It doesn't tell us what the specific performance problems are with XML. Does it take too long to transmit? Does it take too long to validate? Does it take too long to parse? Does it take too long to format? What's the real problem here?
From experience, I can state that using XML in any high performance situation is easy to screw up. But once you get past the basic mistakes at that level, what other inherent problems are there?
Oh, and just stating "well, the format is obviously wasteful" just because it's human readable (one of its primary, most useful, features) is NOT an answer.
I get the feeling that this perception of XML is being perpetuated by vendors who do not really want to open up their data formats. Allowing them to successfully propagate this impression would be a very real step backwards for all IT professionals.
Yahoo's desktop search looks like a re-branded version of the X1 Desktop Search tool, which is a $75 product. I'm still feeling it out, but it seems to beat the snot out of Google Desktop Search and Copernic. That's saying a lot, especially in the case of the latter.
If you're using a desktop search product, this one is worth checking out.
What I can't figure out is why all these portal sites are so hot to put desktop search tools in our hands for free. I don't object as I find them tremendously useful, but I just don't get it. Get 'em while the getting is good I suppose.
All the DIY'ers out there will disagree and point to how their solution is superior to a stock TiVo. And they would be right. They also get the satisfaction of having constructed their solution, which is unique to the DIY experience.
But having a TiVo is not a DIY solution. It's like having an iPod, or a Mac running OS X. It's elegant. It just frickin works (patent pending I'm sure). And it has a very loyal customer base.
The rest of this stuff might be great, I don't know. I'll never find out if TiVo never ticks me off. At this point, it's their game to lose. If TiVo went away, I don't even know what off the shelf solution can really rival them. Is ReplayTV still around? I don't know. TiVO is certainly dominating this niche.
Oh, and to all those who don't like the monthly service fee, just buy the $300 lifetime plan for the device. Yeah, that's a lot of money if you're struggling to put food on the table, but then one really should prioritize if that's your situation. Anyway, if you add that cost to the price of the device, you typically have a complete solution that just works out of the box for ~$500 (for the 80 hour or less class of TiVo) + tax.
There are few products I would be a fanboy for, but this is one of them (actually, the only one, I don't even have an iPod et al). If your goal is to just have a solution that just works, then this is the way to go.
if you're like me, by the time you found out about TA, there were already like 100 mods for it along with all the extra units, and along with the expansion packs. Now, couple that whole mess with the hardcore TA players who couldn't but help crush my ass like an ant before I'd even really learned to play the game, and it was a let-down experience.
I suppose if you'd been on the TA train from day one, it would have been a hell of a ride. But now? How does one even get into that game anymore? Is there a nice neat install package somewhere that I can just buy, install the whole mess in one fell swoop, and just play? And (no offense), who besides hardcore TA players even play it anymore? A robust and easy to use online experience is a requirement for a successful RTS these days. See StarCraft and the later Age Of Mythology for good examples of what I mean.
So, I guess to sum this up, TA wasn't more popular because it was too much of a commitment to get into. Or did I miss something somewhere?
I remember being a poor student too, so I sympathize with your situation. However, think of how much time and money you'll save by NOT getting into WOW. Small consolation maybe, but consider this. Even when you CAN monetarily afford the game you may STILL NOT be able to "afford" it. That is, you won't be able to afford the time to play it.
Online games of all stripes can suck your life away. I discovered this by playing MUDs and through the first beta test cycle of Asheron's Call. After that, I swore them off, and haven't looked back.
So, I guess you'll have to stick with your low cost Starcraft/CS/TA/whatever works addiction anyway. Honestly, most of us gamers with decent rigs still spend half our time in the oldies anyway.
If you equate "sin" with that which defies, denies, or limits our capabilities and potential as human beings then, yes, we have been "shedding" sin.
There are interpretations of the Christian bible and traditions which are NOT apologetic in nature and which better help fit those traditions into modern culture.
Of course, I never get to be the life of the party for that viewpoint. People would much rather hear about how everyone they don't like will go to hell.:+)
Oh, forget it. I suppose it doesn't make sense to you to treat strangers who haven't even committed any offense against you with a little respect by default. It was a discussion about a game fer crying out loud...
Anyway, have fun with HL2. I'm sure I will.
You clearly think that typing the first thing that comes to your mind is an acceptable thing to do when posting here is effectively anonymous. There are two things to consider before running off at the mouth next time:
1. This may only be/. but you, as an engineer, ought to understand that you don't have all the data and therefore you might want to exercise some care before judging people. Or better yet, don't judge them.
As for my example, while my tone about the circumstances was certainly whiny, it did NOT imply that I viewed the existence of my family as a negative. It did not imply that I utilized my penis to create that family. It did not even imply that I was or wasn't even wearing pants. Your comment assumed all the above in order to take a shot at me.
2. While posting on/. may appear to be an anonymous activity, it really isn't Mr. "PhatNoise - I drive 16.5 miles to work" Dowling. Need I say more? Many times you may only be in the company of fanboys and kids; but many (possibly most) other times you'll be here with professionals who are every bit as clever as yourself. We're just not carbon copies of you. A little respect by default is always the wiser course of action.
Nope, you're stuck too. Sorry to have you in the club.;+}
Obviously, you'll have to make up your own mind, but I think Valve's really the good guy in this battle. I didn't think so at first either, but the more I read, the more I believe that this whole mess is really the result of VU trying to get greedy with Valve and the result of Best Buy getting greedy with VU.
In short, if I had to be mad at anyone at all, it would be Best Buy at this point. They knowingly put this product on the shelf with the knowledge that it wouldn't function until the 16th anyway. I bought the stupid overpriced collector's edition because I thought I would get to play it early. I didn't spend $80 to have it just sit there mocking me. (Yeah, I know. I'm anthropomorphizing software; how sad.)
Aren't you kind of assuming that Valve is unable to turn on the game (just SP for crying out loud) for early purchasers? (And just maybe they are unable to do that, in which case shame on them even further.)
My inability to authenticate is the unfortunate side effect of someone not thinking this through clearly. Don't give VU, Valve, and Best Buy more credit than they deserve on this. This is not like an egg broken on the "frying pan of progress"; it's an oversight, a gaffe, a dumb mistake. It didn't have to happen. Anyone who says otherwise is trying to save face or emitting fanboy reality distortion waves.
Maybe you're responding to the wrong post, so that might the cause of confusion here. But, let me say this again: I bought it from Best Buy.
Now, why would they not let me play it immediately? And how do you know that Best Buy is the only retailer making money for VU?
I didn't know that HL2 would REFUSE to be run until the 16th no matter what. So, like a good little lemming, I went and bought a copy today when I was at Best Buy. For $80, I thought "what the hell, the higher price will be worth it because I can play it tonight and not have to wait until the 19th to play it".
"The 19th???" you say? "But the game comes out on the 16th, right?" Yeah, but what person with a real job and family can actually play games on weekdays?! Gimme a break....
So, in a way, it IS a big deal. Granted, no one is going to die over this, but it is enough to piss me off to the point where I am considering making a complaint to Best Buy about selling the game before I can even play it. THAT is just not cool...
I already had the HL2 preload. Someone could have saved me around $30 or so by telling me that no matter what I did I wasn't going to get to play the game early.
You sir, are an OT posting language wars bastard.
But, I thank you anyway!:+) I had no idea something so cool had been done in the Ruby camp. I shall be trotting off to investigate forthwith.
Having said that, I did try installing Zope 3 just to see how it looks. You know, kick the tires and whatnot. And the stupid thing is, I don't know how to start the frelling thing. Zope 2 installed itself as a Windows service. Install the product, start the service, fire up your browser, and BAM there you go. There's probably some convoluted procedure to start Zope 3 somewhere that I could follow to get some joy but I'm not going to bother for now.
I haven't tried SUSE yet, but I suspect your co-worker suffers from something I call "Expert Syndrome". Briefly, this is a situation where someone considers themselves an expert with something and they tinker with it all the way through its lifetime; from install to replacement. As a result, the system never gets a chance to operate within its default settings. Inevitably, it's always the default settings that provide the most reliable experience because those are the settings that the system will most commonly get QA'ed under.
I've seen this problem with programmers (Java and VB programmers), Linux users, Windows administrators, Windows "power users", XBOX owners (especially the ones that mod it), TiVo owners (especially the ones that hack it), and countless other variations. It seems that geeks in general are susceptible to this problem. I suppose it's just part of the cost of being curious.
I've pretty much given up on trying to help this category of "expert" though; even when I'm sure I know the problem's solution cold. Invariably, they do have enough knowledge to accomplish their aims most of the time. But, they don't have that last 10% or so of knowledge required to really know when to back off from an alteration that's causing problems. Consequently, they don't know when to ask for help either; so offering to help is pointless. And if they DO ask for help, I'll help them if I can, but the advice usually gets ignored about half the time without even trying out the idea.
Well, maybe Borland's tools are still contenders. I honestly don't know. However, it seems clear from the discussion surrounding this thread in the forum that the ball has been dropped for developers loyal to Borland. Putting one's trust in Borland would seem to be ill advised given the displeasure with them that I've been witnessing here. On the other hand, this IS/.
Say what you want about Microsoft, but at least we both can say with near certainty that the toolsets under discussion will not evaporate any time soon. Even J++ and FoxPro still get "the time of day" from Microsoft whereas other vendors can not claim that about their core development toolset.
Anyway, I do encourage you to chase that forming idea. A powerful RAD environment need not always be served up in a single install package. Sometimes our circumstances require us to take the next couple of steps in order to best meet the requirements. The challenge, as always, is to do that while meeting the client(s) unforeseen future needs all the while avoiding rash (and yet, maybe popular) choices made in the heat of the moment. After all that, maybe you will come around full circle back to the mainstream tools. Having at least made the inquiry, you could select those tools in good conscience and with enthusiasm rather than with the dread of resignation.
Frankly, I'm a bit envious of your situation. It sounds like you have quite a degree of latitude at the moment. I, on the other hand, am locked down into a project where all the choices have been made. Fortunately, I made good choices for this customer. All that remains now is to deliver that remaining 20% of features that take 80% of the time. Enjoy your freedom while you have it and make the choices you need to make in order to make the bulk of the time on your project as enjoyable and memorable as possible while serving your customer in the best possible way.
And that, is my official $.02 USD.:+)
Do feel free to post an email address if you like for further communiqués. This thread won't be open for replies much longer I would think (though I am too lazy too look it up right now).
Well, assuming you REALLY want data-aware controls, why even stray from Microsoft? No one is going to do that better than them. Period. Why not just use Microsoft Access or VS.NET? There are no other tools that will make you more productive than that in a two-tier application design. And no.. I'm not really being sarcastic. Let's face it: ease of development is what characterizes the MS developer toolset.
All that aside, I have done a little research on data-bound Python applications just for you (and to sate my own curiosity). See, I have written a little Python that talks to MS SQL Server using ADOdb (http://adodb.sourceforge.net/), but it wasn't a data-bound GUI application. So, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm wondering how it could be done.
It turns out, we're not the first people to think about this. See http://www.informit.com/articles/printerfriendly.a sp?p=30649 for a more thorough treatment. Bottom line: It's doable.
Besides what's mentioned in the article and ADOdb, here are some other interesting possibilities: PyDO - http://skunkweb.sourceforge.net/PyDO/PyDO.html - don't forget to look at the *genscripts - Roll your own - http://www.devx.com/dbzone/Article/22093/1954?pf=t rue
And there were others that I didn't capture (ZODB, Metakit, etc.)
Roll that database access method with a decent GUI library (http://www.wxpython.org/) and your own application development framework, and I'd think you would have a framework that could/would make dataset driven forms a piece of cake. You could even put together your own XML DTD or schema which would make putting together a new form a simple matter of writing a new XML file (use a validating editor of course) containing the SQL, the CRUD matrix (per field if you like), the fields to be displayed, which data-form controls to display (e.g. Prev, Next, etc.), and maybe even some layout hints. (Yeah, that's getting carried away.)
Or you could even take more of a shortcut and use something like PythonCard for the dynamic layouts (http://pythoncard.sourceforge.net/samples/custdb. html). But, if the Qt + Python method mentioned on InformIT worked out, you shouldn't need this approach.
I know I'm late to this conversation, but I'd like to suggest my own preference as an alternative to C++/C++ Builder.
IF I were going to start a project that had to be developed at "RAD speed" and it had to be cross-platform (and therefore non-Microsoft) and it had to be a decent language which doesn't require a lot of useless verbosity, I would be using Python with a GUI library like wxWindows (actually, EXACTLY like wxWindows since that's my preference).
The real "problem" with Python is the choices it presents to you. There's not a real standard environment for Pytyon, so you basically need to set your operating environment up and standardize your team on it from the start. You'll need to choose a GUI library, an IDE, potentially an ORM/persistence layer, etc. But, once that's all done, using Python to develop a project presents no issues and, in the long run, is a very enjoyable experience.
As a side bonus, and as a C/C++ programmer you'll appreciate this, it's very easy to write libraries in C (and I think C++) and interface to them from Python from SWIG. Mind you, I've never actually done this myself, but I've had contact with very strong C programmers who HAVE made that claim and they had the proof to show for it. Another side bonus you get is being able to use a language that allows you to program in a way which is (usually) much closer to how most people think about the domain problems.
BTW - My above suggestion about Python and the environment, etc. probably applies just as well to other scripting languages, e.g. Perl, Lua, Ruby, etc. Python is just my preference.
Oh, and if you have problems getting people to take Python seriously, you merely need to point out that Yahoo, Google, Red Hat, and even Microsoft (Site Server 3.0 was written in Python (look for the.pyc files in the Site Server installation if you don't believe me) but some of the drones at Microsoft insisted on porting it to C++ before it become Commerce Server, so no longer) have all used and are mostly still using Python in their products and/or product sites.
Seriously, is that closer to what you're looking for? I suspect you may not have desired to "stoop" to the level of a "mere scripting language" but really, they usually are the best tool for the job when it comes to building end user applications.
Well, I haven't done a complete survey of the various ORMs out there. I'm sure that there are quite a few choices that would be worthy of integration into ArgoUML. That said, I'm sure that Hibernate, Cayenne, and Sun's JDO would all be worthy of consideration.
As far as the time it would save, I'm not sure that adding those tools into ArgoUML would save time at all. They all kind of do their own thing according to their own model. The productivity benefits of trying to have those models appear in ArgoUML aren't immediately apparent to me. In the case of Hibernate, to name the example with which I'm most familiar, you could certainly import the generated classes into ArgoUML to get them into the diagrams. But, it's not like you'll be changing those classes from within ArgoUML. After all they are generated by Hibernate and, if you stick entirely to Hibernates generative facilities, you won't be maintaining those by hand anyway.
As far as how much time tools like Hibernate save, I would have to say "substantial". Whenever I have a new page to add to my current system, I easily spend over half my time dorking around with the code that accesses the table structures. It would be a god-send to just make any changes I need to the tables, re-gen my database layer code, then proceed with the business logic classes that sit on top of those db layer classes.
The ORM "wheel" has been re-invented many times. I have a gut level repulsion to writing yet another version of that wheel for future systems. Any system I work on WILL need a database layer and none of them are particularly unique as to their needs. After all, I don't write my own UI widget library every time I write a new application.
No kidding.... I mean, when your ORM actually lets you traverse your database relationships using simple Java object tree navigation, and you don't even have to write the code for that, you start to understand what ORM could be.
At the very least, I would be a very happy guy if I could stop writing a Java class file for every freaking table in our system. If I want relationship navigation (example: 1 person to 0-n addresses), I get to write that too! Lucky me... No, I don't have a choice. Yes, I have tried to get it changed.
Don't get me wrong, I love my work; but there is a smart way to get work done, and there is an unnecessarily difficult way to get work done. I'm just in favor of the smart way.
It occurs to me that you could auto-moderate via whitelisting. So those folks on your "angels" list would automatically get a 2+ score. Those on your "not-a-troll-so-far" list would get a 1. Those on your "definitely a troll" list would get a -1.
Oh, and I would never allow anonymous posting. It's just too much frickin work.
I fairly lurch with sympathy every time I read an account like yours. Everyone deserves to work fruitfully, but some people just aren't "lucky" in the way that other (sometimes less proficient) people are.
So, here's my $0.02 on your approach and how to change your luck. Note up front that your problems are most like all about what you AREN'T saying.
First of all, I like the $500 idea. FWIW - It's kind of cool and shows some spunk. But, asking people to go ahead and tailor YOUR resume to THEIR needs isn't appropriate. You'll want to assert yourself more strongly than that. Keep reading for why..
Your requirement that the new position NOT be in Delaware seems to indicate that you would be willing to relocate to somewhere else in the country. That's fine. But, it sends the implied message that you don't really care where you land. And that implies that you aren't necessarily going to be dedicated to remaining in that area (and, by extension, that job). All of that put together screams "train me for free and give me valuable experience so I can go work for someone else as soon as humanly possible". Keep in mind that I'm interpreting this from the perspective of an employer.
Secondly, your resume is asking for a development position OR a system administrator. I understand your desire to be flexible. You probably just want to go with the flow, be agreeable, and land your first job. That's well and fine, but it doesn't get you noticed by an employer.
To make what could be a much lengthier post shorter, I would suggest that you develop a more specific vision of what you want out of your first job. Decide on one area in which you would like to live (metro areas are preferred for fresh graduates). Decide on a more specific professional specialization for your career. Then once you've decided all of that that, you'll be able to market yourself in a much more focused manner. You'll be able to say to an employer "Hey you want X right? I want to be doing that. Let me do it for you and show you how good I am at it. And hey look, I'm not too expensive either. It'll be good for both of us."
The bottom line here is that good employers understand that employees are not just interchangeable cogs. You have to show them how you will fit their specific needs. You have to show them how they'll be able to hand that piece of their organization to you and never have to worry about it again because you're driven, you're on target to be the best, and because you love doing it.
And that, in my opinion, is the difference between a career and just another job. Which one do you really want anyway?
Slashdot Mirror
It doesn't tell us what the specific performance problems are with XML. Does it take too long to transmit? Does it take too long to validate? Does it take too long to parse? Does it take too long to format? What's the real problem here?
From experience, I can state that using XML in any high performance situation is easy to screw up. But once you get past the basic mistakes at that level, what other inherent problems are there?
Oh, and just stating "well, the format is obviously wasteful" just because it's human readable (one of its primary, most useful, features) is NOT an answer.
I get the feeling that this perception of XML is being perpetuated by vendors who do not really want to open up their data formats. Allowing them to successfully propagate this impression would be a very real step backwards for all IT professionals.
Yahoo's desktop search looks like a re-branded version of the X1 Desktop Search tool, which is a $75 product. I'm still feeling it out, but it seems to beat the snot out of Google Desktop Search and Copernic. That's saying a lot, especially in the case of the latter.
If you're using a desktop search product, this one is worth checking out.
What I can't figure out is why all these portal sites are so hot to put desktop search tools in our hands for free. I don't object as I find them tremendously useful, but I just don't get it. Get 'em while the getting is good I suppose.
At least it was easy to read. I normally just skip all that quoted text. ;+)
And that, is that.
All the DIY'ers out there will disagree and point to how their solution is superior to a stock TiVo. And they would be right. They also get the satisfaction of having constructed their solution, which is unique to the DIY experience.
But having a TiVo is not a DIY solution. It's like having an iPod, or a Mac running OS X. It's elegant. It just frickin works (patent pending I'm sure). And it has a very loyal customer base.
The rest of this stuff might be great, I don't know. I'll never find out if TiVo never ticks me off. At this point, it's their game to lose. If TiVo went away, I don't even know what off the shelf solution can really rival them. Is ReplayTV still around? I don't know. TiVO is certainly dominating this niche.
Oh, and to all those who don't like the monthly service fee, just buy the $300 lifetime plan for the device. Yeah, that's a lot of money if you're struggling to put food on the table, but then one really should prioritize if that's your situation. Anyway, if you add that cost to the price of the device, you typically have a complete solution that just works out of the box for ~$500 (for the 80 hour or less class of TiVo) + tax.
There are few products I would be a fanboy for, but this is one of them (actually, the only one, I don't even have an iPod et al). If your goal is to just have a solution that just works, then this is the way to go.
How do you "get over" having fundamentally different life values?
..with worthless posts that doesn't have any value..
:+)
You meant to say "don't".
Sorry, couldn't help it.
if you're like me, by the time you found out about TA, there were already like 100 mods for it along with all the extra units, and along with the expansion packs. Now, couple that whole mess with the hardcore TA players who couldn't but help crush my ass like an ant before I'd even really learned to play the game, and it was a let-down experience. I suppose if you'd been on the TA train from day one, it would have been a hell of a ride. But now? How does one even get into that game anymore? Is there a nice neat install package somewhere that I can just buy, install the whole mess in one fell swoop, and just play? And (no offense), who besides hardcore TA players even play it anymore? A robust and easy to use online experience is a requirement for a successful RTS these days. See StarCraft and the later Age Of Mythology for good examples of what I mean. So, I guess to sum this up, TA wasn't more popular because it was too much of a commitment to get into. Or did I miss something somewhere?
I remember being a poor student too, so I sympathize with your situation. However, think of how much time and money you'll save by NOT getting into WOW. Small consolation maybe, but consider this. Even when you CAN monetarily afford the game you may STILL NOT be able to "afford" it. That is, you won't be able to afford the time to play it.
Online games of all stripes can suck your life away. I discovered this by playing MUDs and through the first beta test cycle of Asheron's Call. After that, I swore them off, and haven't looked back.
So, I guess you'll have to stick with your low cost Starcraft/CS/TA/whatever works addiction anyway. Honestly, most of us gamers with decent rigs still spend half our time in the oldies anyway.
If you equate "sin" with that which defies, denies, or limits our capabilities and potential as human beings then, yes, we have been "shedding" sin. There are interpretations of the Christian bible and traditions which are NOT apologetic in nature and which better help fit those traditions into modern culture. Of course, I never get to be the life of the party for that viewpoint. People would much rather hear about how everyone they don't like will go to hell. :+)
Oh, forget it. I suppose it doesn't make sense to you to treat strangers who haven't even committed any offense against you with a little respect by default. It was a discussion about a game fer crying out loud... Anyway, have fun with HL2. I'm sure I will.
You clearly think that typing the first thing that comes to your mind is an acceptable thing to do when posting here is effectively anonymous. There are two things to consider before running off at the mouth next time:
/. but you, as an engineer, ought to understand that you don't have all the data and therefore you might want to exercise some care before judging people. Or better yet, don't judge them.
/. may appear to be an anonymous activity, it really isn't Mr. "PhatNoise - I drive 16.5 miles to work" Dowling. Need I say more? Many times you may only be in the company of fanboys and kids; but many (possibly most) other times you'll be here with professionals who are every bit as clever as yourself. We're just not carbon copies of you. A little respect by default is always the wiser course of action.
1. This may only be
As for my example, while my tone about the circumstances was certainly whiny, it did NOT imply that I viewed the existence of my family as a negative. It did not imply that I utilized my penis to create that family. It did not even imply that I was or wasn't even wearing pants. Your comment assumed all the above in order to take a shot at me.
2. While posting on
Nope, you're stuck too. Sorry to have you in the club. ;+}
Obviously, you'll have to make up your own mind, but I think Valve's really the good guy in this battle. I didn't think so at first either, but the more I read, the more I believe that this whole mess is really the result of VU trying to get greedy with Valve and the result of Best Buy getting greedy with VU.
In short, if I had to be mad at anyone at all, it would be Best Buy at this point. They knowingly put this product on the shelf with the knowledge that it wouldn't function until the 16th anyway. I bought the stupid overpriced collector's edition because I thought I would get to play it early. I didn't spend $80 to have it just sit there mocking me. (Yeah, I know. I'm anthropomorphizing software; how sad.)
Aren't you kind of assuming that Valve is unable to turn on the game (just SP for crying out loud) for early purchasers? (And just maybe they are unable to do that, in which case shame on them even further.)
My inability to authenticate is the unfortunate side effect of someone not thinking this through clearly. Don't give VU, Valve, and Best Buy more credit than they deserve on this. This is not like an egg broken on the "frying pan of progress"; it's an oversight, a gaffe, a dumb mistake. It didn't have to happen. Anyone who says otherwise is trying to save face or emitting fanboy reality distortion waves.
Maybe you're responding to the wrong post, so that might the cause of confusion here. But, let me say this again: I bought it from Best Buy. Now, why would they not let me play it immediately? And how do you know that Best Buy is the only retailer making money for VU?
I didn't know that HL2 would REFUSE to be run until the 16th no matter what. So, like a good little lemming, I went and bought a copy today when I was at Best Buy. For $80, I thought "what the hell, the higher price will be worth it because I can play it tonight and not have to wait until the 19th to play it".
"The 19th???" you say? "But the game comes out on the 16th, right?" Yeah, but what person with a real job and family can actually play games on weekdays?! Gimme a break....
So, in a way, it IS a big deal. Granted, no one is going to die over this, but it is enough to piss me off to the point where I am considering making a complaint to Best Buy about selling the game before I can even play it. THAT is just not cool...
I already had the HL2 preload. Someone could have saved me around $30 or so by telling me that no matter what I did I wasn't going to get to play the game early.
You sir, are an OT posting language wars bastard. But, I thank you anyway! :+) I had no idea something so cool had been done in the Ruby camp. I shall be trotting off to investigate forthwith.
Having said that, I did try installing Zope 3 just to see how it looks. You know, kick the tires and whatnot. And the stupid thing is, I don't know how to start the frelling thing. Zope 2 installed itself as a Windows service. Install the product, start the service, fire up your browser, and BAM there you go. There's probably some convoluted procedure to start Zope 3 somewhere that I could follow to get some joy but I'm not going to bother for now.
I haven't tried SUSE yet, but I suspect your co-worker suffers from something I call "Expert Syndrome". Briefly, this is a situation where someone considers themselves an expert with something and they tinker with it all the way through its lifetime; from install to replacement. As a result, the system never gets a chance to operate within its default settings. Inevitably, it's always the default settings that provide the most reliable experience because those are the settings that the system will most commonly get QA'ed under.
I've seen this problem with programmers (Java and VB programmers), Linux users, Windows administrators, Windows "power users", XBOX owners (especially the ones that mod it), TiVo owners (especially the ones that hack it), and countless other variations. It seems that geeks in general are susceptible to this problem. I suppose it's just part of the cost of being curious.
I've pretty much given up on trying to help this category of "expert" though; even when I'm sure I know the problem's solution cold. Invariably, they do have enough knowledge to accomplish their aims most of the time. But, they don't have that last 10% or so of knowledge required to really know when to back off from an alteration that's causing problems. Consequently, they don't know when to ask for help either; so offering to help is pointless. And if they DO ask for help, I'll help them if I can, but the advice usually gets ignored about half the time without even trying out the idea.
Oy!
Well, maybe Borland's tools are still contenders. I honestly don't know. However, it seems clear from the discussion surrounding this thread in the forum that the ball has been dropped for developers loyal to Borland. Putting one's trust in Borland would seem to be ill advised given the displeasure with them that I've been witnessing here. On the other hand, this IS /.
:+)
Say what you want about Microsoft, but at least we both can say with near certainty that the toolsets under discussion will not evaporate any time soon. Even J++ and FoxPro still get "the time of day" from Microsoft whereas other vendors can not claim that about their core development toolset.
Anyway, I do encourage you to chase that forming idea. A powerful RAD environment need not always be served up in a single install package. Sometimes our circumstances require us to take the next couple of steps in order to best meet the requirements. The challenge, as always, is to do that while meeting the client(s) unforeseen future needs all the while avoiding rash (and yet, maybe popular) choices made in the heat of the moment. After all that, maybe you will come around full circle back to the mainstream tools. Having at least made the inquiry, you could select those tools in good conscience and with enthusiasm rather than with the dread of resignation.
Frankly, I'm a bit envious of your situation. It sounds like you have quite a degree of latitude at the moment. I, on the other hand, am locked down into a project where all the choices have been made. Fortunately, I made good choices for this customer. All that remains now is to deliver that remaining 20% of features that take 80% of the time. Enjoy your freedom while you have it and make the choices you need to make in order to make the bulk of the time on your project as enjoyable and memorable as possible while serving your customer in the best possible way.
And that, is my official $.02 USD.
Do feel free to post an email address if you like for further communiqués. This thread won't be open for replies much longer I would think (though I am too lazy too look it up right now).
be sure not to miss this link to the book that really elaborates on Python + Qt. It also details how to use BlackAdder to build database applications.
Well, assuming you REALLY want data-aware controls, why even stray from Microsoft? No one is going to do that better than them. Period. Why not just use Microsoft Access or VS.NET? There are no other tools that will make you more productive than that in a two-tier application design. And no.. I'm not really being sarcastic. Let's face it: ease of development is what characterizes the MS developer toolset.
a sp?p=30649 for a more thorough treatment. Bottom line: It's doable.
t rue
. html). But, if the Qt + Python method mentioned on InformIT worked out, you shouldn't need this approach.
All that aside, I have done a little research on data-bound Python applications just for you (and to sate my own curiosity). See, I have written a little Python that talks to MS SQL Server using ADOdb (http://adodb.sourceforge.net/), but it wasn't a data-bound GUI application. So, now that I'm thinking about it, I'm wondering how it could be done.
It turns out, we're not the first people to think about this. See http://www.informit.com/articles/printerfriendly.
Besides what's mentioned in the article and ADOdb, here are some other interesting possibilities:
PyDO - http://skunkweb.sourceforge.net/PyDO/PyDO.html - don't forget to look at the *genscripts -
Roll your own - http://www.devx.com/dbzone/Article/22093/1954?pf=
And there were others that I didn't capture (ZODB, Metakit, etc.)
Roll that database access method with a decent GUI library (http://www.wxpython.org/) and your own application development framework, and I'd think you would have a framework that could/would make dataset driven forms a piece of cake. You could even put together your own XML DTD or schema which would make putting together a new form a simple matter of writing a new XML file (use a validating editor of course) containing the SQL, the CRUD matrix (per field if you like), the fields to be displayed, which data-form controls to display (e.g. Prev, Next, etc.), and maybe even some layout hints. (Yeah, that's getting carried away.)
Or you could even take more of a shortcut and use something like PythonCard for the dynamic layouts (http://pythoncard.sourceforge.net/samples/custdb
It seems that there are options though. Enjoy!
I know I'm late to this conversation, but I'd like to suggest my own preference as an alternative to C++/C++ Builder.
.pyc files in the Site Server installation if you don't believe me) but some of the drones at Microsoft insisted on porting it to C++ before it become Commerce Server, so no longer) have all used and are mostly still using Python in their products and/or product sites.
IF I were going to start a project that had to be developed at "RAD speed" and it had to be cross-platform (and therefore non-Microsoft) and it had to be a decent language which doesn't require a lot of useless verbosity, I would be using Python with a GUI library like wxWindows (actually, EXACTLY like wxWindows since that's my preference).
The real "problem" with Python is the choices it presents to you. There's not a real standard environment for Pytyon, so you basically need to set your operating environment up and standardize your team on it from the start. You'll need to choose a GUI library, an IDE, potentially an ORM/persistence layer, etc. But, once that's all done, using Python to develop a project presents no issues and, in the long run, is a very enjoyable experience.
As a side bonus, and as a C/C++ programmer you'll appreciate this, it's very easy to write libraries in C (and I think C++) and interface to them from Python from SWIG. Mind you, I've never actually done this myself, but I've had contact with very strong C programmers who HAVE made that claim and they had the proof to show for it. Another side bonus you get is being able to use a language that allows you to program in a way which is (usually) much closer to how most people think about the domain problems.
BTW - My above suggestion about Python and the environment, etc. probably applies just as well to other scripting languages, e.g. Perl, Lua, Ruby, etc. Python is just my preference.
Oh, and if you have problems getting people to take Python seriously, you merely need to point out that Yahoo, Google, Red Hat, and even Microsoft (Site Server 3.0 was written in Python (look for the
Seriously, is that closer to what you're looking for? I suspect you may not have desired to "stoop" to the level of a "mere scripting language" but really, they usually are the best tool for the job when it comes to building end user applications.
Well, I haven't done a complete survey of the various ORMs out there. I'm sure that there are quite a few choices that would be worthy of integration into ArgoUML. That said, I'm sure that Hibernate, Cayenne, and Sun's JDO would all be worthy of consideration.
As far as the time it would save, I'm not sure that adding those tools into ArgoUML would save time at all. They all kind of do their own thing according to their own model. The productivity benefits of trying to have those models appear in ArgoUML aren't immediately apparent to me. In the case of Hibernate, to name the example with which I'm most familiar, you could certainly import the generated classes into ArgoUML to get them into the diagrams. But, it's not like you'll be changing those classes from within ArgoUML. After all they are generated by Hibernate and, if you stick entirely to Hibernates generative facilities, you won't be maintaining those by hand anyway.
As far as how much time tools like Hibernate save, I would have to say "substantial". Whenever I have a new page to add to my current system, I easily spend over half my time dorking around with the code that accesses the table structures. It would be a god-send to just make any changes I need to the tables, re-gen my database layer code, then proceed with the business logic classes that sit on top of those db layer classes.
The ORM "wheel" has been re-invented many times. I have a gut level repulsion to writing yet another version of that wheel for future systems. Any system I work on WILL need a database layer and none of them are particularly unique as to their needs. After all, I don't write my own UI widget library every time I write a new application.
No kidding.... I mean, when your ORM actually lets you traverse your database relationships using simple Java object tree navigation, and you don't even have to write the code for that, you start to understand what ORM could be.
At the very least, I would be a very happy guy if I could stop writing a Java class file for every freaking table in our system. If I want relationship navigation (example: 1 person to 0-n addresses), I get to write that too! Lucky me... No, I don't have a choice. Yes, I have tried to get it changed.
Don't get me wrong, I love my work; but there is a smart way to get work done, and there is an unnecessarily difficult way to get work done. I'm just in favor of the smart way.
It occurs to me that you could auto-moderate via whitelisting. So those folks on your "angels" list would automatically get a 2+ score. Those on your "not-a-troll-so-far" list would get a 1. Those on your "definitely a troll" list would get a -1.
Oh, and I would never allow anonymous posting. It's just too much frickin work.
Thoughts?
I fairly lurch with sympathy every time I read an account like yours. Everyone deserves to work fruitfully, but some people just aren't "lucky" in the way that other (sometimes less proficient) people are.
So, here's my $0.02 on your approach and how to change your luck. Note up front that your problems are most like all about what you AREN'T saying.
First of all, I like the $500 idea. FWIW - It's kind of cool and shows some spunk. But, asking people to go ahead and tailor YOUR resume to THEIR needs isn't appropriate. You'll want to assert yourself more strongly than that. Keep reading for why..
Your requirement that the new position NOT be in Delaware seems to indicate that you would be willing to relocate to somewhere else in the country. That's fine. But, it sends the implied message that you don't really care where you land. And that implies that you aren't necessarily going to be dedicated to remaining in that area (and, by extension, that job). All of that put together screams "train me for free and give me valuable experience so I can go work for someone else as soon as humanly possible". Keep in mind that I'm interpreting this from the perspective of an employer.
Secondly, your resume is asking for a development position OR a system administrator. I understand your desire to be flexible. You probably just want to go with the flow, be agreeable, and land your first job. That's well and fine, but it doesn't get you noticed by an employer.
To make what could be a much lengthier post shorter, I would suggest that you develop a more specific vision of what you want out of your first job. Decide on one area in which you would like to live (metro areas are preferred for fresh graduates). Decide on a more specific professional specialization for your career. Then once you've decided all of that that, you'll be able to market yourself in a much more focused manner. You'll be able to say to an employer "Hey you want X right? I want to be doing that. Let me do it for you and show you how good I am at it. And hey look, I'm not too expensive either. It'll be good for both of us."
The bottom line here is that good employers understand that employees are not just interchangeable cogs. You have to show them how you will fit their specific needs. You have to show them how they'll be able to hand that piece of their organization to you and never have to worry about it again because you're driven, you're on target to be the best, and because you love doing it.
And that, in my opinion, is the difference between a career and just another job. Which one do you really want anyway?