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Domain: scootersoftware.com

Stories and comments across the archive that link to scootersoftware.com.

Comments · 10

  1. Re:Not large. Medium. by Marginal+Coward · · Score: 1 · on Ask Slashdot: What Tools To Clean Up a Large C/C++ Project?

    Then you start working by removing dead code, indenting, do static and run-time code analysis to find bugs, then merge duplicate code. Start with the more mechanical parts first. Once you get that working and bug free you basically have the new version 1.0.

    I didn't see anything about tests? How will you know it is "working and bug free" without them?

    In my experience, one of the most dangerous things you can do is to change working code in a mechanical way that should be safe. Whenever I do that, I always use something to make sure the code is unchanged. If the change is strictly cosmetic, something like Beyond Compare can be used for that. Otherwise, you need module tests that fully characterize the existing code via functional testing with complete condition/decision coverage. Or, maybe there's some tool that can be used to compare code at the level of its abstract syntax tree or whatever to ensure that its functionality is unchanged. (Does anybody know of something like that? - a Clang tool, maybe?)

    Of course, this is taking a very conservative approach. But doing "safe" changes manually on a large (or even medium) code base without some sort of automated safety net is a sure way to introduce difficult-to-find bugs. Caveat emptor.

  2. Re:No Kidding by disambiguated · · Score: 1 · on Anonymous No More: Your Coding Style Can Give You Away

    Use a diff tool that can ignore formatting changes. I'm a fan of Beyond Compare, but there are plenty of others.

  3. Beyond Compare by DigiShaman · · Score: 1 · on Ask Slashdot: How Do I De-Dupe a System With 4.2 Million Files?

    A co-worker and I used a program called Beyond Compare to match data stored on tape with a live Archive directory on a file server. Actually, it was his idea and it worked out pretty well. Check it out, it may be of some use.

    http://www.scootersoftware.com/

  4. Re:My opinion by Krishnoid · · Score: 1 · on Confessions of a SysAdmin

    But when you actually find that perfect software, it is a beautiful thing.

    That would be Beyond Compare for me. Linux and Windows versions, runs off a flash drive, use your personal copy legally on any number of your systems, fluidly provides a vast range of comparison and merge-related functions, and threads smoothly. A joy to use.

  5. Re:Horribly Inefficient by neonfrog · · Score: 1 · on Good Freeware System Snapshot Tool For Windows?

    A good generic file comparison tool I've used is Beyond Compare:

    http://www.scootersoftware.com/

    Has a 30-day trial and a reasonable cost.

    Why I'm replying to your ungrateful and horrible impoliteness is beyond me, though. I really like how you didn't say that virtualization wouldn't work in your original question, nor did you mention the scenario/target audience, yet you are insulting those who couldn't read your mind. Well done!

  6. Re:Horribly Inefficient by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0 · on Good Freeware System Snapshot Tool For Windows?

    Well, the cash outlay for a copy of Trueimage (about $50 US for the home version which is all you'll need so long as you stick to basic NTFS partitions) isn't that bad.

    Make a base build, image it, etc.

    For real-time comparison of the two output files, I'd use Beyond Compare, which would also permit you to compare two drives' file systems directly as well (either chained together, or 2 identical computers, one with a before, and one with an after, image).

    HTH. HAND.

  7. Beyond Compare replacement? by djmurdoch · · Score: 1 · on Best Developer Tools for OS X

    I've recently started using a Macbook, after years on Windows and *nix. The one tool I can't seem to find is a nice visual file compare utility, like Beyond Compare on Windows. I believe Emacs has something similar, but I'm allergic to it. Does Vim? Is there something standalone?

  8. TortoiseSVN and Beyond Compare by djmurdoch · · Score: 1 · on Useful Apps for First-Time Windows Users?

    If you are developing or writing text files, then use the command line version of svn everywhere for version control, and TortoiseSVN as a front end in Windows.

    For comparing files and directories and merging, use
    Beyond Compare.

  9. UltraEdit by mpeisenbr · · Score: 2 · on Programming Tools You've Used?

    UltraEdit is hands-down my favorite editor. It carries a $40 price tag, but It is well worth it IMO. I also use Beyond Compare for visual diffs; its a great tool with lots of filtering options.

  10. Re:Recommendations.... (better format) by metacosm · · Score: 4, Insightful · on Moving from Linux to Windows Desktop?
    You will see cygwin (which others will recommend) totally left out of the recommendations. That is because I find it slow and oversized and I am not a huge fan of it.