On Thursday, August 18, 2022 I announced in the Potter People FB group that it was "ALIVE" and along with a link to the website I let my potential users register for an account. 

Yes, I pushed the code to "PROD" as we like to say in the coding world. The Tooling Tracker was published to the server and I felt it was time for the (possible) users to have at it.

I was done with most of basic features and I figure I would go the Microsoft route and let the users find if there were bugs I had not found, and fixed.  So far only ONE bug has been found by a user and I found 3 others all of which have fixed.

As of today I have 91 registered users and they and I are slowly adding the info to their accounts. 

As I was adding my items I came across a few things that I felt should be changed: Increase the field size for the SKU, Name, and Description on the Tool Item record; set the default page size to 10, it was 5; add the Order # to the listing page; have the quantity field default to 1.

And for an enhancement for bundles, kits, and boxes have a check box that say's the item (with purchase price, etc) is a parent item. Then allow for other (child) Tool Items to be created and tied to the parent.  I am working on this now and hope to have it released in the next few days. 

Along the way I have also made some enhancements for the Webmaster (me!) to help manage the users.

As I said in the prior post, I decided to make this dontation-ware and a few people have donated which is nice. I don't know how big this get and the database could be very big given the number of people who use PotterUSA tooling which might require subscription to cover costs but I will cross that bridge when I get to it. 

Time for me to get back to coding!

Last time, I wrote about working on "a thing"; well it's almost ready for the world. 
BUT WHAT IS IT ???!!! you ask
Sit back with a cuppa and get ready for a long tale.

Several months, even before the BIG WALK, I started pondering a database where I could track the tools, I own, for the hydraulic press I have trust me; there is a never ending list of things to purchase. Yes, it's for metal geeky stuff. Some items come with a part number on them but some things, like the rolling mill texture plates and the impression dies do NOT or it's written in marker that eventually wears off. 

To solve my dilemma I started a MS Access database what would have the information I wanted and I could put pictures of the various items in the record. I won't list the fields I settle on but let's just say it's the basic info about what was bought.

After I returned from my month long vacation, somehow in the PotterUSA Facebook group (a.k.a PotterPeople) a discussion began on how do everyone keeps track of  their stuff because many people have bought things two or three times!  Some use Excel, others Word or other text document and of course the question arose about pictures to identity dies that don't have numbers or the number wore off.  I eventually chimed in with my little database application which raised many questions as most members (9.5K+) don't know me or that I write software for fun; crazy eh??  

Some people asked if I would give them "my app" but when I questioned if they knew how to use MS Access (or if they used a Windows PC) I got crickets!

Over the next week I thought about it and I realized that there was a need for an application so others could keep track of their stuff too. I put several polls in the group regarding what devices (desktop, laptop, phone, tablet) and operating system (Winx, Mac OS, Linus, iOS, Android) and oh the confusion that resulted was amazing.  I decided that this application would have to be web-based otherwise I would be spending most of my time providing installation support; upgrades would be a nightmare.

Since I work mostly with Microsoft technology the tech stack I chose is MS SQL Server 2019 with MS SQL Server Management Studio, Visual Studio 2022 as the IDE for coding with the following: .net (Core) 6; ASP.NET with Razor Pages; Entity Framework (for db operations); Bootstrap for the styling; jQuery/javaScript for front end stuff; and various other packages for all sorts of functionality. 

It took about 2 weeks to all this out and then I sat down and created a clean Virtual Machine (VM) on my  development laptop so I could then begin installing all the software I would need. 

To cut a very, very, long story down to just a long story; I resurrected a framework I built 2 years about and upgraded the various backend software to be the most recent. Then I started the real building of the database tables, configuring the UI with a menu, logo and other static pages; then on to the pages where all the user interaction would take place as well as pages for me, the admin/webmaster would manage the site. I also had to make it so a user would only see their stuff - including adding, editing, deleting, viewing and printing. 

This week, the majority of the code was complete so I bought a domain and setup an account with a hosting provider; configured the email system; setup PayPal, Buy Me a Coffee, and Stripe for donations. Oh, I guess I forgot to mention that the application is DonationWare - I am hoping to cover operating costs. I also have it so sample data is seeding into each user account so a user can see how it would work. 

It's now been 3.5 weeks, I have been working on it EVERY DAY of the week, since I started and I just pushed the Alpha version to the remote server and I have been working on/with it to find things that need to fixed. 

During this time I have posted pictures of what the app will look like, in the Facebook group and I have some very excited people looking forward to it. I have a long list of things yet to do to make some parts of administration easier but that can be worked on after I do the first release which I hope will be next week. 

No, really this time it's real.
What you didn't know I retired??
Well back in February I hit full retirement age (FRA) as I prepared to retire, 6 contract to hire job (out of Houston) popped up that 100% remote and had flex time so I left the job at the Air Force and started the new one.  During the interview/hiring process I told them about the BIG WALK and that I would be gone for the month of May; they agreed to it.

While walking and relaxing during my time in Scotland I realized that I really wanted to do what I want to do and that I would probably not hire on, full time, when the contract was over - IF they offered it. I was going to propose possible part time contracting work.

​Then during my COVID recovery time, after I got home,  an idea came into my head about a web application (this is "the thing" ) and I realized I really wanted to work on this more than the "day job". I spoke to the parties involved and the decision was made to do it.  

I gave notice and July 22 was my last day. 

I have started the development process with days of looking into if it should be a desk top, phone/tablet, or web application; asking people for input on functionality; what new tech to use; finding libraries to use for the functionality; should it be subscription, shareware, or donation-ware; and so many other things that needed to answered. 

I started, changed, and started over again for the first few days or so as I tried things and then I finally set my ideas down and got to coding. 

So what's the thing?? Well... I am not saying yet but a few people know so IF you know, please don't say anything in the comments, if you comment.