Cool Java Concept Map in Flash

PInvoke.NET Wiki – for calling unmanaged Win32 api functions …

LookOut – Acquired by MS – super fast email search

Effective Java – Book to read

The Taligent Effect

The Taligent effect is what happens when a group of people put adherence to a software trend first and lose sight of the value of shipping software that people will actually use.

BullShit Generator – Really cool … use this while writing proposals and in presentations :D

Clemens Vasters on Open Source – this started a hot debate on Slashdot … [via Don Box]

Dear Aiden,

I think you remember the conversation we had recently at this software conference in Dublin. You came up to me and told me how the stuff I was talking about was mostly useless, because it is closed-source, people need to pay for it and that companies charging for software are evil anyways – especially Microsoft. Unfortunately I don’t have your email, but I am sure this will reach you.

…

That was in 1990 – let’s fast forward to 2004 and you. All software that you and your father could possibly be interested in has already been written. That’s probably not true, but it’s hard to think of something, right? Ok, the software may not run on your favorite operation system and may cost money, but what you can immediately think of is likely there. So where do you put all your energy? Into this absolutely amazing open-source project you co-coordinate. I mean, really, the stuff that you and your buddies are doing there is truly impressive. There are a couple of things I’d probably do differently in terms of design and architecture, but it works well and that’s mostly what matters. And you do make an impact as well. I know that hundreds of people and dozens of companies use your stuff. That’s great.

…

If someone installs your work from disc 3 of some Linux distro, they couldn’t care less who you are. The whole fame thing you are telling me only works amongst geeks. The good looking, intelligent girl over there at the bar that you’d really like to talk to doesn’t care much whether you are famous amongst a group of geeks and neither does she even remotely fathom why you’d be famous for that stuff in the first place. I mean – get real here.

.NET Report Card – nice article on InfoWorld

What is a haiku: Haiku is a form of poetry popular in Japan, which is becoming more widely appreciated around the world in this century. Haiku writers are challenged to convey a vivid impression in only 17 Japanese characters.

Avalon is cool:

Spellchecking is enabled either in XAML by writing

 <TextBox IsSpellCheckEnabled="True" /> 

or in code by writing

 TextBox.IsSpellCheckEnabled = True;