Sorry for my light interepretation, but this is really interesting.
(Why do the words “how did you miss the point?” keep ringing in my ear?)
Monthly Archives: August 2004
Obfuscation – are we using DotFuscator Community Edition?
I just received an email from PreEmptive, the makers of DotFuscator. This is the obfuscation tool that has a “lite” version embedded into Visual Studio. Their email pointed me to a survey they are doing and based on the questions, I wonder if they are not seeing a lot of Visual Studio users upgrading to the Developer or Pro editions and they are trying to figure out why.
I *know* that obfuscation is another level of security that we can all leverage. I *know* Microsoft has made it really easy by putting this “lite” (Community Edition) version into Visual Studio.NET. So, raising my hand, yet again as a typical developer – writing custom corporate applications that are not being put out in the market place – why have I never touched it, used it, thought about it? I have even listened with fascination, as Brent Rector talked about obfuscation on DotNetRocks (his company, Wise Owl, also has an obfuscation tool called Demeanor).
I know with the many many things we are learning all of the time about .NET, for me at least, this is one of those items that is “on my list”. It just hasn’t bubbled to the top yet.
Update: is this about opensource (or lack thereof)? Not in my mind, but since James thinks so (my interpretation), I thought I’d point to his post about this post.
Lori-Ann Muenzer, 38 yrs old, wins sprint cycling gold
I just thought that was pretty cool (considering that I’m 42 :-)). Not only is she incredibly powerful, but sprint cycling is also an event that benefits from experience. So at 38, she has an edge. Way to go Lori-Ann! Here is her website.
VS2005 debugging on tabletpc?
On whatisnew.com, Lora points out a (reprinted) InfoWorld article by Tom Yager on VS2005. In it he says: “While testing remote debugging, I learned how well a Tablet PC works as a debugging console” but he does not elaborate. I wonder what he means? I don’t have these bits on my tablet, as I am using it for current tablet development (VS2003), testing and presenting, so I haven’t experienced the combination of VS2005 and tabletpc. However (and this is big) I have no expectation of programming in tablet mode – not when I can type as fast as I do!
VB6 int() oddity
I just noticed this when doing some testing in a VB6 app:
(green is expected results, red is unexpected)
?int(88.941*1000)
88941
?int(88.932*1000)
88932
?int(88.929*1000)
88929
?int(88.931*1000)
88930
huh?
?88.931*1000
88931
?int(88931)
88931
So what is up with that value 88.931? I’m sure there is some background processing that explains it. But for now I’m going to have to do a kludge with something like this to ensure my return values are correct
x=88.931*1000
?int(x)
88931
Summary of Knowledgebase Articles for Windows XP SP2
Outlook Add In for Tablet PC
Josh Einstein(Einstein Technologies) has an Outlook add-in called Tablet Enhancements for Outlook that allows you to ink directly into the contact, appointment or task forms and then recognize when you are done. I am going to check this out (there is a demo, and the product is only $20.
Here’s a review on TabletPCBuzz.com from someone who has already tried it out and is a real TabletPC user.
I don’t use the contacts, appts and tasks so much that I would need this, however. I am curious to see his approach to data entry forms on a tablet.
The problem is, the TIP is VERY handy, but it’s also very nice to write directly on a form, in the entry boxes. We had a long discussion about this at the Tablet PC DevLab, with Markus Egger leading the way. Markus is is also frustrated with having to choose one or the other and we would love to find a logical way to merge the two functions. Here is an editorial in Code Magazine where he digs into this problem.
Tricked by Dare – IP Address Geo Locators
We all know Dare Obasanjo’s a smart guy. When I visited his home page and saw something about “we welcome visitors to Vermont”, I had a suspicion that his page was tracking where my ping was coming from but I brushed off that idea and {foolishly] decided to email him and ask what the Vermont connection is. I know he comes from far away lands (including Atlanta) but …oh well. Yeah, I was a dope.
So he told me he uses a geolocator. I wonder. I can get a list of originating IPs that hit thedatafarm.com. Now a little googling (ip address geolocator) quickly finds me a product called DOTS Geolocator by Service Objects
DOTS GeoLocator is a hosted, programmable XML Web Service that allows you to integrate IP-based location information, distance calculation and other geographic intelligence into your applications, business processes, and Web sites
Cool. I learned something (else) new today. I can imagine many of you xml geeks saying “geeze that’s been around for ages“ but hey, it’s not something I have ever needed or sought out so I didn’t happen to know about it. So don’t you be giving me a hard time, eh?!
I was hoping to run my top five ip addresses visiting thedatafarm.com, but their demo seems to be not working.
More on Web Doodling
As I explore the technicalities of building and deploying an ink-enabled web app, there is still the question – “okay, so now what?” It’s fun and cool and new, but…
I do have lots of silly ideas – for example, use someone’s picture as a background for the doodle.
I’m curious what people envision that they might want to do with this ability.
You have to think out of the box. The world does not totally revolve around business data entry applications. For example, what about some of the cool teaching apps that Loren Heiny has been doing, (such as MathPractice) but as a web version?
DBA Day at Roy’s
I’m jealous. Roy Osherove has a DBA coming to his office tomorrow to go over his database with him. I actually tried to get Roman Rehak to do this – but he can’t do any moonlighting. Roman is a pal, lives right here in Burlington and is a real live SQL Server guru. Unfortunately, I’m spoiled by knowing him and nobody else (that I have easy access to) will do. I even asked Stephen Forte if he could recommend someone in NYC since my client is about 90 miles north, but he couldn’t come up with someone who would be willing to make the trip for a day. It is something I would REALLY love to happen with my client’s database. But I’m very very picky now.