I felt like taking a break and posting a frustration…
Unfortunately, I’ve been in a difficult time. I have been working my days and nights coding the sync component for Achieve-IT! desktop and Pocket PC. As I’ve said before, it’s an ambitious project. But here’s the latest. I’ve got the databases syncing back and forth. BUT each time, there is a weird problem. Like thusly… The database will sync perfectly, from desktop to Pocket PC but then the 3rd goal 5th step WON’T sync. ARggggggh!
I fix that problem, and in fixing that one, another problem arises. Fix that problem and yep, another one arises. Meanwhile, the other enhancements I want to work on for the program are on hold.
Also when I am coding for both desktop and Pocket PC at the same time, there is the issue of Pocket PCs having flakey “up-time” when it comes to wifi connectivity or activesync. What I mean by that is I might find a problem that is entirely due to the fact the Pocket PC isn’t on the network – but it is reporting that it is!
This is one of those pains of programming that I think all programmers go through. Eventually I will get it fixed.
There’s not really a point to this post except to say persistence has overcome every other coding snag I’ve had. It will work this time too. In due time…
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Hi Brad,
Hope the snag gets overcome (or has been overcome). Thought you might like to know about my new website – http://www.goalposting.net – related somewhat to what you’re into
Justin
Hang in there Brad! Just think of it like a jigsaw puzzle. You just keep trying different pieces and finally you you get all the pieces in the right places and a beautiful picture appears!
Thanks for the support. Sometimes I’ll make a public comment when I’m stuck and for some reason, I’ll have a breakthrough shortly thereafter. Sure enough, I had about a dozen successful syncs back and forth yesterday after applying some tweaks.
When I was programming as my primary job function I used to occassionally call my boss over when I got stuck and start explaining my situation to him as well as what I had tried to resolve it. He usually didn’t have any idea at all about what I was talking about, but just having a sounding board gave me an opportunity to look at things from a different angle and I usually found my solution rather quickly.
I’m glad you got it working!
Haha.. Isn’t that the truth. I do the same thing to my wife. I’m sure it’s agony for her to sit through it. “I’ve tried declaring the variable and resetting it on the fly using a counter, but it still won’t increment.” Then it will occur to me I didn’t enable the counter or something. lol
But you are right…sound boarding does help solve the problems.
Go for it dude! I think that I speak for the “faith collective” of Achieve-It for pocketpc users when I say that we know that you will resolve the programming issues successfully! The sounding board thing works for me, too! If the “puzzle” metaphor doesn’t work for you, please consider the enormous advantage that your program users anticipate and will receive following your “sync update” version!!! I for one am very excited! Continue the very good work!
Barnabas, thanks for the nice post. It’s fast forward now. I’ve got the sync working both ways, it also has checks and balances to make sure the most recent change is the one used.
Hope I’m not saying too much, but I’ve built two separate “temporary” applications to do all the coding. I will throw away these apps and just install the code into Achieve-IT! desktop and Achieve-IT! Pocket PC. This shouldn’t take all that long, but there are a few things to work out first.
And there’s a ton of cleanups to do too. But I’m really feeling good about the progress lately.