In the past year, two of my clients have required a SOAP enabled web-service for various reasons - and not to be buzzword compliant either. One is a charity, the other is a smallish tech company.
I don't think the AV companies can hide behind that defense. After all, not all the AV companies are US companies (the only country where the DMCA applies). Kaspersky Labs comes to mind.
Where in the hell can you return an opened CD these days?
Anywhere with decent consumer protection laws.
You don't know if it's defective until you open it and try and play it. In the UK it would be illegal to not refund the purchase of defective goods. You'd just claim it wouldn't play in your car's CD player and they have to give you the money back.
You can either choose to speak your piece, shut up about it, and stay employed. Or you can take the moral highground and resign. Most people won't do the latter because most people don't put themselves into unemployment that easily.
In the current job climate (US excepting from what I read here), the developer is the one in the position of power. There are too many jobs around and a decent developer can just walk into another whenever he/she pleases. It's a hell of a lot harder for the company to replace the developer with someone of equal ability.
You give a compelling argument, and I can't answer the question about the defence of my family without sounding like a hypocrite. (I had a lot of family fight in WWII as well).
However, at the end of the day, if I thought that my code (even if by mistake as I said before) ended up participating in the killing of innocent men, women and children, I think I'd have a hard job sleeping at night.
To be honest, the safety of the soldiers isn't top of my priorities (though I do respect and admire them for doing that job), after all being in a tank that is being fired at is in their job description.
No, the problem I have is that innocent civilians (men, women and children) always end up being casualties in war and they have no choice in the matter. It's the killing of these people that I could not be associated with.
Presumably only if they are a US anti-virus company. It could also be a marketing war for the anti-virus firms. Only the non-US ones will be able to clear-up the Sony malware, e.g. Kaspersky.
Exactly, and I happen to think that the scientists are at least partly responsible.
I was recently called up by a pimp (consultancy agent) and he asked if there was any company I wouldn't want to work for. I said anyone connected directly with the defence industry and he told me that I'd be surprised how many people also said that.
As far as I'm concerned, if I write software for a guided missile for example, and that missile happens to kill innocent civilians (even if by mistake) then I feel like there'd be at least some blood on my hands too - which I don't want.
Well so far this month I've had exactly 5 hits asking for the various URLs on my main webserver so from over here the problem is most definitiely overstated.
Everything is already set up and configured with all the JACK connections ready to go, low latency patches etc etc. If you've ever tried to set that up yourself, you'll realise it's well worth the price to avoid the hassle.
I don't just target IE. I give a complete breakdown of costs for all things on the invoice. But unlike most people instead of just detailing "web pages" or something, I break down what the cost of development was for each browser.
Again, it doesn't cost the client anything more than normal, and I have plenty of clients who come back for more business.
Personally I design to standards and then detail the charges for the time it takes me to fix it on IE in the final invoice. Then the client knows exactly how much the use of IE is costing them as a percentage of the total cost of the project.
It doesn't cost them anymore than before, but it really opens their eyes.
Nope, it's everything from classical to the latest releases.
In the player, select "change station", type in a band and listen to similar artists. This updates your profile with the stuff you've listened to.
Or get the plugin for your favourite MP3 player and it will update your profile as you listen to your MP3s.
Once you have a decent size profile you'll be able to click on "Start Radio" and choose "Neighbour Radio" which streams stuff that other people who listen to the same kind of music you do have listened to.
They have other stations on there if you're a subscriber, like being able to listen to your own playlist without having to have your files around.
Last FM is a great concept. Basically it uses a system similar to Amazon's recommended links. You download their player (don't worry, open source, BSD license, Mac/Linux/Windows) and you type the name of a band in the box. It then streams music the database thinks is similar. You can vote to skip, ban, or love a track.
When you've done it for a while you'll have your own profile. You can then go and listen to music that your "musical neighbours" are listening to.
Lots of indie music on there. Lots of everything on there.
I never said that developers shouldn't comment their code. I was simply saying that formalising the structure of comments is a waste of time. If a developer doesn't understand where comments are appropriate, they are not a good developer and should be fired for being inadequate at their job.
Formalising the process of comment writing is adding yet another burden onto the developer along with development methodologies, case tools (though not if being used for MDA), pair-programming, and all the other shit that PHBs think is wonderful after discovering it at some conference.
Comments should be common sense and used where the developer thinks it is appropriate and where they will aid future developers/maintainers understand a particular block of code. Nothing more, nothing less. The article is just typical PHB management bullshit and I feel dumber after reading it.
The scenario that is the ultimate end product to "comment standardisation" is what happened at a company that a friend of mine works for. They had a developer sit there for 3 days, go through the entire code base, and format the comments to the "company standard". No shit.
It's awesome for the money. I run it under Linux (though a Windows version is available) and have all kinds of Windows instances available with different browsers, different patch levels etc.
Javascripting is still needed to keep the interface working smoothly and un annoying.
No. There are two reasons why you should never rely on Javascript.
1) It's against disability accessibility regulations because it confuses screen readers (at least that's the case in the UK, I assume it's similar in the US). If you're doing a public sector project, it is forbidden (i.e. against the law) to use Javascript for anything that is visible. You want to do DHTML or "dynamic control of your controls", you have to use CSS.
2) It can be disabled. So it's pointless doing something like validation on the client side when you're going to have to do it on the server side anyway to keep the application robust.
This is important. In most (all?) of Europe there is a "loser pays" system so if you're sued and you win, you pay nothing. You cannot be sued into submission here with frivolous lawsuits like you can in the US.
Slashdot Mirror
In the past year, two of my clients have required a SOAP enabled web-service for various reasons - and not to be buzzword compliant either. One is a charity, the other is a smallish tech company.
They're out there, it's not just a myth.
Bob
I don't think the AV companies can hide behind that defense. After all, not all the AV companies are US companies (the only country where the DMCA applies). Kaspersky Labs comes to mind.
Bob
Ah, yes... Giving credit card numbers to (essentially) unknown foreign agencies that claim to be completely legal.
When you say foreign, does that mean anywhere outside of America? Or are you targetting particular countries specifically?
There are many shady organisations in the US, does this mean that I should only send my CC details to UK companies?
Bob
Where in the hell can you return an opened CD these days?
Anywhere with decent consumer protection laws.
You don't know if it's defective until you open it and try and play it. In the UK it would be illegal to not refund the purchase of defective goods. You'd just claim it wouldn't play in your car's CD player and they have to give you the money back.
Bob
You can either choose to speak your piece, shut up about it, and stay employed. Or you can take the moral highground and resign. Most people won't do the latter because most people don't put themselves into unemployment that easily.
In the current job climate (US excepting from what I read here), the developer is the one in the position of power. There are too many jobs around and a decent developer can just walk into another whenever he/she pleases. It's a hell of a lot harder for the company to replace the developer with someone of equal ability.
Bob
You give a compelling argument, and I can't answer the question about the defence of my family without sounding like a hypocrite. (I had a lot of family fight in WWII as well).
However, at the end of the day, if I thought that my code (even if by mistake as I said before) ended up participating in the killing of innocent men, women and children, I think I'd have a hard job sleeping at night.
Bob
To be honest, the safety of the soldiers isn't top of my priorities (though I do respect and admire them for doing that job), after all being in a tank that is being fired at is in their job description.
No, the problem I have is that innocent civilians (men, women and children) always end up being casualties in war and they have no choice in the matter. It's the killing of these people that I could not be associated with.
Bob
Presumably only if they are a US anti-virus company. It could also be a marketing war for the anti-virus firms. Only the non-US ones will be able to clear-up the Sony malware, e.g. Kaspersky.
Bob
Exactly, and I happen to think that the scientists are at least partly responsible.
I was recently called up by a pimp (consultancy agent) and he asked if there was any company I wouldn't want to work for. I said anyone connected directly with the defence industry and he told me that I'd be surprised how many people also said that.
As far as I'm concerned, if I write software for a guided missile for example, and that missile happens to kill innocent civilians (even if by mistake) then I feel like there'd be at least some blood on my hands too - which I don't want.
Bob
Well so far this month I've had exactly 5 hits asking for the various URLs on my main webserver so from over here the problem is most definitiely overstated.
Bob
Everything is already set up and configured with all the JACK connections ready to go, low latency patches etc etc. If you've ever tried to set that up yourself, you'll realise it's well worth the price to avoid the hassle.
Bob
I'm on a standard install of SuSE 9.3 Pro and passwords in /etc/shadow start with $2$, so I guess Novell are on the ball at least.
Bob
Surprise normally - most assume IE would be the easier to develop for since its the most common.
Bob
I don't just target IE. I give a complete breakdown of costs for all things on the invoice. But unlike most people instead of just detailing "web pages" or something, I break down what the cost of development was for each browser.
Again, it doesn't cost the client anything more than normal, and I have plenty of clients who come back for more business.
Bob
Personally I design to standards and then detail the charges for the time it takes me to fix it on IE in the final invoice. Then the client knows exactly how much the use of IE is costing them as a percentage of the total cost of the project.
It doesn't cost them anymore than before, but it really opens their eyes.
Bob
*dons flameproof suit*
Well condering that SQL is pronounced ess-cue-ell and not sequel, PostgreSQL is pronounced post-gress-cue-ell.
Bob
branding and marketing professionals
That certainly explains a lot.
Bob
Nope, it's everything from classical to the latest releases.
In the player, select "change station", type in a band and listen to similar artists. This updates your profile with the stuff you've listened to.
Or get the plugin for your favourite MP3 player and it will update your profile as you listen to your MP3s.
Once you have a decent size profile you'll be able to click on "Start Radio" and choose "Neighbour Radio" which streams stuff that other people who listen to the same kind of music you do have listened to.
They have other stations on there if you're a subscriber, like being able to listen to your own playlist without having to have your files around.
Bob
http://www.last.fm/help/player/
Bob
Last FM is a great concept. Basically it uses a system similar to Amazon's recommended links. You download their player (don't worry, open source, BSD license, Mac/Linux/Windows) and you type the name of a band in the box. It then streams music the database thinks is similar. You can vote to skip, ban, or love a track.
When you've done it for a while you'll have your own profile. You can then go and listen to music that your "musical neighbours" are listening to.
Lots of indie music on there. Lots of everything on there.
Bob
(Not affiliated with them)
I never said that developers shouldn't comment their code. I was simply saying that formalising the structure of comments is a waste of time. If a developer doesn't understand where comments are appropriate, they are not a good developer and should be fired for being inadequate at their job.
Formalising the process of comment writing is adding yet another burden onto the developer along with development methodologies, case tools (though not if being used for MDA), pair-programming, and all the other shit that PHBs think is wonderful after discovering it at some conference.
Bob
I agree (I think) with you.
Comments should be common sense and used where the developer thinks it is appropriate and where they will aid future developers/maintainers understand a particular block of code. Nothing more, nothing less. The article is just typical PHB management bullshit and I feel dumber after reading it.
The scenario that is the ultimate end product to "comment standardisation" is what happened at a company that a friend of mine works for. They had a developer sit there for 3 days, go through the entire code base, and format the comments to the "company standard". No shit.
Bob
VMWare Workstation
It's awesome for the money. I run it under Linux (though a Windows version is available) and have all kinds of Windows instances available with different browsers, different patch levels etc.
Bob
Javascripting is still needed to keep the interface working smoothly and un annoying.
No. There are two reasons why you should never rely on Javascript.
1) It's against disability accessibility regulations because it confuses screen readers (at least that's the case in the UK, I assume it's similar in the US). If you're doing a public sector project, it is forbidden (i.e. against the law) to use Javascript for anything that is visible. You want to do DHTML or "dynamic control of your controls", you have to use CSS.
2) It can be disabled. So it's pointless doing something like validation on the client side when you're going to have to do it on the server side anyway to keep the application robust.
Bob
This is important. In most (all?) of Europe there is a "loser pays" system so if you're sued and you win, you pay nothing. You cannot be sued into submission here with frivolous lawsuits like you can in the US.
Bob