Code, Strings, and Keys

Category: rant

  • Principle of Least Surprise (Astonishment), foreign keys, and Rails

    In yesterday’s post, I sorted through the foreigner gem to figure out how to change the reference column (primary key) that a foreign_key maps to. The problem here is that, unless your Rails project(s) has grown up referencing “natural” primary keys instead of the autoincremented id implicit in an ActiveRecord::Migration, avoiding creating surprise by not…

  • Keep digging, KDF. Charging for updates? At $1-$2 per TEXT?

    I’ve run in Chicago, NYC, and (yes) even the KDF before when updates were free. Now, you can pay for the opportunity to be notified. No free notification mentioned (which is very helpful in letting a family member know if you need help, etc…)  At the 10-, 15-, 25- and 30-km markers, that means mini…

  • The Kentucky Derby Festival Sends an Email on the Course Change, Finally

    Email from KDF Mini/Marathon Of course, it’s a marketing email.  (Speaking of which, I seem to always see “Constant Contact” on emails that get me more fired up than other email.) You’ll noticed that this email was received February 8, 2011.  The early registration deadline is February 14, 2011.  I would imagine that most procrastinators…