Now, correct me if I’m wrong with this but, with MySQL there is no way to create stored procedures like you can with MSSQL (Stored procedures are basically queries that are optimized and compiled and stored as database objects that you can execute and pass variables into, sort of like UDF’s except they aren’t performance hogs like UDF’s are). This means that all of the MySQL queries are essentially inline SQL in whatever code you are developing, and have to be optimized and compiled at runtime (This also can cause problems for code maintenance if you have similar queries that are spread over say 20 different files, although this can be made easier if you use some sort of SQL query handler object that builds the simpler queries based on arrays of data you pass to it). Now, as my friend explained, the problem with MySQL is that the optimizer will sometimes look at the records and if it determines that enough of the data is similar in a certain column it will ignore the index entirely. This basically results in semi-random execution plans since the index might change based off of the records being used.

I tried to find some articles online that explain similar issues to this with MySQL but I was unable to, but if this is true I might have to avoid using MySQL in the future because having to deal with that would be a nightmare.

Anyway. Sort of update since I’m doing a lot of new things right now. I had quit my coop with Beaumont Hospitals and got a new one with Plex Online, a company in Auburn Hills that develops manufacturing ERP software. It’s really fun and a hell of a lot more challenging than my last job. My ability with SQL has increased significantly in the few weeks I’ve been working.

Somewhat related to this, I have also decided to officially leave the Emerald development team. I haven’t made any significant contributions to the project in some time, and to be honest I am finding it hard to make time for it. It’s not that I don’t have the time, it’s just that I’ve lost interest in the project and I haven’t really like the direction that it’s been going lately. Instead, I am going to try to start working on more web based applications. Expect to hear more on this soon.

http://chartbeat.com/

I completed my Sophomore 1 term at Kettering. It was by far my most difficult term at Kettering, and there were many times during the term that I felt that I might be at risk of failing some of my classes. The term was so stressful that I actually started smoking rather frequently during the term (I have since quit, and am going to try to avoid starting again next term). Overall I ended up doing rather well, with finals going smoothly. I haven’t received my grades yet but I should be in a few days.

The stress of the school term also caused me to go back to MMO gaming. I reactivated my EVE Online accounts, and started playing again, more serious than ever. However I quickly got tired of this again, and deactivated my subscription a few days ago and picked up a fairly new MMO, Fallen Earth.

Fallen Earth is a post apocalyptic MMORPG/FPS set in Nevada. The graphics engine is not incredibly detailed, but for an MMO it is very good. I also enjoy the way that they implemented tradeskills as well as ‘classes’. You don’t actually have a defined class, but your role is defined by stat and skill distributions that you put points into using ability points, which you earn 2 of every 1/10th of a level. What has diffidently sold me on the game though is how incredibly vast the game world is. There is no ‘fast travel’ system, and you have to ride everywhere on horse or the motor vehicle mounts that you can get. I have been playing 4 days and have probably seen only 20-30% of the first area or sector. And there are 3 sectors currently in the game. In addition the developers have the game planned out to go up to 9 sectors, each one very large, with the last 4 sectors being completely empty and designed to house the player cities that are planned for endgame. I highly recommend you try this game if you are looking for a new MMO as it currently has a free trial.

I’m a year older now. I don’t feel older though…

Redid some of the text and put up new pictures.

Fun stuff.

My birthday is this Sunday, I’m getting old.

A lot of things have happened in the last 3 months. I finished my Freshman year at Kettering University, and was actually able to survive my Freshman 2 term, and raise my GPA in the process (not bad considering some of the classes I was taking last term are hellish in difficulty).

I’ve been getting much more involved with photography lately, invested some of the money I’ve been earning doing freelance PHP development into some new equipment. I purchased a new lens, a Sigma 17-70mm Macro lens with a focal length of 2.8-4.5. It’s a really great lens and for 350$ it was an excellent upgrade from the kit lenses that I was using previously. I also had the good fortune to become friends with Jack Stewart, the founder of the Ohio Gamers Organization. He also runs a modeling group called the D20 Girls Project, which he has given me the opportunity to do photography for, despite my lack of experience with professional studio photography. With that opportunity combined with the fact that I’m the primary photographer for Sigma Nu Eta Mu chapter and that I’m beginning to do photography for the Kettering school paper, The Technician: Photography is slowly becoming more than just a hobby for me.

I mentioned above that I am the photographer for Sigma Nu Eta Mu chapter. I had the good fortune to meet the members of the chapter my Freshman 1 term at Kettering, and last term I become a brother of Sigma Nu. I’m looking forward to where things go in the coming years as I take on the role of Recorder and Historian for the chapter. Photos of Sigma Nu related events can be found on my Flickr, and later on the Eta Mu chapter’s own Flickr account once I take the time to move the photos over from my own gallery.

Other than that, and dealing with school, I’ve been keeping busy doing application development. I started working with C++ more, and have been messing around with the Second Life™ client source, mostly working on the Emerald Greenlife client with the other members of the Modular Systems team. Emerald can be found at the Modular Systems website.

I’ll try to keep this blog updated for the 2-5 people who actually read it (if even that). So look for some more updates in the next few months.