Blocks - A welcome addition to C
Mon, 04/18/2011 - 14:12
Posted by: sthompson

In the programming environment of Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard), Apple added a programming construct to C (and by extension C++ and Objective-C) known simply as "Blocks". This new construct has been carried to the iOS platform starting with iOS 4.0. Developers familiar with the venerable LISP will smile knowingly at blocks, and wonder what took that young whippersnapper C so long. Likewise, Ruby aficionados will look at blocks and find an old friend. JavaScript developers will see in blocks echoes of anonymous functions.

Virtual Guest Ordering
Tue, 01/11/2011 - 14:12
Posted by: sthompson

Note: This process for ordering CCIs has been deprecated. Please see the updated process here. However this blog contains current information regarding ordering complex CCI solutions and all other products.

The universe is a strange place.

Go Go Gadget
Mon, 01/03/2011 - 09:42
Posted by: wfrancis

To gadgetize or not to gadgetize? That is the question. Between Apple widgets, Google gadgets, and Windows gadgets, these technologies have a bit of buzz associated with them. But as with any technology, just because it’s cool doesn’t mean it makes sense in every situation. So when I was first approached with the idea of implementing a Windows gadget to interact with the SoftLayer Application Programming Interface (SLAPI), I stepped back and asked myself what area or areas of the SLAPI make a compelling case for gadgetization.

Adding SoftLayer to the Mac OS X Dashboard
Mon, 12/20/2010 - 09:40
Posted by: sthompson

The SoftLayer API started on the web. It was originally created to support the back end of our web portals. However, the API is an asset whose value extends beyond the web. The API is built on commonly used technologies like XML, JSON, and HTTP. As a result, it is possible to access the API from environments that are very different than that of the typical web browser. The SoftLayer Mobile Client is an excellent example.

Directory Tree in XML
Fri, 10/29/2010 - 11:41
Posted by: dhudlow

As a fan of XML, the DOM, and interesting design patterns, when recently asked for a way to retrieve a representation of a public directory tree on an iPhone app, I decided to code something a little more elegant than printing raw XML or, worse, some custom format. My first assumption was that I'd be building an actual DOM tree, then outputting formatted XML from there. This way, I'd be assured my output was always valid XML.

Captured in a Gem - The SoftLayer API Client for Ruby
Thu, 08/12/2010 - 10:08
Posted by: sthompson

When I first learned about object oriented programming, many years ago, I found that the technique fit me well. I found the process of breaking a computing problem down into objects to be a natural way to analyze many of them. At the same time, my designs are never as elegant as I would like them to be in the first draft. For me, the object oriented design process involves tinkering with the design, trying a couple of iterations, and refining the deconstruction over time. I prefer to work with prototypes and explore their interaction before settling on a final implementation.

Time for a REST, Everyone
Fri, 07/23/2010 - 15:36
Posted by: klaude

In our last post we mentioned that our API now supports a REST interface. It's really true, and it's really here! Quoth our new, fancy, manual page:

REST API URLs are structured to easily traverse SoftLayer's object hierarchy. A basic REST request is structured as follows:

It's Time to Bust out of the Private Network!
Fri, 07/02/2010 - 12:57
Posted by: klaude

Some of you have noticed that we mentioned our new mobile clients are based on our developer API but don't require a VPN connection to our private network. Your observations are astute and indeed correct.

The SoftLayer Mobile Client: A New Perspective
Mon, 06/21/2010 - 12:03
Posted by: sthompson

Much of the development work that goes on here centers on the SoftLayer Customer Portal. The Customer Portal is a traditional Web application that links your browser to the powerful back-end systems that our engineers have crafted over the course of many years. Most of the engineers around here are first rate hands at web application technologies like PHP, JavaScript, and HTML.

Our Python client is out!
Wed, 04/21/2010 - 16:22
Posted by: klaude

Lately I've seen a lot of people around me writing and hacking in Python. Way back when API v1 was out we noted that Python has built-in XML-RPC support. Built-in XML-RPC support is great. It makes calling our API, especially our latest API, a snap. Some of y'all on our forums have been doing very cool things with our API in Python.

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