Experienced Programmer has some Availability

[sarettah]

Hello GFY.

I find myself with some unexpected availability and I am looking for some jobs to fill the hole.

For those that do not know me:

I am a programmer with over 35 years of total computer experience of which the past 21 have been all system design, database design and programming.

I currently code in PHP and ASP for the server side and FoxPro and VB on the desktop.

I am fluent in HTML and CSS but I am in no way a webdesigner.

I specialize in database applications using whatever database is available. I have extensive experience in MYSql and SqlServer databases.

I prefer developing from scratch rather than modifying existing code but can do either as needed.

My experiences range from very large systems to the smallest and all across the spectrum.

I try to be reliable and stick to a timeline that is developed with my client. This is a realistic timeline and it shifts as needed to accommodate the client and the project.

I usually do not have much availability so you don't hear much from me other than the occasional playing around on the board. When Dravyk died I lost my best client (and one of my best friends). My current ?bread and butter? client is experiencing some issues, so, like I say I have some availability.

Before anyone asks, No, I do not have any experience with NATs and No, I do not know .NET.

If you would like a reference or 2 please contact me and I will hook you up. I generally do not reveal my clients or their projects.

My rate is currently $75.00 an hour but I also do per project pricing if it is applicable.

If prepaid I can do the work on your server. If the job is postpaid then the work stays on my server until payment is made and cleared. I do not use EPass. I do use Paypal.

If you would be interested in me taking a look at a job for you then please hit me up with some specs and we can go from there.

You can reach me via email at sarettah AT partyafterdark DOT com or on icq at 2155399

Thank you for your attention

My standard disclaimers (that are agreed to for any project) are:

* Open and clear communications with quick responses from each party involved. If the project is delayed while waiting for responses the cost of the project can increase.

* Developer will be paid for all hours worked if the project is placed on hold or terminated prior to completion.

* The objective is to manage the scope of the project in order to maintain the provided estimate. If changes to the scope impact the estimates of either time or cost, the developer will notify the client and acquire approval before proceeding.

* Payment will occur as a prepayment or as each piece is developed and deployed. If the estimate is accepted a mutually agreed upon payment timeline will be developed. If payment is missed without prior notification then development will cease until such tims as payment is made.

* The client will provide the developer with access to the live server through both FTP and Telnet/SSH for development, testing and deployment purposes.

* The developer retains the rights to the code developed.

* The client owns a lifetime exclusive license to use and modify the software developed.

* The client does not own resale rights to the software. In the event that the client sells or transfers their business the license is freely transferrable to whomever the client sells or transfers their business to.

* The developer may not resell this software as a package without the client's permission, however the developer may from time to time utilize routines that were developed for this system in other systems that he develops.

* The client will receive copies of all source code.

* The client may employ other developers that may modify the source code for the system.

* The developer has no responsibility to repair software that is damaged by another developer.

* The client may from time to time request the developer to perfomr maintenance routines on the system or particular pieces of the system. These situations will be billed at the developer's normal hourly rate.


Thank you for your attention.

Now

[sarettah]

Just a bump for myself cause noone seems to know me anymore


From the programmer dictionary:

FM - technical term used to describe a self correcting problem. In other words, nothing changed in the code but all of a sudden evrything stopped working and to fix it all you did was run it again. Short for "Fucking Magic"

[2012]

bump for luck

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by fartfly

bump for luck

Thanx

[fris]

if i didnt already have a coder i would jump at this, you have some nice skills

[Jdoughs]

Bump for you Sarettah

[sarettah]

Thanks for the bumps.

I have a couple of people trying to get a hold of me via icq.

But, icq is giving me issues and will not connect up right now, so I am not ignoring you.

If you don't want to wait for icq to come around hit me up via email sarettah at partyafterdark dot com


Thanx

[sarettah]

Ok, icq seems to be working again finally but I have lost the contact info for the couple of people that were trying to get a hold of me.

So, you can hit me up on icq at 2155399 if you want.

Thanx

[sarettah]

I was bored so:

I recently had a situation where MYSql tables were crashing on me and because of that all the applications that were accessing the affected tables would grind to a big messy halt.

So, I invented a little automated table checking and repair utility that I could launch from the crontab on a regular interval to try to keep the database up and running.

My original app checks multiple databases and has a lot of process checking to make sure that no collisions occur.

I have modified it down to just check all the tables in one database.

And now, I give it to you.

Enjoy

Ok, it is not letting me put all the code in one message so I will have to split it into 2 pieces.

Here is piece one:

<?php
// check_tables.php
// This application will check all tables in a single database
// for errors and attempt to repair them if found.
// It will email a report to a precoded address or set of addresses
// and presnt a report on the screen or send it to a dump file.
// 
// This application uses a process file to make sure that multiple instances
// of the application do not collide.  It probably would not be a good thing to 
// have 2 different instances of the program attempting the same repairs 
// at the same time.
//
// The process file is created in a folder called 'running'.  You need to create
// this folder on your server and change the path to it on the appropriate line
// in the housekeeping section below. 
//
// This folder must be writeable to the program.  This for me means I need to use 777 permissions.
// This folder should be set to the strictest permissions that will still allow
// the application to write to it.
// 
// 
// Start
//
// Put out a message just because its cool to keep track of how long things take.
echo "Start of run " . date("M d Y H:i:s", time()) . "<br>\n";

// Housekeeping
//
// counters
//
// how many tables need repair
$needrepair=0;
// how many tables were repaired
$repaired=0;
//
// holder for status during check and repair operation
$last_status="";
//
// initial output message
$outstr="A Maintenance run started at " . date("M d Y H:i:s", time()) . "<br><br>\n";
//
// initial error message
$errorstr="There was an error in the maintenance program.\n\n";
//
// *******  All information to be modified is in this section
//
// This is the address to send from
// *** change the line below to reflect an address from your domain
$fromaddress="Database Maintenance auto report<[email protected]>";
//
// This is the address to send the report and errors to
// *** change the line below to indicate the addresses you wish to send reports to
$toaddress="[email protected];[email protected]";
//
// This is the process file. we put this out there at the beginning of the run
// and remove it at the end of the run.  If this file exists then
// a maintenance run is already occurring
// **** Change the path below to the proper path on your server
// usually something like /user/web/domain/running
// If you only use it from the browser then this could be 
// just running/maint.txt if you create the running folder as a 
// subfolder of the folder the app is running from
$processfl="/user/web/domain/running/maint.txt";
//
// database information
//
// *** change the information below to reflect your database settings
//
// database host
$dbhost = "localhost";
//
// database user
$dbuser = "dbusername";
//
// database password
$dbpass = "dbpassword";
//
// database name
$dbname = "dbname";
//
// *** end of data that needs to be modified
// 
// End of housekeeping
//

[sarettah]

And part 2:

//
// Mainline
//
// check to see if process file already exists.
// if it already exists then email an error report and blow it off
if(file_exists($processfl))
{
  $errorstr .="Maintenance tried to start while another instance was running\n\n";
  mail_it($errorstr,0,0,1, $fromaddress, $toaddress);
  die("Process already running\n\n");
}
//
// ok, another instance is not running so it is ok to run
echo "creating process file<br>\n";
//
// create the process file
// first you open it
$fp=fopen($processfl,'a');
if($fp)
{
  // then you close it
  fclose($fp);
}
// Check to see if file created ok.  I know I know I could just
// look at $fp.  But there is always the possibillity that the 
// file handler came back ok but the file did not get created
// this covers that.
// if the file did not get created then email an error report and blow it off
if(!file_exists($processfl))
{
    $errorstr .="Maintenance could not create the process file\n\n";
    mail_it($errorstr,0,0,1, $fromaddress, $toaddress);
    die("Could Not Create Process File\n\n");
}
else
{
    echo "created the process file<br>\n";
}
// lets hook up to MYSql
// If we dont get a good connection we will
// mail an error report and blow it off
$db = mysql_connect($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass);
if(!$db)
{
  $errorstr .="Could not connect to MYSQL\n\n";
  $errorstr .="MySql error was " . mysql_error() . "\n\n";
  mail_it($errorstr,0,0,1, $fromaddress, $toaddress);
  die("Could not connect to mysql\n\n");
}
//
// Now we select the database that we are going to check
$selected=mysql_select_db($dbname);
//
// ok, we are good to go
//
// Turn off the server timeout in case of a long winded check or repair operation
set_time_limit(0);
//
// Yeah I know, I am combining appearance and logic here.  Bite me.
// This is old school baby, think CGI ;p
// Lets format a table to make our output all need and pretty
// we want a four (4) column table because the commands we will 
// use return multiple lines of 4 column output. 
$outstr .= "<table border=1>";
$outstr .= "<tr>";
$outstr .= "<td align=center><b>Table Name</b></td>";
$outstr .= "<td align=center><b>Operation</b></td>";
$outstr .= "<td align=center><b>Message Type</b></td>";
$outstr .= "<td align=center><b>Message</b></td>";                
$outstr .= "</tr>";
$outstr .= "<tr><td colspan=4 align=center><b>Database " . trim($dbname) . "</b></td></tr>\n";
//
// We first do a show tables query to get a list of the tables in the database
$sql_str="SHOW TABLES";
$tblresult=mysql_query($sql_str, $db);
if($tblresult)
{
  // ok the query was good, it didnt error
  // now we want to loop through all the tables
  while($tblrow=mysql_fetch_array($tblresult))
  {
    // for each table we do a check tables query
    $sql_str="Check Table " . $tblrow[0];
    $chkresult=mysql_query($sql_str, $db);
    if(!$chkresult)
    {
      // error in the query, check your syntax ;p
      $outstr .= "<tr><td colspan=4 align=center><font color=red><b>Problem checking table " . $tblrow[0] . "</b></font></td></tr>\n";
    }
    else
    {
      // the check table query completed and returned output
      // we need to loop through the output.  
      // Check table will return multiple lines
      // if there is an error in the table
      //
      // clear out our last status holder
      $last_status="";
      //
      // loop through the results
      while($chkrow=mysql_fetch_array($chkresult))
      {
        // format the ouput nice and pretty
        // put the result in the 4 columns of our table
        // column 0 = Table Name
        // column 1 = Operation (either Check or Repair)
        // column 3 = Message Type (status or error)
        // column 4 = Status - we want this to always say OK
        $outstr .= "<tr>";
        $outstr .= "<td>" . $chkrow[0] . "</td><td  align=center>" . $chkrow[1] . "</td><td  align=center>" . $chkrow[2] . "</td><td  align=center>" . $chkrow[3] . "</td>\n";
        $outstr .= "</tr>";
        //        
        // we want to capture the very last status returned so we just keep 
        // overlaying our last status holder
        $last_status=$chkrow[3];
      }
      // Once we are done looping through the check table results the 
      // last status returned is in our last status holder.  we want this to be OK
      if(strtoupper($last_status)<>"OK")
      {
        // OOps, status was not OK so we need to try a repair
        // first we increment our counter to keep track of things
        $needrepair++;
        // Then lets throw a line in our output to indicate we are repairing something 
        $outstr .= "<tr><td colspan=4 align=center><font color=red><b>Attempting to repair table " . $tblrow[0] . "</b></font></td></tr>";
        //
        // Now we run a Repair table query against the table
        $sql_str="Repair Table " . $tblrow[0];
        $rprresult=mysql_query($sql_str, $db);
        if(!$rprresult)
        {
          // error in the sql.  Check your syntax.
          $outstr .= "<tr><td colspan=4 align=center><font color=red><b>Problem repairing table " . $tblrow[0] . "</b></font></td></tr>\n";
        }
        else
        {
          // Ok the repair table completed so we have to loop through the result
          // set just like we did on the check table
          // in fact this could be modularized to do both operations 
          // from one function.  But I'm lazy right now and this is already written
          // clear out our last status holder
          $last_status="";
          while($rprrow=mysql_fetch_array($rprresult))
          {
            // format the ouput nice and pretty
            // put the result in the 4 columns of our table
            // column 0 = Table Name
            // column 1 = Operation (either Check or Repair)
            // column 3 = Message Type (status or error)
            // column 4 = Status - we want this to always say OK
            $outstr .= "<tr>";
            $outstr .= "<td>" . $rprrow[0] . "</td><td  align=center>" . $rprrow[1] . "</td><td  align=center>" . $rprrow[2] . "</td><td  align=center>" . $rprrow[3] . "</td>\n";
            $outstr .= "</tr>";
            $last_status=$rprrow[3];
          }
          if(strtoupper($last_status)<>"OK")
          {
             // Repair failed.  Report it in our output string
             $outstr .= "<tr><td colspan=4 align=center><font color=red><b>Repair Failed " . $tblrow[0] . "</b></font></td></tr>";
          } 
          else
          {
             // The repair was successful
             // increment our repaired counter
             $repaired++;
             // write our success message to our output string
             $outstr .= "<tr><td colspan=4 align=center>Repair Successful " . $tblrow[0] . "</td></tr>";              
          }
        }
      } 
    }
  }
}
//
// Ok all done now
// so lets close our table
$outstr .= "</table><br><br>\n";
//
// lets close the database connection
if($db)
{
  mysql_close($db);
}
//
// delete the process file to indicate the run is complete
unlink($processfl);
//
// finish off our report with an ending time
$outstr.="End of run " . date("M d Y H:i:s", time()) . "<br>\n";
//
// now lets mail the report
mail_it($outstr, $needrepair, $repaired, 0, $fromaddress, $toaddress);
//
// then put it up on the screen or send to a dump file if running from cron
echo $outstr;
//
// End of mainline
//
// Start of user defined funstions
//
// UDF mail_it mails either our pretty report or an error message
// to whomevers address you put in the to address
// pass ins are the email message itself - either our report or an error
// The needed repair counter
// The repaired counter
// and a switch telling us whether this is an error report or not $err=0 is a report, 1 is an eror
// The from address
// The to address
function mail_it($emailmessage, $needed_repair, $were_repaired, $err, $from, $to)
{
  // initialize our email subject line
  $emailsubj="";
  if($err==1)
  {
    // if we have an error lets indicate it in the subject line
    $emailsubj="Maintenance ERROR " . date("M d Y H:i:s", time());
    //
    // we tack the current time to the email message here so we know when the error occurred
    $emailmessage .=date("M d Y H:i:s", time()) . "\n\n";
  }  
  else
  {
    // There is no error so this is a report lets give a fitting subject line
    $emailsubj="Database Maintenance Run"; 
    //
    // Now, i want to indicate on the subject line if the report needs to be
    // looked at or not.  I am going to dfo this by comparing my counters
    if(intval($needed_repair)-intval($were_repaired)>0)
    {
      // If the number of tables needing repair exceeds the tables repaired
      // then some were not repaired.  Bummer.  So lets say that on the 
      // subject line
      $emailsubj .=" - Some Tables Could Not Be Repaired - Please Review";
    }
    else
    {
      if(intval($needed_repair)>0)
      {
        // If we are here then there were some that needed repair
        // but all the repairs worked.  Life is good.
        // Lets say so on the subject line
        $emailsubj .=" - Repairs Occurred Successfully";
      }
      else
      {
        // if we are here then no repairs were needed
        // Life is great.  Again lets indicate it on the subject line
        $emailsubj .=" - All Is Ok";
      }
    }  
  } 
  //
  // set up theheaders for an html mail        
  $headers  = "MIME-Version: 1.0\r\n";
  $headers .= "Content-type: text/html; charset=iso-8859-1\r\n";
  $headers .="From: " . $from . "\r\n";
  //
  // and let's mail the sucker
  mail ( $to, $emailsubj, $emailmessage, $headers);
}

// End of program
?>

[raymor]

Call me at 979-530-1300. We need a solid programmer for a few projects, some
larger and some smaller. Call when you're not too distracted or sleepy because
I'm going to quiz you to see if you're as good as you say.

[CDSmith]

Originally Posted by sarettah

I find myself with some unexpected availability

Must....not....read....between....the lines...must not..... assume...


...temptation.... too great.... can't..............hold on!.... meeeeee....arrrgggg



Bump 4 Sar, good luck with it.

[woj]

good luck dude, here is a bump

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by raymor

Call me at 979-530-1300. We need a solid programmer for a few projects, some
larger and some smaller. Call when you're not too distracted or sleepy because
I'm going to quiz you to see if you're as good as you say.

Where did you see anything saying I was good ?

Dialing you up now.

Thanx

[sarettah]

Thanx CD, WOJ.

Raymor, nice talking to you on the phone till the static wiped us out.

I think the static was on my side from verizon.

So, I hope you call me back on the number I gave you so we can finish up.

[sarettah]

Looking for something to do today while I sit by the pool.

[ry0t]

Hi,
This is a shot in the dark. I am looking for an amazing programmer to "partner" with on an amazing idea that I have. I do not want to pay but instead partner up and share in the profits every month. The issue is probably like you I am not very trustworthy so we would have to trust eachother and come to a mutual understanding that we are in this together.

[MaDalton]

Can you program a flash player? Sticky was looking for a partner...

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by ry0t

Hi,
This is a shot in the dark. I am looking for an amazing programmer to "partner" with on an amazing idea that I have. I do not want to pay but instead partner up and share in the profits every month. The issue is probably like you I am not very trustworthy so we would have to trust eachother and come to a mutual understanding that we are in this together.

Well, I was LOL until the part of "not very trustworthy".

What issue do you have with me?

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by MaDalton

Can you program a flash player? Sticky was looking for a partner...

I thought about that for a bit. I figure he could finance it up front and then I could sit on my ass for a year and do nothing and then bitchslap him around a bit when he gets pissed about it

[ry0t]

Originally Posted by sarettah

Well, I was LOL until the part of "not very trustworthy".

What issue do you have with me?

Oh jeez I screwed that up royally I apologize. That is not what I meant. I meant "maybe like you I am not trusting of others much". You know sometimes you hire a programmer and they will steal your idea. In this case I am searching for a programmer I can team up with to make my idea become reality. However it works the same way because I still need to trust the person I work with That they wont steal the idea. I could tell you my idea and you could run off with it. I do not mean to come off as a prick. Basically I wanted to see if you felt the urge to partner with someone and make a dream into reality. It could be very big.

[J. Falcon]

Check the sell and buy board, there are some programmer threads there.

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by ry0t

Oh jeez I screwed that up royally I apologize. That is not what I meant. I meant "maybe like you I am not trusting of others much". You know sometimes you hire a programmer and they will steal your idea. In this case I am searching for a programmer I can team up with to make my idea become reality. However it works the same way because I still need to trust the person I work with That they wont steal the idea. I could tell you my idea and you could run off with it. I do not mean to come off as a prick. Basically I wanted to see if you felt the urge to partner with someone and make a dream into reality. It could be very big.

Ok, np.

I am not really interested in a partnership at this time, thank you.

However, I will say, I have been privvy to many people's different ideas across the past 10 years in this biz. You will not find one instance where I revealed a client's idea.

You will find very few instances where I discussed what I was doing for (or with) a client unless the particular client has been involved in the discussion.

You will find absolutely no instances of me pissing with a client in public (or vice versa) over a project. Will I piss with a client in public over politics, sex, religion or biz related/non project related topics? By all means at the drop of a hat ;p

I no longer sign NDAs. My past history is good enough for most people as evidence that I keep my mouth shut about what a client's business is.

I have found that there are very few "original" ideas in this business. There are many instances where someone has come to me with something, they think it is the very latest big big original idea and I reply back to them with a sanitized version of a quote I wrote for someone else prior. Synchronicity runs rampant in the age of the Information Super Highway

I very rarely do an actual "signed" contract any more. I state my terms, they state their's. We work out any kinks and do business or don't.

You will find absolutely no references to me ripping off a client. Consequently, you will find no references to me being ripped off in this business.

I have fired clients before. I have a fairly low tolerance for pain. When I see a project going down the "death march" route I speak up and try to get cooperation from the client in order to rescue it. If I do not get the cooperation or something else goes awry that convinces me there is no hope, I am inclined to back out of the project. This has happened once or twice. In those cases I have sent the client back all money received with a note saying "sorry, it did not work out". I have also left any code produced thus far on their server to do with what they will.

That is the way I do business.

[raymor]

I didn't get or save your contact information when we spoke the other day.
Please either email [email protected] or post your email address.

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by raymor

I didn't get or save your contact information when we spoke the other day.
Please either email [email protected] or post your email address.

Hey, I sent it to you Friday through the support email address. I will resend it.

Subject was: Raymor - This is not a support ticket ;p

.

[chuvii]

i like your coding/comments style ;)
bump for you

[sarettah]

Originally Posted by chuvii

i like your coding/comments style ;)
bump for you

Well, thank you but those comments were included in this one just because I was posting it.

Whether I do "comments" documentation depends on what the client wants. I can cut a lot of time out of development if I don't do comments. Since the comments do not affect the running of the code, for many clients that is the first thing they will throw out to try to lower the price.

Hence I try to write code that is fairly easy to read and follow. "Kindergarten" code if you will ;p

[sarettah]

In my back yard the past couple of days: