Just goes to show how little programming I have done of late… At the weekend I built a ladder (picture below), it’s wonky but functional (like my code 
)! With Autumn closing in I feel the urge to get back coding, hopefully the next post will be more interesting…
Ladder
We are lazy with our recycling, it builds up in the kitchen and has now become a cheap and fun game of balancing (can I add “x” without the tower collapsing), a possible new kind of world record type and a constant irritation as bits fall off in the “breeze”.
Our current best for a recycling “tower” is around 90cm, probably need to specify some criteria for base dimensions etc (if anyone was serious about competing).
Recently I needed to create a script to make a single movie from static images and existing movie files. I hacked this together with ruby, ffmpeg and ImageMagick. Note, it will function under windows with little code change.
Putting it up in case someone finds it of use!
A random script I hacked together (through searching and experimentation) for pulling down videos from YouTube with ruby, its only guaranteed to last along as the current YouTube html formatting lasts.
I recently gave a Pecha-Kucha Presentation on PDCA (Scientific Method adapted to LEAN).
I liked the way this presentation style really forces you to be precise and deliver the real message, it took ages to produce for such a small presentation time, this I guess is the point, i.e. deliver maximum value in the shortest time period.
The content blends my recent ramblings based on the “trousers of reality” book as well as a few other insights.
Idea for the day, why not use a wiki as an integrated development environment (IDE)?
I.e. write code in the wiki, configure the build similarly, i.e. which pages will be compiled. Modern wiki’s have configuration management built in, so bye bye svn, git etc. (ok, wiki’s don’t handle this well enough, but again this is an idea not a real product).
The environment by itself supports cross linking, so it self documents and people find it easy to document! The compiler and automated tests can update a build/test result page! With a little thought I think a wiki could manage code better than current IDE’s and integrate the social side. I guess execution of code might be an issue, but one which some more thought would overcome. Possibly this could be integrated into Google Wave?
It’s worth some discussion and further thought – Somewhere, off to bed!
I have updated my original deep structure thoughts to incorporate the scientific method (or the similar concept of Plan, Do, Check, Act). The diagram aims to show why LEAN in particular thrives across the enterprise, rather than within just teams – It works with the whole and ensures process is part of the routine reflection and change cycle.
By adding the scientific method I’m trying to demonstrate that simply inspecting and adapting isn’t enough, you need to know where you intend to go and have the ability to assess the true impact of any proposed changes.
Over the Christmas break I read the trousers of reality, which I thoroughly enjoyed. The most interesting part for me was the chapter on deep structure. Inspired by this I produced my interpretation (a series of sketches) which in some way I see as almost mapping out the whole book (see below).
Fundamentally we need principles and feedback!
Since the start of the year, I have been learning the Argentine Tango! All I can say is the whole process of learning to dance is fantastic and I can highly recommend it. I have a way to go, wish I had learned years ago. If you are in/around Edinburgh I can recommend dance base
