Alicia Wilkerson

I am absolutely loving Code Igniter as a framework for this project. Not only has it cut the majority of the development time down – minus the learning scale which is always there. It simplifies so many things.

I don’t have to xss clean my code, I don’t have to do a lot of little things that are really annoying to have to do repeatedly.

I create my database model, write the database access functions. I create my controlling logic and the views for each page needed. I set rules and forms validate easily and produce nice error messages. So much of the tediously annoying work is done for me.

Right now I’m writing all the simple pieces of the code, which after I get one done, it’s pretty much copy and base the code, go in and make the changes for this section and then test it. Because I’m doing the same basic code so many times I’m catching many bugs which I then have to reciprocate through the prior code, but at least then it’s still cut and paste and change as necessary.

The hard parts are coming up and those have to do with dynamic lists created by the user. So I’ll see how I implement that particular section. It has typically been where I stumbled in the past.

Yesterday I started making the application. The spec was filled out in generic terms and a good deal of specifics but when I started trying to decide controllers and views I decided it was best to start working on the code. The functional part of the site was described so I’m able to move forward and not miss any steps.

Right now I’ve got the login logout portion of the site done – including the redirects for the site when a viewer isn’t suppose to see things. I am also checking that the default credentials get reset so it’s more hacker proof. I still have to do the actual changing of the credentials, that’s my next step.

This is the third or forth time I’ve been using CodeIgniter as a starting point. I think it’s much easier for me to use than CakePHP was. But CakePHP was what got me interested in PHP frameworks. But I like CodeIgniter better right now – simpler for my tastes and needs

I have an idea for an application that has many personal benefits but might also benefit others, and there is potential for this to grow to more than just a personal application.

Cooks Cart is the name I’m currently calling the application. It’s something that will assist me in my daily household management for meal time preparation. Currently its slotted to be just a one person user, but after the bugs are worked out and I’m happy with the function and design I may go in and make it a multi-person application and possible even add in some “premium” functions if I decide I will host it, but that’s for much later, as there is a lot of work to do on it.

This is the third or fourth time I’ve started working on this and this time I’m starting with writing up a technical specification so that I don’t forget things and have to go back in and code it and then mess something else up. This way I know what I have to do and hopefully won’t forget anything of major importance.

So that’s what I’m working on now on top of my clients work that is.

I will try to to keep up to date with the project. I am currently planning on using Code Igniter as a base for this application.