So I've been volunterring at my college radio station for a few years now and thought of a great applet my station could use. Normally I'd pass it along to somebody with the know-how, but my small background in java tells me this can't be too hard and maybe it's worth a shot.

So the idea: small side-bar fitting box that simply says "Now Playing on WESUFM.ORG" and lists the DJ name and show title. No track playing, we're not set-up for that sort of thing, just a little "shoutbox" style widget to put on student blogs and DJ websites etc. I'd imagine all I'd have to do is set up an array of shows and match them up to the current time, right?

However, my experience with web-based programming doesn't go further than java, which doesn't seem like the correct tool for the job. So without one of you throwing this all together for me, can somebody point me in the right direction?

Hmmmm....

There's two pieces - the server side and the client side.

I bet on the server side you could build a collection of REALLY SIMPLE .GIFs
By simple I mean they should be limited to one SIZE! AND ONE FILE NAMING SCHEME!
Animation is OK. I even encourage it.
Each DJ can build his own - from simple to outrageous.

So you have 0800.gif for the 8am show
1000.gif for the 10 o'clock show
0900_saturday.gif for the Saturday morning 'blues breakfast'
Whatever works for you guys.

You put all this stuff in a PROTECTED [clients can't see] subdirectory on your WESUFM.COM web server.

Then you need a short server side script that notice what time it is (day and time) and then the script copies the proper .GIF to NOW.GIF. That piece might be Java.

NOW.GIF lives in a NONPROTECTED [client can see] subdir on the webserver.

On the client side, all you have to do is embed the proper HTML string to display NOW.GIF
It's more or less like the embed strings every youtube video has except you just have one.

So were talking animated .GIFS
HTML
A little JAVA but only on the server side
All technologies that are heavily supported with editors, people who can help you etc.

Anybody see any flaw in my thinking?
-MF

BAM

that sounds pretty doable

edit: apparently I've repped you too recently

Quote: Originally Posted by SexyPants BAM that sounds pretty doable edit: apparently I've repped you too recently

Got him for you