What's Next 9/22/2015

What's Next: A quick look into future technology news

Open Source Hardware:

Autodesk has pulled a complete turn around on open source policy as evidenced by the recent release of the designs for the ember printer, down to the recipe for the resin used. The ember is a desktop Stereolithography printer, that casts an image from a high resolution projector into optically actived resin.

Image Credit

NoSql Databases:
Scylla is a new rendition of NoSql Datastores. Written in a highly optimized C++ environment, taking maximum advantage of all available cores, this database leads to 1000% the performance of previous Java based solutions. Who knew, Java's not the fastest language in the world.

Scylla is also open sourced, instructions for install are here

Distracted ...

I got a bit distracted last night..
Looking at this..

"McLaren F1 LM" by robad0b - http://www.flickr.com/photos/robadob/195998261/. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 via Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:McLaren_F1_LM.jpg#/media/File:McLaren_F1_LM.jpg

The Mclaren F1, often reviewed by extremely Lucky Englishmen, employing primarily superlatives and words ending in "est". It is my favorite car. Even after all these years. I doubt I will ever even see one in person, let alone touch or drive one. But it seems the ultimate and final word to answer the question  "what should a fast car be?". Additionally it won the 24hrs at Le Man race without breaking a sweat. Even though it recently lost many of it's long held records, the new cars just don't really seem to be better.

Free Software helped me make a business card

I've got a brand new business card

Being that I'm not quite willing to publish my info free an clear on the internet.. here's a privacy minded version..

In making this card I used all Free and Open source software and fonts!

I used the Linux operating system (Mint standard install).

http://www.linuxmint.com/

Within linux I used the VERY Excellent Inkscape software (fully free and open source)

But: If you want to follow in my footsteps, you don't need Linux, Inkscape is available in all the major operating systems, it even works nearly identically. In my experience its also very solid and hard to crash/mess up. I really cannot say enough good things about Inkscape, if it does the task you need, it should be the first choice!

https://inkscape.org/

The font is Open Sans, which some friends of mine with lots more design experience recommended. It is provided free from Google.

https://www.google.com/fonts/specimen/Open+Sans

The graphic is a video card I scanned years ago for another project.

Thanks to my various friends and family that helped with the design decisions, you know who you are (I'm ok at design on a good day).


If you want to make high quality graphics, but don't want to talk to a banker first, Inkscape should be your first stop.

As another bonus:
Many Maker types are using inkscape as a lightweight CAD, they make the designs in inkscape then publish them to the laser cutter at home or the local makerspace.

Sketchup Ruby Scripts

I've been designing some things in sketchup...
It's been a struggle at times.

Today my friend Ben told me how he was getting a ruby script to add-on to sketchup.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to go through the trouble.. Then I find this..

The Engineering Toolbox

This plugin adds standard and custom parametric components that you can add to your sketchup models. Things like piping, I-beams, standard bulding lumber and so on...

I found that plugin Via Ruby Library Depot. Which literally has hundreds of sketchup ruby plugins...

Two of note to me are Tomatoes and Woodwork both of which should make designing cabinets and desks and other such furniture and fixtures MUCH easier in sketchup. :)