Delphi and C# comparison

Delphi and C# comparison: "Marc Rohloff posted a pretty nice list copmaring and contrasting Delphi and C#.

Features C# has that Delphi doesn't foreach operators using, lock, checked and unchecked block scoped variables case statements with strings assembly internal classes namespaces can span code units implicit array dimensioning: int[] a = new int[1,2,3]; ternary operator ( ? : ) can use classes from namespaces without importing the whole namespace circular references are possible try..catch..finally assignment operators ( =, , -=, etc) multi-file assemblies You don't need to distribute Borland.Delphi.dll

Features Delphi has that C# doesn't sub-range types enums and sets are first-class types class type support virtual constructors virtual class methods nested procedures non-default index properties can defines constant arrays and records resourcestring s default parameters variants arrays with non-integral subscripts sets with more than 64 elements message handlers unions (variant records) untyped parameters const parameters

Web Development With .NET

Web Development With .NET: "This tutorial covers the building of Web applications and Web services using the Microsoft .NET Framework. The student will learn the basics of programming in the C# language, what the .NET Common Language Runtime is and how it works, how to use many of the .NET Framework classes, how to use ADO.NET to access relational databases, and how to use ASP.NET to build Web applications and services. In addition the student will learn about XML and how it is used in the .NET Framework. Most aspects of Web applications and services will be covered: architecture, design, coding, data access, etc. The architecture of the .NET Framework will be discussed, as well as practical development issues such as debugging, deployment and security. Design for scalability, performance and availability will be emphasized."

A lot of good information for C# developers!

aspxDelphi.net

aspxDelphi.net covers Active Server Page development with Delphi 8.

Delphi and the .NET Voyage: .NET Assemblies

Delphi and the .NET Voyage: .NET Assemblies

By Bob Swart

In this article, Bob Swart explains what .NET Assemblies are, how you can use them in Delphi for .NET applications, and how you can make them yourself. There's more than one way–and even a special way–to use them in Win32 applications!

New Logos

Notice the new logos on the upper left of the blog pages. There are currently 11 that are randomly cycled through. They are thanks to www.LetterJames.de. I found Letter James after Nick Hodges post, which Anders Olson mirrored. It is a really cool site allowing you to change the text on many signs, you should head over and take a look at their AlphaPicture service too.

The script to rotate the images is thanks to Matt's Script Archive. In order to use the SSI I had to change the pages from .html to .shtml. There should be redirects for all of the changes.

Intel touts 'MP3 for 3D' universal graphics format

The Register has the article Intel touts 'MP3 for 3D' universal graphics format

In the first line it mentions that Microsoft, along with 30 other companies, are co-operating in the standard.

Not to long ago there was a push for Microsoft to adopt open file formats for their office suite. They naturally didn't follow through. Their reason is they have a virtual monopoly in office suites - despite very viable alternatives. If they adopted an open file format then that would, in their mind, strengthen the competitors and weaken customer lock-in.

Their motive for advocating an open 3D graphic format is that they have no stake in the 3D imaging market. If an open format is adopted then that gives them a leg up on taking over the 3D image market.

The interesting thing is how Microsoft "embraced and extended" the SVG format - only to make their own incompatible format WVG. This is in spite of the fact that Microsoft was involved in the specification. I would suspect they will use the same strategy with U3D.

Registration Is Open for OSCON 2004

It is time once again for OSCON - O'Reilly Open Source Convention. If you are involved in Open Source then this is a great way to see where your peers are headed. If you are not involved in Open Source then you can check out the competition.

If nothing else its a software development geekfest. There are tracks on many different open source and related technologies, including XML and Security.

I know Ken Wilcox went to OSCON last year. He said it was great.

To top it off, User Group members who register before June 18, 2004 get a double discount. Use code DSUG when you register, and you'll get the 20% User Group discount on top of the "Early Bird" price.

Close encounters of the Bill Gates kind

Sip from the Firehose: April 13, 2004 - Close encounters of the Bill Gates kind: "David I writes about Bill Gates visiting the Borland booth at VSLive in San Francisco and also about other close encounters with Bill."

I really like David's response of "because it’s better" to Bill's question about why Turbo Basic was so good (it out performed Quick Basic at Comdex). That was back in 1986, I think he handled himself a little more eloquently this time.

BDN Introduces Article Ratings

Borland just unveiled article ratings for their Borland Developers Network articles.

This would be a great opportunity to go out and rate my article on Code Profiling with Non-Breaking Breakpoints. You will need a free BDN account to rate articles.

Good news for US Software Developers

MSNBC - Should I Stay or Should I Go?

We all said it would happen eventually:

As U.S. companies move from exporting call centers to outsourcing more complex work like software development, they're finding overseas workers are often ill-equipped to deliver consistent, quality work.

Every so often the press starts talking doom and gloom in the tech sector. For those of us dedicated technology types we just ride the storm and things work out. It is a matter of weeding out the weak who jump ship at the first sign of trouble.

The important thing to realize is that one size doesn't fit all. There are some things that go really well with outsourcing, and some of those can even be outsourced over seas. But there are other things that really should be done in house, or at least close by. This is true in all industries, including software development. Right now we are in a transitional state as we try to find what works where. Grin an bear it and it will come out to everyone's benefit in the end.

10th annual TV-Turnoff Week

TV Turnoff Network: "Don't forget - the 10th annual TV-Turnoff Week will take place April 19-25, 2004!"

I personally watch very little television. I think the last television I saw was The Apprentice three weeks ago when I was actually watching it with Troy McClain, the local Boisian who should have won. I didn't see the episode when he was fired, but Trump fired him because he didn't have a college degree, even though he acknowledged that he was a better leader then the other guy. It surprises me how much stock people continue to put in that little piece of paper.

I am a big Star Trek Enterprise fan, but I haven't seen any episodes all season. Don't know if that disqualifies me as a fan or not. I would think I can still be a fan even if I don't get to see it.

Just in case any of the rest of you are Apprentice fans you will be happy to know that the turn off the TV week has been conveniently scheduled after the shows finale tomorrow.

Kill Internet Ads with PAC Files

A while back I covered how to stop banner ads and access to certain web sites with the HOSTS file. This article on O'Reilly Windows DevCenter (which contains banner ads) covers doing this with HOSTS files, and PAC files.

PAC files are Proxy Automatic Configuration files, which use JavaScript to tell the browser how to connect to specific URLs. PAC files offer a number of advantages over the HOSTS file. Most notably you can use wild cards, block specific paths (not whole hosts) and redirect to a different port. The down side is that PAC files only work with your browser. If you block a host in your HOSTS file then even ping will be redirected.

• The O'Reilly article: WindowsDevCenter.com: Kill Internet Ads with HOSTS and PAC Files [Mar. 30, 2004]
• A great resource with a starter no-ads PAC file and instructions: Bust Banner Ads with Proxy Auto Configuration

I plan to switch over to PAC files for the bulk of my filtering / blocking. Hopefully I will be able to provide some updated resources for this in the near future.

The Pure Software Act of 2006

The Pure Software Act of 2006: "100 years ago, Congress passed a law requiring honest labeling of food and drugs. Now the time has come to do the same for software."

The problem with regulations to protect users from unsavory software installations are the same as regulations to stop spam. The worst perpetrators don't care about the law and place their bets that they won't be caught. The Internet is less like a supermarket grocery store chain, and more like a booth in an open air market on the out skirts of a town in the old west with only one sheriff.

My dad always said that locking your door just keeps the honest people out. If someone really wants to get into your house, they will. Regulations won't stop the unsavory folks who infest our computers with backdoors, Trojans and ad systems. It will only irritate the honest software developers who are trying to provide useful software.

As long as customers are not scared away by a labeling system that alerts them to actual features of the software then maybe this might be a good idea. But the fact is that the real trouble makers won't honestly label their software. They are not honest in any of their other dealings, so why start now?

O'Reilly's Safari - Free 14 day trial

safari.oreilly.com

For anyone who has not given O'Reilly's Safari service a try, you are missing out. They are offering a free 14 day trial for users group members. They have a very large selection of books that you can search through. If you are the kind of person who is always buying new books then this service is for you. Helps you stay on top of current publications without the need to build even more bookshelves in your office.

Personally I would like the ability to view the context of my search hits in books that are not on my bookshelf. Many times I have added a book to my bookshelf to see what the context was, only to discover it wasn't significant enough. Typically you only get access to the first part of the chapter that your search term appears. That is usually enough to determine if it is going to be useful for you, but not always.

They continue to add new titles and are up to 2019 at my last check. These are not limited to O'Reilly titles either, they have titles from a number of publishers. Visit the link to the right for more information and for your free 14 day trial.

DSPack 2.31 - Multimedia Applications using MS Direct Show and DirectX

Just found this:

DSPack 2.31

DSPack is a set of Components and class to write Multimedia Applications using MS Direct Show and DirectX technologies. DSPack 2.2 is designed to work with DirectX 9 on Win9X, ME, 2000, and Windows XP operating systems. DSPack 2.2 is designed to work with Delphi 6/7 but it work with delphi 5 as well. DSPack is totally rewriten with a new progamming model and there is a Help file.

Tips for Converting VCL Components to VCL.NET

Head over to Shorter Path Software for Tips for Converting VCL Components to VCL.NET.

Remember, a pointer is a breed of dog, not a language construct.

Searching with XP (Part 1)

(Thanks to Steve Trefethen)

Then I covered how to use Windows XP search inside Delphi (or any) source.  Turns out in XP they made the search not look in files unless they are setup in the registry as text.  If you look in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.txt you can see an entry that is setup correctly to be searchable.  You will notice a Content Type and PerceivedType.  I think the latter one is the important one for searching.  Also, there is a PersistentHandler key which contains a CLSID for the "Plain Text persistent handler".  If you export the .txt registry entry and edit for it .pas then it should look like this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pas]
"PerceivedType"="text"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pas\PersistentHandler]
@="{5e941d80-bf96-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

Be sure you leave the default value in the .pas key off or you will overwrite DelphiUnit with txtfile and all your source code will be opened with Notepad.  The important lines are the PerceivedType and the PersistentHandler key.

If you want more information be sure to check out some of those links.  Also, there is a program that does this automatically.  It is written in Delphi and comes free with source code.

April Fools

An April fools meeting just wouldn't be complete without some joke programs.

I showed off a couple simple April Fools programs.  You can download them if you like.  They operate on the premise of displaying an invisible window so it looks like the computer is locked up. They are designed to be difficult to exit.  The \ key is the exit key, but occasionally they loose focus for some reason if you try to ALT tab out.  Save your work before launching just in case you need to log out to get rid of them. 

April Code Complete Reading Assignments

Our next meeting is May 6th. Everyone is taking a single chapter which they will study and then guide the discussion about it at that meeting. You are still encouraged to at least skim the other chapters - there is good stuff in there - but this way we can hopefully reduce everyone's reading a little. We are in the section on Constant Considerations which covers chapters 18-22.

Here are the chapters everyone volunteered for:

18. Layout and Style - Steve
19. Self-Documenting Code - Randy
20. Programming Tools - Chris
21. How Program Size Affects Construction - Jim
22. Managing Construction - Doug

See everyone May 6th.

April Meeting Wrapup

We had a great meeting. Steve covered Aspect Orientated Programming, I covered April Fools programs and using XP's built in search, then we did the group reading review.