PetrolTracker: SMS commands/language
This is one area that non-programmers can very easily help out in. Even though we haven't decided on SMS as the best interface for this project, I'd like to start a parallel thread that explores this option in the event that it turns out to be the way to go. I'd like to speed up the process and involve everyone as well, so a parallel thread seems like a good idea. The problem we're seeking to solve is this: - what exactly do users type in their SMSes while asking for, or updating, petrol prices closest to where they are? The system will interpret these SMSes and send back a result accordingly. The "language" we're defining needs to be: - simple and intuitive (makes life easier for users) - clear and unambiguous (makes life easier for the system to know exactly what the user meant) - brief (needs to fit in a single SMS) There's only one way to know: real-life testing/simulation. Since everyone on this list travels within the city (and passes by multiple petrol stations every day), let's harness our efforts and see what would work. Let's pretend PetrolTracker is a fully-functioning system: how would you use it? What messages would you send it from your phone, and what responses would you expect? Since we don't yet have a system to receive the SMSes, this thread will do for now. Reply to this thread with what SMS messages you would have send to the system, and also inlcude the response(s) you expect. To try and simulate reality as much as possible, try and type out the message in real-time, i.e. as you are driving/passing by the petrol station. This will help test the practicality of the proposed system. I suggest you save your SMSes as a draft and type them out in this thread... the more the merrier. What do you think? Saidi
Very good idea. Here is what I would type: "The Mall - Westlands. Unleaded Petrol" and send that to PetrolTracker where I would expect a response from PetrolTracker like: "Oil Libya (Lower Kabete Rd) 98.00; Shell (Lower Kabete Rd) 97.20; BP (Waiyaki Way) 97.50" Basic concept is that the user/client sends location with either road name or closest land mark, in this case The Mall and location of Westlands and the specific type of fuel they want, in this case Unleaded Petrol. And the SMS reply would give the fuel stations closest to the location with the road name in brackets followed by the price and each separated by a ";". That is just my idea. I know we need to think about the message length if the response can fit within one message string. Have a great day! Warm regards, Amarjit Singh Labhuram. On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 9:08 AM, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com> wrote:
This is one area that non-programmers can very easily help out in.
Even though we haven't decided on SMS as the best interface for this project, I'd like to start a parallel thread that explores this option in the event that it turns out to be the way to go. I'd like to speed up the process and involve everyone as well, so a parallel thread seems like a good idea.
The problem we're seeking to solve is this:
- what exactly do users type in their SMSes while asking for, or updating, petrol prices closest to where they are? The system will interpret these SMSes and send back a result accordingly.
The "language" we're defining needs to be:
- simple and intuitive (makes life easier for users) - clear and unambiguous (makes life easier for the system to know exactly what the user meant) - brief (needs to fit in a single SMS)
There's only one way to know: real-life testing/simulation.
Since everyone on this list travels within the city (and passes by multiple petrol stations every day), let's harness our efforts and see what would work.
Let's pretend PetrolTracker is a fully-functioning system: how would you use it? What messages would you send it from your phone, and what responses would you expect?
Since we don't yet have a system to receive the SMSes, this thread will do for now. Reply to this thread with what SMS messages you would have send to the system, and also inlcude the response(s) you expect.
To try and simulate reality as much as possible, try and type out the message in real-time, i.e. as you are driving/passing by the petrol station. This will help test the practicality of the proposed system. I suggest you save your SMSes as a draft and type them out in this thread... the more the merrier.
What do you think?
Saidi
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Good stuff Amarjit! A few thoughts: - How about updating the system with new prices? How would that possibly work? - What if one wanted a specific petrol station vendor, e.g. Total? Or is that even desirable by most people? Saidi PS As you go about your day, try and pretend to query/update the system a few times. I'm curious what patterns of usage would appear. On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 2:32 AM, Amarjit Labhuram <amarjit.labhuram@gmail.com
wrote:
Very good idea.
Here is what I would type: "The Mall - Westlands. Unleaded Petrol" and send that to PetrolTracker where I would expect a response from PetrolTracker like: "Oil Libya (Lower Kabete Rd) 98.00; Shell (Lower Kabete Rd) 97.20; BP (Waiyaki Way) 97.50"
Basic concept is that the user/client sends location with either road name or closest land mark, in this case The Mall and location of Westlands and the specific type of fuel they want, in this case Unleaded Petrol. And the SMS reply would give the fuel stations closest to the location with the road name in brackets followed by the price and each separated by a ";".
That is just my idea. I know we need to think about the message length if the response can fit within one message string.
Have a great day!
Warm regards, Amarjit Singh Labhuram.
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 9:08 AM, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com> wrote:
This is one area that non-programmers can very easily help out in.
Even though we haven't decided on SMS as the best interface for this project, I'd like to start a parallel thread that explores this option in the event that it turns out to be the way to go. I'd like to speed up the process and involve everyone as well, so a parallel thread seems like a good idea.
The problem we're seeking to solve is this:
- what exactly do users type in their SMSes while asking for, or updating, petrol prices closest to where they are? The system will interpret these SMSes and send back a result accordingly.
The "language" we're defining needs to be:
- simple and intuitive (makes life easier for users) - clear and unambiguous (makes life easier for the system to know exactly what the user meant) - brief (needs to fit in a single SMS)
There's only one way to know: real-life testing/simulation.
Since everyone on this list travels within the city (and passes by multiple petrol stations every day), let's harness our efforts and see what would work.
Let's pretend PetrolTracker is a fully-functioning system: how would you use it? What messages would you send it from your phone, and what responses would you expect?
Since we don't yet have a system to receive the SMSes, this thread will do for now. Reply to this thread with what SMS messages you would have send to the system, and also inlcude the response(s) you expect.
To try and simulate reality as much as possible, try and type out the message in real-time, i.e. as you are driving/passing by the petrol station. This will help test the practicality of the proposed system. I suggest you save your SMSes as a draft and type them out in this thread... the more the merrier.
What do you think?
Saidi
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Why dont you talk to Jacob Kitinya whose done petrol.co.ke his implemented an SMS module using open source rapidSMS which primarily uses structured text messages to push/pull information On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 9:52 AM, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com> wrote:
Good stuff Amarjit!
A few thoughts:
- How about updating the system with new prices? How would that possibly work? - What if one wanted a specific petrol station vendor, e.g. Total? Or is that even desirable by most people?
Saidi
PS As you go about your day, try and pretend to query/update the system a few times. I'm curious what patterns of usage would appear.
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 2:32 AM, Amarjit Labhuram < amarjit.labhuram@gmail.com> wrote:
Very good idea.
Here is what I would type: "The Mall - Westlands. Unleaded Petrol" and send that to PetrolTracker where I would expect a response from PetrolTracker like: "Oil Libya (Lower Kabete Rd) 98.00; Shell (Lower Kabete Rd) 97.20; BP (Waiyaki Way) 97.50"
Basic concept is that the user/client sends location with either road name or closest land mark, in this case The Mall and location of Westlands and the specific type of fuel they want, in this case Unleaded Petrol. And the SMS reply would give the fuel stations closest to the location with the road name in brackets followed by the price and each separated by a ";".
That is just my idea. I know we need to think about the message length if the response can fit within one message string.
Have a great day!
Warm regards, Amarjit Singh Labhuram.
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 9:08 AM, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com> wrote:
This is one area that non-programmers can very easily help out in.
Even though we haven't decided on SMS as the best interface for this project, I'd like to start a parallel thread that explores this option in the event that it turns out to be the way to go. I'd like to speed up the process and involve everyone as well, so a parallel thread seems like a good idea.
The problem we're seeking to solve is this:
- what exactly do users type in their SMSes while asking for, or updating, petrol prices closest to where they are? The system will interpret these SMSes and send back a result accordingly.
The "language" we're defining needs to be:
- simple and intuitive (makes life easier for users) - clear and unambiguous (makes life easier for the system to know exactly what the user meant) - brief (needs to fit in a single SMS)
There's only one way to know: real-life testing/simulation.
Since everyone on this list travels within the city (and passes by multiple petrol stations every day), let's harness our efforts and see what would work.
Let's pretend PetrolTracker is a fully-functioning system: how would you use it? What messages would you send it from your phone, and what responses would you expect?
Since we don't yet have a system to receive the SMSes, this thread will do for now. Reply to this thread with what SMS messages you would have send to the system, and also inlcude the response(s) you expect.
To try and simulate reality as much as possible, try and type out the message in real-time, i.e. as you are driving/passing by the petrol station. This will help test the practicality of the proposed system. I suggest you save your SMSes as a draft and type them out in this thread... the more the merrier.
What do you think?
Saidi
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Interesting preject, petrol.co.ke
Looks quite interesting! And similar to this project too. A few differences: - petrol.co.ke is a business; "PetrolTracker" is an open-source project primarily for learning. We could have chosen another project, this one seemed to have been independently thought of by a few people. - everything about "PetrolTracker" is community-driven, including the sourcing of the prices. The data is as good (or as bad) as the users. Think of it like a Wikipedia for petrol prices in Nairobi. The source-code will also be open-source. - since this is a learning system, one of the "conditions" was that no cash-dollar-monies be spend on *anything*. We'll strictly be using free tools, not necessarily open-source (although that would be great). This rules anything that requires installation, e.g. rapidSMS. BUT, since this is intended to be a community project, perhaps others feel differently. Saidi On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 3:05 AM, John Wesonga <johnwesonga@gmail.com> wrote:
Why dont you talk to Jacob Kitinya whose done petrol.co.ke his implemented an SMS module using open source rapidSMS which primarily uses structured text messages to push/pull information
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 9:52 AM, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com> wrote:
Good stuff Amarjit!
A few thoughts:
- How about updating the system with new prices? How would that possibly work? - What if one wanted a specific petrol station vendor, e.g. Total? Or is that even desirable by most people?
Saidi
PS As you go about your day, try and pretend to query/update the system a few times. I'm curious what patterns of usage would appear.
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 2:32 AM, Amarjit Labhuram < amarjit.labhuram@gmail.com> wrote:
Very good idea.
Here is what I would type: "The Mall - Westlands. Unleaded Petrol" and send that to PetrolTracker where I would expect a response from PetrolTracker like: "Oil Libya (Lower Kabete Rd) 98.00; Shell (Lower Kabete Rd) 97.20; BP (Waiyaki Way) 97.50"
Basic concept is that the user/client sends location with either road name or closest land mark, in this case The Mall and location of Westlands and the specific type of fuel they want, in this case Unleaded Petrol. And the SMS reply would give the fuel stations closest to the location with the road name in brackets followed by the price and each separated by a ";".
That is just my idea. I know we need to think about the message length if the response can fit within one message string.
Have a great day!
Warm regards, Amarjit Singh Labhuram.
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 9:08 AM, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com> wrote:
This is one area that non-programmers can very easily help out in.
Even though we haven't decided on SMS as the best interface for this project, I'd like to start a parallel thread that explores this option in the event that it turns out to be the way to go. I'd like to speed up the process and involve everyone as well, so a parallel thread seems like a good idea.
The problem we're seeking to solve is this:
- what exactly do users type in their SMSes while asking for, or updating, petrol prices closest to where they are? The system will interpret these SMSes and send back a result accordingly.
The "language" we're defining needs to be:
- simple and intuitive (makes life easier for users) - clear and unambiguous (makes life easier for the system to know exactly what the user meant) - brief (needs to fit in a single SMS)
There's only one way to know: real-life testing/simulation.
Since everyone on this list travels within the city (and passes by multiple petrol stations every day), let's harness our efforts and see what would work.
Let's pretend PetrolTracker is a fully-functioning system: how would you use it? What messages would you send it from your phone, and what responses would you expect?
Since we don't yet have a system to receive the SMSes, this thread will do for now. Reply to this thread with what SMS messages you would have send to the system, and also inlcude the response(s) you expect.
To try and simulate reality as much as possible, try and type out the message in real-time, i.e. as you are driving/passing by the petrol station. This will help test the practicality of the proposed system. I suggest you save your SMSes as a draft and type them out in this thread... the more the merrier.
What do you think?
Saidi
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maybe you can link up with the guy to improve the project or re-use some of his code and research work?
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 10:21 AM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
maybe you can link up with the guy to improve the project or re-use some of his code and research work?
His research, yes. His code, maybe, he may NOT have released it as open source thus using it would probably violate some license... But I like the idea that this project is community driven, the data comes from the community and is validated by the community. I think both projects can co-exist peacefully.
Oh yeah, Saidimu, i think GPS coordinates are a must since petrol stations rarely change locations so we would only have to get them once.
Getting Info ======= I may want the cheapest prices so 1. I need to specify the fuel type and an estate e.g cdb, westlands, south B south C, industrial area, e.t.c. I may post something like "cheapest diesel cbd" and get "Total: whatever rd. 70; Shell whatever2 rd 73" Updating Info ========= Updating info can be done in 2 ways: 1. Only a few admins 2. Any interested person. if only admins update info, then all petrol stations can be coded then an SMS of the form "update 1000001 petrol 80 diesel 75". Where 1000001 is a certain petrol station. If anybody can update this info, then we can do it in 2 ways: 2.1 Do it in a multistep refining proces for reaching a certain petrol station. 2.2 We list the format for updating info on the site and hope everybody will read it before posting. The system cannot handle any random input. Or we can go tech and do word filtering(Too much work for unknown gain) One problem: If anybody can update info, then rivals can hike others prices. Hmm, one solution is to let each petrol station manager update their price. Then give the manager a code so they insert their code plus the price for their petrol station. Problems am seeing: 1. If a manager moves, then he may corrupt info 2. A manager may underprice to attract people to the petrol station. e.t.c On 8/6/10, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
maybe you can link up with the guy to improve the project or re-use some of his code and research work?
-- www.golavish.com - The travel and leisure www.raccuddasys.com - code Development issues
This is getting even more interesting! Frankline's idea of multistep verification of user submitted data seems workable. We would need an authoritative source of information against which to verify the data submitted by the users. How about we use the skunks members? I bet each one of us lives or regularly passes near a petrol station; suppose then each skunk was assigned a petrol station which they can monitor without intruding upon their daily schedules? On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 11:22 AM, Frankline Chitwa <frank.chitwa@gmail.com>wrote:
Getting Info ======= I may want the cheapest prices so 1. I need to specify the fuel type and an estate e.g cdb, westlands, south B south C, industrial area, e.t.c. I may post something like "cheapest diesel cbd" and get "Total: whatever rd. 70; Shell whatever2 rd 73"
Updating Info ========= Updating info can be done in 2 ways: 1. Only a few admins 2. Any interested person.
if only admins update info, then all petrol stations can be coded then an SMS of the form "update 1000001 petrol 80 diesel 75". Where 1000001 is a certain petrol station.
If anybody can update this info, then we can do it in 2 ways: 2.1 Do it in a multistep refining proces for reaching a certain petrol station. 2.2 We list the format for updating info on the site and hope everybody will read it before posting. The system cannot handle any random input. Or we can go tech and do word filtering(Too much work for unknown gain)
One problem: If anybody can update info, then rivals can hike others prices.
Hmm, one solution is to let each petrol station manager update their price. Then give the manager a code so they insert their code plus the price for their petrol station.
Problems am seeing: 1. If a manager moves, then he may corrupt info 2. A manager may underprice to attract people to the petrol station.
e.t.c
On 8/6/10, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
maybe you can link up with the guy to improve the project or re-use some of his code and research work?
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Am wondering the last time that site was updated. Those fuel prices are anything but recent. I guess the biggest question in having any user-generated-content based system is motivation esp when they have to pay to use it. What would make you as a user continue updating the system? I understand that initially people would be motivated to update but once you have found that favourite petrol station that you frequent what would motivate you later on to update the system to reflect new prices in other petrol stations? Am thinking maybe in later (way later) stages of the project, once the petrol stations start being wary of the effects of having such a system in place, we could work with them and have a random/most active updater get a voucher worth KshX at the end of every month?? @Frank I dont think you need to specify "cheapest" because thats pretty much what anyone will be looking for :) What we can do is have basic info that the user has to provide when querying (e.g. fuel type and road/st) and extra info as tags: estate, some well known building e.g. junction, westgate etc etc. The street name can be optional seeing as many people dont really know street names :) Having update capabilities only available to a few admins beats the purpose of user generated content. They can vet the info but not be the only ones able to update. Limit the results to about 3 or 5 petrol stations and append the syntax for updating to the end of every price query. -Billy 2010/8/6 Frankline Chitwa <frank.chitwa@gmail.com>
Getting Info ======= I may want the cheapest prices so 1. I need to specify the fuel type and an estate e.g cdb, westlands, south B south C, industrial area, e.t.c. I may post something like "cheapest diesel cbd" and get "Total: whatever rd. 70; Shell whatever2 rd 73"
Updating Info ========= Updating info can be done in 2 ways: 1. Only a few admins 2. Any interested person.
if only admins update info, then all petrol stations can be coded then an SMS of the form "update 1000001 petrol 80 diesel 75". Where 1000001 is a certain petrol station.
If anybody can update this info, then we can do it in 2 ways: 2.1 Do it in a multistep refining proces for reaching a certain petrol station. 2.2 We list the format for updating info on the site and hope everybody will read it before posting. The system cannot handle any random input. Or we can go tech and do word filtering(Too much work for unknown gain)
One problem: If anybody can update info, then rivals can hike others prices.
Hmm, one solution is to let each petrol station manager update their price. Then give the manager a code so they insert their code plus the price for their petrol station.
Problems am seeing: 1. If a manager moves, then he may corrupt info 2. A manager may underprice to attract people to the petrol station.
e.t.c
On 8/6/10, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
maybe you can link up with the guy to improve the project or re-use some of his code and research work?
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On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 11:49 AM, Billy <billyx5@gmail.com> wrote:
@Frank I dont think you need to specify "cheapest" because thats pretty much what anyone will be looking for :)
Billy, this is not always the case; a while back, there was a skunk who had a problem with a "smoking" ride, switched to a more expensive Shell fuel and the smoking stopped, I doubt if such a skunk would seek ye the cheapest fuel :-)
He never said he switched to more expensive fuel just that he switched to Shell fuel (who are actually cheaper than most if you check around). @Peter - Maybe am mistaken but wasnt the aim of the whole project to "find out the cheapest petrol prices closest to you"?? -Billy 2010/8/6 Peter Karunyu <pkarunyu@gmail.com>
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 11:49 AM, Billy <billyx5@gmail.com> wrote:
@Frank I dont think you need to specify "cheapest" because thats pretty much what anyone will be looking for :)
Billy, this is not always the case; a while back, there was a skunk who had a problem with a "smoking" ride, switched to a more expensive Shell fuel and the smoking stopped, I doubt if such a skunk would seek ye the cheapest fuel :-)
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On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 12:46 PM, Billy <billyx5@gmail.com> wrote:
He never said he switched to more expensive fuel just that he switched to Shell fuel (who are actually cheaper than most if you check around). @Peter - Maybe am mistaken but wasn't the aim of the whole project to "find out the cheapest petrol prices closest to you"?? -Billy
Yeah, you right. But since the database will contain all prices, cheap or not, we might as well make all of it available.
*Updating:* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> "Dago Corner,Kobil,Petrol,99.0" *Query format:* -> location <delimiter> fuel_type -> Westlands,petrol *Response (same as Update format):* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> start Westlands,Oil Libya,Petrol,99.2 Westlands,Shell,Petrol,98.4 Westlands,Total,Petrol,98.3 -> end PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily) Cheers. Mike
How do i join this project development? David. On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 2:50 PM, Michael Kamunge <forlogins@gmail.com> wrote:
*Updating:* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> "Dago Corner,Kobil,Petrol,99.0"
*Query format:* -> location <delimiter> fuel_type -> Westlands,petrol
*Response (same as Update format):* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> start Westlands,Oil Libya,Petrol,99.2 Westlands,Shell,Petrol,98.4 Westlands,Total,Petrol,98.3 -> end
PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily)
Cheers. Mike
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Make the petrol use mocality and send You updates when fuel price changes On 8/6/10, David Mugo <raidarmax@gmail.com> wrote:
How do i join this project development?
David.
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 2:50 PM, Michael Kamunge <forlogins@gmail.com> wrote:
*Updating:* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> "Dago Corner,Kobil,Petrol,99.0"
*Query format:* -> location <delimiter> fuel_type -> Westlands,petrol
*Response (same as Update format):* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> start Westlands,Oil Libya,Petrol,99.2 Westlands,Shell,Petrol,98.4 Westlands,Total,Petrol,98.3 -> end
PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily)
Cheers. Mike
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Server donations spreadsheet
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AopdHkqSqKL-dHlQVTMxU1VBdU1BSWJxdy1f... ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- ------------- http://blog.majibu.com
-- Sent from my mobile device
I'm a big fan of Mocality too, so that might work even better. Anyone from the Mocality team on the Skunks list that can tell us if they would be up to supporting some extra functionality here? Erik Hersman www.ushahidi.com www.afrigadget.com | www.whiteafrican.com | @whiteafrican On Aug 6, 2010, at 3:11 PM, the mayor wrote:
Make the petrol use mocality and send You updates when fuel price changes
On 8/6/10, David Mugo <raidarmax@gmail.com> wrote:
How do i join this project development?
David.
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 2:50 PM, Michael Kamunge <forlogins@gmail.com> wrote:
*Updating:* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> "Dago Corner,Kobil,Petrol,99.0"
*Query format:* -> location <delimiter> fuel_type -> Westlands,petrol
*Response (same as Update format):* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> start Westlands,Oil Libya,Petrol,99.2 Westlands,Shell,Petrol,98.4 Westlands,Total,Petrol,98.3 -> end
PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily)
Cheers. Mike
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Server donations spreadsheet
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AopdHkqSqKL-dHlQVTMxU1VBdU1BSWJxdy1f... ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- ------------- http://blog.majibu.com
-- Sent from my mobile device _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Server donations spreadsheet http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AopdHkqSqKL-dHlQVTMxU1VBdU1BSWJxdy1f... ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
There are a few threads prefixed "PetrolTracker" with some open tasks/jobs, pick one that interests you, or start one that you feel needs attention. I'll try summarizing the open tasks/questions so it's easier to see at a glance what needs to be done. Saidi On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 7:52 AM, David Mugo <raidarmax@gmail.com> wrote:
How do i join this project development?
David.
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 2:50 PM, Michael Kamunge <forlogins@gmail.com>wrote:
*Updating:* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> "Dago Corner,Kobil,Petrol,99.0"
*Query format:* -> location <delimiter> fuel_type -> Westlands,petrol
*Response (same as Update format):* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> start Westlands,Oil Libya,Petrol,99.2 Westlands,Shell,Petrol,98.4 Westlands,Total,Petrol,98.3 -> end
PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily)
Cheers. Mike
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Server donations spreadsheet
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AopdHkqSqKL-dHlQVTMxU1VBdU1BSWJxdy1f... ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
-- ------------- http://blog.majibu.com
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Server donations spreadsheet
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AopdHkqSqKL-dHlQVTMxU1VBdU1BSWJxdy1f... ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily)
Absolutely! I'll try and code some rough and tumble app that reads/sends SMSes (via twitter) so people can start live testing the SMS message formats. I'll also create a public repo so anyone who wants to checkout/commit code can do so as well. The sms send/receive app is a prototype for testing so we can practically figure out what SMS message formats work under which constraints. Anyone experienced with good but simple-to-use twitter libraries? Saidi On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 7:50 AM, Michael Kamunge <forlogins@gmail.com> wrote:
*Updating:* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> "Dago Corner,Kobil,Petrol,99.0"
*Query format:* -> location <delimiter> fuel_type -> Westlands,petrol
*Response (same as Update format):* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> start Westlands,Oil Libya,Petrol,99.2 Westlands,Shell,Petrol,98.4 Westlands,Total,Petrol,98.3 -> end
PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily)
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 7:50 AM, Michael Kamunge <forlogins@gmail.com> wrote:
*Updating:* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> "Dago Corner,Kobil,Petrol,99.0"
*Query format:* -> location <delimiter> fuel_type -> Westlands,petrol
*Response (same as Update format):* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> start Westlands,Oil Libya,Petrol,99.2 Westlands,Shell,Petrol,98.4 Westlands,Total,Petrol,98.3 -> end
PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily)
Cheers. Mike
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Server donations spreadsheet
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AopdHkqSqKL-dHlQVTMxU1VBdU1BSWJxdy1f... ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
So here's the promised quick and very, very, extremely alpha-quality twitter/SMS send/receive app. It uses twitter to send/receive SMSes, so you need a twitter account and you need to have already configured it to send/receive SMSes (twitter.com has plenty of instructions). Since it piggy-backs on twitter, any twitter client will do. You don't need to send it any SMSes. Currently it only echoes what you send it: I'm not yet done with a rough version of the language-parser but I thought it would be useful to release what I have (the app and the source-code) to see where others might want to take it. To use it: - friend the twitter user "petroltracker" - after a minute or so, "petroltracker" will auto-friend you back - direct message (DM) "petroltracker" and it will DM you back what you sent it (pretty soon it should be able to parse your message and try to make sense of it) I've explicitly only allowed DM at this point because this is a prototype and it has plenty of errors: it would suck if it filled your public timeline with gibberish ;) At least DMs are private to you so no embarrassment caused. The code runs on Google AppEngine, the python version. It is licensed under the Apache License 2.0 (one of many open-source licenses), so feel free to download, install in your own AppEngine instance and tweak to your hearts content. And if you feel inclined, improve the code and share the enhancements. The entire source-tree can be found in a zipped file: http://jax.sus.mcgill.ca/~saidimu/petroltracker_0.1.zip Everything you need to get it running on AppEngine is included, you only need to change a few things: - the twitter username and password you will be using (modify twitter_credentials.py) - your AppEngine app-id (modify app.yaml, replace the text <your-application-id> with the actual id) - this downloadable version only checks twitter once an hour. I set it this way on purpose so you don't accidentally get your IP banned by twitter for violating their rate-limits (the code as is doesn't do any rate-limiting yet!!). To configure different schedules, edit cron.yaml (a simple text file). So go ahead and test using it, send your feedback on this thread and let's see what we can do with this project. Saidi On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 1:45 PM, saidimu apale <saidimu@gmail.com> wrote:
PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running
with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily)
Absolutely!
I'll try and code some rough and tumble app that reads/sends SMSes (via twitter) so people can start live testing the SMS message formats.
I'll also create a public repo so anyone who wants to checkout/commit code can do so as well.
The sms send/receive app is a prototype for testing so we can practically figure out what SMS message formats work under which constraints.
Anyone experienced with good but simple-to-use twitter libraries?
Saidi
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 7:50 AM, Michael Kamunge <forlogins@gmail.com> wrote:
*Updating:* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> "Dago Corner,Kobil,Petrol,99.0"
*Query format:* -> location <delimiter> fuel_type -> Westlands,petrol
*Response (same as Update format):* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> start Westlands,Oil Libya,Petrol,99.2 Westlands,Shell,Petrol,98.4 Westlands,Total,Petrol,98.3 -> end
PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily)
On Fri, Aug 6, 2010 at 7:50 AM, Michael Kamunge <forlogins@gmail.com>wrote:
*Updating:* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> "Dago Corner,Kobil,Petrol,99.0"
*Query format:* -> location <delimiter> fuel_type -> Westlands,petrol
*Response (same as Update format):* -> location <delimiter> petrol station <delimiter> fuel_type <delimiter> price -> start Westlands,Oil Libya,Petrol,99.2 Westlands,Shell,Petrol,98.4 Westlands,Total,Petrol,98.3 -> end
PS: In the spirit of release early, release often, let's get up and running with a prototype ( however 'dirty' ) and refine it (daily)
Cheers. Mike
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Server donations spreadsheet
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AopdHkqSqKL-dHlQVTMxU1VBdU1BSWJxdy1f... ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke
participants (11)
-
Amarjit Labhuram -
Billy -
David Mugo -
Dennis Kioko -
Erik Hersman -
Frankline Chitwa -
John Wesonga -
Michael Kamunge -
Peter Karunyu -
saidimu apale -
the mayor