Recent Posts

5601

Developer's Corner / Re: Visual Studio 11 Express to only build Metro apps

« Last post by Renegade on May 25, 2012, 07:17 AM »

I wonder will MS make time bomb out of VS2010.

@Carol Haynes

… since you can't write commercial software using the Express IDE how can you submit it to the store?

-Carol Haynes (May 25, 2012, 04:25 AM)

AFAIR you could use Epress editions commercially. It was even written on FAQ page but it disappeared (conspiracy?).

-fenixproductions (May 25, 2012, 05:38 AM)

You can use it for commercial development (as far as I can remember). IIRC, the only real difference is the functionality and some projects cannot be created in the Express versions... For commercial desktop development, they omitted the setup project from Express. Meaning you just go for Inno Setup instead~! (IS is more difficult to get running than the VS setup - the VS MSI is trivial to get working and takes almost zero effort.)

Also, see here:

http://stackoverflow...-studio-express-2010

5602

Developer's Corner / Re: Visual Studio 11 Express to only build Metro apps

« Last post by Renegade on May 25, 2012, 04:49 AM »

Not a big problem, any serious developer writing a windows desktop app will have no problem paying for Visual Studio.
If the philosophy is that the future is metro, people starting out now should write for metro.

If that is the case then, why not split it into Windows Metro and remove the whole desktop part of it, with Windows 8 Enterprise that has desktop only.

-justice (May 25, 2012, 04:35 AM)

I'm of the philosophy that Metro will be shoved down everyone's throat. (That is to say, you're probably right!)

5603

Developer's Corner / Re: Visual Studio 11 Express to only build Metro apps

« Last post by Renegade on May 25, 2012, 04:08 AM »

Meh... VS 2010 is lots good enough. And actually, VS 2005 was good enough.

And besides, who would actually want to pay for an IDE to write Metro apps?

5604

Living Room / Re: Selection of FREE maths textbooks (.PDF format) available from bookboon.com

« Last post by Renegade on May 23, 2012, 02:20 AM »

Cool! Thanks! I've been wanting to brush up on some branches of mathematics, and this will be perfect for my tab to read on~! (Better if they were epub, but beggars can't be choosers~! )

5605

Living Room / Re: Is Linux just a hobby?

« Last post by Renegade on May 22, 2012, 04:04 AM »

You feel you "must" upgrade, out of some intrinsic "need" to upgrade. No one makes you upgrade the Windows OS you have.

-Josh (May 22, 2012, 02:46 AM)

I cordially invite you to go install Windows 3.1, 95, or 98, then come back and post your results here at DC~!

Sorry -- couldn't resist that~! Just poking fun~!

5606

General Software Discussion / Re: generate a text report of all the subfolders and files of a directory

« Last post by Renegade on May 21, 2012, 09:33 PM »

Just another way of doing it --- I have a batch script that I've been using for this for quite some time:

http://renegademinds...abid/56/Default.aspx

@echo Directory and sub-directory file listing dump by RenegadeMinds.com.
@echo Visit http://Renegademinds.com for more Windows tips and tricks
@echo and free software applications.
@echo ==================================================================
@echo ==================================================================
@echo Save this file as getDirList.bat in your SendTo directory.
@echo SendTo is under Documents and Settings in each user's directory.
@echo Right-click on any directory in Windows Explorer and choose
@echo Send To - getDirList.bat
@echo ==================================================================
@echo ==================================================================
@echo Dumping directory listing to c:\dirListing.txt
@echo        (This may take some time for large directory trees.)
@REM the /A switch lists all hidden and system files as well.
@REM the /S switch lists all subdirectories and their contents.
@dir %1 /A /S > c:\dirListing.txt
@echo Opening c:\dirListing.txt in Notepad (Close notepad to delete file)
@notepad c:\dirListing.txt
@echo Deleting c:\dirListing.txt
@del c:\dirListing.txt
@pause

Directions on using it are at the link. Basically, just add it to the "Send to" menu item, then right-click on a folder.

5607

Living Room / Re: Is Linux just a hobby?

« Last post by Renegade on May 21, 2012, 08:35 PM »

I'm solid enough on Windows and I don't know what an Environment Variable is either! So there is something to be said about Discoverability.

However, I believe there is a meta-meme here. You have Windows because Everybody Uses Windows, then once you get into Not-Windows, you need a REASON to go Not-Windows. Then once you have a reason to go Not-Windows, you get into the fight of Mac vs Linux. So you need very clear reasons to go Not-Mac and end up on Linux.

Then once you are positive you want Not-Windows Not-Mac, then Linux is a good place to start, then you play with distros and sub-distros until you are happy.

-TaoPhoenix (May 21, 2012, 06:51 PM)

Just a personal opinion, but I think Richard Stallman puts forward all the best arguments to use GNU Linux, if you are looking for a reason.

5608

General Software Discussion / Re: Know of an HTML to Text Batch Utility?

« Last post by Renegade on May 21, 2012, 12:43 PM »

Perfect! Thanks!

5609

General Software Discussion / Know of an HTML to Text Batch Utility?

« Last post by Renegade on May 21, 2012, 12:04 PM »

Does anyone know of a utility to load a truckload of HTML files, read them, then output the text only? (i.e. strip out all the HTML)

I've written this utility a few times, and just don't feel like doing it again, and not very enthusiastic about searching through old drives to find one of the ones I've already written.

5610

Living Room / Re: What will be your next computer?

« Last post by Renegade on May 19, 2012, 11:49 AM »

The only catch: the laptop's going to gather dust once the desktop is operational. I'll probably start it up once a week or so for backup and maintenance.

-nosh (May 19, 2012, 11:43 AM)

It's a real b**ch to do, especially if you run Outlook. You end up hosed for all that time that the laptop is updating as your email server is locked until the laptop has finally finished updating Outlook.

Weekly is probably OK, but you still need to schedule it, depending on how much email you have, in terms of MB of data to download.

I plan a few days ahead for that when I travel. It sucks.

5611

Living Room / Re: What will be your next computer?

« Last post by Renegade on May 19, 2012, 10:06 AM »

From what's on offer today, another desktop. Nothing can beat them for horsepower and screen real estate, and using either my tablet or my phone (both clever devices) for the work that I do is just a joke.

If/when something comes along at the consumer level with some kind of eyeball display, obviating the need for a screen, then I'll  reconsider.

-cranioscopical (May 19, 2012, 09:57 AM)

OH GOD~!

+1,000,000~!

Laptops are poor substitutes for a computer. A real one.

What I REALLY REALLY DESPERATELY want is a portable desktop that I can just plug into a dock that has the monitors, keyboard, and mouse all connected already.

Imagine a tablet that has the power of a desktop, and you just take that with you, plug it in wherever, and you're up and running WITH YOUR COMPUTER THAT RUNS SANELY!

My tablet is for reading.

My phone is for, well, nothing. I don't really use it.

My laptop sits there doing jack all.

My desktop is where it's at. Power. UNLIMITED POWER~!

5612

Living Room / Re: What will be your next computer?

« Last post by Renegade on May 18, 2012, 08:25 PM »

I plan on running my current desktop until I am forced to get a new one, but I think I may buy a server and get away from consumer hardware entirely.

I don't see my need for a new tablet anytime soon. What I have will last. I use it for reading, and not much more.

My laptop, I rarely use. And I don't like to use it. I only use it for when I travel and can't use my desktop.

-Renegade (May 18, 2012, 08:21 PM)

Yeah a server is possibly the best way forward...With the opportunity of running 4CPUs and up to like 512GB RAM...Plenty of room for expansion...and even if you didn't wanna move to linux, that would make a pretty sweet Windows 7 machine 

-Stephen66515 (May 18, 2012, 08:23 PM)

It will most likely run Linux. I hope to extricate myself from reliance on MS by then.

5613

Living Room / Re: What will be your next computer?

« Last post by Renegade on May 18, 2012, 08:21 PM »

I plan on running my current desktop until I am forced to get a new one, but I think I may buy a server and get away from consumer hardware entirely.

I don't see my need for a new tablet anytime soon. What I have will last. I use it for reading, and not much more.

My laptop, I rarely use. And I don't like to use it. I only use it for when I travel and can't use my desktop.

5614

Developer's Corner / Re: Aptana Studio 3 ROCKS~! (IDE for JavaScript)

« Last post by Renegade on May 17, 2012, 08:24 AM »

Heck... I don't need to beat on Eclipse! You're doing a very good job already Ath~!

Just kidding~!

Eclipse is a very competent IDE, though like all IDEs, it's better at some things and nasty at others. e.g. VS is awful for JavaScript. It's basically useless.

Anyways, I got done what I wanted with Aptana. And man... Aptana has SERIOUSLY curbed my hatred for JavaScript. It really makes JavaScript much nicer to use~!

Even more on the topic of my hatred for JS... I don't think I really hate it anymore. Aptana was that nice to use!

But, here's what I was working on:

http://cynic.me/2012...e-banking-simulator/



It's a simple little thing, but I got it done fairly quickly. Especially considering I've done very little JS programming lately and am pretty rusty.

I've also developed a new respect for JavaScript. It's fast enough to do what I was looking to do, and does it well even. I've been so horribly disenchanted by crappy web programming crashing my browser or grinding it to a halt, that I didn't think it would work. (I know a few years back that JS simply couldn't do it on the hardware at the time as I'd tested some iterative logic.)

In a word... Wow. I'm impressed.

But, it still makes me wonder just how in Hades some web sites manage to grind the browser down? Well, that's with some plugins working, but whatever. Plugins are done in JS anyways, so same horse, different steamer.

However, my forward looking hope is to transition over to another IDE later on as I'm still on my "divorce yourself from MS" mission. It's harder than it sounds...

5615

Announce Your Software/Service/Product / Frackin' Reserve - A Fractional Reserve Banking and Compound Interest Simulator

« Last post by Renegade on May 17, 2012, 07:27 AM »

I started writing a tutorial on fractional reserve banking to help people understand and visualize what it is and how it works.

And, I ended up writing a mini-program to help there, then ended up porting it to the web.

The desktop version (Windows only - .NET 4) is here:

http://cynic.me/2012...e-banking-simulator/

It's very, very simple. The complete source code is available (but keep in mind, it's a tutorial, and not good programming) and free.



And the web edition is here:

http://cynic.me/2012...e-banking-simulator/



Anyways, just a couple stupid little things that you use for a few minutes until you get the idea, then toss away. Hopefully they'll be useful to help some people visualize and understand what fractional reserve banking is.

Cheers,

Ryan

5616

Developer's Corner / Re: Aptana Studio 3 ROCKS~! (IDE for JavaScript)

« Last post by Renegade on May 17, 2012, 03:07 AM »

Aptana Studio isn't VS, but man... It's close, and certainly makes JavaScript programming much nicer.

-Renegade (May 17, 2012, 12:53 AM)

You could just have said that Aptana is in fact a customized release of Eclipse 3.x, but maybe that's too much for a VS addict like you

They do have quite amazing Javascript support, yeah!

-Ath (May 17, 2012, 01:30 AM)

I didn't want to scare people off by saying the "E" word!

5617

Developer's Corner / Aptana Studio 3 ROCKS~! (IDE for JavaScript)

« Last post by Renegade on May 17, 2012, 12:53 AM »

My general disdain for JavaScript isn't much of a secret, and I pretty much hate coding any JavaScript at all... However... Man... Aptana Studio 3 makes it SOOOO much better! It could even become enjoyable!

IDEs like Visual Studio are simply too good. Way too good. They spoil you with all kinds of things like code completion and all manner of goodies. Aptana Studio isn't VS, but man... It's close, and certainly makes JavaScript programming much nicer. (And certainly better for JS than VS is -- VS sucks for JS programming.)

Anyways, just thought I'd pass on that recommendation for anyone who does JS, and especially for those that are used to IDEs like VS.

http://aptana.com/

5618

General Software Discussion / Re: Any Software that would record the Activity in a PC !

« Last post by Renegade on May 16, 2012, 09:17 AM »

Hey, guys, you are just kidding your friends or do other things with keylogger?
I mostly use a windows 7 keylogger to monitor my child, because he is so young.

-Alrale (May 16, 2012, 01:46 AM)

They do have a legitimate use. However, they are very open to abuse. Kind of like sledgehammers.

5619

General Software Discussion / Re: FORTRAN - All your problems will be solved.

« Last post by Renegade on May 16, 2012, 09:15 AM »

Yes, but it was just for fun (not to mention that I've forgotten most of it).

-joiwind (May 16, 2012, 05:09 AM)

Doing better than me. I've forgotten all my Fortran!

5620

General Software Discussion / Re: Kiss Your Browser Goodbye - Windows 8 to BAN Firefox and Chrome

« Last post by Renegade on May 16, 2012, 09:02 AM »

Well, yeah, it's just Windows RT, but whatever. Sure there's no FF ARM version, but Mozilla has obviously been following what's going on there if they came out swinging like this.

And yes, some FUD there, but really... Can you possibly underestimate just how evil MS can be?

5621

General Software Discussion / Kiss Your Browser Goodbye - Windows 8 to BAN Firefox and Chrome

« Last post by Renegade on May 16, 2012, 03:35 AM »

I can just hear the sinister laughter coming out of Redmond now...

http://thehackernews...system-will-ban.html

A new version of the Windows 8 operating system could shut out browsers such as Firefox and Chrome, according to Mozilla. Microsoft has been saying all along that x86 apps wouldn't run on Windows on ARM and it explicitly said there would be no third-party code on Windows RT when it announced the details of the platform back in February.

That's no plugins for IE on the Windows RT desktop as well as no desktop Firefox and Chrome. According to Mozilla, the makers of Firefox, Microsoft is planning to allow only one fully-functioning browser on Windows RT: Microsoft's own Internet Explorer. Writing on the Mozilla blog, Harvey Anderson, general counsel for the company, lashed out at Microsoft for the slight, and called the alleged move "an unwelcome return to the digital dark ages where users and developers didn’t have browser choices."

Guess MS is finally learning some lessons from Apple.

I can't wait to divorce myself from my dependency on Windows...  

5622

Living Room / Re: 9 Signs Self-Publishing Is out of Control

« Last post by Renegade on May 15, 2012, 08:14 PM »

Simple - the 'self-publishing' repository websites could work on the principle that unless more than 50 or 100 copies is sold per month it gets pulled. They could give new publications 6 months to achieve that level of sales. It won't make much difference for people who genuinely want to self publish via their own website but will prune the pointless dross that no one wants to read.

Its effectively what happens on a larger scale with real publishing - once sales drop the printing stops.

-Carol Haynes (May 15, 2012, 02:57 PM)

That would kill scientific publications as many are only read by a handful of people, but form the foundation of later work.

I'm sure you didn't mean that though. But setting levels wouldn't really benefit anyone, except perhaps the distributor.

Some books are very difficult to publish, even through self-publishing, and really need someone with a bit of muscle to throw their support behind. Some people have been thrown in prison for self-publishing their work. e.g. Fritz Springmeier (I've seen an old printing of his book selling on Amazon for hundreds of dollars - they're now down to less than $200 because it's back in print through Infowars).

The trouble, as I see it, is not that real publishers are dying in the new world because of self publishing but that the mega-corps are effectively ousting them - eventually Amazon, Apple, et al will become the new world publishers with even less help and support for authors as they establish a leech-like grip on authors.

-Carol Haynes (May 15, 2012, 02:57 PM)

Amazon and Apple are not really good for publishing overall. Apple is a well-known, belligerent censor, and Amazon is well-known for being ruthless. I have faith in that smaller publishers and self-publishing will continue for a long time to offer alternative perspectives. The philosophical perspective of many small publishers will prevent Amazon or Apple from swallowing them up, because neither Big A can stomach what a lot of people think.

But, I think you're right for a large sector of publishing. The Big A's will eat up most. Yay. Aren't we lucky... 

5623

Living Room / Re: 9 Signs Self-Publishing Is out of Control

« Last post by Renegade on May 15, 2012, 10:56 AM »

I'm all for self-publishing. Not everyone will make it big, but so what. It chips away at the publishing establishment. And that, is a very good thing.

5624

Living Room / Re: Anybody In Favour of the blocking of PirateBay, Please Read

« Last post by Renegade on May 15, 2012, 10:18 AM »

And one of the biggest reasons for piracy goes to, THE OATMEAL~!

http://theoatmeal.co...mics/game_of_thrones

I love that site~!

5625

General Software Discussion / Re: FORTRAN - All your problems will be solved.

« Last post by Renegade on May 15, 2012, 07:31 AM »

I've never seen anyone actually use a sliderule, though I have been in stores where the shopkeeper used an abacus. They were really fast with it.