I’m not much interested in the time log unless it’ll output to quickbooks <g>, but the call log part would be way cool. I’d thought about something like this a while back when the api first came out, but decided it’d be too much work <g>. My idea had call logs attached to contacts or blogs, task view and ability to complete, meeting setup which would also create an outlook appt to schedule the non-360 teams.

Eventually we will need to tackle the billing side of using Solve360, we use Quickbooks as well.

Right now my only ‘vision’ is to add call-logs to a contact, that can be developed further if there are people willing to help.

Attached is what the Calls tab looks like.

Hi Izzy.
Cool proposal! I (and not only) had similar ideas too.

It’s been a long time since I had my last experience with Flex SDK and I also don’t have much time, so I can’t promise much help with actual development, but I can help as a consultant if you have some questions about the API or general architecture of the application, design patterns etc.

If somebody (you?) leads this project and plans what needs to be done in what steps and what tools (some Flex MVC framework may be?) should be used and how… then I will probably be able to help with development itself when I have a chance.

So, let me know if you decide to publish it somewhere. Both Google Code and GitHub are fine for this small project. Probably Google Code is a bit better.
Flex is also a good choice for this kind of applications.

It shouldn’t be hard after all :) You could try implementing something basic to start, like contacts listing/searching.

Hi Alex,

Thanks for indicating your interest, I wont be able to put in too much time either, maybe weekend time. I’d like to get at least a POC or v.01 out before my 60 day trial of Flex runs out :P

This is my first run with Flex SDK, and I’m playing with the platform trying to get a feel for it.  My thought is that I (until I get more help) will play with the Flex SDK and finish a ‘proof of concept’; minimal functionality.  Scrap the code, restart and implement something cleaner; hopefully by then I (we) will have a better idea of how to do things.

I am familiar with MVC frameworks such as CodeIgniter on PHP5, and some windows development C# w/ .NET 4.0.  I just haven’t thought that an application would use so much XML. Oy.  But flex seems so portable and nicer to use than say a Java app :x

-Izzy

Good idea about the small start. Contacts listing/searching would be needed for the call log anyway to choose a valid contact or project.

@ Izzy, I’m not sure if this could work for you but Solve360 is in the process of integrating with Freshbooks to be able to handle some of the things you are talking about, time tracking, billing etc

UPDATE: Freshbooks integration is here!

Hi dave@vm,

I did see that, and If it was me and a non-accountant type working on this business, then we would have already used FreshBooks.

However, our business primarily targets a software platform that uses Quickbooks _heavily_.  It would be silly of us not to use the same software internally (Eat your own dog food, or at least the same dog food our customers are).

Good news however, we are ditching our current system (Kayako Helpdesk, which is not a project management/CRM software, more trouble ticket dealio) and will be planning the implementation of Solve360!

The widget proposal is still on the table, so for now, it might be an ‘ultra beta, use at your own risk’ software until we get a few like-minded individuals to help out ;).

-Izzy

Izzy - May 15, 2010 07:22pm

Hi dave@vm,

I did see that, and If it was me and a non-accountant type working on this business, then we would have already used FreshBooks.

However, our business primarily targets a software platform that uses Quickbooks _heavily_.  It would be silly of us not to use the same software internally (Eat your own dog food, or at least the same dog food our customers are).

Good news however, we are ditching our current system (Kayako Helpdesk, which is not a project management/CRM software, more trouble ticket dealio) and will be planning the implementation of Solve360!

The widget proposal is still on the table, so for now, it might be an ‘ultra beta, use at your own risk’ software until we get a few like-minded individuals to help out ;).

-Izzy

hey Izzy,
fantastic idea / weekend project you got going here. I’d be happy to help with QA/testing as that’s where my expertise is.
  Couple of thoughts:
I definitely empathize with the Quickbooks situation - they are the 800 pound gorilla in the room.
I second the use of Google Code.
I second the push to get the initial widget functionality of contact look-up out.

With all that said - User Agent switching to view the Norada iPhone site is a pretty neat workaround in the meantime to get an idea of how a nice “widget” would look and feel
  http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/06/28/how-to-emulate-iphone-change-user-agent-in-safari-and-firefox-web-browser/

cheers
adrian

Update.

So… About Flex & Adobe AIR… thats not gonna work (at least for me) ^_^

Here is why.  I still have not figured out what the heck is going on within Flex/AIR; and once I mentioned to a friend of mine what I wanted to do, he started yelling and gently recommended that I use a different platform.  Oy.

So. 

I may just try building a Windows 7/Vista Gadget and a Mac OS X Widget.  Both will use a mix of HTML/CSS/JS to accomplish what we want.  At least these technologies are more ‘accessible’ to myself, and to the masses here :)

But, still some challenges to overcome.  JavaScript only processing of the API.  Has anyone done this?

Izzy - May 30, 2010 06:11pm

Update.

So… About Flex & Adobe AIR… thats not gonna work (at least for me) ^_^

Yeah, it’s not that easy at first glance, though I still think it’s the best/easiest and cross-platform solution for such a task. Anyway.

Izzy - May 30, 2010 06:11pm

I may just try building a Windows 7/Vista Gadget and a Mac OS X Widget.  Both will use a mix of HTML/CSS/JS to accomplish what we want.

No idea about Mac Os, for Windows… it might work, but you’ll have to know how to build such a “Gadget” anyway and no guarantee you’ll like it better than Flex SDK. :) Would this “Gadget” be able to be run in standalone mode, or only being attached to that sidebar Windows has? Or, better, can you go into a bit more specifics of technical aspects of your choice?

Alex - May 31, 2010 12:16pm

Izzy - May 30, 2010 06:11pm

Update.

So… About Flex & Adobe AIR… thats not gonna work (at least for me) ^_^

Yeah, it’s not that easy at first glance, though I still think it’s the best/easiest and cross-platform solution for such a task. Anyway.

That might be my own downfall.  However, I dont want to push anyone into creating a solution that cant be supported by its users.  If I havent figured out how to develop on Flex, I cant reasonably ask others to help.

Izzy - May 30, 2010 06:11pm

I may just try building a Windows 7/Vista Gadget and a Mac OS X Widget.  Both will use a mix of HTML/CSS/JS to accomplish what we want.

No idea about Mac Os, for Windows… it might work, but you’ll have to know how to build such a “Gadget” anyway and no guarantee you’ll like it better than Flex SDK. :) Would this “Gadget” be able to be run in standalone mode, or only being attached to that sidebar Windows has? Or, better, can you go into a bit more specifics of technical aspects of your choice?

As of Windows 7 - “Gadgets” are a mix of HTML/JS/CSS that run small web-based applications within the desktop.  In Vista this was limited to the sidebar.  In Windows 7, they are liberated from the Sidebar and can live as ‘Desktop Gadgets’

In Mac OS X the nomenclature changes from “Gadgets” to “Widgets” which are similar in nature.  They are collections of HTML/JS/CSS that provide ancillary service to the user.

Here is why I’m not too fond of Flex/AIR

- I havent figured out how to reliably understand the language.  *My own downfall
- The IDE is not free.  The Flash Builder 4 (fm. Flex Builder) is $700.00
  (However there is an SDK which is free.
    I dont know what it would take to use the free SDK to build the app)
- Availability of Flex/AIR Users from Solve360.  There doesnt seem to be that many, although I could be wrong.

For my simple needs, maybe the Gadget is the simplest way to go. 

Sources:
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/902818/how-to-get-started-with-windows-7-gadgets
http://developer.apple.com/macosx/dashboard.html

just curious - what ever happened with this desktop widget idea?  I don’t know how to develop, but would be interested in testing/using it.

Its still something I think _we_ (we as in my business) needs, but it is not critical; so I havent spent time on it yet.

I keep following other means of billable hours!

So for now its been on hold until I (or someone else) and make something nifty.