Buttons need to make sense

Following along on previous post, another post from Coding Horror on buttons .   Can you guess the app?  I think it's Firefox myself.  Regardless ... can you guess what they mean?  Sure, some of them are dead easy.  They are using icons that we are used to seeing everyday.  The post on Coding Horror makes a point we all need to remember ... button have to make intuitive sense, and when they don't ... they need good explanations.

Easy?  Nope, not at all.  Lots of buttons, for good or ill, are stuck in our psyches, but others ... sometimes you need to create them.  That's when the fun begins.

Tags: software development

Don't send Nerd-O-Grams ... write helpful error dialogs

We've all seen them.  We've all scratched our heads at them.  Non-helpful error dialog boxes.  While the image at the left is fake, it certainly gets the point across.  Dialog boxes need to help users understand what the problem was and what they might be able to do to prevent the problem in the future.  While working with software developers I am always on their case about this.  Sure, users are baffled, but from a support standpoint a dialog box that is meaningless to users is very hard to remember.  I've received lots of e-mails that said "I got some XML error doing something ... can you help me?"  Yeah, you can see where that is going.

More on this topic on Coding Horror.

Tags: software development

C# VB.NET ... MSFT add more snippets, but blows the install?

From Coding Horror:

Microsoft recently released a complete set of C# code snippets for Visual Studio 2005. This brings C# to parity with VB.NET, which had many more code snippets "in the box"

Unfortunately, Microsoft's installation strategy for these new snippets leaves a lot to be desired. You can download and "install" all the snippets at once, but you must manually add each of the snippet folders via the Snippet Manager (Ctrl+K, Ctrl+B). I loves me some snippets, but this is unacceptable!

Goes to show ... when you release something new, no matter how cool the delivery (i.e. install) is almost as important.

Tags: C#, VB.NET

Battle brewing over C++, .NET, and standards

As C++ is before the Ecma for standardization, there is a little problem.  Seems that tying it to the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI) ties it too closely to .NET WebProNews continues ...

There seems to be a C++ schism going right now as the Ecma consortium works out standards for the widespread programming language. The specification will bind C++ to the Common Language Infrastructure (CLI). This presents a problem for some because it ties the language a little too closely to .NET.

The basis of the controversy comes from the fact that .NET Framework is an integral part of the CLI standard. As ZDNet pointed out, it also paved the way for Microsoft to say that .NET was standards-compliant. They also pointed out one of the major strengths of .NET is the ability to write in a variety of languages. This isn't a bad thing.

But, ZDNet continues, the CLI really needs support from a "neutral motherload language" like C++. This would allow CLI to gain some clout and really move to the next level. This is the reason Ecma is tying C++ to CLI.

Times like this I long for BASIC ... okay not really.  Logo maybe ;-).

Tags: C++, .Net, CLI, Ecma

Bug fixes in VB 9 brings feature enhancements

According to John Stith of WebProNews, in the process of fixing issues with VB 9, they were able to make some improvements to make VB better and easier to use ... that's gotta be a good thing.

Microsoft's XML Blog reported some of the current issues they're facing as they develop their VB 9.0 language for programming XML. Program manager Avner Aharoni brought out some of the more intriguing issues his team faces.

One of the main issues covered covered in the XML blog discusses a clarity problem with the January preview of VB 9.0. Aharoni explains how they've attempted to make the language less confusing and in the process, improved upon some other features as a result...

Tags: Visual Basic, XML, VB 9

C# vs VB.NET... is there a difference?

Coding horror compares Coke vs Pepsi as an analogy to C# vs VB.NET.  The post is an interesting one for me, not because I'm a programmer, but as a product manager.  I have to ask myself when choosing a coding language ... which is most compatible, which has the best support and documentation, which is the easiest for that programmer to code in, how easy is it to find other people to program in it?

Technical considerations aside, sometimes the real-world considerations are the ones that make the final call.

Tags: C#, VB.NET, Coke, Pepsi, programming, software development

Maybe all bugs aren't worth fixing.

When a patient arrives at the emergency room, there is a disaster, etc. -- medical teams perform a triage of the injured.  If you've watched any TV medical show you've seen this before ... take this person now, she can wait, he isn't that bad.  The idea is that those who need help the most, get it first.  Squashing software bugs should operate in much the same way. From CodingHorror and Chris Breisch come these four factors to consider:

1. Severity: When this bug happens, how bad is the impact?
2. Frequency: How often does this bug happen?
3. Cost: How much effort would be required to fix this bug?
4. Risk: What is the risk of fixing this bug?

We go through this process all the time, and it is very important to setting development priorities.  So next time a bug crops up ask yourself ... is it worth it to fix?

Tags: software development, Visionpace

Once in an Agile Lifetime (apologies to the Talking Heads)

Being a Talking Heads fan, I can't in good conscience reprint this Agile-inspired parody.  However ... it was funny.  Okay not as funny as Programming Truth and Fiction, but still funny ... OnceinaLifetime

Tags: Agile, Talking Heads

Programming Truth and Fiction ... for a good chuckle

I can't write something that really does this justice ... trust me, you'll laugh, shake your head, and pass it on ...Programming Truth and Fiction from Google Blogoscoped

Tags: Programming, Humour, Google Blogoscoped

Scrum plugin for Visual Studio

Via Chris Breisch's blog and scrum plugin for Visual Studio (in beta). And you might like to check out the main blog ... because I saw the magic words "scrum" and "podcast"  looks interesting to me.

Tags: Agile, Visual Studio, Scrum