Monday, April 21, 2003

Weblog-based content architecture for business. Dave Pollard has posted a very interesting blog entry on using weblogs in business. In it, he outlines an enterprise-wide architecture model for using weblogs as a source of intranet content (there is even a pretty diagram).[Column Two] [Jeff Potts] 7:02:02 PM    comment []

Melding IT, Physical Security. Companies last week announced the formation of a group that is working on open specifications and best practices for integrating information security and physical security. [Technology News from eWEEK and Ziff Davis] I hope these guys are talking to Kevin. 7:00:29 PM    comment []

...Ape, short for "Adaptable Persistence", is the new name for Adaptable Storage. Ape adapts Zope objects to storage on the filesystem, in relational databases, or practically anywhere else. It combines the advantages of transparent object persistence with arbitrary databases and formats. It is especially designed to work with ZODB, but can work independently of both Zope and ZODB. Ape 0.6 and DBTab 1.2 Released [Zope.org] Very cool!  I can't wait to see this mature into 1.0 status.  I would love to store my Photo objects on the filesystem, but treat them as thought they were internal.  It would make backups feel a little better, plus I could access individual Photos from outside Zope. 6:55:10 PM    comment []

Securing Digital Content. Startup, Microsoft ready digital Rights Management Servers. [Technology News from eWEEK and Ziff Davis] I'm getting scared now.  It just dawned on me what digital watermarking will mean.  It's another example of "you're not really purchasing the software you're just licensing it".  I guess this is what the spirit of software licensing has always been about, but I'm just now getting it.  Pisses me off.  I'm shelling out hard earned cash for a piece of software and I don't even truly own a copy?  I can't back that copy up?  I can't use that copy on one machine, upgrade to a new machine, and re-install my software on that new machine? Maybe everyone else is already freaked out, but I'm finally freaked.  I think what worries me the most is every major computer vendor buying into some sort of DRM.  If Apple buys in, then I'm really going to get upset.  The question for me will then become, "Can I buy a naked PC without any hardware DRM that I can install Linux or FreeBSD on?" 11:37:26 AM    comment []

Drilling Down on the .Net 1.1 Connection. When Microsoft Corp. officially releases Windows Server 2003 Thursday, it will do so with .Net Framework 1.1 embedded in the operating system. [Technology News from eWEEK and Ziff Davis] MS's next step in .Net infiltration:  Eliminate the need to install the .Net framework before distributing your .Net apps.  Answer to one of the excuses companies given by companies not buying into .Net as rapidly as MS would like.   11:25:25 AM    comment []

Preinstalled Windows - can't remove it This article from The Register talks about Microsoft's license agreements and the fact that Microsoft wants to view the software AND the hardware as an integrated unit that you can't break up.  So, you are telling me that if I buy a piece of hardware, I can't remove the software and put Linux on it?  Right.  And, if I buy a hammer at the hardware store that has a cushy grip, I can't remove the grip?  Schools (and everyone else for that matter) should probably start looking hard at Apple again.  Either that or go buy a naked PC and put the alternative operating system of your choice (Linux, FreeBSD, etc.) on it. 11:12:49 AM    comment []

Creativity vs. Self Control Tom's deep thought for the day: As programmers are we expressing our creativity in the same way as artists or are we practicing extreme self control.  Most of the best practices around programming involve adhering to standards and producing consistent code.  So, it seems that in many ways not only are we practicing our "art", but we practice our art by imposing extreme self-control.  Discuss... 9:27:14 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2004 Tom Pierce.