Question for Programming and Webmastering Readers [Archive]

Kreij

02-28-2008, 11:30 PM

Hi All,

I have put up several posts with code snippets and such concerning C# things.
I notice that all the posts in this area get a lot of views, but very little response.

This is normal as people are usually perusing the posts for information and do not necessarily have a comment to make. While this is fine, we could make this area a lot better with more reader input.

So, here is your chance to sound off. The questions are ...

Do you find the code snippets useful?
Do you want to see more targetted information (i.e. Database, DirectX, hardware. etc.)?
Do people want to see more in a particular language (VB, C++, C#. PHP, etc.)
Maybe more using particular databases (Sql Server, MySQL, etc.)?
More on website code (html, xml, css, javascript, silverlight, etc.)?
Robotics? Automated home control? etc.
More on basic, moderate or advanced techniques?
Programming language tutorials for beginners?

Just some ideas. Post your thoughts. I am sure the coders in the TPU community will happily cater to users' needs if they speak up.

If people respond to this, we may be able to get the mods to "sticky" it so we can keep an eye on reader's requests and help them more.

Jizzler

02-29-2008, 09:00 PM

I'd also like to see this section grow out a bit more.

*bump* so maybe more people will see this on the New Posts list :)

Oliver_FF

02-29-2008, 09:27 PM

Well i'm a computer science undergrad so I generally drop by to see if anyone's having any programming woes...

calvary1980

03-01-2008, 10:07 AM

I dropped out of my 3rd year into my masters at UT, I majored in reverse engineering (cryptology) I would be willing to help anybody. I don't think programming deserves a sub-section I think it should be on it's own if that makes any sense.

- Christine

Kreij

03-01-2008, 04:50 PM

I think that because of the low volume of thread traffic in this section, that it does not really warrant a seperate section at the moment. I think that if interest were to grow, that the W1z or one of the mods would make it a seperate section.

I personally would like to see more code snippets from people, as I tend to have to bounce all over the internet to find specific topic, and it would be nice if I could find more here at TPU.

So start adding code snippets people ! :D

I also think if we use a consistent format it would make searching easier ...
I use "Sample Code <language> : <description>"
Seemed to be pretty simple and straightforward, and people could just search on "Sample Code" to see all the samples.

I am, of course, open to any ideas.

Kreij

03-01-2008, 05:24 PM

After a little pondering, maybe it would be better if people just used a topic like,
"Sample Code : <description>

Then people would add posts that port it to other languages into the same post.

Just a thought.

Kreij

03-06-2008, 12:41 AM

Well as of this post, there were 159 views and 3 replies (that were not mine)
With a response result of approximately 1.9%, I don't see much interest in this section.

I will continue to post stuff as I really enjoy sharing new things that I learn.

For those code junkies like myself, hang in there, and I will always be monitoring this section to see if I can help.

Kreij

03-07-2008, 02:40 AM

Okay, I'm not quite ready to give this one up yet.
Coding is my hobby, helping people with coding is a passion for me.

So all you lurkers (guests) who are out there, make an account and give us some input.
The account is free and you don't get any spam. What more could you want?

What's your excuse? Can't think of a good user name? Who cares what it is?
PastyFace, LumpyNads, ImADoofus. All fine names that will garner you a place of honor here at TPU.

The only thing that loses you respect here at TPU is not having the spine to sign up and post.

SO GET TO IT !!!

Okay .. end of rant. :D

Kreij

03-21-2008, 01:24 AM

Gratuitous bump just to keep this forum from fading into obscurity.

Kreij

05-31-2008, 06:10 PM

It's been a couple of months so I can safely bump this again.
Just to let people know that there is no question so simple or so complex that we will not try to help with programming problems.

Any input is greatly appreciated to make the Programming section more useful to everyone.

Oliver_FF

05-31-2008, 08:12 PM

My second year exams are up this week, so i'm going to write a few more articles on a few things soon :)

Considering an interesting one on packet sniffing and how you can use it to check your firewalls working properly... You think that'd go down ok?

Jizzler

05-31-2008, 08:57 PM

I've been working on the plot, characters, etc, for my SNES-est RPG.

When I have something substantial I'll start a thread on it.

Kreij

06-01-2008, 01:39 PM

@Oliver_FF : That would be great. Networking code is always interesting.

@Jizzler : Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

Ben Clarke

06-01-2008, 01:41 PM

I'd like to see some tutorials. So I can do something more useful with my spare time.

Oliver_FF

06-01-2008, 01:42 PM

I'd like to see some tutorials. So I can do something more useful with my spare time.

Any particular things you'd like to see tutorials on?

Kreij

06-01-2008, 02:48 PM

A forum is not the best medium for tutorials as they tend to get really long.
It may be better to start a tutorial link thread where people can post links to tutorials that they think are well done.
Plus we would then have access to all kinds of tutorials from one central location.
I have quite a few links to good tutorials saved in my browser favorites on my work computer which I can share tomorrow when I am there.

Kreij

06-01-2008, 02:55 PM

Oops ... I just remembered that the sticky at the top of this forum is for tutorials :D

Duh.

Oliver_FF

06-30-2008, 05:04 PM

I'm feeling a simple writeup on some of the key elements to OOP like classes, inheritance, interfaces, polymorphism, collections and generics, object types - dynamic and static and just stuff kinda like that...

Any objections? I'll give it a week before doing anything ;)

Kreij

06-30-2008, 05:22 PM

DanTheBanjoman

06-30-2008, 05:41 PM

Kreij

06-30-2008, 06:08 PM

There's nothing wrong with VB. I've used it when needed to help people code or fix problems.
It's just not my language of choice.

I usually just look for code snippets too.
Once in awhile an indepth tutorial comes in handy if you are trying to learn something new (for example, XNA).

Oliver_FF

06-30-2008, 08:25 PM

Personally I like vb.net (and I'm about the only one :))

When I google for solutions I prefer the most basic examples. ie if something can be done in 2 lines, I like that example. I prefer to create everything around it myself. Besides, more code just confuses when trying to understand something.

Visual Basic was actually my first programming language, back when I was 14 and I loved it at the time. It's really really easy to use and the debugging is stellar :toast:

It's just difficult posting small code snippets when most of the projects I work on are large and cumbersome - once you've figured something out it quickly becomes obvious and kinda fades into the background as you tackle the next problem :ohwell:

I'm considering a simple guide that goes through step by step how mergesort works (you know, when you've got a collection and call .sort() on it?) it's fiendishly clever and most of the guides out there are like "do what now? i'm lost :cry:"

Still, my packet sniffing FAQ is on the first page of google results :cool:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=packet+sniffing+faq&btnG=Google+Search&meta=
and
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=packet+sniffing+faq+how-to&btnG=Search&meta=

DanTheBanjoman

06-30-2008, 10:31 PM

It's just difficult posting small code snippets when most of the projects I work on are large and cumbersome - once you've figured something out it quickly becomes obvious and kinda fades into the background as you tackle the next problem :ohwell:

That works both ways. ie I'm making something, I require something to work, and the example shows a totally different program. And most examples leave you to figure out how to implement things in your situation. You end up with far too much code. I've had this various times, and then sometimes a week sometimes a few months later, I figure how I can do the same thing in a few lines.

Every time I have a new idea to create something or add functionality to something I start looking, most of the things I'm able to figure out by googling or bugging W1z.
For instance, today I had some time at work and added a link to a database to read fancy things. that are already stored. In the same way my database gains new features over time.

It actually started with an inventory list I got to maintain. The boss said it was now my work. It was made in Excel, which over time would grow and be a piece of crap. So I moved it all to Access. Now it contains far more data, is accessible via my own deployment tool, it generates and prints labels to the Dymo printer.

Anyway, due to my previous work in Access and my hate towards "databases" made in Excel I'm extending my knowledge of vb. (Office products use vba, nearly the same as vb.net) I keep learning new things, and surely my code isn't the best out there, it's handy to be able to make things as a system admin.

Kreij

07-01-2008, 01:49 AM

@Dan : Move that bad boy to SQL Server Express. Far superior to Access.

DanTheBanjoman

07-01-2008, 07:43 AM

@Dan : Move that bad boy to SQL Server Express. Far superior to Access.

Negative. Using SQL server is like using a IBM mainframe to play Pacman. Access is easy to use and big bad SQL servers offer nothing that Access doesn't. That includes performance, as this is a small database and won't outgrow Access. By the time it does it's because the company grew huge and we have other people to bother themselves with a new system:)

Kreij

07-01-2008, 01:24 PM

Negative. Using SQL server is like using a IBM mainframe to play Pacman.

I had to check to make sure I was still on TPU after that comment. I though we all played Pacman on mainframes :wtf: :laugh:

Access is easy to use and big bad SQL servers offer nothing that Access doesn't. That includes performance, as this is a small database and won't outgrow Access. By the time it does it's because the company grew huge and we have other people to bother themselves with a new system:)

You are right in that if scalability will not be a concern, then Access is simpler to use.
Sql Server has a few other advantages but for most small database implementations, they are pretty irrelevant.

I do feel, however, that once you become comfortable with SQL Server it is pretty easy to use.

DanTheBanjoman

07-01-2008, 01:50 PM

It's not that I don't know SQL, it's simply more work for me while I create stuff to take the work away. For instance, I also manage backups, which with SQL server becomes more complex. While a single MDB file can just be copied during normal backup without having to test restoring it.

Kreij

07-01-2008, 03:57 PM

I use SQL Server Management Studio Express which allows easy backup to anywhere you want.
It also will verify the file automatically (if you select the option) after it runs the backup.

But you are right, it's not as simple as just copying a .mdb file.

Oliver_FF

07-30-2008, 08:34 PM

Ok so i was going to write some more interesting things up a short while ago, but i've been really busy sorting stuff out. I'm leaving home tomorrow for the first time, going 150 odd miles cross country to start an awesome job for this huge software/hardware company :cool:, so i've been arranging everything and packing stuffs.

I'll be without internet for a good week or two, maybe more -can't wait to get back :toast: Laters!

Kreij

07-31-2008, 01:12 PM

Best wishes on your new career !!

magibeg

08-08-2008, 09:10 PM

I think one of the reasons why we have so few responses in the programming section has to do with the reader age of TPU. I noticed theres a lot of young teens in here that probably lack any programming experience and may just be interested in reading about it but don't yet feel comfortable enough to post anything yet.

I suppose one way to gain more interest would be to have minor tutorials for game creation. Games like minesweeper, and tetris have a number of programming tutorials online already and can provide a good base for new programmers. Realizing of course that in terms of practical programming it may not be that useful but it would be a good way to get peoples 'feet wet' so to speak.

Oliver_FF

08-09-2008, 10:33 AM

I've got Internets!!! Juicy 10MB cable :D

It's the weekend!!

Time to get writing some stuffs :D

Dark_Webster

08-09-2008, 11:08 AM

I like programming. In fact, it is one of the things that i've been doing since the beggining of the vacations. I'm learning Visual Basic so when I go to class this year, I already know how to work with it.
I've already learned how to program in Pascal, but it does suck.

I also think that this section of the forum is very undeveloped. I would like to see tutorials for some programming languages and for example, for newbies, a guide with some of the most common programming languages and give a brief description about what we can do with it. Let's hope to have more people participating in this section :).

Kreij

10-25-2008, 08:39 PM

Just a bump to make sure our little section is helping others.

Post your comments people, and use this section for your programming questions.

There are a lot of people who can help on many programming languages and topics :toast:

FordGT90Concept

10-26-2008, 06:20 AM

I have some code I could release but there's always that issue of open vs. closed source...

Kreij

10-27-2008, 05:33 PM

I have some code I could release but there's always that issue of open vs. closed source...

Well if are under an NDA for contracted work, or the company you work for claims all copyright to the code you write, then I would not recommend posting it ;)

Most of the people who post code here are just throwing snippets out from personal projects that they are working on, or code portions that are relatively generic and just meant to help people with syntax, language usage or to explain new features.

As always, if in doubt. Don't.

FordGT90Concept

10-27-2008, 07:27 PM

All my projects are personal. ;)

The issue I have is that some things could be sold for profit but only if they haven't been deemed public domain already. Obviously, not a trace of code from those will hit the interwebz. XD

Kreij

10-27-2008, 11:31 PM

Oh no, Ford, you're wrong. If you come up with a new algorithm or method of doing something that can be patented or copywritten, post it here so we can steal learn from it. :D

Like I said, post code snippets that you think will help people with their own pet projects or get them moving along in the coding endeavors. :toast:

Oliver_FF has done some great ones on networking stuff and I've done a few on user controls and using the new features in C# 3.0, as well as some older ones that I would have to go look up to see what they were about. I try to keep them interesting and try to use a writing style that is lighter and not so technical that it puts everyone to sleep.

Okay, maybe my writing isn't great, but I have not recieved any PM's from people I have put in a coma. :D

Thanks for adding you code to the forum!