Project Views
18 Friday Apr 2014
Posted in Fun
Data, Text and Strings (oh, my!)
15 Tuesday Apr 2014
Posted in Opinion
Tags
computer languages, computer programming, computer science, data, data type, data types, strings, text, text file
The Strings and Text are not the same post on Musing Mortoray discusses the difference between “text” and “strings” and got me thinking. Rather than weigh down his (or her) comment section with a very long comment, I thought I’d go on a bit about it here.
I agree totally with the basic premise: that “text” and “strings” are different beasts. I also agree that text-handling depends on the text. There might be some difference in how we define text and string and thinking about how I define them turned up a lot of thoughts on the matter. This isn’t intended as an opposition post (except on one point with regard to HTML). What follows is just one programmer’s opinion.
Heartbleed bug
14 Monday Apr 2014
Posted in Opinion
The heartbleed bug has been in the news lately. Rightfully so; it’s a pretty big deal, at least in theory. How much damage is practically possible and how much damage may have occurred is unknown so far. But the potential security hole is enormous!
Two things really stand out about this bug: Firstly, attackers get (potentially) vast amounts of internal computer data while leaving no record. Secondly, the bug is a simple error caused by, metaphorically speaking, not looking both ways when crossing a one-way street.
Temporary Shutdown
11 Tuesday Mar 2014
Posted in Blog
Tags
Due to a pressing family matter, posting is suspended until further notice.
The Universal Answer
10 Monday Mar 2014
Tags
computer programmer, computer programmers, computer programming, computer science, it depends, software design, The Universal Answer, Universal Answer
At some point it strikes you. For some it happens early in Computer Science class after hearing a professor say it for the umpteenth time. For others it happens when hearing it come from their own mouths for the umpteenth time. The Universal Answer to any (and all) computer (science) question(s).
“It depends.”
Real Programmers
07 Friday Mar 2014
Posted in Fun
Too much specialization!
06 Thursday Mar 2014
To make this blog (I hope) useful, I have tips and advice and bits of advice. But the initial motivation was wanting to write about programming or software in general — topics too technical for my regular blog. In particular, I wanted a place to document past projects, ideas and personal (but sharable) thoughts about coding. I wanted a place to tell stories.
Today I have a story to tell about a programming project I’m working on.
Always Use Less-Than
05 Wednesday Mar 2014
Here’s a simple tip! I can’t begin to count how many potential code bugs this has eliminated. It takes some getting used to but once you make it automatic it’s a real help in keeping code and your thinking correct.
The tip is this: when you write relational expressions, always use less-than, never use greater-than. (Less-than-or-equal is okay, too.)
Naming Things
04 Tuesday Mar 2014
One of the things that programmers do a bazillion times during their career is come up with a name for something. Every variable, every sub-routine, every class, every method, every instance, even the program itself and all its supporting files: they all need names. In some cases the naming is obvious and easy, but in others it’s complicated. You can end up creating a big ball of mud if go about it casually.
So one thing you want to start doing is being intentional about naming things.
Rule #2: Source Code is for Humans
03 Monday Mar 2014
Posted in CS101
When you write code, always remember Rule #2: Source code is for humans. This rule ties to Rule #1 about clarity. You’re writing for humans, so write clearly! The compiler can understand any syntactically correct ball of mud you make, but humans need all the help you can give them. Write for your human readers, not the compiler.
The Hard-Core Coder 
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