Rails Protips Volume 1 - asset_url

Jan 15

Using asset_url helper outside of views.

If you get the error NoMethodError: undefined method `protocol' for nil:NilClass while using ActionController::Base.helpers.asset_url(IMAGE_NAME) somewhere other than a view, change it to ActionController::Base.helpers.asset_path(IMAGE_NAME). This is [probably] because your model doesn't have access to the request to figure out the protocol.

Korg Monotribe & Miditribe IO

Jan 5

Introduction

This post is split into two, my initial impressions of the Korg Monotribe, and then installing the Amazing Machines' Miditribe IO.

Korg Monotribe

I received a Monotribe as a Christmas gift from my sister.

It's a small analog synthesizer and drum machine combined with a step sequencer. This gives it the ability to create, loop, and record drum beats and simple melodies. It's powered by either a 9VDC power supply, or six AA batteries. The battery option means that it's a completely...

Building a Blog

Jan 2

After reading a great article online, I realised starting a blog would be a good idea. I've been though this before, but with little success.

This time around, I decided to use Middleman as I'd had good reviews.

The current state of this blog is from two tutorials, Thoughtbot have an intro to Middleman with their Compass frameworks for styling, which is where this blog currently stands.

I needed to correct a few things:

Introduction Post

Jan 1

This is going to be the start of a blog of my tinkering. I've been playing with a few interesting things lately, so I thought it'd be good to write about it. Since I have promised myself that I will finish off a few Arduino projects and up-skill with creating music, expect them to appear here too.

If you're not sure who I am, my name's Mathew, and I'm a technology geek based in Wellington. I'm Storypark's CTO, and co-organise wellington.js and WellRailed. Outside of hours I enjoy mixing and dancing...