Zombie.js/Node.js login with Captcha to Drupal 7 for testing

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:57:57 +0000

I've been building a site in Drupal... and while I *like* the built in drupal simpleTest module, it falls short on actually clicky-browser-behavior. I'm not a huge fan of Selenium for just basic Use-Case testing, from a speed standpoint. So some of the things I want to do fall in the middle. And then I realized I needed to be able to pass a cpatcha as part of my tests (first item.... so a little node.js and zombie.js and hitting mysql on the backend to fetch the actual captcha value.
NOTE - you will need to make a small change to drupal.js to prevent 'Drupal undefined on line 2' error from zombie. For some reason v8 differs with most browser implementations and complains about the Drupal variable not being defined on line 1 (line 2 below).. so a quick fix and we're ready to roll.

misc/drupal.js LINE 1:

if(typeof(Drupal) !== 'undefined'){ 
 var Drupal = Drupal || { 'settings': {}, 'behaviors': {}, 'locale': {} };
} else {
 var Drupal = { 'settings': {}, 'behaviors': {}, 'locale': {} };
}

Now that node.js will be happy.. here is some code that gets you logged in with Captcha. Yes, this is for testing, as the only way to get the captcha is to read mysql... this isn't for screen scraping someone elses site.

drupal_login.js:


var zombie = require("zombie");
var assert = require("assert");

var Client = require('mysql').Client;
var db = new Client();
var browser = new zombie.Browser();
 
db.user = '*****YOUR_mysql_user';
db.password = '*****YOUR_mysql_pass';

var homeURL = "http://YOUR_DRUPAL_7_WEBSITE/"; 

function loginToWebsite(homeURL,callback){
  browser.visit(
     homeURL, 
     function (err, browser, status) { 
        browser.captcha_token = 
       browser.field('captcha_token').value;
  db.query(
    "select solution from Drupal.captcha_sessions"+
    " where token='" + browser.captcha_ ..

Game Locator

Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:58:13 +0000

Yes, yes, yes. It has been a VERY long time since I posted.

One small project I've been playing with (to learn more about OAuth and facebook/twitter integration) is A good way to find other people who want to play desktop roleplaying games, card games, etc.

The premise is simple, and the site is VERY basic - it allows you to list your interests and to find people nearby who share those gaming interests. I plan to create a similar site for pickup sports ("tennis, anyone?")... but not until I have twitter firnally integrated.

Erlang Webmachine File Upload example

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 09:58:13 +0000

So.. you're combing the internet for how the heck to do a simple file upload with webmachine? You know - form enctype="multipart/form-data" and a ? Easy enough in PHP. Absolutely no info that google finds online. The mail archive does not seemed to be reach by googles tentacles.

Here is is:
https://bitbucket.org/argv0/webmachine_examples/src/eeac8c49a47d/fileupload/src/fileupload_resource.erl

Also, comb the mailinglist archive: http://lists.therestfulway.com/pipermail/webmachine_lists.therestfulway.com/

You're welcome.

PRODUCT: PHP script for logins, access, page and item level access/admin

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 13:51:42 +0000

I have a PHP script I've created, and used in production websites for several years now that I'm offering for sale. A single PHP file, compatible with just about every PHP you're going to have on hand, as well as most flavors of MySQL.

I'm packaging the script up now, and will re-edit this page with purchase/download information when it is ready. If you'd like to purchase it via paypal ($15), email me and we'll discuss.

Save yourself hours and hours of work with something you can just drop into your project and start using.

SHA-1 encrypted passwords in the database
Can be used to define mailing list and other automated email groups
Simple method call to determine if user is logged in, and redirect to the appropriate login page if not.

Page and Item Level access, so you can do things like :

 
        This DIV only shows if the user has access.

GUID-based keys to prevent guessing.
An integration guide with nice steps to help you install and use the software.

Single method calls to display and edit user access: (you get a nice tree like what is shown below)

Website Capabilities:

Payroll

my new years resolution to talk to a new person, and possibly help them out. I helped 3 people find employment of one flavor or another, several gigs for myself, and passed around a LOT of needs and wants to my network. While not an amazing force for change in the world, it helped a few people - so I'm doing it again.

Everyone, needs something - professionally, personally, what-have-you. Send me an Email and let me know what or who I can find for you.

Certificated Actions - One Click Only

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:26:57 +0000

01/14/2009 Updated CanProcessAction - left out where it creates an ID!

Here's something that comes up periodically, "how do you prevent the dreaded double-click?" From something as common as a banking or purchasing transaction getting run twice or more because of overzealous clicking, to batch processing for the night - to pushing items through workflow. How do you prevent it?

A typical strategy is to disable the button in javascript. This works, somewhat, but doesn't prevent someone from hitting refresh once they get to the next page.

My strategy, certificated submits:

A Table (in MySQL here):

 
CREATE TABLE CLICK_CERTIFICATES (
  certificate_id varchar(40) not null,
  primary key (certificate_id)
)

A way to create a GUID or unqiue id:

 
function CreateGUID(){
 srand((double)microtime()*1000000);
 $r = rand ;
 $u = uniqid($r);
 $m = md5 ($u);
 return($m);
}

A function that tells us if we can process the action:

  
function CanProcessAction($certificate_id){
  $certificate_id = addslashes($certificate_id);
if(trim($certificate_id)!=""){
  $fetch = mysql_query("select count(*) from CLICK_CERTIFICATES where certificate_id='$certificate_id'");
  $row = mysql_fetch_row($fetch);
  $exists =  ($row[0]!=0);
} else { $exists = false; $certificate_id=CreateGUID();}
  if(!exists){
    mysql_unbuffered_query("insert into CLICK_CERTIFICATES (certificate_id) values ('$certificate_id')");
  }
  return !$exists;
}

Now, just use a hidden variable on your form that creates the value of the certificate:
```
 
```
And then just wrap your act ..

Cloud Experiments

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:27:25 +0000

A recent project I was on was written in Erlang, which I now find extremely interesting as a programming tool. I do, however, have a software business focusing on small and medium sized businesses, which should come as no suprise has very few opportunities to use something like Erlang without a lot of explanations up front.

So, a little here, a little there I started trying to pull out the interesting cloud-like capabilities of that might be useful in other languages... and seeing if I might be able to apply them to some of the tools I currently use. I've come up with two moderately successful prototypes: 1) Distributed Javascript processing and 2) Distributed PHP processing

Javascript

As reviled (and revered) a tool as Javascript is, I believe that Web 2.0 has pretty much cemented Javascript as a language of the future. So, my reasoning says, since computing is moving "into the cloud" (insert random definition) and requires massive parallelization, I believe good old JS could learn a thing or two from Erlang. Spawning processes on a lightweight thread, clouds of machines working together, a message queue per process, a signalling system, copy-on-write (or on call) ... lots of little things that would make Javascript automatically distribute into a cloud.

But is it possible? Yes, Javascript showed me it has one great little feature that I never expected. By referring to a function, you can actually get the source to the call:

var X = function(A){ alert(A);} document.write(X); X('woo!');

Drop this code into a blank html page, and you'll see it call the function X, as well as dump the source. This was an eye opener. I have a working prototype, using PHP as a "marshall" to push code, and accompanying data, out to multiple servers to be processed. This isn't quite the way Erlang does it, but definitely offers ..

Netbooks - ask the network

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:55:53 +0000

I have a business client who, since I happen to live and breathe in the computing world, ask me a very simple question: For someone who travels a lot, a huge laptop is just a big pain - what is out there in the world of netbooks? I popped over to Linked-In and figured I'd ask my network - which actually includes a lot more people than I thought.

This opened the floodgates. I thought I'd share some of the results.

My goal here was actually even simpler than some of the replies. Email, Web, and an office suite are really all we're looking for - but I'll post everything I could find.

While I don't any super clear winners, it looks like HP and Dell take the cake for support and compatability, and the Asus, Acer, and MSI Wind products for general appeal. Hope this helps someone looking for hardware

The results:
MSI Wind 2 direct good experience (light, wonderful)

Acer Aspire (11.6") 2 people like - easy to upgrade memory and HD, great keyboard , 1 person Acer Inspire "sleek like crazy"

Acer 1420P - 1 liked (special edition), great battery life and touch screen look for PDC version on ebay.

Asus eee - 2 Heard Good, 2 Liked (900 series and 1005HA), 1 experience Bad connection w/ AT&T built-in, worked with Sprint stick. 1 Worse service than HP

Sample Crossword Generator in Javascript and take a look.

Yes, I realize this *ISN'T* a playable crossword - BUT, programatically - all the hard work is done, you just need to add your own word list, set the little numbers, and put in your clues. The array on the bottom gives you an idea of where things should go.

There, Internet, don't say I haven't done anything for you in a while. - Mike

Startup-Something

Zombie.js/Node.js login with Captcha to Drupal 7 for testing

Game Locator

Erlang Webmachine File Upload example

PRODUCT: PHP script for logins, access, page and item level access/admin

Certificated Actions - One Click Only

Cloud Experiments

Javascript

Netbooks - ask the network