The big Microsoft announcement is out at MIX. Microsoft has formally announced support for IronPython and IronRuby, as well as more goodies for SilverLight.
Also, SilverLight is now in GoLive licensing -- meaning we can officially release software for it. (if you happen to have some laying around right now)
You can read the details at Soma's blog.Technorati Tags: [IronRuby][IronPython][SilverLight][MIX07]
According to Chris Brandsma, it appears David Starr has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged the rest of us to a Robocode Java Programming Challenge. In Robocode you use Java to program a little 2D robot to maneuver in the virtual arena and do battle with the other robots.
I always thought this was a great type of game. I built a fairly good robot for the 3D D-Robots from PlasmaCode (link no longer available, but I will find it if you are interested). The D in D-Robots is for Delphi, which is actually Delphi Web Script, a 3rd party, open source, Delphi syntax compatible scripting language. Just in case you didn't know, Delphi 2007 for Win32 is out (and ROCKS!) and there is also free Turbo releases of Delphi.
I figure this is a great way to brush up on my Java, and also have some fun doing virtual battle! One major advantage Robocode has over D-Robots (beyond still being available) is that Robocode is open source (as is Java now), so you know it will stick around as long as people are interested. Anyone else interested in a competition?
Technorati Tags: [Programming] [Software] [Challenge] [Robots] [Delphi] [Java] [OpenSource]
Torben Mogensen from DIKU as the University of Copenhagen is offering the text book he has written on Basics of Compiler Design for free use.
I have taught an undergraduate compilers course for over a decade. In the last several years, I have used my own textbook "Basics of Compiler Design". I have now decided to make this available online.
Permission to copy and print for personal use is granted. If you, as a lecturer, want to print the book and sell it to your students, you can do so if you only charge the printing cost.
Technorati Tags: [Programming] [Software] [Development] [Compiler]
The new version 7.04 of Ubuntu Linux is available for download in both Server and Desktop editions. Check out the release notes and find a mirror and download it.
The desktop edition comes in a combination LiveCD (that runs from the CD) and installer, while the server version includes no GUI and is ready to create the perfect server for you with everything installed, and no ports open. The installation is really quick and straightforward.
Technorati Tags: [Programming] [Visual Studio] [Microsoft]
OK, this is a first. Microsoft takes a crummy, unmemorable name like WPF/E and turns it into something interesting, like Silverlight.
Granted, some people still aren't going to like the new name, you can't please everyone, but I like the direction. Read more about Silverlight here: http://www.microsoft.com/silverlight Or on Soma's blog.Technorati Tags: [WPF/E]|[Silverlight]
May 11th, 2007 is our Delphi 2007 for Win32 Launch Event. You will want to be present to check out this first look at the first new Delphi release since the CodeGear spin-off and the begin of the Delphi Renaissance. It is a very impressive release! Come hear all the latest Delphi news and get those rumors cleared up.
Also at this meeting we will be showing off and using the new Camtasia to record the presentation. It is our goal to find a way to post this recording for everyone to reference after the meeting.
Then in June we will have a Delphi for PHP Launch Event. I am working on door prizes for both events.
Our usual meeting time is 7 PM at our usual Washington Group International location.
I'm all in favor of good tools when I can find them, even better when they are free (as this one appears to be).
But JetBrains has released ReSharper UnitRun for down. http://www.jetbrains.com/unitrun/ If you already use ReSharper you know how good of a tool this is already. If you don't user ReSharper, this is one of the best features in it (next to automatic code profiling). So, if you are doing Test Driving development, check it out, it is worth the download.Technorati Tags: [Programming][Software][NUnit][Unit Testing][Tools]
Jeff over at Coding Horror says out of 200 job applications, only 199 will be able to program.
Joel states that if you get 200 people who apply for a job, 199 of them are the same people that have applied for every other job, but never get hired because they don't have the skills:
A lot of it has to do with how the job offer is made. If you posted it on Craigslist, that may be an accurate reflection of the numbers. Probably the same is true for posting it through Job Service or in the local general newspaper. Would also have a lot to do with the unemployement numbers.
It would be interesting to post a fictional job offer on Craigslist in New York or LA and then offer an automated FizzBuzz Question (see the article) and see what kind of numbers you get. You would need to make sure your job offer was run of the mill. If your job offer was too phenomenal then you would dip into that pool of programmers that have jobs and aren't actively applying for new jobs. That is what Google and Microsoft are trying to do - hire the best of the best away from the rest.
I was actually working one place where they wanted to hire a developer and I helped write the job posting and find some good placements. I think we got about 30 responses to very specific job requirements. About 25 of them wanted the company to sponsor their H1B visa. A couple others wanted to telecommute. That is for a Boise Idaho posting too.
Off hand it seems like I have been offered every single software development job I have applied for where I actually got past the low level resume filters (i.e. the HR department that is looking for keywords). Most likely that was due to the simple fact that I have a provable skill and experience in software development. Of course I have never applied for a software development position with Google or the like. The only two reasons I would consider moving to California is if Google or CodeGear offered me a job - well, depending on the job.
Technorati Tags: [Programming] [Software] [Skills] [Jobs] [Employment]
