Showing posts with label software development. Show all posts
Showing posts with label software development. Show all posts

ASP.NET 4 Social Networking Review

ASP.NET 4 Social Networking
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ASP.NET 4 Social Networking ReviewThis book is about how to build a Social Network (a fish owners one as an example), by using ASP.NET, C# and some frameworks: MEF, EF, ADO.NET EF.
Some of those frameworks are not lightweight but at the same time they are very ordered and the code is well structured so swapping is easy.

Some interesting points or highlights after reading it:
Uses an events-based newsfeed, same principle as facebook does. Nice details as being able to hide stuff.
Friendly urls for profiles and other sections, in fact, sometimes is a bit overabused to search for SEO, when a social network might be more private. But just having the concept of forums... means the authors wanted to add as much "social stuff" as possible, even if doesn't't fully fit.
Precalculates and stores different photo sizes on upload (right), but does it synchronously (wrong, can get to long waits or timeouts).
Lazy loading vs eager loading, the endless discussion (here decides to do eager loading of some things).
User search is pretty basic, using LINQ to search in a few fields.
Blogs are curiously created: Allow to publish public posts (even with friendly urls), but doesn't syndicates in a RSS feed so limits that public exposure.
Builds a forum, quite extrange and atypical in a social network (is among the RSS one of the things they have semi-killed). Voting, marking forum replies as answers and user rankings are... a bit out of scope for a social network, more fit for a pure forum. At least the ratings are correctly decoupled and system-wide usable (providing good extensibility).
Very simple privacy management in general: Either public or private, with just some cases of membership/access requests.
Last chapter presents scalability advices: Moving to a SOA architecture (with WCF), separating frontend servers to a farm with load balancing, service servers and DB tier, caching using AppFabric's Caching component or Memcached. Also moves the email sending process to a queued, async. system. Also mentions logical deletion and then system process to wipe deleted items, DB Indexing and data partitioning (does SQL Server level partitioning instead of handling it via code), and Lucene.NET for searching.
But also has some cons:
Uses database table relationships (referential inegrity via DB), uncommon due to caching problems
HTML inside messages in service layers
Favors code-behind dynamic html generation instead of using subviews
Stores profile avatar images in the DB (ouch!)
Friendship defined as one-way relation (instead in the more flexible two-way friend-friend relation).This results in crap code related to it (like friend search), because it must have "originator ID is friend of X" OR "destination ID is friend of X".
Presentation entities to lessen the problem of eager loading (but not avoiding it, just lowering memory usage).
And the .NET 4 in the name... would have worked equally with 3.5 (I can't recall anything FW4.0 specific in the book).
Dynamic attributes idea is nice but not scalable (even less needing to rows in different tables for each attribute.
The book mentions or implements nany tiny details not obvious but even sometimes missing on large websites (e.g. Terms of Use versioning and tracking of last accepted version by the users, Easy and mockable configuration manager).
As a conclusion, the book won't show you groundbreaking secrets nor incredible algorithms, but will set the basis for a decent social network with low usage and quite some features. You will probably want to cut out some unwanted features but code is clean and well structured. But at least the code is not badly written.ASP.NET 4 Social Networking OverviewEach chapter starts by showing the user experience we are going to create in the chapter. It then has a section discussing the major design decisions we face in building these features, and finally presents the 'solution' including the overall architecture and highlighting the most important code elements. The book presents a lot of real-world code, with comprehensive explanation and discussion. The full social network application is available for download from the Packt website, for you to examine, study, and modify. This book is written for ASP.NET and C# developers who want to build an enterprise-grade Social Network, either for their own business purposes or as a contract job for another company. The book assumes you have prior experience of developing web applications using ASP.NET 4.0, C# , SQL Server 2008, and Visual Studio .NET 2010. If you working with earlier versions of any of these, you can still go ahead and use this book as a guide to get you going. The book focuses on topics that will be of interest to existing developers and not on providing step-by-step examples for each detail.

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Practical Rails Projects (Expert's Voice) Review

Practical Rails Projects (Expert's Voice)
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Practical Rails Projects (Expert's Voice) ReviewPractical Rails Projects is a weighty tome, coming in just shy of 600 pages, which led to this review taking a little longer than it otherwise might: not just because the book took a while to get through, but also because it wasn't quite so practical to lug it on the bus as some of the others I've recently covered. A result of that heft is a fairly comprehensive volume, but one that doesn't feel quite so consistent as it perhaps should.
Eldon Alameda has written the book for people who have some previous Rails experience or may have cracked open one of the introductory books on offer, but who want to learn the framework by observing a number of working projects. In some ways that leads to overlap with a book like Practical Rails Social Networking Sites (Expert's Voice), but whereas that built up one example this book covers seven ranging from a system to track progress through an exercise programme, to an appointment scheduler that interfaces with 37signals' Highrise using ActiveResource.
The first few projects proceed at an even pace and are likely to be helpful to a newcomer to Rails, there's a fair bit of overlap with examples available in other volumes, but they work well together. While the author discusses the decision to skip over the writing of tests and/or specs, it did seem that in a volume of this size that topic should have been given a little space, even if that involved sacrificing one of the sample projects.
Unfortunately the book loses pace a little later on, particularly with the introduction of the Ext JS library which is used to build user interfaces but ends up occupying far more space than the actual Rails code in the later chapters. Obviously Javascript frameworks are an important part of building many modern web applications and Ext JS is a worthy entrant, but the way it was used seemed quite inappropriate. The admin interfaces built with it would not gracefully degrade for users without javascript; there was no discussion of progressive enhancement or even of why the decision had been taken to build such an inaccessible system. When careful use of respond_to blocks can make progressive enhancement so straightforward in Rails, this seems a missed opportunity. At the very least the decision making process should have been documented, and ideally a better solution would have been offered.
I was similarly surprised to find a number of occasions where design decisions were made that conflicted with the RESTful approach that is now Rails convention. Early on that might have been one thing, but coming after a chapter extolling the virtues of resource-centric design that was quite a surprise and seemed an indication that the book had begun to sprawl a bit. In many ways it's a shame that this book wasn't broken up into a couple of volumes. Packaging the first few projects together as an introduction, then offering the last few as smaller supplements more tightly focussed on specific areas such as Ext JS usage, ActiveResource, etc. That way the material could have been tightened up and some of the repetition would have made more sense, and perhaps there would have been space to cover a few obvious missing pieces such as atom/rss feeds.
With a number of volumes now available that use specific projects to illustrate Rails techniques, this book isn't so distinctive as it might have been a few months ago, and many developers will probably want to go for a more focussed, more succinct option. If your learning style benefits from taking things slowly and you don't mind some repetition then this may be a good option, but don't forget to read up on accessible web development while exploring later chapters.
Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book for review by the publisher.Practical Rails Projects (Expert's Voice) OverviewRuby on Rails is currently a very hot technology, and its popularity is still growing. Practical Ruby on Rails Projects provides intermediate Rails users with an essential learning aid to take them to higher level, teaching them countless real world techniques via a series of practical project-based chapters. Each chapter takes the reader through the complete process of building up a full-functional Rails web application.Projects taught in the book include a blog, a REST-based task manager, an online IT help desk, a web comic (including image upload facilities,) Wiki, and much more. Techniques learned include speeding up development with plugins, engines and Ruby Gems, styling with CSS libraries, and adding dynamism using Ajax.

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XMPP: The Definitive Guide: Building Real-Time Applications with Jabber Technologies Review

XMPP: The Definitive Guide: Building Real-Time Applications with Jabber Technologies
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XMPP: The Definitive Guide: Building Real-Time Applications with Jabber Technologies ReviewAn equally great book if you are new to XMPP, or if you are an architect or a developer who has been previously exposed to the technology. Placing myself in the latter camp (worked on an asynchronous XMPP Ruby client), I found this book to be very useful for filling in the technical gaps. While the XMPP spec is a well written one, it is still hardly an enjoyable read. The authors did a great job between balancing the technical details and adopting an informal style which allows them to compress the specification into easily digestible chapters (they give you the basics, you're free to read the full spec).
The book covers all the major components: overall architecture, handshake, presence protocol, multi-user chat, data transfers, security, etc. If you're thinking about adopting XMPP, you should pick up a copy.XMPP: The Definitive Guide: Building Real-Time Applications with Jabber Technologies Overview
This practical book provides everything you need to know about the Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP). This open technology for real-time communication is used in many diverse applications such as instant messaging, Voice over IP, real-time collaboration, social networking, microblogging, lightweight middleware, cloud computing, and more.XMPP: The Definitive Guide walks you through the thought processes and design decisions involved in building a complete XMPP-enabled application, and adding real-time interfaces to existing applications. You'll not only learn simple yet powerful XMPP tools, but you'll also discover, through real-world developer stories, how common XMPP "building blocks" can help solve particular classes of problems. With this book, you will:



Learn the basics of XMPP technologies, including architectural issues, addressing, and communication primitives
Understand the terminology of XMPP and learn about the wealth of XMPP servers, clients, and code libraries
Become familiar with the XMPP concepts and services you need to solve common problems
Construct a complete business application or real-time service with XMPP

Every day, more software developers and service providers are using XMPP for real-time applications, and with the help of XMPP: The Definitive Guide, you can, too.


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Sams Teach Yourself Android Application Development in 24 Hours (Sams Teach Yourself -- Hours) Review

Sams Teach Yourself Android Application Development in 24 Hours (Sams Teach Yourself -- Hours)
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Sams Teach Yourself Android Application Development in 24 Hours (Sams Teach Yourself -- Hours) ReviewFinally, I finished reading this book 24 hr is a misnomer, if you are thinking to finish the book in a day (it took me 13 days 2 hr a day cover to cover). One of the nice thing is the book is in Full Colour version these include screenshots, code and references to Eclipse (especially helpful if you are new with eclipse development). The book is easy to read, font and spacing were pleasing.
I should confess this is a beginner's book. You need some basic understanding of java and its concepts. The game the author picked was too basic for me, I wish I would have stated with this book months ago as it covers androids basic concepts and the first 6 chapters builds up the ground work for development on how to use eclipse and introduction to device debugging and logging( Eclipse DDMS, Android LogCat Logging).
A very good early introduction to debugging in chapter 2 right place before you get your hands dirty with coding, which i haven't seen any other books covering in that details. The author also mentions the reason they selected to use a particular android API or functionality at places and provide links for further reading.
There are also examples and exercises and although they are simple and primitive they give you the idea how to implement or use specific functionality and the solution for exercises are missing (it would have been helpful if there was a downloadable version on the website).Tips at some places are very useful and practical, some places it was an eye opener for an advance developer like me.
You will find this book useful and I'm sure it can be used as manual (not for expert android developer).Sams Teach Yourself Android Application Development in 24 Hours (Sams Teach Yourself -- Hours) OverviewFull Color!In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, learn how to build powerful applications for the world's first complete, open, and free mobile platform: Android. Using this book's straightforward, step-by-step approach, you'll build a fully-featured Android application from the ground up and master the skills you need to design, develop, test, and publish powerful applications. Each lesson builds on what you've already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success!Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through the most common Android development tasks.Quizzes and Exercises at the end of each chapter help you test your knowledge. By the Way notes present interesting information related to the discussion. Did You Know? tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks. Watch Out! cautions alert you to possible problems and give you advice on how to avoid them.Learn how to… Develop Android applications quickly and successfully with JavaMaster Google's Android SDK and development toolsLeverage the Eclipse programming environment to develop Android projectsUnderstand the Android application lifecycleBuild effective, user-friendly user interfacesRetrieve, store, and work with application dataDevelop powerful network applications Add popular social features and location-based services to your applicationsTake advantage of Android device hardware like the cameraInternationalize, test, and publish your Android applications

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Creating Your World: The Official Guide to Advanced Content Creation for Second Life Review

Creating Your World: The Official Guide to Advanced Content Creation for Second Life
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Creating Your World: The Official Guide to Advanced Content Creation for Second Life ReviewThis book did not turn out to be the resource I thought it would be. It's little more than a re-hash of "The Official Guide." Everything is dealt with as an introduction to the subject, even though much of the information can be found in the previous book. Few topics are dealt with in any depth except LSL scripting. Unfortunately the scripting section is quite obviously written by a programmer who is not a teacher. Many assumptions are made about the level of knowledge of the reader who needs a previous grounding in Java or C++ to understand what the author is talking about.
Overall, this book would be fine as a stand alone, but it is NOT a companion to the Official Guide. Nor is it useful as a guide to actually making things in second life. The reader is, instead, merely given a gloss of what is possible and then sent off to experiment on his own. As much or more can be learned through in-world tutorials, web sites and You-Tube videos (which are a far better resource for learning what this book purports to teach).
If you're really interested in becoming a designer or builder in second life, this book is not your guide.Creating Your World: The Official Guide to Advanced Content Creation for Second Life OverviewEnrich your virtual existence by mastering the techniques and tactics the experts use to create jaw-dropping SL content—everything from buildings and vehicles to clothing, landscapes, and animations. This official, exclusive guide from a team of Second Life content-creation experts was written with the full support of Linden Lab and features in-depth instructions for creating beautiful content and putting it to work in-world. It's both a practical, step-by-step guide and a creative session with some of the most artistic and talented minds in the Second Life community. CD included.

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Second Life For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) Review

Second Life For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
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Second Life For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) Reviewwhether you're a newbie, a long term resident, or thinking about getting a Second Life, this is the most contemporary and lucid guide to the essentials of a good life in SL. An easy, fun read that will enhance your journey into virtual environments. Perfect for educators like me as well, who are interested in teaching and learning using Second Life.Second Life For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)) OverviewYou've heard all about Second Life. Maybe you've already jumped with both feet—and gotten stuck. Or maybe you're a Second Life veteran who wants to build something or run a business. Fear not! Second Life For Dummies is hear to hold your hand, pat your back, and cheer you on through this new and enchanting reality.
Written by a pair of Second Life old timers, this easy-to-use, flip-and-find guide is packed with expert advice, seasoned insight, and handy tips and tricks to get you moving fast. You'll find out how to set up your account, create an avatar, meet people and socialize, and find your comfort zone and stay in it. But it's a big world out there, so you'll also learn how to make stuff, buy stuff, do stuff, and keep track of all the stuff you're accumulating. Discover how to
Install Second Life get started
Create and customize your avatar
Meet and get to know fascinating people
Stay safe and comfortable as you learn and explore
Make, wear, and sell your own fashions
Script your Second Life
Buy land and build a house
Become a land baron or a money maker
Make real money in Second Life
Get a real-life education—even a degree

Complete with fantastic lists of cool places, answers to big questions, and supplemental software, Second Life For Dummies is your ticket to a great virtual adventure.

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Scripting Your World: The Official Guide to Second Life Scripting Review

Scripting Your World: The Official Guide to Second Life Scripting
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Scripting Your World: The Official Guide to Second Life Scripting ReviewAesthetically, I personally found this book is very well laid out, colourful and easy on the eyes. It contains many screenshots and even explanatory diagrams. The structure allows the advanced LSL scripter to scan read to use the book as a decent reference and is complete with keyword indexes in the appendices. All levels of LSL scripters will enjoy the side notes on many pages that explain the aspects being discussed in more detail and gives build notes and useful tips.
The content of the book itself starts with a decent introduction to the LSL scripting language. It gives seasoned programmers the information they need to get started and yet at the same time provides detailed explanations of the syntax for beginners to begin to understand.
The book goes on to cover many various examples with detailed explanations, achieving what I feel is a nice balance with the amount of example code to theory. To take one chapter as an example, it explains the settings of vehicle parameters, handling input controls from the user and setting the position and rotation of the viewer's camera plus example code to get started with. It is enough to get going on scripting a vehicle in LSL. Advancements in this area would come from experimentation by the LSL scripter herself and by reading the book's tabulated explanations of all the vehicle parameters and functions. The side notes in this chapter include a useful time-saving warning when combining two of the mechanisms for moving objects and also a note on other scripts to look out for in world and even a link to a wiki that hosts complete sailboat scripts.
What I particularly enjoyed about the book was discovering how others have used LSL scripting. I'd fully expect this book to inspire the LSL scripter into creating something that they may not have tried without having had the book to explain the workflow to them.
Overall, a very respectable and professional book. I'm very pleased with the copy I have.
Scripting Your World: The Official Guide to Second Life Scripting OverviewFind complete information about Second Life scripting and gain access to more than 50 previously unpublished ready-to-use scripts in Scripting Your World: The Official Guide to Second Life Scripting. Learn how to script Second Life behaviors, grouped into categories like avatar movement, communications, prim and object control, automation, land control, combat, special effects, environment control and physics, and interacting with the world outside of Second Life. After you read this engaging book, you will possess a solid understanding Linden Scripting Language conventions.

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