Yundi Li – Prokofiev Piano Concerto No.2

Bought Yundi Li latest album for 3 days, all I can say is, it is really damn good. Especially it is recording in live.

Here is promotion video and it is interesting too:

Macbook Air – is it right one?

Considering a notebook for 1 year, from sony, pansonic, eeepc and then Macbook Air. Actaully, before the keynotes, I’ve very high anticipation on it. My requirement is simple:

• very ligth weight (<1.2 kg)
• Sufficient cpu power ( 1.6 GHz or less is ok) and 2 G memory (for VM very )
• no cdrom is ok
• at least 2 usb ports + bluetooth.

So, is the new MBA meet my requirement ?! I don’t know (because it doesn’t seems fit me base on the specification). However, I am very bias on apple product, let see if whether it will change my mind when I see the really one.

Django on Window XP (March 13, 2007)

Below is post in my previous attempt on blog on my django study. Since I decide to close it a do all my blogging here, I copy them to here.

1. Install Django on Window XP

play with python for some time, wanna try the django for python wed dev.

some due some reasons, I need to running on ms window. below is the not how I install the django

1. install python
I choose late 2.5 and the using msi installer.

2. install sqlite
go link http://www.initd.org/pub/software/pysqlite/releases/2.3/2.3.3/ release build much your python version, pysqlite-2.3.2-win32-py2.5.exe

3. install django
I’m using installer, can get it here: http://ymasuda.jp/python/django/minimal_win32_django_installation_e.html

everything is straight forwards, hope it will got a bulk installation like appfuse to simplify things further.

reference link:
http://ymasuda.jp/python/django/minimal_win32_django_installation_e.html

2. Test and Run

1. add python into default path
- control panel / system
- edit environment
- add C:\Python25 and C:\Python25\Scripts into “path”

2. create directory C:\django

3. create project
- cd C:\django
- django-admin.py startproject newproject

4. create appl.
- cd C:\django\newproject
- django-admin.py startapp newapp

5. test run
- cd C:\django
- python manage.py runserver (default using port 8000)

Flash – Right ways for GUI!?

Recently, I’ve installed Flash CS3 on my home PC because I wanna write little drawing program for my daughter. The result is very positive and I am why impress with it. And it really get to think about why it is so clumsy to develop GUI using Java or .Net.

First, I want to state that I am a backend development. Most of my time is struggle with binary stream, data log and tcp/ip using java and c++. The last gui program I wrote is about 7 years ago. However, I am interest to visual effect and wonder to present the data easily.

In order to write that little drawing program, I brought a primilary flash tutorial (on AS2) and it spent only 30 minutes (I have no background on flash before that). Then, it just works and the speed of development tool and final flash is good.

After that little success, I’m doing some more research on web and found Action script 3.0. It is very alike to any mature programming language.

It really get me wonder, is it something wrong with current GUI application which using Java or .NET. Why we need to model everything with plain code? should it just as simple as flash, draw something and just inside minimal code to handle it? Is it what current flash developer doing is the right way to implement GUI application.

I am very green on flash (30 mins arr..), maybe I am not in positive to make such as conclusion yet. Let see if I find more after dig into flash later.

Links:

(Below is some tutorial I find so far)

• 12 Great Ways to Learn ActionScript 3 in Flash
• Webresourcesdepot

Rethinking on Five whys

I’m fan on “Joel on software”. Although his recently blog is mostly about his trip and presentation, his blog is still insightful and fun to read.

In his latest article “Five Whys”, has the full description on his internet failure in data centre. That one draws my attention.

To get it short, the cause of the failure is due to one of the switch forget to setup the speed manually. And he review this failure using “five whys”, the methods to keep asking ourself at least 5 (or more) whys to determine the root cause of a defect or problem.

Follow example is extracted from the wiki.
My car will not start. (the problem)

• Why? – The battery is dead. (first why)
• Why? – The alternator is not functioning. (second why)
• Why? – The alternator belt has broken. (third why)
• Why? – The alternator belt was well beyond its useful service life and has never been replaced. (fourth why)
• Why? – I have not been maintaining my car according to the recommended service schedule. (fifth why, root cause)

Below diagram illustrate another example:

It is sound obvious and just like most children doing (to play with their parents ) everyday. However, this is what most adult won’t do.

As a programmer, solving bugs is a daily job (I guess I am spending more ~50% to do it ). But most programmer I’m observed, they’re just solving them without getting in-depth. Why bug happens? Is it some fundamental design flaws? Is it development process is not good enough? Can it be prevented by introducing other tools?

I think we should use five whys before actually typing the code.

Links:
5 whys – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5_Whys
Joel’s blog – http://www.joelonsoftware.com/items/2008/01/22.html

WordPress, very impressive

I’ve look around for free blog site for some time. I’ve tried yahoo and blogger, and they are like two end of a spectrum. yahoo is too much features and blogger is too simply, even without the category features.

I think wordpress is right in the middle and very suitable for me. Most important, it is easy to it.

I’ve only used for few hours but already like it a lot.