We had problems with our NT server recently - it stiffed, so we rebooted it.
Round about the same time our mail server (which is a Mac) stopped working. When I eventually had the time to go and look at it, it had a dialog up saying "File server xxx has unexpectedly closed its connection".
Basically, the last time someone did some admin on this machine they connected to a file server and forgot to disconnect.
The dialog caused the mail server, in fact the whole OS, to STOP DEAD.
When I clicked ok, it started working again. Same for menus - if I stand there and keep a menu open on the mail server, no-one can pick up or send any email.
That's what he means.
BTW, we're moving our mail server to NT or Linux rsn:)
Somewhere in "Inside DirectX" (I can't find it at the moment), it talks about how DInput was designed for joysticks and controlors that have yet to be made. WTF? Why would I support a device that doesn't exist?
I assume you're joking..?
If not, imagine, say, a Flight Simulator designed for joysticks with 4 buttons via DirectInput, then you plugged a joystick in with e.g. 20 buttons (as some of them do), and your FS doesn't let you assign functions above the first 4 buttons, because the developers though "why support a device that doesn't exist?"
And device enumeration... is it _really_ needed? How many people actually have more than one display device?
Me. I have two at work, and am planning to get a second monitor at home.
(Add ons like Voodoo not included...) Why wouldn't I want to use the primary device?
Well, because of the example you just gave? I've run a couple of DirectX games that didn't use my Voodoo card because the Matrox Mystique was first in the DX list of 3D drivers. So I had to put up with sucky performance and stippling instead of alpha blending. And I didn't even have two monitors.
Or how about that my first monitor is an LCD panel, and the persistence makes it not great for playing games, so I'd rather use my CRT, which is the second monitor - except I can't, because you don't see the point as hardly anyone has a second monitor, and 640k should be enough for anyone...(sarcasm off)
Games ought to support display (and input device/sound device) enumeration if possible. Sometimes time pressures will force such support out, but if you have a choice, do support it.
It is amusing to see so much effort expended into coming up with a term to make us all feel better - to make us feel like we're part of some elite. Heaven forbid that we're thought of as a programmer. Hell, some MSCEs might be described as a 'programmer' too. The shame of it!
Hey people - this is linguistics. Stop ranting about how 'hacker' means a cool talented programmer, and not someone who tries to 'crack' systems. It means, and more importantly, has meant, both, despite all your protestations. Anyone who says otherwise is just rewriting history so they can avoid being affected by the negative connotations of 'hacker'.
The statement that 'kludge' is a 'bad thing' or an 'ineligant(sic) hack' is yet another example. Kludge is a derivative of the German word "kluge", which means clever - ie. the original meaning is a clever hack.
Enough with the neology - just call yourselves programmers, and live with it. Is it really worth all this introspection?
This argument is about as pointless as arguing whether to use the word "disc" or "disk" - now, that's one that will run and run.
What I'm trying to say is that 5% of what you do on a system should be config, 95% should be the work you got the machine for in the first place. Right now, I don't see ANY OS that meets that criteria
Er...I use Windows (9X and NT) for my work, and I'd say I spend less than 5% configuring my PC, and 95%+ actually doing the work.
Am I doing something wrong?
And, btw, I'm sure there are plenty of MacOS/Linux users who get similar results.
And, how do you make something like a Glock 9mm illegal when half the police forces in the country use them?
The same way you make it illegal for people to break the speed limit, or detain people against their will, but allow the police force to do these things.
They're the police - they have these extra powers which help them do their job. The police would have a hard time if they weren't ever allowed to confine people. However if you or I do that, it's kidnapping or some similar (serious) crime.
Slashdot Mirror
Sure.
:)
We had problems with our NT server recently - it stiffed, so we rebooted it.
Round about the same time our mail server (which is a Mac) stopped working. When I eventually had the time to go and look at it, it had a dialog up saying "File server xxx has unexpectedly closed its connection".
Basically, the last time someone did some admin on this machine they connected to a file server and forgot to disconnect.
The dialog caused the mail server, in fact the whole OS, to STOP DEAD.
When I clicked ok, it started working again. Same for menus - if I stand there and keep a menu open on the mail server, no-one can pick up or send any email.
That's what he means.
BTW, we're moving our mail server to NT or Linux rsn
Tim
I assume you're joking..?
If not, imagine, say, a Flight Simulator designed for joysticks with 4 buttons via DirectInput, then you plugged a joystick in with e.g. 20 buttons (as some of them do), and your FS doesn't let you assign functions above the first 4 buttons, because the developers though "why support a device that doesn't exist?"
And device enumeration... is it _really_ needed? How many people actually have more than one display device?Me. I have two at work, and am planning to get a second monitor at home.
(Add ons like Voodoo not included...) Why wouldn't I want to use the primary device?Well, because of the example you just gave? I've run a couple of DirectX games that didn't use my Voodoo card because the Matrox Mystique was first in the DX list of 3D drivers. So I had to put up with sucky performance and stippling instead of alpha blending. And I didn't even have two monitors.
Or how about that my first monitor is an LCD panel, and the persistence makes it not great for playing games, so I'd rather use my CRT, which is the second monitor - except I can't, because you don't see the point as hardly anyone has a second monitor, and 640k should be enough for anyone...(sarcasm off)
Games ought to support display (and input device/sound device) enumeration if possible. Sometimes time pressures will force such support out, but if you have a choice, do support it.
Tim
It is amusing to see so much effort expended into coming up with a term to make us all feel better - to make us feel like we're part of some elite. Heaven forbid that we're thought of as a programmer. Hell, some MSCEs might be described as a 'programmer' too. The shame of it!
Hey people - this is linguistics. Stop ranting about how 'hacker' means a cool talented programmer, and not someone who tries to 'crack' systems. It means, and more importantly, has meant, both, despite all your protestations. Anyone who says otherwise is just rewriting history so they can avoid being affected by the negative connotations of 'hacker'.
The statement that 'kludge' is a 'bad thing' or an 'ineligant(sic) hack' is yet another example. Kludge is a derivative of the German word "kluge", which means clever - ie. the original meaning is a clever hack.
Enough with the neology - just call yourselves programmers, and live with it. Is it really worth all this introspection?
This argument is about as pointless as arguing whether to use the word "disc" or "disk" - now, that's one that will run and run.
Tim (Programmer)
Er...I use Windows (9X and NT) for my work, and I'd say I spend less than 5% configuring my PC, and 95%+ actually doing the work.
Am I doing something wrong?
And, btw, I'm sure there are plenty of MacOS/Linux users who get similar results.
Tim
And, how do you make something like a Glock 9mm illegal when half the police forces in the country use them?
The same way you make it illegal for people to break the speed limit, or detain people against their will, but allow the police force to do these things.
They're the police - they have these extra powers which help them do their job. The police would have a hard time if they weren't ever allowed to confine people. However if you or I do that, it's kidnapping or some similar (serious) crime.
Tim