Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Classic Books

I really like reading, specially blogs, because of their small format (one can read a couple of entries in a couple of minutes). Nowadays, I don't really buy that many books as much of the information is available on the web. The exception to this is some classic books or intemporal books (Patterns, Methodology, Usability, ...) that I buy and try to read (usually takes me a long time because of interruptions, priorities, certifications, ...).

But recently there's been a trend on releasing classic books and articles free on the web:

 

There are some great gems (Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines, Structured Programming) available, some books related to Lisp, Smalltalk, and other esoteric languages, and CMG papers (mostly performance and ITIL).

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Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Microsoft and Yahoo

It's not the most recent news, as it's been dissected and commented by everyone else, but nonetheless an interesting topic.

From the MS fan base Hello, Google, can you spell hypocrisy? to the MS (particulary Ballmer) bashing A Defining Test for Ballmer, the most interesting ones were the internal ones Microsoft + Yahoo! = Microsoft - $44,600,000,000 ? and Microsoft and Yahoo! -- Stay on Target?, and Bruce Eckel's Should Microsoft Buy Yahoo?.

 

The internal perspective focus more on the restructuring, layoffs, overlapping of products and foresee the potential problems (culture, technological - spreading MS technology within Yahoo), and possible sinergies, defining the dominant reaction as: "talk to me in a year".

 

Bruce Eckel focus is on the acquisitions, and the merge failings when two big software/hardware companies try it. I can't really assess if it is truly that bad, but MS and Yahoo should really be on their toes to avoid the problems. Those that don't learn from history are condemned to repeat it (or something similar).

 

I really think it's impossible to predict the outcome of this. MS and Yahoo should take close attention to the details of the merge (cultural, tecnological, user base), and avoid imploding themselves.

Google should take attention as MS showed in the past, they can/will use any tactic they can to get back into the game. If MS can leverage their dominant position to spread Silverlight and get control over Web 2.0 content, Google will be in deep trouble. It's not like Google's monopoly generates user lock-in (as MS Windows and Office, and other MS tactics - IE), so they better watch it carefully as changing my search engine is just some clicks away...

 

So, in conclusion, I guess only time will tell what the outcome will be. Whoever does the fewest mistakes in this game, will take leadership. Although, for the stake of evolution, I hope that no true winner comes out of it, and competition becomes fiercer...

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Friday, February 01, 2008

SQL 2008 is late^H^H^H^H on schedule for Q3

As Joel Spolsky puts it, Microsoft can't speak straight any more. Instead of coming forward and saying SQL 2008 is late, marketing added it's twist to the message (I don't think an engineer can talk this way), transforming a simple message in a convoluted, positive tone marketing speak.

It's on par with Dilbert material:

dilbert2

I think it just transformed an inocuous message of schedule slipage (pretty common in software development) into a comic situation (or patronising, depending on how you take it).

Phil Factor digged deeper and tried to explain it: Microsoft Boy announces his School Homework.

Oh, here's the original message:

The past few months have been an amazing time for the SQL Server team as we gear up for the start of the global launch wave on February 27.

...

Simply put, SQL Server 2008 is a significant release for us – one that builds on all of the great things that we were able to deliver in SQL Server 2005. We see it as a critical step forward for our data platform...

Not surprisingly, one of the top areas of focus for us is always to deliver a high quality product, and in a very predictable manner.

...

To continue in this spirit of open communication, we want to provide clarification on the roadmap for SQL Server 2008. Over the coming months, customers and partners can look forward to significant product milestones for SQL Server.  Microsoft is excited to deliver a feature complete CTP during the Heroes Happen Here launch wave and a release candidate (RC) in Q2 calendar year 2008, with final Release to manufacturing (RTM) of SQL Server 2008 expected in Q3.

...

This does not in any way change our plans for the February 27 launch...

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