Databases

Why IBM Open Sourced Cloudscape 108

Posted by timothy from the it-just-verbed-right dept.
An anonymous reader writes "A common and a consistent framework for accessing information enables developers to do more things with more people more often. This article shares how Derby fits into IBM's developer strategy, the Java application stack, its intention to drive more innovation around Java on Linux, and why they want to make the Derby database become as ubiquitous as the Apache HTTP server." (Derby is the new name for the project based on the formerly commercial Cloudscape database.)
Databases

MySQL AB Calls v4.1.7 Production Ready 59

Posted by timothy from the world's-fastest-recipe-book dept.
puppetman writes "MySQL announced a few hours ago that 4.1 has been deemed production ready with the release of 4.1.7. The major enhancements of 4.1 include sub-selects, faster communication between client and server (thanks to parameter binding), replication over SSL, and lots more. A full list can be found here. Time to rehash those tired arguments about why MySQL is not a real database, and (Postgres/Oracle/SQL Server/Access/SAPDB/Ingres/etc) is the only real database out there."
Programming

Programming Challenge: Triangles Puzzle 40

Posted by michael from the idle-hands-do-the-devil's-work dept.
Frank Buss writes "Last week was a challenge to write a program, which solves a simple geometric problem. There was nothing to win, only the solutions at the end are the win for all readers, but nevertheless the response was great (some thousands of web-hits) and there are some nice solutions."
Programming

Understanding 64-bit PowerPC architecture 116

Posted by CmdrTaco from the expand-your-brain-pan-man dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Each of the leading microprocessor manufacturers has announced the availability of one or more 64-bit desktop processors, but differences exist in architectural design, fabrication, support, and intended use of each processor. This article looks at the critical issues in a few of IBM's 64-bit POWER designs, covering 32-bit compatibility, power management, processor bus design, and the manufacturing process."
Technology (Apple)

What Makes Apple's Power Mac G5 Processor So Hot 313

Posted by Hemos from the learn-the-basics dept.
An anonymous reader writes "58 million transistors can drive a lot of power. Apparently, Apple appreciated the choices IBM processor architects made when designing the 970 family. This article provides the 64-bit architecture big picture for the 970 family (A.K.A. the Power Mac G5) and the critical issues in IBM's 64-bit POWER designs, covering 32-bit compatibility, power management, and processor bus design."
Announcements

GForge 4.0 Released 23

Posted by timothy from the connecting-pieces dept.
jaaron writes "Ever wanted your own personal SourceForge? If so, then be sure to check out GForge which just released version 4.0. GForge is a fork of the original GPL'd SourceForge code and like sf.net provides forums, mailing lists, revision control via CVS or Subversion (yes, Subversion!), issue trackers and much more for any number of teams and projects."
Mozilla

Firefox - The Platform 589

Posted by timothy from the if-it-only-had-an-ssh-client dept.
Strudelkugel writes "Business 2.0 reports Firefox is becoming a problem for Microsoft. But FF is not just a problem as a browser; its potential as a platform is significant. From the article: 'It all adds up to a business opportunity for startups, established software companies, and Web giants alike. Though Ross and the nonprofit Mozilla Foundation don't stand to make money, Firefox's open platform gives it enormous potential to hatch a new class of applications that live on the desktop but do business on the Web.'"
Java

JADE Project Reborn As Javolution And jScience 20

Posted by timothy from the phoenix-like dept.
dautelle writes "Because of trademark issues we had to rename our Java Addition to Default Environment (JADE) project. We did a little more than that, we created two new projects with additional features and capabilities: Javolution (javolution.org) and jScience (jscience.org). Java developers, please update your bookmarks. You may also read the 'Top 10 reasons' why you should consider using Javolution in your current Java project or how you can take part in this immense undertaking that the jScience project represents."
Education

Free Online Embedded Linux Training 4

Posted by timothy from the knowledge-for-free dept.
ngyahloon writes "Just got this from Handhelds.org: A free online course on Embedded Linux. The best thing of all is that it's released under the GNU Free Documentation License. The course is provided by Free Electrons , an organization devoted to promoting Free Software and Open Standards in embedded systems and handheld devices. Free Electrons is located close to Sophia Antipolis (region of Nice and Cannes), France (nice place for a Holiday) and targets organizations and individuals throughout the world."
Education

OSDDP: Involving Students With Open Source Docs 116

Posted by timothy from the hey-look-they're-adding-to-the-commonwealth dept.
cel4145 writes "The Professional Writing Program at Purdue University recently began the Open Source Development and Documentation Project (OSDDP) where students and instructors across multiple sections of business and technical writing are producing documentation for and about open source applications (see the press release or a mirror). The community and project are modeled after the open source development model and based on service learning principles. For example, students are already working on end user documentation and case study analysis for Drupal and market research and analysis for OpenOffice. Completed texts will be published using a Creative Commons license."
Communications

Skype Branches Out 15

Posted by timothy from the et-phone-home dept.
Golygydd Max writes "Our site, Techworld, reports that Skype, the voice over IP people have just developed an API that allows web developers to include Skype technology on their websites. Although it's a bit clunky at the moment, it could prove to be a useful tool for tech support."
Programming

Borland C++Builder Revolt 95

Posted by michael from the fight-the-man dept.
florescent_beige writes "Developers using Borland's C++Builder RAD tool are in revolt. Borland apparently obsoleted this product one year ago. However, the promised migration path (to be described in a now infamous open letter) never materialized. In a last-ditch effort to convince Borland to support them, users have put together a letter justifying (and begging) for continued support."
Perl

Optimizing Perl 68

Posted by michael from the other-way-to-do-it dept.
An anonymous reader writes "Perl is an incredibly flexible language, but its ease of use can lead to some sloppy and lazy programming habits. We're all guilty of them, but there are some quick steps you can take to improve the performance of your Perl applications. This article looks at the key areas of optimization, which solutions work and which don't, and how to continue to build and extend your applications with optimization and speed in mind."
Programming

30th Anniversary of Pascal 587

Posted by CmdrTaco from the get-yer-code-on dept.
GrokSoup writes "UC San Diego is holding a public symposium on Friday, October 22nd, honoring the 30th anniversary of the Pascal programming language. Oh the memories of undergraduate bubble-sorts ..."
Programming

Video Game SDK in Hardware 40

Posted by Zonk from the pong-in-60-minutes-just-add-nerd dept.
stm2 writes "Alex Varanese just released the XGameStation, a new homebrew video game system designed to teach its users how to build and program their own video game machines from the ground up. From their PR: "The expansive eBook, written by LaMothe himself, covers everything from introductory electronic theory all the way up to computer architecture, as well as a complete coverage of each of the XGS ME's subsystems. Imagine learning everything about how a video game console is built and programmed from scratch: designing and printing circuit boards, generating TV signals, external device interfacing, and much more.". They have two posters, as well."
The Internet

Replacing TCP? 444

Posted by michael from the step-by-step-the-largest-network-can-be-replaced dept.
olau writes "TCP, the transfer protocol that most of the Internet is using, is getting old. These guys have invented an alternative that combines UDP with rateless erasure codes, which means that packets do not have to be resent. Cool stuff! It also has applications for peer-to-peer networks (e.g. for something like BitTorrent). They are even preparing RFCs! The guy who started it, Petar Maymounkov, is of Kademlia fame."
Handhelds

Experimental GUI Eases Palmtop Browsing 7

Posted by timothy from the selective-zoom dept.
museumpeace writes "Technology review (in exchange for a revealing cookie) has a short article describing a PDA browsing improvement from Microsoft/Asia research. The basic idea is to put the palm top user back in control of page layout by letting them zoom/shrink arbitrary regions of a page with a single stroke of their stylus. A more complete disclosure of the technique will be presented at Seventeenth Annual ACM Symposium on User Interface Software and Technology (UIST 2004), in Santa Fe, New Mexico on October 24 to 27."
Amiga

Updated AmigaOS4 SDK Available 34

Posted by timothy from the you're-so-1988 dept.
Mike Bouma writes "Closely following the update for the AmigaOS4 Pre-release, the updated Software Development Kit (SDK) is now also available. Meanwhile some first people have been able to buy Mini-ITX MicroA1-C boards and last weekend at a British Amiga Party one was even raffled amongst its visitors. Also some first photographs of the Micro AmigaOne Industrial motherboard (aka u-A1-I) have been revealed at the party. For an impression with regard to AmigaOS4's current state of development, within this recent show report there are links to some earlier demonstration videos."

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