Ten Tonne Baby » blogging

Testing SyntaxHighlighter for code snippets

Oli — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 19:04:58 +0000

I’ve been reading this article from Scott Hanselman which details how to use a combination of the PreCode plugin for Windows Live Writer along with Syntax Highlighter to author and nicely present code snippets. Syntax Highlighter is a client-side solution using javascript and CSS to add the appropriate hooks and styles to an authored code snippet. This avoids a lot of the guff that gets injected by many of the solutions out there. I’m now going to include some random code to check everything is looking sexified…


[Given(@"I make a mistake and don't copy all of the characters")]
public void GivenIMakeAMistakeAndDonTCopyAllOfTheCharacters()
{
    this.registrationMock
        .Setup(r => r.ActivateUserFromToken(It.IsAny()))
        .Throws(new InvalidActivationTokenException());
}

Windows Live Writer and Tagging Support for Wordpress

Oli — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 19:37:51 +0000

I’ve recently upgraded to the latest version of Wordpress which now includes support for tagging posts as part of the core product. It was a little painful to go and tag up the entire backlog of previous posts, but it’s all done now, and it’s very cool to be able to get a feel for what I generally write about via the cloud.

I’ve become accustomed to publishing content using Windows Live Writer and had totally missed how to tag posts, so that the tagging info comes through to Wordpress. In Live Writer there is an advanced properties bar that can be expanded at the bottom of the content area, and this includes a section for keywords. Anything entered here (comma-seperated) will come through to Wordpress as tags against the post.

I’m happy again.

Back on the Wagon

Oli — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 20:25:06 +0000

Occasionally I decide that it would be a great idea to write my own blogging engine from scratch, that does everything perfectly in exactly the way that I would like. The main points being a single installation that can support multiple, radically different sites, with custom templates, total control over markup, clean URLs and general nice semantic output. I even got properly stuck in this time, but I have to grudgingly admit that it’s probably not the best thing to do alongside one of the busiest times in my working life.

The other side effect is that I get excited about all the features I’m planning to build, then stop blogging until the new platform is ready. Enough! I accept that while I would love to build such a thing, it’s a little daft right now. Plus, Wordpress does most of what I need anyhow.

I’m just playing around with Windows Live Writer, and I’m very comfortable already. Definitely a much more useable way to publish than the Web based admin interface on Wordpress.

Silence

Oli — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 11:54:58 +0000

I’m now back in Reading after a few weeks away from work, and feeling much more balanced having had the chance to catch up with normal life. For some reason I found it much easier to relax by maintaining minimal contact with the world, so I haven’t posted for a while.

Our street was closed off again recently due to a gas attack at the pub next door. I think it’s been the fourth time the road has been closed in the past couple of months due to some kind of fire or danger.

It seems more likely to be a homophobic attack instead of related to any terrorist activity. I guess this kind of thing is bound to happen occassionally around Soho but I find it hard to imagine how people would feel compelled to do something like that.

I have been doing a little cartoon work, but I got slightly disheartened when my PC crashed halfway through saving my best piece and corrupted the file. I’ll put some work up when I get back into a cartoony mood.

The new camera is very tasty. I was looking through some photos from our time off last night, and the difference compared with anything I’ve used before is quite significant. I should probably take it out around London and try to take more shots that can be incorporated with web design work – textures and abstract pieces. I’m still a little conscious about wandering around with anything expensive looking on my neck, but I suppose Wing Chun in probably still ok with a cam-neck.

I’m thinking about adding Flickr integration to the blog and posting photos up, but I haven’t quite decided yet. I guess it’s in fashion to completely expose yourself online, so I should catch the boat. If anyone makes the obvious joke I’ll be dissappointed in you.

State Your Intentions

Oli — Thu, 18 May 2006 20:27:22 +0000

I’m attempting to ditch the British reserve and start publishing the things that I think about. I’ve finally dragged this ugly baby kicking and screaming into the world, so I would like to start (if I may) by taking a minute to explain why.

It basically comes down to degredation of the body as age kicks in. My memory isn’t what it used to be, and this seems like a rather tidy way to ensure that the things which I’ve thought about become indexed and readily accessible (to me, and anyone else). It’s a sad truth that googlebots will do a better job at this than my own memory, but one that I’ve come to accept.

I am also hoping that the discipline of writing will allow me to be a little more structured around developing the ideas that I have. I tend to get quite excited about something new, then run off in a different direction leaving a half-formed creation flapping around on the floor.