KCBS Judges & Teams: KCBS Events Search Application General Availability

gw1500se · 01-18-2013, 09:29 AM

First I want to thank the beta testers that helped find bugs in this application before general availability.

As a judge it seemed like an arduous task to find events that were within a reasonable driving distance. I had to look through the web site for something that seemed close enough then find how far it is and determine if I want to apply. As a solution I decided to write an application in which I can specify a "home" location and a maximum driving time or distance. The application then scans all future KCBS Events and calculates the distance from the "home" location. It then gives me a list of events within that specified distance. In addition, it includes a link to the event website to make finding the application easier. I also had trouble keeping track of which events I had submitted an application so I added a feature that tracks events for which I had and those for which I was confirmed. I found it even more useful when I was planning to travel to unfamiliar areas. I could easily find if there were any nearby events at the time I was going to be there and possibly apply.

I thought this was sufficiently useful that I would share it with fellow KCBS members. This is a standalone Java application so it requires no installation and should work on any desktop/laptop computer with Java JRE 7 or better installed. It has been tested on Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8 and several distributions of Linux. Since Java is platform independent, there is no reason to think it would not work on a Mac as well. Sorry, there is no mobile version at this time.

This is shareware so there is no cost to KCBS members for personal use. If you find it useful a donation is requested to defray costs of support and future releases but not required. To download the application simply click on this link and fill in the form. Further instruction will be provided at that point.

http://dap002.dyndns-ip.com/KCBSEvents

ButchB · 01-18-2013, 09:48 AM

I tried it but it says its for certified judges only.

cpw · 01-18-2013, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ButchB

I tried it but it says its for certified judges only.

Same here.

gw1500se · 01-18-2013, 10:17 AM

Is your KCBS membership up to date?

I did not make it for general use since I did not see a point for non-KCBS judges or teams. I may need to rethink that if non-KCBS members think it would be useful.

bmonkman · 01-18-2013, 10:46 AM

I don't believe KCBS membership is required to compete in most KCBS sanctioned vents. So, yes, I believe it would be useful for competitors who are not members of KCBS.

Brian

BrewerDJ · 01-18-2013, 10:56 AM

Same problem here. And I have an up to date membership but I am not a certified judge. And you said this was for KCBS Judges AND Teams.

gw1500se · 01-18-2013, 10:58 AM

But it is for judging. The main reason for limiting it is to prevent robots from killing my server with downloads. If I require something I can verify such as KCBS membership then bogus downloads are prevented. I would need to think how to allow non-members to download without opening my server to attacks. I don't like using captcha.

gw1500se · 01-18-2013, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrewerDJ

Same problem here. And I have an up to date membership but I am not a certified judge. And you said this was for KCBS Judges AND Teams.

I'd like to make it for teams but verifying teams that are not judges is problematic. The KCBS web site makes verifying judges easy but teams are much more difficult. It is something I plan to work on but for now the automation only works for certified judges.

However, I can handle teams manually. If you PM me your name, membership number, email address and team name, I can get you the app.

ButchB · 01-18-2013, 01:08 PM

Yeah my membership is up to date. PM sent.

rweller · 01-18-2013, 02:39 PM

It told me the same thing and I am a paid up member and CBJ.

gw1500se · 01-18-2013, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rweller

It told me the same thing and I am a paid up member and CBJ.

Did you include the suffix on your name the same way it is on KCBS? You may have uncovered a bug as I think your are the first one with a suffix. PM me your KCBS number and I'll check it out if you still can't get verified.

JP7794 · 01-18-2013, 04:02 PM

Worked great for me. Thank you!

fnbish · 01-18-2013, 06:36 PM

Did you ever try just seaching the events section on KCBS' site for "GA"? Then it only lists the ones in Georgia. That is how I gauge my distance, by only then seeing what is in the state and how far that city is.

gw1500se · 01-18-2013, 06:42 PM

No need, that is why I wrote this tool. I'm in north GA so all of south GA is too far. I'd have to search GA, Al, NC, SC and TN which are all potentially in range.

cpw · 01-18-2013, 06:55 PM

It works like a champ, after an upgrade to the latest version of java. Turns out there's 5 contests within a 4 hour drive of me.

01-18-2013, 09:29 AM	#1
gw1500se Found some matches. Join Date: 12-17-12 Location: Loganville, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	KCBS Judges & Teams: KCBS Events Search Application General Availability First I want to thank the beta testers that helped find bugs in this application before general availability. As a judge it seemed like an arduous task to find events that were within a reasonable driving distance. I had to look through the web site for something that seemed close enough then find how far it is and determine if I want to apply. As a solution I decided to write an application in which I can specify a "home" location and a maximum driving time or distance. The application then scans all future KCBS Events and calculates the distance from the "home" location. It then gives me a list of events within that specified distance. In addition, it includes a link to the event website to make finding the application easier. I also had trouble keeping track of which events I had submitted an application so I added a feature that tracks events for which I had and those for which I was confirmed. I found it even more useful when I was planning to travel to unfamiliar areas. I could easily find if there were any nearby events at the time I was going to be there and possibly apply. I thought this was sufficiently useful that I would share it with fellow KCBS members. This is a standalone Java application so it requires no installation and should work on any desktop/laptop computer with Java JRE 7 or better installed. It has been tested on Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8 and several distributions of Linux. Since Java is platform independent, there is no reason to think it would not work on a Mac as well. Sorry, there is no mobile version at this time. This is shareware so there is no cost to KCBS members for personal use. If you find it useful a donation is requested to defray costs of support and future releases but not required. To download the application simply click on this link and fill in the form. Further instruction will be provided at that point. http://dap002.dyndns-ip.com/KCBSEvents

01-18-2013, 09:48 AM	#2
ButchB Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-11-12 Location: Rockingham, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I tried it but it says its for certified judges only. __________________ THE PIT QUE- Backwoods Party, Rec Tec Pellet grill, BBQ Guru, Red Thermapen, KCBS CBJ

01-18-2013, 10:46 AM	#5
bmonkman Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-04-12 Location: Mechanicsburg, PA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I don't believe KCBS membership is required to compete in most KCBS sanctioned vents. So, yes, I believe it would be useful for competitors who are not members of KCBS. Brian __________________ Weber Performer w/smokenator WSM 22.5" White Thermapen Ex-pat Canadian When all else fails just ask yourself, WWGALD???

01-18-2013, 01:08 PM	#9
ButchB Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-11-12 Location: Rockingham, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Yeah my membership is up to date. PM sent. __________________ THE PIT QUE- Backwoods Party, Rec Tec Pellet grill, BBQ Guru, Red Thermapen, KCBS CBJ

01-18-2013, 02:39 PM	#10
rweller Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 07-01-08 Location: Beardstown, Illinois Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It told me the same thing and I am a paid up member and CBJ. __________________ Ralph Weller, BWS Fatboy, WSM Bullet, KCBS Master CBJ, Certified Table Captain

01-18-2013, 10:17 AM	#4
gw1500se Found some matches. Join Date: 12-17-12 Location: Loganville, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Is your KCBS membership up to date? I did not make it for general use since I did not see a point for non-KCBS judges or teams. I may need to rethink that if non-KCBS members think it would be useful.

01-18-2013, 10:56 AM	#6
BrewerDJ On the road to being a farker Join Date: 09-23-10 Location: Springfield, NJ Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Same problem here. And I have an up to date membership but I am not a certified judge. And you said this was for KCBS Judges AND Teams.

01-18-2013, 10:58 AM	#7
gw1500se Found some matches. Join Date: 12-17-12 Location: Loganville, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	But it is for judging. The main reason for limiting it is to prevent robots from killing my server with downloads. If I require something I can verify such as KCBS membership then bogus downloads are prevented. I would need to think how to allow non-members to download without opening my server to attacks. I don't like using captcha.

01-18-2013, 04:02 PM	#12
JP7794 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 04-13-12 Location: KANSAS CITY MISSOURI Downloads: 2 Uploads: 1	Worked great for me. Thank you! __________________ "You don't win friends with salad" - Homer Simpson Jim - KCBS CBJ 18.5" WSM - Packer Green Thermapen - Auber PID Temperature Controller - Mini WSM GO PACK GO!

01-18-2013, 06:36 PM	#13
fnbish is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-10-11 Location: Buford, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Did you ever try just seaching the events section on KCBS' site for "GA"? Then it only lists the ones in Georgia. That is how I gauge my distance, by only then seeing what is in the state and how far that city is. __________________ -Jason 22.5 WSM Backwoods G2 Party Backwoods G2 Chubby Big Green Egg XL Weber 18.5 Kettle "Tenacious Q" Competition Team Follow Tenacious Q on Facebook!! KCBS CBJ

01-18-2013, 06:42 PM	#14
gw1500se Found some matches. Join Date: 12-17-12 Location: Loganville, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	No need, that is why I wrote this tool. I'm in north GA so all of south GA is too far. I'd have to search GA, Al, NC, SC and TN which are all potentially in range. Last edited by gw1500se; 01-18-2013 at 07:29 PM..

01-18-2013, 06:55 PM	#15
cpw is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 02-28-11 Location: Savannah, Georgia Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	It works like a champ, after an upgrade to the latest version of java. Turns out there's 5 contests within a 4 hour drive of me. __________________ ________________ Backwoods Fatboy Lang 84 Deluxe UDS Savannah, GA Yes, Dear BBQ on Facebook