Opened or Closed – Take Your Pick

Open source technology is a complicated concept and one that is best understood by first understanding traditional or closed source development. A comparison of the two development models clearly defines which model is appropriate for a development project. Open source technology may not be the wave of every future, but is on the horizon for many developers.

Closed sourced applications are developed by a small group of developers. The project, the code and details are closely guarded. Secret or proprietary code cannot be exposed to security leaks, and as such, projects developed with closed source technology are typically not afforded the luxury of having vast teams of programmers available to check code. It is because of this inherent secrecy that security flaws and bugs are not discovered until the product is launched in the public sector.

Conversely, open source technology follows a truly opposite methodology. Under this development model, programmers believe that by opening the source code up to anyone who wants to take a peek at it, safer, bug-free applications can be reliably created. It works like this: an application goes through an initial development and production cycle. After this first release, the source code is opened to the development community. It is here that the application undergoes a metamorphosis. Developers from across the globe test the application, find bugs, locate flaws, tweak functionality – in short they put the finishing touches on the application thus ensuring a bug free application with minimal security risks.

Opponents of open source technology believe that those who use it are simply greedy and uninterested in spending money on debugging large amounts of code and that unscrupulous developers are taking advantage of the skills and talents of programmers. They are not considering the effect that open source technology has on the end user and that developers enjoy the ability to change applications to suit their needs.

Development models – it’s an open and closed case

Filed Under: Browsers

Is Content an Important Part of Web Design?

If you’ve used your web browser to visit Google lately, you may have noticed that the web pages at the top of the list have one thing in common: they’re all very well written.

Too often, people in the web design business get caught in designing flashy pages and eye-catching graphics. As a result, they lose focus on more basic elements, such as compelling content. During its inception, the Internet was referred to as the “information highway,” but a few people still feel that flashy websites are more important than good content.

Despite the opinion of others, it’s no surprise that Google, the media giant, places a great deal of importance on traditional standards and quality content. Apparently Google recognizes that websites and web pages with good content are more important than attractive web design.

As an example, some recent studies by web developers determined that the high-ranking websites shared the following features:

1. The web pages contained frequently updated content, at least once every few weeks.

2. The web pages had little or no spelling and grammar errors.

3. The paragraphs on each web page were shorter, and didn’t contain big blocks of text or run-on sentences.

4. For the most part, the sentences were much shorter (approximately ten words), making them more readable.

5. Lastly, the web pages contained several references of keywords, and stem variations of those keywords as well.

Although many web designers and others say that people don’t read web pages, the statement isn’t necessarily true, and Google experts also beg to differ. Whether you’re a novice web designer or an expert, keep in mind that the text is just as important (and in some cases, more important) than the other elements on the page.

Filed Under: Software/Hardware

Web Browser Services Can Be Made More Compatible

Timeline diagram of the Opera web browser.
Image via Wikipedia

There are many web browsers available to suit a wide range of tastes and preferences. There’s Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Chrome, and many others. However, some of them may not be as compatible with certain computers and operating systems as others are. Some of the reasons for this may include the programming language in which the original hardware in a computer was written or the web design of a particular website. Lots of graphics can actually make it hard or even impossible for a web browser with limited or no compatibility to display the website. Having a compatibility issue can cause all kinds of problems when you go to surf the web.

In these instances, certain programs that use open source technology in their operation can help make web browser services more compatible with other programs. These downloads can be a tremendous asset, in terms of better computer performance, access to software that computers may not have previously been able to support, and other advantages.

Just like web browsers, there are several different kinds of programs that can work with them to boost or ensure compatibility. Which program works the best will depend on the user’s computer. The user will have to consider such things as programming language, the types and amount of hardware and software that are already loaded onto a computer, and memory. Once all this has been determined, the user can then decide which compatibility programs will work best.

If the programs come in the form of software downloads, it may be possible to try several in order to decide which one works best. If the software is not free, find out if a trial period will be offered. This would be good, as the user would be able to use the program for a sufficient amount of time to determine if it is the best.

Filed Under: Browsers, Internet

Try Out Some Open Source Browsers

Apple Safari icon
Image via Wikipedia

Did you know that there are additional web browsers out there in addition to Firefox, Explorer, Opera, and Safari? It’s true. Some of these browsers may even provide features that you never knew you wanted until you saw them in action. The following browsers are free open source applications, so you may want to just give them a try:

Netsurf

This browsers was developed for use on hardware that is considered low end — those with less memory and processor speed. It handles basic tasks online and is very easy to use. The only drawback of this browser at this time is that it does not support JavaScript.

Kazehakase

It’s ainteresting name for a great little browser. The name actually comes from a Japanese short story. Some of its features include:

  • Key accelerator
  • Mouse movements which are customizable
  • Menu or sidebar remote bookmark feature
  • Tabbed browsing

Arora

This is considered to be a minimalist browser, but it does feature such things as history, bookmarking, global CSS usage, and tab management. This browser was one of the first that demonstrated integration with Qt-WebKit.

SRWare Iron

This wonderful little browser is based on Chrome source code. The developers had to eliminate certain features such as usage tracking to avoid privacy issue contained in Chrome. However, the browser includes great features such as ad blockers. This browser is extremely fast and its appearance is similar to that of Chrome. This browser uses the most recent WebKit rendering engine.

Midori

Known for its blazing speed, it too uses the rendering engine of WebKit. Midori has some great features including:

  • Full-image zoom toggle
  • User script and style support
  • Netscape extension support
  • Bookmark management
  • Management of session, windows, and as tabs

While you may not make one of these browsers your primary one, you might enjoy experiencing the Internet from a different perspective.

Filed Under: Browsers

Use Open Source Software for Web Design

If you are looking for open source software packages to work with in web design, then you have many options. Open source is a type of software that is offered for free. This stems from the free software movement founded by Stallman. Its goal is to ensure software users the freedom to run, study, and change software as well as distribute it without repercussion. Among many choices, web designers might want to consider using the following open source software packages for web design:

  • Web Servers: Web designers might want to consider using the open source software, Apache. It is the most popular Web server and is known for its programming language support of Python, PHP, Perl, and Tcl.
  • Graphic design software like GIMP which is used for image manipulations and touch ups or the incredible Blender software which allows you to create any graphics from scratch.  These programs allow web designers to add deatiled and creative graphics to their web sites.
  • Browsers: BookmarkSync is a handy tool web designers might use so clients can access bookmarks from any web browser or any computer. It runs a small program within the system tray of the computer and monitors bookmarks in a browser. The program updates automatically, keeping tabs on changes, and makes the changes on a central server. It synchronizes the data on multiple computers. Mac OS X clients also perform cross-platform synchronization.
  • Web Analytics: Web designers using open source technology might want to consider using Open Web Analytics software for websites. This framework is written in PHP and is used to collect, measure, analyze, and report on Internet data on designated web pages. Open Web Analytics provides built-in support for application frameworks such as Gallery 2, MediaWiki, and WordPress. It also provides JavaScript APIs and PHP for integration with websites and web applications.
  • 7 Zip is a simple but very useful open source application allowing users to read and write compressed files to several alternative format files and has great value when trying to share large files with others.

There are many benefits to using open source software. For example, since anyone can go in and manipulate coding in open source software, fixes are generally quick when problems arise. No one has to wait for a customer support team to address the problem.

Filed Under: Software/Hardware

It All Starts with the Basics

People take their computer programs so much for granted that it’s easy to forget that someone made that program, and they did so using a programming language. Some programs seem to operate like magic but there is not actually a magic programming language. Be assured however that any program worth its salt required a large amount of work to assemble, whatever the language. Just like spoken languages, there are many different programming languages, and in fact someone could create a new one at any time. Some programmers prefer to write code (the foundation of a program) using an existing language, while others like to make their own to suit their own needs.

Each programming language has its own strengths, weaknesses, idiosyncrasies, and tasks to which it is particularly well suited. A programmer might decide to code in one language for one project because that language fits the concept of the program better, and then choose another language for another project. Similarly there are stereotypes about spoken languages, that one might be more effective at expressing one kind of thing while another works best in another context. Of course, as with any language, some people know only one and just use that as best they can.

Some examples of popular programming languages include:

C++ – one of the most dominant

Java – many programs on the Web use the Java platform, which is sort of a base to run other programs on

Python – which requires more sophisticated knowledge but offers an easier and more enjoyable coding experience for some individuals

Everyone’s got their favorite, of course. Some programming languages are more visual, easier to read when you’re looking over code and some even support leaving notes about what the code does, which is very useful. On the most basic level, there’s the Basic programming language, which is what computers communicate in and which consists entirely of ones and zeroes. Good luck reading it.

Filed Under: Computers, Internet

The Open Source Culture Makes the World a Smaller Place

The Twentieth Century brought forth a technology boom that changed everything from science to security to communication. It is the communication and ability to share ideas and knowledge that exploded and changed the once inaccessible feel to the world at large. The open source culture was born out of a need to share ideas to advance technology in a collaborative and cost effective manner. The result has been that open source culture makes the world a smaller place.

As the idea of open source sharing took hold, it became apparent that many people could use the concept and the technology to reach millions of like minded individuals all over the world. Today, music and video can be streamed into any household anywhere that has access to a computer and the web. For an artist or aspiring entertainer with a little web marketing savvy, they can place themselves at the top of the web browser list and be seen or heard by anyone who clicks on their website.

Creative Commons is a great example of open source technology because different levels of licensing are offered to the creators of whatever is placed there. The owner can put limited access to their work or make it completely available for redistribution. The sharing of music files can include permission to download a file, make a unique remix of it and re-upload it.

Digital technology has taken away many barriers when it comes to the distribution of images. First, it’s fast, so there is no real time cost for reproduction. The quality of the images is more easily manipulated, and sharing is endless. Video is much the same way. Messages good and bad immediately make their way to the Internet. They can be shared and commented on.

Friendships are forged via an open source culture as people a world away work together to create a common culture.

Filed Under: Software/Hardware, Technology

Choose Your Web Browser Carefully

Since Microsoft’s monopoly on web browsers was broken years ago, those who want to surf the web have had options, so to speak. That’s been good for end users; monopolistic practices are never good for the consumer. But as the selection of browsers has widened, so too have the choices and options available. As can happen when offered a wide selection of things from which to choose, consumers can feel confused. With the major powerhouse brands of Microsoft, Apple, and Google all offering their own product, as well as a host of smaller, lesser known brands, it can be daunting to choose a winner.

Functionality is built in to each model, and it’s rare that a web browser doesn’t have certain minimum features. Most have buttons allowing users to easily switch between the previous page and the present page. That’s handy. Your browser of choice will probably have a reload button, which can be used to update a page’s contents, a perk for pages where content changes rapidly. There’s usually a user history tab. This shows you where you’ve been at a glance, and is useful when you’ve encountered an article that was interesting, but have moved away from it. A quick glance at the history tab should bring up a title that held your interest. And of course, there’s always a search bar where you type what you want to find.

While almost all browsers offer the same or similar features, a deciding factor will be whether you like clutter or a clean layout. Some browsers are bare bones affairs, while some allow for a smorgasbord of images to be mashed together onto the user’s screen. This decision affects more than appearance; it also affects performance. The more widgets that your computer must touch base with before opening a page, the slower your computer will run, even with fast Internet speeds. Choose accordingly.

Filed Under: Browsers, Internet

5 Greatest Open Source Software Options This Year

Screenshot from the main page of MIKE2.0: www....
Image via Wikipedia

For the tech savvy andd novices alike, there are many open source software options to consider this year. While buying a tried-and-true version for about $100 may have seemed reasonable in the past, it no longer has to be the norm. Excellent options abound, and below is listed just five of the best open source choices:

One of the most user-friendly choices is Codendi. This collaborative platform was developed by Xerox and merges all of the necessary features and tools for development teams to be successful. Code, requirements, bugs, tests, and reporting are all possibilities with Codendi. While possibly useful for newbies, this option is best for managers of software projects.

Project HQ, like most open source projects, is a collaboration. Similar to Basecamp and also activeCollab, this platform is built with Python, SQLAlchemy, and Pylons, and also it’s database independent, unlike a lot of others. Like Codendi, it helps managers with their projects.

Focused on collaboration, productivity, communication, and the team spirit that management wants, OpenGoo features awesome options like project management addons, email, and time management solutions. Presentations and text documents can both be created from OpenGoo, as well as uploaded, shared, organized, and made independent of specific formats for files.

A pressure cooker for busy coders who’d rather be playing on Reddit.com, ClockingIT keeps employees on task. This free, open source software is web-based. It keeps your guys on track, so you can sneak away to play on Fark.

Project management doesn’t have to be as boring and difficult to organize as it was once believed to be; with a few addons, the right free software, and a few helpful assistants, your project will be completed in no time. If you feel up to it, your team can even assist the software developers in creating these open source collaborations.

Filed Under: General, Software/Hardware

Is Firefox Worth the Trouble?

Image representing Firefox as depicted in Crun...
Image via CrunchBase

A lot of people have been expressing some level of discontent with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer over the past few years. While there is no such thing as a perfect web browser, many people think that its refusal to properly block pop-up ads, its reliance on new windows whenever you open a new web page, as well as its general lack of additional security features and the absence of a download manager simply make it a second-rate browser. This is why a lot of people have been switching to Firefox lately, which has all of these things built into it. But is Firefox worth all of the hassle you may have to go through in installing and letting it update itself?

Firefox is not the world’s most difficult program to install or uninstall. Even among web-related utilities, it surrenders that title to vast superiors such as AOL and Norton, which often worm their ways onto computers in a method that can be hard to even spot outright. However, Firefox does require some proactivity if you want to use it. No computer comes bundled with this software, and the download can take several minutes to complete, even with a fast Internet connection enabled on your system. Needless to say, if Firefox does not bring the goods, it should not be bothered with.

Generally, however, it does bring the goods in spades. Firefox has a download manager which allows you to locate, quantify and even time your downloads. While you might not be doing much downloading, it is always reassuring to know that if something does happen in the middle, you can bring the web page back up and resume your activity almost without missing a beat. Additionally, Firefox has some pretty nice security features, the most obvious of which is a pop-up blocker that can be overridden if you want. Since it has no massive network-related security breaches, Firefox is worth it.

Filed Under: Browsers, Internet
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