gcc -fbounds-check could find some memory problems (and some non-problems). I used this feature over 6 years ago before it was integrated into gcc. YMMV.
Nope. I won't agree to that, for one simple reason -- whitespace has meaning in Python.
A university cannot make a programming language choice that introduces unnecessary barriers to blind students. Python does so.
Wow, thanks for that bit of news. I guess I will have to tell the blind guy at work he can't use Python.
I can't begin to tell you my frustration at the current state of a lot of FOSS projects. I see some really good ideas, some fantastic concepts, some really bright people...but by and large their efforts are uncoordinated, poorly documented, and lacking in professionalism.
I agree with almost everything you say, except one portion of the comment above: "lacking in professionalism."
That may seem to be the case from the other side, however, it isn't accurate. The problem is that OSS doesn't usually have an entire team, it only has developers. Until we can enlist the other professionals to round out the team, OSS will often not be able to compete in the enterprise. You can have the best technical solution, but if Joe User can't effectively use the software, it's worthless to him.
We need UI/human factors people to be involved (or at least developers with good eyes for such details). We also need technical writers to produce what is necessary for average people to use the software we write. It's not that developers can't do these jobs, it's that we rarely perform these tasks. They are necessary for many business, as is support.
But let me turn it around, how can businesses help open source be more useful for themselves? Quid pro quo. If businesses invest a little, they can receive more from open source. There are now many foundations setup to help provide a more stable path for companies who wish to use OSS.
Some companies are doing this, two profitable ones that come to mind are: RedHat and Google. One of which I happen to work for.:-)
Slashdot Mirror
gcc -fbounds-check could find some memory problems (and some non-problems). I used this feature over 6 years ago before it was integrated into gcc. YMMV.
But, from what I've heard, it's an intensely secretive atmosphere with little publicizing of work outside your own group.
My experience has been exactly the opposite. After 4 months, I am still drinking from the information firehose.
Nope. I won't agree to that, for one simple reason -- whitespace has meaning in Python.
A university cannot make a programming language choice that introduces unnecessary barriers to blind students. Python does so. Wow, thanks for that bit of news. I guess I will have to tell the blind guy at work he can't use Python.
I can't believe there's an article on /. that mentions Yahoo, MSN, and AOL, but not Google. They must feel so left out.
Did someone finally impose a Google limit on /.?
I can't begin to tell you my frustration at the current state of a lot of FOSS projects. I see some really good ideas, some fantastic concepts, some really bright people...but by and large their efforts are uncoordinated, poorly documented, and lacking in professionalism.
I agree with almost everything you say, except one portion of the comment above: "lacking in professionalism."
That may seem to be the case from the other side, however, it isn't accurate. The problem is that OSS doesn't usually have an entire team, it only has developers. Until we can enlist the other professionals to round out the team, OSS will often not be able to compete in the enterprise. You can have the best technical solution, but if Joe User can't effectively use the software, it's worthless to him.
We need UI/human factors people to be involved (or at least developers with good eyes for such details). We also need technical writers to produce what is necessary for average people to use the software we write. It's not that developers can't do these jobs, it's that we rarely perform these tasks. They are necessary for many business, as is support.
But let me turn it around, how can businesses help open source be more useful for themselves? Quid pro quo. If businesses invest a little, they can receive more from open source. There are now many foundations setup to help provide a more stable path for companies who wish to use OSS.
Some companies are doing this, two profitable ones that come to mind are: RedHat and Google. One of which I happen to work for. :-)