Should unit test classes be kept under version control with the rest of the code?
If I create a test suite for a development project, should those classes be kept under version control with the rest of the project code? ...
general-development
Where are the "Coding War Games" tasks from Peopleware?
In Peopleware, DeMarco and Lister write about the "Coding War Games", which was a project they ran between 1984 and 1986 (possibly longer) to help assess individual and workplace productivity. Each task was a small-to-medium sized independent program which could be implemented in any programming language. My question: where are these ...
If you are working in a non-English speaking country do you write your development documentation in your mother tongue?
I know that the "native" language of programming is English, but I was wondering on how many programmers dare to write the development comments/documentation in a language other than English or on the contrary take extra burden of using English everywhere to make their code international. UPDATE: The general wisdom is (based on the answ...
Why are there so many sites dedicated to programming and yet there are relatively few that actually describe the systems that they're trying to produce?
There's a lot of sites out there that teach people how to build better software--but why is it that there are very few sites that actually give detailed descriptions of the domains that we (as programmers) are supposed to create? One can only construct so many inventory, accounting, and ERP systems before a pattern of common requirements...
Open Source Service risky?
Is it risky to have dependency on a open source service? Unlike a open source dll or componenent the service obviously needs to be constantly running, therefore is it a business risk to rely on it? What happens if the open source service disappears for whatever reason? The service under question would not be used for a business critica...
General programming - Decimal numbers, floats
I'm probably completely wrong, and I don't really know anything about it, but I have a question about decimal number data types in programming languages. I understand that floats aren't completely precise, because they're stored in binary with a power or something, but I always wondered why decimal number data types don't just store a nu...
How to make sure person can handle new project?
You are hiring. Some person passed interview and answered most of your questions. But imagine your project is a complicated one. Is there a way to make sure person will handle it? What can I do to help one to get into the project and start to contribute asap? What are your steps to get into the code quickly? ...
Enums in the DB or NO Enums in the DB...
For me, the classic wisdom is to store enum values (OrderStatus, UserTypes, etc) as Lookup tables in your db. This lets me enforce data integrity in the database, preventing false or null values, etc. However more and more, this feels like unnecessary duplication to me. Not only do I have to create tables for these values (or have an un...
Enforcing browsing through a proxy - trhough a servlet, java script or custom application
Hello, We have a proxy server that implements a set of functions. I would like to be able to enforce browsing through this proxy without setting the proxy settings in the browser. This is for demonstrating purposes, without the need to enforce the demonstrated party to change anything in the environment. There are a few ways to impleme...
Where did string escape codes (\n, \t...) originate?
Purely wondering... since they're still around and in use in C# today... Where did the pattern of using string escape codes come from? What language did it first appear in? What languages, if any, have solved the problem in a different way? ...
Code Review: Is this the most efficient/elegant way to recursively walk a tree
This is more of a general question so the answer does not have to be in C#. I have a general code structure below that I use to recursively walk a tree structure. In this particular case I am appending to a string builder object in each iteration. Is there a way to improve this code to be faster or better? public static void Recur...
format of for loops
Hi, i'd just like to get some thoughts on the best way to do for loops (in c based languages). all over the web code samples have for loops which look like this for(int i = 0; i < 5; i++) while i used the following format for(int i = 0; i != 5; ++i) i do this because i believe it to be more efficent but does this really matter in m...
If vs Case statements
Are there any performance differences between using if-else and case statements when handling multiple conditions? Which is preferred? ...
So what information should generally be written into an "About" form?
I'm nearing completion of one of my kick ass programs and I'm positive it's going to be a hit. This is just the cherry on the top (for me, nyuk nyuk). It's been a long standing tradition for me to place the about form last as a finishing touch. What information should I place there for everyone to see? ...
What is the most profitable device to write in?
as of this moment, huge database of iPhone users might be a main reason to write for iPhone. but in future, android & others might really take off. So in your opinion, what is the most profitable device to write for? and if you have generated some income based on it, do share with us if you don't mind! for me, i have recently started pr...
What is the best language independent source to learn Lambdas/Closures?
Most programming languages are utilizing lambdas/closures. Which language agnostic source is recommended as the best to learn Lambda basics? Lambdas/Closures in different languages: Perl Lambdas Python Lambdas .Net LINQ Java Closures Scheme Lisp Php Closure and Lambdas Javascript Closures C++ ML Wikipedia: Closures (computer science)...
Tips for a programmer with Dyslexia
Does anybody have tips for a programmer who recently found they have a form of dyslexia? Currently any of the following would help... A suggested color scheme for Intellij (or any Java ide). SQL is the most brutal language for me to to read, everything blends in together due to a lack of sane automated formatting/coloring. ( I cur...
First site going live real soon. Last minute questions
I am really close to finishing up on a project that I've been working on. I have done websites before, but never on my own and never a site that involved user generated data. I have been reading up on things that should be considered before you go live and I have some questions. 1) Staging... (Deploying updates without affecting users)...
Negative number representation across multiple architechture
I'm working with OKI 431 micro controller. It can communicate with PC with appropriate software installed. An EEPROM is connected in the I2C bus of the micro which works as permanent memory. The PC software can read from and write to this EEPROM. Consider two numbers, B and C, each is two byte integer. B is known to both the PC software...
Development of (new) libraries for backwards-incompatible versions of programming languages over time
Python 3.0 came out at the beginning of December 2008, but I've recently been encountering a fair number of libraries that use C extensions/components and seem like they're commonly used but have not yet had versions created for 3.0+. With some of them, it's simply been a matter of development having stalled or stopped for various reason...