Joel on Software - Painless Functional Specifications - Part 1: Why Bother?

Today was a classic case of synchronicity. For the fast few days I was quite caught up in the comp.software.extreme-programming
Today I got Joel's mail regarding his latest post (people have started discussing it in the usenet group) which basically pointed out the following:
"I can’t tell you how strongly I believe in Big Design Up Front, which the proponents of Extreme Programming consider anathema. I have consistently saved time and made better products by using BDUF and I’m proud to use it, no matter what the XP fanatics claim. They’re just wrong on this point and I can’t be any clearer than that."

Interesting point - I had hardly mulled this over when a friend wanted to know more about Agile Programming:)

But none of this has anything to do with this post :D

All I started out to say was that after visiting Joel's latest post I visited the links he ad pointed out one of which happened to be the post which is linked in the title of this post. I was reading this post and I happened upon this line:

"The more you write, the more you'll be able to write. If you need to write specs and you can't, start a journal, create a weblog, take a creative writing class, or just write a nice letter to every relative and college roommate you've blown off for the last 4 years."

Whats great about this line??? Well, this was the line which inspired me to start weblogging:)

So at the end of it all this was just a trivial emotional post:)

The Meaning of R.S.V.P.

Quite useful since many of us have forgotten what this acronym stands for. I know I had!

The short of it : "Respondez S'il Vous Plait"
The complete description - hop over to the link above.

Jai Hind

Here is wishing all Indians a Happy Independence Day.



btw the google image for the day:

"feeping creaturism"

Do you know that creature which runs around going "feep, feep".
You don't!!! You should!
So all you managers and software engineers out there, remember these two
words "Feeping Creaturism"

OK,OK before you blow your top it is just a spoonerism for "Creeping
Featurism". A-ha! Now you get it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feeping_creaturism

Seven habits of effective text editing

"If you spend a lot of time typing plain text, writing programs or HTML, you can save much of that time by using a good editor and using it effectively. This paper will present guidelines and hints for doing your work more quickly and with fewer mistakes." - Bram Moolenaar

Fogcreek Open House [Notes from a desi geek.]

For JoS fans. If you do not know what JoS means you are not a fan:)

Telegraph | Travel | Travel gadgets: it knows where you are...

The Hitchhikers Guide - the real deal -is here. So don't panic and don't forget your towel!!!

Satellite images of the weather via Insat

Hello mates,
My boss sent this wonderful link to me today.
Check it out.
For more options at this site go to the following link:
Insat Home

The stars of le Tour and how they performed...

... in a snapshot.
Check it all out in the ratings on the bbc site.

Emperor where are your...ahem, where are you???

Invisibility cloak, anyone?

Jonathan Ive / Designer of the Year 2003: Product Designer (1967-) - Design/Designer Information

Love the iPod; hate it???
Either ways check out the designer of all the kewl Apple stuff at the link above.

Joel on Software - Hitting the High Notes

Joel says:

"Does it even make sense to talk about having the 'best programmers?'
Is there so much variation between programmers that this even matters?
Maybe it's obvious to us, but to many, the assertion still needs to be proven."
For more read his article linked above.

An Ozzfest experience

Read about the experience of listening to Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath by clicking the link above.

The Birth Of Vader!!!

Check out the link above.
No further comments from me;)

Time To Get A Laptop

A really good reason to get a laptop

{clean video - audio work-unsafe}

20 Things That Only Happen In Movies - Nostalgia Central

In movies:

"37. Most musical instruments (especially wind instruments and accordions) can be played without moving your fingers."

Just one of the 40 gems to be found at this site

Speak Of The Devil...

Transcript of the Vatican Radio program 105live on Thursday, July 14, 2005.
By fr. Roderick Vonhögen (www.catholicinsider.com)

A must read for all religious zealots who oppose simple fiction like the Harry Potter books.

Bunty and Babli

Image Trial - Photo of Frankfurt Rail Terminus

Just checking the new upload image facility of Blogger.
This was a photo I got from another site. It is supposed tp be a photo f frankfirt rail terminus. Whereveer it is - it is a kewl pic. Reminds me of some video games:)

The photo itself is copyrighted to Florian Sindermann. To see more such photos just hop obver to railpictures.net using the link above.

Blogger Help : How do I post pictures?

Great news!!! Now We can upload images directly to our posts. This is very useful when we want to post away from a comp which has Picasa. To know more go to the above link.