We just launched a new feature I have been working on over at Indie Labs. This feature allows stores to track pageviews and E-commerce transactions using Google Analytics. All of the tracking is done server-side so there is no code to paste into your store’s HTML, so it is really simple to setup and use.
In order to accomplish thist I forked the Gabba gem and did some modifications to allow for tracking transactions. Most of the work was in deciphering Google’s .gif params which is normally hidden if you use their JS API. With the addition of my changes, you can now track transactions and items, in addition to the normal event and pageview tracking.
I have to admit, Minecraft is addicting, my daughter and I love to play it together and figure out how to craft items, survive zombie attacks and build stuff. If you haven’t played it head over to my good friend BitBurner’s MineCrap.com to learn things like how to survive your first night, to making mine carts to haul your loot. He has some great vids called Bit’s Blocks where he and his kids play together and craft. It is great fun and a cool way to learn how to be productive in Minecraft.
I am seriously thinking about setting up a sort of office in my master bathroom. It is roomy, quiet and the fam will think twice about coming in there for something, well maybe not but still… Once you get past the occasional smell, it is quite peaceful in there.
Managing side effects is something you normally think about when taking pharmaceuticals. I am talking about the kind programmers encounter when writing their beautiful prose. Unit and functional tests are not only for your expected scenarios but they are also like your friendly just-in-time pharmacist. Sometimes that is not enough.
So how do we cope with those bug-making gremlins that creep into some edge case scenario before we need to get our stomachs pumped? If you start from scratch on a project the side effects are a bit more manageable. You know the system, you have your head wrapped around the implementations. A good macro view of your app that you can tuck into your gut (figuratively speaking) is IMO the best way to be side effect free, or close to it. It is easier said than done, esp when you are working in a team.
I try to get down and dirty with the app, starting with the tests. My friend is time. The more I screw things up and have to look over code the better. As time goes on, I can trust my gut. With a gut like mine, it takes a bit to fill. Every method I write, every line of code, I try to imagine what I am breaking. Those are the hidden skills of a great programmer. I still have a way to go…
