Saturday, 19. September 2009, 18:54:32
userjs, unite
UJS Manager is a new Unite service where you can manage your user js files. I have not been using user js, and just learned today how to develop user scripts. This is a Unite service that is really useful. I have had some small problems with it, but I am so new to user scripts that I need to investigate if it is my fault or not.
When I saw this service, I started thinking of Unite services in combination with user scripts. I think the combination could be used to create at least some of the typical extensions seen in Firefox, I will try to create a proof of concept as soon as possible.
Sunday, 9. August 2009, 09:17:31
unite, Dragonfly
Next challenge, write some Javascript code in the Unite service, and debug its main content. (that is before any user generated event has been triggered)
A simple example:
var a = 3 * 5;
var stop = true;
The second line is just there to make sure that I can inspect the a variable. (maybe there is a nicer way to do that)
If you want to step through the program, you can do the following:
- Select Stop at new thread (hand plus left bracket)
- Start the Unite service
- Select the Unite service in the Dragonfly menu
- Press Continue (play button)
- Now your script is visible, and you can start to debug
I think that this was rather unintuitive, but, as always, now I know how to do it.
Sunday, 9. August 2009, 08:08:56
Dragonfly, unite
Ok, so you have just developed a Unite service, and you need to debug the server code with Dragonfly.
In the Dragonfly menu, at least I get two Unite services listed as widget://.../index.html, where ... is a lot of numbers that is really hard to remember.
If you want to debug, you want a title. And, it is actually possible, I found out by some trial and error.
<!DOCTYPE html>
<title>My Unite Service</title>
<script src="script.js"></script>
So, what I did was just to add a standard HTML title to index.html in the service. I think that widgetname from the config.xml file should be used by default, but it is not, and using title solved the problem.
Thursday, 6. August 2009, 09:45:11
unite
I am still a beginner when it comes to Unite, but at least I can share some early experience.
When you want to start working on a new service, drag your config.xml into Opera. Do not install it as a *.us-file, I have got so many problems doing that, so just skip that for now.
When you want to test your new changes, stop and then start your service again.
To avoid problems while developing, go into settings and make sure that you check for new versions of both documents and images always.
If you are sharing files with shareFile, you can always access the changes to the files in the shared directory without restarting your Unite service.
Sunday, 28. June 2009, 18:44:08
unite, dns
One common complaint about Opera Unite is that Opera controls the operaunite.com domain, and that this reduces the freedom of the user that just want to share some stuff, or access personal data from another machine, Opera will be the one providing your computer with a name so that you can find it.
This is nothing new, DNS is already a system where you have to go to some of the providers of top domains, and ask them kindly to get an address. (if not a domain name speculator has already got the address you are looking for)
For each new social site, you usually have to create a new name in that name space. One difference with Opera Unite is that not all people have a domain name, but needs one to be able to find the machine, and that motivates why Opera provides the operaunite name space.
But, I do think that name spaces for social sites, for Opera Unite, and even the regular name space for DNS is bad. We hand over the decision of how to reach your own computer, what to call it, to someone else.
DNS was probably invented to make it easier to find a machine without having to remember the IP address. But, now we have search technology that can help us find content, the name of the site does not matter that much anymore. If search technology had been in place before DNS was invented, maybe DNS would not have been there.
Think about it, a DNS free Internet, where you can use some kind of certificates to make sure that you are on the site that you think you are. (the way we look at security by looking at the domain name will of course need to be replaced by some other mechanism)
Monday, 22. June 2009, 01:22:34
unite
I guess you haven't missed Opera Unite. Opera Unite blends the client and the server. I am not sure that people will like it, but it is something new, and it will be interesting to see what kind of services will be developed.
The big oppurtunity that I see is prototyping. I can build services in JavaScript, and the UI in HTML/CSS, using DragonFly to debug the whole thing. And then, decide if I want to release it as a Unite Service, or port it to another system if it needs scalability or constant uptime.
My first plan is to do some kind of tool to analyze what web browsers and web servers send in the headers. I think it could be useful for some people. (it is not a killer app, but all apps don't need to change the world)
Tomorrow I will go back to the office, been on vacation, it will be interesting to see the internal reactions on the Unite release, since I have only been reading the comments on the web.
WIDGETIZE