Thread: opinions on runnable.com

  1. #1
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    opinions on runnable.com

    I just discovered runnable.com. I've noticed that a lot of the examples that I've looked at are poor quality code, and don't necessarily do exactly what they claim to do, or have variables or functions named in such a way that it makes things less obvious and more unclear. has any member of this forum contributed code or offered constructive advice to users who have posted bad examples? do you think it's worthwhile to contribute to such a thing, given that the majority of examples are likely to be submitted by people who are themselves just learning?
    What can this strange device be?
    When I touch it, it gives forth a sound
    It's got wires that vibrate and give music
    What can this thing be that I found?

  2. #2
    Master Apprentice phantomotap's Avatar
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    has any member of this forum contributed code or offered constructive advice to users who have posted bad examples?
    O_o

    I don't recall ever having heard of this particular site, but I did just take a look.

    Out of fifteen examples, three examples for five languages, all fifteen had numerous problems such as: completely obvious mechanic, misspelling, "does not do what it says on the label", copy-pasta corruption, unstated requirements (libraries), and truly awful (as in dangerous) code.

    Simply put, the inexperienced vastly outnumber the experienced; with no clear form/function to "vote into oblivion"/moderate bad posts the site is doomed to poor examples.

    I don't know of any offhand, and I probably would not use a third-party site anyway because I'm trying to rebuild my own site, but I'd strongly advise finding a different outlet for this sort of thing.

    Spending a similar time for a few different sites from a simple search I found two sites with similar motivations providing superior examples still offering a more refined mechanism for guidance.

    do you think it's worthwhile to contribute to such a thing, given that the majority of examples are likely to be submitted by people who are themselves just learning?
    I've answered this question so let me spin it: do you think it is worthwhile to contribute to a similar thing given a more robust mechanism for ensuring quality examples?

    Absolutely. Of course, I am biased for until it was attacked, my site offered exactly that.

    Soma
    “Salem Was Wrong!” -- Pedant Necromancer
    “Four isn't random!” -- Gibbering Mouther

  3. #3
    Lurking whiteflags's Avatar
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    That search bar has royally ........ed me off.

  4. #4
    Master Apprentice phantomotap's Avatar
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    That search bar has royally ........ed me off.
    O_o

    ALL active billboards (the search thing) really bother me.

    Soma
    “Salem Was Wrong!” -- Pedant Necromancer
    “Four isn't random!” -- Gibbering Mouther

  5. #5
    Lurking whiteflags's Avatar
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    The real dumb thing is that the billboard doesn't turn off when the search box is in focus, so I can't use it. It could be me, but I don't think it is.

  6. #6
    Unregistered User Yarin's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by whiteflags View Post
    The real dumb thing is that the billboard doesn't turn off when the search box is in focus, so I can't use it. It could be me, but I don't think it is.
    I had the same problem.

  7. #7
    and the hat of copycat stevesmithx's Avatar
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    I didn't go through the site much but I think the terminal client embedded in the page is pretty cool. Anybody knows how this is done? They have given the root access, so I am assuming it runs in some sort of virtual environment?

  8. #8
    Master Apprentice phantomotap's Avatar
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    I didn't go through the site much but I think the terminal client embedded in the page is pretty cool. Anybody knows how this is done? They have given the root access, so I am assuming it runs in some sort of virtual environment?
    O_o

    I don't know about this particular site, but generally the "backend" it is done the same way you'd do any remote terminal ("ssh") using traditional security ("kerberos") and traditional communication strategy ("sockets").

    The only "magic" is the flavor of "socket", the terminal emulator, and the server requirements.

    In other words, these things use "web technologies" like "AJAX" to communicate with a server speaking the same technology witch itself behaves as a proxy and "HTML/CSS/JavaScript" to build the interface on the client side.

    Ultimately, instead of installing client software on the client machine, client software is installed on a server and the user communicates to the client software using the same basic tools you'd use to code any other interactive form living in a browser.

    Basically, this is no different than any other remote proxy technology; it only lives in a different setting than you might have expected.

    You'll find many implementations online that do basically everything for you. I don't wish to make any specific recommendations really, but I have to say that I've had a lot of fun with "GateOne".

    Soma
    “Salem Was Wrong!” -- Pedant Necromancer
    “Four isn't random!” -- Gibbering Mouther

  9. #9
    misoturbutc Hodor's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by stevesmithx View Post
    I didn't go through the site much but I think the terminal client embedded in the page is pretty cool. Anybody knows how this is done? They have given the root access, so I am assuming it runs in some sort of virtual environment?
    Well, I don't think this is what they're using but there is this: shellinabox - Web based AJAX terminal emulator - Google Project Hosting

    But I don't think that's what they're using (the JS seems to be different)

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