I have to disagree with 1 point: with certain applications (real time apps, defence apps), Java is not simply slow - it is totally unusable.
Any language with a GC, and Java's JIT is unsuitable for such apps that require real time-specific determinism. Java cannot provide those features, and the licence Sun hands Java out with even precludes their use in such apps.
You also forgot Threads (Java's multithreading support is poor, unless you just want very simple, I-dont-mind-thread-contention type thread programming).
Also, C++ has a cross platform GUI. consider QT for one. Its just that this isn't in the language by default, doesn't mean that C++ apps shouldn't be allowed to consider it as a feature.
I'd say the only thing Java has over C++ is the time of coding, but then java is beaten hands down by Visual Basic:)
http://www.chami.com/html-kit/plugins/info/hkcom pc sharp/ (add in for the free-perosnal-use html-kit)
Re:Just out of curiosity....
on
Grid Processing
·
· Score: 4, Informative
Most parallel systems only work for a certain type of problem - one where processing can be split into many small chunks, each one non-dependant on the others.
eg. who cares how many instructions you can process in parallel, if module A requires data from module B. In these cases parallelisation is limited to making each module run faster (if it doesn't have sub dependencies, of course), the entire program doesn't benefit from the parallelisation.
Good examples of parallel processing are the ones we know - distributed apps like SETI@home, graphics rendering, etc.
Bad systems are everyday data processing systems - they typically work on a single lump of data at a time in sequences.
A good source of parallel programming is http://wotug.ukc.ac.uk/parallel/ or, of course, google.
seamless every time you want to *use* it, not install it. The patent doesn't cover installation.
So, you'll start to see a dialog box every time a flash/pdf/java applet wants to display itself. Before you think that is a good thing - think about every advert popping up a dialog box with just the OK button... 'click OK to non-seamlessly display "herbal viagra for u" ? '
absolutely true, and I have read that Eolas was more interested in going against MS, simply because they were MS (quotes like 'this should level the browser playing field against those evil monopolists').
However, that's all rumour and/or speculation - even if Eolas *says* they won't go against Mozilla, who's to say they really won't. And Mozilla group won't have $500m to cough up if Eolas changed its mind sometime in the future, probably they'd get even more because they could then claim these browsers knew about the legal position, and ignored it.
So, would you stake all your assets on that?
No, so almost certainly, the alternative browser developers are going to have to cover themselves. This patent simply hurts everyone.
(there is another version: MS in conjuntion with Macromedia, Adobe etc, creates an alternative to the plug-in which they incorporate into IE. The majority of the web sites start using it, leaving the alternative browsers even less ability to keep up.)
stretching the point a bit though - yes, I know how the case ended up, with coffee over a certain temperature being banned. It was still her fault she spilt it over herself though.
A Friend of mine, many years ago, was freewheeling down a hill on his pushbike, in the dark, when he hit a pothole, flew over the handlebars and hurt himself a little. His first reaction wasn't 'what a plonker I am, I should take more care where im going', but 'Im going to sue the council for not maintaining the roads properly'.
I guess you can always find a reason why it is someone else's fault (or liability...), never your own.
I just hate that self-serving attitude. Sorry for this OT post.
I don't see why not - you live in America after all.
If a daft woman who stuck a full cup of coffee between her legs, and drive off, spilling it all over the place, and they *successfully* sue mcDonalds because 'it was too hot', then anyone caught by the RIAAs can sue Kazaa because 'they made it too easy to steal'.
I'd be surprised if the RIAA didn't try this tactic themselves - "right Dave, we sue you, you sue Kazaa, win all their money closing them down, then we settle out of court for $5, ok?":)
How many of those soldier/coders have sued any linux-based company? How many of them have even expressed a derogatory opinion of Linux?
Well, none. So saying they are responsible for their own actions is fine - just don't try to make out that those actions are the same as the SCO board's.
why? Consider that the ex-employees of SCO are the ones *leaving* SCO for whatever reason. One reason may well be that they disagree with the company's policies.. perhaps disagree with the lawsuit et al.
So, Damage is really saying - we don't want such people working for us, we don't care how much you hate, loathe and despise McBride, you ain't good enough for us.
How pathetic, really. I wouldn't dream of sending my CV to Damage (its in Word format actually, because that's what every recruitment agency in the world expects and asks to be sent). They have a childish attitude in how they present themselves to the outside world, imagine how bad it could be internally. I imagine a culture of toadying to whatever fad the boss is into, bullying, and general unprofessionalism there. SCO is probably a better company to work for!
I heard that the speed you write to the disk affects the longevity - if you write at 50x (or whatever) then the pits created will be small and possibly with errors (that are corrected by ECC).
If you write at 2x, the the pits are bigger and better formed.
Now, I have no idea whether this actually is true or not, beyond sounding reasonable. Does anyone else have any insight? (or am I spending ages writing unnecessarily:)
It's general knowledge that one should not introduce a broken product to market, nevermind try to cover it with patches
Products like Apache perhaps? (remember where it gets its name from:)
No, products should be shipped 1st release - with bugs, 'features', etc. (after all you can't get rid of them, so why bother trying too hard). Once people have this (and they know its 1st release software), they can find those bugs, tell what bits the like/dont want, enhance the missing functionality and release v2.
In MS case, version 3 was always the magic number, and probably still is. Too bad they changed to date-based version numbers.
In short, its generally the users fault - no-one wants something that just works, they always want more bits, more toys, more 'extended-functionality', better performance. Too many people run the latest software because they either don't want to be 'left behind', or because they 'need' the cool new features.
Then they complaint he software isn't 100% perfect. Well, pity them, yaa-boo. Go run something mature. And, I know they cannot do that due to the nature of the software industry today. The simple answer to that is not to always upgrade the moment the upgrade hits the shelves.
And here's what the article also said, that you conveniently missed out:
"NT was never the cause of any problem on the ship," Rushton said. "The problems were all in programs, database and code within the individual pieces of software that we were using."
Because the ships' new propulsion control system was developed quickly, his programmers knew there were inherent risks, Rushton said.
"We pushed the envelope and knew that events such as what happened in September of last year were possible," he said.
If they'd used Linux, the same problem would have occurred - only/. wouldn't be reporting it with quite the same vigor, or misrepresentation, now would they?
I think that if Eolas refused to licence to MS, but not to anyone else, MS would be running him through the courts for some form of anti-competitive behaviour. Once they won, do you think they'd not ask for quite a bit of compensation? (and that's not 'quite a bit' as I would know a large amount of money as:-)
I personally would like to see MS say 'ok then. no plugins of any sort anymore'. and for the other OS browsers to follow suit. Once the world had woken up to why their web browsing was suddenly dull (and advertisers no longer advertising) and the political interest groups lobbying the politicos, the law on these stupid patents might just get changed.
Either that or everyone would realise there were no adverts, and browsing was considerably faster...:)
perhaps/. (the computer equivalent of the kit car club) is not the best place to discuss that quote.
I think he means "we" to mean the majority of the general public, and not the types that read/. - go to Ford and ask if anyone has ever asked for a car they can customise, then ask how many people buy cars from them. I imagine the answers are 'lots and lots and lots', and 'no-one'.
Try the same at a kit car manufacturers, and you won't get exactly the opposite answers, you'll get 'very few', and 'well actually our pre-build service is quite popular amongst our customers'.
The point is that though you may want to tinker with your computer, the vast majority of users (including a great many Linux users) don't want to know - they just want the OS to be functional and perform the work they want performed. This appeals to the majority, so unless you want Linux to remain a very small market, you'll have to make things simpler, offer pre-setup installs, and make things the same as what they are familiar with.
Being able to customise afterwards is a brilliant feature - but don't expect many people to bother (besides installing utilities and changing colours:-)
Making it difficult is just making Linux out as some niche product that no-one but 'l33t' people are allowed to use. Not a good situation at all.
I use it (as it fulfills my price/performance ratio nicely:) but I'm not convinced it works. Whilst I've only seen it detect a virus once, I could be lucky, (or not download the kind of things that have viruses).
However. http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archives/products.xm l?avg.xml says that it isn't so good. In the VB labs, I think Norman is one of the better ones, but costs money!! So until I do get virused, I'll stick with the free AVG.
symantec did quite well though http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archives/products.xm l?symantec.xml
In the other virus lab I know of, AVG did quite well, perhaps Virusbtn gives them a harder test.
Or Mr Unix-graduate sits down at his new job and asks, where's Emacs? and.. err.. they have a company policy only to use Vi, and he throws a temper tantrum. After all, Everyone knows Emacs is God's only text editor.....:)
Totally correct - when I did my degree Windows was version 3.1, Linux was just an argument with Tanebaum, and the best OS around was Amiga.
We all programmed in Pascal, and I think we're all the better for it. Not that I use *any* of the above anymore - if you think what you learn at University today is all you'll need you are very much mistaken, and will probably be programming Java as it becomes more and more legacy in the face of future developments.
Take my advice - go learn and use all the different systems available to you - yes, even Windows - as then, and only then, will you be able to see just how everything works, without being blinded by only one side of the 'argument'.
Need an example? Ask whether a microkernel is a good or a bad thing, think of applying that knowledge to application design.
He says it's a free site they do for fun, etc. etc
do for fun... not to mention the hard cash-advertising revenue, and the goodwill-linux advocacy. VA Software Corporation doesn't support/., SF.net, et al out of the goodness of their hearts - this is a solid marketing machine we're talking here. If it becomes sloppy, amateur and factually incorrect, it'll only end up rebounding on the parent company.
I think a post-moderation system would work, just take the top 5% from the karma list. I suppose the danger might be that a pro-MS story would then get posted:)
SCO can continue to use Samba, as long as they comply with the requirements of that licence. The don't need to pay out anything to use it, and if the Samba team want to offer SCO a different licence, SCO can happily say 'no thanks, we'll stick with the GPL version'. Nothing anyone can do about that.
SCO can also *say* what they like about the GPL, its only when they stop complying with the terms can anyone do something about their use of the software - like take them to court to see who a judge agrees with. I think the 'person' taking SCO to court to see whether the GPL is effective or not is in fact SCO, in a roundabout kind of way with their IBM litigation:)
Only one company, ICI, was
positive about my doctorate stating that I would start at a higher pay grade
because of it.
In my experience, a company like that is a large, dilbert-esque place where your qualification and length of service count for more than your ability. You would start at a higher pay grade, but don't expect promotion or pay rise on merit.
For smaller companies, expect your degree to count for nothing compared to your ability (or perceived ability - that's the only place it'll count), small companies cannot afford to hire you unless you can actually do the work they need you to do.
So.. in all cases, experience counts way more than qualifications, and often qualifications simply make you less employable that someone who could be taken on as a trainee and taught what the company needs to teach you - the perception here is that as a PhD, you will be more resistant to learn a different way than you currently know. The exception to this is if you are coming in at a more senior position, in which case your qualification counts for nothing - only the experience / proven ability you'll be bringing.
I expect a PhD in.. English, say, would actually be beneficial though, but never computers for a computer job.
Slashdot Mirror
I have to disagree with 1 point: with certain applications (real time apps, defence apps), Java is not simply slow - it is totally unusable.
:)
Any language with a GC, and Java's JIT is unsuitable for such apps that require real time-specific determinism. Java cannot provide those features, and the licence Sun hands Java out with even precludes their use in such apps.
You also forgot Threads (Java's multithreading support is poor, unless you just want very simple, I-dont-mind-thread-contention type thread programming).
Also, C++ has a cross platform GUI. consider QT for one. Its just that this isn't in the language by default, doesn't mean that C++ apps shouldn't be allowed to consider it as a feature.
I'd say the only thing Java has over C++ is the time of coding, but then java is beaten hands down by Visual Basic
Its not free ($35) but Antechinus C# Editor is out there, http://www.c-point.com/csharp.htm
i ntilla.org/
m pc sharp/ (add in for the free-perosnal-use html-kit)
Or.. free ones:
http://www.icsharpcode.net/
http://www.sc
http://www.chami.com/html-kit/plugins/info/hkco
Most parallel systems only work for a certain type of problem - one where processing can be split into many small chunks, each one non-dependant on the others.
eg. who cares how many instructions you can process in parallel, if module A requires data from module B. In these cases parallelisation is limited to making each module run faster (if it doesn't have sub dependencies, of course), the entire program doesn't benefit from the parallelisation.
Good examples of parallel processing are the ones we know - distributed apps like SETI@home, graphics rendering, etc.
Bad systems are everyday data processing systems - they typically work on a single lump of data at a time in sequences.
A good source of parallel programming is http://wotug.ukc.ac.uk/parallel/ or, of course, google.
seamless every time you want to *use* it, not install it. The patent doesn't cover installation.
... 'click OK to non-seamlessly display "herbal viagra for u" ? '
So, you'll start to see a dialog box every time a flash/pdf/java applet wants to display itself. Before you think that is a good thing - think about every advert popping up a dialog box with just the OK button
absolutely true, and I have read that Eolas was more interested in going against MS, simply because they were MS (quotes like 'this should level the browser playing field against those evil monopolists').
However, that's all rumour and/or speculation - even if Eolas *says* they won't go against Mozilla, who's to say they really won't. And Mozilla group won't have $500m to cough up if Eolas changed its mind sometime in the future, probably they'd get even more because they could then claim these browsers knew about the legal position, and ignored it.
So, would you stake all your assets on that?
No, so almost certainly, the alternative browser developers are going to have to cover themselves. This patent simply hurts everyone.
(there is another version: MS in conjuntion with Macromedia, Adobe etc, creates an alternative to the plug-in which they incorporate into IE. The majority of the web sites start using it, leaving the alternative browsers even less ability to keep up.)
stretching the point a bit though - yes, I know how the case ended up, with coffee over a certain temperature being banned. It was still her fault she spilt it over herself though.
A Friend of mine, many years ago, was freewheeling down a hill on his pushbike, in the dark, when he hit a pothole, flew over the handlebars and hurt himself a little. His first reaction wasn't 'what a plonker I am, I should take more care where im going', but 'Im going to sue the council for not maintaining the roads properly'.
I guess you can always find a reason why it is someone else's fault (or liability...), never your own.
I just hate that self-serving attitude. Sorry for this OT post.
I don't see why not - you live in America after all.
:)
If a daft woman who stuck a full cup of coffee between her legs, and drive off, spilling it all over the place, and they *successfully* sue mcDonalds because 'it was too hot', then anyone caught by the RIAAs can sue Kazaa because 'they made it too easy to steal'.
I'd be surprised if the RIAA didn't try this tactic themselves - "right Dave, we sue you, you sue Kazaa, win all their money closing them down, then we settle out of court for $5, ok?"
yeah, so?
How many of those soldier/coders have sued any linux-based company? How many of them have even expressed a derogatory opinion of Linux?
Well, none. So saying they are responsible for their own actions is fine - just don't try to make out that those actions are the same as the SCO board's.
Surely SCO v Linux equates to religion :)
I figure this to be extremely stupid.
why? Consider that the ex-employees of SCO are the ones *leaving* SCO for whatever reason. One reason may well be that they disagree with the company's policies.. perhaps disagree with the lawsuit et al.
So, Damage is really saying - we don't want such people working for us, we don't care how much you hate, loathe and despise McBride, you ain't good enough for us.
How pathetic, really. I wouldn't dream of sending my CV to Damage (its in Word format actually, because that's what every recruitment agency in the world expects and asks to be sent). They have a childish attitude in how they present themselves to the outside world, imagine how bad it could be internally. I imagine a culture of toadying to whatever fad the boss is into, bullying, and general unprofessionalism there. SCO is probably a better company to work for!
I heard that the speed you write to the disk affects the longevity - if you write at 50x (or whatever) then the pits created will be small and possibly with errors (that are corrected by ECC).
:)
If you write at 2x, the the pits are bigger and better formed.
Now, I have no idea whether this actually is true or not, beyond sounding reasonable. Does anyone else have any insight? (or am I spending ages writing unnecessarily
Products like Apache perhaps? (remember where it gets its name from :)
No, products should be shipped 1st release - with bugs, 'features', etc. (after all you can't get rid of them, so why bother trying too hard). Once people have this (and they know its 1st release software), they can find those bugs, tell what bits the like/dont want, enhance the missing functionality and release v2.
In MS case, version 3 was always the magic number, and probably still is. Too bad they changed to date-based version numbers.
In short, its generally the users fault - no-one wants something that just works, they always want more bits, more toys, more 'extended-functionality', better performance. Too many people run the latest software because they either don't want to be 'left behind', or because they 'need' the cool new features.
Then they complaint he software isn't 100% perfect. Well, pity them, yaa-boo. Go run something mature. And, I know they cannot do that due to the nature of the software industry today. The simple answer to that is not to always upgrade the moment the upgrade hits the shelves.
My tuppence. Cheers.
Ah, but will we be able to use it to track Virus writers, spammers and other unpleasant people?
:)
If so.. its probably a good thing. Just make sure you don't steal anything, and if you do, use a mate's PC
And here's what the article also said, that you conveniently missed out:
/. wouldn't be reporting it with quite the same vigor, or misrepresentation, now would they?
"NT was never the cause of any problem on the ship," Rushton said. "The problems were all in programs, database and code within the individual pieces of software that we were using."
Because the ships' new propulsion control system was developed quickly, his programmers knew there were inherent risks, Rushton said.
"We pushed the envelope and knew that events such as what happened in September of last year were possible," he said.
If they'd used Linux, the same problem would have occurred - only
the guy speaks sense.
:-)
:)
I think that if Eolas refused to licence to MS, but not to anyone else, MS would be running him through the courts for some form of anti-competitive behaviour. Once they won, do you think they'd not ask for quite a bit of compensation? (and that's not 'quite a bit' as I would know a large amount of money as
I personally would like to see MS say 'ok then. no plugins of any sort anymore'. and for the other OS browsers to follow suit. Once the world had woken up to why their web browsing was suddenly dull (and advertisers no longer advertising) and the political interest groups lobbying the politicos, the law on these stupid patents might just get changed.
Either that or everyone would realise there were no adverts, and browsing was considerably faster...
perhaps /. (the computer equivalent of the kit car club) is not the best place to discuss that quote.
/. - go to Ford and ask if anyone has ever asked for a car they can customise, then ask how many people buy cars from them. I imagine the answers are 'lots and lots and lots', and 'no-one'.
:-)
I think he means "we" to mean the majority of the general public, and not the types that read
Try the same at a kit car manufacturers, and you won't get exactly the opposite answers, you'll get 'very few', and 'well actually our pre-build service is quite popular amongst our customers'.
The point is that though you may want to tinker with your computer, the vast majority of users (including a great many Linux users) don't want to know - they just want the OS to be functional and perform the work they want performed. This appeals to the majority, so unless you want Linux to remain a very small market, you'll have to make things simpler, offer pre-setup installs, and make things the same as what they are familiar with.
Being able to customise afterwards is a brilliant feature - but don't expect many people to bother (besides installing utilities and changing colours
Making it difficult is just making Linux out as some niche product that no-one but 'l33t' people are allowed to use. Not a good situation at all.
I use it (as it fulfills my price/performance ratio nicely :) but I'm not convinced it works. Whilst I've only seen it detect a virus once, I could be lucky, (or not download the kind of things that have viruses).
m l?avg.xml says that it isn't so good. In the VB labs, I think Norman is one of the better ones, but costs money!! So until I do get virused, I'll stick with the free AVG.
m l?symantec.xml
r us /labs.shtml
However. http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archives/products.x
symantec did quite well though http://www.virusbtn.com/vb100/archives/products.x
In the other virus lab I know of, AVG did quite well, perhaps Virusbtn gives them a harder test.
http://www.icsalabs.com/html/communities/antivi
Or Mr Unix-graduate sits down at his new job and asks, where's Emacs? and .. err.. they have a company policy only to use Vi, and he throws a temper tantrum. After all, Everyone knows Emacs is God's only text editor..... :)
Totally correct - when I did my degree Windows was version 3.1, Linux was just an argument with Tanebaum, and the best OS around was Amiga.
We all programmed in Pascal, and I think we're all the better for it. Not that I use *any* of the above anymore - if you think what you learn at University today is all you'll need you are very much mistaken, and will probably be programming Java as it becomes more and more legacy in the face of future developments.
Take my advice - go learn and use all the different systems available to you - yes, even Windows - as then, and only then, will you be able to see just how everything works, without being blinded by only one side of the 'argument'.
Need an example? Ask whether a microkernel is a good or a bad thing, think of applying that knowledge to application design.
true, for the 'larger backups', you'll want a 2.5" HDD in a USB-connected enclosure - effectively you have a very, very large, chunky USB pen drive.
so reading slashdot is the new geek pornography?
do for fun... not to mention the hard cash-advertising revenue, and the goodwill-linux advocacy. VA Software Corporation doesn't support
I think a post-moderation system would work, just take the top 5% from the karma list. I suppose the danger might be that a pro-MS story would then get posted
SCO can continue to use Samba, as long as they comply with the requirements of that licence. The don't need to pay out anything to use it, and if the Samba team want to offer SCO a different licence, SCO can happily say 'no thanks, we'll stick with the GPL version'. Nothing anyone can do about that.
:)
SCO can also *say* what they like about the GPL, its only when they stop complying with the terms can anyone do something about their use of the software - like take them to court to see who a judge agrees with.
I think the 'person' taking SCO to court to see whether the GPL is effective or not is in fact SCO, in a roundabout kind of way with their IBM litigation
In my experience, a company like that is a large, dilbert-esque place where your qualification and length of service count for more than your ability. You would start at a higher pay grade, but don't expect promotion or pay rise on merit.
For smaller companies, expect your degree to count for nothing compared to your ability (or perceived ability - that's the only place it'll count), small companies cannot afford to hire you unless you can actually do the work they need you to do.
So.. in all cases, experience counts way more than qualifications, and often qualifications simply make you less employable that someone who could be taken on as a trainee and taught what the company needs to teach you - the perception here is that as a PhD, you will be more resistant to learn a different way than you currently know. The exception to this is if you are coming in at a more senior position, in which case your qualification counts for nothing - only the experience / proven ability you'll be bringing.
I expect a PhD in .. English, say, would actually be beneficial though, but never computers for a computer job.
what about the power cable to get the juice back to earth!