It's Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model. It attempts to make software more an engineering process. However, as someone who's gone through it... it sounds like a good thing, but throw a few incompetent middle managers in there and it becomes a stick to beat programmers with, just like anything else can.
Most companies are at CMM level 1, sort of ad-hoc. CMM level 2 is about being able to repeat what you've done. CMM level 3 is about defining exactly what you do. CMM level 4 is about managing the process of defining exactly what you do. CMM level 5 is about optimizing that. (I know this is a little vague... I'm trying to make this simple.) Examples of CMM Level 5 certified companies are Boeing and the NASA shuttle group.
Nowhere in there is the requirement that you are doing the right thing, or doing it well in terms of what users will think. It's possible to be a completely incompetent programmer -- or, more accurately, software creator -- but follow CMM well.
Software really is part art. Not as much so as a lot of other things, but it really does require talent as well as training.
I think someone working at, say, CMM level 2 or 3 is clearly using engineering principles. However, it *is* true that the same job can be done by a high school kid, and I'm not at all convinced CMM is a good thing.
But... a smart high-school kid could probably design a bridge, too. It's just a much bigger deal when it falls.
I don't know what size the new iMac is. However, the eMac is both bigger and heavier than the iMac (although it's a bit less deep due to a shorter tube).
iMac: 15.8" H x 15.2" W x 17.6" D (40lbs)
eMac: 15.8" H x 15.8" W x 17.1" D (50lbs)
The reason is that for most users, a one button mouse is better. Unless you use context menus, you're better off with a single mouse button. If you're new or unused to computers, you're better off with a single button.
But if a two button mouse is offered, newbies and novices will consider it an "upgrade" without really considering it. After all, they might use it someday, right?
The current approach of including a single button mouse and working with any off-the-shelf two (or more) button mouse is the best one, I think.
(Although I don't really think this applies to a scroll wheel. Perhaps the next revision to the Apple mouse -- or keyboard, they're much more useful there -- will have one.
While you're right that blaming Windows for Office's short comings isn't fair (I haven't read the article recently, so I'm not sure what's really what's going on), you're wrong in implying Office Mac and Office Windows are the same program.
By switching to Office Mac v. X he essentially *did* switch to an Office. One that's still a commercial product that's fully compatible with Office for Windows.
I dislike a lot of Microsoft products, but I give credit (and cash) where it's due and use Office for Mac OS X. Now if someone replaces it with something better I'll be on it in a heartbeat, but it's pretty good as is.
Well, sure, I could live without one.
on
Palm PDA Roundup
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· Score: 1
I could live without a lot of things: Computers, electricity, furniture. Maybe a Palm would be easier to live with than electricity or furniture, but I use my Palm a lot.
My Palm right now contains 165 contacts, a scientific calculator, an email program that works with my cell phone, 35 notes (including some really long ones that are story kernels), a custom database with about 500 people, the schedule for the Vancouver Canucks, meetings I've agreed to go to, and a remote control for the TV at the pub I watch them at. Yah, I get to adjust the volume if the barkeep misses it.:D
Palm licensees have access to the source code. The Palm OS 4 Sony Cliés do some unique stuff, but it's done in a safe manner. The only complaints I've heard about compatibility is the colors for the virtual silkscreen area can go odd.
Hires on Sony/Palm OS 4 is done through what basically amounts to a DLL. Applications that want to support Hires need to load the library and execute it. Applications that want to take over the grafiti area need to specify that as well.
Hires on Palm OS 5 is all done the same way, through a nw API that PalmSource has added.
But you're right, PalmSource can't ship a single version of Palm OS 6 that covers all Palm OS handhelds. But why would you want them to? Wouldn't you rather have Sony responsible for Palm OS 6/Sony compatibilty than PalmSource?
I love my Clié NR70. My next handheld will probably be a Tungsten T, but it won't be for compatibility... I've been spoiled by the small size when developing for them and I want Bluetooth at a lower price than Sony can give me.
It's very useful for video card problems, but other than that it is more a pain in the arse than anything. "System completed power-on test. Now booting from operating system" at loud volumes coming out of a ridiculously small speaker in the middle of the night can be a bit freaky.
So I turned it off. Now if there are any video card problems, I won't hear about them.
Interesting. I found that title list on his site too, but it's a bit burried.
I remember at one point there was a title rename and (I think) an extra book. So your list is probably accurate. Maybe it's three our of six published, not three out of five.
And I think GRRM has long since beaten Jordon in terms of quality. It will just take a bit for the reputation to come.
An extremely gritty and realistic fantasy series. So far, three out of the five books have been published: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords (and coming at some point: A Dance with Dragons and The Winds of Winter.)
It is not a pretty world, but it is a riveting one. Best fantasy series I've read to date, and yes that includes the classics.
I don't think people looking for good "what if?" science fiction can do much better than Greg Bear (Darwin's Radio) and Robert Sawyer (The Terminal Experiment, Flash Forward).
...But my opinion is that you ought not use the phrase "open source" unless it meets the OSI mark requirements (which your plan most certainly would not).
Actually, the original article says specifically it is NOT open source here:
Let's leave aside for now the issue of totally open source vs. closed source. There are times when you want the product to be proprietary as we do, however I want them to feel comfortable using our code so that if a proverbial plane were to fly into our building and wipe us all out then they don't go down the tubes with us.
Saying you are opening your source to a specific company in no way makes it Open Source, nor implies that you think it is. A lot of people replying to this don't seem to understand that and I can only assume it's because they didn't actually read the @#$%ing artcile.
I use it for notes, phone numbers, appointments and email. I prefer it to paper and there are some places my Powerbook doesn't go - or get used, anyway. Like the passenger seat of a Camaro in downtown.
Slashdot Mirror
It's Software Engineering Institute's Capability Maturity Model. It attempts to make software more an engineering process. However, as someone who's gone through it... it sounds like a good thing, but throw a few incompetent middle managers in there and it becomes a stick to beat programmers with, just like anything else can.
Most companies are at CMM level 1, sort of ad-hoc. CMM level 2 is about being able to repeat what you've done. CMM level 3 is about defining exactly what you do. CMM level 4 is about managing the process of defining exactly what you do. CMM level 5 is about optimizing that. (I know this is a little vague... I'm trying to make this simple.) Examples of CMM Level 5 certified companies are Boeing and the NASA shuttle group.
Nowhere in there is the requirement that you are doing the right thing, or doing it well in terms of what users will think. It's possible to be a completely incompetent programmer -- or, more accurately, software creator -- but follow CMM well.
Software really is part art. Not as much so as a lot of other things, but it really does require talent as well as training.
I think someone working at, say, CMM level 2 or 3 is clearly using engineering principles. However, it *is* true that the same job can be done by a high school kid, and I'm not at all convinced CMM is a good thing.
But... a smart high-school kid could probably design a bridge, too. It's just a much bigger deal when it falls.
I'm really curious what the front of the screen is. It must be fairly thick.
I don't know what size the new iMac is. However, the eMac is both bigger and heavier than the iMac (although it's a bit less deep due to a shorter tube). iMac: 15.8" H x 15.2" W x 17.6" D (40lbs) eMac: 15.8" H x 15.8" W x 17.1" D (50lbs)
Oh, I agree. The eMac is a G4 with a 17" screen, though. That makes it faster, bigger and heavier.
The eMacs are quite a bit bigger.
The new iMac is better in nearly every way, but one nice thing about the old CRT-based iMac is that it is difficult to damage.
CRTs are not bullet-proof, but they are much more "bored kid with a pen"-proof than LCDs.
I totally agree. I want to see Spiderman 2 as soon as possible, but I'd be willing to wait a year or two to see it with Toby.
Of course, there might be scheduling issues with other cast members then. But I'm sure they could reassemble the cast within a couple years.
The reason is that for most users, a one button mouse is better. Unless you use context menus, you're better off with a single mouse button. If you're new or unused to computers, you're better off with a single button.
But if a two button mouse is offered, newbies and novices will consider it an "upgrade" without really considering it. After all, they might use it someday, right?
The current approach of including a single button mouse and working with any off-the-shelf two (or more) button mouse is the best one, I think.
(Although I don't really think this applies to a scroll wheel. Perhaps the next revision to the Apple mouse -- or keyboard, they're much more useful there -- will have one.
When was it? Oh yeah. In the Windows 95 docs. And again in Windows 98. I don't think ME mentioned it, but XP certainly did.
While you're right that blaming Windows for Office's short comings isn't fair (I haven't read the article recently, so I'm not sure what's really what's going on), you're wrong in implying Office Mac and Office Windows are the same program.
By switching to Office Mac v. X he essentially *did* switch to an Office. One that's still a commercial product that's fully compatible with Office for Windows.
I dislike a lot of Microsoft products, but I give credit (and cash) where it's due and use Office for Mac OS X. Now if someone replaces it with something better I'll be on it in a heartbeat, but it's pretty good as is.
I could live without a lot of things: Computers, electricity, furniture. Maybe a Palm would be easier to live with than electricity or furniture, but I use my Palm a lot. My Palm right now contains 165 contacts, a scientific calculator, an email program that works with my cell phone, 35 notes (including some really long ones that are story kernels), a custom database with about 500 people, the schedule for the Vancouver Canucks, meetings I've agreed to go to, and a remote control for the TV at the pub I watch them at. Yah, I get to adjust the volume if the barkeep misses it. :D
Palm licensees have access to the source code. The Palm OS 4 Sony Cliés do some unique stuff, but it's done in a safe manner. The only complaints I've heard about compatibility is the colors for the virtual silkscreen area can go odd.
Hires on Sony/Palm OS 4 is done through what basically amounts to a DLL. Applications that want to support Hires need to load the library and execute it. Applications that want to take over the grafiti area need to specify that as well.
Hires on Palm OS 5 is all done the same way, through a nw API that PalmSource has added.
But you're right, PalmSource can't ship a single version of Palm OS 6 that covers all Palm OS handhelds. But why would you want them to? Wouldn't you rather have Sony responsible for Palm OS 6/Sony compatibilty than PalmSource?
I love my Clié NR70. My next handheld will probably be a Tungsten T, but it won't be for compatibility... I've been spoiled by the small size when developing for them and I want Bluetooth at a lower price than Sony can give me.
So I turned it off. Now if there are any video card problems, I won't hear about them.
A "error only" mode would have been nice.
xxx xxx-xxxx for local calls. 1 xxx xxx-xxxx for local or long distance calls.
Hmm. I thought it was horribly boring and not realistic at all... not because of the technology, but because of the characters.
Interesting. I found that title list on his site too, but it's a bit burried.
I remember at one point there was a title rename and (I think) an extra book. So your list is probably accurate. Maybe it's three our of six published, not three out of five.
And I think GRRM has long since beaten Jordon in terms of quality. It will just take a bit for the reputation to come.
A Song of Fire and Ice
An extremely gritty and realistic fantasy series. So far, three out of the five books have been published: A Game of Thrones, A Clash of Kings, A Storm of Swords (and coming at some point: A Dance with Dragons and The Winds of Winter.)
It is not a pretty world, but it is a riveting one. Best fantasy series I've read to date, and yes that includes the classics.
The real issue is Altivec. Motorola's got it, IBM wasn't interested in it.
Even now that IBM *is* implementing the instruction set, they're not able to use the name because Motorola's trademarked it.
I don't think people looking for good "what if?" science fiction can do much better than Greg Bear (Darwin's Radio) and Robert Sawyer (The Terminal Experiment, Flash Forward).
My brother and a couple of my friends are into it too.
;)
Today I explained the word "Jozxyqk" to his wife. She didn't believe me; he came back into the car and I said "Hey, bro, what's jozxyqk mean?"
Great fun.
But probably not a truly great sf universe.
Actually, the original article says specifically it is NOT open source here:
Let's leave aside for now the issue of totally open source vs. closed source. There are times when you want the product to be proprietary as we do, however I want them to feel comfortable using our code so that if a proverbial plane were to fly into our building and wipe us all out then they don't go down the tubes with us.
Saying you are opening your source to a specific company in no way makes it Open Source, nor implies that you think it is. A lot of people replying to this don't seem to understand that and I can only assume it's because they didn't actually read the @#$%ing artcile.
I use it for notes, phone numbers, appointments and email. I prefer it to paper and there are some places my Powerbook doesn't go - or get used, anyway. Like the passenger seat of a Camaro in downtown.
Or am I thinking of End of the Line?
"A method for posting prices which mislead consumers emotionally and thus increasing sales while adhering to all legal requirements."