It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center.
Closed 11 years ago.
I want to make a iis log viewer for websites I develop. I know there are utilities already developed out there, for e.g http://visuallogparser.codeplex.com/ , but I want to develop something of my own. Couple of questions I've is, how can I access files on the windows 2003 server.The log files are stored in a particular folder on the server. I've to manually open the files and then look through them for the information that might be relevant.
The first problem I see is being able to first get this file as input to let's say perl or python for file processing and then the issue of sorting and filtering data as is desired. Also getting a GUI for this.
I've no clue in what language or any framework this can be build. Looking for guidance here.
Personally, I think C# is head-and-shoulders above the competition for building standalone GUIs. It also has good support for parsing text, including decent support for regular expressions.
According to http://www.sqlservercentral.com/Forums/Topic525288-146-1.aspx you can just run a query to find out where your SQL-Server instance keeps it's log (and data) files.
If you're just starting out programming it'd be a real good idea to work through "the basics" in tutorials before you get started on project like this. Once you "feel ready" then have a go, looking for tutorials/discussion on each aspect as it arrises... and if you get stuck you can ask more specific questions right here.
One other piece of advise: Before you start coding this sort of thing sit down and do a mock-up of the interface. Workout what operations you want to perform. Analysing the problem WHILE you attempt to code a solution is a CLASSIC recipe for spending a lot of time to get not-much done. You need clear goals BEFORE you start coding... and then, of course, you "adapt" your goals as you learn more... as you go along... But it REALLY helps to be clear about what (roughly) you want before you start.
It might help you to use a couple of those existing log-presenters. Find-out what other people have done... what THEY find useful. If you find a particular functionality useful then you could attempt to copy-cat it... or maybe something someone else has done just gets you wondering "HOW do they do that?" and that get's your creative juices running.
finally, The blank canvas is the scariest one. Just get SOMEthing really simple working, and then add functionality to that, iteratively.
Cheers. Keith.
Related
It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center.
Closed 9 years ago.
Is there a way to determine what software tool was used to create a specific exe file? For example I'd like to find out if Delphi or Visual Studio or [Fill in the Blank] was used to create a program.
UPDATE:
I'm using a program called FoxtrotOne from www.enablesoft.com that uses a script and a datafile. The program acts just like a person sitting at the keyboard doing data updates. I've been continually monitoring the task manager and the FoxtroneOne.exe and the memory continues to climb as it loops through the dataset.
I've been told by the tech support guy to close IE after every 100 records because it's holding onto memory. My script interacts with a web application.
I'm convinced that there is a memory leak within FoxtrotOne. If I could determine what IDE they used I could suggest what low level tool they should use. For example if Delphi created this exe then I would suggest they install madExcept to check for memory leaks.
FINAL UPDATE:
I used Exeinfo PE to detrmine FoxtrotOne was created with Visual Basic 5.0 - 6.0
Open the EXE in a hex editor (such as HxD), and you might get a lot of clues. For instance, if you find a lot of VCL-related strings like TLabel, TForm, etc., it is probably an Embarcadero tool.
You might also open the EXE in a resource editor (such as XN Resource Editor) to get more clues:
It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center.
Closed 10 years ago.
I am wondering if there is any software that can create a software with shortcuts inside another?
Like if you want to make an web editor you cold say that if you press that button it will write:
<html></html>
And use a browser to render?
If there is no software like this, is it possible to make?
Maybe I am wrong, but I think it will be a breakthrough for opensource development.
I am not a skilled developer so that I won't manage to make something like this, but I want to start a group to do this, with making a website for it. Do you think someone wants to help me or maybe one of you?
I have searched the web for something like this but haven’t found anything.
Edit:
I know this was quite bad formulated and am going to explain this again.
And what I mean is not a web editor, but a software developer application.
The web designer was just a example.
Imagine yourself that you have a UI designer whose you can import other software’s in and then you drag a button in to the screen, and on the settings you say that when you click that button the software will go into one of the software’s you’d imported and do something.
The software I am asking for is this software developer software.
Edit again:
I will do a second attempt to clarify:
You know about bots right? Those who fly around on the web and to crazy things as cheeking hotel prizes to playing poker.
I only wonder about if you cold make a new GUI like QT or GTK that would emulate a certain keyboard event or mouse gesture when clicking a button. And were to get started when doing so.
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-newbie-8/kompozer-problems-733285/#post3580690
There's several powerful web editors in a list composed by someone there. It includes editors with a WYSIWYG.
Aptana studio is what I use which can use different browsers to render. It also has a built-in web server so that you can test AJAX requests and php rendering.
It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center.
Closed 10 years ago.
I am looking to adapt a css formatter app I downloaded from the app store so I can control it from the command line. Basically before I push a file to github I would like to have the app format a .css file. So I am wondering How I would get the app to run its process without doing it by hand.
I am not sure where to begin... I have xcode.
So my question is, where do I begin?
Can you point me to any articles of people that have done something similar?
What files should I be most concerned with in the app?
Thanks for the direction
If it's a regular app from the Mac App Store, you can find the executable in the app bundle at Contents/MacOS/AppName.
So to start the Mail app for instance you would have to execute this:
/Applications/Mail.app/Contents/MacOS/Mail
Assuming you don't want to just start it from the command line, you want to make it do something useful.
1 - Disassemble and link your own program
A Mac app will have an executable (in TheApp.app/Contents/MacOS/APP_NAME) in the bundle (which is just a directory). Xcode won't really be all that much help.
The app will most likely use AppKit / NSApp Cocoa framework and the executable will create an App instance, set up the GUI etc, register things. Cocoa apps work on a system of delegates, callbacks, etc. It's not just one main function that runs synchronously. They almost certainly won't export simple external symbols that you can link against and call. And even if you did, you'd need the header files.
You could look into an Objective-C disassembler, as the compiled executable probably has enough symbols to work out roughly what's going on. But you'd need to know a fair bit about Objective-C and Cocoa (at least, enough to know that this will be tough).
So Option 1, which isn't really an option in unless you know what you're doing, is work out what the program symbols are / disassemble the executable, and write your own application that links against the binaries and calls the relevant methods.
2 - Script the GUI
On another tack, you could look into whether it's Apple-scriptable. You could start the app, record activity (look at the AppleScript editor's record functionality) to script the actual GUI. This might work.
3 - Talk to the author
I suggest you talk to the author if you really want this. Perhaps they can make it usable as a command line tool.
As it currently stands, this question is not a good fit for our Q&A format. We expect answers to be supported by facts, references, or expertise, but this question will likely solicit debate, arguments, polling, or extended discussion. If you feel that this question can be improved and possibly reopened, visit the help center for guidance.
Closed 9 years ago.
I find that one of the most frustrating aspects to software development is finding a solution to a problem, forgetting it, then being faced with the same issue in the future only to forgot how you previously solved it. Or to write a useful bit of code, then on a later project not be able to find this code.
My general question is this: How do you keep track of all the new things you learn each day while programming? Does anyone have a systematic way to capture knowledge and easily and efficiently apply it in the future?
UPDATE: Thanks the for the responses, here's what you came up with:
Social
Stackoverflow
Tumblr
Twitter
Evernote
Blogs/Wikis
Code Repositories
Github
Unfuddle
LaunchPad
Google Code
Desktop
Dropbox
Yojimbo (mac)
VoodooPad (mac)
Wikidpad (win)
Surfulater
Stackoverflow is a good place to start :-)
Keeping a blog is another thing (here's mine).
Even Twitter can be useful for this.
There are also a number of "desktop wiki" applications that I find very useful: VoodooPad on the Mac and Wikidpad for Windows.
Finally, if you need to store snippets (or more) of code (that you have the rights to, of course), then there are plenty of source code repositories available now (GitHub, LaunchPad, Google Code or Unfuddle if you want complete control).
The brain has limits. Accept it.
The solution is to have tests for your code so you can merge repeated code without breaking a sweat as soon as you notice it.
I use TiddlyWiki to keep track of a lot of things. It's a one-page, self contained wiki that you can run off your desktop, or your server.
If you want a hosted solution, you can get one for free over at TiddlySpot
I'm having this problem myself too. I've just started couple months ago by adding good SO questions/answers into my favorites, even those I answered or posted. I guess that's a good start. :)
Write a blog. Publish your findings, code samples and everything else. The best way to save the knowledge for future.
I don't care too much when I forget how I solved some problem five years ago. Chances are that in the meantime, there is a better way to do it available. GIYF.
If it is for an organisation, having internal wiki page (or something similar) could help.
If it is only for you (and anyone that's interested), write a blog, favourite snippets on internet etc.
For code, a good approach (in both cases: organisation and yourself) is to keep something I call "Utilities Library". Each piece of code I like usually fits into one of the problem scopes / namespaces of the library. This way, over time, you have a neat code base that allows you to not to invent the weel again. Of course, after couple of months or years the library needs documentation to find anything in there :)
I think Evernote is one of the best resources for storing all kinds of notes. You can even upload photos of texts (say from your iphone, or just your computer), and the text will be OCR'd, so that you can free-text search for parts of the text later.
I use Yojimbo to keep track of just about every neat algorithm, code snippet, or handy idea.
A database of notes (I use an application called Surfulater) and a directory tree of source code (also kept in a Subversion repository).
If I were to start today, I'd probably use some Wiki framework to store my notes.
I always carry around all my interesting projects with me using dropbox. Then I usually know where to find the tricks I did before.
Everytime I see something good on SO I star it, everytime I see a good article on the web I bookmark it.
Keeping a blog or a tumblr is also nice.
I am used to carry my flash disk wherever I go. So, I have different folder there for C# notes, Asp.Net notes, Design Patterns etc.
And whenever I do something that I feel I can use it in the future, basically I open the relevant Word document in it, add the details and the code snippet with a header and save.
I do not know how the others do it but it really helps me.
Do not forget to add a reference index in the beginning of your document.
P.S : I also carry all the e-books in my disk. To have them all in my pocket gives me really good feeling.
I use google reader to store all the interesting blogs and I add notes on the issues it was about.For codes strangely I always forget after having solved the issue but now I either post on asp.net forum and stackoverflow. But only strange thing happened to me couple of years ago, I had an issue and I managed to research to solve it but when I reviewed some codes I had written 3 years before I saw that I had used the same function and identical code for a similar issue. I think even if I didn't remember the code, it must have been hidden somewhere in my mind :)
Closed. This question is opinion-based. It is not currently accepting answers.
Want to improve this question? Update the question so it can be answered with facts and citations by editing this post.
Closed 5 years ago.
Improve this question
Back in the days of Unix, you couldn't even close a software without reading the man page first. Then came Mac and Windows with consistent menu layout and keyboard shortcuts, but you still saw paper user manuals shipped in the shrinkwrap box, which described each and every single operation possible in the app. After the Internet, help files became html documents.
Nowadays with Web 2.0 applications, you hardly see the Help. Even if it's there, they simply describe some specific tasks. In other words, the apps are relying more on the common sense or don't-make-me-think factor of the user base.
Years ago Microsoft came up with a concept called Inductive User Interface, which basically tells programmers to put in instructions on the apps itself, but I am not sure how popular that idea is.
Are help files, user manuals, and context sensitive online help with F1 key dead? Have I failed if user could not find out what to do from the UI? If not, what degree of help should I provide? (both for desktop and web app)
EDIT: How does documentation/help file mesh with agile development methods? For example, should the developers think twice before UI changes that may obsolete a bunch of screenshots?
Three notes on help:
F1 / stand-alone context-sensitive help was always doomed. It was hidden by default, and so the people who most needed it were least likely to read it. There was hope at one time that we would be able to train users to always hit F1 when they ran into trouble, but too many applications without useful context-sensitive help... combined with too many bizarre help interfaces... pretty much killed this.
Manuals are as important now as they ever were. Not so many printed manuals anymore, but online manuals are better than ever. The proliferation of wiki-as-a-manual systems has helped here, reducing the up-front cost of creating good online documentation. Of course, plenty of people just don't read...
The beauty of using web pages as an application interface is that you can combine useful context-sensitive help with the UI, removing the barrier for novices and others who otherwise couldn't be bothered to look for relevant information when they get stuck.
Of course, there are still plenty of apps, even online apps, designed with obtuse interfaces and a tiny little help icon in a corner somewhere, presumably hoping that the latter mitigates the former. Pity them.
No way. You look at the amount of documentation and training and marketing expenditure even MS puts up.. you'll get your answer.
Try using someone else's product, and you will learn the true value of documentation - I'm learning Godiagrams right now.. :)
So I can say without a doubt.. NO and it never will.. no matter how intuitive user interfaces get.. beyond a certain size, you will need help and training. But by understanding the user and what he needs to get done, you could design it such that the time he/she needs to learn the system to do his/her routine tasks is minimal.
Have I failed if user could not find out what to do from the UI?
If not, what degree of help should I provide? (both for desktop and web app)
They should be able to use your your app to do basic things from the UI. eg say for an image editor, they should be able to create a new image, and draw some lines then save it just by looking at the UI.
This is best done by following common layouts (like having new, open and save under file in the menubar, and using the standard open and save dialogs).
The same goes for webapps, people exspect to be able to do the basic stuff without having to read the docs, but for more advanced features people will still read the docs. (eg most pople will read the docs for say BB code, or markdown at least sometimes, but they expect to be able to post without having to know them)
Are help files, user manuals, and context sensitive online help with F1 key dead?
They still have their place. People will use them to learn about how to best use various features, for example markdown or bbcode, or how to use filters to get certain effects in an image editor.
I've been incorporating context-sensitive screencasts into my applications. I've found this helps non-technical users grasp the application quickly, without asking for live help.
The Idiot/Dummy books must be doing quite well. Imagine if the standard application help was as good as those books. The standard F1 help for a lot of apps is just awful.
Is help dead? No, but some of it should be taken out and shot.