The Geo-Aware ParentMatt Machell for Multipack Presents

Feb 2011

It started when I became a dad

What if I had a web app to find child-friendly places?

So I made a prototype using Javascript

Python

• code.google.com/edu/languages/google-python-class/

• diveintopython.org/

Let’s Build This With : Pylons

• More mix-n-match than Django

• Good docs but some gaps

• pylonshq.com

• pylonsbook.com

Up and running...python go-pylons.py mydevenv

source mydevenv/bin/activate

easy_install sqlalchemy

easy_install mako

paster create -t pylons parents

paster controller locations

paster serve development.ini --reload

Geo-locating

• Code is really easy

• Slow on desktops without GPS

• Now in FF, Safari, Opera and IE!

if(navigator.geolocation){

navigator.geolocation.getCurrentPosition(function(position) {

var lat=position.coords.latitude;

var long=position.coords.longitude;

window.location=window.location+'?geo='+lat+','+long;

}, function() {

//failure

},

{maximumAge: 75000});

}

Haversine Formulas

• Cos the world isn’t flat

Geocoding

• Need to match name to lat/long

• Need to match lat/long to name

• Need to match postcode to lat/long

Geonames Rocks!

• Web Service APIs in JSON/XML/etc

• Country specific targeting

• Postcodes

• www.geonames.org

Interface

• Part of my “New Dad Site” blog

• Lightweight HTML5, mostly forms

• CSS3 transitions tied to :invalid

Some Assembly Required

• finder.newdadsite.com

• @shuckle / @newdadsite

• eclecticdreams.com