GSoC 2008: Updates and such

Okay, let's see what was accomplished in the past few weeks:

1. I tweaked the domain class interrogation code a bit. Basically, now there is a 1:1 relationship between a field and the domain model metadata storage container class instance.
   
2. I've started the templating work -- most of it right now is just methods which will be called like: <%= textField(...) %> -- that will generate a text field html form widget.
   

I know I haven't accomplished much, but there's a reason, I swear!

June 11th I went to Rockville, MD to the Hypoparathyroidism Association's 3rd Annual Hypoparathyroidism Conference. I just got home tonight.

Let me stray off a bit to explain what hypoparathyroidism is. Basically, the parathyroid is a gland in your neck, underneath the thyroid. Most people get it via surgical error, where the surgeon cuts out, or damages the parathyroid. When this occurs, the PTH (Parathyroid Hormone) is no longer produced. Now, this is responsible for regulating among other things, Calcium. Without this present, the calcium levels in the blood drop, and patients start to experience Tetnay, where their muscles involuntarily contract. It's not fun. If the levels drop low enough, you can go into convulsions, and ultimately seizures. Death is also a possibility, which is why it's important for patients with hypoparathyroidism to take their meds (Calcium Supplements, sometimes Magnesium, Vitamin D (usually D2 or D3), and a medication which is the active form of Vitamin D called Calcitriol.) Some patients also take other meds as well. These must be continued for the rest of their lives. I got Hypoparathyroidism idiopathically -- which means the origin nor the cause is known.

Back to the point: I was at this conference, and it's such a rare disease that I don't know many people. So I wound up talking with the people there. As a result, not much work was done. Monday, I plan to get the templating working, then probably do some Front end UI work.