When we didn't call it a blockchain

Blockchain seems to be one of the buzz words in the tech world right now - at WebSummit 2017 for sure one of the 3 top words i retained - and some hope with a bright future ahead.
For the non tech it's the way bitcoin works.
Trying to learn more about the technology i came across Learn Blockchains by making one.
And a sentence resonated with something i had done in the past

At this point, the idea of a chain should be apparent—each new block contains within itself, the hash of the previous Block

SAFT-PT (Standard Audit File for Tax purposes Portuguese Version) uses this method to easily identify and verify the correctness of a series of invoices and other tax related documents.
Part of my first job was implementing this on what was then OpenERP (now Odoo) in order to get the program certified by the DGCI (Portugal's main Institute of tax related matters). If you wish to take a closer look at file's structure it is available at SAFT-PT XSD.

Each block is formed by

• InvoiceDate
• SystemEntryDate
• InvoiceNo
• GrossTotal
• Hash (hash of the former document thus creating a chain)

DGCI supplies a validator for the file given the public key and the SAFT-PT file.
On any invoice you will find a sequence of 4 characters (corresponding to the 1º, o 11º, o 21º e o 31º digits of the store signature) followed by the name of the certified company.
If you use Odoo and wish to take a look at a base implementation it can be found here - Odoo SAFT-PT- it is not complete and but it should be nice as a basis for a complete implementation.


PS: This article is also available at my LinkedIn.

Now for something completely different

It has been an eternity i have posted anything here, not that i have done anything in the meanwhile but simply life took the best of me.
I was lucky enough to get tickets for @WebSummit in Lisbon, and it was a humbling and motivating experience at the same time. Went with my friend and WordPress master and VR/AR enthusiast Pedro de Carvalho @ twitter and it sure opened my eyes and mind for many new things.

One of the projects i have setup my self for this year was to loose weight and take "Improvement Dedication Success" a bit more physical not just on tech side of things. I must recommend Nokia Body Cardio as it during these last past months it has allowed me to tailor my behaviour, exercise and eating habits to make sure it sticks.

Now a word from the man who inspired me the name this blog "Improvement.."

 I'll try to keep posting more frequently.