In LCDC: Fundamental Knowledge, I explained how hard it is to specify a minimum level of knowledge or experience for all programmers. This minimum level would be needed to determine what is allowable for Lowest Common Denominator Code (LCDC). Anyone who has been programming for any time is probably shouting at the screen, calling me… Read More »
Secure Coding in C and C++ Robert C. Seacord Addison-Wesley, 2006 One very real problem in software today is the rise in security exploits of one kind or another. Gone are the days when we can just assume that no user of our software will try to break it, or use the software to compromise… Read More »
Compiler Design in C Allen I. Holub Prentice Hall, 1990 I decided to take a break from the relatively new books I’ve been reviewing and hit a real classic. Over a decade ago, I saw Compiler Design in C when I was interested in little languages. A quick look through the book convinced me that… Read More »
In The Semantics of Garbage Collection, I explained why I don’t like the term garbage collection. I also introduced the term resource recovery, and suggested that this change in naming could generate a useful change in viewpoint. Many programmers have been indoctrinated with the belief that garbage collection is the solution to all memory problems,… Read More »
I just recently read Valueless Software, written by Chad Fowler from about a year ago. In this article, he describes an approach to practicing music by ignoring the result and focusing on the process. He contends that software people might benefit from a similar approach. I have actually seen this approach used before in C… Read More »
In the past year, I’ve had to move my Java programming skills from recognize the language at twenty paces to professional Java programmer. In the process, I’ve been reading a number of books on the language. This has been my approach to learning every language I’ve ever worked with. Almost all of the Java books… Read More »