April 23, 2009
In an earlier post I compared a .Net and Scala implementation of an iTunes Music Library XML parser. The Scala version took a long time to ’load the XML file from disk’. Since then I realized that the default behavior of the parsers is to validate the Schema. I had disabled this behavior in the .Net version but not the Scala/Java version. Much of the 3 seconds to ’load’ the XML is really an external HTTP request to download the xsd file and perform the validation. However, using the Scala library I do not see an easy way to disable the Schema validation (Under the covers the Scala library is delegating to existing Java APIs).
April 21, 2009
Oracle and Sun announced an agreement for Oracle to acquire Sun. What do I think?
It’s better than IBM. And it is aimed at IBM.
IBM and Sun seemed to have a lot of overlap. Certainly IBM has a well defined hardware business, and acquiring Sun’s hardware business doesn’t really help. IBM is heavily invested in Java so I’m sure they would have enjoyed more influence over its growth and direction, but it didn’t really seem compelling.
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April 15, 2009
As part of my iTunesExport utility I wrote a (C#.Net) module to parse the iTunes XML file and provide two simple collections, Playlists and Tracks. As part of my effort to learn Scala, I rewrote this module in Scala. While the libraries don’t provide the exactsame interface and functinality, they are effectively the same. The stats:
(Physical) Line of Code count:
.Net: 459
Scala: 226
The Scala version accomplished the same functionality in 1/2 the lines of code. While LOC count is a bit arbitrary, I think it is an important point. The Scala code is much more concise, but maintains or even improves the readability (if you have a reasonable familiarity with Scala). In this specific case Scala’s handling of public properties provided a big reduction. Ex:
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April 14, 2009
I started poking around with Scala and tried to re-implement the iTunes Music Library parser I wrote in .Net as a Scala library to give me a real problem to solve. This effort reminded me of how painful Apple’s plists are to work with.
Apple saves the iTunes Library information in a binary file and as well as an XML file using its plist format. It is great that the provide the XML data that enables tools like iTunesExport, but they certainly could have made working with the XML easier.
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April 10, 2009
Google posted an interesting 6 minute video tour of their new container data center. It’s a reasonably interesting video, but my favorite part is the “Google provided personal transportation device”.
The inside views of the containers are interesting. Obviously all the equipment here is tailored for maximum efficiency.
March 26, 2009
I decided to try creating some HDR photographs during my recent trip (with my new Tripod).
Here are a few samples (using Photomatix). Click the images for full size views.
Original ’normal exposure’ image:
HDR Image (Tone Compressor):
HDR Image (Detail Enhancer):
There are tons of tweaks with both Tone Compressor and Detail Enhancer so you can make each one look radically different. For these landscape shots both HDR options look much richer than the original normal exposure. The Detail Enhancer is more surreal and obviously not a traditional photograph where I think the Tone Compressor done right could look like a traditional picture (just with more dynamic range than normally seen).
March 26, 2009
I recently bought a Gitzo 2930 Tripod. It is part of their Basalt line, which is between Aluminum and Carbon Fiber. I couldn’t justify the cost difference for a Carbon Fiber tripod but I wanted a light tripod that would be with me for years.
So far, I’ve been very pleased with the results. I carried it down into the Grand Canyon on my recent hike for some self portraits and bracketed shots for HDR.
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March 25, 2009
No, I didn’t hike to the bottom.
But, after my Achilles surgery this past November I was very excited to get a real hike in. I finished my physical therapy/rehab a few weeks ago and I am cleared for most activities that don’t involve jumping.
We started at the South Rim and hiked down 3 miles on the Bright Angel Trail. 3 Miles may not seem like a lot (6 round trip), but it was also a 2,100 ft. drop (and climb) in elevation. My ankle was a bit sore (as were a few other muscles) but overall my ankle did fine and I’m happy to be active again.
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March 21, 2009
Amazon Prime is awesome. Amazon Prime is simply this: you pay $79 for a year and they will ship all of your purchases 2nd Day for FREE. And if you can have your order overnight for $3.99 per item.
If you make enough purchases it pays off, and with the service they’ve provided recently it is certainly worthwhile.
I ordered my Kindle on Sunday evening. When I got home Tuesday it was waiting at my doorstep. I didn’t overnight it, this was the ’normal’ 2 day shipping.
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March 9, 2009
I posted my first impression with the Kindle a few weeks ago and I wanted to follow up with my thoughts now that I’ve had some real time to use it.
I love it. I’ve read more in the last few weeks that I did in the previous 6 months, and while the newness of the Kindle is part of it, I believe the convenience will stand the test of time.
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