In theory it would be good to test web applications on several different browsers but I must admit that I’m mainly concerned about Firefox and Internet Explorer. Well, now that I have a “Windows Day” during the week I included Google Chrome in my tests. It is such a nice browser and since it uses Webkit I can fool myself and pretend that everything running on Chrome is perfectly fine for Safari users.
Couldn’t wait any longer to have Chrome on Ubuntu so on Sunday night I checked out the Chromium source code files, installed depot tools and all software dependencies, typed hammer and voila! Binaries up and running after a few hours. Gosh, I need better hardware.
I did not expect for it to run at all but I was able to navigate through most of the websites I needed. I was quite amazed by the results. It is more than a plausible promise after all.
I’m an Ubuntu fan. These guys at Canonical know how to get things done. They release 2 Ubuntu versions per year full of improvements. It should be a case of study on how fast Ubuntu gets better.
This week I decided to add a second monitor to my notebook. I first thought I was going to have a hard time. Check manuals, forums and alike. Especially because the 2nd monitor and my notebook have different resolutions.
Surprise. It was too easy. Plug and play.
Well, almost. I could not set the 2nd monitor to a higher resolution. I had to open /etc/X11/xorg.conf, increase the Virtual resolution and restart gnome.
Anyway, having fun with 2 monitors again. Wohooo!!
I’ve been involved in a C#/ASP.NET project for a few weeks now. It is my “Windows Day” during the week. It is exciting to be in a completely different environment and trying different things. I feel refreshed when I’m back to Ubuntu and getting things done for my employer in Brazil.
The learning curve is demanding though. It is not just a matter of learning a new language like C# and the .NET platform. There are also tools like IIS, SQL Server and Visual Studio. Took me a while to print “Hello World” in the browser.
I did add 2 books to my Safari account at O’Reilly. Learning C# 3.0 by Jesse Liberty and Brian MacDonald and Programming ASP.NET 3.5 by Jesse Liberty, Dan Maharry and Dan Hurwitz.
The ASP.NET book was a good choice for me. It’s hands on and the examples are really easy to follow. Nice start.
Learning C# is a great book only if you are learning your first language. I skimmed through most of the chapters to get the information I was interested in. I’ll try Programming C# next week.
I can only hear the sound of tapping while I type on my stupid keyboard. No scales, chords or notes. Even so, I treat the keyboard as a musical instrument.
To improve typing or playing one should avoid unnecessary motion. If your hands stand still while only your fingers move you save energy, time and visual distractions.
Emacs key bindings are a great deal to move around text or code. You don’t need the arrow keys. You don’t even need page down, page up, home, end, delete or backspace keys.
There is a learning curve though. You should memorize key combinations, I mean, chords. It is a small price to pay for what you get in return. After you master it you will feel pain to type in a word processor without key bindings.
The good news is that Emacs key bindings are available not only inside Emacs but also in your favorite applications. I use the same key bindings at the terminal, Firefox and even in Gnome. That is a lot of fun.
Although I’m no prude I generally don’t write offensive words. I have to make an exception though: Brazilian keyboards are stupid! Die!
I’m a programmer (at least I try to be one) and typing a lot everyday gives me the right to say that.
My previous laptop died in the middle of the night. I needed another computer the next day while I was still living in Brazil. I could only find laptops with Brazilian keyboards for prompt delivery.
The first annoyance is the right Alt key replaced by Alt Gr. It makes me feel handicapped.
If I need the ? or / character I need to combine the keys Alt Gr + q or Alt Gr + w. Great. Great idea.
Typing in Emacs is like playing guitar. You have chords. Now I can’t type M-f and avoid physical therapy. Normally I would press my right thumb in the right Alt key (where did it go??) and my left index finger in the f key. If you play any instruments you know what I’m talking about.
Another problem. The Ç character. C cedilhado in Portuguese. The name implies it. It is the same C character genius!! You don’t need a unique key for it the same way you don’t need a separated key for Á, á, É, é, Ô, ô, etc. Just add a dead key for the cedilha.
With the addition of this unnecessary key they moved the location of crucial chars like ‘ and “.
Really? Bear with me. WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?
I could go on and on but I should stop. That is enough for my karma today.
In theory it would be good to test web applications on several different browsers but I must admit that I’m mainly concerned about Firefox and Internet Explorer. Well, now that I have a “Windows Day” during the week I included Google Chrome in my tests. It is such a nice browser and since it uses Webkit I can fool myself and pretend that everything running on Chrome is perfectly fine for Safari users.
