Android Library Project and its usage

"Android Library projects contain shareable Android source code and resources that you can reference in Android projects. This is useful when you have common code that you want to reuse. Library projects cannot be installed onto a device, however, they are pulled into the .apk file at build time." 

When creating a new Android project you can mark a project as ‘Library’ project. This will create a project that can be shared/used in multiple projects. You cannot run/install the library project stand alone instead you have to reuse it in Android project.

How to mark a project as library:

Create a new Android project that will use the library project. Library project can be added as reference as follows:

• Android Project > Properties > Android (left option) > Library (bottom right pane) > Add

  

                       

Click ‘Apply’ > ‘OK’

• To use the library class activities in android project, 'import' the library references where ever you are using library files.

• To launch the library activity you should have that activity listed in your Android project 'AndroidManifest.xml'.

• Don’t make files (Layouts, Classes, XML’s) with the same name in main and library projects. This can cause problems at run time. What I have noticed is that if you have same name layouts in both projects the library layout got overridden and parent layout will be used.

rizzz86

Bahrain - Buildings and Architecture

Bahrain is one of the very fast growing countries around the Arab world and is considered as a major tourist centers in Middle East. Some major development has been made in last few years to make country more tourist attractive. Though Bahrain is a very small country but it still has a potential to generate a good revenue and maintains good standard of living. Lets look at some of the renowned places in Bahrain where I have been so far:

Bab Al Bahrain (Gate of Bahrain) is a historical gate of Bahrain which now a days is used as an entrance to Manama market. Previously it was with the edge of sea and fishermen's are used it to starting point of fishing and trading.

This is Bahrain's Financial Harbor building, the tallest and modern building on the main Bahrain highway.

Mosques in Bahrain are very attractive and some of them are kept as historic. Al Fateh Grand Mosque is the biggest on island.

This is Bahrain World Trade Center the most renowned structure in Bahrain. It is close to main (King Faisal) highway. This unique structure is a tower complex connected with three bridges having wind tribunes on it. These tribunes helps in power generation that is consumed in building. Making of this structure is also covered in National Geographic as one of the mega structures.

Bahrain Circuit (Area for World Formula One Championship): The Bahrain International Circuit is a motorsport venue opened in 2004 and used for drag racing, GP2 and the annual Bahrain Grand Prix. The 2004 Grand Prix was the first held in the Middle East.

Skyline (Manama and Al Muharraq):

Bahrain Museum and other visiting points:

Amwaj Lagoon:

Random Structures:

Lots of Malls are in Bahrain such as City Center, Seef Mall, Geant, Dana Mall, Bahrain Mall etc.

Some good parks, water parks are there for family outings.

More will be added as soon as I will be visiting there.

rizzz86

Manipulating PDF document using iText library

There are several libraries that can be used to manipulate a PDF document like PDFBox, iText, PDFClows etc. I also have to do some PDF manipulation stuff and I decided to go with iText. I choose iText because it supports low level PDF manipulation, its community is very strong, lots of helping hands are available and it is also open source and available in both Java and C#.

iText allows you to create a PDF doument, add content in it, update content and save it. I have tried following basic features so far and found it really interesting:

• With low level support one can add a text chunk, paragraph, phrase, link, chapter, section, image, set text color and other attributes into the document. 
• You can also create a table/grid inside a PDF document and play with each cell of the table.
• It is also easy to read an existing PDF document. You can retrieve existing information related to document and pages.
• Using iText one can also fill up an empty PDF template.
• It allows to set javascript in a PDF document to make a document interactive. Document can be also be navigated to a particular page. Creating bookmarks, annotations and triggering javascirpt from a button can also be done using iText.
• Document can also be password encrypted to allow/disallow certain actions that can be done the document.
• Whole PDF document can also be signed using a certificate to make the document secure.

There is also a book on how to play with PDFs using iText in Action. He is the author of iText in Action and is very supportive on stackoverflow. I also have some questions regarding iText on stackoverflow on this link.

rizzz86

A Step Forward - Working abroad now !

After working for more than six years in different software companies of Pakistan, now its time to move forward and accept the opportunity to work abroad. This is my first experience to work overseas and live without family. I hope I will settle in the new environment soon.

I moved to Bahrain in mid August 2013 and joined a software company 01 Systems WLL (ZOS).

"Since its establishment in 1986, 01 Systems has become a pioneer in implementing complex, customized software solutions coupled with comprehensive professional services like Consultancy and Systems Integration to successfully optimize core business processes."

The company is established in the same year when I was born. With over 25 years of services in software industry the company is well established and has solid software products in market. It is a good chance for me to work on these large scale products and add my experience to them as well.

I hope everything will go smoothly and this will become a worthy experience in my career.

rizzz86

Quran with Urdu Ta-laf-fuz and Urdu Translation

Quran Asan Tehreek has come up with some great ideas to make the Quran-e-Hakim reading/understanding easily and correctly. I got very impressed with one of there ideas of Urdu Tal-laf-fuz of Quran-e-Hakim. This will make it quite easy for those who can read Urdu but not Arabic.

Quran Asan Tehrik has, compiled  translation of Quran-e-Hakim in two colors, the Arabic word written in a colour bears it’s meaning in the same colour, the text and the translation go side-by-side together on a page, making it extremely easy to ascertain which Arabic word means what. This method provides  the reader an easy understanding of the Arabic as a language and also builds up potential of the reader to comprehend Quran-e-Hakim directly without the aid of any exterior help.

Look at the sample page:

rizzz86

My experience @ RIKSOF

In this post I am going to mention my experience at 'RIKSOF Private Limited' where I have worked for around 2 years as a 'Senior Java Developer'.

Before starting I would like to mention one thing i.e. all the points are solely based on my own working experience at RIKSOF, :)

Learning Curve: You can learn a lot of new technologies here. Most of the developers working here have hands-on experience on at least two different technologies. You can get a chance to work on multiple platforms (Java, .Net, iOS, Android) and use different operating systems (Ubuntu, Mac, Windows). Due to 'project based' nature of company you will also be learning different domains based on what type of project you will get.

Staff: From CEO to Peon you can find a really nice and cooperative staff in RIKSOF. All of them are very helpful and always ready to support you whenever needed.

Picnic and Parties: This is something very common in RIKSOF. There is a quarterly Picnic/Dinner from company (location decided by employees). Apart from that the staff members are very keen to arrange Lunch, Dinner, Refreshments etc whenever possible. A separate well maintained planner is also available for this called 'Mangaloo Planner'.

Physical Environment: Talk about the building first that will definitely attract any one who sees it first time. The interior designs and building architecture is very impressive as compared to other office buildings in overall Karachi. The office from inside is also nicely designed. It has been designed by the interior designers that gives the creative look of office. The sitting area is also good (though not have the cubicles) with nice view outside the building.

Two day weekend: This is something that is quite common now but I liked it because in my previous company I have to work on alternative Saturdays.

Timings: There is no restriction on timings in RIKSOF. You just have to complete your task and leave. Some people come at 7 am and leave at 4 pm. My timing is mostly from 11 am to 8 pm.

Yearly Bonus: At the end of each year you will get the yearly bonus equals your salary. This is the actual saving that you can make the whole year.

Fuel Card: PSO card is provided by company which has limit up to 3000 rupees. The limit is ok for those who travel on bikes but very low for them who are on cars. But I will count it as positive because something is better than nothing :)

Salary on Time: You will get your salary on time

Some Good Memories:

Distance: Its too far from my home. I have to drive 55 km daily to cover home-office-home.

Technology Switching: In software houses mostly a person hired on technology has to work on the same technology or may be switch to a different flavor of it (for example Java EE switching to Android development). But in RIKSOF it can be possible that your designation is Java developer but you work on iOS application and the same case is with me. Most of times it doesn't feels good that you have to work on technologies that you haven't work on previously and you have to meet all deadlines as well.

Very tight deadlines: Project deadlines are very tight and its quite tough to meet the timelines and complete project on time. In span of two years I can see only two projects that completes on time else all are delayed.

No Work-Life Balance: To meet tight deadlines it becomes quite difficult to balance the work with your daily life. Most of the developers in RIKSOF has to do late sitting.

Project Base Development: You will feel sometimes that your job is not safe when you see that company doesn't have a project on which you can work on. Same situation comes to me as well when there are no Java or Android projects in company and I have only one option to switch to iOS projects.

Timings: I have also mentioned this in GOOD part of RIKSOF but there is also bad in it. To balance work with daily life I have tried several times to come early in office and leave early from office but have failed in not more than two days. If I reach office at 9 am and still have to leave at 9 pm due to work then I think there should be some strictness on timing i.e. to come earlier than 10 am or not to stay at office more than 8 pm.


rizzz86

Night stay @ Shangrila Farmhouse with RIKSOF

As always, this is another very memorable hang out with RIKSOF and this time it is at Shangrila Farmhouse. It is not too far from city and its only a 20 minute drive from 4K last bus stop (see map).

Click to see photos.

Facilities Includes:

• Bedrooms : 3 superior rooms with A/C .Each of the rooms has a luxury bathroom, TV with satellite and is individually designed to include everything you could wish for.
• Sitting area : (based on Shahi Takhat)
• Indoor Games : (Snooker, Hand football ,Dabuu, Enough space to play cricket matches as well)
• AAbshar : (Beautiful Natural look of AAbshar)
• Bar B Q And full Goat Roast area
• Children Arena : (different types of rides for children)
• Swimming Pool : (ideal pool size 25 x 50 with filter plant)
• Lush Green Garden : (Beautiful Garden with quantity of different flowers and decorative items)
• Standby generator, Security Guard, Mosquito free Environment

rizzz86