Working with the Mastodon API in BoxLang

So remember a long time ago (Tuesday), when I blogged about using the Bluesky API with BoxLang? As expected, I’m following that up today with a look at using the Mastodon APIs. Personally, I’m down to just two social networks, Bluesky and Mastodon. Originally I was using Mastodon a lot more, but I’ve been vibing with Bluesky more lately so I tend to check it more often. That being said, whenever I release a new blog post, I’ve got an automated process to post to both, so I thought I should cover both for BoxLang as well. Even better… I already did this in ColdFusion! Way back in October 2023, I blogged about the topic and even shared a simple ColdFusion component... more →
Posted in: JavaScript

Mapping Whale Superhighways

The WWF has launched a new interactive map Blue Corridors that brings 30 years of whale migration data to life. Using the map you can:🛰️ See where whales travel.⚠️ Learn what’s putting them at risk.💙 Discover how we can protect them.The new Blue Corridors interactive map is designed to support global whale conservation efforts by visualizing decades of scientific data in a way that is Maps Mania… more →
Posted in: Interactive Maps

Working with the Bluesky API in BoxLang

I’ve built multiple integrations with the Bluesky API, all making use of either the Node or Python SDK, but I thought I’d take a quick look at what it would take to build a BoxLang integration using the REST API. Turns out it’s pretty easy (with some caveats I’ll explain at the end) – here’s what I built. Authentication To authenticate, you’ll need your username and password for your account. I’m picking this up via environment variables and doing a bit of validations: BS_HANDLE = server.system.environment?.BLUESKY_HANDLE ?: ''; BS_PASSWORD = server.system.environment?.BLUESKY_PASSWORD ?: ''; if(BS_HANDLE == "" || BS_PASSWORD == "")... more →
Posted in: JavaScript

The Start of Hurricane Season

Hurricane season in the Atlantic Ocean officially begins on June 1 and ends on November 30 each year. The peak of hurricane activity typically occurs from mid-August to late October, with September 10 often cited as the statistical peak of the season. During this time, meteorologists and emergency planners closely monitor tropical systems and prepare for potential impacts to the U.S., Central Maps Mania… more →
Posted in: Interactive Maps

How the US Arms the Mexican Drug Cartels

There are only two gun stores in Mexico, and both are located on military bases. Yet the country still suffers from a major gun homicide problem. So where are the guns coming from?In 2015, a Mexican military helicopter was shot down by cartel fighters using a Browning machine gun and a Barrett .50-caliber rifle. Both weapons were traced back to legal purchases in U.S. gun shops. This stark Maps Mania… more →
Posted in: Interactive Maps

Parsing Markdown in BoxLang – Take 3

Ok, so I promise this will be my last post on using Markdown with BoxLang. At least the last one this month. 😉 I first covered the topic last month, "Parsing Markdown in BoxLang" where I demonstrated using the Flexmark Java library in BoxLang code. I then followed up with a revised edition that used BoxLang’s Java integration a bit nicer. So, those posts are still very valid, still useful for showing you how to make use of the JVM from BoxLang, and with the vast library of open-source Java stuff out there, that’s a good thing. But… you don’t need to do any of that for Markdown, because now it’s even easier! If you prefer to consume this post while listening... more →
Posted in: JavaScript

The Largest Gathering in Human History

The Maha Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gatherings on Earth. It is a Hindu pilgrimage festival that occurs every 12 years. The 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, held in Prayagraj, was particularly significant because it was a “Maha Kumbh”, an event that takes place only once every 144 years, due to a rare celestial alignment.During the 2025 Maha Kumbh Mela, an estimated 663 million pilgrimages Maps Mania… more →
Posted in: Interactive Maps

Code Break Tomorrow

Just a quick note to let my subscribers know that my next Code Break session will be tomorrow, May 19th, at 12PM CST. I plan on continuing my look at Tauri, a platform for using the web platform to build desktop apps. Depending on how much time I’ve got, I may also start playing with a Python platform as well. You can RSVP, or just watch, here: https://cfe.dev/talkshows/codebreak-05192025/. Raymond Camden… more →
Posted in: JavaScript
1 2 3 208