I'm a novice when it comes to automated build tools, but I've been impressed by Ant, from the Jakarta project by the Apache Group. From what I've read, it seems that Ant can do almost everything autoconf can, but because it's written in Java and uses XML to store its configuration, there are no cross-platform issues. I should add that I have *very* limited experience with autoconf; I've really only *used* it, not developed with it, so my opinion is a fairly uneducated one. Has anyone else used Ant and autoconf enough to make a good argument for or against Ant?
I agree with the folks recommending IDEA from IntelliJ. I can't say I've had decades of experience, but I used Microsoft tools (VB, Visual C++, Visual J++) for 6 years, and was generally impressed by them. I started shopping around for a new Java IDE when Microsoft made it clear that it was not going to stay in the Java world. I tried IntelliJ IDEA, and only now realize how limited the Microsoft tools were. I've been using almost a year now, and it's easy to use, powerful, and not that expensive. Check it out at www.intellij.com
I have to cast another vote against full-time telecommuting. While you are a *lot* more productive, unless you thrive on isolation, there is a psychological toll to be paid. Marginalization, as someone mentioned before, is also a problem; think of how many issues you become aware of by overhearing a conversation, or running into someone getting coffee, all the situations you won't encounter at home. If office communications were perfect, and if we only communicated through our phones and keyboards, this might work better, but...
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I'm a novice when it comes to automated build tools, but I've been impressed by Ant, from the Jakarta project by the Apache Group. From what I've read, it seems that Ant can do almost everything autoconf can, but because it's written in Java and uses XML to store its configuration, there are no cross-platform issues. I should add that I have *very* limited experience with autoconf; I've really only *used* it, not developed with it, so my opinion is a fairly uneducated one. Has anyone else used Ant and autoconf enough to make a good argument for or against Ant?
I agree with the folks recommending IDEA from IntelliJ. I can't say I've had decades of experience, but I used Microsoft tools (VB, Visual C++, Visual J++) for 6 years, and was generally impressed by them. I started shopping around for a new Java IDE when Microsoft made it clear that it was not going to stay in the Java world. I tried IntelliJ IDEA, and only now realize how limited the Microsoft tools were. I've been using almost a year now, and it's easy to use, powerful, and not that expensive. Check it out at www.intellij.com
I have to cast another vote against full-time telecommuting. While you are a *lot* more productive, unless you thrive on isolation, there is a psychological toll to be paid. Marginalization, as someone mentioned before, is also a problem; think of how many issues you become aware of by overhearing a conversation, or running into someone getting coffee, all the situations you won't encounter at home. If office communications were perfect, and if we only communicated through our phones and keyboards, this might work better, but...