With this new update, I've added:
- A download counter for each program
- The program's author's name under the title of the program on the program's info page
- The list of tested browsers is updated and ordered
- A new layout for the mobile site
As for the code changes, I've rewritten the site in Object-Oriented PHP as opposed to the old procedural design. There is still no release of Formula Suite v.4.00. I've also removed the contact page because of spam abuse and a potential security threat.
UPDATE: I've made the sidebar order the updated programs so the newly updated programs are listed at the top for each operating system.
Also, Formula Suite v.4.00 is ready to be distributed, except for one small problem. Until that problem is fixed I refuse to release the update.
As for the site redesign, I've written the entire site by hand. I decided to do this after I had to write a simple web page for my Intro to CS class at college and I realized that I had forgotten how to write dynamic web pages.
Most of the redesign was to make my life easier when making updates. There are, however, a few things that will make your lives easier. One is the RSS feed I've set up. This will keep you up-to-date with any site news. If I get a good response with the one that is up now, I'll write one for the program updates, which may prove a bit more challenging than the news feed. Also, I've gotten rid of the forums because of over-spamming from bots and under-use by humans. If I get enough emails asking me to re-open the forums I will do so. Just drop me a line via the Contact page.
Also, as noted in the footer on each page, I have started a mobile site: http://formulasuite.com/m/ for anyone who would like to view the front-page Formula Suite news on their cell phone.
Also, Formula Suite v.4.00 is not yet available due to technical difficulties, which are being resolved. Please check back in a few days.
OK, so the big update I promised over a year ago is finally here, though not in the form I originally planned. I had planned to code almost a whole new site by hand in PHP, but when I began testing it about a month ago, almost nothing I wrote worked. Just around that same time I heard about this new content management system called Joomla. I didn't really know anything about it, but I heard it was good, so I gave it a shot. This is the end result. Everything that was on the old site is somewhere on this site, most likely right around where it was before. There are, however, a few changes:
- Program and news archives are separate
- I've removed the about pages
- No form for submitting new programs (yet)
- The C++ and Windows editions of Formula Suite are gone, but the Java edition is replacing both
- The "Upcoming" page has been completely removed. I will restore it is the need arises.
The new home page will display only the most recent news article (top) and the two most recent program updates (bottom). The older news can be found by clicking the News button to the left. Old News is the old news archives and Recent News is what would be on the old home page, the five most recent news topics.
There is also a box in the upper right-hand corner of the home page that displays the featured site. This site will be one hosted by me or one of my favorite sites. This site will change whenever I think the previous one has been up long enough.
Some new links were added. I suggest you browse through them, as you might find a new and interesting site that you like.
The Terms & Conditions have also been revised. Please view them and make sure that you still agree to them.
To celebrate the launch of the new site and Formula Suite 2005 - Java Edition I, along with a lot of help from Mike Johnston, am releasing Formula Suite 2005 v.4.00! It has been a long time coming, but it was worth the wait. There are 598 formulas that Formula Suite is able to solve. We have also totally redesigned the user interface, moving the whole program from an input-based interface to a dialog-based interface.As if that weren't enough, we made each formula (except the physics section) into its own program. This will help me and Mike make updates faster and will make it so you only have the components you need on your calculator. There is still the master launching program, but that will only call the other, smaller programs to do the work.
I hope to figure out a way to have the Joomla login work with the PHPBB forum login some time soon, but that's what I said about this update, so who knows when this'll get done.
You may notice the XBox-themed template I'm using. This is simply because it was the best template I could find for free that suited the needs (content and color) of this site. If anyone knows how to make a nice Joomla template, please email me at webmaster@formulasuite.com.
I hope all of you enjoy this new site and all its updates as much as I enjoyed writing them!
Mike has also began work on a new calculus suite of programs that he has dubbed Calc Master.
I am proud to announce that I have made considerable progress on my new program, Calc Master. So far, the sections and programs are as follows:
Limits:
- L’Hopital’s Rule
Derivatives:
- Tangent Line
- Normal Line
- Newton’s Method
- Implicit Differentiation
Integration:
- Riemann Sums (Left, Right, Mid, Trap, Simpson, All)
- Area between Curves
- Revolution of Solids
- Improper integrals
Other:
- Differential Equations
- Euler’s Method
- Arc Length
If anyone has suggestions for other components, please let me know by using the contact page on this site.
Michael Johnston
I really hope Mike makes this as high quality as his previous programs, which make several of my classmates wish they had a TI-89 so they could use Mike's great calculus programs.
Some of you may be wondering why my site was down so long. It's a long story, but I will explain if you want me to; just drop me an email via the contact page. To make a long story short, my old host, Netfirms, just sucked.
