Archives For GitHub

Semantic Versioning

August 12, 2013 — Leave a comment

As a crusty old Computer Science major, you think I’d remember something from the software engineering days.

Or, maybe not.

A couple weeks ago I decided to update all my applications on GitHub to use Semantic Versioning.

I had a question as to if the madness behind the method I was using to version my software was more madness or method.  Looks like it was mostly madness.  Adhering to the industry standard for versioning, I returned to all my applications on GitHub and re-numbered them to be more in line with what they should actually be.

I wasn’t sure which upset my OCD tendencies more: Acknowledging my error and re-versioning all my applications or leaving it as-is, knowing it was theoretically incorrect.  I obviously chose to re-version everything and I’ll stick with this process moving forward.

P.S.

Please don’t tell any of my software engineering professors.  Assuming they didn’t retire in the last 12 years…

In Pursuit of Geeky Stuff
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I’ve Published VRFSearchTool v0.06 Alpha

July 25, 2013 — Leave a comment

I’ve published VRFSearchTool version 0.06 Alpha on GitHub.

Approximately two weeks after I published my preliminary plans for the VRFSearchTool and not quite a week after I completely rewrote the functionality of the tool, I’m releasing the Alpha version.

Although it’s as functional as I expect the final product to be, I’m still calling it an Alpha at this stage because it’s still a little rough around the edges.  It contains the minimum amount of code to be usable, lacks some error-checking on user input and is short on commentary in certain sections of the code.

I expect the Beta version of the application to be published sometime next week, put into production and turned loose so the team can start playing with it and provide feedback.  Standby for another update, examples and screenshots next week!

In Cisco, Pursuit of Geeky Stuff, Python, VRFSearchTool , , ,
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I’ve updated Run Router Command to version 1.10

July 20, 2013 — Leave a comment

I’ve updated Run Router Command to version 1.10.

My changes to this application pretty much mirror those changes made to the application this one was built from: DownloadRouterConfig.py.

Anyway, here is a cut-n-paste of the highlights of changes made between version 1.08 and 1.10:

  • I changed the application to use ‘routers.txt’ instead of ‘routers.lst’ by request since not all users that may be using this application have the ability to make permanent file associations.  Upon further consideration, I decided to take this a step further and allow users to actually set the name of the file they want to use for this function.  I’ve created a variable to define this filename in the source code.
  • I have also improved the error-checking for the files.  I understand that this source code might actually be distributed as a binary and users may not have access to documentation or the source.  I built functionality into the application such that if a required file does not exist, the application will create an example file for the user with instructions on it’s use.  I’m still not certain this is the right approach, but I like the way that it works, in theory.

See my GitHub Repository for this project to learn more.

In Cisco, Pursuit of Geeky Stuff, Python, RunRouterCommand , , ,
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I’ve updated Download Router Config to version 2.17

July 20, 2013 — Leave a comment

I’ve updated Download Router Config to version 2.17.

Here are a few of the highlights since version 2.15:

  • I changed the application to use ‘routers.txt’ instead of ‘routers.lst’ by request since not all users that may be using this application have the ability to make permanent file associations.  Upon further consideration, I decided to take this a step further and allow users to actually set the name of the file they want to use for this function.  I’ve created a variable to define this filename in the source code.
  • I have also improved the error-checking for the files.  I understand that this source code might actually be distributed as a binary and users may not have access to documentation or the source.  I built functionality into the application such that if a required file does not exist, the application will create an example file for the user with instructions on it’s use.  I’m still not certain this is the right approach, but I like the way that it works, in theory.

See my GitHub Repository for this project to learn more.

In Cisco, DownloadRouterConfig, Pursuit of Geeky Stuff, Python , , ,
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VRFSearchTool Progress

July 20, 2013 — Leave a comment

This week I made great progress with my VRFSearchTool.  I’m still not ready to push it to GitHub just yet, so I thought I’d blog a little bit about how it’s coming along.

While working through the functions I realized that I could better streamline the flow of the application by moving some of the functions around.  Originally, the application design did not check for the presence of the “routers.txt” file until later in the program.  The more I thought about this, the more backwards this seemed.  The “routers.txt” file is required by the program to know which routers to log into.  This is a requirement, if you plan on updating the index of VRF names in your environment.

Continue Reading…

In Cisco, Pursuit of Geeky Stuff, Python, VRFSearchTool , , ,
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Automated Raspbian Installer

July 17, 2013 — Leave a comment

After much wailing and gnashing of teeth, I’ve finally developed a method to automate (preseed) Raspberry Pi installations using the Raspbian Installer.

Here are a few more details about this project, lifted from it’s GitHub Repository:

Continue Reading…

In AutomatedRaspbianInstaller, Pursuit of Geeky Stuff, RaspberryPi ,
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New Project: VRFSearchTool.py

July 15, 2013 — Leave a comment

I’ve begun working on a new project entitled VRFSearchTool.

Put simply, this is a Python application that allows a user to search for a VRF name and returns the hostname/router of the gateway on which it is configured.

I regularly have the need to locate a VPN tunnel configuration across multiple routers and lack a quick-and-easy way determine which router this tunnel is configured on without using other slow or inconvenient means. The idea is that this tool will provide a (very) basic means of maintaining an index of all configured VRFs throughout a Cisco environment and provide the user with the ability to search for those VRFs.

Continue Reading…

In Cisco, Pursuit of Geeky Stuff, Python, VRFSearchTool , , ,
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I’ve updated Run Router Command to version 1.08

July 11, 2013 — Leave a comment

I’ve updated RunRouterCommand.py to version 1.08.

Changes in this version:

  • Updated error checking to include validating `commands.lst` file exists.

See my GitHub Repository for this project to learn more.

In Cisco, Pursuit of Geeky Stuff, Python, RunRouterCommand , , ,
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I’ve updated Download Router Config to version 2.15

July 11, 2013 — Leave a comment

I’ve updated DownloadRouterConfig.py to version 2.15.

Changes in this version:

  • Updated the file open operation to specify opening the routers.lst file as read only.
  • Minor corrections to the IOError message.

See my GitHub Repository for this project to learn more.

In Cisco, DownloadRouterConfig, Pursuit of Geeky Stuff, Python , , ,
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