Language/library updates
PHP updates
PHP 5.3.4 and PHP 5.2.15 have been released. Both updates address a number of bugs and security issues.
Silverlight 5 announced
Microsoft has shown off Silverlight 5. It is not nearly as dramatic an upgrade as previous versions, but Microsoft made it clear that the pace of Silverlight would slow now that it is more mature, so people can count on it being a stable technology.
Python 3.2 gets parallel processing improvements
Python 3.2 is currently in beta. It looks like Python 3.2 is going to get an overhaul on how it works with threads.
ASP.NET MVC 3 RC2
The second release candidate of ASP.NET MVC 3 has been released.
Tools and products
Visual Studio 2010 SP1 Beta
There is a public beta of the first Visual Studio 2010 service pack. The improvements are focused on testing, debugging, and deployment.
Appcelerator Titanium Mobile 1.5
Appcelerator has released version 1.5 of its Titanium Mobile development platform. There’s a lot in it, including updated Android functionality and compatibility with Android 2.3.
Karmasphere Analyst
The Karmasphere Analyst application is now available. It makes Hadoop data easy to access for BAs and other SQL-oriented workers.
Kalido Data Governance Director
Kalido released its Data Governance Director application to make it easy to enforce data governance throughout your organization.
OpenLogic Exchange
OpenLogic announced its OpenLogic Exchange (OLEX) package, which is a SaaS product to help you provision open source applications and keep tabs on where and how you are using them.
Micro Focus Modernization Workbench updated
Micro Focus released version 3.2 of its Modernization Workbench software, which is designed to help companies identify opportunities to save money by updating legacy applications.
Tips and tricks
SOA/Agile survey
AppDynamics released the results of a survey showing the impact of Agile and SOA on the enterprise. The results are interesting. I think some of the questions are worded in a way that leads to slightly different percentages (for example, I don’t consider anyone releasing less often than once a month Agile, but the survey does). The survey also kind of lumps Agile and SOA together; SOA usually uses Agile, but Agile does not need SOA. At the same time, the big item that stuck out at me is how few developers say that Agile or SOA is making things easier, and how many say that it is making things harder. I’ve heard a lot of horror stories from folks at companies who suddenly decide to go Agile, and I think SOA is a dangerous pattern in the wrong hands, so this is not surprising to me.
Solution for circular WP7 navigation
The navigation in Windows Phone 7 drives me nuts as a developer! The Nonlinear Navigation Service helps you work with navigation more easily to remove loops. Of course, if they just stopped trying to shove this navigation paradigm down our throats, we wouldn’t need these workarounds.
Standing Cloud Partner Program
Standing Cloud announced a new partner program for developers who work with applications such as WordPress, Drupal, SugarCRM, and more.
WP7 Marketplace changes
Microsoft has made download/payout information for apps available immediately to Windows Phone 7 developers, and payouts will begin in January, not February as originally announced.
Related TechRepublic post: Windows Phone 7’s disappointing app sales reality.
Google Chrome Web App Store
Google has launched a store for web apps: the Chrome Store.
MVVM “In the Box” training
Karl Shifflett has made a training package to teach MVVM that works inside Visual Studio. One of my winter projects will be to go through this training package.
Dynamic generation of WPF/SL controls
Pete Brown has a useful tutorial on how apps can add controls to the UI at runtime.
EF4 training
Here are some free training videos to learn how to work with Entity Framework 4.
CloudBees buys Stax Networks
CloudBees has purchased PaaS provider Stax Networks. They seem to be gearing up to become to Java what Engine Yard is to Ruby.
Events
Eclipse Community Awards for 2011
The Eclipse Organization has nominations for the Eclipse Community Awards open until 1/28/2011.
BlackBerry World 2011
The BlackBerry World conference will be held in Orlando, FL on May 3 - 5, 2011 with registration opening in January. This conference will replace WES.
More developer news and reviews on TechRepublic
- What can the OpenBSD IPsec backdoor allegations teach us?
- Apache pulls out of Java Community Process
- Poll: What was the biggest development news item in 2010?
- While onsite employment has been stagnant, demand for online workers increases
- Review of the new Komodo IDE 6: Great new features, one gripe
- Build desktop and web apps with Alpha Five 10.5 Developer
J.Ja
Disclosure of Justin’s industry affiliations: Justin James has a contract with Spiceworks to write product buying guides; he has a contract with OpenAmplify, which is owned by Hapax, to write a series of blogs, tutorials, and articles; and he has a contract with OutSystems to write articles, sample code, etc.
