Making Django and Javascript work nicely together
Backend and frontend cooperation may not be an easy task. For example in javascript code you may need some URLs to views or to icons required for some widgets. You can hardcode it or cleverly pass required data from backend to frontend. Also AJAX requests often want batches of data in JSON format. There is a way to make it quickly and clean. In this article I'll show some Django applications and solutions for much easier backend - frontend cooperation.
Planetary imaging Google+ Hangout
Yesterday we had a Google+ Hangout during which we discussed about planetary imaging. In this first hangout (there should be a next one about image processing) we discussed about the hardware - telescopes, cameras, connecting everything together and later about imaging and stacking.
You can watch the Hangout on YouTube:
Using memSQL and MariaDB in Django projects
memSQL is a new database engine offering high efficiency thanks to RAM oriented data storage design and query compilation (check the FAQ). It's not related to MySQL but it offers a MySQL compatible client - and that allows easy, quick way to check it.
MariaDB is a MySQL fork, binary compatible with it. This database server can be used as a drop in replacement for MySQL. The difference is in some extra features and extra storage engines added to MariaDB.
Using South for schema and data migrations in Django
South is a schema and data migrations for Django. In an easy way you may update your database tables after you change your models. It also keeps all migrations in the codebase allowing to migrate backward if needed. In this article I'll show some standard South usage cases.
Using Factory Boy in Django application tests
Factory Boy is a fixtures replacement for Django tests (and not only). In an easy and manageable way you can create and maintain data needed for tests. Fixtures can be hard to maintain. Direct ORM usage isn't the best thing too. Factory Boy is here to help...
You can find Factory Boy on github. There is also full documentation of the project.
Factory Boy allows you to create factories for models (not only for models). A factory is something like a wrapper that provides data required for object creation.
Latest tests of astronomical equipment
- Flea 3 with ICX618 CCD - the best thing for planetary imaging
- Testing Point Grey Firefly MV cameras
- Point Grey Chameleon - lunar and solar camera
Django class based views in action - forms handling
Django class based views offer a wide range of features - supporting forms, objects lists and many more. In this article I'll show some of the class based views in action - those related to forms and object lists.
Testing Baader professional and amateur LRGB filters
To make a color image with a mono camera you need RGB filters. Good RGB filters have high transmission and sharp cut-on and cut-off wavelengths. Such filters are usually interference filters where the filter layer is put on a clear glass. Older filters made of colored glass mass are usually less efficient. Baader offers high-end interference LRGB filter as well "amateur" cheap set made of color glasses. The professional set is much more expensive than the cheap one. What's the performance difference between those two sets? Lets find out.
Flea 3 with ICX618 CCD - the best thing for planetary imaging
Looking through top class planetary images you could notice that many of them were made with Flea 3 cameras. Those cameras are made by Point Grey Research. This company was (probably) the first to offer machine vision cameras with ICX618 CCD, which is very good for planetary imaging. Being first and providing very good product resulted in high popularity among planetary photographers.
In this article I'm going to test and review Flea 3 FL3-FW-03S1M - the model used for planetary imaging.
Comparing photography to astrophotography
What's the difference between photography and astrophotography? Why astronomers use fancy mounts or cooled mono cameras? Why planetary photographers use machine vision cameras? Here is an explanation - in few images of one antenna...
