 |
|
|
Ultimately, there are two kinds of websites: those that are ends and those that are means to ends. These are two massive, general categories with all kinds of detail between them, but the distinction is important to narrowing things down. What's it meant to do? And does it succeed at that goal?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The world of forgotten passwords is actually a little murky. There are plenty of different perfectly legitimate angles and a bunch of pretty bad ones as well. Chances are you’ve experienced each many times as an end user so let me try and draw on some of these examples to see who’s doing it well, who’s not and what you need to focus on to get it right in your app. Always reset, never remind!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
What does is mean to be an Agile Developer? Where does that path lead? I’m wondering how many developers out there have ever had the opportunity to find out. And for those – few, I suggest – who have, did they like it as much as I have? From faux Agile to full-on Agile, and all the steps in between.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
We should plan for cheap code. Well how do we do that? In a word: reversibility. We always know more about what is needed near the end of the project than at the beginning and this is why reversibility is important. We want the freedom to change our minds and do so inexpensively. Reversibility is our ability to make mistakes, take the wrong path and then change our minds later. Our code should be as cheap as possible, but no cheaper.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
This series more or less mirrors the series of the same name for Python. It’s in my belief that the only way to learn the in and outs of a language is to learn by practice, and by that virtue, to practice as often as possible until you get the hang of the language. Learn Lua by doing Lua.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I’m glad Microsoft is dumping Aero. When the company released Windows Vista to consumers in January of 2007, Aero was supposed to be the new operating system’s signature feature — the “wow” in Vista’s initial slogan, “The wow starts now.” Instead, it had a pernicious effect on Windows. It was bad for Microsoft customers and bad for Microsoft, and removing it from Windows 8 feels like an exorcism as much as a design refresh. Farewell transparency. Welcome back Windows 3.1.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
An essential Linux, Unix, and Mac OS X administration tool had a major security problem. It’s been fixed, and now you need to patch your system ASAP. There's a nice circularity to sudo apt-get upgrading sudo.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There is a lot of misguided chatter about how the FB IPO has gone horribly wrong. The situation is in fact the opposite: FB IPO is the most successful IPO in history. Post this to your Wall (Street) and Like it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Here is an interesting problem, if you want to call it that, which Microsoft had to address when building Windows 8. We all want faster boot times and Windows 8 delivers on the front. The problem is that the boot times are so quick that when you need to enter the setup menu, by pressing F2/F8 during boot, there is literally no time to do it. Ctrl+Alt+Doh!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
When queried about Windows Phone 8 upgrades for existing handsets both Microsoft and Nokia officials have deflected the question with comments about supporting existing customers and keeping their experience “fresh”. The most direct interpretation of these statements is that Windows Phone 8 is indeed coming to existing handsets, but that contradicts what people with good sources are hearing. So what is the truth? What if there are two editions of Windows Phone 8 (WP8), with two different kernels?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Want a generic account that Facebook hasn’t verified? They run from 6 to 20 cents apiece. If you want a PVA – a phone verified account for which Facebook has sent a code via text message to a phone, requiring a human to log into Facebook and enter that code -- the prices start at $1.50 per account. And it’s not just Facebook; Twitter, G+, AOL, iTunes, Craigslist all have their own markets for faux personae. [ITworld]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Google has cleared the final legal hurdles and now owns Motorola Mobility[^]. Interestingly, this has also seen a shift in personnel with the person who really pushed Android at Motorola "stepping down" in favour of Googler Dennis Woodside. Why do I get the feeling that Tony Soprano was involved in the "transition"?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Good, maybe now the Droid Razr will finally get ICS if Google's in charge of it, I'd imagine they'd want to keep the latest version of Android on their own devices.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's cheap but degrading to reuse content and design across diverging media forms like print vs. online or desktop vs. mobile. Superior UX requires tight platform integration. When does it make sense to optimize for a mobile experience? Almost always.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
From a design and usability perspective, I fully agree. Optimizing the design for each platform is definitely the best way to go if you want the best possible outcome. However, from a cost perspective it can be prohibitive. Sometimes it is better to get something that works for all devices rather than not being on the devices natively. For instance, Google has worked on the mobile platforms before they had solid apps for each platform. The nice thing is that they were able to tailor their mobile sites first to the new platforms and then finally bring full apps to them. It was an iterative approach that got their product to the mobile consumer quickly and yet they were able to provide better content and integration as they went.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As software developers, one of our most important responsibilities is the protection of our users' personal information. Without technical knowledge of our applications, users have no choice but to trust that we're fulfilling this responsibility. Sadly, when it comes to passwords, the software development community has a spotty track record. Help them, Obi-Wan Developer, you're their only hope.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very good one Terrence.
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
"Real programmers just throw a bunch of 1s and 0s at the computer to see what sticks" - Pete O'Hanlon
"Not only do you continue to babble nonsense, you can't even correctly remember the nonsense you babbled just minutes ago." - Rob Graham
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Today, we want to share the final product lineup and specifications you can expect to see for the next release of Visual Studio. This also includes system requirements and platform you can develop for with Visual Studio 11. Where do you want to code today?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
So I'll be sticking with VS 2010 for a while, pro noblem.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MS seem to be causing no end of strife with the dev tools at the moment. I see the Express 11 products will be metro apps. only. Nothing worse than removing functionality.
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I saw that someone mentioned that, but I would be surprised if you couldn't do console apps.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PIEBALDconsult wrote: I would be surprised if you couldn't do console apps
I wouldn't!
OTOH, there's always SharpDevelop if you can't afford VS 11 Pro. They seem to be doing a good job of keeping up to date with Microsoft, at least as far as the desktop/web side of things is concerned.
Kevin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
It is practically impossible to teach good programming style to students that have had prior exposure to BASIC; as potential programmers they are mentally mutilated beyond hope of regeneration. What computer scientists, authors and programmers think of popular programming languages.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic was the both first and third language I learned (VB.Net and QBasic), and I didn't turn out that bad... 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic was my first two languages. I was in a class in high school for VB (I don't remember if it was .Net) and didn't like it much, so spent most of my free time working with QuickBasic 4.5.
My third, however, was C++ and that set me straight real quick. 
|
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Rant 
Admin