http://bgmerrell.blogspot.com/2008/02/netbeans-ide-with-jvi-plugin.html
Yippie!
Donnerstag, 30. Juli 2009
<Linus Torwalds vs. Alan Cox>
Today I came across this l.k.m.l thread, where Linus Torwalds bashed the seasoned tty maintainer Alan Cox...
I think the whole thing started off when Linus made a suggestion on how to fix a bug that Alan had been working on and Alan replied "wrong end of the stick" - Linus couldn't bear that and he started getting really mad at Alan, which culminated in his: "I think you're full of crap", and later Alan replied: "However I've had enough. If you think that problem is easy to fix you fix it. Have fun." - and he left the maintainers list...
To me, it doesn't really matter so much if Alan or Linus are right about the issue (actually, I think Alan might be right as he is the tty maintainer, but I'm to far away from the Linux kernel nowadays to base my opinion on technical facts) - what matters is that Linus seems to have some sort of ego problem as he chose to insult Alan based on his mere "you got it wrong" instead of discussing the matter on a technical and professional level.
What really makes me sad is that two purportedly grown-up and mature programmers don't seem to be able to get over their personal feelings towards each other - but I guess that's simply human.
Anyway, I would like to thank Alan and Linus for their great work - it's only sad, that you guys couldn't sort out your personal problems for the greater good of the Linux community.
I think the whole thing started off when Linus made a suggestion on how to fix a bug that Alan had been working on and Alan replied "wrong end of the stick" - Linus couldn't bear that and he started getting really mad at Alan, which culminated in his: "I think you're full of crap", and later Alan replied: "However I've had enough. If you think that problem is easy to fix you fix it. Have fun." - and he left the maintainers list...
To me, it doesn't really matter so much if Alan or Linus are right about the issue (actually, I think Alan might be right as he is the tty maintainer, but I'm to far away from the Linux kernel nowadays to base my opinion on technical facts) - what matters is that Linus seems to have some sort of ego problem as he chose to insult Alan based on his mere "you got it wrong" instead of discussing the matter on a technical and professional level.
What really makes me sad is that two purportedly grown-up and mature programmers don't seem to be able to get over their personal feelings towards each other - but I guess that's simply human.
Anyway, I would like to thank Alan and Linus for their great work - it's only sad, that you guys couldn't sort out your personal problems for the greater good of the Linux community.
Mittwoch, 29. Juli 2009
<Code Quality>
Today I came across a very nice drawing:
(Image source: http://www.osnews.com/story/19266/WTFs_m)
Thom is frakking right about it - in my opinion code normally falls into three categories:
(Image source: http://www.osnews.com/story/19266/WTFs_m)Thom is frakking right about it - in my opinion code normally falls into three categories:
- there is code that provokes no WTFs, because it is doing what it was intended to do in a very unspectacular way, self-documenting and as short as possible,
- then there is code that provokes only some WTFs, because it is mainly category #1 code with some passages where only few programmers can tell at first glimpse if it is pure awesomeness or complete rubbish (for example duff's device and its usage of intertwined switch and do-while statements vs. the infamous shortened XOR swap),
- finally, there is code that provokes a lot of WTFs, because it is so obviously wrong and ugly that almost anybody can see it upon first inspection.
Dienstag, 28. Juli 2009
<Geblitzdingst>
When driving out of town, I was stopped by a friendly police officer standing at the end of the town. I stopped the car, lowered the window, and asked the officer what happened.
He told me that he "lasered" me (German: "gelasert") - I said "pardon me, you did what?", he said it again "I lasered you" and I said "I just wanted to make sure that I didn't misunderstood you the first time..." - which actually seemed like a stupid thing to say the very moment these words came out of my mouth, but as one mind bigger than mine already said, one always finds keener replies the next day - I could have said for example "you might have lasered me, but my pocket black hole ripped your laser in pieces", or "your laser has been bent by my massive time pressure, so the reading is inaccurate", or maybe even the cocky "you don't even know what laser means!".
So, this officer was using light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation to measure my speed. I guess Maiman would have been proud to see his invention being put to such a noble use... Damn, Maiman, your invention cost me 30€, frak!
He told me that he "lasered" me (German: "gelasert") - I said "pardon me, you did what?", he said it again "I lasered you" and I said "I just wanted to make sure that I didn't misunderstood you the first time..." - which actually seemed like a stupid thing to say the very moment these words came out of my mouth, but as one mind bigger than mine already said, one always finds keener replies the next day - I could have said for example "you might have lasered me, but my pocket black hole ripped your laser in pieces", or "your laser has been bent by my massive time pressure, so the reading is inaccurate", or maybe even the cocky "you don't even know what laser means!".
So, this officer was using light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation to measure my speed. I guess Maiman would have been proud to see his invention being put to such a noble use... Damn, Maiman, your invention cost me 30€, frak!
Samstag, 25. Juli 2009
<Prague>
Recently, I have been to Prague for a short weekend trip. Wonderful city, beautiful architecture, (mostly) friendly people, nice food, tasty beer ;-)
In case you didn't know: Prague is the home to such diverse cultural amusings like the Kafka museum, the museum of medieval torture instruments, the museum on communism and the museum of sexual toys ;-)
I have taken some very nice pictures there, but I will only put the most beautiful and/or fascinating ones in this blog.
Number #1 (the most fascinating picture):
I took this picture somewhere in Prague near the hotel, I don't remember the street name. But I have been told that this sidewall is famous throughout Prague for it's varying paintings. To me, it seems to represent the eternal fate of destruction and reconstruction that we are experiencing...
Number #2 (the most interesting picture):
This picture is called "Absinth Dreams" and I took it in the restaurant "Slavia" in Prague. This was a very interesting restaurant, indeed. Even Hillary Clinton has already been there...
In case you didn't know: Prague is the home to such diverse cultural amusings like the Kafka museum, the museum of medieval torture instruments, the museum on communism and the museum of sexual toys ;-)
I have taken some very nice pictures there, but I will only put the most beautiful and/or fascinating ones in this blog.
Number #1 (the most fascinating picture):
I took this picture somewhere in Prague near the hotel, I don't remember the street name. But I have been told that this sidewall is famous throughout Prague for it's varying paintings. To me, it seems to represent the eternal fate of destruction and reconstruction that we are experiencing...
Number #2 (the most interesting picture):
This picture is called "Absinth Dreams" and I took it in the restaurant "Slavia" in Prague. This was a very interesting restaurant, indeed. Even Hillary Clinton has already been there...
Freitag, 24. Juli 2009
<Phone-Interview with Google (Part 2)...>
Well, the last interview with Francois didn't turn out so well - I guess mainly due to some misunderstandings that arose during the interview...
I don't want to put the blame away from me, but Francois' English was very hard to understand due to his french accent and I had to request clarification for almost every sentence that he said - he must have felt that he has some dumbass incapable of understanding English at some points during the phone screen...
Anyway, he asked me where in Google I would want to work and I said that there is only one place where I would feel I could help Google: the GFS team (in case you're not en vogue with technology acronyms, here is a description).
Francois seemed to be astonished, because he asked me if I knew that GFS is the core of Google - I said, yes, I know that, that's why I would like to work there. He didn't seem to be very enthusiastic about my idea.
Then he asked me why I wanted to work at Google in the first place and I said that actually I do not *want* to work there, but if I got the chance, then yeah, why not. After all it was Google who initiated the telephone interview, not me. He seemed to be puzzled by that answer, as there was a notable delay before his next question.
The interview dabbled along, and I had the impression that Francois thought that I was a complete idiot.
Today I had a short conversation with a nice lady at Google, her name was Leila - she basically told me that although I have some very good and interesting experiences, they do not consider me a strong enough fit for a role as a software engineer at Google. How the hell am I supposed to live with that? Frak Google! Anyway, I want to thank Francois for his patience during the last phone screen ;-)
(Btw, the phone screen took place some time ago - I am just documenting it here because I find the general gist of it amusing)
I don't want to put the blame away from me, but Francois' English was very hard to understand due to his french accent and I had to request clarification for almost every sentence that he said - he must have felt that he has some dumbass incapable of understanding English at some points during the phone screen...
Anyway, he asked me where in Google I would want to work and I said that there is only one place where I would feel I could help Google: the GFS team (in case you're not en vogue with technology acronyms, here is a description).
Francois seemed to be astonished, because he asked me if I knew that GFS is the core of Google - I said, yes, I know that, that's why I would like to work there. He didn't seem to be very enthusiastic about my idea.
Then he asked me why I wanted to work at Google in the first place and I said that actually I do not *want* to work there, but if I got the chance, then yeah, why not. After all it was Google who initiated the telephone interview, not me. He seemed to be puzzled by that answer, as there was a notable delay before his next question.
The interview dabbled along, and I had the impression that Francois thought that I was a complete idiot.
Today I had a short conversation with a nice lady at Google, her name was Leila - she basically told me that although I have some very good and interesting experiences, they do not consider me a strong enough fit for a role as a software engineer at Google. How the hell am I supposed to live with that? Frak Google! Anyway, I want to thank Francois for his patience during the last phone screen ;-)
(Btw, the phone screen took place some time ago - I am just documenting it here because I find the general gist of it amusing)
<Tom deMarco>
My favourite software guru has written a phantastic article about software engineering:
http://www2.computer.org/cms/Computer.org/ComputingNow/homepage/2009/0709/rW_SO_Viewpoints.pdf
Thank you Tom, you are my hero!
http://www2.computer.org/cms/Computer.org/ComputingNow/homepage/2009/0709/rW_SO_Viewpoints.pdf
Thank you Tom, you are my hero!
<Kyokushin>
What is Kyokushin for me?
In Kyokushin, we always try our best - we always strive to fully commit ourselves to our training, our life and our loved ones.
In Kyokushin, we help each other to find the inner self and to improve that self through hard training, only to find out that we can do much more than we ever thought were possible.
Kyokushin for me is about becoming more and more self-aware, and, ultimately, fearless.
In Kyokushin, we always try our best - we always strive to fully commit ourselves to our training, our life and our loved ones.
In Kyokushin, we help each other to find the inner self and to improve that self through hard training, only to find out that we can do much more than we ever thought were possible.
Kyokushin for me is about becoming more and more self-aware, and, ultimately, fearless.
Freitag, 17. Juli 2009
<Yesterdays Ichigeki Class>
Yesterday's Ichigeki class at the Dojo was very good again, Otto, Leni and Roland were there and we had a very good workout. Otto showed us some new boxing techniques (at least for me), which we immediatelly put into practice during sparring.
While sparring with Roland, I wasn't on my guard for a split-second which he immediatelly punished with a hard right hook to my head :-(
Fortunatelly for me, I always wear my tooth and head-protectors, so I didn't pass out, but I had to lay down to the floor and take some deep breaths.
This morning, Roland and I met again in the Dojo to train kata.
Osu!
While sparring with Roland, I wasn't on my guard for a split-second which he immediatelly punished with a hard right hook to my head :-(
Fortunatelly for me, I always wear my tooth and head-protectors, so I didn't pass out, but I had to lay down to the floor and take some deep breaths.
This morning, Roland and I met again in the Dojo to train kata.
Osu!
Donnerstag, 16. Juli 2009
<Disaster Recovery Plan>
I have been asked to write a disaster recovery plan... The nightmare of every real programmer... as I don't like wasting my precious developer time with anything other than writing code, my first thought was to give the requestor a picture from my favorite comic strip "Dilbert", which looks like this:
Dilbert is the best!
Dilbert is the best!
<Regex with Eclipse>
Today, 
after working some time with eclipse, I discovered that eclipse is also very good at doing RE! Comming from a vi background, I was very amazed! The more I use eclipse as my main ide, the less I have to go back to vi/vim.
Yes, there are still cases where you have to use a text editor like vi, e.g. when you have to do some remote hacking via console. Makes one thing aparent: vi-users can use anything for editing files after mastering the beast ;-)
after working some time with eclipse, I discovered that eclipse is also very good at doing RE! Comming from a vi background, I was very amazed! The more I use eclipse as my main ide, the less I have to go back to vi/vim.Yes, there are still cases where you have to use a text editor like vi, e.g. when you have to do some remote hacking via console. Makes one thing aparent: vi-users can use anything for editing files after mastering the beast ;-)
<Phone-Interview with Google...>
Some time ago, I received an email from a lady that claimed to be a recruiter working for Google Inc. - she told me that she wanted to discuss some career opportunities at Google with me... at first, I thought that this was just another sort of scam trying to steal my time - but after checking the email headers I realized that it might be real...
Since then, I had three phone interviews: the first one was a fairly easy one: I had to prove how good I am at understanding English spoken by an Indian recruiter ;-) Jokes aside - the first interview was very easy, lots of questions like what is 2^12, how would you implement the counting of all the bits that are set to 1 in an array containing 10000 16-bit integers, and so on...
The second interview was with an engineer at Google's SRE team, I think his name was Bjorn - he was a bright guy that tortured me with some tough system administration questions (at least for me, as I am rather a software developer than an administrator).
The third interview was with James, another engineer at their SRE team - he seemed to be determined to test my software development skills, among others, I had to develop a small, but non-trivial C function via phone - something I have never done before during my last 17 years as a software engineer. I didn't know this was a sought-after skill - shame on me ;-).
So far I seem to have passed the software questions somehow, since Google told me that they see me fit better as a software engineer rather than an administrator (that's basically what I told them before the first interview, however, they have their own way of recruiting people...)
Anyway, my next phone screen will be next Thursday - this time with Francois... I hope he won't ask me questions in French, though... my French has deteriorated considerably since high school :-/
Since then, I had three phone interviews: the first one was a fairly easy one: I had to prove how good I am at understanding English spoken by an Indian recruiter ;-) Jokes aside - the first interview was very easy, lots of questions like what is 2^12, how would you implement the counting of all the bits that are set to 1 in an array containing 10000 16-bit integers, and so on...
The second interview was with an engineer at Google's SRE team, I think his name was Bjorn - he was a bright guy that tortured me with some tough system administration questions (at least for me, as I am rather a software developer than an administrator).
The third interview was with James, another engineer at their SRE team - he seemed to be determined to test my software development skills, among others, I had to develop a small, but non-trivial C function via phone - something I have never done before during my last 17 years as a software engineer. I didn't know this was a sought-after skill - shame on me ;-).
So far I seem to have passed the software questions somehow, since Google told me that they see me fit better as a software engineer rather than an administrator (that's basically what I told them before the first interview, however, they have their own way of recruiting people...)
Anyway, my next phone screen will be next Thursday - this time with Francois... I hope he won't ask me questions in French, though... my French has deteriorated considerably since high school :-/
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