Reich Consulting
22Dec/090

Zend_Http_Client_Adapter_Socket Problems

While running my unit tests for an application I'm developing, I noticed that certain web service components were intermittently failing.  The failure was caused by irregularly formed XML responses from Amazon's Web Services. The failures occured as Exceptions from within the Zend_Service_Amazon component, but upon further inspection I was able to discover that the HTTP Adapter being used from within Zend_Service_Amazon, which is by default Zend_Http_Client_Adapter_Socket, was not returning the entire stream from Amazon.  After I switched adapters to Zend_Http_Client_Adapter_Curl, my unit tests began running without fail.

I was not able to find any information about the problem from the Zend Framework Issue Tracker, so I have no way of knowing at the moment if there is a bug within the Socket adapter, or something with my computer or my Internet connection.

28Mar/088

Unattended Installation of AuthorWare Web Player

Performing an unattended or silent installation of a application that doesn't come packaged in an MSI or executable installation program can be real pain, which was precicely the case with Macromedia AuthorWare Web Player. The Internet Explorer plug-in automatically downloads and installs into the user's browser when a site requests it provided the user has sufficient rights to install browser plug-ins. Of course if manage a network with any amount of proficiency you're probably not letting your users install their own software.  Silently installing AuthorWare Web Player for Internet Explorer is a three-step process:

29Feb/080

The World Wide Web

Since I was first exposed to the Internet back in 1995, people have erroneously had a tendency to use the terms Internet and World Wide Web interchangeably. It may take the mind of a true geek to really care about the difference, but the World Wide Web is actually only a small fraction of the Internet.

This article is the first in a series meant to supplement the web design course that I'm currently teaching at SUN Area Career & Technology Center. I will define the Internet and the World Wide Web, talk briefly about their history, and discuss a few of the web's defining features.

26Feb/080

Reich Consulting Web Design Articles and Tutorials

Just last week I began teaching a class on web design for my primary employer, SUN Area Career & Technology Center based on the Thompson Course Technology Dreamweaver MX 2004 Basic textbook.  Though the book and the accompanying PowerPoint presentations are sufficient for the lessons taught in class, I've decided to write a series of articles and tutorials to that add to my in-class lessons that expand on the topics that we will discuss.   I'm going to begin with some basics regarding the World Wide Web and the the languages and protocols that make it work.  If you are taking my class or just find web design and development interesting, I hope you'll stop by often to read this series of articles.

6Feb/080

Sign Up: Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 Class at SUN Tech

I'm going to begin teaching a night class on web page design using Macromedia Studio MX 2004. It will be held at SUN Area Career & Technology Center starting Wednesday February 13, 2008.  It will be four three hour sessions.  Contact the school to sign up! Their number is (570) 966-1031.

11Jul/070

The Basics, Part 1: What’s a web browser?

Though the web browser is probably the single most frequently used software application on any individual's computer, few people know how to describe it. This article will explain what a web browser is, what it does, and how to choose the best one to fit your needs.