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  • Advice on software / database design to avoid using cursors when updating database

    - by Remnant
    I have a database that logs when an employee has attended a course and when they are next due to attend the course (courses tend to be annual). As an example, the following employee attended course '1' on 1st Jan 2010 and, as the course is annual, is due to attend next on the 1st Jan 2011. As today is 20th May 2010 the course status reads as 'Complete' i.e. they have done the course and do not need to do it again until next year: EmployeeID CourseID AttendanceDate DueDate Status 123456 1 01/01/2010 01/01/2011 Complete In terms of the DueDate I calculate this in SQL when I update the employee's record e.g. DueDate = AttendanceDate + CourseFrequency (I pull course frequency this from a separate table). In my web based app (asp.net mvc) I pull back this data for all employees and display it in a grid like format for HR managers to review. This allows HR to work out who needs to go on courses. The issue I have is as follows. Taking the example above, suppose today is 2nd Jan 2011. In this case, employee 123456 is now overdue for the course and I would like to set the Status to Incomplete so that the HR manager can see that they need to action this i.e. get employee on the course. I could build a trigger in the database to run overnight to update the Status field for all employees based on the current date. From what I have read I would need to use cursors to loop over each row to amend the status and this is considered bad practice / inefficient or at least something to avoid if you can??? Alternatively, I could compute the Status in my C# code after I have pulled back the data from the database and before I display it on screen. The issue with this is that the Status in the database would not necessarily match what is shown on screen which just feels plain wrong to me. Does anybody have any advice on the best practice approach to such an issue? It helps, if I did use a cursor I doubt I would be looping over more than 1000 records at any given time. Maybe this is such small volume that using cursors is okay?

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  • Differing styles in Python program: what do you suggest?

    - by Noctis Skytower
    A friend of mine wanted help learning to program, so he gave me all the programs that he wrote for his previous classes. The last program that he wrote was an encryption program, and after rewriting all his programs in Python, this is how his encryption program turned out (after adding my own requirements). #! /usr/bin/env python ################################################################################ """\ CLASS INFORMATION ----------------- Program Name: Program 11 Programmer: Stephen Chappell Instructor: Stephen Chappell for CS 999-0, Python Due Date: 17 May 2010 DOCUMENTATION ------------- This is a simple encryption program that can encode and decode messages.""" ################################################################################ import sys KEY_FILE = 'Key.txt' BACKUP = '''\ !"#$%&'()*+,-./0123456789:;<=>?@ABCDEFGHIJKLMNO\ PQRSTUVWXYZ[\]^_`abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz{|}~ _@/6-UC'GzaV0%5Mo9g+yNh8b">Bi=<Lx [sQn#^R.D2Xc(\ Jm!4e${lAEWud&t7]H\`}pvPw)FY,Z~?qK|3SOfk*:1;jTrI''' ################################################################################ def main(): "Run the program: loads key, runs processing loop, and saves key." encode_map, decode_map = load_key(KEY_FILE) try: run_interface_loop(encode_map, decode_map) except SystemExit: pass save_key(KEY_FILE, encode_map) def run_interface_loop(encode_map, decode_map): "Shows the menu and runs the appropriate command." print('This program handles encryption via a customizable key.') while True: print('''\ MENU ==== (1) Encode (2) Decode (3) Custom (4) Finish''') switch = get_character('Select: ', tuple('1234')) FUNC[switch](encode_map, decode_map) def get_character(prompt, choices): "Gets a valid menu option and returns it." while True: sys.stdout.write(prompt) sys.stdout.flush() line = sys.stdin.readline()[:-1] if not line: sys.exit() if line in choices: return line print(repr(line), 'is not a valid choice.') ################################################################################ def load_key(filename): "Gets the key file data and returns encoding/decoding dictionaries." plain, cypher = open_file(filename) return dict(zip(plain, cypher)), dict(zip(cypher, plain)) def open_file(filename): "Load the keys and tries to create it when not available." while True: try: with open(filename) as file: plain, cypher = file.read().split('\n') return plain, cypher except: with open(filename, 'w') as file: file.write(BACKUP) def save_key(filename, encode_map): "Dumps the map into two buffers and saves them to the key file." plain = cypher = str() for p, c in encode_map.items(): plain += p cypher += c with open(filename, 'w') as file: file.write(plain + '\n' + cypher) ################################################################################ def encode(encode_map, decode_map): "Encodes message for the user." print('Enter your message to encode (EOF when finished).') message = get_message() for char in message: sys.stdout.write(encode_map[char] if char in encode_map else char) def decode(encode_map, decode_map): "Decodes message for the user." print('Enter your message to decode (EOF when finished).') message = get_message() for char in message: sys.stdout.write(decode_map[char] if char in decode_map else char) def custom(encode_map, decode_map): "Allows user to edit the encoding/decoding dictionaries." plain, cypher = get_new_mapping() for p, c in zip(plain, cypher): encode_map[p] = c decode_map[c] = p ################################################################################ def get_message(): "Gets and returns text entered by the user (until EOF)." buffer = [] while True: line = sys.stdin.readline() if line: buffer.append(line) else: return ''.join(buffer) def get_new_mapping(): "Prompts for strings to edit encoding/decoding maps." while True: plain = get_unique_chars('What do you want to encode from?') cypher = get_unique_chars('What do you want to encode to?') if len(plain) == len(cypher): return plain, cypher print('Both lines should have the same length.') def get_unique_chars(prompt): "Gets strings that only contain unique characters." print(prompt) while True: line = input() if len(line) == len(set(line)): return line print('There were duplicate characters: please try again.') ################################################################################ # This map is used for dispatching commands in the interface loop. FUNC = {'1': encode, '2': decode, '3': custom, '4': lambda a, b: sys.exit()} ################################################################################ if __name__ == '__main__': main() For all those Python programmers out there, your help is being requested. How should the formatting (not necessarily the coding by altered to fit Python's style guide? My friend does not need to be learning things that are not correct. If you have suggestions on the code, feel free to post them to this wiki as well.

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  • Extending Throwable in Java

    - by polygenelubricants
    Java lets you create an entirely new subtype of Throwable, e.g: public class FlyingPig extends Throwable { ... } Now, very rarely, I may do something like this: throw new FlyingPig("Oink!"); and of course elsewhere: try { ... } catch (FlyingPig porky) { ... } My questions are: Is this a bad idea? And if so, why? What could've been done to prevent this subtyping if it is a bad idea? Since it's not preventable (as far as I know), what catastrophies could result? If this isn't such a bad idea, why not? How can you make something useful out of the fact that you can extends Throwable?

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  • What is the basic pattern for using (N)Hibernate?

    - by Vilx-
    I'm creating a simple Windows Forms application with NHibernate and I'm a bit confused about how I'm supposed to use it. To quote the manual: ISession (NHibernate.ISession) A single-threaded, short-lived object representing a conversation between the application and the persistent store. Wraps an ADO.NET connection. Factory for ITransaction. Holds a mandatory (first-level) cache of persistent objects, used when navigating the object graph or looking up objects by identifier. Now, suppose I have the following scenario: I have a simple classifier which is a MSSQL table with two columns - ID (auto_increment) and Name (nvarchar). To edit this classifier I create a form which contains a single gridview and two buttons - OK and Cancel. The user can nearly directly edit the table in the gridview, and when he hits OK the changes he made are persisted to the DB (or if he hits cancel, nothing happens). Now, I have several questions about how to organize this: What should the lifetime of my ISession be? Should I create a single ISession for my whole application; an ISession for each of my forms (the application is single-threaded MDI); or an ISession for every DB operation/transaction? Does NHibernate offer some kind of built-in dirty tracking or must I do this myself? The manual mentions something like it here and there but does not go into details. How is this done? Is there not a huge overhead? Is it somehow tied with the cache(s) that NHibernate has? What are these caches for? Are they not specific to a single ISession? That is, if I use a seperate ISession for every transaction, won't it break the dirty tracking? How does the built-in dirty tracking detect deleted objects?

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  • Recommendations for 'C' Project architecture guidelines?

    - by SiegeX
    Now that I got my head wrapped around the 'C' language to a point where I feel proficient enough to write clean code, I'd like to focus my attention on project architecture guidelines. I'm looking for a good resource that coves the following topics: How to create an interface that promotes code maintainability and is extensible for future upgrades. Library creation guidelines. Example, when should I consider using static vs dynamic libraries. How to properly design an ABI to cope with either one. Header files: what to partition out and when. Examples on when to use 1:1 vs 1:many .h to .c Anything you feel I missed but is important when attempting to architect a new C project. Ideally, I'd like to see some example projects ranging from small to large and see how the architecture changes depending on project size, function or customer. What resource(s) would you recommend for such topics?

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  • What to do of exceptions when implementing java.lang.Iterator

    - by Vincent Robert
    The java.lang.Iterator interface has 3 methods: hasNext, next and remove. In order to implement a read-only iterator, you have to provide an implementation for 2 of those: hasNext and next. My problem is that these methods does not declare any exceptions. So if my code inside the iteration process declares exceptions, I must enclose my iteration code inside a try/catch block. My current policy has been to rethrow the exception enclosed in a RuntimeException. But this has issues because the checked exceptions are lost and the client code no longer can catch those exceptions explicitly. How can I work around this limitation in the Iterator class? Here is a sample code for clarity: class MyIterator implements Iterator { @Override public boolean hasNext() { try { return implementation.testForNext(); } catch ( SomethingBadException e ) { throw new RuntimeException(e); } } @Override public boolean next() { try { return implementation.getNext(); } catch ( SomethingBadException e ) { throw new RuntimeException(e); } } ... }

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  • Will asking users to upgrade their browser cause issues?

    - by John Isaacks
    Ok I am considering putting up something asking ie6 users to upgrade their browser. However, I am concerned that users will upgrade it, not like it. Then blame me. Is this a real concern? am I going to get people calling me asking me how to use their new browser or how to get their old one back? Whats your thought on this topic? Thanks!!

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  • What should be the "trunk" development, or release

    - by Nix
    I have the unfortunate opportunity of source control via Borland's StarTeam. It unfortunately does very few things well, and one supreme weakness is its view management. I love SVN and come from an SVN mindset. Our issue is post production release we are spending countless hours merging changes into a "production support" environment. Please do not harass me this was not my doing, I inherited it and am trying to present a better way of managing the repository. It is not an option to switch to a different SCM tool. Current setup Product.1.0 (TRUNK, current production code, and at this level are pending bug fixes) Product.2.0(true trunk anything checked in gets tested, and then released next production cycle, a lot of changes occur in this view) My proposal is going to be to swap them, have all development be done on the trunk (Production), tag on releases, and as needed create child views to represent production support bug fixes. Production Production.2.0.SP.1 I can not find any documentation to support the above proposal so I am trying to get feedback on whether or not the change is a good idea and if there is anything you would recommend doing differently.

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  • How to restrain one's self from the overwhelming urge to rewrite everything?

    - by Scott Saad
    Setup Have you ever had the experience of going into a piece of code to make a seemingly simple change and then realizing that you've just stepped into a wasteland that deserves some serious attention? This usually gets followed up with an official FREAK OUT moment, where the overwhelming feeling of rewriting everything in sight starts to creep up. It's important to note that this bad code does not necessarily come from others as it may indeed be something we've written or contributed to in the past. Problem It's obvious that there is some serious code rot, horrible architecture, etc. that needs to be dealt with. The real problem, as it relates to this question, is that it's not the right time to rewrite the code. There could be many reasons for this: Currently in the middle of a release cycle, therefore any changes should be minimal. It's 2:00 AM in the morning, and the brain is starting to shut down. It could have seemingly adverse affects on the schedule. The rabbit hole could go much deeper than our eyes are able to see at this time. etc... Question So how should we balance the duty of continuously improving the code, while also being a responsible developer? How do we refrain from contributing to the broken window theory, while also being aware of actions and the potential recklessness they may cause? Update Great answers! For the most part, there seems to be two schools of thought: Don't resist the urge as it's a good one to have. Don't give in to the temptation as it will burn you to the ground. It would be interesting to know if more people feel any balance exists.

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  • How much of STL is too much?

    - by Darius Kucinskas
    I am using a lot of STL code with std::for_each, bind, and so on, but I noticed that sometimes STL usage is not good idea. For example if you have a std::vector and want to do one action on each item of the vector, your first idea is to use this: std::for_each(vec.begin(), vec.end(), Foo()) and it is elegant and ok, for a while. But then comes the first set of bug reports and you have to modify code. Now you should add parameter to call Foo(), so now it becomes: std::for_each(vec.begin(), vec.end(), std::bind2nd(Foo(), X)) but that is only temporary solution. Now the project is maturing and you understand business logic much better and you want to add new modifications to code. It is at this point that you realize that you should use old good: for(std::vector::iterator it = vec.begin(); it != vec.end(); ++it) Is this happening only to me? Do you recognise this kind of pattern in your code? Have you experience similar anti-patterns using STL?

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  • When is JavaScript's eval() not evil?

    - by Richard Turner
    I'm writing some JavaScript to parse user-entered functions (for spreadsheet-like functionality). Having parsed the formula I could convert it into JavaScript and run eval() on it to yield the result. However, I've always shied away from using eval() if I can avoid it because it's evil (and, rightly or wrongly, I've always thought it is even more evil in JavaScript because the code to be evaluated might be changed by the user). Obviously one has to use eval() to parse JSON (I presume that JS libraries use eval() for this somewhere, even if they run the JSON through a regex check first), but when else, other than when manipulating JSON, it is OK to use eval()?

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  • where to start linux kernel programming?

    - by Adnan
    I have been programming in C for a couple of years in Linux. Now I want to work on linux kernel and contribute to kernel, if possible. I have been looking on the internet for the information about a starting point but I couldn't find one. So can any one please tell me where to begin?

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  • Why are mutable structs evil?

    - by divo
    Following the discussions here on SO I already read several times the remark that mutable structs are evil (like in the answer to this question). What's the actual problem with mutability and structs?

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  • How to exit an if clause

    - by Roman Stolper
    What sorts of methods exist for prematurely exiting an if clause? There are times when I'm writing code and want to put a break statement inside of an if clause, only to remember that those can only be used for loops. Lets take the following code as an example: if some_condition: ... if condition_a: # do something # and then exit the outer if block ... if condition_b: # do something # and then exit the outer if block # more code here I can think of one way to do this: assuming the exit cases happen within nested if statements, wrap the remaining code in a big else block. Example: if some_condition: ... if condition_a: # do something # and then exit the outer if block else: ... if condition_b: # do something # and then exit the outer if block else: # more code here The problem with this is that more exit locations mean more nesting/indented code. Alternatively, I could write my code to have the if clauses be as small as possible and not require any exits. Does anyone know of a good/better way to exit an if clause? If there are any associated else-if and else clauses, I figure that exiting would skip over them.

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  • How do you handle very old browsers on your site?

    - by Alex
    Hi. We have a non-profit web site that got about 5 million hits in May. Of those, about 5,700 were from IE 5.x or lower; about 4,000 were from folks with Netscape 4.x or lower. We know that the current site's layout works for newer browsers and we're testing it on IE6 as well (along with Chrome, Opera, Safari, and Firefox). How do you handle the folks with the older browsers? Because of jQuery libraries and such, the pages might not function correctly on those old browsers. Is there an easy way to show a text-only version on browsers that can't handle the CSS and jQuery goodies? How do large sites handle this sort of thing? I've used the @embed to hide the stylesheet from Netscape 4.x, but not sure beyond that.

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  • Best practice - When to evaluate conditionals of function execution

    - by Tesserex
    If I have a function called from a few places, and it requires some condition to be met for anything it does to execute, where should that condition be checked? In my case, it's for drawing - if the mouse button is held down, then execute the drawing logic (this is being done in the mouse movement handler for when you drag.) Option one says put it in the function so that it's guaranteed to be checked. Abstracted, if you will. public function Foo() { DoThing(); } private function DoThing() { if (!condition) return; // do stuff } The problem I have with this is that when reading the code of Foo, which may be far away from DoThing, it looks like a bug. The first thought is that the condition isn't being checked. Option two, then, is to check before calling. public function Foo() { if (condition) DoThing(); } This reads better, but now you have to worry about checking from everywhere you call it. Option three is to rename the function to be more descriptive. public function Foo() { DoThingOnlyIfCondition(); } private function DoThingOnlyIfCondition() { if (!condition) return; // do stuff } Is this the "correct" solution? Or is this going a bit too far? I feel like if everything were like this function names would start to duplicate their code. About this being subjective: of course it is, and there may not be a right answer, but I think it's still perfectly at home here. Getting advice from better programmers than I is the second best way to learn. Subjective questions are exactly the kind of thing Google can't answer.

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  • Spring online repository for Maven

    - by Fortyrunner
    I've just installed Maven2 for the first time. By default it pulls down a few useful jars into a local project: jakarta-commons, junit etc. I wanted to pull in the latest Spring release (2.5.6 at the time of writing). But the online repositories I looked at (iBiblio and Maven) only had much older versions of Spring libraries. Are there any other repositories that are kept up to date? What is the best practice here; can we maintain them ourselves? I would be prepared to help out maintaining this stuff!

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  • ASP.NET MVC IoC usability

    - by Andrew Florko
    Hello everybody, How often do you use IoC for controllers/DAL in real projects? IoC allows to abstract application from concrete implementation with additional layer of interfaces that should be implemented. But how often concrete implementation changes? Should we really have to do job twice adding method to interface then the implementation if implementation hardly will ever be changed? I took part in about 10 asp.net projects and DAL (ORM-like and not) was never rewritten completely. Watching lots of videos I clearly understand that IoC "is cool" and the really nice way to program, but does it really needed?

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  • Can an app use the clipboard for its own purposes? (read: who owns the clipboard?)

    - by eran
    In PowerBuilder's IDE, the code autocomplete feature uses the clipboard to communicate the completed text to the code window. By doing so, it overrides whatever was stored on the clipboard before. So, if you had the winning numbers of the next lottary stored on your clipboard, and you used the autocomplete to turn m_goodfor into m_goodfornothing, you've just lost your only chance of ever getting rich, and you're left with nothing on your clipboard. Features like that are the reason I hate software. It looks like it was implemented by some intern that noone was looking after. However, there's also a chance I got all worked up for nothing, and making such use of the clipboard is absolutely legit. So, can an app use the clipboard for its own purposes? Who is considered the owner of the clipboard? (Bonus votes to whoever puts himself in place of the feature's programmer, and provides some reasoning for this being done on purpose, assuming the users would actually benefite from it)

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  • Asp.Net MVC2 TekPub Starter Site methodology question

    - by Pino
    Ok I've just ran into this and I was only supposed to be checking my emails however I've ended up watching this (and not far off subscribing to TekPub). http://tekpub.com/production/starter Now these app is a great starting point, but it raises one issue for me and the development process I've been shown to follow (rightly or wrongly). There is no conversion from the LinqToSql object when passing data to the view. Are there any negitives to this? The main one I can see is with validation, does this cause issues when using MVC's built in validation as this is somthing we use extensivly. Because we are using the built in objects generated by LinqToSql how would one go about adding validation, like [Required(ErrorMessage="Name is Required")] public string Name {get;set;} Interested to understand the benifits of this methodology and any negitives that, should we take it on, experiance through the development process.

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