tail -f carlo.log

Twitter Twerp Scan update

Evening, y’all. I’ve been working a bit on Twitter Twerp Scan. Here’s what’s new:

• It should be much faster now, due to changes in the processing logic. Up until now, the table was rendered, and then updated once for every scanned follower. Highly inefficient. Now the data is fully loaded before the table is rendered, which helps (at least my) processors to not go up in flames anymore. Let me know how it works for you.
• There’s a nice loading indicator now, and a readable countdown! This is the best day of my life.
• Table pagination should help readability: by default, the table is now chopped into bite-sized 25 rows per page. There’s a handy little dropdown where you can change this setting.
• Bugfix: Not broken in Flock anymore.
• Bugfix: countdown accuracy.

• Again, there’s a Twitter account for the highly exciting TS minutiae now, @twerpscan. You might want to keep an eye on that one if you’re interested in the service.

Twerp Scan received a good amount of hits over the last few days, mainly due to a post on Download Squad. Honestly, I am a bit surprised about this, but I won’t complain. Nice to see my little experiment is filling a niché for some people. :)

Let me know what you think of the new features. I have more things on my todo list, but my day only has so many hours (and I have a day job).

Good night!

Twitter Twerp Scan

Over the last few days I’ve pursued my idea to build a “Twitter spammer detector” of sorts using only client-side technologies. I didn’t feel like setting up server components at all.

What was it supposed to do? It should check the number of followers of everyone on your contact list, the number of people they are following, and the ratio between those. If the person is following more than 1000 people (can be customised), and has a Following-to-Followers ratio higher than 1:1 (can be customised), you’d be informed (by a handy “Block” link).

Thanks to Pipes, the YUI libraries and the Twitter API returning JSON, I was able to finish the first version of Twitter Twerp Scan in a relatively short period of time.

My Javascript-fu is still a bit weak, but getting better. It’s a nice change to only have one local file to work with (excluding CSS, of course).

Over the weekend, the traffic to that page increased quite a bit, mostly because several people liked the idea enough to link the site.

I’ve set up a Twitter account for service updates etc. — @twerpscan. The rest of my tweets will go to @carlo as usual.

Out Of Energy

A bit over a week ago, my grandma passed away. (More about her maybe later.) The week between her crossing over and the funeral service I’ve subconsciously kind of “held my breath”.

Since we got back from my parents place, where the service was held, I feel somewhat …deflated, for lack of a better word. Out of energy, burnt out.

I guess this is normal?

Running: Recap Week One

I’m in the running business for a bit over a week so far. I’ve managed to finish the first four runs without breaking down, getting hit by a car, having to cry, falling or getting lost; and without dropping a single run.

I’m kind of proud of myself.

Using an unnamed maps site, I’ve laid out a nice 4.5km route in the neighbourhood. My first route was only 3.75km, which turned out to be too short. I got home while the music was still playing… unacceptable. So, back to the drawing board, add a few streets, great.

I still don’t like it. The second half of each go is nice, tho… because I know I’m about to get home.

Nevermind, I’ll keep on doing it. Can’t hurt, and it makes me feel better.

Unless I break down, get hit by a car, have to cry, fall or get lost, that is.

Ma.gnolia FAIL, Or: Rendering OpenID Useless

I can’t really remember the other few sites where I’ve seen this, but Ma.gnolia’s newly added OpenID support is a good example on how not to implement OpenID.

So I go there to register an account, and sure enough, I find an OpenID form.

I click the button, allow Ma.gnolia to use my ID, and end up here:

Umm, yeah… but no. I used my OpenID so I do not have to think about new usernames. I believe that asking me to come up with an unique username completely defies the concept of OpenID. Using OpenID in this form is like having a story line in a porn movie. Sure, you can boast that your movie has a plot, but who cares? It’s still just a smutty flick.

Somehow I think that one of us two isn’t completely understanding the concept of OpenID. Is it me?

(Disclaimer: I am not discussing the overall quality of Ma.gnolia here. I don’t use it. Others do and seem to like it, so I have no opinion in that regard.)