Archives
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To FLOSS or not to FLOSS that is the question?
Michael Hensen [WebVize] is in a predicament - to FLOSS or not to FLOSS.. [sorry.. I just couldn't let that pass.. ;-)].
I had a post recently about James "Sherlock" Gosling's changing heart regarding the Open Source industry. The post includes my sentiments regarding the same matter (referring also to comments by Chris Chapman).
It is a difficult decision by individual developers who wish to incubate and grow a company. Most of my work are for clients and thus such decisions (or discussions) do not occur frequently. I am reminded of a philosopher, Jason Shaw's statement - "To learn how to think with your heart, think with your mind and then compromise the best answer for your soul."
Good luck & Good fortune WebVize.
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Some thoughts on BitTorrent, Podcasting & Groove
This is something I posted within a Groove space (in a discussion thread regarding BitTorrent, Podcasting & Groove). Posted here verbatim.
Regarding Podcasting -
Carl Franklin (an associate - we run the local .NET developers group www.ctdotnet.com) has a terrific 'video' on configuring Bittorrent clients (www.pwop.com/video/BitTorrentDemo/btTutorial.htm). Carl runs an online radio show, .NET Rocks that just celebrated its 100th show! (www.dotnetrocks.com). He also uses Bittorrent to distribute content (mp3/wma files). I also recommend taking a look at another client NIMIQ - www.nimiq.nl which uses .NET and is well suited for podcasting.
Regarding Bittorrent -
Bittorrent's original purpose is as a file-distribution protocol that "seeks pareto efficiency" (in an excellent economics paper by Cohen, the inventor of BT). It does this by ensuring pipelining, choking algorithms & tracking which also tracks "leechers" who download content but do little or nothing to upload which leads to the distribution inefficiency.
Regarding Groove+BT
A Groove+BT combination in the GFS may work (a seperate option as in the manual download perhaps) but am not sure what gains it will bring. This is partly, for the role & need of the Tracking/Relay servers in the architecture. The tracking, storage & forwarding mechanisms itself, will induce a complexity (overhead & the needed security layer) that may affect performance. In itself, GVO does have a BT-like distribution (e.g.,'fanning') so I am not sure if incorporating a BT-architecture will bring gains (perhaps marginal at best). The primary goals of GVO (IMHO) is security & P2P syncing - stability & currency within spaces and doing it with minimal or no external resource dependencies (e.g, relay servers, trackers, etc).
There are BT-clients out there that "cheat" - wrongfully reporting the upload statistics, thereby avoding "snubbing/choking" by other BT-clients. There are situations where such "cheating" is needed - large-file distribution during emergency crisis (eg, Tsunami relief) where the end-user can only consume (download) and not upload especially over very low bandwidth like dial-ups. A seperate BT+GVO tool (3rd party development) may be worth exploring and this was suggested before by a few Groove developers.
(Un)fortunately, as with all "commons" (commonly consumed resources) there will always be inefficiencies - be it in distributing content or bringing in content.
SBC
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XML Reader with Bookmarks [from MSDN]
XML Reader with Bookmarks - a great idea from MSDN, I can see its usage in traversing a XML tree with a 'breadcrumb' trail. This idea is a whole lot better than trying to make XML into a relational database.
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No Presentations without Code! Carl Franklin at the Connecticut .NET Developers Group meeting.
More details here...
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James "Sherlock" Gosling the Father of Java, Chides Open Source Development Community
An Aussie Linux rag had this about James "Sherlock" Gosling - 'Father of Java chides open source developer community' [via Sadasivuni].
I am reminded about the Holmesian (or Sherlockian) deduction -
"The word "Sherlock" has entered the language to mean a detective or nosy person; it is also commonly used in American slang to mean a knowledgeable person, as in the sarcastic phrase "No shit, Sherlock", uttered when someone says something obvious."
My sentiments about the Open Source "business" are given by Chris Chapman's statements -
"JUST SAY NO TO GPL! This control is NOT GPLed! No permission is given to allow any portion of this control to appear in any GPL/FSF or other Stallman/Raymond licensed application. Support capitalism and free, independent developers!"
The last phrase captures it all.
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APRESS encourages book reviews for User Groups
APRESS encourages book reviews for User Groups. Got to get it for us at the Connecticut .NET Developers Group!
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INETAA (INETA Academic)
This is certainly interesting - INETAA (Academic). I picked it up via MSDN Student Flash. Need to find out more as to how it would play here in Connecticut along with our Connecticut .NET Developers Group (which is an INETA member).
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Wrapping SharePoint API calls for easier development
It looks like the development API calls to SharePoint still need some diluting - there are two efforts in that direction: Addy Santo's WSSDAL and Bil Simser's SharePoint Wrappers 0.10
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CTDOTNET Event for Feb 22nd with Carl Franklin & more upcoming presentations
On Tuesday Feb 22nd (6-8PM) Carl Franklin will give a presentation on new .NET Developments. Carl is a nationally recognized speaker and author. Carl runs the very popular .NET Rocks online radio show that just celebrated its mileston 100th show! Carl runs a .NET weblog and was interviewed by the MSDN magazine as well. This event will be held at the Microsoft Farmington CT Office on Feb 22nd (6-8PM).
Visit our new website for more information - http://www.ctdotnet.com/ (Connecticut .NET Developers Group)
Please send an email to ctdotnet @ gmail.com if you plan to attend. We still need a pizza/soda count!
UPCOMING PRESENTATION (Tentatively March 22 or March 29) - Chris Bowen (Sr Architect @ Monster.com) on Agile Development with Visual Studio .NET 2005. Now tentatively set for March 22 or March 29 - more details forthcoming..
UPCOMING PRESENTATION (June 28th 2005) - Mario Cardinal on Enterprise Architecture and MSDN Enterprise Library - more details forthcoming..
Visit our new website for more information - http://www.ctdotnet.com/
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MSDN Nuggets - short movies that show how!
MSDN Nuggets - A good idea! In about 10 minutes, view the technical know-how regarding MSDN topics. Works with a Media Player 9.
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Code Camp 3 - fills up
Not suprisingly, the Code Camp 3 has filled up . Now, I just hope I get into the particular sessions I have in mind (its first-come, first served). It should be a fun week-end.
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A new book about the Common Language Runtime
Got to get that one - Customizing the CLR.
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Disc Stakka CD/DVD Manager for MSDN Subscriptions CDs/DVDs!
Microsoft and Imation have collaborated to bring you the revolutionary new MSDN-enabled Disc Stakka CD/DVD Manager. This comprehensive disc management solution, designed specifically for MSDN developers, includes an automated process for exporting disc information from your MSDN subscription index into the Disc Stakka's database.
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MS Bashing - when definitely not to do it
Chris Garrett has a very reactive post to ThreadWatch's MS bashing. I concur with Chris - a website that professes to be "less noise, more signal" is certainly not using the Dolby System to lessen their noise about Microsoft. There is nothing more debilitating than listening to MS Bashing at work when you are developing .NET applications! About 2 years ago, I had encountered a tech lead (manager) whose constant MS Bashing at the start of every morning and opportunity was most demoralizing to the team members who were making a living with the .NET technologies. I saw that as very poor management and deplorably weak leadership that sapped motivation and was counter-productive.
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More on Joel Spolsky's College Advice
Jon Galloway's posting on why 'Joel got it wrong' has made me rethink Joel's College Advice. I had added to Joel's advice earlier on but I too don't think that 'C' in particular, is the correct choice. The emphasis really must be on *'Data structures and Algorithms' . Why? The most critical CS course, in my opinion, is *DS-A. Usually, this is a sophmore course in college and taught after a course or two of structured language programming (these may be Pascal, Java, C# or even C/C++). The *DS-A course is the foundation and a pre-requisite for most other CS courses - compilers, databases, networks, automata, etc.
If a student is very familiar with Pascal, Java or C then getting into another structured language is almost trivial (quite a few C++ programmers claim that they got into Java/C# over a week-end).
So, in terms of 'College Advice' - I would recommend taking a *DS-A course (and the near-mastery of a structured language would be presumed). *DS-A courses make better programmers (eventually better developers & architects) who go on to write systems with fewer bugs and thus, obviating the need for bug-tracking tools. ;-)
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DotNet Rocks #100 is online!
I just spent an enjoyable ~2 hours listening to the 100th DotNet Rocks Show. Congratulations to Carl & crew for this milestone. Sorry to see wunderboy Rory leave because of a hectic work schedule but with the new incoming talent (Richard Campbell) - the show will go on! Check it out!
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.NET XML Best Practices
A three-part series by Aaron Skonnard on .NET XML Best Practices [via Ken Brubaker].
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SharePoint 2003 Resource Center
Lamont Harrington's blog site has a SharePoint 2003 Resource Center that's updated frequently - a good reference spot.
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Flickr Service has an API
Flickr has an API service available for non-commercial purposes - there's also a .NET API kit to upload images and other services.
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HP ousts CEO Carly Fiorina
HP ousts CEO Carly Fiorina [Reuters].
Not many remember what Compaq did with DEC. My heart goes out to the Hewlett family.
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Windows 2003 64b Server closer to release...
ComputerWorld reports that Windows 2003 64b Server is closer to release. I am eagerly waiting for this one..
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My Computer Lab
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Connecticut .NET Developers Group on the roll!
The new Connecticut .NET Developers Group is now on the roll! We have been having .NET-related events since last October and now have a new website rolled out. I have to thank the MIGANG.ORG for DNN insights. My thanks also to the CTDOTNET guys in putting our new DNN site together – Doug Haynes, Carl Franklin, Arthur Dzhelali, Aaron Junod & Jay McAnally.
For Feb 22nd, we have Chris Bowen (Sr Architect Monster.com) presenting on Agile Development & Unit Testing with Visual Studio .NET 2005. Details at our site..
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Google Maps!
Google Maps is now online!
(still beta though)
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Scoble in Financial Times article regarding Corproate blogging in America
Feb 7th issue of my favorite newspaper, the Financial Times (FT - subscription required) had an article on bloggers in corporate America. Scoble is quoted - "It's the new world and you want to be part of the conversation".
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SMS to Skype is here!
SMS to Skype is here [link via Robin Good].
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Trying out GMail and Orkut (both from Google)
I have been using GMail lately (giving out accounts as well) and I know it's not fashionable any more. I have also manged to get into Orkut. Orkut is a Social Network that's by invitation-only and its network is predominantly based out of Brazil (not quite sure why but would like to know). I got in touch with Alex Schoch, a Brazilian Groove Space friend of mine. Initially, Orkut's system was excruciatingly slow but it's only very recently it has improved acceptably. Both, GMail and Orkut are run by Google - it will be interesting to see how far they will take it.
I am not particularly fascinated by Social Networks but find the technology behind it very interesting. John Dvorak is quite skeptical about it also
(not that it says much).
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Excellent (biz) article about Collaboration (mentions SharePoint and Groove)
Excellent (biz) article about Collaboration (mentions SharePoint and Groove). It's a good one to send to business clients and associates. [link via Sanjana H in a Groove Space]
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BlogMap works!
Chandu Thota's BlogMap at work -
(only off by 2 miles)
I copied the resulting map image file. I didn't want to load his server everytime someone accesses my blog posting.
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CoSurfing re-invented
Jybe: CoSurfing re-invented - links browsers together, to surf together.
This feature has always been available within Groove. I guess that's what they mean by 're-invented'.
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A weblog site by a chef and geek that makes you hungry..
A blog site that makes you hungry. It's run by a talented chef (Madman Madhu) who also happens to be a geek. His photo gallery can make your mouth water.
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Al Capone is alive and well and living in India
From the gallery of uncanny resemblances - Al Capone and Madhu 'Madman' Menon.
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Knuth's Art of Computer Programming V4 (and what Bill Gates said about it)
Donald Knuth's Magnum Opus is getting another volume - The Art of Computer Programming Vol 4 and it should be out soon. One of my favorite bookstores (BookPool) has an excerpt from it. The AoCP is the source for computer science algorithms and data structures -
If you think you're a really good programmer. . . read [Knuth's] Art of Computer Programming.... You should definitely send me a resume if you can read the whole thing. -Bill Gates
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What Dorks don't get..
Joe Stagner has a good little piece - 'Dork of the Week Award goes to - eWeek's David Coursey'.
I concur and that Dork is another Dvorak in the making and quite simple doesn't get it albeit Coursey still professes that he is "strongly in favor of stopping software pirates".
I believe that most of the hackers who create the viruses, trojans and other maladies to attack MSFT products use bootleg copies anyways. So it's about time they start paying for it. Hopefully, this will bring down the maladies from hereon.
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Dare Obasanjo asks why Microsoft Won't Bundle Desktop Search with Windows
Dare Obasanjo asks why Microsoft Won't Bundle Desktop Search with Windows. I think it may have to do with non-technical issues like European Union's "supposedly-competitive" trigger-happy bureaucratic lawyers.
I think MSFT is being cautious and not feeding their new nemesis - the political technocrats in the EU. I had a related posting recently.
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The Battle of the Bug Killers (Joel vs Eric)
SourceGear recently introduced 'Dragnet' - I think this directly competes with FogBugz. I got to use FogBuz in a fairly large project last year and I was quite impressed by its simplicity. Except for the annoying 'picture of the day', it performed remarkably well but I'll certainly check out DragNet. In addition to JoelOnSoftware, I have been an avid reader of *Eric Sink's writings and I am sure Eric's counter-attack is part of a well-thought out plan. Such competition benefits the end-user, i.e., the development team and that is good.
*highly recommend taking a look at Eric's 'Not A Legend' movie
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On Being Reduced To Tears
Matt Warren has a very thoughtful piece regarding the current EU rulings against Microsoft. I replied to his posting but would like to repost it here -
Keep in mind that the anti-Microsoft decision came from the EU's judicial system - a "country" which is still having a very difficult time formulating a constitution and they call themselves a democracy!
Regarding EU's own software - there is the huge monster system called SAP which is in need of an aenama and there's Linux which is a ripped-off version of Unix/Xinu that was freely available in educational institutions back in the 70s and 80s.
So much for EU innovation.
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Using Microsoft SharePoint in Multilingual Scenarios
Wow! I have to check this one out with my SharePoint servers - Using Microsoft SharePoint in Multilingual Scenarios.
I have several collaborative situations (websites and Groove spaces with users from 20 different countries) that would do a lot better if it were a bit more multilingual.
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80/20 Rule (aka Pareto Principle) - recommended book
In these blog postings, I have seen several references to the 80/20 Rule (aka Pareto Principle but which is actually a misnomer). I bought this book at a used bookstore and got a lot out of it for less than ten bucks! It's a general, very-readable introduction to the 80/20 Principle and how it can be used in various situations (including business).
80/20 Principle
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Reviving my Radio Userland weblog
I have decided to give Radio Userland another try - that software really is quite buggy but rumor has it that they are really going to do something about it. (It may be that users are abandoning it for TypePad or Blogger). We'll see..
I have been using Radio Userland for well over 2.5 years and it has a lot of my prior content. I'll post my non-technical topics there.