Monthly Archives: November 2008

Managing Source Code Using Subversion

Posted on by
Reply

In general, programmers must be cautious about keeping track of changes in their code. In most situations, programmers save multiple versions of their code as backups until they have a “perfected” version. This process, when done manually by programmers, can be very tedious and the result tends to be untidy or confusing.

Having software that manages the file directories of one’s various source code versions is invaluable. Immediate changes in the code can be undo-ed using temporary files automatically saved by the software, and long-term changes in the code can always be tracked as well. An additional, and important feature of version control software is that it can generally track code changes made by different users.

Subversion is version control software that one runs on the server hosting his source code. Subversion manages file directories for source code in its repository, but also keeps data on the code and backs it up. Like web technologies such as MySQL, the parent program Subversion is in itself a hostile facade of MS-DOS and ASCII, and is usually interfaced with by users through client software. These clients provide a much more user-friendly GUI and command interface.

There are many open-source, free clients out there, and most are hosted on Sourceforge.net. As of the moment, I have not personally had the opportunity to try any of these, as I do not have a running Subversion server yet on my own test platform, nor access to that used by the Student Techs.

(As a side note, it would be very helpful to be briefed on their SVN server setup as well as which clients they are using.)

Adding FavIcons to Web Pages

Posted on by
Reply

In order to spruce-up some of my help pages, I’ve added a favicon. I took our ITG header, cropped it and used this page to create an icon (16 pixels x 16 pixels): http://www.html-kit.com/favicon/ http://www.favicon.cc/

Here is the original png file:

Here is the finished product:

For HTML Pages

  1. Upload the favicon to the directory of your web page
  2. Add the following HTML tag to your web page after the <head> tag, before the </head> tag:
    3. <link rel=”shortcut icon” href=”favicon.ico” >
  3. Save your web page

For WordPress

  1. Upload the favicon
  2. Edit the header.php of your wordpress blog. Depending on the theme you use, locate the header.php folder and edit the file by adding the following code:

    Link Code

  3. Save your header.php file

Now when you visit one of my help pages, the URL will be proceeded by the favicon as well as on the tab. Here’s an example: https://webspace.yale.edu/itg/clickers/receiverupgrade.html

How to record to the Olympus LS-10 Digital Voice Recorder Using an iPhone*

Posted on by
Reply

In order to record a telephone conversation from your iPhone directly to the Olympus LS-10 recorder, do the following:
1. Connect either a set of earphones or speakers to the earphone jack of the recorder.
2. Using the connecting cord, plug one end into the microphone jack of the recorder (not the line in jack).
3. Plug the other end of the connecting cord into the earphone jack of the iPhone.

It is important to note that the mouth piece of the iPhone will need to be used in order for the call recipient to hear you. Thus, speak into the phone as you normally would, but be aware that the recipient’s voice will be heard via the headphones or speakers that are connected to the recorder, not the ear piece of the iPhone. Use the recorder’s normal functions for recording your conversation.

*Important: Every state has different regulations governing the recording of conversations over the telephone. Be sure to check your local, state and federal laws before recording any telephone conversation in order to determine that your use is in compliance with such laws or guidelines.