Language/library updates
Fabric Engine
Fabric Engine 1.0 has been released as open source. It is a unique system for allowing developers with dynamic languages to write multi-threaded, native code operations. That gives a lot of power to languages that normally do not have it.
Tools and products
CumuLogic free for academics, limited production use
CumuLogic’s Java platform-as-a-service product is now free for accredited schools, including limited (up to 25 nodes) production use.
dotTrace 5.0 Performance
JetBrains released the newest version of its dotTrace Performance code profiling product.
Basho’s Riak CS
Basho announced Riak CS, a multi-tenancy cloud storage system.
ASP.NET MVC, Web API, and Razor go open source
Microsoft released the source code for ASP.NET MVC, Web API, and Razor under the Apache 2.0 license.
Boundary GA
The Boundary monitoring service for Big Data systems is now at General Availability. While pricing is not available yet and you cannot purchase a plan, you are able to get the 14 day trial.
Editorial and commentary
Appcelerator Q1 2012 Mobile Developer Report
Appcelerator released its latest Mobile Developer Report (PDF), which is consistently one of the most interesting reads around. Of note is plummeting interest in BlackBerry, interest in WP7 holding steady at a clear “number three” status, and that mobile development is still skyrocketing in importance.
Programming courses for teens
Internal Drive has a series of courses that high school students (ages 13 - 18) can take at top universities. The two-week courses are a great way to expose a young adult to college and help them learn about development. I hope this is still around when my kids are old enough to take the courses.
Tips and tricks
Don’t provide async wrappers for synchronous methods
Stephen Toub wrote a good article explaining why making asynchronous wrappers for synchronous methods is not a good idea.
More evidence that multi-tasking is self-defeating
Apparently, multi-tasking reduces efficiency by a whopping 25%! Next time someone asks if you are a “good multi-tasker” the answer is “no, and no one is either.”
Events
April 24, 2012: Online patterns & practices Symposium 2012 — Microsoft’s patterns & practices group is holding an online Symposium on April 24.
May 1-3, 2012: BlackBerry Jam 10 in Orlando - BlackBerry 10 Jam attendees will get a free developer device to help them develop applications on the new form factors.
May 3-4, 2012: webDU 2012 in Sydney - TechRepublic Australia Editor Chris Duckett writes: “The conference has also issued a call for papers, with potential speakers required to submit a relevant topic for a 50-minute session. The WebDU site says that just about anything to do with web and rich internet-application development and related topics will be considered. Submissions are due by January 8, 2012.” Go to the webDU site for more details about the event.
May 18-19, 2012: Italian phpDay - There will be a phpDay conference in Verona, Italy May 18 and 19, 2012.
June 7-9, 2012: PHP conference in Amsterdam - The Dutch PHP event will be held in English.
October 1-3, 2012: Business of Software 2012 - Registration is now open for the Business of Software 2012 event, which will be held in Boston. I’d love to get to this event myself, though I doubt my schedule will allow it.
J.Ja
Also read on TechRepublic
- Update brings Windows Phone 7 development to Windows 8
- AtG: Apple ACCC update, Delphi of ATO, Microsoft says open is better
- Locationally takes out SAPI hackathon
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