Project Management Forum RSS Feed

Best and worst examples of management

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 12:14:40 -0700

Hi all,

I’m hoping to collect some real-life examples of good and bad management of software development – I’m especially interested in stories from programmers. Assuming that I get some interesting anecdotes then I will write them up and post them on my blog at http://outofthetriangle.wordpress.com/. If you don’t wish to post your stories here then please feel free to email me direct on david@daly.net.

And just to get the ball rolling here are two stories of my own....

1. The “Have you written a test plan?” Approach
I worked for one boss who’s stock phrase seemed to be “Have you written a test plan for that?”. This seemed to be the only measure of software quality that they could comprehend. What made this seem totally ludicrous to me was that this particular manager did not seem to care about the quality of the test plans (i.e. did they uncover defects and prove that the software worked) nor did they check that they had actually been used. As long as there was a test plan in existence for each module they were happy.

2. The “Make It So” Approach
This might sound strange but my favourite managers have been the ones who left me alone to get on with the job. I always felt that getting a computer to do something was my job as a programmer. Once I had been given a clear idea of what was expected I liked to be left alone to “Make It So”. Sure I would provide updates from time to time and let them know if I was going to miss any key dates. But they were updates that I would “push” to boss by exception rather than something that was “pulled” from me by interrupting my work every hour or so.

SOA India 2008

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:20:17 -0700

Following the footprints of SOA India 2007 success, SDA Asia Magazine and sda-india.com proudly presents to you SOA India 2008. Claimed to be one of the best business and technical conference on Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), SOA India 2008 offers intense, power packed sessions on aligning IT with business. It also guarantees to provide you with the tools and information you need to implement a company wide SOA solution.

SOA India 2008 features industry’s foremost experts, authors, analysts and practitioners in Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), Business Process Management (BPM), Business Architecture, Business Decision Management, and Organizational Performance and much more. Some of the topics that will be part of the larger discussion include: SOA in Collaboration (SOA and Web 2.0), SOA Best Practices and Real-life Case Studies, BPEL, Agile Best Practices, Enterprise 2.0, BI, and BPM-enabled SOA.

This three day long event, scheduled to roll out on the 17th November 2008, would also feature Keynotes by top of the line speakers from the industry. These eminent decision-makers of the software and/or web industry will speak on major trends and present their vision on the future of Service Oriented Architecture. SOA India 2008 also features full-day Power Workshops giving attendees the opportunity to enhance their know-how on various topics.

This event is also accompanied by an exhibition of innovative products and solutions, providing the audience with a platform to gather information, to learn more about the businesses, and to establish relationships with the people behind them.

For further information on the event please mailto info@soaindia.com or visit www.soaindia.com

UniKey Solutions

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:05:17 -0700

UniKey Solutions

SecuTech Solution Inc. offers several ready license protection solutions along with UniKey. UniKey takes the role of hardware ID and works as the container of digital credentials.
UniKey Software Protection System provides a completed set of tools and samples for software vendors to control their software's distribution.

UniKey Web Authentication System gives a new option for cost-effective two factor authentication for Web sites.

With help of UniKey Video Protector, you can protect your video files with ease.

Software Protection

Protect Your Software and Grow Your Revenues with the new driverless technology software protection & licensing solution
UniKey dongles fully integrated with your existing software product lifecycle to minimize disruptions to development and business processes. UniKey dongles feature new driverless technology that reduces the huge work of technical support team for software vendors.

With UniKey dongles, you can increase your profits by protecting against losses from software piracy and intellectual property theft and enable innovative business models to increase value and differentiate your products.

The UniKey Software Protection System offers numerous licensing options, such as expiration dates, user limit, demo, trial version, renting, leasing. With easy to use tools like API, enveloper, developers can easily make encryption which is difficult to be cracked.

Video Protection

Want to sell video data to your customers?
Want to protect them against illegal distribution?

Yes, UniKey Video Protector is then the right solution for you. Your video data such as real media (rm/rmvb), avi, swf and flv video files are protected with the state-of-the-art encryption technologies. Only the owner with the right license number can decrypt and consume the data.

As a video vendor, you need only a simple click to protect your video files, while the end-user must have a UniKey dongle that you issued to access your video files.

Additionally to the protection function with UniKey Video Protector, the solution offers you the Driverless technology, reduces the huge work of technical support team for video vendors.
Want to receive more information?
Please feel free to contact us via Email: Sales@eSecuTech.com

Web Authentication
Nowadays, people are paying more attention to web security and hence authentication has become an increasing critical problem of Internet and Intranet environments.

UniKey web authentication serves more than one purpose. It can provide data security, identity theft protection and improved user experience. The strength of an organization's web authentication method needs to match the value of the information and resources opened for access.

SecuTech delivers a variety of web authentication methods for varying security and user requirements.
SecuTech Solution Inc
www.esecutech.com

Protecting flash with Unikey

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 21:17:13 -0700

Protecting flash with Unikey

The UniKey dongle allows us to maintain our relatively low educational pricing because it protects us from piracy while ensuring that you get our highest quality professional solution under an educational license.
-- Shelly O’Brain

UniKey Flash Packer
—An Innovative Flash Protection.

Background
Along with the development of the Internet, Macromedia Flash technology is becoming ever increasingly more popular. As making a flash file is relatively easy and the function of a flash file is quite powerful, developers and designers often develop using this technology.

Software
The software is available for schools, colleges and universities at specially reduced prices. An educational license is available for academic institutions or for users enrolled or employed by such institutions that are using the licensed software for educational or academically sponsored research purposes. Any usage of the software for commercial purposes immediately creates a breach of the
terms of the educational license and renders the user liable for the full single user license cost.

Technical requirement
The disadvantage of a flash file is that it is easy to de-compile SWF files and get to the source codes/files. By this means, the copyright or intellectual property of flash code can easily be compromised.

Solution—UniKey Flash Packer
UniKey Flash Packer is a complete SWF files protection/license solution. It “wraps up” the SWF file and encrypts it with the AES algorithm. Only users with the correct UniKey dongle can decrypt the file and play the SWF file. UniKey Flash Packer embeds its own Macromedia Flash Player along with the SWF file. As a result, end-users do not need to install a Flash player before playing the protected flash file.

UniKey Flash Packer provides two sales modes for flash file providers.
One File to One UniKey
The SWF file is encrypted with the UniKey hardware, and only one UniKey dongle can
decrypt the file and play it. This mode provides the highest level of security.
One File to Multiple UniKey
Here the SWF file is encrypted by a batch of UniKey dongles. The flash file enables users of the UniKey dongle to control the SWF file license and play it.

About SecuTech and UniKey
SecuTech Solutions Inc. is a company specializing in software license management business systems focusing on the international market with their class leading UniKey product range. Having an extensive and in-depth range of experience within the Software Management Licensing
Market, SecuTech has drawn upon this experience to utilize today's cutting-edge technologies to introduce a COMPLETE and affordable solution for today's software vendor markets worldwide.
SecuTech Solution Inc.
www.eSecuTech.com
Support@eSecuTech.com

PM in Visual Studio 2008 - keeping versions

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:14:18 -0700

Hello, my name is Douba.

I own the Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition and I am privately working on several small-scale projects. I wonder if there is any built-in way of keeping different versions of a project. For instance, I would like to make a snapshot at certain project stages, try out a few things and then be able to revert back to the snapshot version.

Of course, there are many manual ways to accomplish the same. Usually, I make a backup of my project folder and restore it later if needed, or I clone the current project within the solution. I would just like to know whether something like this could also be done "within the IDE", so if anyone knows something about this, please let me know. A short hint to where I can read on will suffice.

Thank you!

Regards, Douba.

Connecting to various SCM using java

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 02:34:16 -0700

Hi All,

I want to connect to various source control management systems like CVS,SVN and do some operatons say check in , create tags, get history etc.
Is there any generic API which will help me in doing so . Or i have to write separate code for connecting to CVS,SVN etc.

Please provide your valuable suggesions or links..

Rergards,
Vivek

General use of CVS

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:11:17 -0700

Hi, I started a new job, and have to use CVS
Seems, like noone here is able to show me arround, and I have to grab everything on my own.
One of the issues - I never used CVS ..
Would save me a lot of time, if someone could pin-point a good reference or tutorial on WinCVS 2.0.2.4.

software engineering spiral model

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 23:25:30 -0700

moving out the process flow ring of a spiral model, what impact it creates on software development and maintenence

using CVS with SourceForge

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:21:42 -0700

I started a project on SourceForge but I'm having a lot of trouble using the CVS clients to access the account.
I wish I knew enough that asking a single specific question would move me along but instead it would most likely be confusing for both of us.
I really need some one on one guidance through an instant messenger.

Can anyone offer some help?

My Yahoo id is bonecracking. If you could help, I'd be very thankful.

Attend Our Free Microsoft Dynamics - GP Showcase

Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:20:53 -0700

We Invite You To Attend Our Free Microsoft Dynamics - GP (Formerly known as Great Plains) Showcase
Are you responsible for choosing the right ERP software solution for your company?
Are you a business decision maker focused on streamlining your business and reporting processes, enabling you to leave your work at the office and enjoy your much deserved down time?

Do these accounting software issues affect your day to day processes?
? Inefficient business processes
? Antiquated / Outdated software
? Disparate software systems
? Manual processes such as updating large amounts of data or manual consolidations
? Poor audit controls
? Lack of data backups
? Lack of in depth reporting
? General system inefficiencies
If so……Then This Is The Event For You!
Save The Date:
September 12th 2007

Time:
12:00 PM to 3:00 PM

Location:
Microsoft Offices
1290 Avenue of the Americas , 6th Floor
New York, NY 10104
Register Now At
http://www.integritymbs.com/v1/

or call
888.869.4090 ext 705
All Attendees will be automatically be entered to win a Taylor made R7 Hybrid!
Register Today- Seating Is Limited

Sync your Outlook with BaseCamp PM

Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:58:51 -0700

My name is Venera!

I would like to share with one useful plugin for synchronization BaseCamp with MS Outlook! GrabSync.com

GrabSync solution provides a two-way synchronization.

It's easy in work - just install it, login and choose what you would like to sync (which projects, features).

The most that i like is sync messages - just can easily create or edit messages and comments to Basecamp from your Outlook!!

There are also sync milestones, to-dos and ability for import contacts.

I think it's better once to try than talking about.

To learn more and test GrabSync you can here; http://www.grabsync.com

BNDLAPP Software New Project looking foe people to join

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 11:56:25 -0700

BNDLAPP Software Message:Requirments---------------------------------------

We are looking for volenteers to join in on the codeing and Desighning. We need 2 Desighners and 3 programmers. All members must use Microsoft Visual Basic Express Edition (Any year)(If there is another type that is Okay). The software is based upon a Open Source Easy Build.

BNDLAPP Software Message:Details-------------------------------------------
Being an Open Source Software Comapny we do not pay and except volenteers. The program will be a Software Creator for those who do not know code. We will have a few things that MUST be included. A Window with the basic fields, Object, and Button off to the right of the Form in which the user will create his/her software. Then we will need another window in which the user will edit the "Made Up" script. If you have ever heard of Revoloution from the site that will be the main goal of this software. We however will have to solely decide to eith make up a script and then generat a converter before applying the code or go out and let the users use Visual Basic. That will be the bsics, however it has to have a LogInForm at the start. There will be a register button which they can generate a User Name, but the software will have to generate a password to protect the software. This is serious, so members must post atleat 4 times a week and have to have there parts finished on time or up to 3 days late is OK. Please carefully consider.

BNDLAPP Software:Message---------------------------------------------------
Plese post a reply if you wish to join with your job role you want and a breif discription of your skills.

Using Stakeholder Analysis in Software Project Management

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 05:08:20 -0700

The Methods & Tools newsletter has just released in its html archive section the article "Using Stakeholder Analysis in Software Project Management" by Bas de Baar. Stakeholder analysis is a technique to identify and analyze the stakeholders surrounding a project. A proper analysis of the stakeholders will help you to construct a project approach suited to the situation and will allow you to negotiate better with the stakeholders.

http://www.methodsandtools.com/archive/archive.php?id=48

please give your advice and idea about our project

Wed, 01 Nov 2006 18:06:30 -0700

Hi, we just finish a project about a net shopping community at http://netshopkey.com please visit us and give us some feedback, idea and advice. Very thankful

Video Memory

Tue, 25 Oct 2005 18:40:41 -0700

Does someone know how to increase video memory on a laptop(ref: compaq nx7000 1.4Ghz 256Mo RAM RADEON 9200 32Mo) knowing that this memory is not shared with my RAM. Enter the bios there is no functions appeal to video memory or AGP port. some say me that graphic card can be change on a laptop, does it?
I also want to know if someone knows the existence of a program that emulates a part of RAM into VRAM (on the windows system), wholesaler like windows memory manager; if a such tools doesn't exist does someone can program it or teaches me how to program it?
Thanks a lot for your spend time on my request,
Vhansoft kindo.

Integrate Access and Excel

Tue, 20 Sep 2005 09:56:18 -0700

I am a new grad working as a data analyst. I understand Access very well. However, I don't understand how to build an Access database on the backend of an Excel workbook.

I want to leave existing excel files so that i won't confuse users and dump the data into to access so i can manipulate it. i've read access inside out, and access step by step. there isn't a solution to my problem there. can anyone please help me find a resource?

New graphics differencing tool in SCM software

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 19:48:09 -0700

The latest version of ionForge's Evolution source control software includes a graphics differencing tool which allows you to see the changes that have been made to successive versions of an image or changes caused when altering image compression or file type. This new feature is unique to Evolution. If you want to check it out, there is more info on the ionForge website (http://www.ionforge.com/news.html?news_item=9/?code=248867). ionForge also offers a free, single-user, perpetual license for Evolution which is available for anyone to download.

Student needing help on programming assignment!!

Tue, 17 May 2005 22:23:53 -0700

This message was edited by MnkyPrgrmr at 2005-5-19 11:28:41

To All Experienced Programmers with programming jobs:
I have been assigned a CRLE in my "Intro to Applications Programming" class. Each individual student is to contact an experienced programmer working in the field and ask questions about how they work on, complete and manage there project/product. If someone could please allow me to email them or pm them the q's and give some nice thorough (spelled right?) answers that would be great. Just a simple nine, maybe more, questions that dont ask for any private info on person or product. Project due in 'bout 1.5-2 weeks so plz respond soon. You guys can call me Scott, I go to Clackamas Highschool in Portland, Oregon, USA, but the class is at the Sabin-Schellenberg Center, a local old school building used to teach electives (e.g. electronics engineering, red hat, oracle academy, cadd, industrial engineering). Also, you can respond to sukoto@gmail.com thnx for your help and time! ^_^ your programming power is great \"\...(-_-).../"/ PS you can also see Sabin programming page at http://sabinweb.nclack.k12.or.us/moodle

SourceAnyWhere 4.0 released - Cross-platform, DreamWeaver Intergration

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 01:20:48 -0700

This message was edited by mayamoring at 2006-8-28 0:38:16

This message was edited by mayamoring at 2006-8-28 0:37:52

Introduction

We are pleased to announce the release of SourceAnyWhere 4.0, a major release of SourceAnyWhere.

SourceAnyWhere (SAW) is a SourceSafe remote access tool, which provides reliable, fast and secure VSS remote access.

The key features of SAW are listed below:

-100+ times faster than VSS Explore over WAN
-Securer in remote access
-Seamlessly IDE integrated

For an overview of SourceAnyWhere please refer to
http://www.dynamsoft.com/Products/SAW_Overview.aspx

Highlights of the major improvements in SAW 4.0

SourceAnyWhere 4.0 continues its features of previous versions with major innovations and enhancements.

Here are the highlights of new features in SAW 4.0:

-Cross Platform
- Macromedia DreamWeaver MX 2004 Integration
-More powerful Explore Client operations

For a more detailed list of improvements in this release, please go to
http://www.dynamsoft.com/Products/SAW_News.aspx

source code management / version control

Tue, 22 Mar 2005 13:53:38 -0700

FYI - we're giving away a fully-functional single-seat license of Evolution (asset management/source control software). This is a persistent license; it doesn't expire. Download this personal edition at http://www.ionforge.com/?code=248867

ClearCode - source analysis tool

Fri, 04 Mar 2005 00:05:36 -0700

Hello all,

I would like to inform you that ClearCode 1.30 is released.
ClearCode is lightweight source analysis tool.

What's changed:

1. Checking performance has improved on folder with many files. I've used my own utility to match files masks.
2. Shortcut for browse directory (Alt-B).
3. Small visual corrections on main window.
4. Recursive" parameter can turn recursive folders checking on/off. By default all operations are recursive.
5. "CheckAll" parameter for rule is replaced by parameters CheckAllForCheck, CheckAllForStop, CheckAllSplit. See Rules syntax for details. Old syntax with "CheckAll" is also supported for compatibility.
6. Some interface fixes and improvements were applied.

More info:
http://www.softilium.com/clearcode
Nick Mokhnatov, http://www.softilium.com
** Software-Promoter :: Submit tool and user database in one
** Word2Help :: Publish Word's document into Dreamweaver
** ClearCode :: Source code analyzer

The Greatest MMO EVER!!

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 15:21:42 -0700

Ok I'm joe blow smoe who happens to be sitting on the next generation MMO. I sat down and had a long chat with the VP of Cyan worlds...even made him sign a non-dislosure....problem is Cyan lost their but trying to turn myst into a MMO. He likes my Idea but doesn't want to try and break into mmo's again at this time...I'm now working with Art & Logic out of Glendale CA, They love the idea to!...But they need about 185,000 to get started.....So let us just assume I've got the GReatest MMO game Concept ever!!..just assume..Who in the world can I pitch it to that might have the vagest Idea on the type of revenue an MMO brings in and would be willing to invest in such and idea...If it was the Greatest MMO ever made..???? I've talked to angel investors...and investment firms ...but none are real comfrtable with the whole ..."GAME"...thing....

A Comparison among SourceSafe Access Tools

Mon, 28 Feb 2005 07:21:29 -0700

To view the full article, please visit
http://www.BetterVssRemoting.com

Better VSS Remote Access Tool

This article makes a detailed comparison among SourceAnyWhere, SourceOffSite, VSS Remoting and possible others.

Keywords: VSS Remote Access, VSS Web Access, VSS Internet Access, SourceSafe Remote Access, SourceSafe Web Access, SourceSafe Internet Access, SourceOffSite, SourceAnyWhere, VSS Remoting

Index
1. Overview
2. Comparison Summary
3. Test Environment
4. Test Methodology
5. Breakdown
5.1 Speed
5.2 Stability
5.3 Security
5.4 VSS Feature Support
5.5 Usability
5.6 Diff/Merge
5.7SCCI Integration
5.8 Cross Platform
6 Others

1. Overview

What does the article do? It makes a comparison among SourceAnyWhere 3.1, SourceOffSite 4.1 and VSS Remoting 2.5.

Our initiative is to make an unbiased, objective, repeatable and verifiable comparison:
a. Real project is used. The project I use is eMule, which is at http://sourceforge.net/projects/emule/
b. Detailed steps are presented. You can follow the detailed steps easily.
c. If you want to make a comment, I can be reached at bettervssremoting@yahoo.com.

If you need more info, please visit their official websites:

SourceAnyWhere (SAW) from DynamSoft
http://www.dynamsoft.com

SourceOffSite (SOS) from SourceGear
http://www.sourcegear.com

VSS Remoting from Source Remoting
http://www.sourceremoting.com

Want to add a product? Write to me:
bettervssremoting@yahoo.com

The real result may vary if you do the test in different environment or different files are used. However, the basic concept of this comparison, such as which one is the fastest, which one has more VSS features, should be applicable everywhere.

To view the full article, please go to
http://www.bettervssremoting.com

2. Comparison Summary (5 star ***** is the best)

Speed Comparison
SAW *****
SOS **
VSS Remoting **

Stability Comparison
SAW ****
SOS ***
VSS Remoting **

Security
SAW ****
SOS ***
VSS Remoting ***

VSS Feature Support
SAW ****
SOS ****
VSS Remoting ****

Usability
SAW ****
SOS **
VSS Remoting **

Diff/Merge
SAW ****
SOS ****
VSS Remoting **

IDE Integration
SAW ***
SOS ***
VSS Remoting ****

Cross Platform
SAW *
SOS ****
VSS Remoting ***

Speed:
I am totally surprised and excited by the speed of SourceAnyWhere. For Get, Checkout and other operations, SourceAnyWhere can
be up to 40+ times faster than SourceOffSite and VSS Remoting.

Stability:
SourceAnyWhere never has any problem in the whole test.

VSS Remoting has difficulty to add files.

SourceOffSite has several problems when it comes to stability. It fails often when I try to add big files. The big problem of SourceOffSite is cancel. There is no cancel support in IDE integration. After a cancel operation in Add, Checkin, Checkout or Get in SourceOffSite Explorer, the CPU usage of SourceOffSite server goes up to almost 100% and can not come down, unless the server is restarted.

Security:
What makes SourceAnyWhere unique is the password policy.
All the products use 128-bit cryptography.
SourceOffSite and SourceAnyWhere use BlowFish.
VSS Remoting uses HTTPS.

VSS Feature Support:
Weakness and strengths equally exist in them three.

Usability:
SAW is the best. All the Windows of SAW is in Win32 style. It can detect if a file is changed automatically.

Diff/Merge
In File Diff (2-way)/File Merge (3-way), SourceAnyWhere and SourceOffSite run neck and neck; VSS Remoting has a low
performance

IDE Integration:
SourceAnyWhere, SourceOffSite and VSS Remoting all support MSSCCI Integration.
VSS Remoting supports DreamWeaver integration

I have not tested the IDE integration intensively. I give this rate just according to manual of the three products.

Cross Platform:
SourceOffSite can cross most popular platforms, VSS Remoting has a web interface which can login server through web

3. Test Environment

Test Data

Real project is used for test
All eMule0.44c and eMule0.44d files are downloaded from Sourceforge
Download eMule0.44c (3.1M) and eMule0.44d (3.1M) used in the test
Big Files are simulated files created by us

Server Configuration

P4, 2.8G, 256M RAM, Windows XP Professional
SourceAnyWhere profession 3.1 DEMO Server
SourceOffSite4.1 with Cryptography DEMO Server
VSS Remoting Server 2.5
Visual SourceSafe6.0 + Sp6

Client Configuration

P4 Celeron 2.0G, 256M RAM, Windows 2003
ADSL connection
SourceAnyWhere profession 3.1
SourceOffSite 4.1 with Cryptography
VSS Remoting Client 2.5

4. Test Methodology

All the three products are tested on the same computers and internet connection

All the three products are tested on the same data set

All the three products are tested with the same process

For speed test, every action is carried out 5 times

The initial state of the VSS database is empty (newly created)

5. Breakdown

To view the detailed test results and other features, please visit
http://www.BetterVssRemoting.com

Information Needed - Mailing application

Thu, 24 Feb 2005 23:25:56 -0700

would like to have some basic info about How to do a mail application like yahoo, hotmail pls help me out iam a fresher joined recently.

Source code analysis tool

Mon, 14 Feb 2005 21:47:09 -0700

Welcome to test my new tool for project management, ClearCode. It examines your source code for dangerous fragment. You may define what is dangerous for you by entering regexp.

ClearCode is language-independent, lightweight and high performance tool. All wrong code fragments can be fixed up in place.

ClearCode is interesting for project builders, managers.

ClearCode can create detailed reports for developers.

See http://www.softilium.com/clearcode for ClearCode details.

Any comments are welcome to my personal page on programmersheaven.com:
http://www.programmersheaven.com/c/authorpage.asp?AuthorID=121578

Nick Mokhnatov, http://www.softilium.com
** Software-Promoter :: Submit tool and user database in one
** Word2Help :: Publish Word's document into Dreamweaver
** ClearCode :: Source code analyzer