BenCurtis.com

I was banging my head against a Facebook Connect problem with one of my clients’ Rails apps recently, and I thought I’d share a useful tidbit I gleaned from the experience, in case it can spare someone else the headache I had.

This app originally supported just plain-old users who created an account at the site with a username and password. Then the client requested that I add Facebook Connect as an authentication option. Using the facebooker gem, most of the work was straightforward. If a user chooses the Facebook Connect option when signing up or logging in, a User record is created and a FacebookUser record is associated with that User. The real problem came with trying to log out a Facebook Connect user. Read the rest of this entry »

Well, I’ve put this off for as long as I could, but I think now is the time to make my first hire. I’m busy enough with client work and with my own projects that I need some help. So, if you or someone you know is looking for a part-time Rails job in Kirkland, WA, apply now! :)

In case you haven’t seen it yet, Shopify has a brilliant developer platform that makes it easy for developers to create Shopify add-ons that can be marketed to Shopify store owners. And now, for even more awesomeness, there’s the Shopify App Rails Kit that makes it incredibly easy to build an app to run on the Shopify platform. Check out the announcement on the Rails Kits blog, and see how quickly you can build a Shopify app.

Let me know when you’ve launched your app, and I’ll add you to the Shopify App Rails Kit product page as a reference site. :)

I realized a couple of days ago that it was January of 2007 when I dove into the crazy world of freelancing full-time. It has been quite an adventure. In that time I’ve worked on a number of fun projects with an amazing assortment of awesome clients, launched two different products (Catch the Best in 2007 and Rails Kits in 2008), and learned a whole lot about how to (and how not to) run a business. It’s been a blast.

I just wanted to pause for a second to thank all the clients that have entrusted their projects to me, and to thank those who have worked with me in various roles on those projects.

Also, with the new year I have some new plans afoot… First, I’m thinking of hiring my first employee to help with the workload that I have. In the second half of 2009 I kept busy enough to need long-term help from a few excellent sub-contractors, and now may be a good time to double the size of my payroll. :)

Second, I have at least one new Rails Kit coming out soon, and perhaps a couple more by the end of the year.

Third, I have an idea for a new product that I think developers would love, and I’m dying to launch it—I just need to find the time to build it. :)

For some reason I find myself starting new projects on holidays. Perhaps it’s mental decompression, or just an excuse to have some fun. Either way, today’s holiday project was a little smaller than usual—I’m already done!

It’s a tiny Sinatra app for allowing people to anonymously submit tickets to your Unfuddle account. You could use this for letting clients submit work requests, beta testers to submit bugs, or whatever.