Entries for nightski

Covariance/Contravariance in .NET Generics [Covariance/Contravariance in .NET Generics]

nightski — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 23:36:54 GMT

Does anybody know of any official response from MS on why this feature wasn't supported in C#? The CLI itself supports it but for some reason it has been left out of C#.

Thanks.

in reply to Covariance/Contravariance in .NET Generics

Re: Optimization question [Optimization question]

nightski — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 13:19:43 GMT

For a pixel shader - it wouldn't be too difficult. I would highly recommend using Nvidia's FX Composer 2 - its a great IDE for shaders. Or if you want to use ATI stuff there is Rendermonkey.

in reply to Optimization question

Massive Silverlight Deployment [Massive Silverlight Deployment]

nightski — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 02:51:48 GMT

This has been showing up in the news lately -

http://www.infoq.com/news/2008/01/Silverlight-Olympic;jsessionid=8000A88C59A11F2E88554F03E62FA4BF

It is great news for the Silverlight platform. What do you think - risky move for NBC? 2.0 isn't even out in beta form yet. I gotta say though, I am really looking forward to the 2.0 beta.

in reply to Massive Silverlight Deployment

Flex vs. Silverlight [Flex vs. Silverlight]

nightski — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 00:39:33 GMT

I have been diving pretty heavily into WPF lately, and I do really enjoy it. With Silverlight 2.0 on the horizon, its even more compelling.

However I am not ignorant to what is happening with Flex/Air and the other platforms coming out. In fact, searches on dice.com return results in the thousands for flex/air, but only low hundreds for silverlight/wpf. Are there any Flex developers here? How do the platforms compare? Is Flex a joy to work with - or the opposite? Just looking for some opinions.

in reply to Flex vs. Silverlight

WPF in Finance Contest [WPF in Finance Contest]

nightski — Thu, 06 Dec 2007 05:38:01 GMT

http://wpfcontest.lab49.com/index.aspx

Anyone else going to enter? When I first started learning WPF I created some simple visualizations on top of Yahoo finance data to help learn the technology. This will be a very fun project to work on.

in reply to WPF in Finance Contest

F# Site Unavailable? [F# Site Unavailable?]

nightski — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:24:06 GMT

The F# site at

http://research.microsoft.com/fsharp/

has been unavailable all day (at least for me - does it work for anyone else?). Just curious if this was normal downtime or if there have been any announcements about it moving to a new location?

Thanks.

in reply to F# Site Unavailable?

Microsoft.Scripting [Microsoft.Scripting]

nightski — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 11:46:57 GMT

I have been studying the code for both the IronPython alpha implementation and the new Microsoft.Scripting code, and find it very fascinating. The project I am undertaking is to implement the Lua language on top of .NET using the DLR. At this point in time I am just learning the DLR, and determining if it would even be feasible.

My ultimate desire is to do a project that involves dealing with concurrent programming in .NET on top of the DLR. Working with and building upon implementations such as Stackless Python, CCR, and various other technologies. But I figure implementing a language on top of the DLR is a good first step so I can become very familiar with the platform. I also have a decent amount of free time until the holiday season.

However, this leads to my question. Is Microsoft's goal with the DLR for it to be *the* scripting solution for .NET? In other words, if you want to embed a scripting engine into your application, would the DLR be for this scenerio?

I only ask because I am curious if Microsoft intends to support such a scenerio in the future? Or is the purpose of the DLR to simply serve as an enabler for scripting in Silverlight/Web type applications?

in reply to Microsoft.Scripting

Silverlight Download [Silverlight Download]

nightski — Tue, 01 May 2007 17:48:50 GMT

Ok so I have to admit, Silverlight looks amazing. I want to download it and start writing a few test apps in it right away :) However when I click on the Alpha SDK download link on the Sliverlight page it just takes me to the samples gallery? Am I doing something wrong?

This is frustrating because I am excited to get started.

in reply to Silverlight Download

VS2005 SP1 for Vista [VS2005 SP1 for Vista]

nightski — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 05:21:01 GMT

I apologize if this is old news, but I saw it in a blog post.

VS2005 SP1 for Vista is officially released (non-beta)

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=90E2942D-3AD1-4873-A2EE-4ACC0AACE5B6&displaylang=en

in reply to VS2005 SP1 for Vista

Vista Problem Reports & Solutions [Vista Problem Reports & Solutions]

nightski — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 20:41:22 GMT

After listening to the audio on SQM on the Channel 9 front page I was looking at the Problem Reports & Solutions control panel for Windows Vista. Interestingly enough, I noticed that Vista had sent a report every time my application crashed while I was debugging it (its a native image processing app & I was working with some weird pointer arithmitic).

Out of curiousity, is there a way to disable the reporting for applications that you are developing? I mean I don't really mind the information being sent to Microsoft, but isn't it kind of pointless for them to get all this misinformation?

in reply to Vista Problem Reports & Solutions

Visual Studio Orcas [Visual Studio Orcas]

nightski — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:57:04 GMT

I've heard about all the wonderful new features coming in Orcas like C# 3.0, Linq, WPF Designer, etc...

However we haven't heard as much about the improvements to the editor. VS.NET has always been my favorite environment, but I am starting to see it fall behind the Java IDEs.

Specifically, features like rich refactoring support, unit testing integration, code analysis, error analysis, code coverage, dependency tracking, etc... Any word on if they will be improving these areas of VS (C# specifically, but would be great for all languages)?

Also I do know that some of these features like Unit Tests, Code Coverage, etc.. are available with Team Server. Is there any reason these features aren't offered in Professional? They aren't really team specific features, and most programmers using the Professional version could highly benefit from them.

If anyone has seen more info on these types of features please share :)

PS - I still have yet to download the January 2007 CTP, I will this weekend probably.

in reply to Visual Studio Orcas

Windows Vista & Gmail [Windows Vista & Gmail]

nightski — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 19:54:46 GMT

I like the new contacts & calendering applications in Windows Vista. However if I right click a contact and hit send email it opens windows mail (even though gmail is set to handle mailto: links). Is there any way to modify this behavior to use gmail? Also how does an application get listed in the "Show on Start Menu" list for "Email link: "?

Thanks

in reply to Windows Vista & Gmail

Vista RTM [Vista RTM]

nightski — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 05:56:26 GMT

Hope you guys don't mind a redundant thread, but I'm posting from my first session in Windows Vista RTM!! I haven't used Vista since the beta 2 or something phase and I just have to say this is the most positive experience I have ever had with a new operating system. Call me a fanboy but its just freaking amazing :)

To all at Microsoft: outstanding work!

in reply to Vista RTM

Video Request [Video Request]

nightski — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 17:40:11 GMT

I know that Channel 9 doesn't take video requests, but I would like to make a suggestion. I spend a good portion of my time researching in the fields of machine learning and vision. Microsoft has entire teams devoted to these topics within MSR. One of the great researchers you employ (there are many!) is John Platt (http://research.microsoft.com/~jplatt/). He has some great ideas, but I am especially intruiged by his work with Support Vector Machines. What is the chance of seeing a video with him, or any of the great researchers in these fields?

in reply to Video Request

Kudos Scoble [Kudos Scoble]

nightski — Mon, 18 Jul 2005 16:56:23 GMT

It is so funny how all the people out there are so swept off there feet by a headline or statement that they forget the true facts.

I have been reading your blog, and the recent posts regarding Longhorn names, VC stuff, etc.. has been very interesting.

So many people are out there spreading so much crap. Especially in the Slashdot circles - it is so funny! So many people want change so bad that they will switch to a new platform/language/linux distro/application every day just to say how glad they are to be behind it.

Meanwhile, I'll just stick with .NET. Microsoft is creating some really cool products. I think there are many developers that are doing the same thing - but we are just too busy producing software to really get involved in all the FUD :-)

Keep up the good work.

in reply to Kudos Scoble

BSG [BSG]

nightski — Fri, 15 Jul 2005 19:26:00 GMT

Don't forget, Battlestar Gallactica season 2 starts tonight at 10 P.M./9 Central!

I can't wait! :-)

in reply to BSG

COM Interop [COM Interop]

nightski — Fri, 15 Jul 2005 18:43:17 GMT

I am working with some machine vision components from National Instruments at work. Unfortunately, they are currently only available as COM components. So far I have been using the "Add Reference" method to import the type libraries via Visual Studio. This has worked ok.

However, I would like to use the tlbimp method to get the type libraries. This works fine except for the following scenerio -

In VS.NET when you import a COM library it generates a proxy assembly. But then if you go to the Toolbox tab and add any COM ActiveX controls it generates a second assembly.

For example -

NIDaqControlsLib.dll
AxNIDaqControlsLib.dll

These are both generated by VS.NET. One is for access to the class library, the other for the visual components.

So far I have only been able to generate the first one with tlbimp. Is there any way to generate the second type - for ActiveX controls using tlbimp?

Thanks!

in reply to COM Interop

CodeDom 2.0 [CodeDom 2.0]

nightski — Fri, 15 Jul 2005 15:21:54 GMT

I am currently working on doing some really cool optimizations in my .NET numerical code using the automatic code generation features of CodeDom. However, I am using v2.0 of the .NET Framework and some changes have been made to it since v1.1.

Does anyone know of a good place to find out details on the 2.0 version of CodeDom? Like what changes have been made, tips, etc...

Thanks!

in reply to CodeDom 2.0

.NET Numerical Processing [.NET Numerical Processing]

nightski — Wed, 13 Jul 2005 15:30:33 GMT

I have been working for over a year now on researching algorithms in the machine learning and image processing field. I am to the point where I have some really solid ideas for implementation. They involve additions and modifications to Support Vector Machines and the Condensation Filter if you are curious. The Condensation Filter (a replacement for the Kalman filter) is a uni-modal filter which assumes no prior distribution (whereas the Kalman filter assumes Gaussian).

Anyways, I have been working on this project in C++ because of the really cool stuff you can do with templates such as metaprograms and expression templates. It allows some really good performance enhancements at compile time.

Now I would be real interested in moving this to .NET. Performance is really important, but I know that .NET can provide good results if used correctly.

To my question - is there any way I could use the facilities in C#, possibly attributes or generics to accomplish things similar to the expression templates technique in C++?

Thanks!

in reply to .NET Numerical Processing

The advantage to being Microsoft... [The advantage to being Microsoft...]

nightski — Fri, 24 Jun 2005 23:22:26 GMT

This might be old news, but I thought it was extremely cool. In Windows Longhorn Microsoft is leading up an effort for RAW image support in Windows. Apple announced the same thing with OS X, however there is a huge difference. Since all the camera manufactuerers release a slightly different RAW format, Apple decided to attempt to reverse engineer this format for all the cameras (Adobe tried this too). However, since Panther there have been little to no updates to the effort.

Now, in Longhorn Microsoft has rounded up support from not only Adobe, but many of the camera manufacturers to agree on a standard devised by everyone.

This is one area where having Microsoft is a huge advantage - getting all the big corps to agree. One thing the Linux movement couldn't accomplish with its ad-hoc model.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/longhorn_raw_images.asp

Interesting.

in reply to The advantage to being Microsoft...

Team Blogs [Team Blogs]

nightski — Thu, 23 Jun 2005 02:52:56 GMT

I have a question about all the Microsoft Blogs on MSDN. I am currently looking at the Visual Studio Team System blog page. There are like 50 bloggers all working on VSTS. However, many of the blogs are out of date, etc..

Why have so many blogs and make the customer go through each one to determine who is blogging and who is not?

Maybe make a single team blog for each product? Or just put the active blogs up on the site?

Just a suggestion. Thanks for all the great info on the blogs!

in reply to Team Blogs

I think you will like this [I think you will like this]

nightski — Mon, 13 Jun 2005 17:03:09 GMT

Hey,
I found this on the internet a while ago, and thought I would post it. It is a new movie starring, well, I think you know who :-)

http://www.nata2.info/humor/flash/switchlinux3.swf

CAUTION: Do not go to this link at work with your sound turned way up, unless that sort of thing is ok at your workplace :-)

Enjoy!

in reply to I think you will like this

Linux Question relating to VS.NET 2005 Alternatives (Beer28?) [Linux Question relating to VS.NET 2005 Alternatives (Beer28?)]

nightski — Tue, 07 Jun 2005 16:38:00 GMT

I have always been intrigued by Linux, and have become much more familiar with it over the years. It is a nice operating system, and I would like to give it a go.

However, my biggest beef with it is the lack of a VS.NET 2005 type tool.

Given I can probably scrounge around for 100 different tools that perform the various functions VS.NEt 2005 does - but is there any kind of integrated environment for this? Here would be my requirements -

*Doesn't have to do .NET - I love C++ too
*I hate Java :-)
*Enterprise type development features
   *Full subversion/cvs integrated support
   *Document management (requirements, design, SOPs, etc..)
   *Performance testing & memory profiling (instrumentation & sampling)
   *Static code analysis (such as the FxCop integrated in VS.NET 2005)
   *Debugger Visualizers (Sweet, but not as vital)
   *Full item tracking back to requirements along with bug tracking features
   *Unit testing integration
   *Refactoring
   *Some sort of team collaboration such as a Sharepoint integration (not with sharepoint - could be some PHP community site or something)

If there is anthing that comes close please let me know. I am willing to pay for it.

Anyways, I love VS.NET 2005 so much it will be very hard to make a switch, but if you can give me a link to a good Linux IDE I would be very greatful. The hack in vim & compile method just doesn't work for me.

Thanks!

in reply to Linux Question relating to VS.NET 2005 Alternatives (Beer28?)

C++ Design Question [C++ Design Question]

nightski — Thu, 28 Apr 2005 23:45:55 GMT

Hello all.

I am writing a class library in C++ (port from C#). I haven't used C++ in many years (C# convert), and need some guidance on the following.

In c# I have implemented a matrix class that stores a matrix of numbers in a single dimension double array. (double[] matrix = new double[rows * columns]). I have also implemented a sparse matrix class that is very similar (a sparse matrix being one where only a few elements are stored - those that are not close to zero for those who ask).

Now, in C++ I am doing the same thing. However, does C++ have any sort of indexer facility? I want to give my C++ class indexers (you know, the [] on your own class). This would be similar to C# - public double this[int row, int column] {}). So is there any way to do this in C++?

If C++ doesn't support indexers, ok that is fine. But what facility would you recommend? I *can't* simply return a pointer to the array. Why? Because the matrix is in a sparse format (which doesn't store every element of the matrix, hence requesting row 2 column 3 might return an element in the array, or zero - not necessarily row 2 column 3 of the array).

I thought about using a function GetElement(int row, int column), but this seems like a high overhead operation? Of course it could be inline, but is there any better solution?

Thanks.

in reply to C++ Design Question