D3VON's Projects

This page summarizes projects I've been working on recently. My focus is web development ('back end'), and design (UI). My back end work is focused on Java, PHP, JSON, ReST, MongoDB, PostgreSQL. Front end work is focused on 'mobile first', CSS, HTML5, Bootstrap, JavaScript, jQuery, Photoshop, wireframing, mockups, visualizing data with Flot (based on D3).

This page now RESPONSIVE using Bootstrap.js!

HTTPS, self-hosted

There is no longer any reason *not* to encrypt your web sites. Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated, and open certificate authority. The Let’s Encrypt root key (ISRG Root X1) will be trusted by default in Firefox 50.

Here, I present in detail the steps I took to set up HTTPS for those domains I'm self-hosting.

(Links to my home server)

(Ironically, not using HTTPS)

tools used

Setting up Dynamic DNS for my server

My computer is always on, and always connected to the internet. Barring the occasional mysterious trouble with my modem or router, I have a stable (not changing) IP address.

Here, I describe the steps I took to point my domain name(s) to my IP address so I can host them on my own computer at "no cost" (asside from keeping my machine on all the time, which I do anyhow).

(Links to my home server)

(Ironically, not to any domain name)

tools used

'Stock Tracker' using YQL, JSON, PostgreSQL...

Stock data visualization using Rickshaw (a JavaScript plotting library for jQuery, built on D3.js). I use Yahoo's YQL API to get information, but YQL is very (very!) slow when querying a lot of data, so historical data is backed up (MongoDB) locally to enable much faster visualization of many investments.

(re-directs to my home server)

tools used

Rickshaw.js

'Amortizer' Android App

My first app in Google's Play Store. Calculates various loan scenarios depending on user input (payment amount, term of loan, interest rate, principal amount).

tools used

Google Geocode, a free weather API, and Flot.js graphing library.

Tinkering with both Google's Geocoding service, and the browser's native geocoding functionality. Also, using the SkyCast API. Finally, using Flot.js to graph current weather information.

(re-directs to my home server)

tools used

Present data in graphs using financial API

Hand-coded with PHP and Javascript, this is a login-accessible site to present State Street ETF data. Passwords are hashed with BCrypt. Charts are made with amCharts. CSV may be downloaded for data next to each chart. MySQL is the back-end database. History of searches is also stored and presented to the user. jQuery ajax is used to web-app-ify the experience.

tools used

Before/after slider, jQuery with Photoshop

Using a jQuery slider plug-in to show before/after pictures.

The key making the slider technology compelling is in the careful editing of the images such that their positions before and after match as closely as possible. That is commonly done poorly. Here, I present an example of positioning done pretty well.

tools used

Instruction: installing Linux (Mint) onto a cheap new Dell desktop ($230), rescuing it from Windows 8!

I made a video of myself pains-takingly walking through all the steps I needed to install a spiffy new OS, Linux Mint, onto a cheap new Dell desktop computer. I encountered some oddball difficulties, so hopefully that will help someone else (It has! Last I checked there were over 1000 views.). --and since I couldn't use the computer itself to record what I was doing, I used a regular old camera.

tools used