RE: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo
Welll I use Notepad++ to edit, on a LIVE system, making every error instantly visible in 11 branches across a 300km range... yes, of course I'm using version control, its called panic 101, aka The Fire Station... Rex Gozar WROTE: You ARE using source code control tools (i.e. not home grown procedures), --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
Re: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo
Dennis, I've started to document the steps I've taken to cleanup bad code. You or anyone else interested can read them at: http://www.pickwiki.com/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Project_Cleansweep I'm not done since there is a lot to cover. I hope to add more over the next few weeks. rex Dennis Bartlett wrote: Welll I use Notepad++ to edit, on a LIVE system, making every error instantly visible in 11 branches across a 300km range... yes, of course I'm using version control, its called panic 101, aka The Fire Station... Rex Gozar WROTE: You ARE using source code control tools (i.e. not home grown procedures), --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
[U2] Pooled UO.Net Connections
All Being too poor to afford to purchase pooled connection licences just for testing, I'm interested in hearing from anyone using these with UO.NET in anger in terms of performance and stability. Thanks Brian --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo
All I can say is, you must have a lot of free time. I sometimes have three or four projects going at the same time while also making bug fixes, helping users, managing the database, making minor changes to programs, and helping to train a new programmer. Some of our code is close to 20 years old. When I find free time to work on an older program I might get enough time to restructure the goto's out of it and I feel like I've accomplished something. There are three of us now, at one time we had 5. Jerry Banker -Original Message- From: Rex Gozar [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 8:16 AM To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Subject: Re: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo Dennis, I've started to document the steps I've taken to cleanup bad code. You or anyone else interested can read them at: http://www.pickwiki.com/cgi-bin/wiki.pl?Project_Cleansweep I'm not done since there is a lot to cover. I hope to add more over the next few weeks. rex Dennis Bartlett wrote: Welll I use Notepad++ to edit, on a LIVE system, making every error instantly visible in 11 branches across a 300km range... yes, of course I'm using version control, its called panic 101, aka The Fire Station... Rex Gozar WROTE: You ARE using source code control tools (i.e. not home grown procedures), --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo
All I can say is, you must have a lot of free time. I'm reminded of the old saying - if you want something doing, ask the busiest person. Brian --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
Re: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo
With more than 25 years in IT, this is what I have learned: *People remember quick for a day; they remember dirty forever.* - When I talked to a former CIO about quality and documentation, he said management expects best practices, and it is up to us programmers to deliver them. - We need to quit saying we can get it done quick in a day when it is a week-long job. - I have noticed that some programmers inflate their estimates by 10 times, just so they will look good finishing early. We have to be accurate, without lying. - Companies need to establish a threshold to determine when an application needs to be rewritten. This could be n years old or n modifications or when the program is unreadable. - The best IT practices I've seen include: - Coding standards (e.g. using loop/repeat instead of for/next) - Syntax standards (e.g. using @true and @false instead of 1 and 0) - Everybody uses the same case: UPPER, lower, or Mixed. - peer review for coding and syntax compliance (this really doesn't take long) - operations and user review of documentation BEFORE a program is installed. - programs are never installed on Friday. We have many members and companies that have established excellent best practices. It would be nice to have them on the U2UG wiki. -- Louie in Seattle --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] Skype cannot connect
Yes, but the current release is 3.5. :) From: Dennis Bartlett There is a version 3.2 of Skype that fixes all manner of clever things...??? --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
Re: [U2] Pooled UO.Net Connections
Hi Brian, I don't know if this would be any help or not, but IBM Resellers, like me, can purchase database licenses at a significant discount for development and testing. I don't know what the cost of connection pooling licenses is, but I would be glad to consider purchasing a small number of licenses and installing them here on one of my machines if that would help you in any way. Just a thought. btw, how is MBI doing? Cheers, Dave Dave Taylor Sysmark Information Systems, Inc. Authorized IBM Business Partner 49 Aspen Way Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 (O) 800-SYSMARK (800-797-6275) (F) 310-377-3550 (C) 310-561-5200 www.sysmarkinfo.com - Original Message - From: Brian Leach [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 7:09 AM Subject: [U2] Pooled UO.Net Connections All Being too poor to afford to purchase pooled connection licences just for testing, I'm interested in hearing from anyone using these with UO.NET in anger in terms of performance and stability. Thanks Brian --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] Skype cannot connect
That's really weird coz my skype is set to update on its own, and the version is 3.2.. -Original Message- From: Tony G Yes, but the current release is 3.5. :) --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
Re: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo
Jerry, Doing this kind of stuff doesn't take a lot of time; *learning* what to do and how to do it takes a whole lot more. Your programmers have probably already lost more productive hours than it takes to clean the trash up. You'll also spot bugs a whole lot faster, furthering your productivity and reducing IT costs. rex Jerry Banker wrote: All I can say is, you must have a lot of free time... --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] Pooled UO.Net Connections [not-secure]
I'd be interested in seeing the stats, and how they were collected. In your free time, of course! Mark Hennessey -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Symeon Breen Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 11:47 AM To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Subject: RE: [U2] Pooled UO.Net Connections Hi Brian , I am using it in some ASP.NET environs and it is highly performant compared to opening and closing a connection each time - I have some good stats on live web sites using WAS that I can send on to you/the list if anyone is interested. Symeon -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brian Leach Sent: 07 March 2008 15:09 To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Subject: [U2] Pooled UO.Net Connections All Being too poor to afford to purchase pooled connection licences just for testing, I'm interested in hearing from anyone using these with UO.NET in anger in terms of performance and stability. Thanks Brian --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
[U2] UV - 10.2.2 installation questions [not-secure]
I'll be installing UV 10.2.2 on a clean Solaris 10 box next week. In the past, observing Solaris conventions, we have installed UV in /opt/ibm/uv... instead of /usr My Solaris administrator just asked if it would be better to install UV on the disk array instead of the OS disk. (The array is a StorageTek 2540 fibre channel attached array of SAS disks). I thought this through, and frankly I can not see any disadvantages to it. I don't see any obvious downside to putting /.uvhome on the array as opposed to the internal OS disk. Also, we point UVTEMP to /tmp in uvconfig. I vaguely remember hearing/reading that that may not be the best choice... Although we have acres of space in /tmp (well, some 44 gig available as I type) Servers: Sun V490 with 2 146 gb 10k rpm disks Arrays:2540 with 12 146 gb 15k rpm disks, 2 FC raid controllers 2501 expansion tray with 12 146 gb 15k rpm disks Any thoughts/advice on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Mark Hennessey --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
[U2] Mar/April 2008 issue of International Spectrum magazine
The Mar/April 2008 issue of International Spectrum magazine is at the printer and is now available in PDF format for download at www.intl-spectrum.com Regards, Clif --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo
We must remember that programming and computers in general has changed much since the beginning. How many remember punch cards. Can programmers today relate to a time when programmers submitted there code to be placed on punched cards? How about a half a day turnaround to see if your program compiled? And the fun task of reading core dumps. There are many factors to consider. --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo
Or listening to the core play their favorite song on the transistor radio placed on top of the memory subsystem. :) Jerry Banker -Original Message- From: Tim Stokes [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 2:47 PM To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Subject: RE: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo We must remember that programming and computers in general has changed much since the beginning. How many remember punch cards. Can programmers today relate to a time when programmers submitted there code to be placed on punched cards? How about a half a day turnaround to see if your program compiled? And the fun task of reading core dumps. There are many factors to consider. --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] Pooled UO.Net Connections
Also worth noting the enterprise licence includes 2 free pooling licences !! -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dave Taylor Sent: 07 March 2008 17:51 To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Subject: Re: [U2] Pooled UO.Net Connections Hi Brian, I don't know if this would be any help or not, but IBM Resellers, like me, can purchase database licenses at a significant discount for development and testing. I don't know what the cost of connection pooling licenses is, but I would be glad to consider purchasing a small number of licenses and installing them here on one of my machines if that would help you in any way. Just a thought. btw, how is MBI doing? Cheers, Dave Dave Taylor Sysmark Information Systems, Inc. Authorized IBM Business Partner 49 Aspen Way Rolling Hills Estates, CA 90274 (O) 800-SYSMARK (800-797-6275) (F) 310-377-3550 (C) 310-561-5200 www.sysmarkinfo.com - Original Message - From: Brian Leach [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 7:09 AM Subject: [U2] Pooled UO.Net Connections All Being too poor to afford to purchase pooled connection licences just for testing, I'm interested in hearing from anyone using these with UO.NET in anger in terms of performance and stability. Thanks Brian --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo
We must remember that programming and computers in general has changed much since the beginning. How many remember punch cards. Can programmers today relate to a time when programmers submitted their code to be placed on punched cards? Sure can. I usually had to do my own keypunching, especially when working late. Wish I had a buck for every time a compile failed because I absent-mindedly stuck the old card back in the deck and threw away the new one. And the fun task of reading core dumps. All I can say is, you have a strange notion of fun. As long as we are waxing nostalgic, how about old-master, new-master update processing on sequential files? Or the ear-splitting sound of old line printers with the cover open? The unique sound of a 1403-N1 printing a barber-pole test pattern? I don't miss the good old days at all. === Norman Morgan [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.brake.com === When you do a good deed, get a receipt, just in case heaven is like the IRS === --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
[U2] Estimating Timelines
Snipped from Louie's contribution on the Include Wierdness - I have noticed that some programmers inflate their estimates by 10 times, just so they will look good finishing early. We have to be accurate, without lying. Speaking for myself, this is usually necessary because today's applications are so complex that all the dependencies are impossible to forecast. It is not a question of lying - it is a question of trying to anticipate the worst case. The first estimate you give is the only one that management (your customers) will ever remember. You can explain the changed circumstances until you are blue in the face - it makes no difference. The customer cannot see the issues. You are late in delivering. A good example just occurred today. Set up a control flag for particular function. Easy enough - we already have a screen for these things - just add one field Should be about an hour. Tops. No big deal. Add the field and test it. SB+ spits it back at me with a matrix out of range error. These are linked screens - we are on the fifth screen. I smell a big problem. I create a sixth screen and put the field on that additional screen. Now I get a different (more informative) message. Too many fields on linked screens. As I suspected - we have hit the limit of this arrangement. We are on an old version. Now I have to totally re-design this set of screens. With Page forward and back keys Don't forget the Inquiry mode - How do I make those use the same screen defns? Make sure it functions exactly as it did before - it does not want to because the sub-screens are a different herd of cats. Now, how much time should I have estimated for this task? And this is not unusual. Does anyone out there have any thoughts on THIS issue? I think it (estimating timelines) is one of the more difficult tasks we face. Especially when interfacing to an existing mature application. Coding is the easy part of this job. Cheers JR John Rodgers Masonite International Tel: (813) 2612396 ext 3036 --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo
Oh, the good old days... My first experience with computers was paper tape. Version control was performed with a pencil on the leader of the tape. I do miss the flashy lights though... Cheers, David Murray -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tim Stokes Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 3:47 PM To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Subject: RE: [U2] INCLUDE weirdo We must remember that programming and computers in general has changed much since the beginning. How many remember punch cards. Can programmers today relate to a time when programmers submitted there code to be placed on punched cards? How about a half a day turnaround to see if your program compiled? And the fun task of reading core dumps. There are many factors to consider. --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
RE: [U2] Estimating Timelines
Analysis, design, and testing always take longer than programming. Even with a code change of one line you may take a lot of time analyzing the problem and the best way to fix it. Jerry Banker -Original Message- From: John Rodgers [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 4:01 PM To: u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org Subject: [U2] Estimating Timelines Snipped from Louie's contribution on the Include Wierdness - I have noticed that some programmers inflate their estimates by 10 times, just so they will look good finishing early. We have to beaccurate, without lying. Speaking for myself, this is usually necessary because today's applications are so complex that all the dependencies are impossible to forecast. It is not a question of lying - it is a question of trying to anticipate the worst case. The first estimate you give is the only one that management (your customers) will ever remember. You can explain the changed circumstances until you are blue in the face - it makes no difference. The customer cannot see the issues. You are late in delivering. A good example just occurred today. Set up a control flag for particular function. Easy enough - we already have a screen for these things - just add one field Should be about an hour. Tops. No big deal. Add the field and test it. SB+ spits it back at me with a matrix out of range error. These are linked screens - we are on the fifth screen. I smell a big problem. I create a sixth screen and put the field on that additional screen. Now I get a different (more informative) message. Too many fields on linked screens. As I suspected - we have hit the limit of this arrangement. We are on an old version. Now I have to totally re-design this set of screens. With Page forward and back keys Don't forget the Inquiry mode - How do I make those use the same screen defns? Make sure it functions exactly as it did before - it does not want to because the sub-screens are a different herd of cats. Now, how much time should I have estimated for this task? And this is not unusual. Does anyone out there have any thoughts on THIS issue? I think it (estimating timelines) is one of the more difficult tasks we face. Especially when interfacing to an existing mature application. Coding is the easy part of this job. Cheers JR John Rodgers Masonite International Tel: (813) 2612396 ext 3036 --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
Re: [U2] Estimating Timelines
I have to weigh in on this in support of everything stated so far. John is right, the first estimate is the one that sticks so that estimate has to factor in what is known about the problem, solution, and path at the time the estimate is requested, which is often before any real discovery has taken place. The less information known before the estimate, the higher the estimate will be, if for no other reasons than to make sure everyone is covered with no surprises. And of course, while customers will do their best to give all of the information needed at the outset of the task, the reality is that any and all information needs to be weighed against some kind of objective review to ensure that the information is accurate and complete. In fact, I believe that ensuring that all of the important information is on the table is a real art form! (I mean, hey, that's what discovery and analysis are for, right?) And as Jerry said, there can be a lot of time invested in those tasks. Asking someone to estimate a complete job - which includes the discovery and analysis needed to estimate the remainder of the tasks - without having those tasks completed in advance is pretty much asking for an unknown on a fixed timeline, which is as close to an impending failure as one can intentionally get. For the past several years I've been taking a multi-stage approach to the larger projects. Certainly on a smaller project I've finally gotten to a point where I can spitball an estimate pretty reliably, but on the big ones I'll estimate the discovery separate from the analysis separate from the implementation+testing+installation. And of course, documentation is also estimated separately. Most customers - to date - have been pretty happy to give me a small budget for discovery knowing that it pays big dividends in more accurate estimates for the rest of the project. And accurate, on time, and on budget makes everyone happy. -K http://www.PrecisOnline.com --- u2-users mailing list u2-users@listserver.u2ug.org To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
