Rebirth of T-rex

The following are important points extracted from the JSR 168 Portlet Specification for quick reference. Please download the Java API and specification from the above hyperlink for further details.

What is a Portal?

=> A web based application that commonly provides personalization, single sign on, content aggregation from different sources and hosts the presentation layer of Information Systems.

Portal pages may have different set of portlets creating content for different users.

What is a Portlet?

=> A Java technology based web component, managed by a portlet container, that processes requests and generates dynamic content.

Portlets are used by portals as pluggable user interface components that provide a presentation layer to Information System.

Lifecycle of portlet is managed by the portlet container.

Fragment => Content generated by a portlet. A piece of markup (eg. HTML, XHTML, XML) adhering to certain rules and can be aggregated with the content of other portlets to form the portal page. May vary from one user to another depending on the user configuration for the portlet.

Web clients interact with (usually the content produced by) portlets via a request/response paradigm implemented by the portal. Eg. by following a links or submitting forms -> portlet actions received by the portal, forwarded to the portlets targeted by user's interactions.

What is a Portlet Container?

=> runs portlets and provides them with the required runtime environment.

Contains portlets and manages their lifecycle. Also provides persistent storage for portlet preferences.

Receives requests from the portal to execute requests on the portlets hosted by it.

Not responsible for aggregating the content produced by the portlets (but portal's responsibility to handle it).

A portal and a portlet container can be built together as a simple component of an application suite or as two separate components of a portal application.

An Example

A typical sequence of events, initiated when users access the portal page:

• A client (eg. a web browser) after being authenticated makes an HTTP request to the portal
• The request is received by the portal
• The portal determines if the request contains an action targeted to any of the portlets associated with the portal page
• If there is an action targeted to a portlet, the portal requests the portlet container to invoke the portlet to process the action
• A portal invokes portlets, through the portlet container, to obtain content fragments that can be included in the resulting portal page
• The portal aggregates the output of the portlets in the portal page and sends the portal page back to the client

Since Mandy introduced Facebook to me, I am kind of addicted to it. I admit that it's one of the 'must-open' application when I start my notebook, besides my Microsoft Outlook.

However, since I am a developer myself, passion for Java language, I have always been interested to try out a Java application deployed on Facebook.

Then, I found out a very good tutorial with video guiding how to build and deploy a sample Java application on Facebook. I have to admit that I really need to thank The Screencast Blog to help me kick start my trial.

Since the blog was written in June 2007, I believe there are a number of changes to the Facebook API, I was stucked following the sample provided (with compilation error and NullPointerException). For instance, someone suggested the usage of FacebookRestClient class needs to be replaced by FacebookXmlRestClient.

I have looked at several other blogs including the Javablog and T=Machine for references, but to no avail as these blogs were written last year also.

Although it may seem that I can't proceed further with the lack of documentation on Java application for Facebook, but as usual, it's not the end of the world, Google comes to my rescue! Google Code provides a wrapper- the Facebook-Java-API that solves my problem. The Javadoc is also available for reference.

Therefore, the following are simplified steps to produce my first sample Java application on Facebook (based on The Sceencast Blog example).

My development environment:

• Eclipse Europa (3.3.1) with WTP 2.0
  
• Java Development Kit (JDK) & Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6.0
  
• JBoss Application Server 4.2.2
  
• Facebook Java API JAR and JSON JAR
  
• Tortoise SVN (to download the source code of Facebook Java API in the SVN Repo)

Steps:

In Facebook

1. Login to Facebook using your valid account (register one if you don't have).


2. Access Developer application, click Add Application button on the top right panel.


3. Then click on Add Developer button. A confirmation message is shown upon successful addition of the application.


4. Go to the application Developer. Then, click + Set Up New Application button.


5. Enter the Application Name (as MyFirstSampleFacebookJavaApp) and select the check box. Then, click Submit button. API Key is created. Note that the API Key and Secret key values are required later.


6. Click Edit Settings link. Key in the Callback Url as http://localhost:8080/MyFirstSampleFacebookJavaApp/LoginServlet (This is the URL to the Java Servlet that will be created below). Then, click Save button.

In Eclipse

1. Select from menu File > New > Project...
   
2. Select Web > Dynamic Web Project in the New Project pop-up window. Then, click Next > button.
   
3. Key in the Project name and select Target Runtime with the following values. Then, click Next > button.
   
   
   
   • Project name: MyFirstSampleFacebookJavaApp
     
   • Target Runtime: JBoss
   
   
4. Ensure the version of Dynamic Web Module and Java are correct. Then, click Next > button and Finish button.




• Dyname Web Module: 2.5
  
• Java: 6.0


5. Click on Yes when prompted to change to J2EE perspective.
   
6. Add Facebook Java API JAR (facebook-java-api-1.7.3.jar) and JSON JAR (json-1.0.jar) into the WEB-INF\lib folder
   
7. Add the source code (downloaded from the SVN) into the src folder.
   
8. Right click on the project name and select New > Other... from the pop-up menu. Then, select Web > Servlet and click Next > button.
   
9. Enter the Java package and Class name with the following values. Then, click Next > button. Please note that if the Java package is refactored after this step, the web.xml need to be amended accordingly.




• Java package: com.fbdev.app.java.servlet
  
• Class name: LoginServlet


10. Add Initialization Parameters by clicking the Add... button. First add the parameter API_KEY with the following values, then click OK button.




• Name: API_KEY
  
• Value: (value in Facebook stated in Step 5 above. eg. 121036f141717859e681df3522bb04ec)


11. Repeat the above step for parameter SECRET_KEY. Then, click OK button, followed by Next > button and Finish button.




• Name: SECRET_KEY
  
• Value: (value in Facebook stated in Step 5 above. eg. 87acfde11abd748f24e03bf5612bac62)


12. Add the following code into doGet method.




• String apiKey = getServletConfig().getInitParameter("API_KEY");
  String secretKey = getServletConfig().getInitParameter("SECRET_KEY");
  FacebookRestClient fbRestClient = null;
  HttpSession session = request.getSession();
  String sessionKey = (String) session.getAttribute("facebookSession");
  String token = request.getParameter("auth_token");
  if(sessionKey != null && sessionKey.length() > 0) {
  fbRestClient = new FacebookRestClient(apiKey, secretKey, sessionKey);
  }
  else if(token != null) {
  fbRestClient = new FacebookRestClient(apiKey, secretKey);
  fbRestClient.setIsDesktop(false);
  try {
  sessionKey = fbRestClient.auth_getSession(token);
  session.setAttribute("facebookSession", sessionKey);
  }
  catch (FacebookException e) {
  e.printStackTrace();
  }
  }
  else {
  response.sendRedirect("http://www.facebook.com/login.php?api_key=" + apiKey + "&v=1.0");
  return;
  }
  playWithFacebookAPI(request, fbRestClient);
  request.getRequestDispatcher("info.jsp").forward(request, response);


13. Add a new method playWithFacebookAPI with the following code.




• private void playWithFacebookAPI(HttpServletRequest request,
  FacebookRestClient fbRestClient) {
  try {
  long myId = fbRestClient.users_getLoggedInUser();
  EnumSet<ProfileField> fields = EnumSet.of(ProfileField.NAME, ProfileField.PIC);
  Collection<Long> users = new ArrayList();
  users.add(myId);
  Document d = fbRestClient.users_getInfo(users, fields);
  String name = d.getElementsByTagName("name").item(0).getTextContent();
  String picture = d.getElementsByTagName("pic").item(0).getTextContent();
  request.setAttribute("name", name);
  request.setAttribute("picture", picture);
  } catch (FacebookException e) {
  e.printStackTrace();
  } catch (IOException e) {
  e.printStackTrace();
  }
  }


14. Right click on the project name and select New > Other... from the pop-up menu. Then, select Web > JSP and click Next > button.
    
15. Key in the File name as info.jsp, then, click Next > button.
    
16. Select New JSP file (xhtml) as the JSP Template and click Finish button.
    
17. Modify the JSP to have the following content (an extract)




• <title>My First Sample Facebook Java Application</title>
  
• <body>
  <div>
  ${requestScope.name }
  </div>
  <div>
  <img src="${requestScope.picture }"></img>
  </div>
  </body>


18. Publish the application to the JBoss server. In Servers view, right click on the JBoss 4.2 and select Publish from the pop-up menu. (If it is the first time, right click on the project name, select Run As > Run on Server from the pop-up menu. Then select JBoss 4.2 from the list and click Next > button. Select MyFirstSampleFacebookJavaApp and click Add > button. Next click Finish button.)

In Browser

1. Access http://localhost:8080/MyFirstSampleFacebookJavaApp/LoginServlet


2. Login with valid Email and Password. Then, click Login button.


3. Click Log in to MyFirstSampleFacebookJavaApp button.


4. The page will show the user id and photo of the user.

Upon returning from lunch, Ming, our colleague who didn't join us for lunch, told us that his friend, at his 30s, just diagnosed with coronary artery clog. My first reaction was, 'Ming, what did you just said?' Ming answered, 'My friend who is on his 30 plus just got a heart attack and need to undergo an operation (which I believe is called Angioplasty)'. After trying to find out more information from him, I shared with him what I have encountered two years back during my dad's stay in the hospital after a surgery.

During that time, my dad was suffering from water clogging in his brain as one of the side effects from the radiotherapy. I guess you must be wonder why water clog in the brain after the radiotherapy. Based on my understanding from the doctor, there are cells in our brain that are 'in-charge' of draining off water from the brain to be 'released' from our body. However, many of those cells were dead after the radiotherapy and water was not drained off, thus clogging in the brain.

Doctor has installed a B-P shunt to regulate the water in his brain, such that the 'extra' ones are drained off to his bladder through the narrow tube embedded within his body near the skin surface. He was there for the 'maintenance', to replace a small part of the tube that was clogged by tiny dead cells.

It was during that time, I saw a young man, at his 20s was admitted to this wad and was in coma state. Later we found out, he was working in KL and suddenly colapsed. Apparently they found that the blood vessels in his brain burst. He did not make it and passed away in the morning on the same day my dad was discharged from the hospital. I saw the sorrow of his crying family members upon receiving the bad news.

As I was writing this blog, I come across the website of 'CRY' for Cardiac Risk in the Young - Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS). Once you enter the page, you will realize the highlighted statement of 'Every week, 8 'apparently' fit and healthy young people die in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions.' At the same time, I also come across a useful nutritional tips for healthy heart by Julie Upton at Howstuffworks, which may be useful for our reference.

In fact, when I was on my way back home on the LRT, I was telling myself that I have a piece of important source of information about heart health and I must try to share with Ming and the rest at the soonest. Since it's part of my life crusade to help 1 million people through knowledge sharing, that's my duty to share about what I have learnt from a doctor who have survived for more than 25 years after suffered from two cancers. I met this doctor two years back in Singapore. I felt gratitute even though I had travelled all the way from KL to Singapore to attend her health seminar.

I understand the sense of urgency more this time, as I have also gone through several occasions of 'it's too late' and eventually the person I was trying to share the information with died not long after that. Therefore, Ming, please give me a day or two to compile what I have. I will be able to share with you at the soonest and hope that will also help you friend who have successfully gone through the surgery.

I just bought the book, The Difference Maker-Making Your Attitude Your Greatest Asset, by John C Maxwell yesterday before attending a dinner with our team mates.

I can't wait to start reading it today and found that although the book may appears 'small', but it is full of essence. I would like to quote some valuable ones to be shared with you. However, I will encourage you to read the entire book and it may change your life entirely.

'Attitude isn't everything, but it is one thing that can make a difference in your life.' ~ John C Maxwell

'There is a little difference in people, but the little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative.' ~ W. Clement Stone

'I think of attitude as an inward feeling expressed by outward behavior.' ~ John C Maxwell

'Where did I get my attitude?
- Personality- Who You Are
- Environment- What's Around You
- The Expression of Others- What You Feel
- Self-Image- How You See Yourself
- Exposure to Growth Opportunities- What You Experience
- Association with Peers- Who You Are With
- Belief- What You Think
- Choices- What You Do' ~ John C Maxwell

'Examine the labels you apply to yourself. Every label is a boundary or limit you will not let yourself cross.' ~ Dwayne Dyer

'The sum of all your thoughts comprises your overall attitude' ~ John C Maxwell

'To change your life, you must make a choice to take responsibility for your attitude, and to do everything you can to make it work for you. Your attitude truly can become a difference maker. It's up to you.' ~ John C Maxwell

I am currently reading the book- The AirAsia Story by Sen Ze and Jayne Ng and found the following quoted from Tony very interesting!

Believe the unbelievable, Dream the impossible, Don't take 'no' for an answer.

Hope it helps you.

I would like to share important concepts extracted from Andrew Matthew's Follow Your Heart- Finding Purpose in Your Life and Work. It's a book really worth reading.

1. We are here to learn lessons, and the world is our teacher
   When we fail to learn a lessson, we get to take it again... and again! Once we have learned the lesson, we move on to the next one. (And we never run out of lessons!)
   
2. The universe has no favourtites
   Your success and happiness depend on natural laws and principles- and how you use them
   
3. Your life is a perfect reflection of your beliefs
   When you change your deepest beliefs about the world, your life changes accordingly
   
4. The moment you get too attached to things, people, money... you screw it up
   The challenge of life is to appreciate everything and attach yourself to nothing
   
5. What you focus on in life expands
   so think about what you want!
   
6. Follow your heart!
   Your mission in life is not to be without problems- your mission is to get excited.
   
7. God is never going to come down from a cloud and say, "You now have permission to be successful!"
   You have to give yourself permission
   
8. When you fight life, life always wins
   If you want more peace of mind, stop labelling everything that happens as 'good' or 'bad'
   
9. How do you love people? Just accept them
   Complete acceptance is unconditional love
   
10. Our mission in life is not to change the world- our mission is to change ourselves.
    There are no 'outside' solutions, only 'inside' solutions
    

I was happy to meet up my friend from Singapore yesterday. I have learnt so much things from him and one of the interesting concepts is 'Don't be Color Blind'.
The concept is simple yet useful. Basically, we can group our activities into 3 different colors- Red, Yellow and Green. Yes, just like the traffic light.

Red- Activities that do not move you at all to your objectives/goals, just like stopping at the traffic light when it is red.
Yellow- Activities that prepare you to move closer to your objectives/goals.
Green- Activities that makes you achieve your objectives/goals.

Therefore, when you are selecting your activities within the fairly allocated 1440 minutes everyday, don't be color blind and choose your activities wisely. Keep performing as many green activities without being caught in red activities.

After understanding it, I come to realized that there are similarities in this concept with the others that I have learnt before this.

Habit 4 of First Thing First by Steven Covey in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, in which you should focus on the 2nd Quadrant of activities that are important but not urgent.

Besides, Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy also adviced that you should prioritize your daily activities by 'eating the biggest, ugliest frog' in the beginning of the day.

In short, focus on the Most Important activities that brings you closer in achieving your objectives/goals and dreams!

I would like to share my mission statement that was defined after the 7th Habits of Highly Effective People training.

Mission Statement

1. Financial Arena- I shall seek financial freedom and consequently freedom to do the things I want to do by managing my wealth with proper financial planning
   
2. Career Arena- I shall build a career preferably owning a business) that saves lives and change people lifestyles) alternatively “that brings benefits to people”
   
3. Recreational Arena- I shall pursue recreational activities that nurture and build deeper personal and family relationships
   
4. Health Arena- I shall maintain a healthy body (physically, mentally, spiritually and socially) via healthy diet, consistent exercise, open and positive mindset and meditation that is full of vitality, free from diseases, calm and relax, friendly and sociable
   
5. Relationship Arena- I shall build a healthy relationship with family and friends, in which we are caring, loving, empowering and supportive to each other
   
6. Personal Arena- I shall seek continuous learning and improving through self-development (Travel around the world, Attend motivational seminars by idol [Anthony Robbins, Bob Proctor, Jack Canfield, Jim Rohn] and Pursue post-graduate education)
   
7. Community Arena- I shall contribute to the community by actualizing my goal of helping 1 million people by 2019 by being a successful leader, mentor/ coach in leading, educating, inspiring others to achieve their success (Live, Love, Learn and Leave a Legacy)
   

Visiting another country in the early of new year was a great experience, especially in a new environment with difference weather, culture and history background.

Just returned from Beijing yesterday and eagerly wanting to share the experience during the great trip.

The following are a summary of the destinations during the trip.

6th Jan 2007: KLIA International Airport -> Beijing Capital International Airport

7th Jan 2007: Beijing Capital International Airport -> Breakfast -> TianAnMen Square -> Forbidden City -> Lunch (GuangDong Cuisine) -> Jade Factory -> YiHao Hotel -> Tea Shop -> Dinner

8th Jan 2007: YiHao Hotel (Breakfast) -> Great Wall of China (BaDaLing) -> Lunch (HangZhou Cuisine) -> YueXie Market -> Ya Xiu Market -> Crystal -> Ming Dynasty Museum -> BaoFuTang -> Dinner (Hot Mutton Pot) -> Acrobatic Show

9th Jan 2007: YiHao Hotel (Breakfast) -> Summer Palace -> Pearl Shop -> Lunch (Peking Roast Duck) -> HuTong Trishaw Ride -> Visit Old Beijing Area (Interview Resident) -> Dinner (Guang Dong Claypot) -> WangFuJing

10th Jan 2007: YiHao Hotel (Breakfast) -> ZhengYangMen City Gate (FengShui Center) -> Lunch (SiChuanMaLa Fish) -> JinJie Market -> YueXiu Market -> Dinner (ChaoZhou Cuisine) -> ShaoLingKungFu Show -> ShiShaHai Bar Street

11th Jan 2007: YiHao Hotel (Breakfast) -> JinTaiLan -> Underground City (Silk) -> Lunch (ShanXi Noodle) -> YueXiu Market -> Beijing Capital International Airport

Besides, I would like to share some photos taken during the trip to provide a 'snapshot' of these places.



With handsome tour guide-Jerry Li Xiang at TianAnMen Square



At WuMen of Forbidden City


Briefing in Jade Factory


At mid of the BaDaLing Great Wall of China


At Summer Palace



Extraction of Pearl in Pearl Shop



Trishaw ride in HuTong to visit old Beijing area


At WangFuJing (temperature was -6 degree)


View of ZhengYangMen City Gate


Photo with ShaoLinKungFu Masters


Huge vase in JinTaiLan


Minute work by JinTaiLan


Part of the tunnel in Beijing Underground City


Photo with handsome tour guide and pretty photographer during the last lunch in Beijing

Tomorrow will be the last day of 2006, looking back at the events happened and achievements obtained, there are 5 significant ones that I extremely happy about and satisfied with.

In short, they are the following:

1. A New Year Resolution of 2006
2. Career in MNC
3. Trip to London
4. Reading Habit
5. Victory in Volleyball Tournament

Firstly, it's the first year, the idea of new year resolution come into reality when I defined and focus on the crusade of 'Helping 1 million people in my life'. It's a very strong principle that I carry with me the whole year and I can see a very significant change in my personal behavior when dealing with people and events that are around me. It will be a continuous principle and practice for the years to come.

The year of 2006 is also a year that display a 'jump' in my career. I am accepted and employed in a well-known MNC IT Service Center. It's a challenging yet exciting to pick up the new role, especially to understand and be familiar with processes in executing the tasks and accomplishing the mission. A paradigm shift in managing the tasks has occured as I am required to see things in bigger picture as an analyst, be proactive and initiative.

One of the greatest moment of the year was the company trip to London. I was sent to support the User Acceptance Test for an application that measures productivity of the employee. The sharing of feeling from the pickup of limosine from my house to KLIA Airport, boarding a Boeing 747 on a business class, transiting at Amsterdam till the visits to many many tourist spots in London and Greenwich will take up to hours. It will be a life-long memorable moments. In fact, I just read the news about Air Asia may offer flight to London at a more budgeted rate next year. That motivates me to fulfill my dream to be back to London again!

Compared to the past 3 years of working life, 2006 is the year in which I read the most, including listening to a lot of audio books. Among these are a few best sellers, including the one by Anthony Robbins, Jim Rohns, David Canfield, Zig Ziglar...etc. In particularly, I like the video called 'The Secret', the book 'The Success Principle by David Canfield. I sincerely encourages you to read up some of these. It may change your life forever.

Lastly, another great event experienced this year is the achievement in volleyball tournament. I was selected to be one of the player for our company's volleyball team to take part in a tournament, in which many other MNC companies in Cyberjaya also took part. Our team has the best combinations of talented and experienced players, which lead us to beat the other teams and emerge as champion. I am really proud of ourselves!

Looking back at these for the year of 2006, there will be some other big plans coming up for the year of 2007.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best for the coming year. Happy New Year of 2007!

Read this to yourself every morning and evening (before you go to sleep)

THE SECRET TO YOU
------------------------
I AM STARTING OVER TODAY
ALL GOOD THINGS ARE COMING TO ME TODAY
I AM GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE
I SEE BEAUTY ALL AROUND ME
I LIVE WITH PASSION AND PURPOSE
I TAKE TIME TO LAUGH AND PLAY EVERYDAY
I AM AWAKE, ENERGIZED AND ALIVE
I FOCUS ON ALL THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE AND GIVE THANKS TO THEM
I AM AT PEACE AND ONE WITH EVERYTHING
I FEEL THE LOVE, THE JOY, THE ABUNDANCE
I AM FREE TO BE MYSELF
I AM MAGNIFICENCE IN HUMAN FORM
I AM THE PERFECTION OF LIFEI AM GRATEFUL TO BE ME
TODAY IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE

I would like to share something my friend from Taiwan shared with me. It's meaningful and please bear with me because it's in mandarin language.

Mission Impossible 『不可能的事』 世界上的事情非常奇怪～越是人們認為不可能的！做起來越有機會成功！第一位發現這個道理的據說是哥倫布

1485年5月～哥倫布到西班牙去遊說：『我從這兒向西走也能到達東方～只要你們拿出錢來資助我』～當時！沒有一個人阻止他～也沒有刺殺他～因為當時的人認為～從西班牙向西航行～不出500海哩～就會掉進無盡的深淵～想到達富庶的東方？那是決對不可能的！ 可是～在他第一次航行成功～第二次又要去的時候～不僅遇到了空前的阻力～而且還有人在大西洋上攔截～並企圖暗殺他！至於原因～非常明確～因為沿這條航線絕對能夠到達富庶的東方～他再去一回～那兒的黃金！瑪瑙！翡翠！玉石！皮毛！香料！就會使得他富比王侯！不可一世！ 越是人們認為不可能的！做起來越順暢！這一道理～在哥倫布死後救被人遺忘了！直至大約500年後～在華爾街上～才被一位叫巴菲特的美國人發現！

1973年～全世界沒有一個人認為～曼圖阿農場的股票能夠復甦～有的是甚至認為～曼圖阿不出三個月就會宣告破產！然而～巴菲特不這樣看～他認為～越是在人們對某一股票失去信因的時候～這支股票越可能是一處大金礦！果然～在他以15美分的價格買入為數不少的股票之後～不到五年～他就賺了4700萬美元！眾所周知～現在他已是緊排比爾蓋茲之後的大富翁了！

哥倫布所發現的那個道理～不久又被一個人發現！他是法國的一位小男孩！這個小男孩七歲時～創辦了一個專門提供玩具信息的網站！當時～沒有一個人把他放在眼裡～沒有一家同類的公司與之為敵～也沒有哪家行業會來照他簽訂合約！他們認為～那個網站只是一個孩子的遊戲～成不了什麼氣候！誰知結果卻出人意料～這位小男孩不僅把網站做大了～而且在他十歲時～就通過廣告收入～成了法國最年輕的百萬富翁！

越是一般人認為不可能的事～月有可能做到！這話確實很有道理！大家都認為不可能～必然誰也不去關注～誰也不去攻擊～誰也不去設防！！再者～不可能實現的事～一般都沒有競爭對手～第一個去做的人正好可以獨自乘虛而入！

另外！一般人認為不可能的事～肯定是件十分困難！甚至是難以想像的事！因為太難～所以畏難！因為畏難！所以根本不去問津！不但自己不去問津！甚至認為別人也不會問津！可以說世界上真正的大業～都是在別人認為不可能的情況下完成的！！在人類一步步從過去走向未來的過程中～不可能的事～一件還沒有發現！


Another great quote from John Maxwell :
Everyone has the power to impact the outcome of his life. The way to do it s to focus on today... Today is the only time you have. It's too late for yesterday. And you can't depend on tomorrow.