Codeguru Update eNewsletter – September 18th, 2007

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CodeGuru Newsletter
September 18, 2007
http://www.CodeGuru.com


This newsletter is part of the Developer.com, EarthWeb, and
internet.com networks.
Jupitermedia Corporation


___________________________ Sponsors
________________________________
Internet.com eBook
Library
_____________________________________________________________________
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TOPICS:



–> Editorial
–> Recently Published
Books


–> New on
CodeGuru: 
        ==>
Database
               
– SqlProcessor
        ==>
Debugging
               
– Enabling Internet Explorer for Debugging ASP.NET
AJAX
        ==> Gadgets
(Video)
               
– Building a Gadget for Windows
Vista
        ==>
Libraries
               
– Introduction to PDL
        ==>
Memory
               
– Garbage Collector
        ==> .NET
Tip
               
– Data Encapsulation: Using Properties Instead of Public
Variables
        ==>
Templates
               
– Template Meta Programming and Number Theory, Part
2
        ==> Visual Basic
9
               
– Keyed Anonymous Types in VB9


–> Discussion Groups — HOT
Threads 
        – C# log
component (C#)
        – Good / bad style?
(C++)
        – Pass an object of any
class to a function (C++)


–> Highlighted new articles on
Developer.com 
        1.
Tip: Eliminate Waste with Simple
Design
        2. .NET Building Blocks:
Build a Configurable Database Credential Selector (From
DevX.com)
        3. Using High-Resolution
Timers (From DevX.com)


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Comments
from the
Editor
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Today I’m attending a local ArcReady event in Indianapolis, my home town
(www.ArcReady.com). The topic of the day is Web 2.0. As I’ve mentioned in the
past, Web 2.0 is one of those nebulous topics that if you ask ten people to
define, you’ll get eleven answers. In fact, I’m working on a book to help define
Web 2.0 and am finding that there are a variety of answers to the “what is Web
2.0” question. There are also a large number of similarities between people’s
definitions.


As points to ponder, consider the following statements. In your opinion,
Which of these are accurate?

  • Web 2.0 is AJAX
  • Web 2.0 is Software as a Service
  • Web 2.0 is all about the Web as a platform.
  • Web 2.0 is about empowering users
  • In a Web 2.0 world, breadth of information is more important than accuracy
  • In a Web 2.0 world, the user should be viewed as a co-developer
  • Flashing interfaces are a requirement of Web 2.0

If you thought that these were all true, then you and I disagree. AJAX is a
technology. Web 2.0 is built on technology; however, it is not *the* technology.


Sofware as a Service generally falls into the Web 2.0 world. The Web as a
platform is also considered a part of Web 2.0; however, Web 2.0 is about more
than just the Web as a platform.


Web 2.0 is absolutely about empowering users. This is one concept where most
industry leaders will agree.


Where you might find differing opinions is on whether breadth of information
is more important than accuracy. If, however, you look at some of the leading
Web 2.0 sites such as Wikipedia, Twitter, and Facebook, you’ll see that breadth
does in fact seem to be a stronger characteristic than accuracy.


The idea of the user as a co-developer should be scary to you as a developer.
In fact, this concept is becoming true. If you consider your task as a developer
to be the building Web applications, then you begin to see that the users are
getting more involved in this. This can be at the level of adding content that
changes the page. It can also be at the level of grabbing services and mashing
them together with other services. The end-user is getting more involved. More
importantly, the tools are getting easier to use to build sites, so if you cut
out the users, you might end up having them cut you out.


Finally, the last bullet was about Web 2.0 equating to flashy interfaces.
While most Web 2.0 sites have flashy interfaces, you will find that most
industry leaders agree that it is the social interaction and aspects that are
more indicative of a Web 2.0 application than the actual flashy interfaces.
Having said that, users are looking for “sizzle”.


Do you disagree with my opinions? If so, swing by the feedback forum and let
me know your thoughts.


Until next week!


Brad!
—————————
Bradley L.
Jones
www.CodeGuru.com
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Recently
Published Books
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For those of you keeping up by reading books. The following are just a few of
the new books that have been recently released. If you’ve read any of these,
feel free to write a review to be posted on CodeGuru. See the submission
guidelines at:


http://www.codeguru.com/review-guidelines.php


Here are a few new non-programming books:


–> C# Annotated
Standard
      By Jagger, Perry, and
Sestoft for Morgan Kaufmann
      820 pages for
$49.95
      http://books.internet.com/books/0123725119


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New
& Updated Articles on
CodeGuru
==========================================================


Following are short descriptions of new articles on CodeGuru.  If you
are interested in submitting your own article for  inclusion on the site,
then you will find guidelines located at


http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,fka1,909i,jorm,i5r0


This week’s CodeGuru posts:


==> Database


– SqlProcessor
    By cigsmh
This class
can work with any database that supports ADO.NET and saves a lot of code
writing.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,4oic,bh5q,jorm,i5r0


==> Debugging


– Enabling Internet Explorer for Debugging ASP.NET
AJAX
    By Dan Whalin
Wrox author and Microsoft
MVP Dan Wahlin shows how to use Internet Explorer with Visual Studio for
JavaScript debugging in ASP.NET AJAX.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,66yr,lfsl,jorm,i5r0


==> Gadgets (Video)


– Building a Gadget for Windows Vista
   
By By Kiran Sanjeeva
A little XML, a little HTML, and a little scripting is
all you need to be on your way to creating your own cool Vista gadget.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,3niw,7o8q,jorm,i5r0


==> Libraries


– Introduction to PDL
    By
isemenov
PDL (Portable Dynamic Loader) is a light, simple, and portable
library designed especially for creating and using dynamically loaded class
objects.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,icud,a6cp,jorm,i5r0


==> Memory


– Garbage Collector
    By
Michael.Heliso
Any program uses resources. These resources can be files,
database resources, network connections, memory buffers, objects, and so forth.
Learn how to allocate memory for these resources.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,j5hi,b15q,jorm,i5r0


==> .NET Tip


– Data Encapsulation: Using Properties Instead of
Public Variables
    By Jay Miller
Here is
encapsulation, one of the very basic tenets of object-oriented programming.
Using properties instead of public variables helps insulate the users of your
class from change, provides you more flexibility, and will ease maintenance of
your class.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,kfg7,9mer,jorm,i5r0


==> Templates


– Template Meta Programming and Number Theory, Part
2
   
By Zeeshan Amjad
Learn to use the C++
language construct such as “Template template parameters” to introduce the
abstraction layers not only to improve the quality of code but also to make it
more reusable.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,9kb5,6pf9,jorm,i5r0


==> Visual Basic 9


– Keyed Anonymous Types in VB9
    By Paul
Kimmel
Learn to use keyed anonymous types in VB9.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,42qz,jvj5,jorm,i5r0


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Discussion
Groups
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Check out the CodeGuru discussion forums at:


http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,bcr8,cx5j,jorm,i5r0


Forums include Visual C++, General C++, Visual Basic, Java, General
Technology, C#, ASP.NET, XML, Help Wanted,  and  much, much, more!


… HOT THREADS …


Some of the current threads with the most activity are:


==> C# log component
(C#)
        http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,99gd,8ggc,jorm,i5r0


==> Good / bad style?
(C++)
        http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,v7g,eqmk,jorm,i5r0


==> Pass an object of any class to a function
(C++)
        http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,4990,8443,jorm,i5r0


==========================================================
New
Articles on
Developer.com
==========================================================


Below are some of the new articles that have been posted to Developer.com (http://www.developer.com).


1. Tip: Eliminate Waste with Simple
Design
    By David DeWolf –
Stop building
architectural components that are never used. Learn to use simple design
techniques to develop only what is needed to meet the requirements.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,acoc,h1g3,jorm,i5r0


2. .NET Building Blocks: Build a Configurable Database Credential
Selector (From DevX.com)
    By Michael
Sorens
This handy control gives you everything you need to control how users
input usernames, passwords, select servers, and choose connection types.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,39rp,9rcs,jorm,i5r0


3. Using High-Resolution Timers (From
DevX.com)
   By Danny Kalev
For multimedia streaming,
games, and profiling, Standard C++’s time-meausurement options are limited. For
high-resolution timers, look to the POSIX library.
http://nl.internet.com/ct.html?rtr=on&s=1,3gy5,1,1urs,6206,jorm,i5r0


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