Processing RSS feeds --the Python way

[shantanu@myjunkyard rss]$ cat a1.py
#!/usr/bin/env python
import feedparser
import sys
d = feedparser.parse(sys.argv[1])
for i in d['entries']:
for j in i['links']:
print i['title'] + "######" + j['href']


[shantanu@myjunkyard rss]$ cat rssFeed.list
http://puretechie.blogspot.com/atom.xml

[shantanu@myjunkyard rss]$ for i in `cat rssFeed.list `; do ./a1.py $i; done

See it Yourself :)

Ruby on Rails --- it time

After many futile attempts RoR finally is happening this year. Though I tried my best to use Java for the project(as usual , cox thats a comfort zone) , somehow winds changed direction.

For statistics The TIOBE Programming Community index which gives an indication of the popularity of programming languages, ranks Ruby 10th in popularity with 2.66% of programmers.


My initial thoughts

1) There is a need to think in a language, understand its philosophy. An interesting story to share from RoR for dummies book about the name Ruby on Rails. Since the year 2000, teams of Java programmers have been using a framework named Struts. But the word strut means something in the construction industry. (A strut is a horizontal brace, and a sturdy one at that.) Well, a rail is also a kind of horizontal brace.
And like Ruby, the word Rail begins with the letter R. Thus the name Ruby on Rails.

2) Understanding MVC is ingrained
http://wiki.rubyonrails.org/rails/pages/UnderstandingRailsMVC

Best part of the language is that it forces MVC , similar to Java forcing OO.

These are still baby steps , but has been exciting.

Powerset is released today

Powerset is a first of its kind .... a context sensitive natural language based search engine.
Currently powered by Wikipedia, this is a potentially disruptive technology.


Simple queries like


Where is PESIT?
or
vice chancellor of Visvesvaraya Technological University


Interesting results!!!!