Embed XML file in Flex application

[Embed(source="../assets/usa_tsa.kml", mimeType="application/octet-stream")]
private var tsaKml:Class;

…

var byteArray:ByteArray = new tsaKml() as ByteArray;
var xml:XML = new XML(byteArray.readUTFBytes(byteArray.length));

...

Install Zend_Debugger on CENTOS

In setting up a local development server, I need to enable zend_debugger on centos server.

The newer version of the debugger is renamed as Studio Web Debugger (http://www.zend.com/en/products/studio/downloads). Download the debugger and follow the instruction.

However, on CentOS there might be some additional issue:

1. if SELinux is enabled, you will get warnings like

Failed loading /usr/lib/php/modules/ZendDebugger.so: /usr/lib/php/modules/ZendDebugger.so: cannot enable executable stack as shared object requires: Permission denied.

To fix this, mark ZendDebugger as not need an executable stack.
        execstack -c /usr/lib/php/modules/ZendDebugger.so

To verify ZendDebugger.so does not need an executable stack, use the following command
        readelf -l /usr/lib/php/modules/ZendDebugger.so | grep STACK

outputs:
        GNU_STACK 0x000000 0x00000000 0x00000000 0x00000 0x00000 RW 0x4

The second to last column shows “RW” indicates that it does not need an executable stack.

If it shows “RWX/RWE”, the module does require an executable stack. In that case, an non-preferred approach is to turn off SELinux.

1. Please also make sure libssl.so.0.9.8 is on the system. If the system has been updated, the entry libssl.so.0.9.8 might be missing from /usr/lib.

To fix that make symbolic link for libssl.so.0.9.8 in /usr/lib.

Install rgdal on Mac OSX

sudo R64 CMD INSTALL --configure-args='--with-gdal-config=/Library/Frameworks/GDAL.framework/unix/bin/gdal-config --with-proj-include=/Library/Frameworks/PROJ.framework/unix/include --with-proj-lib=/Library/Frameworks/PROJ.framework/unix/lib' rgdal_0.7-5.tar.gz

Installing Maven for Flash Builder

I have been trying to get more familiar with Maven for sometime, but have not got the time to go to the details of setting it up and put it into practice with real project. Recently we had a Flex project which involves multiple modules. I think it is a good time to get a real start on Maven with Flash Builder.

The good friend of google search on Maven + Flash Builder results in some links on these. I tried to get to those that were published within the last year.

Maven is now an integrated part of the new Eclipse Indigo release, and maven can be installed with a few mouse click.

1. go to Help --> Install New Software


2. Select Indigo - http://download.eclipse.org/release/indigo on the Work with dropdown list


3. type m2e in the search box


4. check m2e - Maven Integration for Eclipse


5. 


6. click Next --> Next, on the last window, accept the terms of license agreement and click Finish.


7. The last step, Click Restart Now to apply the newly installed m2e.


8. 

VPN Failed to connect

VNP occassionally fail to connect on my mac. It seems to be a minor crash in racoon somewhere*. Manually restarting the process seems to do the trick:

mac:~ $ ps -ef | grep racoon
0 23301 1 0 0:01.01 ?? 0:01.68 /usr/sbin/racoon
501 24444 24439 0 0:00.00 ttys000 0:00.00 grep racoon

sudo kill 23301
sudo /usr/sbin/racoon

Install Mono on CentOS

In addition to Mono website, Mono is available also at http://ftp.novell.com/pub/mono/download-stable/RHEL_5/x86_64/.

First, create a repository description in /etc/yum.repos.d. Create file mono.repo with content

[Mono]
name=Mono Stack (RHEL_5)
type=rpm-md
baseurl=http://ftp.novell.com/pub/mono/download-stable/RHEL_5/
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=http://ftp.novell.com/pub/mono/download-stable/RHEL_5/repodata/repomd.xml.key
enabled=1

Second, install the Mono “server” stack:
        yum clean all
        yum install monotools-addon-server

Wait for all packages installed. The binary file will be installed at /opt/novell/mono/bin.

To setup the running environment, run
        source /opt/novel/mono/bin/mono-addon-environment.sh

To verify everything is installed:
        mono --version

Android App Architecture

This is a set of notes that I made for my own reference.

Android application does not have a main method as desktop application have. This is because Android application is invoked by the Android system whenever any part of the application is needed, and the Android will instantiates corresponding java objects. This is made possible by components based architecture.

Android application is a collection of components (activities, services, content provider, and broadcast receivers). Not all these components need to exist at the same time in the same application. But all the components share resources, e.g. databases, file systems etc.. The components communicate with each other by intents, which are described by a manifest in application package.

What is Activity and Service?

Activities are components in Android App to presents user interface, which is similar to like WinForms in .NET desktop application. A service is similar to activity but with no user interface. A service runs in the background all the time.