Dotmad.net

Most WPF programmers know the mythological XAMLPad tool, but it’s supplied without source code (although the EditingExaminer sample should be something close to it).
You can also find Kaxaml, XamlHack, and now you can get Petzold’s “XAML Cruncher“, with source code.
It should be a nice tutorial on run-time rendering of XAML code.

We all have a TV show we like to watch. Nowadays it’s also common for every show to have it’s own mini web site. Here is what the “classic” site usually contains:

• About the show
• Episodes guide
• Characters guide
• Cast guide
• Message board
• Downloads (wallpapers etc)

But new commercial sites are emerging for leading shows.

Take “Heroes” for example - they site also hosts graphic novels (comics), fans wiki site, interactive games running simultaneously with the current episode (while it’s aired), fans art show, and a number of “fake” sites seemingly originating in the show’s world (Heroes had a show for Hana Gitelman asking viewers to help her hack into the rigged elections system to stop it)

“The 4400” also began it’s 3rd season, and you got diaries of characters, web 2.0 community system, and 3 related sites, advocating for, against, and about Promicin (it’s a fictitious drug the show revolves around, causing you either to die or develop superhuman abilities).

It’s a different concept, of not having the site as an information point, but as an entity on it’s own. I wonder what’s next in this evolution (Actually the show “Battlestar Galactica” already aired a web-only-series between seasons)

Tips for people going to a rock concert:

1. Video cameras aren’t allowed, bring a stills camera (thanks Peter for the Genesis photo, you can find more here and here)
2. If it may rain, an umbrella is a bad idea in a dense crowd - take a rain coat with you

And if you like electronics/gadgets and you are in Berlin, go to Saturn store in Europa-Center - we happened to view a free show (and CD signings) of Avril Lavigne in there, and you can get a huge plasma TV for the bargin price of 79998 Euros

And regarding Genesis, the video clip for “I can’t dance” is a parody on various 80s commercials, so here are the originals: Hitchhiker, Beach, Bar

Suppose you have been a software developer for few years, you know your technology, you are good at what you do - but what’s next?

Looking for answers I found a great post, titled “Why a career in computer programming sucks“.

The author, John Bennett, Jr., lists reasons why it’s a tough profession:

1. Temporary nature of knowledge capital - The technology you know now will be worthless in a few years. Mature developers have no significant advantage over younger developers.
2. Low prestige - The average person doesn’t really know any famous programmers. You can name BillG, but people know him because he is a billioner. Just try asking someone on the street who Linus Torvald is.
3. The foreignization of computer programming - More and more jobs are outsourced to foreign countries and/or cheap workers (even is Israel).
4. The working conditions suck - The average employer is contended to dump developers in an open space, and have them fight for decent hardware, although the developer cost much more than any hardware upgrade.

In other words, you got to love this profession to be in it. But love alone won’t protect you against foreign outsourcing or age issues.

So what are your choices?

1. Software Architect
2. Systems Analyst
3. Management (usually starting with a team leader position)
4. Project Management (you don’t really manage anyone, it’s more related to a sales position)
5. Self employed (Freelance developer, Consultant, Startup founder)
6. Specialist / Guru (MVP, consultant, etc)

I read Scott Hanselman’s post on communication, and was reminded of all the times when I had to kick myself and use phone over IM - I just couldn’t stand how slow the conversation was going.
In terms of effectiveness, IM is good to have when you are having a non-committed conversation, meaning you are doing several things while chatting.
When you need to dedicate your full attention to the conversation, use phone - it’s faster.
Not only most people are able to speak faster than they can type, IM forces you to talk serially - while talking is parallel by it’s nature.