Biodegradable Geek

A free, self-hosted, and open source alternative to Basecamp

In my search for a Basecamp alternative - because it’s not free, and I’d prefer something I can host on my own server - I have come across an excellent piece of software called ProjectPier. This is a branch from ActiveCollab — an open source project that later became a commercial product. ProjectPier is simple, [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "A free, self-hosted, and open source alternative to Basecamp", url: "http://biodegradablegeek.com/2008/07/a-free-self-hosted-and-open-source-alternative-to-basecamp/" });

Simple and Effective Productivity Tip When Working on the Computer

This falls under “Why Didn’t I Think of This Before?” Not being able to remain focused and get things done while working on a computer is common. There’s a countless number of things to do even offline. You can, and probably do: Organize folders/desktop/etc Finally get around to actually opening up an ebook you’ve downloaded Customize your desktop (and [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Simple and Effective Productivity Tip When Working on the Computer", url: "http://biodegradablegeek.com/2008/07/simple-and-effective-productivity-tip-when-working-on-the-computer/" });

The Secret to Making Money Online by DHH (video)

The following video is a talk by David Heinemeier Hansson (usually referred to simply as DHH) given at Stanford University’s Kresge Auditorium, for the day-long ‘08 Startup School conference. The talk is primarily centered on building a profitable Internet business, and the whole VC/Startup hype currently sliding through the interwebs. DHH gives good points for those [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Secret to Making Money Online by DHH (video)", url: "http://biodegradablegeek.com/2008/07/the-secret-to-making-money-online-by-dhh-video/" });

A Million Years into the Future

A couple of years ago, a friend of mine sent me this prediction of the future. I don’t know the origin of it, except that he found it on somebody’s profile on Xanga. Some parts sound familiar, but I can’t tell if this is from a book, movie, comic, etc. 5 years Wafers using Silicon Carbide begins [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "A Million Years into the Future", url: "http://biodegradablegeek.com/2008/07/a-million-years-into-the-future/" });

Over 900 Awesome Tux Avatars - Free Download

While browsing the Intertubes looking for reasons to avoid doing meaningful work, I came across a file called Tux_Avatars.rar, which caught my attention primarily because it was big (>50 megs); “How many tux avatars can you have?” I philosophized. So I did what I always do when I come across files I know nothing about. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Over 900 Awesome Tux Avatars - Free Download", url: "http://biodegradablegeek.com/2008/06/over-900-awesome-tux-avatars-free-download/" });

Got API? Instantly Search API Documentation

gotAPI.com does an excellent job congregating API documentation for numerous programming languages under an AJAX interface. No more bulging neck veins or fulmination when you can’t remember the order of those pesky arguments. No support for your favorite language? Contribute. You can add a gotAPI Search Widget to your site: http://www.gotapi.com/widgets/index.html See Ruby/Rails widget below (requires Javascript). Still [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Got API? Instantly Search API Documentation", url: "http://biodegradablegeek.com/2008/06/got-api-instantly-search-api-documentation/" });

GitHub Now Open to the Public

GitHub.com, the “easiest (and prettiest)” version control system, is now open to the public. It’s free for Open Source programs (albeit limited to 100MB of space). If you’re not sure what git (or Revision Control) is, here are some resources: Wikipedia on Revision Control (excerpt) “Revision control (also known as version control (system) (VCS), source control or (source) [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "GitHub Now Open to the Public", url: "http://biodegradablegeek.com/2008/04/github-now-open-to-the-public/" });

Music to Code By - What Do You Listen to While Programming?

Some swear by it, for others it’s a bane: Music while programming. Throughout grade school, we’ve been cautioned not to keep the TV and music on when doing homework, but is it really counter-productive? According to this study, not so, at least for people who are understimulated — which probably accounts for most geeks these [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Music to Code By - What Do You Listen to While Programming?", url: "http://biodegradablegeek.com/2007/12/music-to-code-by-what-do-you-listen-to-while-programming/" });