I have been using Simplelog for almost one year now. Since a couple of weeks I’m having lots of problems on my host because of the fcgi issues I mentioned before. There hasn’t been any new update for Simplelog in almost a year so I can’t try other versions.
This had me thinking about other weblog systems, asking myself which one would I use if I would switch. But as soon as I take a look at their admin interface I know I’ll stick with Simplelog for now. Unless one day I manage to program a new system for myself, “old school homemade style” in plain php/mysql.
By now everyone and their dog knows Textpattern and WordPress and currently there is a new system in development stage named Habari, which is based on WordPress is being build from scratch. I installed it with no problems but it doesn’t attract me at all to use it. I discovered that I like my website, even if it is the back-end, to be “unique” and not a “mass product”. Habari’s look is to general for me.
Take these screenshots, there are huge differences on how each applications presents their interface. Textpattern and WordPress are using the same structure for a couple of years now. Habari being in development mode can still bring changes for the production version but currently it’s nothing news worthy, different then WordPress? Yes. Better? Not so much.
Simplelog on the other hand uses a lot of Javascript to make the interface simple and clean. And the design is just very nice to the eyes.
The only issue with Simplelog is that its Ruby on Rails, an issue because it takes some work and knowledge to get it installed. Trouble shooting host problems is more tedious then with PHP, in my experience.
So I’m hoping that developers will start overhauling the interfaces of their application. Performance wise they are very capable systems especially considered they are open source, now its time to put more into design. Just because it’s the back-end doesn’t mean it shouldn’t look nice, when I use an interface everyday I want it to look nice.
Edit: cleared up some mistake about Habari
Edition: 001
I decided to try putting the personal back into my personal weblog. Sounds familiar, I think I have said that before long time ago. Like a said two posts ago 2007 went by fast and uneventful which was very much needed after all the turbulence of 2006. In January/February 2007 I was on Aruba for three weeks and since then I’ve been in The Hague all year long. As dialyses patient you don’t get to travel easily, it takes lot of preparations and guts.(no one want to gets sick when on vacation away form your medical team).
As is my mother came last month to spend the holidays with us. She stayed for three weeks and last friday she flew back to Aruba. It’s very hard for me to stay behind, so much has changed the last two years and I’m constantly adjusting. I’m done with college since september/october and since then I have been trying to figure what step to take next. So last November I send out my resume to find a part-time job, more on that in another entry.
Besides that I have been in a bureaucratic mess trying to get subsidization as I’m chronic ill. But they keep denying me for no existing reasons. So I have been invited for an official hearing to defend my case. I’m hopeful I get proven right and be able to get government ‘security’ for my job and income.
With the transition from student to working person I no longer get loans and other stuff. So I applied for insurance and as the Netherlands has social health insurance I got mine with no problems, basic package with extras and dental. It does take a huge load off knowing that your health expenses are well taken care off. I could not even finish watching “Sicko” I got depressed imagining living somewhere where you end up paying so much money if you get sick.
This month is also check-up time again at the doctors, I go every 6 weeks. I had some tests done last year of which I’ll get the results. So hopefully a decision has been made about the next steps to be taken. But I don’t dread the appointment, everyone is always nice and only if the food in the cafeteria was good it would make it better spending time at the hospital. And also wireless internet, I spend hours there when I go and I only have my phone with a Gmail app on it, so checking email is the only thing I can do.
Well time to get ready for bed time and read this new book I got, “Kafka on the Shore” by Haruki Murakami. I wanted “The Wind-Up bird Chronicles” but they didn’t have it so I went with Kafka.
Note: I’ll be using the same title, numbered, for these kind of post. It takes too much time coming up with unique titles.
