Posts by James

OpenSocial, OpenID, and Google Gears: Three technologies for history's dustbin

OpenID

I've seen OpenID on a few sites - e.g. clicktime.com

Why is Ruby on Rails so darn slow?

C/C++ is downright dangerous vast majority of web apps

"How come C/C++ is adequate for projects from the small to the behemoth when it is for a desktop app or a non HTML spewing server app but not adequate for web apps?"

- it is too difficult/expensive to guarantee that you have a secure application at a low level - this is not too much of a problem if you are Adobe rolling out an app that someone runs on a machine, but if you are on a volume e-commerce app, it's all to easy for a rogue C++ wizkid contractor on the take to spot flaws in the system and put together a component that to hijack and log valuable information stored in another part of the system.

With Java/.NET etc, it is much easier for a developer of a sensitive part of the system to take safeguards against this type of hacking.

Managed development platforms abstract you from the nuts and bolts, and reduce the number of trust issues especially when dealing with multiple teams developing a product for a large organization. Java / .NET etc free you from that.

For all but a small number of situations you'd be mad to go with C/C++ unless you opt for managed C++ - and even then you'd still be mad considering it will take an expert C++ programmer to write code that performs as well as an intermediate Java/.NET programmer.

I think these days, most desktop apps also have sizeable portions written in managed code - and with integrated development environments targeting both the web+desktop such as AIR and WPF - it seems if you value your career, best avoid the hippy code of Php, Perl, Ruby and the rest of the sandal wearing fad languages - these tools are free for a reason - they are developed so their inventors can charge Microsoft, Sun et al a fortune in consultancy so they can fast track their developers up to speed in order to evaluate the technology so they can nick the best of their features and incorporate them into their own products.

Secret Crush widget spreads adware on Facebook

Not all bad

There are many cool Facebook apps out there - it's a shame that viral, do nothing, wastes of time and space apps are giving a bad name to those developers who are genuinely trying to show users all the cool things that can be done on a Platform like facebook.

Check this out for example - it allows you to graffiti your friends photos and it then publishes your new image to your photo album alerting the person who is in the picture. You can then use that picture for whatever you like as it's in your album. Look at http://apps.facebook.com/bestmask/

I'd agree that the platform is doomed - it's app model is the key thing that has given it momentum in growth and differentiated it from it's competitors. They need to do more for developers of innovative applications, and try to squash out the likes of Superwall, Funwall, Werewolves, Vampires and You're a hottie - which do nothing other than swamp the news feeds with pointless messages. Hopefully with the wall clones, Facebook will just stamp them out by enhancing their own wall application.

If you're going to install a viral app - make sure it's one with a point - such as http://apps.facebook.com/spreadthepeace/

BBC's iPlayer launches Christmas Day

BBC iPlayer - License Fee killer

I don't see why I should have to pay for a License fee any more - I don't want an iPlayer - I'll choose my own on-demand online services thank you very much.

I am happy to continue paying my license fee provided the Lion's share of the money goes to making programmes. I don't see why the BBC should still be allowed to collect the License fee when they just look one of many media providers. They used to have something unique (BBC1, BB2, Radio1-4). We're losing that now - the quality of the programming has deteriorated that I hardly watch any BBC programmes at all now (and the ones I do they have just bought in).

And I think the BBC won't have a leg to stand on in terms of the license fee when they insist on trying to lead the way on the web and the iPlayer is a classic example of why the people in charge of the BBC are not fit to be in the position of trust that they are in.

Very sad state of affairs - the current BBC generation ought to be ashamed of themselves - and the government doubly so for not recognizing this and not protected the BBC we all knew and loved for our Children to enjoy.

I'm been happy paying the license fee all my adult life - Now I'm not happy paying it and I'm looking hard for a legal justification to do so. I want television in my home - but I don't want my hard earned money frittered away on things like iPlayer when all I want is to watch some good programming on my TV.

Shame on you BBC

Facebook moves to cut down application annoyances

Title

"Take video, for example. If I want to view the video, why can't I just view the video? Why do I have to add the application (read: grant it permission to see my data) in order to do so?"

You don't if the developer of the application chose not to make you do that. If you display my application on your profile, then anybody can click on the link and view or use the application.

Another shameless plug: Perpetual Pixels

It's a simple app - but it's a competition, and the winner gets to set the next game image. So if the game becomes popular, it gives the opportunity for some good exposure for the winners. It's just started and on the first round, so if you're on facebook: Perpetual Pixels

http://apps.facebook.com/perpetualpixels