The open source movement is the concept of sharing developing or developed code for programs. One of the main advantages to this technological movement is helping other programmers or enthusiasts to develop programs of their own or to contribute back to the project by adding additional features, fixing bugs in the original code, and further speeding up the development process with little overlap in coding.
Chances are you currently have in your possession an item that contains open source code. It could be the cell phone you have on your waist or in your pocket, or the computer you are viewing this page on. The most common open source program that you use, sometimes without even knowing, is Java. It is found in car radios, navigation systems, cell phones, pda's, camera's, robotic pets, and of course, your computer.
With this open source movement, programs can be developed faster and more efficiently without the hassels of the failing and outdated US Patent system. Credit is given to the developers and an outstanding product is produced with a high compatibility with most systems.
Most notable of the open source movement for me, is the developing game engine sharing through open sourcing of code. iD Software is a company that develops game engines and after making some profit from the game titles produced by the engine, release the source code to further advancements on the engine and to give ideas to the game engine designers on what to include and ways to include ideas.
Most open source programs include a license usually called the GPL ( General Public License) which protects people from using the code unless they adbide by the license. The main clauses are that any programs developed from the source of another will also be released under the same (or updated) license of the GPL as well as being open source to give back code that has been developed.
With the open source movement, more computer platforms ( Macintosh, Linux, and... windows ) are gaining a wide selection of programs which work on the three major computer operating systems.
Open source programming is one of the primary reasons why corperate compeditors include more features and a better user interface for new programs, so that there is competition in the computer software market. Otherwise, the only word you would know in life would be Microsoft. It has also lowered some prices on software and forced corperate developers to create a better and more stable program that includes the features that are now included.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Week 3 Thing 6
Flickr Color Pickr was an interesting tool. Very beautiful, vibrantly colored photographs can easily be found. The simplicity of the tools usage was a great benifit since it would allow a person to find something that interests them in the person's current mood, or to find something that displays a favorite color in the most amazing, profound way.
As a personal preference, I love aquamarine colors ( sea blue, torquoise, light green, sky blue) and found the following image created through photoshop that resembles a dragon fly's wing in stained glass.
Dragonfly wing 4 - photoshop blue
Originally uploaded by Xerones
There is also this photo of a ships anchor in the crystine blue waters.
Anchors away.
Originally uploaded by davesag
Both pictures are extremely limited in what they show, yet, there is so much to be seen within each one. How the hues of the color change, the ripples of the waves against the boat and the anchor line, the little sea spray caressing the crest of the waves.
These fine details are brought out by the solid color theme that the Flickr Color Pickr found. Mashed tools have a very useful purpose when it comes to expanding features of an already good product to make it a great product.
As a personal preference, I love aquamarine colors ( sea blue, torquoise, light green, sky blue) and found the following image created through photoshop that resembles a dragon fly's wing in stained glass.
Dragonfly wing 4 - photoshop blue
Originally uploaded by Xerones
There is also this photo of a ships anchor in the crystine blue waters.
Anchors away.
Originally uploaded by davesag
Both pictures are extremely limited in what they show, yet, there is so much to be seen within each one. How the hues of the color change, the ripples of the waves against the boat and the anchor line, the little sea spray caressing the crest of the waves.
These fine details are brought out by the solid color theme that the Flickr Color Pickr found. Mashed tools have a very useful purpose when it comes to expanding features of an already good product to make it a great product.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Week 3 Thing 5
Bigfoot_4x4_Monster_Truck
Originally uploaded by bitstreamphotography
A picture of my favorite Monster Truck in the air crushing cars.
~Signs of Monster Truckin' times.
Week 2 Thing 4
Registration Completed
is registered for:
Title: Blog Registration - 23 Things
Date(s): 6/4/2007Time: 9:30 AM
Library: Southern Maryland Regional Library
The confirmation number is:QNLML.
Title: Blog Registration - 23 Things
Date(s): 6/4/2007Time: 9:30 AM
Library: Southern Maryland Regional Library
The confirmation number is:QNLML.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Week One Thing One
As we approach an uncertain but exciting future where cars no longer have steering wheels and everything can be accomplished by short simplified tasks. How will the current lifestyle of those we know and ourselves be changed?
An increasing number of people are feeling more confortable using computers to stay in contact with friends, family, school mates, and co-workers. Blogs have helped to put the users in control of what happens, no longer in the hands of those who seek to limit speech online.
I am looking forward to how the library will integrate this new technology and how our patrons will react to the upcomming changes both in the library and around us all.
An increasing number of people are feeling more confortable using computers to stay in contact with friends, family, school mates, and co-workers. Blogs have helped to put the users in control of what happens, no longer in the hands of those who seek to limit speech online.
I am looking forward to how the library will integrate this new technology and how our patrons will react to the upcomming changes both in the library and around us all.
7 1/2 Things
Habbit's 3 and 4 are tied for the lead as the easiest for me, both are tasks which have been embedded into me since before I could consciously recollect any thing.
The hardest habbit though is setting goals. I have vague ideas of what I want to do in my lifetime, but any goals that I set for myself, I nearly always immediatly go to work to achieve that goal. I think in order to overcome this difficulty, would be to face the reality of life and to 'settle down' into the normal order which is not a particularly good task in my oppinion.
Lifelong learning always has taken place, due the the dynamic nature of the world and has accelerated itself in our current time period due to the rapid evolution of technology and information that can be shared. How one selects what to learn and the ammount one can learn in a lifetime cannot be compared to anothers since everyone's experiences are unique unto themselves.
The hardest habbit though is setting goals. I have vague ideas of what I want to do in my lifetime, but any goals that I set for myself, I nearly always immediatly go to work to achieve that goal. I think in order to overcome this difficulty, would be to face the reality of life and to 'settle down' into the normal order which is not a particularly good task in my oppinion.
Lifelong learning always has taken place, due the the dynamic nature of the world and has accelerated itself in our current time period due to the rapid evolution of technology and information that can be shared. How one selects what to learn and the ammount one can learn in a lifetime cannot be compared to anothers since everyone's experiences are unique unto themselves.
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