Assumptions

• Unmodified environment variables represent the appropriate location (i.e. a Microsoft standard/default) for certain types of data.
• Application data is user-specific data used by the application; not user’s document’s etc.
• Program data is non-user-specific data used by the application; again, not user’s documents, etc.

The last 2 assumptions are based on how Microsoft sets up the default Windows environment variables (“variables”). Essentially that application data is always in a user’s home location and program data is not.  The term “program data” is new to Windows Vista/7 but the concept was in Windows XP as application data for all users.  At least kind of, more on that is below (under the heading “Inconsistency between AppData & ProgramData on Windows XP and Widnows Vista/7″).

Local, LocalLow and Roaming Application Data

Windows Vista/7 introduced the idea of local and roaming application data; in  Windows XP application data is just application data.

The follow is from Microsoft’s Managing Roaming User Data Deployment Guide (it references Vista but seems to hold true in Windows 7):

Windows uses the Local and LocalLow folders for application data that does not roam with the user. Usually this data is either machine specific or too large to roam. The AppData\Local folder in Windows Vista is the same as the Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data folder in Windows XP.

Windows uses the Roaming folder for application specific data, such as custom dictionaries, which are machine independent and should roam with the user profile. The AppData\Roaming folder in Windows Vista is the same as the Documents and Settings\username\Application Data folder in Windows XP.

Roaming data (data in the AppData\Roaming directory) roams in the context of Domains.  That is, a user that exists in a domain will have the same data on all computers within that domain.

LocalLow is used for low integrity data for things like Internet Explorer add-ons when run in protected mode.  But what is a “low integrity” data?  This gets into the world of system security and execution rights. Integrity levels are what’s used to assign default security tokens.  Generally speaking something is low integrity if the originating user cannot be authenticated.  This is pretty uncommon for most applications so really only needs to be considered if the application uses user created executables/plugins.  For more information this is a good starting point: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb625963.aspx

Inconsistency between AppData & ProgramData on Windows XP and Widnows Vista/7

In Windows XP there is a variable for an “all users profile” (%ALLUSERSPROFILE%) but not an “all user’s application data”.  Whereas in Windows Vista/7 %ALLUSERSPROFILE% points to the same place that  ”program data” (%PROGRAMDATA%) variable points to.  This shift makes sense given the assumption that program data is application data that isn’t user specific.  However, it also creates a conflict between how data is represented in Windows XP and Vista/7.

In Windows XP it’s appropriate to place user specific application data in %APPDATA% and the same is true in Vista/7.  In Vista/7 it’s also appropriate to put non user specific data in %PROGRAMDATA%, which is the same as %ALLUSERSPROFILE%.  However, in Windows XP %ALLUSERSPROFILE% generally shouldn’t be the final resting place for application data; it should go one directory further into “%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\Application Data\”.  Of course placing application data directly in %ALLUSERSPROFILE% isn’t really that big of a deal (Microsoft does it) but it is inconsistent with how user-specific data is handled.  This isn’t a critical point but it’s good to keep in mind.

From Wikipedia:

Option Function

   ----------------------------------------------------------------------
   /n                Opens a new single-pane window for the default
                     selection. This is usually the root of the drive that
                     Windows is installed on. If the window is already
                     open, a duplicate opens.

   /e                Opens Windows Explorer in its default view.

   /root,<object>    Opens a window view of the specified object.

   /select,<object>  Opens a window view with the specified folder, file,
                     or program selected.

   Examples
   -----------------------------------------------------------------------
   Example 1: Explorer /select,C:\TestDir\TestProg.exe
              Opens a window view with TestProg selected.

   Example 2: Explorer /e,/root,C:\TestDir\TestProg.exe
              Opens Explorer with drive C expanded and TestProg selected.

   Example 3: Explorer /root,\\TestSvr\TestShare
              Opens a window view of the specified share.

   Example 4: Explorer /root,\\TestSvr\TestShare,select,TestProg.exe
              Opens a window view of the specified share with TestProg selected.

From: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314853

How to use SCAMPER on eHow.com

This method is fine on its own and can be used without modification.  However, it can be useful to go further by redeploying the same process against its results.  In other words:

1. Go through the basic analysis.  As you’re doing so create your list of ideas.
2. Once you’ve complete the first pass go through the list and re-apply each of the 9 principles to each item in your list.
   1. In addition to factors outside of your list, for substitution, combination, adaptation and elimination consider whether other items on your list could be applied to the current item.
3. Make note of any new ideas that come to mind.
4. Repeat this process as many times as desired using the newly emerging ideas.

The point is to encourage more in-depth understanding of the ideas and generate more varied output.

Physical Dimensions
4.8 x 2.6 x 0.5 inches @ 6 ounces (EVO)   vs   4.5 x 2.31 x 0.37 inches @ 4.8 ounces (iPhone)

The iPhone is smaller in every dimension including weight.  The only reason bigger would be better here is if you wanted a larger screen (or a better paper weight).  So, lets look at that…

winner: iPhone 4.

Screens
4.3 inches @ 800 x 480 (EVO)   vs   3.5 inches @ 960 x 640 (iPhone)

Having a larger window into my data would be great but I’ll take the higher resolution on a smaller screen for 3 reasons:

1. This is still a phone and I want it to fit neatly into my pocket; larger screen = larger physical dimensions.
2. Although 3.5 inches is smaller, it’s also same as the current iPhone, which has been working perfectly fine.
3. The iPhone has more pixels and in a smaller physical space; these are both good things for image quality, crispness, and clarity.

While we’re talking image quality and detail, lets talk cameras…

winner: iPhone 4.

Camera
8MP (EVO)   vs   5MP (iPhone)

It’s hard to make the argument that megapixels really don’t mean that much, because these days it’s all you hear about…unless you’re really paying attention.  And if you are paying attention then the factors that Steve Jobs talked about in his keynote are very important.  Then again, none of the demo images at the keynote really demonstrated low light photography, which was part of his argument.  For the moment I’m optomistic, but we’ll see once the the phones are actually in hand.

Keep this is perspective though: as a replacement for a point and shoot either will likely be fine, while neither is going to replace a DSLR.

Concerning the front facing camera:
Personally, I don’t care about the front facing camera.  Since the quality is so much lower (in both cases, although it’s better on the EVO), this is not going to be used for much outside of video conferencing…or as a digital mirror.  Anyway, even though there are plenty of times that I WANT to hide behind my phone both have it, so it’s pretty much a moot point.

winner: tie.

Processor
1 GHz vs 1 GHz

The Nexus (same processor as the EVO) is nice and snappy.  The iPad (same processor as the iPhone) is also nice and responsive.  Since my #1 complaint with my iPhone 3G is speed (and when I played with an iPhone 3GS I wasn’t impressed), either of these would be welcome.

Now that we have more power, let’s use it…

winner: tie.

Apps & Storefronts
Android’s Market vs. Apple’s App Store

This one is sticky.  From a user perspective there are 2 factors that count: how many apps are there and how high is their quality.  Generally there do seem to be a larger number of higher quality apps on the App Store. This is likely the case for 2 reasons.  First, looking at why there are more apps on the App Store, it’s been around a little longer and is better known out in the world which means more profit potential; simple.  Second, looking at why apps in the Apps Store tend to be (or at least appear to be) higher quality, it’s harder to write in Objective-C (vs writing Java) and it’s harder to get an app into the App Store than the Market.

For owners of either type of phone (iPhone or Android) I would give an additional point in this category.  In my case that’s the iPhone and I don’t want to re-buy a bunch of apps for the Android.

Speaking of apps, and because some people just can’t shut-up about it…

winner: iPhone 4.

Multitasking
“Real” vs Service Based Multitasking

I’ve heard quite a number of people talk about “real” multitasking versus what Apple is providing, which is essentially service based multitasking.  Apple is right on this one.  This is a mobile environment, not a desktop. There are greater constraints.  People that complain about battery life and lack of processing speed in the same breath aren’t thinking this through.  Even Microsoft is going down this path for their next generation phones.  This isn’t going to kill Android but in the longer term it probably wont help them either.

But if people would just write better code!  …so, why does service based multitasking really make sense?Engineers are lazy.  If given direct access to memory and processor time they’ll use it; even if it’s not really necessary.  If nothing else service based multitasking encourages engineers to think about what they actually need to have running in the background.  And if, in the end, they really need to run some arbitrary code in the background they can do it.  Specifically, Apple has a generic “let me finish what I’m doing” multitasking service.  So really, this is not an issue; both phones do have real multitasking.

winner: tie.

Network, Carriers, and Tethering
Sprint   vs   AT&T    &    4G/3G   vs   3G (not 100% accurate, but essentially true)

4G sounds great.  When it’s an actual standard it’ll sound even better.  Oh, and when it’s in my area.  For now, in most places everything is at about 3G speeds.  Ask me again in 2 years.

But, tethering is not so easy and lack of tethering that really sucks (at least without paying more or jail breaking the phone) plus the decrease in max data transfer from AT&T makes this an easy call.

winner: EVO-4G x2

Summary

1. Physical Dimensions: iPhone
2. Screen: iPhone
3. Camera: tie
4. Processor: tie
5. Apps & Storefront: iPhone
6. Multitasking: tie
7. Network, Carriers & Tethering: EVO-4G x2

Levin: out of 132 loans reviewed in a WaMu audit, 115 involved confirmed fraud, and 80 had “unreasonable” income– meaning the borrower’s income listed on the loan documents was so totally outrageous than any reasonable person would have called it into question.

WaMu’s lending standards and practices didn’t change as a result of this audit. At all.

According to the FBI, 80% of mortgage fraud is committed by the lender. We’re not talking about stupid loan officers allowing borrowers to get away with something crazy that is bad for the bank. We’re talking about clever loan officers pushing fraudulent documents in order to score bigger paychecks, and bank executives looking the other way so that they can keep getting big paychecks from the securitization machine.

This isn’t a problem unique to WaMu. This is how the U.S. mortgage system operated for half a decade.

“The federal tax code, which was 400 pages long in 1913, has swollen to about 70,000. Americans now spend 7.6 billion hours a year grappling with an incomprehensible tangle of deductions, loopholes and arcane reporting requirements. That is the equivalent to 3.8 [million] skilled workers toiling full-time, year-round, just to handle the paperwork. By this measure, the tax-compliance industry is six times larger than car making.”

Objects should behave like objects.  They are not massive amalgams of things that are sort-of related because that’s how they’re needed right now.  If objects aren’t treated as automatic components, the whole point of object orient programming is being missed.

When creating an object some simple considerations can increase the readability of the code as well as reducing the amount of knowledge needed to update it (which should avoid a whole lot of maintenance).  In almost every situation all of these things are easy to do.  In fact, if they’re not easy to do, that probably means there are extraneous complexities in the overall design.

Things to remember:

1. Objects represent a single instance of some logical grouping of data.
2. Objects can contain only 2 types of things: operations (methods) and properties (variables).
   • Properties represent something about the Object.
   • Operations do something based on the Object’s properties (internally provided) and/or passed Parameters (externally provided).
3. Operations are always initiated externally; method calls, event callbacks, etc.

This implies that:

1. Properties specific to the Object should be stored in the object.
2. Parameters specific to an Operation should not be stored in the Object.
3. Parameters specific to an Operation should be passed to subsequent Operations.
4. Parameters created in/during an Operation should be treated as though they are Parameters; i.e. they are not Properties and should not be stored in the Object.

You may have noticed that all of these statements say “should”.  While this is nice and soft language in almost every case you should replace “should” with “must”.  If you’re not, your code is probably lower quality than it could and probably should be.

A good rule of thumb is that if you can’t explain it easily, it’s probably overly complicated.  You should be able to explain how and why something works to anyone.  Not any engineer, but anyone (using laymen’s terms of course).  These are some other good rules-of-thumb:

1. Prefer generic types.
   Using generic types lowers the amount of dependencies and knowledge of a system need by the implementing engineer.
2. Avoid using generic types if it overcomplicates the code.
   While generic types are great, they aren’t always appropriate.  It’s a balancing act.
3. Prefer enumerations over generic types (int, bool, etc).
   When passing a political party “3″ doesn’t mean anything.  And there are always more options than on and off, running and idle, even male and female.
4. Prefer parameter only input into methods.
   Using parameters helps to keep methods constrained as automatic units that can easily be called by anyone, at any time and in any order.
5. Avoid using globals or class-globals as input into methods.
   Using class-globals reduces the reusability and concurrent usability of a method.

Part 1:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScuSTUAc31I

Part 2:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNJxa5QEo1I

The transcript:

GLENN: I got a letter from a woman in Arizona. She writes an open letter to our nation’s leadership:

I’m a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you’re willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?

Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:

One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I’m not a racist. This isn’t to be confused with legal immigration.

Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.

Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.

Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.

Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don’t you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!

Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations. Why don’t you start there.

Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the census over with our taxpayer money. I don’t trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.

Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why ‑‑ what do you have against shareholders making a profit?

Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.

Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we’ll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band‑Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.

Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let’s have it. Let’s say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try ‑‑ please stop manipulating and trying to appease me with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.

Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now.

Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let’s just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I’m busy. I’m busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.

I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.

From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington. Our president often knows all the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don’t want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we’re morons.

We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will be heard and we will be represented. You think we’re so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work , pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn’t ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when hewill rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.

Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don’t care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will not save you. If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you will be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming.

Finding unused exception blocks:

Visual Studio (single line only):
catch:Wh*\(:Wh*:a*Exception:a*:Wh*:a*:Wh*\):Wh*\{:Wh*\}

grepWin:
catch\s*\(\s*\w*Exception\w*\s*\w*\s*\)\s*\{((\s*\/\/.*?)|(\s*?))*\}

Finding console outpout:

Console.*Write.*(.*);

Finding trace outpout:
Trace.*Write.*(.*);