Using Objective-C as an example of messages and Java for methods, the major difference is that when you pass messages, the Object decides how it wants to handle that message (usually results in an instance method in the Object being called). In Java however, method invocation is a more static thing, because you must have … Read more
As far as PHP is concerned, you might not need it when constructing a path, but it is important for anything you get from the OS. From http://alanhogan.com/tips/php/directory-separator-not-necessary: In attempting to write cross-platform, portable PHP code, I used PHP’s DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR constant to write path strings, e.g. “..”.DIRECTORY_SEPARATOR.”foo”, because the “proper” way to do it on … Read more
Vector: Ordered collection of objects of the same type. Set: Unordered collection of objects, possibly of the same type or possibly different depending on the collection type and language. Any given object can only appear once. Tuple: Ordered collection of objects of different types.
I’d opt for something like the approach taken by the cmp program: open two files (say file 1 and file 2), read a block from each, and compare them byte-by-byte. If they match, read the next block from each, compare them byte-by-byte, etc. If you get to the end of both files without detecting any … Read more
Reasons NOT to use short-circuit evaluation: Because it will behave differently and produce different results if your functions, property Gets or operator methods have side-effects. And this may conflict with: A) Language Standards, B) previous versions of your language, or C) the default assumptions of your languages typical users. These are the reasons that VB … Read more
I actually believe the assertion you linked is correct. The problem is sleep is being used (as you noted) as an inefficient substitute for notification mechanisms. Sleep is always inferior to a properly implemented notification mechanism, If you are waiting for an event. If you actually need to wait a specific amount of time for … Read more
I write tools that perform instrumentation. So here is what I think it is. DLL rewriting. This is what tools like Purify and Quantify do. A previous reply to this question said that they instrument post-compile/link. That is not correct. Purify and Quantify instrument the DLL the first time it is executed after a compile/link … Read more
Looks like you hit on a hot topic. As a web/graphic designer myself, I think the best way to improve your ability in that regard is to look at a lot of good designs; meaning, actively seek them out. As pixeline says, there’s not a lot of objective knowledge to be learned (though there is … Read more
1. Have you used FBP for a real project? We’ve designed and implemented a DF server for our automation project (dispatcher, component iterface, a bunch of components, DF language, DF compiler, UI). It is written in bare C++, and runs on several Unix-like systems (Linux x86, MIPS, avr32 etc., Mac OSX). It lacks several features, … Read more