IndianGeek Perspectives on Computer Science and Software Engineering

• Multics
  Multics (Multiplexed Information and Computing Service) was a mainframe timesharing operating system that began at MIT as a research project in 1965. It was an important influence on operating system development
  (tags: multics history os mit engineering)
• Finding SQL Injection with Scrawlr - The HP Security Laboratory
  Scrawlr, iis short for SQL Injector and Crawler. Scrawlr will crawl a website while simultaneously analyzing the parameters of each individual web page for SQL Injection vulnerabilities
  (tags: security sql injection software tool)

• Microsoft Live Labs : Volta
  Volta is a developer toolset which enables you to build multi-tier web applications using existing tools, languages and patterns.
  (tags: microsoft tools software programming)

A few years ago I was a firm believer in the Rich Connected Client application model, which was based on running applications installed locally on the users desktop. From the time of the Ajaxian explosion, the quality and quantity of Ajax based web applications has continued to increase, applications like FaceBook have introduced new paradigms whereas apps like Live Maps have made existing apps much more convenient and accessible. Today you have to really argue hard to even consider a desktop based application for anything that is non-computation intensive (Even this category is questionable now, for e.g. a few years back movie editing web apps would have been out of the question).

So what is it that makes the web such a successful application platform

• Uniform and simple model (Web Browser, urls, can click when hand is visible) - Once a user learns the basics of working with a web application that knowledge can be easily applied to other applications.
• Client platform independence - The decoupling of the server and client with an agreed contract (HTML+CSS+JS) means that the traditional problems of targetting various platforms with different APIs is no longer existent on the client side.
• Machine independence - The user is no longer restricted to the machine on which the application was installed. This also results in a much simpler deployment model.
• Data independence - The user’s data is now available on the network which means that not only can the user run the application from anywhere but can also access his data from anywhere.

Now what would the next generation internet application platform look like? I think that in addition to the above characteristics, the next generation of platforms would involve the following.

• Full use of computing resources available locally - Having a powerful CPU and GPU seems like such a waste when all your applications have to be funnelled through the browser. So the next generation platform would allow access to the computing power available locally.
• Better integration with the local resources - This is sort of related to the point above, but would allow internet applications to access local disks, settings, registry etc.
• Better security model - Of course all this has already been attempted with ActiveX and XPCOM, but the security models there have been weak and non-intutive to users, a better solution is needed.

So it looks like the direction being taken by Microsoft Silverlight and Adobe AIR are steps in the right direction to building the next generation internet application platform. However Microsoft has a great oppurtunity here push the envelope with Silverlight and introduce new standards for desktop integration of internet applications, their extensive user base means that any API created by them has a very good chance of being successful and catching on with the other players in this space.

• generation5 - At the forefront of Artificial Intelligence
  Generation5 aims to be the most comprehensive Artificial Intelligence site on the Internet. Community-orientated, Generation5 deals with all AI topics including robotics, neural networks, genetic algorithms, AI programming, home automation and much more.
  (tags: ai programming robotics science research)
• ClustrMaps - Hit counter map widget and tracker shows locations of all visitors to any site - free
  Do you know your audience? You will with ClustrMaps! Visitors don’t need to click on anything: just viewing your page is sufficient. We provide (free) the HTML that gives you a tiny map.
  (tags: maps visualization counter tools web analysis)
• Simplified Wrapper and Interface Generator
  SWIG is a software development tool that connects programs written in C and C++ with a variety of high-level programming languages. SWIG is used with different types of languages including common scripting languages such as Perl, PHP, Python, Tcl and Ruby
  (tags: programming c++ python tools java ruby)

We were having memory issues on one of our production servers today, no one was able to get in via Remote Desktop or any other remote access tools. PsTools by Mark Russinovich was a life saver, it allowed me to query the processes running on the remote machine and also their memory usage, we were able to diagnose the issue and fix it quickly once we knew what the cause was. The tool suite also has a bunch of other useful tools that work on remote boxes as well.

Just saw Hacking Democracy on HBO, it’s available online as well. I can’t believe the whole electronic voting system is built on Access and a VB frontend!!

• How I Built a Working Poker Bot, Part 1 - Coding the Wheel
  (tags: poker programming bot development c++)

• Best Programming Jokes
  (tags: programming humor funny geek computer fun jokes humour)

• 35 Useful Source Code Editors Reviewed | Developer’s Toolbox | Smashing Magazine
  (tags: editor programming software tools development code)

• 5 Sources for Free Computer Technology Education Online — Education-Portal.com
  (tags: education free computer programming courses online)
• “Electricity” Misconceptions Spread By Textbooks
  (tags: electronics reference education science physics)
• Lessons In Electric Circuits
  (tags: electronics tutorial reference hardware ebooks engineering)
• SciPy -
  SciPy (pronounced “Sigh Pie”) is open-source software for mathematics, science, and engineering
  (tags: python programming science math software tools opensource)