I say good for them . If they can get a discount on MS licenses, I say "power to them."
Sorry to be blunt, but I believe your stance, though popular, is short-sighted.
Microsoft technology is the dominant tech today, who's to say what will be in highest demand tommorrow?
They're paying less to a known monopolist. What if they opened the information, allowing other companies to bid, and thus lower the price of software due to competition over the long term?
Microsoft is trying it's hardest to keep competition out of its markets, and I think decisions like that help them considerablely. Too bad so many IT directors can't think past the next budget cycle.
All the groupware products seem to rely on some proprietary protocol between the client and the server for their native, feature-rich behavior.
That's because no settled free protocols are available. iCal from the IETF iCalender group is going to fix that. Should be out soon, I heard it's close.
I'd like to see the IMAP protocol expanded so that it could perform most of these tasks.
This is not necessary. A new protocol is probably a better idea. Why increase the complexity of implementing a IMAP client/server for everyone?
...calendar should be a folder that displays appointments in a human-readable format,...
That's kinda what Outlook does. The issue is that it's not human-readable, it's an undocumented part of MAPI that's been partially reverse engineered. But if you what 'just' an exchange replacement, you really don't care about the binary format, as long as your IMAP server can store it.
Unfortunately I think that the whole groupware trend is headed to the web and no one wants to invest in a whole lot of client-side technologies.
Most of those issues will go away shortly. Alot of work on calender is being done in many groups. I'd say wait 6 months before making that accessment.
The calendering capabilities of outlook is done on the client not the server. The server just stores the data in a IMAP folder. The client code does check to see that it is connected to an exchange server, so MAPI dlls have to be written. But that's on the client side.
A couple of weeks ago my boss asked me to find a replacement for the calendar server in Exchange, one which would work with... Outlook.
Nowhere to be found.
You kiddin' right? Lotus, Samsung, Oracle and I bet there are others, all have drop exchange replacements.
I'm working on the necessary MAPI code to have outlook connect to open source servers, eg. Cyrus, OpenLDAP, etc. but still export all functionality. Have been for a few months now. Haven't got to calendering yet ( still working on the message store), I'm hoping on an alpha code release in late Jan maybe Feburary.
The truth is the client does most the work not the server. All the server is an IMAP server with a special 'calender' folder that appointments etc. are stored. Cyrus or any other IMAP server would suffice.
The issue is that Microsoft has made sure that outlook 'MAPI intermediary code' ( in want for a better name ) requires a little more from the server, enough to mean that that code has to be written for the client.
There are many solutions out there that have written the MAPI dlls necessary. Baynari, Lotus, Samsung, etc. all do this. Hopefully we'll have a GPL version soon.
Alternatively, theres the iCal spec which is almost done I hear. Unlike the other iCalender specs, it defines the transport protocol ( relies on Beep I believe ). That should be interesting as well.
The GPL firmly kills any chances of a bait and switch. If SUN tried to tighten the screws they could switch to open office...
I don't think this is true exactly. Sun is the copyright holder, they can distribute the software on any terms that they wish. I think that's why they can link Open-office with closed-source libraries like the template code and other extras and sell it as StarOffice.
It's only fair though. Sun bought the star-office code for a lot of money and released it GPL. They didn't have to do that, but they did. They also put quite a few developers and other resources into managing the resulting open-office.
Just as with Mozilla and AOL, I'm sure a large part of the work going into open office today is still on Suns dime.
If Sun wanted to tighten the screws as you said, all they'd have to do is remove some of the developers that they have on OO and put them on StarOffice only code; although I don't think they have any reason to do that.
My next phone is either going to have bluetooth, or I'm not going to bother with a GPRS phone plan.
I don't see the use of having internet service and not being able to browse using my laptop or pda via the cellphone. Why buy another GSM PC or CF card for every device I potentially would like to connect to the net?
Like most people, I want a small cell phone. This is directly at odds with a screen of the size needed to surf the web reasonably. The phone's own screen would be great for proofing pics before sending and getting emergency directions I guess, but not for browsing.
Lets face it people, what is it a PDA can do, that a watch/planner/and calculator can't (and lets just say a highend TI calc for all of you who want to say "play games") besides "RUN LINUX" there isn't anything.
I can't afford the C-700, I paid about $400 for my 5500 and I think it was worth the money. "Runs Linux" is nothing to sneeze at. It means that there are lots of free applications that I'm familiar with that works on the zaurus.
For me the biggest ones are emulators and network testing tools. A PDA that does all that plus fits in your pocket is worth the money.
I think these things clock in high on the "neat-o" scale, but that's about it, how do you justify 7 bones on a PDA?
However, just because something is OK legally does not make it necessarily right morally and ethically
I agree entirely. not a nice thing to do was an intentional understatement. But legal rules are all we can force people to abid by.
Mike has clearly shown that he has trouble working with others. Why make this more drawn out and debated than it needs to be?
Here's a simple solution... (i) GDF core members get together and choose a name for their protocol. Basically rename the GDF version of gnutella. (ii) They trademark that name. It's not that expensive. I'd suggest GDF register as a non-profit whilst they're at it. (iii) Legal counsel for GDF commercial members sue the pants of Mike or any other person that tries to bastardise this new protocol.
This, I believe is the proper way to fix this mess, instead of 'duking it out' on message boards and mailing lists.
I'm not a Shareaza fan, But I think Mike is within his rights to call his protocol Gnutella2 if he wishes.
I've been following this thing for a while now and this is my view. Gnutella was made by a group of developers at nullsoft, right? They never trademarked the name and eventually abandoned the technology all together, I believe.
GDF is an ad hoc group put together to continue the development, but have no special rights concerning gnutella.
Love him or Hate him, I think Mike is perfectly in his rights to call his protocol Gnutella2. It's not a very nice thing to do, but he is within his rights.
The GDF should accept this, realize that at any time someone can create a 'Gnutellan' and all the GDF need to do is that when describing their protocols, specify the version that they created and/or endorse. eg 0.6, etc.
It may seem kind of hash, but this is probably the only way to keep P2P networks from degrading due to stunts like this. P2P needs clients that upload to be useful, otherwise the clients that do allow uploads will receive an unfair amount of load.
Having individual clients that don't share is one thing, having entire networks that don't is much bigger problem.
I think it's time P2P clients start including easy ways to ban entire IP blocks.
This would also provide OptimumOnline customers another reason to (i) complain to OptimumOnline about the policy and/or (ii) change providers.
Proprietary Linuxes are just Windows with a penguin mascot. Let them rot.
Lineo provide a valuable service to Sharp. Do you think sharp could have said "hey open-source community, I need a linux kernel and drivers for this new device I'm doing..., and have it ready in 6 months"?
Would you drop everything you're doing and do it for them?
OpenZaurus is nice but unless sharp puts a decent development team to help make sure it sticks around, how are they going to guarantee that it will?
Commercial accountability, delivery guarantees are needed, and that's where companies like Lineo, RedHat, Suse, etc. come in.
Why is it a crime for company to try to make a buck with open-source software, even if they obey all license agreements?
News flash -- this means that RIAA doesn't care about you.
RIAA probably cares about any potential customer that does not become a customer due to bad press.
I don't fall in that demographic you spoke of, my boycott is still under a year old, but I'm sure if people of *all* demographics organize and be vocal about this, RIAA will at least hear the message. Wether they do something about it is another story.
RIAA most likely sees things in terms of potential profit, not in demographics, there's a subtle difference. Right now the 18-25s spend a lot more that the 30+, you bet if that changes RIAA would be the first to know, and the first to make advertising changes.
...or look at me weird when I explain to them that I'm boycotting "Disney Inc." for well over a year now. I refuse to knowly buy any disney products due to them lobbying for the copyright extension laws, etc. People might think I'm strange, but the truth is
the boycott is for me.
I makes me feel good that I'm doing the little that I can, even if Disney may not feel the effects of my actions. It makes me feel better that I'm making the sacrifice.
Early 2002, I started boycotting MPAA/RIAA as well. I only went to the movies twice ( before the boycott ) for the year, I bought just as many CDs ( from a smaller publisher ) and I don't buy DVDs for myself anymore ( although I do buy for my family, once in a while ).
My only new years resolution is to make my boycott more effective, including making a decent contribute to EFF.
Point is, do it for your own peace of mind; If funding these organizations disturbs you.
In this day and age, the only vote that the consumer really has is her/his money. Make yours count.
why doesn't php come with a code cache support?
on
Professional PHP4
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· Score: 3, Insightful
I know there are accelerators out there, but most people not know about or use them. Plus I really can't see the harm in including a accelerator in the default engine. Does anyone know why it is not included? There are open source accelerators that can be distributed with PHP.
Many scripting engines eg. Cold fusion, JSP, compile code only the very first time the code is executed since the module was started, then only check to see if the code was changed on disk before executing the already-in-memory code.
Re:I think it's silly...
on
David Brin On LOTR
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· Score: 3, Interesting
And yes, there are witches and monsters to frighten, but there are also heroes and knights to look up to, with timeless values such as courage and honesty.
And which side does the child identify with? What happens when the child see's her/his mistakes as "evil"?
Child:Since there are only two types of people in the world, I must be evil right?
I don't believe we should take fairy tales from kids, god forbid. But I do believe we under-estimate their capacity to handle the truth, ie. there is good and evil in everybody.
Please read page 4 of the article before replying
on
David Brin On LOTR
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· Score: 3, Informative
The final page of the article summaries some important problems with modern pop culture, the real target of Brin's article I suspect.
It also pulls together Brin's admitedly wordy argument ( at least compared to the average slashdot story )
Don't reject Brin's ideas because you loved LOTR
on
David Brin On LOTR
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· Score: 3, Insightful
I had to say that seeing the beating Brin is getting here.
Like many I was charmed by LOTR, but I agree with Brin to some extent. To put it simpley
"good vs. evil, comic-book syndrome is getting old".
I am not suggesting that the LOTR is anything other than one of the best pieces of fiction ever written, *but* there are basic themes that evaluate to the simple comic-book syndrome.
This formula has bothered me since I was a kid watching "transformers" and "gi joe", often times hoping that cobra commander or megatron would win.
I watched "moulin rouge" thinking that in the story within the story, the "evil" king should have got the girl. Should a man that has given his life to rule his country and thus have little experience at love be denied because of his sacrifices?
"titanic" showed a perfectly beautiful couple tormented by a crass, angry aristocrate. That movie made all the money that it did because we're prone to enjoy "formula" movies. This is not necessarily always a bad thing btw.
Why are all the bad guys ugly and the good guys beautiful?
Just for fun, take a closer look at the movies showing, and look for it. The "us vs. them", "beauty vs. ugly", "good vs. evil". Compare with movies that break that dwell less on this formula eg "Changing Lanes" http://us.imdb.com/Title?0264472
If you can get away with it, which is true for many people, bind only on local loopback address. Add the '--bind-address=127.0.0.1' in your mysqld startup script, eg./etc/init.d/mysqld
This causes mysql to only allow connections from the local machine. Eg. if you have apache and mysql running on the same physical computer, and you always use 'localhost' or '127.0.0.1' in your scripts. Not only is it faster ( marginally, I guess ) but it's slightly more secure as well.
You're right, it was DirectTV. OK, so I guess I'm a marketeers worse nightmare.
I only remembered it was DirecTv because I use their DSL. For some reason, I don't think the ad was very good at pushing the brand, it's a funny ad but the brand does not stick.
They need a mascot or a spokesperson. Maybe a talking modem or something:)
There is a U.S. cable net commercial where the guy is sitting at his computer...
It's a DirecTv DSL commercial.
It ends with him going back to his wife's chair, noticeably stunned. Wife: "I thought you where surfing the internet", Man ( still in disbelieve ): "Yeah, but I finished it...", Wife looks like him like he's a nut.
I gotta tell you somehing as well. These days more BLACK people have asked me if I was an arab. Trying be a computer geek who is in radioshack buying wire when a big black man says"lookit at ol bin lades kid...
So why does the ethnicity of the racist asshole who made this comment matter? Racists exist in all races. Why does this suprise you?
Similar to the issues raised in the disscusion on the spammer who was complaining about too much spam, some people have no empathy. They can't understand that their actions are wrong even if they've gone or are going through the same thing.
Slashdot Mirror
Funny.
Spelling changes depending on my mood.
I've been reading slashdot, coding ( OS calender project ), coding ( PHP website for work ), and coding ( Discussion board website as a pet project )
I don't think this is healthy, yesterday I had to stop because I kept seeing spots. Honest.
It's fun though, do this every christmas break.
Sorry to be blunt, but I believe your stance, though popular, is short-sighted.
Microsoft technology is the dominant tech today, who's to say what will be in highest demand tommorrow?
They're paying less to a known monopolist. What if they opened the information, allowing other companies to bid, and thus lower the price of software due to competition over the long term?
Microsoft is trying it's hardest to keep competition out of its markets, and I think decisions like that help them considerablely. Too bad so many IT directors can't think past the next budget cycle.
That's because no settled free protocols are available. iCal from the IETF iCalender group is going to fix that. Should be out soon, I heard it's close.
I'd like to see the IMAP protocol expanded so that it could perform most of these tasks.
This is not necessary. A new protocol is probably a better idea. Why increase the complexity of implementing a IMAP client/server for everyone?
That's kinda what Outlook does. The issue is that it's not human-readable, it's an undocumented part of MAPI that's been partially reverse engineered. But if you what 'just' an exchange replacement, you really don't care about the binary format, as long as your IMAP server can store it.
Unfortunately I think that the whole groupware trend is headed to the web and no one wants to invest in a whole lot of client-side technologies.
Most of those issues will go away shortly. Alot of work on calender is being done in many groups. I'd say wait 6 months before making that accessment.
The calendering capabilities of outlook is done on the client not the server. The server just stores the data in a IMAP folder. The client code does check to see that it is connected to an exchange server, so MAPI dlls have to be written. But that's on the client side.
A couple of weeks ago my boss asked me to find a replacement for the calendar server in Exchange, one which would work with... Outlook.
Nowhere to be found.
You kiddin' right? Lotus, Samsung, Oracle and I bet there are others, all have drop exchange replacements.
I'm working on the necessary MAPI code to have outlook connect to open source servers, eg. Cyrus, OpenLDAP, etc. but still export all functionality. Have been for a few months now. Haven't got to calendering yet ( still working on the message store), I'm hoping on an alpha code release in late Jan maybe Feburary.
The truth is the client does most the work not the server. All the server is an IMAP server with a special 'calender' folder that appointments etc. are stored. Cyrus or any other IMAP server would suffice.
The issue is that Microsoft has made sure that outlook 'MAPI intermediary code' ( in want for a better name ) requires a little more from the server, enough to mean that that code has to be written for the client.
There are many solutions out there that have written the MAPI dlls necessary. Baynari, Lotus, Samsung, etc. all do this. Hopefully we'll have a GPL version soon.
Alternatively, theres the iCal spec which is almost done I hear. Unlike the other iCalender specs, it defines the transport protocol ( relies on Beep I believe ). That should be interesting as well.
I don't think this is true exactly. Sun is the copyright holder, they can distribute the software on any terms that they wish. I think that's why they can link Open-office with closed-source libraries like the template code and other extras and sell it as StarOffice.
It's only fair though. Sun bought the star-office code for a lot of money and released it GPL. They didn't have to do that, but they did. They also put quite a few developers and other resources into managing the resulting open-office.
Just as with Mozilla and AOL, I'm sure a large part of the work going into open office today is still on Suns dime.
If Sun wanted to tighten the screws as you said, all they'd have to do is remove some of the developers that they have on OO and put them on StarOffice only code; although I don't think they have any reason to do that.
My next phone is either going to have bluetooth, or I'm not going to bother with a GPRS phone plan.
I don't see the use of having internet service and not being able to browse using my laptop or pda via the cellphone. Why buy another GSM PC or CF card for every device I potentially would like to connect to the net?
Like most people, I want a small cell phone. This is directly at odds with a screen of the size needed to surf the web reasonably. The phone's own screen would be great for proofing pics before sending and getting emergency directions I guess, but not for browsing.
I can't afford the C-700, I paid about $400 for my 5500 and I think it was worth the money. "Runs Linux" is nothing to sneeze at. It means that there are lots of free applications that I'm familiar with that works on the zaurus.
For me the biggest ones are emulators and network testing tools. A PDA that does all that plus fits in your pocket is worth the money.
I think these things clock in high on the "neat-o" scale, but that's about it, how do you justify 7 bones on a PDA?
Some people have the money and/or the need.
I agree entirely. not a nice thing to do was an intentional understatement. But legal rules are all we can force people to abid by.
Mike has clearly shown that he has trouble working with others. Why make this more drawn out and debated than it needs to be?
Here's a simple solution...
(i) GDF core members get together and choose a name for their protocol. Basically rename the GDF version of gnutella.
(ii) They trademark that name. It's not that expensive. I'd suggest GDF register as a non-profit whilst they're at it.
(iii) Legal counsel for GDF commercial members sue the pants of Mike or any other person that tries to bastardise this new protocol.
This, I believe is the proper way to fix this mess, instead of 'duking it out' on message boards and mailing lists.
PS. thanks for the work on gtk-gnutella.
I'm not a Shareaza fan, But I think Mike is within his rights to call his protocol Gnutella2 if he wishes.
I've been following this thing for a while now and this is my view. Gnutella was made by a group of developers at nullsoft, right? They never trademarked the name and eventually abandoned the technology all together, I believe.
GDF is an ad hoc group put together to continue the development, but have no special rights concerning gnutella.
Love him or Hate him, I think Mike is perfectly in his rights to call his protocol Gnutella2. It's not a very nice thing to do, but he is within his rights.
The GDF should accept this, realize that at any time someone can create a 'Gnutellan' and all the GDF need to do is that when describing their protocols, specify the version that they created and/or endorse. eg 0.6, etc.
It may seem kind of hash, but this is probably the only way to keep P2P networks from degrading due to stunts like this. P2P needs clients that upload to be useful, otherwise the clients that do allow uploads will receive an unfair amount of load.
Having individual clients that don't share is one thing, having entire networks that don't is much bigger problem.
I think it's time P2P clients start including easy ways to ban entire IP blocks.
This would also provide OptimumOnline customers another reason to (i) complain to OptimumOnline about the policy and/or (ii) change providers.
disable SMS for a short while.
Most mailing list unsubscribe you if your messages bounce for some limit.
Inconveniet yes, but it should work.
Lineo provide a valuable service to Sharp. Do you think sharp could have said "hey open-source community, I need a linux kernel and drivers for this new device I'm doing..., and have it ready in 6 months"?
Would you drop everything you're doing and do it for them?
OpenZaurus is nice but unless sharp puts a decent development team to help make sure it sticks around, how are they going to guarantee that it will?
Commercial accountability, delivery guarantees are needed, and that's where companies like Lineo, RedHat, Suse, etc. come in.
Why is it a crime for company to try to make a buck with open-source software, even if they obey all license agreements?
All I'm hearing is "why bother, we'll never make a difference" and "RIAA doesn't care what we do".
That is so freakin' sad!!
Either you believe in something or you don't. If you do, no matter what the freakin' odds are stand for what you believe in!!
I hate to sound like a fortune cookie, but man.
RIAA probably cares about any potential customer that does not become a customer due to bad press.
I don't fall in that demographic you spoke of, my boycott is still under a year old, but I'm sure if people of *all* demographics organize and be vocal about this, RIAA will at least hear the message. Wether they do something about it is another story.
RIAA most likely sees things in terms of potential profit, not in demographics, there's a subtle difference. Right now the 18-25s spend a lot more that the 30+, you bet if that changes RIAA would be the first to know, and the first to make advertising changes.
the boycott is for me.
I makes me feel good that I'm doing the little that I can, even if Disney may not feel the effects of my actions. It makes me feel better that I'm making the sacrifice.
Early 2002, I started boycotting MPAA/RIAA as well. I only went to the movies twice ( before the boycott ) for the year, I bought just as many CDs ( from a smaller publisher ) and I don't buy DVDs for myself anymore ( although I do buy for my family, once in a while ).
My only new years resolution is to make my boycott more effective, including making a decent contribute to EFF.
Point is, do it for your own peace of mind; If funding these organizations disturbs you.
In this day and age, the only vote that the consumer really has is her/his money. Make yours count.
I know there are accelerators out there, but most people not know about or use them. Plus I really can't see the harm in including a accelerator in the default engine. Does anyone know why it is not included? There are open source accelerators that can be distributed with PHP.
Many scripting engines eg. Cold fusion, JSP, compile code only the very first time the code is executed since the module was started, then only check to see if the code was changed on disk before executing the already-in-memory code.
And which side does the child identify with? What happens when the child see's her/his mistakes as "evil"?
Child: Since there are only two types of people in the world, I must be evil right?
I don't believe we should take fairy tales from kids, god forbid. But I do believe we under-estimate their capacity to handle the truth, ie. there is good and evil in everybody.
The final page of the article summaries some important problems with modern pop culture, the real target of Brin's article I suspect.
It also pulls together Brin's admitedly wordy argument ( at least compared to the average slashdot story )
I had to say that seeing the beating Brin is getting here.
Like many I was charmed by LOTR, but I agree with Brin to some extent. To put it simpley
"good vs. evil, comic-book syndrome is getting old".
I am not suggesting that the LOTR is anything other than one of the best pieces of fiction ever written, *but* there are basic themes that evaluate to the simple comic-book syndrome.
This formula has bothered me since I was a kid watching "transformers" and "gi joe", often times hoping that cobra commander or megatron would win.
I watched "moulin rouge" thinking that in the story within the story, the "evil" king should have got the girl. Should a man that has given his life to rule his country and thus have little experience at love be denied because of his sacrifices?
"titanic" showed a perfectly beautiful couple tormented by a crass, angry aristocrate. That movie made all the money that it did because we're prone to enjoy "formula" movies. This is not necessarily always a bad thing btw.
Why are all the bad guys ugly and the good guys beautiful?
Just for fun, take a closer look at the movies showing, and look for it. The "us vs. them", "beauty vs. ugly", "good vs. evil". Compare with movies that break that dwell less on this formula eg "Changing Lanes" http://us.imdb.com/Title?0264472
As a precaution...
/etc/init.d/mysqld
If you can get away with it, which is true for many people, bind only on local loopback address. Add the '--bind-address=127.0.0.1' in your mysqld startup script, eg.
This causes mysql to only allow connections from the local machine. Eg. if you have apache and mysql running on the same physical computer, and you always use 'localhost' or '127.0.0.1' in your scripts. Not only is it faster ( marginally, I guess ) but it's slightly more secure as well.
I only remembered it was DirecTv because I use their DSL. For some reason, I don't think the ad was very good at pushing the brand, it's a funny ad but the brand does not stick.
They need a mascot or a spokesperson. Maybe a talking modem or something :)
It's a DirecTv DSL commercial.
It ends with him going back to his wife's chair, noticeably stunned. Wife: "I thought you where surfing the internet", Man ( still in disbelieve ): "Yeah, but I finished it...", Wife looks like him like he's a nut.
So why does the ethnicity of the racist asshole who made this comment matter? Racists exist in all races. Why does this suprise you?
Similar to the issues raised in the disscusion on the spammer who was complaining about too much spam, some people have no empathy. They can't understand that their actions are wrong even if they've gone or are going through the same thing.