I've been working on this little application for creating a 'blog' webpage. I didn't like any of the packages out there because they either 1) weren't free or 2) required PHP or similar script hosting, and/or SQL support on your web server. My idea was to make a program that would let you configure what your page looks like via CSS sheets, and then enter in a blog entry, with a title, message body, etc, then save it, which parses the text into an HTML file, as well as updating the various index files for the page (main page index, catagory index, date based indexes, etc). The resulting html structure is saved to a directory on your local machine, and then when you connect to the internet any changes (based on last update date stamps on files) are uploaded via to the location you specify.
I've got it working, but very basic at this point. I am making the switch to Mac very soon, so I am going to have port this over (shouldn't be had, i've been using GTK and PHP so far, probably go to GTK and either C or Python, might just stick with PHP depending how it runs on OSX). What I am wondering is if there is already a package similar to this available? DId I miss something, or perhaps a Mac only program that I didn't find because I wasn't looking?
If there isn't anythign currently available, is there any interest in it? If there seems to be any desire for this sort of program, I will be more careful when I port it (it is pretty rough around the edges - and everywhere else for that matter - right now, as it has been for strictly personal use so far) and release the source code under the GNU or some other similar license.
Reasons I find this useful are:
- No need to pay for script hosting (my web server wants $8/month for php hosting... speaking of which, does .Mac include any script hosting with thier service?)
- If you want to keep a live, public journal, but won't be able to get online all the time. (IE, backpacking accross Europe, or another sort of vacation, in my case, military deployment).
- Use some sort of time limited internet connection (cell phone jumps to mind) where writing offline and quick syncing in the evening (cheaper rates) to update the page is prefered.
Anywho, let me know what you think of the idea... I've also been looking at AppleScript and wondering if it can be integrated into applications? Might simplify things, and convince me to go OSX only, rather than cross platform, as I have been doing so far.
Rob
I've got it working, but very basic at this point. I am making the switch to Mac very soon, so I am going to have port this over (shouldn't be had, i've been using GTK and PHP so far, probably go to GTK and either C or Python, might just stick with PHP depending how it runs on OSX). What I am wondering is if there is already a package similar to this available? DId I miss something, or perhaps a Mac only program that I didn't find because I wasn't looking?
If there isn't anythign currently available, is there any interest in it? If there seems to be any desire for this sort of program, I will be more careful when I port it (it is pretty rough around the edges - and everywhere else for that matter - right now, as it has been for strictly personal use so far) and release the source code under the GNU or some other similar license.
Reasons I find this useful are:
- No need to pay for script hosting (my web server wants $8/month for php hosting... speaking of which, does .Mac include any script hosting with thier service?)
- If you want to keep a live, public journal, but won't be able to get online all the time. (IE, backpacking accross Europe, or another sort of vacation, in my case, military deployment).
- Use some sort of time limited internet connection (cell phone jumps to mind) where writing offline and quick syncing in the evening (cheaper rates) to update the page is prefered.
Anywho, let me know what you think of the idea... I've also been looking at AppleScript and wondering if it can be integrated into applications? Might simplify things, and convince me to go OSX only, rather than cross platform, as I have been doing so far.
Rob
. At least it will be free, and cross platform!