Drupal, Linux and Other Observations

Information and Observations

Posted Tue, 02/03/2009 - 20:55

After dreaming up a hundred and one ways to use this domain, but never implementing any of them, I decided to utilize it as a resource for my Internet and software development efforts.  This site is a lens into the vast amount of helpful information (and entertaining nuggets) that I routinely conjure up on the Internet.  Whether it's altruistic or narcissistic, it IS my two cents.

It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something.

Franklin D. Roosevelt's two cents

Drupal At A Glance

Posted Tue, 08/10/2010 - 23:15

Visual aids are always a plus when trying to convey complex ideas.  While toiling away on some documentation for a client I created a nifty little graphic that I had to share here.  It's actually a pretty good representation of a typical Drupal installation.

Things Learned at DrupalCamp Atlanta

Posted Mon, 10/03/2011 - 08:40

I ventured out of the bunker this weekend to attend DrupalCamp Atlanta 2011.  Besides getting some sun and fresh air I also learned a few things:

PDF Manipulation with pdftk

Posted Mon, 06/13/2011 - 14:20

I recently had the need to combine multiple PDF's into a single file.  Since I did not own any PDF manipulation software I naturally hit Google for potential solutions.  Of course, I got 53M matches that led to a bunch of scams and online services.  However, when I added +Ubuntu to my search I quickly found a solution and within 10 minutes had delivered a single, merged PDF file to my client.  Man...I love the world of open source.

Applying and Creating Patches in Drupal

Posted Sat, 09/25/2010 - 12:32

From time to time it is necessary to supplement your Drupal installation with a patch to a contributed module or Drupal core itself.  While it may seem intimidating to the novice user, the entire process is very simple if you stay organized, make notes and follow the available instructions.  If you are a developer you should know that creating and submitting patches on d.o is equally painless and can be a huge help to the community.

Mind Mapping with FreeMind

Posted Wed, 08/11/2010 - 19:53

Since there never seems to be enough time in ANY day I am always looking for ways to save time and be more efficient.  It is rare that I come across something which not only saves time but also improves my deliverables.  About a year ago I was introduced to the concept of mind maps and an open source Java application called FreeMind.  Since that time I have found both to be invaluable tools in my everyday processes. 

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