Nuno DS Weblog: 2008

20080918

Navbar

Since I started this blog there was one thing I really didn't like:
the blogger navigation bar!
So I decided it was time to removed the navbar. The effect is not the best because the navbar is still loaded, but nevertheless it is hidden just afterwards.

Here how I've done it:

- in edition mode open layout
- click on edit html
- add following script between html tags:

- and execute the script during page load:

- save template

If you found a better way let me know...

20080901

Viadeo

I have updated my viadeo profile (a french social network) and added a small widget for direct access. Please have a look.

20080818

Back again

It has been a long time since my last post, but there were a lot of changes in my life :

new job

left Valtech :(
for EFA

back to Luxemburg :)

new appartment
lots of administrative stuff

I hope it won't last too long before my next post.

20080404

OpenSpace Feedback

Unfortunately I was unable to participate yesterday, but here some links from participants who were there (in French) :

I hope to be able to participate on the next one.
And let's not forget XP Days France 2008
on 5th and 6th May :)

20080403

Agile OpenSpace at Valtech

Valtech is organizing tonight an OpenSpace on Agile Software Development methods (Scrum, XP, Lean, Crystal...).
Purpose of this OpenSpace will be knowledge and experience sharing of concrete cases.

If you speak French and are in Paris, it is still possible to participate (inscriptions here).
I will certainly be there as a Bumble bee :)

Where: Valtech, 80 Avenue Marceau, 75008 Paris
When: Tonight 18.30
Facilitator: Yannick AMEUR

Whoever comes are the right people, whatever happens is the only thing that could have, whenever it starts is the right time, when it's over, it's over.

20080402

gOS

Yesterday I had to wait for the train (the one I take was cancelled). So I decided to grab some magazine and read a little bit.

I was looking to buy one about Linux. The first I took had an article about a new OS: gOS.
My first impression when I looked at the pictures was: "No way gOS means Google OS?".

But as I started to read the article there was an announcement telling a replacement train was arriving at the station! I had to leave without finishing the article or buying the magazine, not knowing what gOS was all about!

As soon has I arrived home I googled gOS to get more information. Indeed gOS does not stand for Google OS but more for Green or Good OS.

In fact :) gOS is a new GNU/Linux distribution developed by a Californian start-up: ThinkOS.
It is based on Ubuntu 7.10 and integrates Enlightenment E17 (meaning beautiful in geek). The idea here is to have a simple, easy to use and nice desktop environment.

The primary UI of gOS has a Mac OSX Leapord-like Dock menu called the iBar which features icons for Google applications and services (where the confusion with a hypothetic Google OS) like: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Product Search or Google Maps.
Other applications are also available: Xine, Skype, OpenOffice.org and many others.
The system also comes with a lifetime of free updates and revisions.

The company claims in a FAQ that it was "created as a conceptual Google OS" but clarifies that "popular applications such as those from Google are an integral part of the product, however, gOS is an entity entirely independent from Google".

I already download it (torrent) and will certainly install it tomorrow (under VMware). I will post my first impressions soon.

20080401

New agile manifesto

After years of wandering and project returns concerning agile methods a new and final manifesto is available: http://www.waterfallmanifesto.org/

The truth is out there... :P

20080331

Q4E 0.5.0 has been released

Q4E is an eclipse plugin that will let you use Maven2 from Eclipse IDE.
Currently in version 0.5, it is perfectly integrated with Maven. One of my favorite feature is to be able to analyze project dependencies in a graphical way.

It is possible to install Q4E from Eclipse update page:
http://q4e.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/updatesite/

As a big Maven user and a little tired of using command line tools, I will definitely try it out.

20080320

Inner classes

One great thing with pair programming is that you learn everyday from your pair and sometimes very funny things.

Today it was a new way on how to use an inner java class:

class Foo {
  ...
  class InnerFoo {...}
  ...
}

An instance of InnerFoo can only exist within an instance of Foo and has direct access to the methods and fields of its enclosing instance.
And to instantiate an inner class, you must first instantiate the outer class. Then, create the inner object within the outer object:

Foo foo = new Foo();
Foo.InnerFoo innerFoo = foo.new InnerFoo();

Ok nothing huge but I swear I never used that syntax before, well at least not explicitly.
In fact most java developers have used it in someway and without knowing it like me:

class Foo {
  Foo() {
    this.new InnerFoo(); // or just new InnerFoo()
  }

  class InnerFoo {...}

}

20080312

Paris JUG

Yesterday evening I went to the second meeting of Paris JUG (a french Java User Group). It was dedicated to Selenium, a testing tool for web interfaces.

First of all I think this JUG is a very good initiative, unfortunaltely they still have problems with organisation (or maybe success?). We were more than 40 in a room that could accommodate only half of us.

For the rest Zouheir CADI made some good impressions with the tool (especially with the Selenium Core) even if it was impossible for me to ask questions.

It was too hot in there and because I was quite hungry I had to leave right after the presentation... right before the post-presentation discussion that is normally the most interesting part of such events.

Anyway 8th April, the Paris JUG will host a talk by Kirk Pepperding, a leader in performances in Java applications. So if you interested and are in Paris at that time...

20080308

Hello World

After a lot of tutorials/how-to’s/workshops I decided it was time (again) to create a Weblog to provide some kind of documentation for my own retrospective.
And why not at the same time get some feedback in form of comments.

So here I go, hope to read from you soon.

Nuno DS Weblog