OPML isn’t really an open spec
See, first people complain about the “spec”, saying that they can’t really validate their feeds against it. Then Dave Winer releases an OPML validator. Great, now we can all make sure that our OPML files work with HIS tool.
Now, imagine that Microsoft came up with a feed format, and only they knew how to validate it? Imagine the outcry that would rise from the online world.
Maybe if the “spec” was an actual Spec, capital “S” and all, we wouldn’t have to rely on a central authority figure to validate our OPML?
Javascript vs ECMAScript
Jason Salas is annoyed by Microsoft renaming some common terms.
One thing that’s surprised me is the growing number of terms that Microsoft has tried to politically morph into something more Redmond-centric. While I first thought such practice was comical, this is becoming more and more irritating for me as the list grows. It’s forcing people to become bilingual for computer science discussions.
In each of the following the first term is that which the rest of the world uses, followed by its Redmond moniker.
* JavaScript ==> ECMAScript
Technically, Microsoft didn’t rename Javascript to ECMAScript, they renamed it to JScript. ECMAScript refers to a specific version of Javascript submitted to the ECMA body for standardization. IE supports ECMAScript 3rd ed.
While I was looking up the specific publications that standardized Javascript, I found this Tech report which details adding generics to ECMA-335 , also known as the CLI.
I also found these really cool Javascript reference cards you can print out.
Google Print book rental
How stupid do you have to be to RENT a book?
Libraries? Used book stores?
Even if they are in “E-form”, it’s dumb. Just dumb.
The three types of users you meet in tech support
Tech Support Fun: ” See Scott is a self proclaimed end-user hater. I’d bet BOFH is his idol. He has always had no tolernace for lack of understanding. “
(Via Random Access 3.0.)
Tom has mischaracterized me a bit. I don’t *hate* users. But I do understand that there are three distinct types of users.
1) The user that doesn’t know anything and knows it.
2) The user that does know something and knows it.
3) The user that doesn’t know anything but THINKS that they know something.
User type three is the most dangerous. These are the people that will tell you to re-format and re-install Windows when your internet connection goes down. These are the people who will argue with you about what the error actually means WHEN YOU WROTE THE DAMN CODE!
I don’t have a problem with people lacking understanding in something they don’t deal with everyday, or even something that they don’t have to or don’t want to learn about. What gets me is unchecked ignorance.
Vendor Lock in
A lot of people complain about vendor lock in when choosing an MP3 player. I see this a lot when people are deciding, or convincing someone, to buy/not buy an iPod. “If it wasn’t for the Apple lock in I’d buy an iPod.”.
That kind of lock in is the same kind of lock in that’s present in marriage. It’s only lock in if you’re unhappy. Yeah, sure I can’t see other women now that I’m married. But I’m OK with that. Same with my iPod and iTunes. I chose the lock in, it works for me. It works a hell of a lot better than any of the WMA/MP3 players I’ve tried. Sure it’s not perfect. But if you work at it a little bit, it pays off big time when you plug your iPod in, Sync over your playlist, and go.
Penny Arcade is using RoR
Penny Arcade! – Rollicking Fun, Says Playbill: “Along with the slick new visuals the guts of the site also got a huge upgrade. Penny Arcade right now represents one of the largest implementations of ‘rails’ on the intertron.”
For those of you, like me, wondering how Ruby on Rails handles a site with a large load. Wonder no longer. Penny-Arcade is running on RoR.
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Herding Code Podcast
- Herding Code 133: Derick Bailey on Backbone.js 2/3/2012
- Herding Code 132: Phil Haack, Keith Dahlby and Paul Betts on Git for Windows developers 1/20/2012
- Herding Code 131: Chris Williams and Matthew Podwysocki on the Javascript community 1/4/2012
- Herding Code 130: Dave Weaver on Loggr – a realtime analytics service built with MVC, MongoDB and SignalR 1/2/2012
- Herding Code 129: Rob Reynolds on Chocolatey and the Chuck Norris Frameworks 12/13/2011