Sales Receipt File Format
If Costco keeps a record in their database of every item I’ve ever bought and when, why can’t I keep my own database of that information? For only my own purchases, of course, not yours. Mainly it’s...
View ArticleSales Receipt File Format (part 2)
Last time, I rambled for a while about what it might be like to have a file format for itemizing a sales receipt. This spurred a bit of conversation, which was helpful. In particular, Troy Farrell...
View ArticleAccountability for Introverts
Or: Wielding the Terrible Power Instead of talking about the code or the tools, I’d like to address the personalities of those responsible for building the web sites and software we have to use every...
View ArticleZTreeWin
When people look over my shoulder, one of the comments I often get is, “What program is THAT?” Since about 1990 or so, I’d been using this file management utility called XTree. The last version for DOS...
View ArticleSales Receipt File Format (part 3)
Last time, I talked about what a sales receipt represented in JSON format might look like. But in the aftermath, I realized something important: I had left too many options open for how to display the...
View ArticleThe Oculus Rift Is Pretty Awesome
The year is 1995, the climax of the “virtual reality” fad. Virtual reality was about to become a big industry, or something. You could even get a degree in it. Except… where is it? It’s in movies, some...
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Style Wars
I recently realized that semicolons might be optional in JavaScript. I guess this is something I kinda sorta always knew but didn’t want to think about. JavaScript is a mess of proprietary...
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Automated Testing in the Real World
Why do we always talk about unit tests? Why is "unit tests" automatically added to the plan of any or all projects? I think it's just because it's an expression we've gotten used to hearing. There are...
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Is RSS Dead Yet?
So I'm building these web apps in my spare time (because that's what I do), and I'm adding RSS feeds for certain types of updates, et cetera. But when I think of my immediate friends and family, I...
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Empty Catch Blocks
A normal user is going to click your button. The user won't see any kind of error message, which is maybe what you intended, but on the other hand, the button will seem to do nothing. The user will...
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How To Manually Change ASP.NET MembershipProvider Passwords
Don't ask me why you find yourself working in ASP.NET. I know there are more effective ways to build a site. Don't ask me what reason could possibly explain needing to change some passwords. Why isn't...
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The Oculus Rift Is Pretty Awesome
Image via http://www.theverge.com/2013/3/19/4122388/can-oculus-rift-save-virtual-reality The year is 1995, the climax of the “virtual reality” fad. Virtual reality was about to become a big industry,...
View ArticleStyle Wars
I recently realized that semicolons might be optional in JavaScript. I guess this is something I kinda sorta always knew but didn’t want to think about. JavaScript is a mess of proprietary...
View ArticleAutomated Testing in the Real World
Disclaimer: There are no rules, only guidelines. Every project and situation has its own unique needs. Actually, that’s exactly what this article is about. * * * Why do we always talk about unit tests?...
View ArticleIs RSS Dead Yet?
So I’m building these web apps in my spare time (because that’s what I do), and I’m adding RSS feeds for certain types of updates, et cetera. But when I think of my immediate friends & family, I...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Empty Catch Blocks
STOP DOING THIS: [code language=”csharp”] void ButtonClicked() { try { SaveEverything(); SubmitMonetaryTransaction(); SendConfirmationEmail(); } catch { // If anything goes wrong, do nothing. // Don’t...
View ArticleHow To Manually Change ASP.NET MembershipProvider Passwords
Don’t ask me why you find yourself working in ASP.NET. I know there are more effective ways to build a site. Don’t ask me why you’re maintaining an app written in the style of 2005. I know, but it...
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