NoScript Tag

It’s relatively unknown HTML tag that works like alternative description when your browser doesn’t support scripting or when JavaScript is disabled. While this one is not so relevant for modern desktop browsers, it becomes relevant again when creating applications for mobile browsers.

Example of use:

<script type=”text/javascript”>
document.write(“Hello World!”)
</script>
<noscript>Your browser does not support JavaScript!</noscript>

 

“What dynamic does NOT do ” example

There are several important concepts related to new dynamic types in C# 4.0 which could be a bit confusing without correct understanding of boxing/unboxing of value types that happens during the dynamic binding.

Here is good example from Sam Ng’s blog:

public struct S
{
    public int i;
}

public class D
{
    public S s;
    public static void Main()
    {
        dynamic d = new D();
        d.s = default(S);
        d.s.i = 10;
        Console.WriteLine(d.s.i);
    } 

} 

We would intuitively expect the value ‘10′ to be printed in the console. However, the value ‘0′ is printed instead. Core thing is any of the dotted expressions were to bind to a value type, that value will be boxed (and hence a copy would be made), and further dots into it would be made on the copy of the value, and not the initial value as would be expected.

The guys from C# team currently on the way of investigation if it’s reasonable to add any smart compile time logic to handle things like this for dynamic usage. But from my perspective main thing is to understand the reason for this – real value type was unboxed during dotted expression and modified, but wasn’t(!) boxed again.

 

TFS Admin

During last couple of days I had to make lots of TFS tasks with my colleagues in Dev Centre. Part of them was bulk of administrative tasks to assign correct permissions to different areas of the TFS such as Source Control, Share Point, Reports and other. All this areas have independent roles and permissions configuration and it’s not really easy using standard tools to give the same permissions to someone in these different sub-areas. What we’ve discovered was the TFS Administrator tool on CodePlex that allows you easily to manage multiple permission sets for different projects and users. We found this as fast enough way for tasks we have, and I could recommend it to use in such scenarios.

TFS Administrator Screen shot

 

howto: Ping remote host using PowerShell script

If you want to check availablity of some remote host in your powershell script you can use next simple piece of code to do exactly this:$MachineName = “mo-laptop”

$PingStatus = Gwmi Win32_PingStatus -Filter “Address =’$MachineName’” | Select-Object StatusCode

if($PingStatus.StatusCode -eq 0)

{

echo $MachineName

echo “Ping Success”

}

else

{

echo $MachineName

echo “Ping Failed”

}

 

howto: Extend trial period of Windows 7 PDC installation

If you want continue playing with Windows 7 PDC installation after 30-days trial period ended, you can “rearm” it and use for a bit longer period of time using this simple approach:

1. Install Windows 7 without any product activation key.
2. After installation is completed, use the Windows 7 for 30 days and wait for the remaining days left to activate Windows counting down to 0, or almost zero.
3. When the activation grace period (or evaluation trial period) is almost expired or ended, log on to Windows 7 desktop, and open a Command Prompt window (i.e. type Cmd in Start Search and hit Enter).
4. Type any of the following commands into the command prompt, and then hit Enter:sysprep /generalize

   slmgr.vbs –rearm

   rundll32 slc.dll,SLReArmWindows

   slmgr /rearm

5. Reboot Windows 7 to enjoy another 30 days of free usage without worrying about activation nor even need to crack Windows 7.
6. When the activation grace period countdown timer almost running down to 0 again, repeat the ‘rearm’ trick to enjoy another 30 days of Windows 7 for free. User can run the rearm command for maximum of 3 times.

After this you will require to activate it with proper product key or install other trial version, that probably will be released soon.

from http://www.mydigitallife.info/2008/11/06/how-to-rearm-and-extend-free-usage-activation-grace-period-of-windows-7-to-120-days/

 

howto: Set up file read-only attribute from command line

Here is the small quote from Microsoft KB that could help you when you will try to apply file attributes from command line? powershell scripts etc.

To remove the Read-only attribute and to set the System attribute, use the following command:

attrib -r +s drive:\<path>\<foldername>

For example, to remove the Read-only attribute and to set the System attribute for the C:\Test folder, use the following command:

attrib -r +s c:\test

Be aware that some programs may not operate correctly with folders for which the System attribute and the Read-only attribute are set. Therefore, use the following command to remove these attributes:

attrib -r -s c:\test

 

Testivus On Test Coverage

Early one morning, a programmer asked the great master:

“I am ready to write some unit tests. What code coverage should I aim for?”

The great master replied:

“Don’t worry about coverage, just write some good tests.”

The programmer smiled, bowed, and left.

…

Later that day, a second programmer asked the same question.

The great master pointed at a pot of boiling water and said:

“How many grains of rice should put in that pot?”

The programmer, looking puzzled, replied:

“How can I possibly tell you? It depends on how many people you need to feed, how hungry they are, what other food you are serving, how much rice you have available, and so on.”

“Exactly,” said the great master.

The second programmer smiled, bowed, and left.

…

Toward the end of the day, a third programmer came and asked the same question about code coverage.

“Eighty percent and no less!” Replied the master in a stern voice, pounding his fist on the table.

The third programmer smiled, bowed, and left.

…

After this last reply, a young apprentice approached the great master:

“Great master, today I overheard you answer the same question about code coverage with three different answers. Why?”

The great master stood up from his chair:

“Come get some fresh tea with me and let’s talk about it.”

After they filled their cups with smoking hot green tea, the great master began to answer:

“The first programmer is new and just getting started with testing. Right now he has a lot of code and no tests. He has a long way to go; focusing on code coverage at this time would be depressing and quite useless. He’s better off just getting used to writing and running some tests. He can worry about coverage later.”

“The second programmer, on the other hand, is quite experience both at programming and testing. When I replied by asking her how many grains of rice I should put in a pot, I helped her realize that the amount of testing necessary depends on a number of factors, and she knows those factors better than I do – it’s her code after all. There is no single, simple, answer, and she’s smart enough to handle the truth and work with that.”

“I see,” said the young apprentice, “but if there is no single simple answer, then why did you answer the third programmer ‘Eighty percent and no less’?”

The great master laughed so hard and loud that his belly, evidence that he drank more than just green tea, flopped up and down.

“The third programmer wants only simple answers – even when there are no simple answers … and then does not follow them anyway.”

The young apprentice and the grizzled great master finished drinking their tea in contemplative silence.

 

What the difference between ADO.NET Data Services and Sql Server Data Services

They are similiar but very different technologies. Astoria or what is now called at Microsoft ADO.NET Data Services is a programming library that will allow data to be passed through RESTful web services. You develop these web services to be run against data you have access to. ADO.NET Data Services is now included in the .NET 3.5 SP1 updates.

SQL Server Data Services is a new service provided by Microsoft. The following is a decription:

“SQL Server Data Services (SSDS) are highly scalable, on-demand data storage and query processing utility services. Built on robust SQL Server database and Windows Server technologies, these services provide high availability, security and support standards-based web interfaces for easy programming and quick provisioning.”

SQL Server Data Services is very similair to Amazon S3 service.

 

Agile project and amount of Documentation

Here is accepted answer on my provocation on “Stack Overflow”.

 

Create documentation that speeds up communication and helps you move faster. Let the principle of “Mutual Benefit” guide you.

• Adoption documents: “NewPerson handbook”. Getting started with any “framework” or niche tools you are using.
• Also document team conventions if any.
• Instructions for Setting up a development machine is another good one. Source Control server settings, Installation paths for tools used.
• Product Maps: You would need product design roadmaps – block diagrams of various top-level components and the like. Tests can serve as the always updated specs – ground zero documentation.. but you need a simple word doc … bulleted list of high level product needs / features.
• “Here the dragons lie” – any known minefields with products (esp. legacy), ‘Don’t tread here’ areas that you need to be careful while changing.. e.g. If you change something here, make sure you have it reviewed by Y and Z before checking in.

Core Metric: If you find no one on the team complaining “WTH? Why didnt anyone document this? I’m stuck.. How am I supposed to proceed on this?” – you’re good.

• If the team finds that they have been drawing a class diagram or sequence diagram over and over, that’s proof that it is a useful artifact. Soon someone will make a sticky copy and save it somewhere to save time. Over time , the more useful artifacts would build up.
• Don’t pester the team to churn out documents no one else will read…(No “This is mandated by the process”)
• Don’t create documents that are 40-50 pages long. No one will read them.. “Take more time and write a shorter letter” 5-6 pages max.

Finally as for TFS, once again let the team tell you. If it seems to be working well.. continue if not find alternatives & switch.

 

by Gishu

 

Script tag and Internet Explorer XHTML compatibility

If you are including scripts in your ASP.NET pages, don’t forget that you CANNOT put script tag like this

<script type=”text/javascript” src=”somescript.js” />

because browser will not recognise this as correct markup and probably all your stuff after this tag will not be correctly put to the DOM model.

You need to use this instead:

<script type=”text/javascript” src=”somescript.js”></script>

Is someone told me that they’re fully XHTML compatible?