ianwremmel.com

My name is Ian Remmel. I write code and design websites. Occasionally, I write stuff for people to read, too. Sometimes, I even take pictures (yes, that's an external link to Flickr - Drupal 7 just doesn't have an adequate Flickr module yet). Got a question? Send me an email.

Featured Project

XML-Tools

My latest project, with the fantastically original name XML-Tools, aims to make getting starting with XML and XSL easier.

Latest Article

PUTting PHP to Restful APIs (Like CouchDB) as JSON

Sat, 05/05/2012 - 13:00 -- ian

(If you just want to know how to PUT data to a Restful API, jump to The Solution)

Recently, I started trying to figure out how to use CouchDB.  Since I wanted a large set of data that I understood, I decided to use the same data that we use at the office.  Even though that data is stored in a MySQL database, it’s more easily accessed via a data abstraction layer in one of the PHP frameworks we use so I really needed to send PHP arrays to CouchDB.  Since this would be a one way operation (the data is only for my purposes, there’s no need send it back to PHP) I decided it made more sense to use the raw CouchDB REST API via cURL than it did to figure out one of the PHP CouchDB libraries (and PECL wouldn’t install the “official” one – yet another reason I hate Centos). 

About Me

Education

I hold a Master’s of Science in Information Sciences and Technology and a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering with a Minor in Business.  Both degrees were awarded by The Pennsylvania State University. 

My thesis, entitled The Insight Project: Serverless Synchronization of Data for Personal Information Management Software, implemented what could be considered a personal cloud storage system for personal information.  Begun just before “Cloud Computing” became a meaningful catchphrase, the project demonstrated a peer-to-peer alternative to what we now think of as cloud synchronization solutions for programs like Outlook. 

Career

I’m currently a web software engineer at Barefoot Books using PHP to integrate our site with third-party Microsoft Web Services. 

Before starting at Barefoot, I did some freelance work for Conceptual Symmetry, contributing in small part to firstcomesfashion.com, theenergyproject.com, and to a larger extent, Penn State's Department of Geography. 

During my time at Penn State, I was a consultant and supervisor at one of the ITS Help Desks.  As a consultant, I provided phone, walkup, and, eventually, email support to members of the Penn State community on computer problems ranging from dial-up networking to virus removal to email to networking.  As a supervisor, I made sure my employees did my former job. 

Freelancing

Though I have a day job with Barefoot, I’m continuing to do occasional freelance work.  This fall, I migrated edendaleentertainment.com to Drupal Gardens and just before Christmas, I relaunched stpaulsfleetwood.com as a Drupal 7 site (previously, it had been built using one of those kits that bookstores sold back in the late 90s).  The St. Paul’s site is very much still a work in progress as I worked on a Drupal 6 version throughout last year, got fed up with it December and rolled the D7 version in about 5 days.  Upcoming changes include better use of Features, a Church directory, and a new theme. 

While my current focus is on stpaulsfleetwood.com, I’m available to setup and manage small sites in Drupal Gardens.  For more information, send me an email.