Managed World

FORMAT C:\ that is.

Yup, it's about that time. I fubared my computer a bit when I started doing OS development (I wasn't exactly smart about it when I first started). Ever since then, I get random restarts anywhere from every couple of hours to once every couple of days. I sent in a couple reports with Dr. Watson but nothing was identified as being the problem.

Oh well, at least I do backups. It's not such a pain to do this reformatting every once in a while. However, this time does have me thinking about perhaps going out and getting Ghost to make this process even easier.

So, I suppose I will see you all on the other side. Until then, my friends!!!

Well, it finally happened. After much noise and dismay for several months, the DVD drive in my XBox finally gave way. Luckily I had an extra XBox downstairs so I was able to transplant the working DVD drive into my main XBox. I guess this means that my extra XBox though is simply a box for transplant parts from now on.

Oh well, at least my XBox is up and running again. Of course, by transplanting the DVD drive I did totally bust up the warranty (if it was even under one after what I've done to it =P). Well, I'm just happy my XBox is back to good health.

This was just too good to possibly pass up. I was chatting with Chris Williams over messenger about his new endeavor to learn C#. And this is what he had to say:

VB.NET is the girl you go out with in high school because you know you'll get some, even though you're really interested in the prettier girl (C#), who may or may not give it up.

Then you end up stuck with her...

eventually you start to love her, despite her flaws... but you always wonder what it would have been like...

 

Quite a way to compare two programming languages. Leave it to us Geeks to compare languages to girls =P.

If there is one thing that bothers me most about good terminology in computer programming, it is that if they are *too* good they become mere marketing buzz words. Key example: refactoring. I hear EVERYONE use this now even when it has nothing to do with what they are talking about. There are developers I know (thank goodness I don't work with any of them at Fios) where anytime they go in to legacy code to make a change, they refer to it as "refactoring" the code. Kuso! It just bugs the beejeebeez out of me.

Anyways, in that same vein, imagine my "surprise" (insert incredible amount of sarcasm and disdain here) when I found this post by Jim Shore in which he points to a MS guide on doing TDD with Team System. The problem? What they are describing, while having elements *similar* to TDD, is *NOT* TDD. I wouldn't usually mind this. But come on, call a spade a spade. If it's not TDD, don't use the term TDD simply because it's a "buzz word" of the day.

The more scarier possibility is that the author of the article (whoever it was) actually that it *was* TDD. There has been a lot of research and writings produced on the topic of TDD. How can it be so wrong?

Rather than me trying to add value to this whole debate (which I have none), I confer to the wisdom of some of the greats in this arena.

Jim Shore's Response

Ron Jeffries' Response

Uncle Bob's Response (aka Robert C Martin)

Have at it!!

 

Well, I get to enjoy a week in a cabin out in the middle of the woods with my wife. This is going to be very relaxing. No internet, no work, no phone, no nothing. Of course, being the techie that I am (and since it is partly *my* vacation also), I can't help but bring some of my guilty pleasures as well (no, I'm not talking about my wife (COME ON! It's a joke! I keed, I keed (I'm sorry honey =P))).

So, what pleasures of mine am I taking that would cause all my coworkers to make fun of me (get your mind of the gutter perverts!!)? Well, for one, I'm taking my laptop to do some programming on this little RPG diddy I'm messing around with. Two (and the one that got most of the razzing from coworkers), I'm taking my LCD monitor and an adapter to hook my XBox up to it (yup, I'm taking my XBox).

Chilling out in a cabin in the middle of nowhere with nothing but myself, my wife, my laptop, my XBox, and a couple of books. Now THAT'S what I call a vacation. You can tease me all I want, but I'm a geek. And I wear the geek badge with honor. I'M A GEEK AND I LOVE IT. There, you happy?!?!?

Plus, since I won't have internet, I won't be able to check any comments to this point until I'm back which means there's absolutely NO WAY any of you can spoil this for me =P.

So, I'll see you all here in reality when I get back from my week long vacation FROM reality.

See Ya! Wouldn't Want To Be Ya! I'm out!

Yikes, I didn't realize just how pathetic I've been lately with my blog. One blog post a MONTH?!? Geez, perhaps I should have gone to a support group or something.