2
Feb
2009
xCelsius: a half baked solution
Before I begin let me just say that I am a big supporter of what Adobe has done with the Flex application. As a result I’ve tried to be un-biast and explicit about my opinion.
I have a few concerns regarding a new product xcelsius. Despite impressive results there are fundamentals shortcommings that will become evident while working with the application.
- Flexibility
- The product is designed strictly to follow a particular approach. This methodology is quite unintuitive and requires the developer to put additional effort when designing the model. The structure is rigid and sometimes confusing. Most of the time it feels like you are trying to create a workaround forcing the intuitive solution in to the Xcelsius model.
- Functionality
- Overall the product looks like a 1/2 backed solution. It is an implementation that is driven by the components provided with the standard load [some are not sufficient in terms of what is expected from a developer's point of view]. The platform is designed to rely on Microsoft Excel but lacks capability to take advantage of basic Excel advantages [like Visual Basic enhancements], the solution is restricted to support only a handful of Microsoft Excel functions/formulas.
- Maintainability & Support [This I believe is a major issue going forward with this solution.]
- The application has no debugger.
- Everything is linked to a Excel cells which can have complicated formulas. IE: cell A references cell B that references C which sums cells D through E which in it self point to cell F.
- During the training we’ve agreed that we would want to call the database to load information directly. This would eliminate the above mentioned complicated point. But still – the developer will be left with a BLANK spreadsheet where one would have to guess where and how the cells are referenced. In laymen’s terms: try figuring out where Matrix!$D$21:$O$21 is coming from.
Overall this is just another attempt to market Adobe’s ability to present data, an attempt that failed miserably.
8
Sep
2008
Google taking on the browser market with Chrome
For those of you who haven’t heard Google has released a new browser Chrome.
Although the browser is yet to reach it’s full potential and is currently only offered on a Windows platform it has some valued benefits. One can have a look at an interesting comic about the utility but the main gist is that the application tackles the problem of memory leaks that are evidently present in FF & IE.
22
Feb
2006
Books and Novels [a typical relaxing weekend]
Deception Point & Underworld: Evolution
Finishing my third novel by Dan Brown took me longer than I expected. Fascinated by his first two books Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons I was eager to read Deception Point. Unfortunately to my surprise the book did not live up to its predecessors [in terms of sequential reading].
Maybe it the plot or the description of characters or maybe it was simply the fact that a conspiracy generated by the American government administration does not seem to be as such a surprise anymore. In general I felt that it was a mediocre read with a few humorous/exciting moments. I was originally hoping to read Digital Fortress but now I am having second thoughts. I wonder what should be the next thing that would occupy me on they subway ride home, for now the stare down with the crazy Torontonians will have to do the trick.
Besides the book I also got the chance to watch the new installment of an ongoing vampire vs. werewolf saga Underworld: Evolution. I found the first movie very intriguing. A few weeks ago I spoke with a Vam-natic [Vampire Flic Fanatic] girl and learned that introduction of a hybrid species was a major no-no in the world of vampire genres. Clearly I was very disappointed to hear that the probability of seeing Michael Corvin was very slim to none. I was pleasantly surprised when that proved to be quite false.
Underworld: Evolution is a direct continuation of the first movie [1h after the first movie ended]. This one captures more of the history allowing audience to appreciate the magnitude of the vampire legacy. With very few cheesy moments, a great historical story line, and an abundance of blood drenchingbloody fighting scenes, Underworld: Evolution has proven to be a worthy sequel.
