[ZooLib-dev] Mike's doing GUI work again

[Michael D. C. <cra...@go...>]

Hi Friends,

I'm happy to say I'm writing C++ graphical user interface code again, on 
the Mac even.

It's in PowerPlant, but I've been making the case to my client that he 
should pay me to port it to ZooLib so he can offer a Windows version. 
We'll have to see.

I haven't had much occasion to work with ZooLib for a while because I've 
been doing embedded systems development since the fall of 2002.  I've 
done well at it, and I have no problem finding new clients, but it is 
also really painful: I've written a number of custom firmware images for 
the Oxford 911 FireWire/IDE bridge chip, but have had to be very 
scrupulous because the 911 has only 1700 bytes of RAM.  Not kilobytes, 
BYTES.

It seemed like things would be easier when I moved to the 922 because it 
has 8 kb of RAM, but it hasn't worked out too well because it's a MUCH 
more complex chip.

I spent the last couple days running Spotlight 
(http://www.onyxtech.com/) under OS 9 to debug my client's product, and 
I found myself thinking "This is a lot more fun than bitbanging yet 
another electronic widget".

I tested ZooLib with Spotlight too, but that was back in 2000, and a lot 
of work has been done on it since.  I expect I can do it again soon, I 
have lots of source that exercises ZooLib.

          Spotlight: the Best Argument for Supporting OS 9.
          There is No Equivalent in OS X, Not for Any Price.

Well, I'll get back to work now.

And no, I haven't forgotten that I've been promising to complete the 
ZooLib Cookbook for Several Years:

http://www.goingware.com/zoolib/cookbook/

Here's a book I recommend to anyone who will listen, it has made my work 
life make a lot more sense to me, and I'm able to spend more time on my 
music as a result: "How to Get Control of Your Time and Your Life" by 
Alan Lakein.

It's just a little book, I think six bucks.  It's not the sort of time 
management book your boss wants you to read though.  Lakein says that if 
your job isn't helping you achieve your life's goals, maybe what you 
need to do is get a better job.

Indeed.

More Soon.

Mike Crawford
cra...@go...

     Tilting at Windmills for a Better Tomorrow.