Programming

If you are thinking of a successful career in project management or programming, then let this article from Task Juggler be part of your orientation.



TaskJuggler in a Cap

What is TaskJuggler? 
TaskJuggler is a modern and powerful, Open Source project management tool. Its new approach to project planing and tracking is more flexible and superior to the commonly used Gantt chart editing tools. It has already been successfully used in many projects and scales easily to projects with hundreds of resources and thousands of tasks.

I heard many people say that this open source project tool is too complicated, while others claim it is too simplistic. My take is that TaskJuggler gives multi-faceted services in a straightforward manner.

Benefits of this Open Source Project

TaskJuggler is project management software for serious project managers. It covers the complete spectrum of project management tasks from the first idea to the completion of the project. It assists you during project scoping, resource assignment, cost and revenue planing, risk and communication management.
TaskJuggler provides an optimizing scheduler that computes your project time lines and resource assignments based on the project outline and the constraints that you have provided. The built-in resource balancer and consistency checker offload you from having to worry about irrelevant details and ring the alarm if the project gets out of hand. The flexible "as many details as necessary"-approach allows you to still plan your project as you go, making it also ideal for new management strategies such as Extreme Programming and Agile Project Management.

An optimizing scheduler will remove from your shoulders the taxing tasks of constantly monitoring the timelines. I have another suggestion, check out
this article and learn much more. It's about a principal player in the open source industry.

Features and Highlights
Manages tasks, resources and costs in one package
Automatic resource leveling, tasks conflict resolutions, and task filtering
Comprehensive and flexible views and reports so you can find the information you need when you need it
Built-in templates to get you started (you can also save your own schedules as templates for future use)
Project tracking and status reporting
Graphical User Interface to conveniently edit your projects, view and generate Gantt charts and reports
Unlimited number of scenarios (baselines) of the same project for what-if analysis
CSV data export for exchange with Office Suites
Risk analysis
Project breakdown and management team support
Flexible working hours and vacation handling
Support for shift working
Multiple time zone support
Tasks may have initial costs, finishing costs
Resources may have running costs

Regarding the "unlimited number of scenarios" part, it will still be best if you have a consultant that will give his/her own inputs, particularly if it's a very complicated undertaking.

Open source software is the root of all these evil. The software alternative to proprietary software is causing turmoil among software companies for the last five months. Now, the war already reach several countries that it has fanned a raging flame of software battle between the European and North American continent.

According to the article, Open Source Business Conference organizers plead on software developers in Europe not to relocate over the United State. The call was made to reinstate the ownership of the said software in Europe. Personally, I don't think that the unclosed software started in Europe. Because Linux and Red Hat started in the very streets of New York. If the Europeans have a valid proof of their claim about the ownership of the software, show it.

Actually, I don't a damn about who owns it and where it came from. The important thing here is how are we going to develop the software into new heights so that it can reach the masses who cannot afford to use a competitive operating system. Linux is the number alternative operating system today. It has been used by so many companies from different industries including the movie industry to be specific. If you Europe doesn't want to share their expertise with the U.S, fine!

If this year is not the year for Linux, then when is it going to be? I really believe that the open source software really made it big this year, and will still continue to get bigger since the year hasn't ended yet. Nowadays, big-time companies from different industries are switching to the alternative operating system leaving behind their ancient OS. For the full details about the companies having a go with Linux, please see my other entries.

Surfing the net, I've read some nasty reports about Linux saying that it's not safe from computer abusers and it's as vulnerable as Windows when it comes to attacks. I quite agree with that statement, but I feel that it would be better if they change the phrase to: no OS is safe from determined attackers! Well, if a hacker has decided to ruin your system, he'll do everything he can to the best of his ability. This is so true if he especially has hatred for his country to wreak havoc and distress. And security is never a product; it's a process, you know. Comparing these OS to wounds, Linux is much easier to cure when it's infected. It is unlike Windows that has earned itself blisters and wounds so many times. No matter how you clean Microsoft's OS, pus and other signs of infection will still crop up after a couple of days.

I thought the software giant Microsoft is the only company that is threatened by the development of the open-source community. However, I was wrong. Upon reading the headlines in the Internet this week, the growth of the said alternative community is also affecting another multi-billion computer company. The firm I'm talking about manufactures not only hardware computer peripherals, but as well as various operating systems -- Apple Computer Inc.

Based on the report, Mac users will be switching to the alternative software because it is easier to use. Not to mention that it is cheap. Security is also not a problem. This is because they can quickly fix any flaw in the operating system since it's not proprietary or owned by a particular company. The Mac OS according to some users is becoming similar to that of Microsoft's.

They now both share the same characteristic: too restrictive. Unlike Mac, open-sourcing software products allow computer users to have quicker access to whatever computer need that they have and fixed patches in their system without the worry of paying something that is higher than their electric bill. Nowadays, Apple software is also a bit expensive. This triggers other users to choose the cheap and alternative OS than the branded ones.

After the plan about improving Java, Sun Microsystems is dead serious in employing open source software programs in its products. Recently, the company added Ubuntu Linux in two of the company-produced servers to give users an operating system that have a good reputation and easy-to-use interface. The Sun Fire 1000 and T2000 Servers will now be packaged with the said software to give an alternative in server solutions.

After placing it in office suites, and now that it'll be incorporated in servers, I therefore conclude that more consumers will be able to enjoy the quality of a user-friendly server that comes in a cheaper price. Many companies are switching to Linux than sticking with Microsoft because firstly, manipulating the program is a no-brainer, and lastly, you can get in a very cheap price, or for free if you're really lucky.

If you'll still remember the article I wrote about Linux at the movies, its usability, flexibility, and affordability made the movie makers of The Lord Of The Rings pick Linux as its primary movie making software. Both the movie and phone industry are turning their eyes on Linux. And Sun's addition to the growing list is a sign that companies are growing wiser and practical.

This perhaps is the longest-running issue in the open source world, next to Sun's plan of open sourcing Java. Intel's Itanium will use Linux to become the greatest server chip ever created.
Well, I'm not saying that this statement is a complete rotten, mouldy garbage. But I'm also not going to believe this issue because it hasn't happened yet. And the question is, will it ever happen?

The reports on technology magazines say that Itanium is seeking for Linux' aid to upgrade the server. This plan also embraces the company's interest to make the server more marketable to Linux users. This much-needed innovation can take place if Linux Intel can truly employ the open source software. Incidentally, Linux is still considered as the fastest-improving operating system over the next five years.

Omens have been made saying that the sales of the chip will grow by 2009 with the help of the open source program. But I say, let it happen first because omens are always associated with bad things. For the mean time, I shall turn a deaf ear to this issue. Also, I bet it would be great if you will too. Between open-sourcing Java and the Intel-linux project gossip, I'll take the Java thing.

The battle of giant software applications is just starting, and the good thing is that we users get the benefits. Linux will definitely raise an all-out-war against Microsoft now that a new mobile phone platform will adopt Linux as the official operating system. Based on what I've heard, aside from Samsung and Sharp, there are still three mobile device creators that are switching to the open source software.

The new platform aims to rival that of Microsoft with its more user-friendly interface and cheaper price. However, Microsoft feels that the embedded Linux software on portables can be more flexible than their products, yet it's less complete as far as wide-range office applications and features are concerned. The new Linux-based mobile phones aim to have wide-range branding and operation.

Perhaps these mobile companies just want to give users a taste of an alternative operating system in their series of phone units. I think that with this innovation under way, we'll be able to bring the concept of "personal" in personal digital gadgets. I also think that companies that are aiming to switch to Linux need to redefine their phone software applications to make it compatible with the upcoming OS. Hmmm, is it just me, or the competition between open source and MS is getting hotter?

As a true multitasking system, Linux is composed of features like the shared library, virtual memory, and memory management to exceed the needs of every user either from the business and personal sector. With a source code that is available for free, software developers as well as other computer companies are incessantly contributing to the development and improvement of the said operating system. Now, it is considered as the popular non-proprietary OS that is an alternative choice to Microsoft.

There are actually so many companies that support and patronize Linux products. Sharp, a famous electronics maker has Linux as its official OS for all its personal digital assistants. Lenovo, a company that creates notebooks and tablet PCs run in Linux. Google, America's beloved search engine recently made a collaborative project with Linux for more high-performance products. Being a reliable software that started in 1994, Linux is truly a favorite for corporate computer systems and many web servers.

Microsoft on the other hand, is also non-stop in formulating supercomputing OS that targets not only those who belong in the corporate world, but also those who work for the medical, scientific and engineering field. I, for one, can't compare the advantage of one from the other because both are effective in managing applications and fixing security flaws.

Linux desktop is continually growing as a computer operating system and more than that, it is indeed improving. Google, our trusted search engine and CodeWeavers Inc. are collaborating to bring the Picasa photo editing and sharing program to Linux. As a matter of fact, the new program is under beta testing. And hopefully if this will be successful, more Google applications will move to the open-source desktop. This perhaps is one of Linux's steps for enterprise migration from Windows to Linux desktops.

The Linux Picasa program is not just a simple port of Picasa to Linux. Instead, it displays the full set of features of Windows Picasa through the help of Wine technology. Wine is an open-source software application of the Windows interface. After purchasing and updating the photo management program, Google's merging with Linux is another innovative project that will boost not only the open-source software, but as well as an upgrade in Linux's programming.

Linux furnishes a wide variety of applications that are more state-of-the-art compared to what they have before. Google's move might play a significant role in changing consumers' minds when looking for alternative operating systems. With Google and Linux fusion, we'll be expecting more quality applications at a very affordable price.

There are times that open-source software is better than commercial, proprietary, and closed software. This maybe not a wholly factual concept, but with the superb codes coming from these Microsoft alternatives, I think my opinion is not an exaggeration. Sheesh, programming is really as confusing and as alluring as Paris Hilton and her teacup Chihuahua.

I'm currently using Mozilla Firefox, an open-source Internet suite because I'm trying if it's really better than Internet Explorer (IE) browser. At the same time, I am rummaging for an alternative for IE because of the myriad security flaws that it has. You know, with all that dreadful spam mess I have experience with the old net browser, I think searching for a new one would not hurt. Mozilla has an integrated hybrid analysis mechanism that's perfect to ward off spammers and block worms and viruses. Using this new browser, I found out that it eliminates spam quickly and effectively in my inboxes. But I still receive 10 out of a hundred, which is okay since it separates the real messages from the malicious type. And best of all, you don't get this type of supreme service for free all the time.

We are now into the e-business and e-commerce era where everyone must adapt to the fast paced environment for their businesses to continually grow and progress. to do this, one must have an application that has a stronger and safer programs that you can monitor or control when security problems arise. Open source software maybe a solution to this need, I also think so, but then again some does not agree with this idea. Digitally speaking, the software is easy to customize and maintain that is why many software developers are engaging into communities that aims to build better software programs in open formats.

It may be cheap and most of the time free than the commercial closed software that we are using and it has a huge support from volunteer developers from various company communities. Aside from that people who are programming this type of software are always available to provide answers to necessary questions unlike some technical support representatives of computer companies. The said support from volunteer programmers is very important but the work that they handle is very crucial in making the software as marketable as those created by Microsoft Corporation.

As a matter of fact, many interested developers are willing to switch into unappropriated program. to those who are interested but have a limited knowledge on open source, experts advised to read paper trail materials regrading the program. I've read a book by Chris Dibona and company with the title Open Sources 2.0: The Continuing Evolution which gives discussions in different tones and opinions about the said software type. This book maybe a bit old but it still a good read for those who want to know the basics.

The mad rush of consumers switching to Linux is really amazing since almost half the population of computer users are turning their monitors toward the cheaper brand. Maybe because of the report that Lord of the Rings characters was created through the Linux-powered servers or perhaps the commercial software alternative are more user-friendly than MS Office. Well, computer users have their own set of reason they use Ubuntu in lieu of MS. But as far as chief software architect Bill Gates is concerned, open source would not stand a chance compared to MS products that are now under strict reinvention. Windows Vista for instance is claimed to be safer and virus-proof than the previous office suites that MS launched before. I just hope that this is true since I, for one, still hope that MS are exercising good use for their money to create more products that are tested to be virus and worm-free.

But with all the efforts combined by volunteer open source workers and other software developers, I think that open-source products will stay for a while. But that's not my last word since it's not for us to decide about what should happen and what should not on a certain time. I just hope also that MS will not start creating their own open-source series or else Linux will meet its doom.

In line with the burgeoning open source technology, two computer software company merged to host the computer world's first ever convention that will tackle purely open source development. Dubbed as the "First Open management Consortium, it aims to upgrade the advantages provided by open source technology and to give a symposium for software developers product breakthroughs.

For developers and other computer wizards whose interest doesn't only depend on new portable laptops, this collaborative effort by concerned computer companies is a creative convergence that will hopefully sum up solutions on managing open source and to support the needs of customers with regards to this cluster of office software. The said meeting also targets the idea of aiding small and medium businesses who usually does'nt have the access to furnish a wide base of systems for administration solution. The meeting will be consist of developing projects under the open-sourcing technology which are normally employed for information management (IM) structures.

Among the prime undertakings of the meeting is to produce standard procedures for the usual elements of IM such as facts regarding servers, configurations, applications and devices to make a united endeavor to management methods; and to design organization paths for altering data with countermeasure systems. In addition to that, the over-all impact of the meeting to the computer business is the possibility of alternative steps in approaching IT and IM solutions. The event is by the way, through the companies, EMU software and Qlusters.

For several months now, the executives of Sun Microsystems have been irritating the technology world about the issue of turning Java into open-source. Now that JavaOne is being launched, the endeavor to brutally change Java is raising the eyebrows of more computer wizards. The issue of this so-called big step has been talk about many times that it became so tormenting for most computer users.

If we'll compare the issue to a certain food, it will be a delicacy triggering diabetes because Sun is trying so hard to make it sweeter. If the strands of sanity in my head are still intact, I have heard this issue for the umpteenth term. I hope this comment would taste inoffensive to the company but I really don't care about the exasperating drama anymore. By the way, I don't blame Sun for desiring to maintain relevance to the computer business since Java is among their cutting edge technology. And it seems to me that the company is scared to its wits of losing dominion to Java.

The only thing that interest computer developers to this attempt by sun is that it could be a lesser burden for them to removed bugs penetrating computers. Other than that, there's nothing to be gained from it. With the continuous evolution of the computer technology, this step means that the company is lagging behind others like Ruby or PHP.

A perfect example of open source program is Linux. Linux is one of the major competitors in graphic user interface. An example of GUI is the Windows and Mac. Linux is very ideal because it is always open for improvement by all other programmers or computer engineers who want to share and improve the quality of the system. Linux is one of the main computer systems to open itself to the public. The public, once registered, can suggest and try to innovate the system for their better use.

Unlike those user interfaces that are only open to their exclusively hired programmers, they can't zoom in on a specific problem that a computer user may have. It is predicted that in the coming years, millions more of people will be using Linux because it is more practical than other systems. Other systems upgrade almost every year and to be able to use new software, you must also purchase the software and install it -- giving these companies larger profits. The downside is, that most office and personal software are not compatible with Linux. This is the reason why more engineers and programmers are creating programs that can replace the popular ones.

Computers cannot understand human language. Hence, you cannot instruct a computer by speaking or writing to it in human grammar.

The language that computers understand and obey are coded and logic instructions known as programs. Programs are written using programming languages. Different programming languages have different grammar or syntax. Each programming language follows a particular set of rules which are designed to be understood by the computer and to be executed. There are three type or rather three levels of computer languages. The first is the machine level. The second is the assembly level. The third is the high-level language.

Computers do not have minds of their own that will enable them to learn and understand on their own. Computers need to be programmed to function. Programs are step-by-step and detailed instructions fed to computer. These instructions follow certain rules which are based on logic and mathematics. Programming computers in its early development is a very arduous task that is prone to errors. Making corrections is virtually impossible. This lead to the development of assembly languages which then developed into high level languages such as Java and C++ which are object-oriented programming languages which are used in developing computer software applications.

Programming is the soul of computer operations. Without programming, computers cannot function. During the early development of computers, programs are not written as software but rather are designed as analog connections such as wire circuitry and connections. Thus, to reprogram the computer it is necessary for all its circuitry to be rewired. The obvious disadvantage prompted computer scientists to develop new means of programming computers; thus, they developed programming languages such as COBOL, Pascal, C++, etc.

Before the development of high-level programming languages such as C++, computer programs should be entered one instruction at a time which require absolute addressing. This was a very tedious job and very prone to errors. The programs are very hard to read and modify. Only very few bother to specialize in programming. There was a scarcity in the number of programmers. This problem led to the development of assemblers and assembly languages which was further supported by high-level languages. This made programming relatively easier. Today, the most promising high-level programming language is Java which is commonly utilized in developing object-oriented applications.

The computer is a dumb machine for it cannot think or analyze information by its own without proper instructions. Every small detail should be covered in order for a computer to execute even the simplest task. However, when properly programmed, computers are efficient and very reliable especially in processing repetitive and large amount of data. There are at least 2,500 computer programming languages with varying application, complexity and capability. Examples of programming languages are Fortran which is used in solving mathematical problems, COBOL which is used in business applications, and Java which is multi-platform and is object-oriented.