> if they're using javascript:popup or some such, you'd have to actually go and view the source
Actually I've been working on a new context menu JavaScript addition for Win/IE that sometimes work in these situations. (i.e. it works in the specific situation I need it for.)
It's not much tested but if it sounds useful for you, let me know and I'll put it up somewhere.
>> His wife was trying to save a 2.2MB for a 2
>> page Word document on a floppy disk.
> Then it wasn't plain text!
Sounds like the old fast-save/save-as issue...
The two approaches aren't mutually exclusive. Combine the two approaches:
if (ptr != NULL) {
// Do Stuff
} else {
assert(ptr);// Or even assert(0); if you want...
// Attempt to recover
}
At least that's the way I do it. Assert was never intended to be used in production code, that's why it checks for the NDEBUG macro being defined.
Run your unit tests twice, once with NDEBUG defined and then without it. Okay, so it's possible that a failure might still occur the second time but if you code them without side-effects (or even use the 'assert(0);' idiom*) it's tending towards the unlikely side.
Phil.
*The disadvantage with using 'assert(0);' is that you don't get as much information from the error message, but the advantages are:
+ Definitely no side effects.
+ No variation between debug and production code. i.e. if you're testing a bunch of parameters at the head of a function you can use:
if ((piA == NULL) || (ppiB == NULL) ||
(*ppiB == NULL)) {
assert(0);
// Production recovery here...
}
This avoids the alternative where you would precede the 'if' with a bunch of asserts, which aren't actually guaranteed to check the same situations as the 'if'. E.g. you use assert(ppiC != NULL) but never check for that in your 'if'.
> At the very minimum, they need to add:
> a splash page we have to click through before
> getting to the main page
> ("welcome to slashdot!)
Wouldn't that be "Welcome to Splashdot"?
It could redirect you to a whole new domain splashdot.org...
Hey, splash pages are old news, now let's talk about them splash *sites*!
BTW I intend to hold a patent on this concept, and it's real-soon-now implementation on slashdot.org
"Peopleware" by Demarco & Lister talks about the concept of "flow" and the E-Factor (I think that's what they called it). These concepts are related to the amount of uninterrupted time you have available to complete a task.
> they mention that during the UI design of
> Win95, once Micros~1 went to a software store
> and bought a single copy of each application
I think you'll find they used these to test the code rather than the UI.
>Kids putting copyright symbols on drawings and
>papers? What's next...
You mean I was the only kid putting (C) Copyright symbols on all my amazing secret design drawings years ago?
>> Right on. After all, it's not like New Zealand:
>> * was the first country to give women the vote
[...snip...]
> They all left New Zealand.
No, actually, there's still quite a few women here...
> I suggest asking the store where you purchase it
> to examine a copy of the license before you
> buy.
Ummm, good luck!
I was considering buying academic copies of Windows '98 & Office but knew the license restricted use in a "commercial" situation. Although I would be using it most of the time for personal use I wanted to know if the occasional freelance work I did was okay.
I asked at the campus shop, looked at the Microsoft website (which only listed eligibility criteria) and wrote to the New Zealand MS office and nobody could/would show me a copy of the license. MS pretty much said "Buy it. Then you'll know what the license says."
Actually MS finally said buy the non-academic copy and then you know you'll be okay. Okay...
So I bought a non-academic copy of Windows '98 and borrowed a CD of StarOffice--that's what they wanted me to do wasn't it?:-)
All this makes me wonder what the legal status is if you buy an academic copy, graduate and start a business using that copy...
The best advice I can give about teaching people to use a computer is never, ever, (no, not even then) touch the keyboard or mouse.
I know it's just so tempting but you've pretty much lost it if you give in. I've heard too many people say "And then he grabbed the mouse and typed something, but I don't know what..."
I also think it pays to remind people that they're not stupid. Don't let people say "Oh I don't get it, I guess I'm stupid." Tell 'em it's the programmer or designers fault--which it is generally.
I also agree with what's been said about getting people to write things down.
I couldn't help wondering about the similarities between the name "WAVE" and the book by Todd Strasser "The Wave".
The book is (based on a true story) about a teacher who starts a movement called "The Wave" in order to teach his class about Nazism and group pressure.
Slashdot Mirror
> if they're using javascript:popup or some such, you'd have to actually go and view the source
Actually I've been working on a new context menu JavaScript addition for Win/IE that sometimes work in these situations. (i.e. it works in the specific situation I need it for.)
It's not much tested but if it sounds useful for you, let me know and I'll put it up somewhere.
Phil.
>> His wife was trying to save a 2.2MB for a 2
>> page Word document on a floppy disk.
> Then it wasn't plain text!
Sounds like the old fast-save/save-as issue...
The two approaches aren't mutually exclusive. Combine the two approaches:
// Or even assert(0); if you want...
// Production recovery here...
if (ptr != NULL) {
// Do Stuff
} else {
assert(ptr);
// Attempt to recover
}
At least that's the way I do it. Assert was never intended to be used in production code, that's why it checks for the NDEBUG macro being defined.
Run your unit tests twice, once with NDEBUG defined and then without it. Okay, so it's possible that a failure might still occur the second time but if you code them without side-effects (or even use the 'assert(0);' idiom*) it's tending towards the unlikely side.
Phil.
*The disadvantage with using 'assert(0);' is that you don't get as much information from the error message, but the advantages are:
+ Definitely no side effects.
+ No variation between debug and production code. i.e. if you're testing a bunch of parameters at the head of a function you can use:
if ((piA == NULL) || (ppiB == NULL) ||
(*ppiB == NULL)) {
assert(0);
}
This avoids the alternative where you would precede the 'if' with a bunch of asserts, which aren't actually guaranteed to check the same situations as the 'if'. E.g. you use assert(ppiC != NULL) but never check for that in your 'if'.
> At the very minimum, they need to add:
> a splash page we have to click through before
> getting to the main page
> ("welcome to slashdot!)
Wouldn't that be "Welcome to Splashdot"?
It could redirect you to a whole new domain splashdot.org...
Hey, splash pages are old news, now let's talk about them splash *sites*!
BTW I intend to hold a patent on this concept, and it's real-soon-now implementation on slashdot.org
"Peopleware" by Demarco & Lister talks about the concept of "flow" and the E-Factor (I think that's what they called it). These concepts are related to the amount of uninterrupted time you have available to complete a task.
a sp ?theisbn=0932633439&vm=
ObBookURL:
http://www1.fatbrain.com/asp/bookinfo/bookinfo.
> they mention that during the UI design of
> Win95, once Micros~1 went to a software store
> and bought a single copy of each application
I think you'll find they used these to test the code rather than the UI.
> "Someone might be overwhelmed by the amount of options." (P7)
Which do think a participant is more likely for to say:
a) "I feel overwhelmed by the amount of options."
b) "Someone might be overwhelmed by the amount of options."
It's the same way you say to the Doctor, "Ummm, my 'friend' needs some help."
>Kids putting copyright symbols on drawings and
>papers? What's next...
You mean I was the only kid putting (C) Copyright symbols on all my amazing secret design drawings years ago?
>> Right on. After all, it's not like New Zealand:
>> * was the first country to give women the vote
[...snip...]
> They all left New Zealand.
No, actually, there's still quite a few women here...
> I suggest asking the store where you purchase it
:-)
> to examine a copy of the license before you
> buy.
Ummm, good luck!
I was considering buying academic copies of Windows '98 & Office but knew the license restricted use in a "commercial" situation. Although I would be using it most of the time for personal use I wanted to know if the occasional freelance work I did was okay.
I asked at the campus shop, looked at the Microsoft website (which only listed eligibility criteria) and wrote to the New Zealand MS office and nobody could/would show me a copy of the license. MS pretty much said "Buy it. Then you'll know what the license says."
Actually MS finally said buy the non-academic copy and then you know you'll be okay. Okay...
So I bought a non-academic copy of Windows '98 and borrowed a CD of StarOffice--that's what they wanted me to do wasn't it?
All this makes me wonder what the legal status is if you buy an academic copy, graduate and start a business using that copy...
The best advice I can give about teaching people to use a computer is never, ever, (no, not even then) touch the keyboard or mouse.
I know it's just so tempting but you've pretty much lost it if you give in. I've heard too many people say "And then he grabbed the mouse and typed something, but I don't know what..."
I also think it pays to remind people that they're not stupid. Don't let people say "Oh I don't get it, I guess I'm stupid." Tell 'em it's the programmer or designers fault--which it is generally.
I also agree with what's been said about getting people to write things down.
> As a lawyer once told me: Everyone thinks they understand law...
Of course, heaven forbid the general public should actually *understand* the law.
The "political legal complex" has long surpassed the industrial military one.
I couldn't help wondering about the similarities between the name "WAVE" and the book by Todd Strasser "The Wave".
:-)
The book is (based on a true story) about a teacher who starts a movement called "The Wave" in order to teach his class about Nazism and group pressure.
Co-incidence?