Quote from DarkTimes :

I downloaded the trial of CodeGear with C++Builder from Borland. I must say that there VCL design program is very nice indeed! In fact, it's almost exactly the same as Windows.Forms for Visual C#, even down to the class and property names (which makes sense as they're both just wrappers for the same thing). I can see how it would aid your programming efficiency, as I am starting to find making dialogs and windows with a resource editor rather tedious. Still, it's good to know how it all works underneath.

I think the thing that attracted me most to Borland C++ Builder (back in v6 days) other than the fact the friend who "kicked my arse" was a veteran Borland user.. it was a relatively simple transition from VB due to the drop-n-code methods. Sure, I had to learn what to put in the events, but the GUI part (which coding by hand as I did with wxWidgets (never used a res editor for constructing new windows, only editing existing ones) took ages and was a real trial n error chore half the time) saves me so much time and effort.

It is nice to know the underneath workings though as you say. Some I've learnt, some I'm still to learn.. but enjoying the journey

The other part I like about it it is that many Delphi components (most components are written in Delphi anyway although I write mine in C++) will also compile to be used in C++ Builder (an option in the compiler to 'Generate all C++ headers' makes this simple.. although not everything will due to some specific Delphi / C++ differences).. but I've just added a Delphi Scintilla wrapper component this morning for example.. took 5 mins to compile and install (now the longer part; to learn it and replace the SynEdit component in my latest app).

Quote :

Just a shame it costs $800 lol! I'll need to see if I can find something that does the same thing for free.

Yeah, that's a bit of a bitch. I'm still using BDS2006.

I don't know of any free (or even cheaper) versions unfortunately



Regards,

Ian

Quote from DarkTimes :

Ah OK, I didn't realise you meant unpacked. Yeah, it's about 200Mb, probably bigger now with .NET 3.5 and all the extra stuff that supports, like WPF.

I didn't even know 3.5 existed, heh

Quote :

Out of interest when you're making your apps do you use MFC or just access the Win32 API directly? I've been learning the Win32 API recently and find it quite straight-forward, but I've heard some horror stories about MFC.

I use Borland's equivalent; the VCL (Visual Component Library) for the majority of things, but not everything's catered for or sometimes just easier (in a more flexibility way of thinking) to directly use the API. I like the idea of easily creating new components though (done through a wizard initially to either start from scratch or to extend an existing component.. then or you to fill out the guts).. for example, I created one that retrieves the dir names / paths of the windoze "shell folders".. now I just drop the component on a form and instantly access it via 'DsShellFolders->UserAppData' for example.

A lot is already covered though making tasks much easier (especially as I'm still teaching myself as I go) and haven't encountered any real problems using it. I've never used VS though or any m$ compiler, so not experienced their MFC.

Quote :

I was thinking of having a look at wxWidgets too, but I can see that it would add some unnecessary overhead unless you're specifically looking to target multiple platforms.

If I was looking to write x-platform code, I'd certainly plod on with it.. but my personal gains were outweighed by losses.

Quote :

Also have a look at http://lolcode.com/ for a funny language.

I hadn't seen that before, but that's funny as!



Regards,

Ian

Last edited by Ian.H, Thu 10 Jan 2008, 14:01.

Quote from DarkTimes :

[ snip ]

And in reference to Ian H, the .NET Framework is closer to 20Mb than 200Mb and anyone who has XP SP2 or better already has it installed anyway. I know I keep saying this on this forum, but all these languages are just tools and you should pick the best one for the job. You shouldn't limit yourself to one, you shouldn't discount others through prejudice.

Hmm.. IIRC, the download was ~20Mb.. installation unpacked to nearer 200Mb. I maybe wrong though, a while since I looked at it.

I agree 100% though with the "right tool for the right job". I have done, and won't again.. written C code for web servers (Perl / PHP is far far far easier in this area) and Perl is a chore for coding GUIs.. but I've tried many languages over the years from ASM (Motorolla 680x0 / x86 16bit) to VB(A / S).. the only ones I can really say I don't like are ASP and Java

One language I haven't tried, but think it'd be cool to get your head around, is brainf*ck.. it's just crazy



Regards,

Ian

Quote from mcgas001 :

yea, i begin to see that acutally, check my post up top. the .Net 3.x wont install for me on windows server 2003. Id like to learn another language, not sure what to pick tho.

I used to code in VB(4 / 5 / 6) until a friend kicked my virtual arse and told me to "learn a real language!". He's an ANSI C "freak" and a damn good one at that.. so I started concentrating more in C / C++ and ultimately dropped VB completely (glad I did now.. I've achieved far more in the short time I've been using C++ (in comparison to VB) than I ever did previously). I opted for Borland's C++.. the VCL is very VB-like in its "drag-drop-click-to-add-code" methods (although this can obviously lead to some bad habits, especially for larger projects) but it enables me to rapidly create GUIs leaving the slogging out left to writing the events / core code. There's also a lot of great 3rd party components making life even easier

I tried using wxWidgets for the UI at one point, but as I really only code C++ stuff for windoze, didn't need the portability or the (seemingly) bloated binaries it produced.

Other than that, the other 2 languages I use frequently are PHP for web development and Perl for system scripting (windoze and Unix.. saves having to think about SH and BAT files depending on platform) although have written a few GUIs with Perl and (G)Tk

I guess all 3 of these languages are similar in some respects, making it not such a difficult task to switch between them.. other than prepending vars in C++ with $ and forgetting it in PHP / Perl



Regards,

Ian

Quote from mcgas001 :

If your goal is just average programs, why not just use C#?, C++ is a hard language and is mostly used for gaming. That said, it can still be used for normal programs. Imo id stick with C#

All the tools I code are done in C++.. never considered writing a game

C# gives me the shits just thinking about having to get people to install a 200Mb+ framework before they can even consider running it and is yet just another example of m$ bloat (I still don't even have .NOT framework 2 installed)



Regards,

Ian

Quote from detail :

It could be useful if someone shares this stuff. BTW, I have published a PHP parser for InSim (it's not yet able to make dynamic structures, like CMX where an int defines the number of blocks, but it won't be hard to implement).

Ahhh.. didn't think it'd be difficult

Sounds like you have something planned judging by your interest in the CMX files



Regards,

Ian

Quote from master_lfs.5101 :

Do you still use server to host websites or just rent them? I stopped using them long ago when Windows crashed. It gave me errors and then the thing you never want to see the Blue Screen of Death!

Having 'windoze' and 'server' in the same sentence is blasphemy!

I colocated mine but have 2 servers at home still mainly for temporary public access and private development. All my servers run FreeBSD though



Regards,

Ian

Silly question detail, wouldn't it have been quicker to have written a parser for the current format than wait for such a request to be answered (assuming it was done)?

Not having a dig.. but you obviously know PHP well enough to parse the C header and port it to PHP automagically.. I wouldn't have thought parsing the current format of those files much more difficult.

Just a thought



Regards,

Ian

Quote from james12s :

but thats a load of **** because you not tought rithematic, you are tought arithmatic, i always said the uk school system is erm.... not very good

My guess would be that it's the the more emphasised letter in the word.. but no idea for definite, it was devised long before I ever went to school.. or was even a twinkle in me ol' man's eye



Regards,

Ian

Quote from Linsen :

Sure, you're never 100% save, but the funny thing is, that people who are afraid of buying stuff over the internet will usually quite happily hand their credit card over to some dodgy salesclerk and won't even object if he leaves the room with it, because the booking terminal is supposedly in the other room.

That's true.. but at least you can see that issue in front of you.. whether you (not you specifically, obviously) have the common sense to work that out however, is another matter.

Thankfully I'm a "cash man". I never use a credit card in shops, _everything_ is paid for in cash


I also agree with Dajmin.. seems they don't teach reading any more in schools actually, looking at many posts on this forum, they don't seem to teach any of the "3 Rs" these days.



Regards,

Ian

Quote from The Moose :

It's a shame that in 2008 people are still so paranoid about buying things on the net.
I buy virtually everything except food on the net and have done for years. Not once have I had any problems.

[ snip ]

I can give you one good reason... I recoded the mass-payment system for a large online payment company (much like paypal) where I was happily given access to download their 250,000 entry database to my home computer and more horrifically, every password in the database, including the company owners and directors, were stored as nothing more than plaintext. Oh, and how did I get the job? I posted a reply on Usenet explaining the round() function in PHP. I was asked 2 questions: "What country are you based in?" and "Are you free right now?"

Luckily for them, I'm an honest fella... but think how much "fun" I could have had

I also pay for _very_ little on the net. LFS and my domain names is about it I think.



Regards,

Ian

Currently: The Bourne Legacy

Recently (last 12 months):

• Half a dozen James Patterson 'Alex Cross' books (these books are sweet!)
  
• Drug Lords: Rise and Fall of the Cali Cartel (very interesting read)
  
• The Bourne Ultimatum (far far better than the movie, which wasn't too bad, just had nothing to do with the plot in the book )
  
• Tenko (based on the old BBC1 series)
  
• Muscle (Carlton Leech (Essex Boys) autobiography) (great read)
  
• The Guv'nor (Lenny McLean autobiography) (another great read)
  
• Killer: Autobiography of a Hitman (mafia related, back in the 60s-80s in the US)
  
• Firefox (cool read, far better than the movie)
  
• Firefox Down (cool read, but not as good as the original)
  
• A few others I can't think of the titles for now

Generally I prefer non-fiction, but I enjoy the James Patterson books from the fiction genre



Regards,

Ian

Quote from mcgas001 :

LOL oh well, at least im not the only one thats gotta travel 285 miles

Shouldn't be too bad.. did Sc.unthorpe in just over 2 hours leaving here at 19:00 on a Friday night 6 months ago.. was surprised not to hit any traffic. A few friends who took the M1 spent 6 hours getting there

Will have to make a stop for fuel this time though I think.. will cost me more in fuel than the weekend up there, heh



Regards,

Ian

Quote from mcgas001 :

Ha, not far from me im J14 near heathrow

Yup, not far at all.. 10 mins on a clear run :shhh:

I'm often going past there to Egham since a good friend moved out that way



Regards,

Ian

Quote from mcgas001 :

J16? where do you live Ian? LOL

About 5 mins from J16 and within spitting distance of RAF Northolt



Regards,

Ian

Quote from Bladerunner :

Ian..If you taking teh Pimpmobile...want a couple of passengers?? After all, you got to go virtually past our door!

heh.. I've got room for 2 as I'm hoping not to be coming alone anyway

Virtually past your door!? I'd hit the M25 from J16 to J23(?) - Apex Corner and take the A1 but I can take a detour



Regards,

Ian

Change the final cmdline arg.. for example:


What you're specifying here is running the script.php file, looking for .jpg files only that are less bytes in size than the number you specify



Regards,

Ian

A fair few DJs (hype, ray keith, nicky blackmarket, brandon block etc) as I used to spend a lot of time buying vinyl at Blackmarket Records in Soho. Also had Rick Parfitt and friend help me when my back collapsed at a karting event they booked where I used to work. They really were 2 very nice and sincere people. Emma Noble and the Majors (boss's misses was John Major's secretary).. Jeremy Beadle.. David Coulthard... there used to be a lot of "known faces" book events at the kart track



Regards,

Ian

Quote from mr_x :

I've not been karting for about 4 years. And the fastest kart i've been in went 30mph.

Fastest kart I drove was a 250cc gearbox kart, but that was on a runway

I think the last place I raced was at the Kings Cross indoor track about 5 years ago when a friend invited me to drive in their corporate endurance event (we came 2nd overall)



Regards,

Ian

Quote from Syfoon :

What about if we bin it?

Last time I went karting, I crashed.

Last time I went minimotoing, I crashed. And it was filmed.

The shame

Ahh.. mini motos would be great for a meet some time (for something different)... haven't ridden one in years, but they were some _real_ fun, especially after the events where it was a free-for-all and a time to exact revenge on the boss



Some good memories



Regards,

Ian

Quote from mr_x :

haha... I'll keep my eye out

Ian, you might be a team mate, but free beer comes first

heh.. you're not my brother in disguise are ya Chris?

Haven't driven a kart for a long time, but it'll be a good crack!

Looks like I best start saving



Regards,

Ian

Quote from Bob Smith :

If you drift in the kart you'll be buying us all a pint.

hah... as long as kamkor don't get hold of any video footage..............



Regards,

Ian

About 7 or 8 of us going on Saturday

Prices for kids though is damn right rude IMO. I don't mind the £28 for adults, and certainly don't mind spending money for my littlen, but £18.50 for 5-15 year olds is just takin' the piss! (but I guess I know they know people will pay).

Not been to an Autosport show previously, so hope it'll be good and the admission tickets best be gold plated


Regards,

Ian

Stick me in with the "more than likelys" Bob.. should be fun



Regards,

Ian

Quote from tristancliffe :

Exactly!

In real life we are meant (note: meant) to be concerned with fuel efficiency, carbon footprints, recycling and long vehicle lives. Modern design/manufacturering techniques and styles mean we have heavy cars, requiring larger engines, bigger brakes, more complex electronics so that your average driver doesn't kill himself having twice the power he really needed. Then they stick on bigger, wider tyres that give more 'grip', but make the handling worse (often, but not always), driving the costs up needlessly, killing the driving pleasure. Because of the complexity, you can't do much work on them yourselves, especially when it comes to the electronics (which control everything these days), so you HAVE to get it serviced at a dealer (which generally means WORSE quality for a HIGHER price, at silly extended mileages), resulting in cars that are not economic to maintain/run after about 8 years (if that), rather than 20 or more years older cars can easily manage...

[ snip ]

A friend of mine part-exed his part-ex for the very reason that computers in cars == far less fun. He originally had an E36 (uGH!) M3 and swapped it in for a Skyline. While the skyline was quick as .... in a straight line, it wasn't fun to drive.. after 3 days, he was back in his M3.

This also bugs me as I used to do all the work on my, family and friends cars, but as you say, is nion impossible these days due to ECUs and needing both a degree in IT and ££££ worth of equipment. Gone are the days of a light bulb on the end of a screwdriver with a crocodile clip to check circuitry I had to get an auto-sparky in to sort a headlight issue out on my E30 as I was worried about blowing something serious (electronics have never really been my thing(tm) in mechanics anyway). Thankfully, I can still do most of the servicing at home, although a bitch as I had my BMW service keys nicked years ago.. which I could do with now



Regards,

Ian