t optimized it yet, so you may find some parts not executing as fast as they could. I’m hoping to do all that when I’m fully satisfied that I’ve done enough on it. But you are welcome to check the code out and comment on some of the stuff in there. You can also send me some feedback on it and some of the ideas that I can put in.
I’ve also got some projects that I would like to finish that sits on my hard drive.
• AndSoft Systems [Heavy use of Database (MS Access)]
[This one manages tenants that live in a flat or somewhere. You can record their info, run queries, print reports and many stuff. Hope to sell it to some residents, it’s great. 60% Complete]
• FileXplorer
[This will like act as Explorer and let user launch files much faster than on Windows. All files will be cached on a single file stream or image for faster access. 5% Complete]
• AndSoft Installer
[This will be the installer like InstallShield that installs apps quicker that anything else. Will use an image file and complete setups 1.5x faster than MSI or any. 15% Complete]
• TorchLight Search
[This will be like Google Desktop Search and will allow you to find file faster on your hard drive. Have the whole logic all worked out. Watch out for ability to search text in pictures or videos. 10% Done]
• IAScv
[This could be big and I’m not sure if I have all the ability to do it. Thought of giving MS ideas to incorporate into Vista. This will be a smart app that monitors events that happens in a system and finally improve system response by correctly interpreting what you’re likely to do next. Super. Heavy use of Operating System Handles and Messages. 0% Done]
All of this is created with managed code, which needs the .NET Framework class libraries installed to work. Of course I did tell you, Visual Studio .NET will be the development tool of choice in the coming decade. Mark my words man. Many programming jobs in IT will require knowledge of Visual Studio…
Oh, I should add that this is not open source, you know I hate that stuff, but the executable can be used by anybody.
I hate that Open Source thinking. It’s just not practical. Hope the theory disappears soon, and fast…
This is it. Hope to hear some feedback from ya soon.
So there,
AndFX
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August 24, 2009 at 10:04pm
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