Language/library updates

PHP 5.4 RC2

The PHP team released PHP 5.4’s second release candidate. This is a bug fix release, not a new feature release.

Typesafe to integrate Play

Typesafe announced that the Play web application framework will be integrated into its Typesafe Stack 2.0 development stack by early 2012.

Tools and products

SmartAssembly 6.5

Red Gate updated its useful SmartAssembly tool to version 6.5.

Typemock Isolator 6.2

Typemock updated its Isolator testing system for .NET to version 6.2.

Oxygene 5 for Java

RemObjects released Oxygene 5 for Java, which allows Object Pascal code (including Delphi) to run on Java. This gives Android programmers an additional option for development as well.

NetBeans 7.1 RC1

NetBeans 7.1, release candidate 1, is now available.

New Relic’s SaaS APM gets server monitoring

New Relic’s SaaS Application Performance Management tool has been enhanced with the addition of server monitoring.

Microsoft ceases Dryad development

Microsoft announced that it’s stopping the development of Dryad, a system for running distributed .NET code (think: Hadoop for .NET). This is truly disappointing, especially since I first heard of Dryad four or five years ago, long before Hadoop even got started, and I was looking forward to seeing it when it came to fruition.

More Visual Studio 11 improvements

S. Somasegar highlights a number of improvements in Visual Studio 11 that have not received much notice yet.

Engine Yard adds Node.js support

Engine Yard is adding support for Node.js, a system for running JavaScript server-side in Web applications that I hear good things about.

SilkTest 2011

Micro Focus’s recently released SilkTest 2011 adds integration with its Rumba terminal emulator, more cross-browser support, and support for Silverlight and Flex (although it looks like the ship is sailing on those two).

Cloud monitoring

A new company named Boundary has been launched to provide real-time monitoring of popular cloud hosts.

Editorial and commentary

Appcelerator’s Q4 mobile developer survey

One thing I look forward to every few months is the release of Appcelerator’s quarterly mobile developer survey. The most recent installment is interesting as always. The big news is that developer interest in the Amazon Kindle Fire went straight to the top of the Android stack, and there’s almost as much interest in it was there was for the iPad pre-launch. In addition, interest in WP7 has surged to gain a decisive lead over RIM; the Nokia partnership was key in that shift.

Integration is key to SaaS/cloud

MuleSoft conducted a survey that shows integrations are important enough to developers that it is a key to getting customers to move to cloud and SaaS applications. I believe it — everyone wants to modify and combine workflows in their applications.

Microsoft’s public HTML5 art project

Microsoft used HTML5 to create a public project that lets users create works of art. It is a great showcase for HTML5 technology.

This is why I became a developer

Great comic from xkcd.

Why do I never get this salesperson?

Funny Dilbert strip.

Tips and tricks

Mobile usability detailed

Jakob Nielsen has an outstanding summary of usability guidelines for mobile websites.

PHPCloud.com tutorial

Kevin Schroeder has a quick beginner’s guide to working with the new Xend PHPCloud.com offering.

Events

RockPaperAzure back online

The RockPaperAzure contest is back, this time there are Best Buy gift cards at stake. It is going on right now.

Azure Camps around the United States

There are a number of Azure Camps being held in December across the United States to help folks get their hands dirty with Azure.

January 27-28, 2012: PHPBenelux

The PHPBenelux 2012 conference in Antwerp will be held January 27 and 28.

March 26-29, 2012: Agile ALM Connect

If you’re interested in Agile methodologies and techniques, the Agile ALM Connect event will be put on by the Eclipse Foundation March 26 – 29, 2012 in Reston, VA.

May 3-4, 2012: webDU 2012 in Sydney

TechRepublic Australia Editor Chris Ducket 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.

J.Ja