Ohloh.net : Digg-clone for Open Source Project and more

In the Java community, we always have a few API/framework to do similar thing. For example: JDK util logging vs log4j, Hibernate vs iBatis, and not to mention the overflow of MVC framework.



For management, it is not easy to decide which technology to be implement in software project. For developer, it is also difficult to learn the right technology/API/framework from open source community.



Ohloh.net idea is to be a central directory of all these open source project (open source project of all programming language, include Java). You may sign up, and digg the open source project you used (they use the term 'stack'). Ohloh.net display the number of  stack from user, as a reference of its popularity.



Besides that, it also provide information and statistic on open source project. For example, you may view language trend by this graph of commit over time.



One thing I notice on this web app is that it lack of mechanism to prevent and let user report  on duplicate project. For example, when I search "jQuery", the first 2 results i get is "jQuery" and "jQuery JavaScript Library", which is actually same project.



The number of developers who use open source project, is always more than those who involve in open source development. Ohloh.net will be a good place for open source project user to contribute to the community to help other develop to make their  choice in the crowded open source world.





Technorati Tags: ohloh.net, open source

GoogleTalk Gadget

After integrate GoogleTalk into GMail, Google had take another step by launch a gadget for the Google Personal Homepage (Google IG).

The most significant improvement from the embedded in GMail version is that the voice alert feature. This is essential for a web based instant messenger.

In this gadget, new chat windows is open in new tab. I prefer this instead of open a popup. (This is because in office I am not sure whether anyone behind my shoulder watching my screen :P)

One thing I don't like about this gadget is that I cant copy chat log from the conversation windows. If this is enhance then it will make itself a better product.

Technorati Tags: GoogleTalk

Testing on Meebo Me...

Just come across a blog post about Meebo Me at TechCrunch. It sound cool to me, so I had try to setup one here. Just give some response if I have chance to chat to you through Meebo Me. :D

Tags: Meebo Me

SiteAdvisor - a must have for Firefox

No one like spam mail. But there are so many *free* services out there which required you to sign up before using the service. And as usual, you are ask for your email address. Although they often have a long privacy policy that sound so reliable, only god know how your email address will be used.

Just come across this Firefox plugin called "SiteAdvisor". I had install it and run it. It is so impressive on the way it integrate with Firefox, Google, and Yahoo. It will put an icon on each search result to indicate the safety of the website. If you do not reach the site from search engine, it will have a icon at the bottom right of your browser to give the same indication as well.



It is based on the database at server site so we do not need to update its database as what we do with our anti-virus software but yet we are keep to be most up to date.

Of course, it detect the threat more than just spam mail, here is what I had copy from their website:

SiteAdvisor helps protect you from all kinds of Web-based security threats including spyware, adware, spam, viruses, browser-based attacks, phishing, online fraud and identity theft.

And this software is free!!!! Just install it and feel it yourself. If you do not have a Firefox, just download it from the Firefox banner at the left banner of this blog.

Firefox 1.5

Just upgrade my Firefox browser to Firefox 1.5. Although not much surprise from this version, there are 2 enhancements that I would like to highlight.

1) The tab that can be drag and drop. This is one of the main selling point of the version 1.5. The features can make the tab browsing more organised.

2) Open link that open to new window in a new tab. This is the feature I had been waiting for since the first version. Tab browsing is cool, but those link that open page in new windows will defeating the purpose of tab browser. In Firefox 1.5, user will open these link in a new tab instead of new window. This is not a default setting To enable this, click Tools > Options... > Tabs, then check the 'Force links that open new windows to open in:' and select "a new tab".

Firefox 1.5 is now my favourite browser.

Google Blog Search

Google Blog Search (beta) was launched.

However, it seem like the Google Web Search do not include the results of the blogs that indexed under Google Blog Search. (Or not update as frequent as Blog Search)

And you might find that your blog is not indexed by Google Blog Search. Here the explanation from Google:

How do I get my blog listed?

If your blog publishes a site feed in any format and automatically pings an updating service (such as Weblogs.com), we should be able to find and list it. Also, we will soon be providing a form that you can use to manually add your blog to our index, in case we haven't picked it up automatically. Stay tuned for more information on this.

Enjoy blogging. :)

Folding@Home Distributed Computing

Many people on their PC 24 hours per day. And leave the P2P client to download the file they need to fully utilise the network resources. But how about the processing power of the PC? How much have you utilise them?

Here is my suggestion: donate your CPU processing power through the Folding@Home Distributed Computing project.

It will utilise your PC idle time to perform calculation and simulation of various protein folding. Protein folding the key of many known disease such as Parkinson's disease, cancer, etc.

Just download Folding@Home client program. Install it and run it on your PC. I have been running it for long time and so far it do not compete for resources with my others program.

I will advice that install the Graphical Client so that you can pause it easily. This is important especially when you are to perform virus scan on your PC. Because based on my observation, the priority of the Folding@Home client is slightly higher than the antivirus software. So if you don't pause Folding@Home, the antivirus will take a long time to complete.

I hate Block Checker

Yesterday, I receive a link from friend about Block Checker (do not download anything from this site!!!). It is a software to check a person REAL status in IM, whether it is really offline or I am blocked.

I admit I am too curious, I have install it and test with a few offline contact on my contact list. Then I feel very guilty of do such checking and I uninstall it.

After 5 minutes of uninstall, I look for someone to chat. My YM! send the same promotion message to that person. I try with MSN Messenger, it send the same message too! And even worst, both of my friend are as curious as me, they install it...

I feel like being cheated and betrayed. It is really a shame for a software engineer to download a spyware (Block Checker are proud to claim itself spyware free with it own definition of 'spyware') and install it. And it tell everybody I have install this spyware after I uninstall it.

After a few attempts, I successfully removed it from my PC with following steps:

1. Open 'Task Manger', go to 'Processes Tab', end the process called 'block-checker.exe'
2. go to Folder C:/Program Files/Block Checker/, rename all files with some others file extension
3. Delete this folder
4. Reboot PC

After I remove this software, I go to the website to find out more about this software. I founnd the following:

How can I disable the Block Checker tell a friend program?
Block Checker has a powerful fun feature to tell your friends about Block Checker without the headache of telling EACH friend about it. This is how we let other people know about our application. If you wish to remove this function from our software you can do so by downloading this tool (if in the event our uninstaller doesn't work use this to remove it) .

What a fun feature. That why I hate this Block Checker. I strongly recommend u do not try this software, because it send out promotional message when your friend look for you to chat as well.

If you really want to know whether I have block you. Just ask directly to me. I wont lie to you.

Google Talk

Google finally launch it's instant messenger - Google Talk. As the name imply, it support voice as well.

The size of the installation is small (900k) and installation is fast. It sacrify all those fancy features like emoticon, etc to achieve better performance.

So if you like a simple IM and you have a Gmail account, you will definitely like this. Just tell me if you don't have Gmail accout, I will invite you for a Gmail account. :D

JUnit + Eclipse = Effort-less unit test

I know unit test is very important, but I just feel sick to code for unit test. I have the perception that it take my time to do something that do not add value to my system (this is definitely not the truth).

Even when I come to JUnit, I still do not get motivated for unit test. Until I found out that it was integrated into Eclipse, my fovourite Java IDE.

It's wizard based GUI had make me no reason to ignore unit test anymore. Had a look at how convenient to code automate unit test test case and test suite in Eclipse:Using JUnit in Eclipse

Recommended Book: Better, Faster, Lighter Java

People say, "You do not need to finish reading a book to judge a book." This was totally true when I read this book: 'Better, Faster, Lighter Java' by Bruce A. Tate, Justin Gehtland. (Published by O'reilly)

I just read the first chapter, and already impress with the authors insightful view on Java evoluation that cause Bloat. And I found that I have some of the bad habit that make my program experiencing bloat, such as use XML file to store simple configuration, tend to use megasize framework for smaller size project, etc.

I think I will be busy in coming few days with this book. Then I may publish my comment on this book later.