Java Abuse: public static void main was not invented here.

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

Normally a command-line Java application will have an entry method that looks something like: public static void main(String… args) { /* Code that launches the application/deals with command line params here */ }public static void main(String… args) { /* Code that launches the application/deals with command line params here */ } This is far too… Read more »

openSUSE conference – Software Portal Talk

Posted by & filed under openSUSE.

Here are my notes from the software portal talk Pascal and I gave yesterday at the openSUSE conference. The slides we used are also available. What is the Software Portal? Software Portal is a free-software web-application that runs as a service on on opensuse-community.org. It provides both a web-ui and an API. It is possible… Read more »

Switzerland

Posted by & filed under Holiday.

I got back this week from holiday cycling and walking in Switzerland. I cycled down from Basel in the north via Bern and Interlaken to Fiescheralp. Then back via Luzern and Zürich. Fiescheralp is next to the beautiful Aletsch Glacier I stayed in a chalet here for a few days with family and did some… Read more »

Java Abuse – Currency Pattern

Posted by & filed under Java.

Here’s a sillier one from last night… People often complain about not being able to return multiple values from a method in Java. I can’t see a good reason for wanting to do this, but some do. The example I was given was wanting to do: int foo, bar, baz; list(foo, bar, bar) = func(ponies);int… Read more »

Java Abuse – Ternary Try/Catch

Posted by & filed under Java, Uncategorized.

We often discuss Java limitations on IRC and try to come up with (sometimes silly) workarounds. Unfortunately after time passes it’s often easy to forget the outcome, and lose code snippets. So I thought I’d start blogging some of them so I don’t lose them, and other people might suggest other ways of doing things… Read more »

Software Portal Preview Available.

Posted by & filed under Uncategorized.

In the last couple of weeks I’ve had some time to work on the software portal project for the first time for a while. There is now a test snapshot that you can play with if you wish, and help find bugs. Please do have a play and leave comments here or file a bug… Read more »

Snow

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This morning we had an unusual amount of snow here, more than we’ve had in my lifetime. Most public transport was suspended and the people attempting to drive were quickly getting stuck and sliding all over the place. Motorists were making the classic motorist error. They’ve got too much power. I’ve got half a horsepower… Read more »

openSUSE IRC – Mailing list & Bot

Posted by & filed under openSUSE.

There is a new mailing list for operators on the openSUSE IRC channels – ircops at opensuse dot org. If you have any queries, suggestions, or complaints regarding an openSUSE IRC channel, please email the list, supplying relevant log excerpts. For reference, the IRC rules are located on the opensuse-community wiki.. If you are an… Read more »

Hackweek – Software Portal

Posted by & filed under openSUSE.

Most of the time that I was able to spend actually hacking during hackweek I spent working on the software portal. It was very helpful to be able to discuss issues with Pascal in person. The software portal project aims to expose the software available for openSUSE and other linux distributions to users as “Applications”… Read more »

Hackweek Summary & New Blog

Posted by & filed under openSUSE.

Having now left the University of Warwick, I have lost access to my Warwick hosted blog. So I will now be hosting it myself at http://benjiweber.co.uk/blog. Last week was hackweek at Novell – during which Novell developers get to work full time on their own personal projects. Novell were kind enough to sponsor several openSUSE… Read more »