Not bad Bill, Not Bad

So I have spent the last 3 days with Windows 7. (gasp)

So far this is the best of Microsoft's offerings. Take that in context; I am a die-hard Linux user. I find it to be fairly productive, extremely responsive and simple to configure for php, java, ruby, python, or .NET development. Media Player 11 is a nice touch, not too much different from 10, but a bit more responsive.

For open source development, Netbeans 6.7 runs like a champ. PHP fairly flies under IIS thanks to IIS 7 and Fast CGI. The GUI tools for MySQL which were designed for XP run just fine with no bugs, and I have only had one driver problem which was fixed by downloading and installing the Vista driver for my laptop's touch pad.

Does this mean my 'nux days are over? NO. Just nice to know that there is a decent Windows out there, with all the eye candy of Vista and the stability (so far) of XP.

Kudos, Microsoft.

Current Music: Breaking Benjamin's Dear Agony. That is all I have to say. BB is my favorite band after all.

Refreshing Weekend

So I had a good weekend. Basically hung out at the house, finished a few projects, drew some purdy pictures (lol), wrote a couple of pages on the screenplay, played my guitar, ate high fat hot dogs and pasta (not at the same time, lol).

Notice anything missing? Give up? NO PROGRAMMING this weekend. That was an awesome break.

Soundtrack for the Weekend: Killswitch Engage's new Self titled album.

Current Comic: Working on concept art for a Eridani Elite Series. Also Writing the first story arc, entitled "Dante's Inferno"

Game: On Hold, Talking to the other developers today.

What a load of...

I came in to work this morning to a ton of crap. Everything is broken, nobody knows how to fix it, or really has any interest in figuring it out. Plus the office politics are really starting to get to me. Dear God, Please let me make it through the day.

Good Times Java

So I found a "tutorial" on web development with Java. It is like 1500 pages! Way to boil it down to the basics.

Ah well, at least I won't get bored.

Java and me.

So, me and Java have this love-hate thing going. I really want to learn to be a better Java programmer, but I hate the Framework. It is just so friggin huge, and I have no idea where the stuff that I want to use is.
Second, what is up with Factories? There are so many classes that will not let you create a direct instance of them and require you to use a factory. I can't seem to see the advantage of doing it this way. Maybe I am just dumb.

Ah, well guess I will have to suck it up and learn all this stuff. The bottom line is I am tired of being tied to Microsoft and feeling like my skills in Java are not good enough to get me a job as a Java developer. Plus, those Java cats get all the cool toys like Eclipse and Netbeans. Not that Visual Studio is inferior, just that it is very tied to microsoft and the .NET framework. No Ruby, no Python, no PHP. IronPy or IronRuby doesn't count because, (guess what) it is tied to the .NET Framework. What if I wanna build on Rails? Netbeans it is. Andriod? Eclipse. (Android development makes my head hurt by the way. Why do they [Google] have to make up new terms for every API they create?)

Edit 6/2012: Looking back at this.... Man, I was dumb. Really Brett? Factories? Sheesh.

Music of the Day: Halestorm. Again, sorry mom.

Open Source dreaming.

I really wish I could get an open source programming job. Or even a normal job where we program with opensource languages. PHP would be good, or Java, (although I need to work on my Java skills a bit).

Alas, OSS is more fun and cutting edge, but currently MS pays the bills. I would like to make time to get involved with one of the GNU/Linux projects, but honestly, when would I work on it? I already go to school full time, work, and am trying to make a video game.

Speaking of video games... I am feeling a little down about the game studio idea. I read a bunch of articles last week about how 30 is too old to be a game designer. Seriously. Should I just suck it up and move on to other types of software, or what? I dunno.

Does anyone actually read blogs?

I have been wondering about this for a while. Aside from my mom, who I don't think even knows that my blog exists, I can't recall anyone ever saying to me: "Hey, Brett, I read your blog yesterday, great post!" or some other such comment.

It's sorta depressing.

Oh well, I shall attempt to carry on. Here is the update on what I have been doing lately.

• Tesla Games. We (we being me and about 9 friends) are trying like hell to find the time to finish our first level of our first video game. I can't give too many details, because I want it all to be a surprise, but suffice to say that the big hold up is art assets. You would not believe the amount of stuff that goes into just a single level of a commercial quality video game.
• College. I am in a class now called Compiler and Interpreter Design. Wow. Not all that fun. It is interesting to learn how to build my own compiler, but I think, not a career track for me personally.
• Gia. Gia is our new dog. She is a Bull-Mastiff and she is super big. Fortunately, she is equally super sweet.
• Work: eehhh. I don't want to talk about it.

That is the whole she-bang in one go I think.
Random thought of the day: AT&T sucks. If you need proof, try to upgrade your existing phone to an iPhone. For added fun, ask them how much it will cost you to do an early upgrade. I will give you a hint, it is three digits.
Current Music: Killswitch Engage. Awesome. No other word for it. (Just in case you read this mom, you definitely would NOT like Killswitch. Sorry.)
I have started toying with the idea of writing again, but I just don't know where I would fit it in to the schedule, what with all the other crap I have to do. Those of you who have read my work in the past, let me know what you think.
-B

The most awesome thing ever!

I just joined the ranks of PSP owners. Let me tell you, this thing is awesome. I once was a die hard Microsoft guy, but I really think that the PS3 and the PSP have it right. Built in wifi, integrated bluetooth, analog controls, you can connect the two together for more playing options. Hell, the only thing I can't get it to do is make coffee. (actually... there may be an attachment for that). And by the way, if you are a linux fan, you can get the kernel to run on either one of these awesome devices; although it requires a bit of effort.

Take my word for it though.... awesome.