Visualizing Exceptions
By: Charles
On: 09/02/2008 19:15:20
I recently ran into a requirement to save a screenshot of the user's desktop with the error log. This can be surprisingly helpful, showing things like all the applications in the taskbar, all the active windows, and exactly what data has been entered into the current form when the error occurred.
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What time is it?
By: Charles
On: 08/26/2008 13:55:32
Have you ever set the system Time Zone for Windows? Perhaps when you first installed Windows, or by right-clicking the clock on the System Tray and using the Time Zone tab? You can obtain the same list of Time Zones like this...
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Agile development or why change is good :: 5 steps to embrace the challenge
By: elKore
On: 08/19/2008 00:20:19
For decades the topic of "life being a change" has been a popular one among motivational speakers and self-help book authors.. then why agile software development seems to be such a challenge?
Agile development model implies flexibility, both on the client's end and within the development team. While flexible approach looks like the most effective way to get things done in today's ever-changing world, adapting flexibility in development projects does present a challenge as by nature it interferes with project scope management.
So how do we prepare our clients for the challenges of change while effectively managing the project scope?
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Top 4 reasons why an open source CMS is not a complete product
By: elKore
On: 06/14/2008 18:01:04
The main thing that is wrong with open source CMS is not the software itself, but the expectation that an open source CMS is a complete product. While an open source content management system can be packed with features providing a great foundation for your content management solution, there is a long way home from the day an off-the-shelf CMS is downloaded and the day it actually meets the needs of your business, from the branding, usability and functional stand points.
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How to get the web design you paid for
By: elKore
On: 06/11/2008 13:46:32
No client goes into a project asking for a mediocre web design. But often, the client creates mediocrity through the way they interact with the design team. The design acceptance process must overcome several hurdles, including stereotypes and "typical" user attitudes, to ensure that the end product is the spectacular web design everyone was hoping for.
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CMS :: open source doesn't mean 'free'
By: elKore
On: 06/11/2008 12:21:32
There is an event in Dallas called "First Saturday" or "Electronic Sidewalk Sale". Over the years it has amassed into a huge computer flee market, where vendors are selling anything related to computer software and any techie gadget you can imagine. While lately the bargains are mostly limited to outdated computer software and hardware, you can still find a $2,000 computer for $200, if you look hard.
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How much does it cost to set up a free blog
By: elKore
On: 06/10/2008 12:46:32
In the Web 2.0 era the idea of setting up a blog is a very popular one among many SMBs. A blog allows you to publish more relevant content both for your visitors to read and for search engines to parse. A blog adds authority to your site as well as provides an informal communication channel between you and your potential customers.
There are many 3rd party blog options out there, and most are free. The estimated effort to install, setup and customize a 3rd party open source blog solution is often very optimistic: a couple of hours to run the installation files and modify a few templates to insert a few branding elements (colors, logo, etc), right? The reality in this particular case turned out to be a lot more pessimistic.
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The hidden costs of skipping requirements
By: elKore
On: 05/24/2008 02:26:51
A common complaint about software development is that projects often go over-budget and take longer than originally estimated.
The sad truth is: the hourly effort of software development in almost all cases is much higher than anticipated, and certainly a lot higher than any programmer would ever admit.
While in some cases the problem is caused by the developer's incompetence and lack of experience, in most cases the problem has nothing to do with the developer. The problem is caused by the fact that there is hardly any billable effort allocated to properly assess the requirements prior to giving a "quote".
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When offshore experiences are not amusing..
By: elKore
On: 04/25/2008 09:28:28
A few years ago I visited a certain Latin American country. Looking for something to do off the beaten track we decided to take a trip to a small village on the coast, about a 100 km from the hotel we were staying at. “How do I get to Choroni?”, I asked a hotel worker...
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what-to-do offshoring
By: elKore
On: 02/14/2008 08:31:46
Once a good plan is set in place and resources are reliable, execution is easy (or at least fairly predictable).
We fly through most parts of the majority of the projects because the majority of functions of most applications are fairly predictable and similar to something we've already done.
But once you come across something you've not done before, you are faced with a lengthy research process: you have to get on Google and see what others are doing, what works and what doesn't and why.
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