2006.09.30
Cross Compiling
Cross compiling software on a host platform to run on a different
target used to be an exotic stunt to be performed by
the brave and desperate.
One had first to configure and build the compiler, assembler, archiver,
and linker for the different architecture, then cross-build the other
architecture's libraries, and finally the software.
This week, while preparing a new release of the
CScout refactoring browser
I realized that what was once a feat is nowadays a routine operation.
Continue reading "Cross Compiling"Last modified: Saturday, September 30, 2006 10:32 pm
2006.09.27
Choosing a Collection: A Discussion with Kent Beck
Recently I reviewed the mansucript of Kent Beck's upcoming
book Implementation Patterns.
I will certainly put it in the list of books any professional programmer
should read.
When discussing collections (containers in C++ STL parlance),
Kent mentions that
his overall strategy for performance coding with collections is to use the
simplest possible implementation at first and pick a more specialized collection
class when it becomes necessary.
My view is that
we should choose the most efficient implementation from the start.
With prepackaged collections this doesn't have any cost associated with
it, and it avoids nasty surprises when a dataset increases beyond the
size the programmer envisaged.
I added a comment to that effect in my review, and later I sent him
an email with a supporting citation, which
kindled an interesting exchange.
I reproduce our email exchange here, with his permission.
Continue reading "Choosing a Collection: A Discussion with Kent Beck"Last modified: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 3:36 pm
2006.09.25
The Verbosity of Object-Oriented Code
As I refactored a piece of code from an imperative to an
object-oriented style I increased its clarity and reusability,
but I also trippled its size.
This worries me.
Continue reading "The Verbosity of Object-Oriented Code"Last modified: Monday, September 25, 2006 0:32 am
2006.09.21
UML Class Diagrams from C++ Code
I needed a UML class diagram of the classes I use in the implementation of
CScout refactoring browser.
I drew the last such diagram on paper about four years ago, so it was
definitely out of date.
I always say that whenever possible documentation should be automatically
generated from the code, so I decided to automate the task.
Continue reading "UML Class Diagrams from C++ Code"Last modified: Thursday, September 21, 2006 11:49 am
2006.09.17
NASSCOM Quality Summit 2006
Last week I attended NASSCOM's 2006 Quality Summit in Bangalore, India.
There I gave a tutorial on tooling with open source software, and
delivered a talk on Global Software Development in the FreeBSD Project.
It was an edifying trip.
Continue reading "NASSCOM Quality Summit 2006"Last modified: Sunday, September 17, 2006 10:35 pm
2006.09.02
Hardware and Software Debugging
Debuggging day.
The MySQL
5.0 server I tried to run as part of a
MediaWiki installation under
FreeBSD,
crashed during initialization, and a Tomy Walkabout
digital baby monitor started emitting a low beeping sound.
I solved both cases through educated guesses.
Continue reading "Hardware and Software Debugging"Last modified: Saturday, September 2, 2006 11:47 pm
2006.09.01
Open Source and Professional Advancement
Doing really first-class work, and knowing it, is as good as wine, women (or men) and song put together.
— Richard Hamming
I recently participated in an online discussion regarding the advantages of the various certification programs. Some voiced skepticism regarding how well one can judge a person's knowledge through answers to narrowly framed multiple choice questions. My personal view is that the way a certification's skills are examined is artificial to the point of uselessness. In practice I often find solutions to problems by looking for answers on the web. Knowing where and how to search for an answer is becoming the most crucial problem-solving skill, yet typical certification exams still test rote learning. Other discussants suggested that certification was a way to enter into a job market where employers increasingly asked for experience in a specific technology. My reaction to that argument was that open source software development efforts offer us professionals a new and very valuable way to obtain significant experience in a wide range of areas. In this column I'll describe how we can advance professionally by contributing to open source projects.
Continue reading "Open Source and Professional Advancement"Last modified: Friday, December 15, 2006 12:32 am