Feb 25th, 2007
New issues of two excellent journals focused on IBM z/OS.
z/OS Hot Topics Newsletter has published its 16th issue (February 2007 ), covering topics as “Perform amazing new data processing tricks with DFSORT“, by DFSORT specialist Frank Yaeger, and “IMS DLIModel utility“, a tool to assist IMS DBAs and application programmers in eliminating the need to manually create the Java metadata class required by the IMS JDBC connector.
z/Journal has published its February/March 2007 edition where there are some interesting articles, as “Mainframe Transactions in a SOA“, where Joerg Rehr explains how to deal ACID with WS-*.
Feb 23th, 2007
After enabling OpenID authentication at this site, I was wondering if I could become my own OpenID identity provider. Googling for references, I have found a detailed guide at Sam Ruby post OpenID for non-SuperUsers.
I followed Sam’s instructions, but I found a problem when I tried to delegate my identity. Sam’s post talks about decrufting the openid.delegate, setting $idp_url to the value you want it to be, in this case, my blog address. The problem is that I must use phpMyID version 0.5 instead of version 0.3 (I’m running PHP in CGI mode), and this hack doesn’t work with version 0.5.
After reviewing the phpMyID code, it seems that the MyID.php script checks that the end user identity matches the IdP URL, and this is the main reason which caused the problem. So why don’t define a “delegate” var and use it as the identity match? In this way, you can authenticate a controlled end user identity URL that it’s different to the IdP URL. I modified the code and tested the new setup. Now it works!
So, if you have the same problem, download this patch version of phpMyID, change the $profile[‘delegate’] at MyID.config.php file, and run it again.
PD: I have emailed Christopher J. Niemira, but unfortunately I didn’t have any response from him.
Feb 23th, 2007
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About productivity and tools
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Tool efficiency vs understanding
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Atlassian today introduced Bamboo 1.0, server software that automates the process of continuously building, integrating and testing software code.
Feb 22th, 2007
CodeGear, former Borland Tools Unit, have announced two new tools: Delphi for PHP and Delphi for Win32.
The first one, Delphi for PHP, includes the following features:
- RAD environment for PHP
- VCL for PHP – Open source PHP 5 visual component library with more than 50 extendable and reusable components with seamless AJAX integration
- Out-of-the-box database integration with InterBase, MySQL, Oracle®, Microsoft SQL Server, and other popular databases
- Integrated PHP debugger
- Deployment of PHP applications on Windows, Linux, Solaris and other platforms
- Internationalization support for applications
- Drag and drop database application development using the Data Explorer for InterBase and MySQL
- Code editor with Code Insight, Code Explorer, and Code Templates, making it easier and faster to write PHP code
The second one, Delphi for Win32:
- Support for Microsoft Windows Vista and AJAX
- Development on Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP or Vista, and deployment on Windows 2000, Windows XP and Vista
- Microsoft MSBuild support for enhanced build flexibility and third-party support
- A new DBX 4 database architecture that streamlines database connectivity
- Built-in support for the latest versions of InterBase, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Oracle and other RDBMSs
- Themed application support
- VCL support for Microsoft Windows Vista Aero glassing effects, Vista file dialogs and task dialogue components
- VCL for the Web with AJAX support
- Backwards compatibility with Developer Studio 2006 components from CodeGear
Developers will be able to hear more about these products at the CodeRage 2007 Virtual Conference.
I am confused by the name chosen “Delphi for PHP”. I thought that Delphi was (only) a language and mixing Delphi and PHP in the same tool denomination looks confusing for me.
You’re not alone in your confusion, but in fact, Delphi (former Turbo Pascal) is a RAD environment that includes, among others, the Delphi programming language (former Object Pascal). There is a nice article at Wikipedia explaining this.
Feb 21th, 2007
The Electric Sheep Company has announced today that IBM/Rational Software has opened up the IBM CODESTATION region within Second Life.
For non-experts, there is an open source library of scripts and objects. As a non-coder, I’ve always found that code syntax is handy, but to really advance in a language, I need to see it applied to practical uses. I hope CODESTATION can be that resource for SL scripters, complementing the LSL wiki (which, frankly, I’ve found useful but weak on examples). Right now, the library has been seeded with 15 script and 16 object examples.
For more advanced coders, there is a fun maze challenge with an open source bot that you can take apart, improve, etc. The maze even has bugs for the bots to eat and a scoreboard tracking time. There are workstations to the side of the maze if you want a quiet place to tinker with the bot code and create your super-bot. If you are an advanced coder, I also hope you consider participating in and enhancing the open source library.
I just had a visit and here are some snapshots:
The IBM CODESTATION Welcome panel:
The Library Donation Box:
The Library Donation Box:
The Script and Object libraries:
The Labyrinth, me sitting on my mazebot:
The Labyrinth, me and my bot at the exit of the IBM maze:
The Labyrinth Scoreboard:
More reports at Ambling in Second Life and 3pointD.
