From: Mickey A. <AO@MickeyArgo.com> - 2010-01-05 05:31:23
|
I'm going to try to answer this question, and hopefully not hurt anyone's feelings :) Please read the entire email before you start the flame war! I am a software developer by day, working on intelligent transportation systems (Dynamic Message Signs, Speed and Volume Sensors, CCTV systems, etc) in C# on Windows and starting to branch off into home energy management systems (interfacing smart grid/meters with home automation). MisterHouse has long been a hobby of mine, but the coding I do is specific for my house/city/needs/wants (I don't think anyone would be interested in the ugly code I use to read the local aquifer level to determine what stage of water restrictions we're in here in San Antonio). Personally, I do not like programming in Perl but I see the advantages in using it on this project due to the multiple platforms used. I did try Linux a couple of different times, but I'm more comfortable in Windows, so that is what I'm using for my local copy of MH. One of my jokes about this hobby is that my house will do most everything Bill Gates' house does...just not as pretty and a heck of a lot cheaper. The svn code base is as solid as it has ever been! While I may not like the structure, it is in Perl! One of the first things I learned in Perl is the phrase 'there's more then one way to skin a cat". Let me say it one more time...the svn code base is solid. MH is a good starting point to automate your house...if you are a programmer OR willing to get your hands dirty :) It probably will not do everything you want it to do right out of the box and it has a HIGH degree of difficulty on the learning curve. If you are not a programmer, you can still use MH! It is by far more user friendly then when I first cracked open the code base 10+ years ago. There is even a Wiki now! Some of the documents may be a little out of date, but what is the last thing a developer wants to work on? Just don't expect an InstallShield type of experience at this time with MH. If someone wants to jump in and develop that InstallShield experience, they will be welcomed with open arms! There are some incredibly dedicated people actually pushing out code to help others on this project. I am not one of them! Greg is one of those that immediately come to mind. There are others, but if I start naming more names, I will inevitably leave someone out, so I will stop there. However, the code that they work the hardest on is code that will help them also! Gregg is doing a re-write of the Insteon code that I am patiently waiting on...I'm sure it is going to be better then the hacks I had to insert into my code to get a few things done. And if not, I will then use his code and put my hacks back in. Now comes the part that will probably hurt some feelings...if you are not a programmer and have no interest in trying to figure out the code base and expect all your questions to be answered quickly, MH is not for you. I would suggest something along the lines of Homeseer. Their product found at http://store.homeseer.com/store/HSPRO---Home-Automation-Software-HomeSeer-P415C5.aspx?UserID=2327280&SessionID=LY6NW6SWcP1ZPO6Sf9UZ doesn't do all the things that MH will do, but it might be more in your league. I don't know if it really is worth $600. This is NOT to belittle non-developers! Everyone is welcomed here. Just don't expect to be spoon-fed here. I don't know how to make the MH binaries, but I do know that if that is what I needed to continue on with MH, I would learn how! I haven't searched for it, but I seem to remember that Bruce did send out the instructions several years back. If I needed something specific accomplished, I would ask questions (you will find my emails asking questions if you look far enough back into the archives). Don't like svn or it makes you nervous? Sorry, but programmers are used to working with some type of change control. Releases? I don't need no stinkin' releases (sorry, old joke :) Is the code base perfect? No! I know I have informed the mailing list a couple of times about a difference in the winamp code and the web page code. Whenever I see that question pop back up on the mailing list, I will once again give the answer (even if I know that the person asking did not search for the answer because if they had, they would have seen my previous emails :) Please remember...this is an open source, free project. It is not a commercial shrink-wrap product. OK...what you have read is an edited version of the original email...I deleted everything that I thought was inflammatory. If after reading this email you feel you have to respond and/or flame me, go right ahead. I doubt I will read the response and I will most definitely not respond to any hate generated from this email Why? Because this project is just a hobby for me. Mickey...The San Antonio user...don't flame Mick, the Iowa user :) George Farris wrote: > On Mon, 2010-01-04 at 18:37 -0500, Gary Sanders wrote: > >> Soapbox Mode ON: >> >> A few others have asked very similar questions recently, and to be >> honest, I haven't seen a definitive answer that gives me a warm and >> fuzzy feeling. >> >> > > Are there any developers on this the list that can give us a clue as to > whether the MH code is still a viable option to work on? > > Does it for example require a total re-write due to design deficiencies > or unknown requirements when it was initially coded? > > Basically is it worthwhile carrying the current code forward? > > I use CVS but I have limited use, Insteon and W800rf32 X10 stuff and it > works well for me but I don't know the internals of the code, never > really looked. > > Cheers > George > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > This SF.Net email is sponsored by the Verizon Developer Community > Take advantage of Verizon's best-in-class app development support > A streamlined, 14 day to market process makes app distribution fast and easy > Join now and get one step closer to millions of Verizon customers > http://p.sf.net/sfu/verizon-dev2dev > ________________________________________________________ > To unsubscribe from this list, go to: http://sourceforge.net/mail/?group_id=1365 > > > > |