Matthew's Weblog

So an interesting contrast in articles yesterday… one column on how Windows Is Free, due to the widespread sharing and ineffectiveness of the registration process, and another column on Software Copyright and Role Models – the impact of software sharing on ethics, morals, and society. The intertwining thread is the Law of Unintended Consequences, where people’s actions have far wider ripples than they anticipate. It really stopped me in my tracks.

I have, in the past, observed unlicensed software being installed. Sometimes, because my own hands were acting on the copied CD. I’ve found it much easier to be in compliance recently because of MSDN access, but now I have kids. I want them to have a computer to use and to play on, and many of their games are Windows-only. Now I have to consider how to move forward.

I’ve purchased computers in the past with Windows installed on them, then blitzed it in order to install Linux. Now I feel like I should have a floating license for that Windows OS, but is that actually fair? I know it’s not legal according to the contracts, but what is really fair? And what do I do to show the kids that I really believe in doing what is right? I work in software development, for goodness sake… you’d think I wouldn’t be conflicted at all.

But all I have are questions right now… no answers.

(At least my Macs are legal, with no questionmarks!

Technorati Tags: Windows, Mac, Linux, ethics

Comprehensive Wordpress Plugin Database with Plugins Tracker

AskApache htaccess password builder

and then some tips on WP security:
drop version string
block viewing of plugins/themes folders
and htaccess (see link above)

whoops, almost forgot Lorelle’s mention of a theme security scanner… which is this security scanner here.

Technorati Tags: wordpress, security

How do you identify troubled projects, and then fix them when you do?  CIO magazine ran a series of articles that give good perspectives into avoiding issues, investigating troubles, and repairing the effort.

Some favorite quotes…

Regarding CXOs who ask for and then ignore feedback:

But don’t pretend to listen if you aren’t going to take action.
Richardson says, “Don’t ignore our feedback if you ask for it. That’s
not empowering. It’s pretending to include us before yanking the carpet
out from under our feet.”

Regarding project issues:

Lack of communication, both formal and informal, is another early
warning sign. If the stakeholders, from team members to users, aren’t
talking to each other, you’ve got a problem.

and

“This is a really tricky cultural thing,” says Raj Kapur, executive vice president of the Center for Project Management,
a software project management consultancy and education firm in San
Ramon, Calif. “Everyone is allergic to bad news.” As a result, it’s all
too easy to develop a culture where bad news is slow to percolate
upward—which deprives management of vital, if unpleasant, information.
“You have to provide an environment where bad news is
accepted,” says Kapur. “That’s critical, and it’s not the job of the
team members. It’s the job of the leader.” And by extension, the CIO.

Deathmarches begin…

One early sign a project is slipping its schedule is teams working a
lot of overtime. This is a particularly important indicator because
assigning or encouraging overtime is the fastest fix the project
manager has, as well as the one that attracts the least attention.

Now, if fixing the issues were as easy as writing about them…

Technorati Tags: development, software, projects, problems

A perspective on why to hire great programmers instead of average ones:

A Guide to Hiring Programmers: The High Cost of Low Quality
Followup to “A Guide to Hiring Programmers”

Really good points, and some interesting ideas about how to drive the idea through the HR process.

Technorati Tags: hiring, coding, code+quality

Here’s a great writeup on some of the enterprise management options for Mac environments… if you thought only Windows could be centrally coordinated, this is a very interesting insight into the tools available.

Technorati Tags: mac, enterprise, configuration

I’ve recently started reading Michael Gorsuch’s blog and am liking what I see so far, and he recently got upset about the idiotic so-called ‘Protect America Act’ and the public’s reaction. I know 50% of people are below average, but it is still hard to watch people ask “What do you have to hide?” because anyone asking it really isn’t thinking much.

The best thing I have found to work around that silly question is an academic paper by Daniel Solove, “‘I’ve Got Nothing to Hide’ and Other Misunderstandings of Privacy” which is very well written and makes you think about what privacy actually is. However, the people presupposing surveillance is benign probably won’t take the time to read it, much less think…

a very cool idea that could make life easier… customized OSs, automatically built, that ensure simplification and supportability.  Now if it were just cheaper/easier…

Technorati Tags: rpath, custom+os

A great article on why enterprises should utilize Macs and how they are more cost-effective.

Technorati Tags: apple, mac, TCO

here’s a handy tool to validate pdf files in java

Technorati Tags: pdf, java, validate

Since the US Automakers aren’t building pure electric cars fast enough, why not skip the system and build a new kind of car company?  And while you’re at it, use some of the newer, high-efficiency (42%!) solar cells to power it…

Technorati Tags: solar, electric+car, power