.NET articles & code sample

Setting up Stored Procedures with Optional Parameters and Using a Strongly Typed TableAdapter to Execute said Stored Procedure
- Executing a stored procedure directly vs. using .NET specific objects.
- Code and performance notes
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/AdvancedSearchSP.asp

Give Your .NET Apps the Face They Deserve with WPF
- Very interesting interface samples.
http://www.devx.com/dotnet/Article/31040?trk=DXRSS_XML

Starting Point for a Base Page to be used during Website Development
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/BasePageClass.asp

IT Readings, Software Articles, .NET, SQL

Google patents free Wi-Fi

Free Free Free

Yes, it is about Google: they will just offer free Wireless Internet Access to anyone.

Read the full article here.

Here are the three wireless advertising patents that Google aquired recently:

http://www.seroundtable.com/archives/003553.html

IT Readings, IT News, Google

Take Control of Your Email... and Your Job

Handling communication during office hours and still being efficient is a hard thing to do, especially when you receive a lot of emails that have to be answered. You reach at dropping tasks, forget to respond...

http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/career/article.php/3594831

   IT Readings, IT Articles

PHP / Collections and Sorting

PHP, classes, arrays, collections and sorting. Detailed and explanatory article with code samples, too.

I found this very useful, mainly because I needed it. Another one of the "good to know" category:

http://www.devshed.com/c/a/PHP/Collections-and-Sorting/

TAGS: IT Readings, Software Articles, PHP

Stolen Fidelity Laptop Exposes HP Workers

Known reasons why important data is not to be stored on Laptops: they get stolen from time to time.

I believe Laptops should only have the tools for development and databases should be stored on servers.. sometimes even source or key elements related to source should be stored on servers.

All these in a corporate environment, of course.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1942049,00.asp?kc=EWRSS04069TX1K0000696

TAGS: IT Readings, Software News, Data Security

Why Is Anyone Still Using Internet Explorer?

Ouch... another one of those though articles on IE Security.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1943473,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03129TX1K0000610

TAGS: IT Readings, Software News, Internet+Explorer

Evaluating PHP Applications

Very interesting checklist to be used when evaluating a PHP Application.

Actually, as a developer, I am interested in this list to make sure my application will pass on all the items.

Items addressed:
- security
- code style
- performance / scale
- usability

Read some user comments, they have valuable information there, too.

http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/03/24/evaluating-php-applications/

TAGS: IT Readings, Software Articles, PHP,
Code Review

Random links

"A simple .NET based WebClient with JavaScript support "
Simple indeed. Just noticing it...
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/CbWebC.asp

Problems in Paradise
Microsoft Vista delay... What were you expecting?
http://dotnet.sys-con.com/read/198828.htm

"Is AJAX Cross-Browser? "
http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/03/24/is-ajax-cross-browser/

TAGS: IT Readings, Software Articles

Random Links

"A simple .NET based WebClient with JavaScript support "
Simple indeed. Just noticing it...
http://www.codeproject.com/useritems/CbWebC.asp

Problems in Paradise
Microsoft Vista delay... What were you expecting?
http://dotnet.sys-con.com/read/198828.htm

"Is AJAX Cross-Browser? "
http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/03/24/is-ajax-cross-browser/

TAGS: IT Readings, Software Articles

Why you should stop calling yourself a web designer

"Web designer" versus:
- Marketing consultant
- Web publisher

Title change, but is it the same thing? For me these titles above do not represent same thing, so the article itself only makes me wonder if a person is using the proper name, but does not make me thing that a person can chose out of the other titles above if he or she is indeed a web designer.

Read the full article here.

TAGS: IT Readings, Internet, Web Design

Ten of the Biggest Mistakes Developers Make With Databases

I've seen worse.
But check out these advices, I submit to each one of them... Hmm... maybe not on the one with application logic stored at database logic, but I can understand those reasons.

A "must read" article on database concepts:

http://www.developer.com/db/article.php/3589351

Also, look over this one, talking about "Lookup Table Madness" mentioned in the previous article:

Read second article here.

TAGS: IT Readings, Software Articles, SQL, Database+Design

Speed Up Your SQL Inserts

I want more article like these. I noticed it is relatively easy to find articles on "how to" do things, but very hard to find an article that tells you what is the "best way" of doing that thing. Performance improvements, coding style, tips & tricks, etc.

This is an article presenting a set of general elements to be considered when working with massive inserts.

http://www.devx.com/dbzone/Article/30896?trk=DXRSS_DB

TAGS: IT Readings, Software Articles, SQL, Performance Improvements

Ruby on Rails

I thought you wanna know about what I find "interesting" these days. Web scripting that comes up very strong as support, community and usage... becomes more and more popular.

Ruby on Rails
http://www.rubyonrails.org/
"Web development that doesn't hurt"

Get On Track with Ruby on Rails [ Article ]
http://www.sitepoint.com/article/ruby-on-rails

Tutorials:
http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2005/01/20/rails.html
http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2005/03/03/rails.html
http://www.onlamp.com/pub/a/onlamp/2005/06/09/rails_ajax.html

TAGS: IT Readings, Software Articles, Ruby On Rails, Web Development

Internet Explorer News

Some article describing new CSS support with the IE being launched by Microsoft.

http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/03/21/minmax-widthheight-supported-by-ie7/

TAGS: IT Readings, Software News, Internet Explorer, CSS

Java Optimization

Oldies but goldies. I wonder if this still applies to newer Java versions.
Interesting enough, though

http://www.protomatter.com/nate/java-optimization/



Thx, Laur.

TAGS: IT Readings, Software Articles, Java

Google launching finance portal

Article about Finance Services from Google:

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/49488.html

The Site:

http://finance.google.com/finance

Sample services (Apple Corporation). Really cool interractive Flash Chart :

http://finance.google.com/finance?q=AAPL&btnG=Search

TAGS: IT Readings, Software News, Finance News

PHP and Javascript mixed up

This can be very usefull.

http://www.javascriptkit.com/javatutors/externalphp.shtml

Thx, Kilkul.

TAGS: IT Readings, Software Articles, PHP

Using Serialized PHP

Serialized PHP is a data encoding format for PHP. It is easy to store and
transmit and is a convenient format for PHP developers to work with.

Let's see... what is this about? Serialized PHP?

http://developer.yahoo.net/common/phpserial.html

TAGS: IT Readings, Software Articles, PHP

Comparing Google, Microsoft to Netscape, IBM and Predicting Legal 'Piracy'

Though article but correct message. I will paste some quotes in here to get you excited about it.

I can picture these employees sitting back in their chairs, frustrated that they
can't fire their executives and put competent people in those jobs. I have news
for those who think this way: You are killing your company.

OR

Building a company, or killing it, is a team effort. Most of Google's employees
have benefited from one hell of a good idea. Now it is time to give back -- you
didn't win the lottery by being hired, you need to work to ensure your future
because, if you don't, you'll be wondering where your next paycheck will be
coming from. Like the Netscape folks, you'll soon be talking about what might
have been.

http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/49416.html

Recursive Queries in SQL Server 2005

Lot of pain to get together SQL code in order to get a nice hierachy on your interface. Recursive stored procedures calls... limits to 32 inner recursive calls... bad performance, etc.

Here's what you can do from now on: recursive calls within queries.

Read the full atricle here.

CSS lessosn learned

Two annoying facts about CSS standards (annoying if you are not a very organized person):

1. Watch out for the spaces within your CSS. Sample:

This code will work:

a.clsMenuLink:link{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink:visited{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink:active{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink:hover {font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:underline;}

This code will not work:

a.clsMenuLink: link{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink: visited{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink: active{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink: hover{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:underline;}

Notice the space after the ":" and before the "link" or "visited" or "hover".

2. Watch out for the order within your CSS properties definition. Sample:

This code will work:

a.clsMenuLink:link{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink:visited{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink:active{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink:hover {font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:underline;}

This code will not work

a.clsMenuLink:hover {font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:underline;}
a.clsMenuLink:link{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink:visited{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}
a.clsMenuLink:active{font-family: Trebuchet, Tahoma, Arial;font-size :11px;font-weight:bold;color:#000000;text-decoration:none;}

Notice that the "hover" behavior is being defined first in the sample that does not work.

- All elements above will become obvious if you also have in your HTML code the following:
<a class="clsMenuLink" href="#">pia pia pia</a>
- The purpose of the defined classes is to have a link text that gets underlined only on mouse over.


Thx, Rox.

MS XML Tutorial

Beginner level tutorial on MSXML.

http://www.aspfree.com/c/a/XML/MSXML-Tutorial/

Top 10 Annotations and Remarks about the Wonderful and Powerful New Features in ASP.NET 2.0

Great article to start with, if you switch to Microsoft.NET 2.0.

It reflects the most important remarks and notes on language, objects, features of the new .NET 2.0

http://www.devx.com/codemag/Article/30500?trk=DXRSS_WEBDEV

AJAX versus FLEX.

Flash and AJAX in one piece, but using Action Script.

Adobe Labs have this in progress.

http://www.devx.com/Adobe/Article/30919?trk=DXRSS_XML

About offshore work again

US and (not only) have this thing against taking work offshore. I fully understand them and cannot blame them at all.

The main reason for choosing a developer / development shop, should not be price, but it should be quality. One of important reasons is indeed money, but when quality of work / delivered product is poor, then drop any contract / option.

The author here had a poor experience, but he is not considering the case when you can get better quality work offshore and for 10 times less money than in US. Or... is there such a thing?

http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/03/17/a-caveat-about-off-shore-work-and-outsourcing/

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services

Building Basic Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services.

Seems to me it is a great tool... didn't try it yet, but will do.

Read full article here.

5 Cool Things You Must Know About the New Office 2007 File Formats

So, let me see if I got this right:
With the new OPEN XML format for office files, there will be no pain in generating office documents directly from the code: you, as a developer will only have to write to file the proper XML structure.

Then, what is going to happen with all the "export to ms office" tools out there on the market?

http://www.devx.com/OfficeProDev/Article/30907?trk=DXRSS_XML

Article contains references to documentation and more...

SQL Performance and Tuning Considerations

I will get this book.

Here are some hints out of this book and I think that every developer that had any connection to a database should read and fullyunderstand the following.

- Hints on how to optimize SQL Server usage.

http://www.devshed.com/c/a/MySQL/SQL-Performance-and-Tuning-Considerations/

SQL Server Web Services

Long article, but interesting. Description with samples for the SQL Server Web Services feature. I can't wait to play with these samples.

Create and host XML Web services inside SQL Server 2005

http://dotnet.sys-con.com/read/192504.htm

McAfee Virus Definition Goof Results in Lost Files

Oops.. it happens.

McAfee messed up some patch they released and this resulted in damages caused by deletion of user important files as... system files for example, files that were in quarantine. Even worse: some never infected files were deleted, too. Read more.

http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/49364.html

About Google Analytics

Some news and issues with Google Analytics.

Major $ involved in there...

Indeed, Web analytics is entering a coming-of-age period, where the use of tools
that collect data on Web site users' behavior is becoming part and parcel of
doing business online. This market is expected to explode in the very near term.

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/49259.html

Try/Catch Block in SQL Server 2005

Good that you can do this with the new SQL Server and you can do it simple.
You need quite a few tricks to achieve same thing with older SQL Server versions.

http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mssql/article.php/3587891

ColdFusion WS Consumer for a WS Created in VS2003

Here's the idea:
- Create a Web Service (WS) using VS.NET technologies. If you have MS .NET Studio, there it is a wizard that generates a simple service.
- Publish that web service after you make sure the web service actually does something.
- Use the result of the web service in ColdFusion code.
- Send parameters to the WS and get results in CF

Why?
- Because you can create Web Services using any scripting (and not only) technologies
- Because you can benefit of all free (or paid) web services available on the net
- Because you can mix technologies in a very easy way and get things done faster
- Because probable someone else thought about it before and built exactly the web service you need
- Because it is cool

http://www.aspfree.com/c/a/ASP.NET/ColdFusion-WS-Consumer-for-a-WS-Created-in-VS2003/

How to assert appropriately

Here's a problem I have these days and an article with some responses to my problem.

If you don’t say anything, no one will know that you have a problem. Lots of
smart people let things boil up inside, never say anything, and are really just
helpless victims.

http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/03/10/how-to-assert-appropriately/

The Richest on the Planet

Thought you might be interested in who are the reachest people in the world.

http://biz.yahoo.com/special/bill06.html

Google Buys Maker of Online Document Editing Software

Google seems more and more active these days.
They bought some company that was building a quite nice online editor. This was their own product and they were building it since last year. So Google bought a start-up company with potential, probable getting the product merged with their technologies.
Purpose of that? To get up and running something that will directly target the MS Office Online: an online Editor for Word Documents, RTF, for HTML and other things.

Get online, create a document, save it, see all your document from anywhere, unlimited storage, complex online document management system... Not only upload / download documents, but create them online, modify them, versioning, etc...

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/49314.html

Who is responsible for your career?

This is an old discussion but it raises up from time to time: Who should actually "pay" for training an employee?
- On one side we have the employer who is responsible for getting things done: they will pay for your training so you are always up to date and even more skilled then competition's employees. Yes, good that I mentioned: competition. If competitors do send their employees on training sessions, why wouldn't your employer do it? It is a marketing tool: it shows you care and it shows that you, as an employer, are willing to invest in your employees.
- On the other side we have the employee... This one is also interested in growing up on the career lather. If he will pay his own training sessions, attend to conferences, look for information on the internet, read, etc... it will certainly lead to his improvement and will certainly promote him. It is an investment after all and it assures that employee's independence.

Do you want a conclusion from me? Here it is:

As an employer: pay training courses and organize or send employees to conferences. Support tech blogs, buy books, allocate time for investigations and research. Watch as close as possible each resource's evolution when attending classes and continue to pay training sessions only for the ones that will return you more productivity, better quality. Use paid training as a benefit.

http://weblogs.asp.net/dreilly/archive/2003/08/09/23345.aspx

MS Office 2007 layout preview

I found a preview of MS Office 2007 interface. Thought you might be interested in it:

http://download.microsoft.com/download/c/2/9/c2935f83-1a10-4e4a-a137-c1db829637f5/2007OfficeUIFS.doc

And another set of images here:

Click to vew slideshow

Quick JS Hint

Print a Web Page Without Prompting the Printer Dialog Box

http://www.devx.com/tips/Tip/30834?trk=DXRSS_WEBDEV

Ultra Mobile PC

Just a fun link.

Watch this video. I want one of these... hmmm... How much is it ?

http://umpc.com/video.aspx

WebGui

Interesting website and solution. Check out the free download in there and the example.
The example looks excellent.

http://www.webgui-platform.com/

System Tables and Catalog Views

Simple and clear article on System Tables and Catalog Views. Parallel between 2000 and 2005 versions of SQL Server.

http://www.databasejournal.com/features/mssql/article.php/3587906

Project Management

Quote:

Most software projects fail. Only about a quarter are completely successful.
About half are late and over budget and the remaining quarter just fade into
oblivion.

http://www.simple-talk.com/2006/02/02/project-management-101/

I keep on hearing that. That they fail... Well, if they fail, how come we keep on doing it? Who supports us... the losers?
I think that the proper saying is that the projects fail to reach to the much too high expectations and tight budget and timeframe enforced. Now, that's a much better saying, isn't it?

VB 6.0 article: encripting and compressing data

Hard to find VB 6.0 articles these days. I got one on encripting and compressing data:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dv_vstechart/html/VBComPII.asp

This is it

Resign. Build a company.

Short. Straight to the point. SitePoint.

http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/03/07/why-you-should-stop-coding-and-designing-right-now/

Live.Com better than Google

Interesting news on Microsoft, but you know this means war. It is the first direct hit put together by Microsoft with the only purpose of having a piece of what Google has right now: popularity on the web tools.

... and it is so obviously looking for the popularity: check out the features they added on live.com
- everything is AJAX
- everything is graphically enhanced
- drag & drop to organize / customize your page
- hints all over the place
- RSS all over the place
- search is faaast
- results are grouped in "web", "images", "news", "local" and "feeds"
- you can select a "macro" for your search out of so many pre-defined ones
- depending on your choice, you can display more or less sneak preview out of the information that was retrieved
- there will be no "pages" of results, but all results in one page with a "smart" scroll that gathers via AJAX technology the "next" set of items
- text adds on the left
- search within each site listed


http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/49249.html

Testers Find Major Open Source Packages Reliable

Open source leads to more defects... why?
- Open Source means more eyes on same thing, so it should be more stable.
- Open Source means community and that leads to humans picking on other humans about "how bad" their code is and this leads to better code quality.
- Open Source means open "doors" and possible hack situations so it shoule lead to a more secure code since anyone can see what is going on in there. On compiled, secured code there might be thousands of open doors to hackers, but noone can see that, therefore no one can alert about these.
- Open source usually means free or at least accessible, so there will be more people playing with it, therefore more chances to run over a bug, etc..

http://www.technewsworld.com/rsstory/49224.html

Microsoft to OpenDocument Alliance: Where's the Choice?

Conflict again... Why? What is it that Microsoft feels as a "threat" ot of the new Open Document format?

Microsoft against "the world". I bet on Microsoft. Still bet on them, donno for how much time, though.

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1934910,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03129TX1K0000610

Google offers glimpse of Web-based hard drive

Google again, this time not that 'unexpected' as usual. If they do allow more than 2GB of email storage why wouldn't they allow a few GB of any type of storage... like a virtual Hard Drive?

Here it is on CNN's tech news online:

http://money.cnn.com/2006/03/07/technology/google.reut/index.htm?section=edition_technology

With infinite storage, we can house all user files, including e-mails, web
history, pictures, bookmarks, etc and make it accessible from anywhere (any
device, any platform, etc)

A re-introduction to Javascript

I really love this link. It contains everything you need to know about JavaScript. It is presented in a funny manner and it is presented simple and smart.

It starts with the simple stuff and it goes on up the the most advanced elements.

Any web developer should go through these screens at least once, even if he or she does it only for confirmation: to make sure all these are known.

http://simon.incutio.com/slides/2006/etech/javascript/js-tutorial.001.html

One annoying thing: it has no index / content, so you have to click through screens. Go on clicking, it will end sometime.

Correction: check out the message on this post. There it is a thumbnailed index page : http://www.flickr.com/photos/simon/sets/72057594077197868/

AXAH - Crawl before you AJAX

They say you should first understand AXAH before you get to AJAX.

I agree :-)

http://godbit.com/article/axah-crawl-before-you-ajax

Eight Leadership Techniques for Outstanding Teams

I don't actually know why I am posting these Eight techniques to do something, or 10 reasons to do something else, or 12 advices to achieve something... etc... I am not a fan of these, never believed in this type of "Learn Java in 10 days" type of articles.

I keep on looking for articles pulled out of real life, things that others learned so I can get something out of them.

http://www.thesykesgrp.com/LeadershipEightTechniquesArticle01.htm

45 No Cost/Low Cost Ways to Appreciate to Motivate Your Employees

Time for some career links. This one is kind of ok, but more like funny.

I especially enjoyed this hint:

"Wash the employee’s car in the parking lot during lunch."

Yeah, right.

http://www.thesykesgrp.com/AppreciateMotivate45NoCost.htm

Opinion: Why Windows Vista will suck

Ouch...
MS Vista review (by a Linux expert :-) ):

http://www.desktoplinux.com/articles/AT8288296398.html

FoxPro Developers Prep for Microsoft 'Sedna'

Huh ?

Good ol' FoxPro back to life ? Naaahhh... What for?

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1759,1932922,00.asp?kc=EWRSS03129TX1K0000610

AJAX ASP.NET Components.

AJAX ASP.NET Components.

Checkout all samples, but if no time, checkout these (I did enjoy these the most):

Ajax Window

AJAX Editor

AJAX Combobox

Meetings are toxic

Are meetings productive? Does anyone need meetings?

Here it is someone against it.

https://gettingreal.37signals.com/samples/37s-meetings-are-toxic.pdf

I am not 100% on their side, but it depends on one thing as far as I am concerned:
- as long as everyone acts professional and work hard to achieve proposed goals, meetings sould be a rare thing, but when this does not happen a lot of wasted time will be invested in organizing things.

X- and Y-Axis Transformations in SQL Server

Beginner level SQL Server tips and tricks.

http://www.devx.com/dbzone/Article/30734/0/page/1

Creating a Windows Service with C#, introduction

Good to know.

http://www.aspfree.com/c/a/C-Sharp/Creating-a-Windows-Service-with-C-Sharp-introduction/

Define a Network Security Policy

This is not for the networking specialists, this is for Company Management or for development becvause it presents a basic statement about "what" network protection means.

Robust security systems don't begin with hardware and software, but instead
begin with careful planning. If you don't know what you want your security
systems to protect, or if you don't have an idea of how you want that protection
to function, it will be difficult to configure those systems to actually protect
your networks and your data.

http://www.devx.com/HPHardwareCentral/Article/30656?trk=DXRSS_WEBDEV

Unveiling Windows SideShow

Access your PC / Server even when it is off using this device / product.

http://www.devx.com/codemag/Article/30386?trk=DXRSS_DOTNET

Java SE 6 First Impressions: A Desktop Winner

First professional opinion on the new released "Java SE 6". Good product review.

http://www.devx.com/Java/Article/30722?trk=DXRSS_WEBDEV

Install and Run Your ASP.NET Applications on Systems Without IIS

Good to know if you or your client have Windows XP Home Edition...

http://www.devx.com/tips/Tip/30771?trk=DXRSS_WEBDEV

Accessing and Updating Data in ASP.NET 2.0: Filtering Database Data with Parameters

Hints over the VS.NET 2005.

I've been reading this article and all I had in my head was: "How come this .NET code starts to look more and more like ColdFusion code that I've been using 6 years ago?"

Really. ColdFusion guys, don't you think that several .NET 2005 features were available fo a loong time in ColdFusion, especially this one, in the article below?

.NET:
<asp:SqlDataSource ID="ID" runat="server" ConnectionString="connectionString"
ProviderName="providerName"
SelectCommand="parameterizedQuery">

<SelectParameters>
<asp:Parameter DefaultValue="hardCodedValue"
Name="parameterName"
Type="dataType" />
</SelectParameters>

</asp:SqlDataSource>

ColdFusion:
<cfquery name="getFirst" datasource="cfsnippets">
SELECT * FROM courses WHERE Course_ID=

<cfqueryparam cfsqltype="CF_SQL_INTEGER" value="#Course_ID#">

</cfquery>

http://aspnet.4guysfromrolla.com/articles/030106-1.aspx

Seven Career Killers

Let's say you have a good job or you are in a good position to grow from. You learned, you end up school and got hired.

Here are a few things that, if you do, you risk of getting off the track.

http://biz.yahoo.com/special/goodjob06_article3.html

Private Pages with PHP and Text Files

Simple and clear code example on how to build PHP websites having pages / sections protected by username and password, but without using any database...

Use text files. Beginner level.

http://www.devshed.com/c/a/PHP/Private-Pages-with-PHP-and-Text-Files/

IE7 Team Chat Transcript

Here's a review of some IE7 Chat Transcript published by Microsoft.

I enjoied the comments posted by SitePoint users, as usual...

http://www.sitepoint.com/blogs/2006/02/28/ie7-team-chat-transcript/

Third Party Code Review?

This is actually a Forum Post with a thread of answers attached to it, but I found it very interesting and it raised up several issues and cool questions.

It is about your code to be reviewed by other company and the implications this leads at.
It is about a Client who can demand you to have other company review your code in order for them to buy and use your product.

http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/06/02/22/0311225.shtml

Google Extends Online Payment Options

I was mentioning Goggle Base before and I was thinking... If you post an article there and add a price for it, that means someone will be able to buy it. If user are able to buy that thing, it should be a way to process credit cards and financial info, and.. why use another existing tool / service for that and not build your own Online Payment System?

http://www.ecommercetimes.com/rsstory/49101.html