There is an ancient saying that “the only thing that does not change is change itself”. This is true! So, the real question, in software development, is how do we deal, effectively, with change? This is a tough question and over the past three decades of Rapid Application Development, there have been different approaches to dealing with change.

Looking back to my own personal experience in Information Technology (since around 1990, after finishing college), it is best to get all requirements up front for any project. Sound idealistic? Perhaps, but this is the best way to ensure the successful completion of a project (e.g. software development project). If you have changing requirements throughout a programming project then you will be creating scenarios that could seriously frustrate efforts to getting the program (e.g. final code) out the door.

We live in the real world with real change and real needs to update requirements. So, this is not to criticize Project Managers in any way. In fact, I have great respect for Project Managers. It is not easy to deal with changing requirements and get programmers to incorporate such updates into their code.

However, at some point, there needs to be an end to requirement changes and a beginning to lasting changes in the computer code that actually creates the program. Programmers are not gods, they are people (I am sure there are some programmer gods out there, but I’m talking about the general programming population here). Working hard to get all requirements up front is like designing a house with a solid design on paper and then working to create that design. It is also like planning a trip. If you plan, say, 90% of your itinerary, you will most likely fulfill that itinerary with minimal problems.

Dear Readers and Visitors:

This morning, I finally finished composing a free e-book that describes the basics of a fine utility program that is available as a free download from CNET’s website download dot com, called Advanced System Care v3.6.1. This remarkable program inspects and repairs your computer (desktop, laptop, netbook, etc.) system and works with the very latest in anti-virus, defrag, and other relevant technologies. It is clearly on par with giants like Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Security Essentials. Advanced System Care addresses sensitive issues like privacy, temporary files, and log files, all of which today need to be addressed, lest a spyware program gain new insights into your browsing or confidential information that you thought was safely stored on your local drive. Like AC/DC once sang “watch your back”. So, true, especially in the evolving Internet age.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD MY E-BOOK ABOUT ADVANCED SYSTEM CARE v3.6.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ADVANCED SYSTEM CARE 3.6.1 FROM CNET.

Regards and Best Wishes for a relaxing weekend,

Keith

With a subscriber base at nearly 60,000 people, the site called FILEHIPPO is truly a success. What they do is list the most popular and vibrant applications and resources that are being downloaded on the Internet. Why is this important? It is because whether you are a student or business person, you need to know what people are doing and where their concerns presently rest. Are they worried about system security? Are they downloading the latest release of Firefox or Chrome? At File Hippo, you will find this out for yourself. Here is the URL for File Hippo: http://filehippo.com. Wishing you all a nice and restful weekend, Keith

Once the Previous Windows Installations check box appears in the Disk Cleanup window, click the OK button to delete these previous installations.

So, if you have a virus, spyware, or malware of any kind that might still be in those files, they are finally gone forever now. I knew, immediately, that the program that was downloaded from my blog was malware because I could not delete it from my system. Also, my Microsoft Windows Security Essentials program warned me there was something malicious about the program, which I did not want to download in the first place. The web is still full of hackers people. Stay safe! Our lives are increasingly virtual and so you need to take precautions to protect yourself.

All The Best,

Keith

Recently, I was reading my Computer Magazine from the IEEE Society (where I am a member) and there was an advertisement for Google Code University. Amazing? You bet. Google now is featuring this website so that programmers and developers, students, and entrepreneurs can all collaborate, discover, and mutually benefit from sharing code, coding and software design techniques and more.

Collaboration is a powerful tool for learning. Sometimes when you learn alongside with other people, the learning curve is accelerated and you learn faster. That has definitely been my experience over the years. So, for those of you who are game, check it out: Google Code University. This is definitely going to be a challenger for Microsoft’s Code Plex website (Microsoft collaboration website).

Click here to check out Google Code University.

As I learn how to use Document! X to document assemblies, components, and databases, I turn to the Help tab within Document! X. It is truly helpful. It is well designed and truly written to help the new software user. The welcome page gives you a few brief video tutorials to get you started. After that, you can navigate the TOC in the left pane to find exactly what you need or you can go directly to the Search tab, also located in the left pane. The Help file is essentially a CHM file that is called as you select Help from within the Help tab of the main Document! X menu system, which, BTW, is set-up in the same way that Microsoft Word 2007 is set up. Indeed, developers who are writing code need to take advantage of this fantastic resource so that if they need to revisit their compiled programs, they will be able to see back into their code and the Microsoft .NET framework with the insightful details provided by this program. Regards, Keith

Dear Readers:

Over the next few weeks, I will be reviewing a program called Document X (here at Great Documents), developed by a software company called Innovasys from the UK. As a Technical Writer, I am always in search of better ways to document source code as well as create more insightful user guides. Currently, I work in an environment that features Microsoft .NET. So, I will see how this software optimizes my documentation experience and what I can offer as a Technical Writer to programmers and developers. Hopefully you are all enjoying the World Cup. Best wishes for a productive and positive week ahead.

Keith

This post is dedicated to Chapter 4 of Joan Lambert’s book Windows 7 Step by Step, published by Microsoft Press. What I would like to discuss in this post is Chapter 4 which tells you about (1) working with Windows, (2) understanding files, folders, and libraries, (3) finding your way around the computer, (4) connecting to a network resource, and (5) finding specific information. These are all very important topics.

First, working with the Windows Operating System (OS) is important because it is designed to be a user-friendly interface to help you find things easily. You can easily size, move, and arrange windows as per your needs. You simply need to learn to use the icons and learn how to point, drag, and click your mouse on the right part of the window you want to manipulate. Essentially, there are two icons located in the top right hand corner of the window that allow for resizing, minimizing and maximizing.

Second, to work with files on your computer, you need to use the Windows Explorer. Go to the Start Menu of your machine and then select the Documents icon (a folder icon). This will display a window that will list, in the left side, all the major ways you can access information on your machine: desktop, downloads, libraries, etc. In the right pane, you will see all the files and sub-directories of the selected access point (for example, your desktop) that fall within that category. You can organize files as per your needs. I like to have my files listed by file type, and not by name.

Third, this chapter will help you to find your way around your computer as you use W7. Instead of selecting Documents from your Start menu, rather, select Computer. This icon will display a window that will show all drives and drive related information. For example, my computer has merely a C drive and a DVD drive. So, this window shows those two components. If you click on either of these components, then you will see further details, like directories and files that are currently accessible via such information access points.

Fourth, this chapter will help you to connect to a network resource. Essentially, you need to learn how to map a network drive. Important steps include selecting “Map a network drive” after selecting Computer from your Start menu. When this window appears, you need to select the correct drive letter and designation and then complete further steps using this wizard. As long as your network resources are correctly set-up then this mapping should turn out successful.

Finally, this chapter will help you to learn how to find specific information on your computer as you become a Windows 7 user. One great utility in this respect is Windows Search. All you need to do is click on your Start Menu and enter the name of a file or directory you wish to find in the text box that appears. You don’t need to enter the complete name. Rather, just enter the elements that you know and Windows 7 will produce a list in a pop-up window that will let you choose the right file or directory you were seeking.

In summary, we are still in the early stages of this book. Nonetheless, important information has been presented and this chapter will definitely help you to feel more at home with Windows 7, especially if you are new to the Microsoft Windows OS

Click here to check out Windows 7 Step by Step
Click here to check out Windows 7, The Pocket Guide

1. In general, a Web Service is any online service delivered from a Web site. Since there are countless applications and services that emanate from the Web, such usage of the term is commonplace in articles from non-IT publications. Although the term may also appear in technical journals to refer to any offering on the Web, the astute journalist avoids such usage because “Web services” has a very specific definition (see #2). This is another example of generic names coined for specific technologies.

2. When mentioned in the plural (“Web services”), the term often refers to an interface for a service oriented architecture (SOA), in which Web-based applications dynamically interact with other Web applications using open standards that include XML running over HTTP, UDDI and SOAP. Such applications typically run behind the scenes, one program “talking to” another (server to server). Microsoft’s .NET and Sun’s Java System (J2EE) are the major development platforms that natively support these standards. See SOA.

Private Implementations
Web services have been initially successful in private environments where large enterprises need to exchange data with their divisions and subsidiaries or with partners and clients. In such controlled situations, agreement on the data being passed between Web service components is more easily obtained. In addition, since Web services use open standards, vendors can supply customers with client side software to add to their applications no matter what the platform.

Public Use
Web services over the public Internet are expected to materialize slowly. Using discovery systems such as UDDI, the goal is to register a service on the Internet, allow an application to search for and find the service and then to seamlessly exchange data with it. If the service is fee based, payment processing could be included. Before global Web services can be put into operation, there must be industry agreement on the functions each service component must provide.

CORBA and DCOM
Web services enable software components to interact with each other around the world. In the past, this has only occasionally been realized within private networks using the industry standard CORBA and Microsoft’s DCOM distributed component platforms. However, because Web services use protocols that are open and easier to implement, they have a better chance of being widely implemented.

The Buzzword
Although the term became the hot buzzword at the turn of the century, Web services still require cooperation and agreement among people to define business transactions and processes. Web services define only the format, transport and interface standards, not the meaning of the data to be exchanged.

Source: The Computer Encyclopedia

I recently got off the phone (Skype) with my good friend Mr. Yuri Belous from Kiev, Ukraine and he informed me that he has finally uploaded to download dot com new updates to his tremendous Rapid Typing Program. The number of this release is 3.2.5. It is available for download and here are the new features you will enjoy with this release:

1. Added the control “Sound” in the main window.
2. Added new background music.
3. Added more than 30 sound effects.
4. Added the mode allowing for the random choosing of the sound effect.
5. Added additional support of the sound schemes.
6. Added Farsi interface language (special thanks to Ardeshir Abasi).
7. Added support for the program’s left-to-right interface.
8. Fixed a bug regarding the wait cursor on several of the dialog boxes.

Click here to download Rapid Typing Release 3.2.5

Have a great weekend, everyone