Help me fix my nifty webapp
July 7, 2011 12:27 PM Subscribe
Help me repair or replace this nifty instrument availability web app on my facility's website.
I am trying to update some features on the website for the instrumentation facility where I work. The instrument availability table is something I'm pretty clueless about. As far as I can tell, the script is written in Perl with a MySQL table that collects the logon-logoff information. This was written by some guy named Kyle six years ago, and even my predecessor isn't sure how it is pieced together. We can't even actually find the Perl script buried deep in the web server. So I'm kind of starting from scratch.
What I have:
1. Five (soon to be six) computers that get logged on and logged off multiple times per day. It is possible I may extend this to other machines that are used in the facility in the future, but for now I'm just focusing on the five that I manage. (Obviously there are more than 5 machines in the current table, and some of them are no longer in use, and some should read BROKEN but I don't know how to change the color.)
2. A logon-logoff script on each computer that calculates how much time the user is on the computer which we use for billing purposes (I can get more information on this script if it would be helpful to figure out a solution). This data is collected in a central program for billing purposes.
3. Computers on a variety of platforms. WinXP, a few flavors of RedHat, and some Solaris machines just for funsies. The Solaris machines are the only ones (of my machines) that are actually working with the script right now since the other machines were moved last fall and something in the database was borked when they were brought back online. (VXR300 and VXR400 are the only two of mine that work in the table at the moment. AV600 and DRX400 don't work properly and I have a new one to add.)
What I want:
1. Something similar to the current setup to this that tells users live usage information so they can know what machines are available. It could be fancier than this, or it can be just as simple.
1a. Something that is easily scalable for when we add new instrumentation.
2. Options for open-source or commercial software packages that would do the same thing that I wouldn't have to code.
3. If #2 is not an option, direction as to the best scripting language to use for this task and how to accomplish it. "Hiring a computer science student part-time" is an option we have if I can't figure it out ;)
Thanks in advance!
I am trying to update some features on the website for the instrumentation facility where I work. The instrument availability table is something I'm pretty clueless about. As far as I can tell, the script is written in Perl with a MySQL table that collects the logon-logoff information. This was written by some guy named Kyle six years ago, and even my predecessor isn't sure how it is pieced together. We can't even actually find the Perl script buried deep in the web server. So I'm kind of starting from scratch.
What I have:
1. Five (soon to be six) computers that get logged on and logged off multiple times per day. It is possible I may extend this to other machines that are used in the facility in the future, but for now I'm just focusing on the five that I manage. (Obviously there are more than 5 machines in the current table, and some of them are no longer in use, and some should read BROKEN but I don't know how to change the color.)
2. A logon-logoff script on each computer that calculates how much time the user is on the computer which we use for billing purposes (I can get more information on this script if it would be helpful to figure out a solution). This data is collected in a central program for billing purposes.
3. Computers on a variety of platforms. WinXP, a few flavors of RedHat, and some Solaris machines just for funsies. The Solaris machines are the only ones (of my machines) that are actually working with the script right now since the other machines were moved last fall and something in the database was borked when they were brought back online. (VXR300 and VXR400 are the only two of mine that work in the table at the moment. AV600 and DRX400 don't work properly and I have a new one to add.)
What I want:
1. Something similar to the current setup to this that tells users live usage information so they can know what machines are available. It could be fancier than this, or it can be just as simple.
1a. Something that is easily scalable for when we add new instrumentation.
2. Options for open-source or commercial software packages that would do the same thing that I wouldn't have to code.
3. If #2 is not an option, direction as to the best scripting language to use for this task and how to accomplish it. "Hiring a computer science student part-time" is an option we have if I can't figure it out ;)
Thanks in advance!
Are you saying that the page you linked to above, http://www.cif.iastate.edu/ is being produced by a perl script, which is still working, but you can't locate that perl script? Surely the MeFi hive mind can help you find a script on a server! I would start from that question if I were you.
posted by AmbroseChapel at 9:10 PM on July 7, 2011
posted by AmbroseChapel at 9:10 PM on July 7, 2011
Response by poster: Just the webapp (the table) is being run by the Perl script, which I cannot find on the webserver, yes.
posted by sararah at 7:01 AM on July 8, 2011
posted by sararah at 7:01 AM on July 8, 2011
Do a "View Source" on the page you gave us; i think it's being done via javascript.
posted by at at 7:45 AM on July 8, 2011
posted by at at 7:45 AM on July 8, 2011
Response by poster: That's the little popup windows that show a picture of the instrument. There is a mythical Perl script, and a MySQL table which I have found.
posted by sararah at 11:06 AM on July 8, 2011
posted by sararah at 11:06 AM on July 8, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
Good call on the color issue, I will take that into consideration with the redesign.
posted by sararah at 1:34 PM on July 7, 2011