programming languages
Inspired by my recent post on C# code snippets, I found a little console app by Francesco Balena* that enumerates all the snippets on your system along with their shortcut text. I improved his console app and turned it into a convenient IDE macro along the lines of my keyboard
ides
I just installed CodeRush, and now my IDE looks like this: From Mike Gunderloy’s review of Refactor! Pro: Refactor! uses the same drawing technology as CodeRush, making a video game out of your code. When you introduce an overload, for example, you actually see strikethroughs appear on parameters being
programming languages
I have nothing against World of Warcraft, but the Gamasutra editorial World of Warcraft Teaches the Wrong Things highlights one problem I have with the entire MMORPG* genre: [WOW teaches players that] investing a lot of time in something is worth more than actual skill. If you invest more time
user experience
Pop quiz, hotshot. What do these toolbar icons do – and what application are they from? Okay, maybe that’s a bit too monochrome. Does color help? Okay, let’s try something less abstract. Does a more traditional look help? So we can see there’s some kind of VCR-like functionality,
user experience
Darwinia is the third game I’ve played with mouse gesture support: 1. Bungie’s classic 1998 game Myth used gestures in a limited way to indicate squad facing post-movement. 2. Lionhead’s 2001 game Black and White used gestures to invoke various spells. 3. Introversion Software’s 2005 game
programming languages
The archetypal Hello World program has always had a calming effect on developers. It’s been a programming staple for decades: [Hello World] is typically one of the simplest programs possible in a computer language. Some, however, are surprisingly complex, especially in some GUI contexts; but most are very simple,
programming languages
OSNews published a nine-language performance roundup in early 2004. The results are summarized here: intlongdoubletrigI/OVisual C++9.618.86.43.510.548.8Visual C#9.723.917.74.19.965.3gcc C9.828.89.514.910.073.0Visual Basic9.823.717.74.130.785.9Visual J#9.623.917.
visual studio 2005
I constantly rename variables. It’s probably the single most frequent refactoring activity I do. And that’s why I love Visual Studio 2005’s built-in Smart Tags feature. If you’re not familiar with smart tags, check out K. Scott Allen’s post; he has some nice screenshots illustrating
programming languages
Have you ever worked with developers that were charter members of the third-party-control-of-the-month club? You know the kind – they never met a third party control they didn’t like. They spend all day trolling downloads and experimenting with every tool listed on The Daily Grind. Which means deploying your solution
software development concepts
It’s ironic that the popular DivX codec has all but obliterated the identity of the ill-fated DIVX pay-per-view rental system. VS. So what was DIVX? DIVX (Digital Video Express) was a rental format variation on the DVD player in which a customer would buy a DIVX disc – physically similar
programming languages
When I read Wesner Moise’s post on Asperger's Syndrome, I wasn’t surprised. Many of the best software developers I’ve known share some of the traits associated with Asperger’s Syndrome: 1. Social impairments It is worth noting that because it is classified as a spectrum
security
I’ve recently been struggling with a number of racing sims I bought to use after work hours in our new racing cockpit. I’m a big believer in supporting developers. I’m a developer myself. But digging around for CDs or DVDs is impractical for dedicated gaming rigs, so