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Conceptual Development
I am not a computer programmer by trade and I don’t know any of the major programming languages, so finding a comprehendible framework through which I could accomplish this was paramount. After a few google searches, I came across a simplified scripting solution for Windows called AutoIT. It features a generous help section and was, most importantly, free.

After a week of orientation and simple capability research, I laid out a set of goals for the program:

• Must work in the background.
• Feature a simple GUI.
• Have an integrated interface for setting image parameters.
• Provide option to turn off downloading overnight.
• Be reliable – can run for days without failing.
• Have the option to export movies.

With this set of goals identified, I began to slowly develop and test version after version and new feature after new feature.

Alpha Development
The first alpha version featured a simple GUI for setting parameters and displaying current program status. From a code standpoint it could keep track of multiple image downloads with varying download timers, however, it had no way of preserving entered parameters after the program was terminated.

The second major alpha version added 3 additional image downloader slots and adds a pop-up window to view the latest image. The code is built upon the previous version, but is now capable of saving parameters to a separate .ini file.

The last major alpha version modified the GUI and integrated an image viewer. With the push of a button, the last saved image could be easily viewed within the GUI.  Also, the code was amended to perform numerous timer synchronizations using the last saved file, ensuring that duplicate images aren’t saved due to a program restart or internet outage.  At this point in the development process, the size and density of the GUI prevented any further feature development. It would need to be re-designed before moving forward.

Beta Development
With the last alpha version of the program working reliably and the desire to add additional features, it was time for another look at the organization of the GUI. To provide enough space for feature growth while still keeping the GUI a reasonable size and information density, I decided to utilize tabs for each camera. To make this happen, the code was completely rewritten to remove redundancy and make the program much more extensible and efficient. The next few weeks would be spent both refining actions in the code and developing the remaining of the current feature set: a weather widget, temperature stamp and movie export.

The weather widget and temperature stamp grew out of the desire to see how temperatures affect things like snowfall, primarily with ski resort or mountain webcams.  To collect localized weather data, the program utilizes an XML feed from wunderground.com.  It updates roughly every half hour so the program checks that often.  The stamp is written onto every saved image, if enabled, and can be set-up and scaled using its own GUI interface.

The movie export was the last feature to be completed, primarily due to the potential complexity and my unfamiliarity with the process.  After some research on the internet, I came across a command line based solution, MEncoder, which is capable of converting a folder of images into a movie file.  Fully integrated, the process is accessible from a button on each tab, which launches the simple GUI front-end for users to select a frame rate and compression type before creating the movie file.

Screenshots

Current Version (Updated)
Development of the program has resulted in a new version and new name – webCAM Console. It can be found on it’s own dedicated page:

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[link-container-1] [link-related url=”http://janisplummer.com” subject=”Link to Janis Plummer’s Homepage”] [link-container-2]

Details and Background

Coming off of just finishing my own WordPress based website, I decided taking a similar approach would be the best way to go. I then sat down with Janis and went over the basics of WordPress components and how they work together. This would then allow her to take some time and create a 2D mockup of the site, depicting the look and feel of her prototypical home page. When that was finished, she handed it back to me and the work began.

The first step was to register a domain name and find a place to host the site. It should be noted that WordPress can be a challenge to host, reportedly due to it’s database-intensive operation. After originally hosting my site at GoDaddy and watching the performance degrade drastically, I switched over to HostGator. For a slight increase in price, I get nearly flawless performance. To keep the setup simple, Janis’ site is hosted alongside my site.

Following the install of WordPress, I began to craft a custom template so she could achieve the desired look and function. I strived to create templates that used both html and css code to create the visual experience. In almost every case, with the exception of two small details, it was all created with code, instead of a complicated collage of image files. This allows for faster loading and better portability across most modern platforms (computer, tv, mobile device, etc).

Results

The site is fully operational at this time. Janis is able to easily add posts and achieve the look she initially desired. Thanks to several well crafted plugins found in the WordPress Community, she is able to easily watermark her photos. Additionally, people are able to view larger photos without having to navigate away from the page.  The site feels complete and should be able to provide her with years of use.

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