We have recently benefited from using knockout.js to add richness to some of our web application forms. Once our view model is bound, the library allows us to update text on the form dynamically and easily. Naturally, it wasn’t long before someone asked, “How do I format money using knockout.js?” Some folks had some partial answers and some folks had some answers that didn’t work. It was particularly challenging to deal with users selecting partial fields, negative amounts, and what not, so we rolled our own knockout extension. We wouldn’t say our answer is perfect, but we think it is a fair compromise that works with the major browsers. Behold, the jsFiddle for money formatting in knockout.
Category: Open Source
We at Deft Flux have been using Ruby on Rails for a new web site. We are developing a web site that will help inspectors of homes and businesses do their jobs better and easier. The site will automate the communications between the inspection requesters, the inspection managers, and the inspectors and make information transfer reliable. But back to Ruby on Rails. After using the Ruby language and the Rails framework for a couple of months now, we are in love. The Ruby language is terse; it is powerful. What else could you ask for? The Rails framework makes it easy tie your object oriented application into your relational database of choice. Moreover, Rails automates your database migrations when you upgrade your application so that you don’t accidentally bollix things.
We understand that some commercial languages (e.g. .NET and ColdFusion) and PHP are implementing frameworks like Rails. We are stoked that Ruby on Rails is amongst the pioneers and that the power of the language makes it a pleasure to use.
We here at Deft Flux have always preferred Unix style operating systems and commands to Microsoft. The problem was that our clients always use Microsoft operating systems and until recently, it was always too much of a hassle to get gnu utilities up and running on a Microsoft workstation, especially when you’re moving to a new one every few months. Well, since the good folks at gnu started compiling programs for windows and providing installation programs (to cover dependancies), we decided every workstation needs gnu utilities. First, we install gvim because it is the best text editor ever written. Then we install grep, core utilities, and finally sed. Thus we have assembled, on a Microsoft workstation, a group of what are arguably the most useful programs ever written, pound for pound.