• Set based algorithms in SQL for directed, acyclic graphs
• CPAN: Graph.pm
• JGraphT – Java, can handle graphs with a few millions vertices and edges
• pydot – an interface for creating both directed and non directed graphs from Python.
• Python Patterns – Implementing Graphs
• Data Structures and Algorithms with Object-Oriented Design Patterns in Python

I was telling a friend about the IP minefields I had implemented in various folders to keep snoopers out. I remember that I mentioned this at OSCON and other people had also mentioned that it was a great idea (that hadn’t been done before?). It is a good idea, and trivially easy to implement. So here’s the PHP source:

$deny = '# ' . date("D M j G:i:s T Y") . "
";  
$deny .= 'Deny from ' . $_SERVER['REMOTE_ADDR'] . "
"; 
fwrite(fopen('.htaccess', 'a'),$deny);

I’ve set up Trac at work twice now. I haven’t had too many problems with that, but it is a couple of steps on Debian.

While not perfect, it is the closest I’ve seen to an integrated SCM/PM/KM tool. Also, it’s progressing pretty well. v0.8 and v0.9 should add most of the missing features that I’d like. It’s written in Python and Clearsilver and is GPL’d.

Similar:

• CVSTrac – similar functionality to Trac but simpler and less refined
• Confluence + JIRA – very nice, in a lot of ways more advanced than Trac (name-spaces, input templates), but commercial software, less straightforward
• Basecamp – 37signals’ ASP’d PM tool, need to give it a spin

The current biggest things I’d like out of Trac:

• Dashboard/Summary page
• Tasks/To-do’s in addition to tickets
• Blog/news for each project
• Centralized system w/ namespaces
• Internal/external messaging/conversations
• Comments/annotations on any item/node
• Versioning for attached files
• Nested components
• Dependencies
• Ticket assignment to multiple users, groups

A bunch of co-workers and I swung by Scott Kelby’s Photoshop: Down & Dirty Tour class at the Convention Center today. A lot of very, very good stuff. Among the best:

• shift + plus cycles blend modes when a layer is selected
• making a eurocollage
• movie poster dirty text is made by threshold images and masking
• making product ad shots is simple (reflections, feathering and drop shadows are your friend)
• the Photoshop CS shadow/highlight adjustment tool is awesome
• dodge and burn w/ brush tools on a separate neutral gray overlay layer
• you can export automated PDF slideshows
• everyone looks better at 95% width

So very worth your time and money.

• Income Gap Up Over Two Decades, Data Show

Hardware edition:

• ATITool – w/ artifact scanner, neat. I just bought an MSI 9800 Pro that booted up recognizing as an XT and went up to 412/365 w/ zero problems. I’ll have to give it a push if I’m feeling bored
• Mike’s Hardware – this is a great site that has product roadmaps for all the latest PC hardware. If I upgrade soon, it looks like Q4 is good. A pair of Raptor HD’s, an NForce4 board, Athlon64 4000, and possibly NV48e. Too addictive.
• Antec Sonata Case Review – this looks like a nice quiet case (not a big deal for me now as all my noisy computers are in a separate room)
• Nvidia GeForce 6600 paper-launch – some pretty amazing performance out of a very reasonably priced card. Too bad it’ll be at least a month or two before you can get your hands on one (this helps my Doom 3 habit how?)

I finally picked up a WRT54G ($61 now, + $10 rebate). This is a v2 model (200MHz MIPS chip), and seems to load up firmware 3rd party firmware ok. The main thing I want is traffic shaping, but stats might be nice too.

• EWRT – a Sveasoft Samadhi2 fork; has NoCatSplash, Wondershaper+iproute2, power selection, RSSI stats reporting, remote syslogging
• OpenWRT – modular system that uses packages for features. Quagga, but no Wondershaper pacakge?
• Wifibox – nice installation, but no QoS
• LinksysWrt54g – might be fun to build my own package

This RIAA TP is a great idea. Maybe there should be a Bush version.

• Fiftyfoureleven.com – a great web development blog w/ an nice design and clean organization