All things Tylermac

"A data model is correct if it allows any data collection that is allowed according to the business..."

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:34:49 -0400

“A data model is correct if it allows any data collection that is allowed according to the business rules, and disallows any data collection that would violate any business rule.”

- SELECT Hints, Tips, Tricks FROM Hugo Kornelis WHERE RDBMS = ‘SQL Server’ : Data modeling: art or science?

Progression of the Loop

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 12:13:44 -0400

I’ve been asked recently to explain the advantages of using LINQ and the Extension Methods available in Visual Studio 2008 with C# 3.5.

I have trouble explaining this. It came to me as one of the “Eureka” moments. The best way for someone to learn it, is just to see it. So, I’m going to head back to my earliest memories of coding and an taste of what I see.

In introductions to programming, a simple problem is often repeated. It is probably because we see the problem in different variations constantly while coding. Given a set of data, perform an action based on each element in the set.

Specifically, I’m going to take an array of integers (1 to 10) and write each one to the console.

When I started programming, the GOSUB was not yet introduced (Yes, I learnt to program in BASIC). So to solve the problem, we coded the following logic:

Code Snippet


1:   static void GotoLoop(int[] data)
2:   {
3:   //Initialize the loop
4:              //Zero based Array
5:              int currentIndex = 0;
6:   //Or some form of terminating indicator
7:              int end = data.Length;
8:   //A placeholder reference for what is currently being worked on.
9:              int currentData; 

10:   //Run the loop
11:          start:

12:   //Do something with current item
13:              currentData = data[currentIndex];
14:   Console.WriteLine(currentData);

15:   //Finalize the loop
16:              currentIndex++;

17:   //Run Gaurd statement
18:              if (currentIndex < end) {
19:   goto start;
20:   }
21:   }

Looking at the code, it seems a wonder anyone ever got anything done. That’s a lot of plumbing to repeat a single action. Let alone the potential spots for errors. It is step for step (or as close as I was going to produce for this post) what instructions the computer is going to use to handle this problem.

To mitigate some of the plumbing problems, language designers create a new syntax for this issue. The For Loop:

Code Snippet


1:   static void ForLoop(int[] data)
2:   {
3:   //Or some form of terminating indicator
4:              int end = data.Length; 
5:   //Or some form of terminating indicator
6:              int currentData; 

7:   //Zero based Array
8:              //Run Gaurd statement
9:              //Finalize the loop
10:              for (int currentIndex = 0; currentIndex < end; currentIndex++)
11:   {
12:   //Do something with current item
13:                  currentData = data[currentIndex];
14:   Console.WriteLine(currentData);
15:   }
16:   }

Same amount of logic, same potential for errors. However, here the code groups the code required to enumerate the array is placed all in the same line, creating a separation of logic. This makes diagnosing and finding bugs easier.

Along with the advances in OOP, the idea of encapsulation came along. So a few new ways of limiting this came about. An Iterator interface was created to wrap data structure like array, with methods hasNext and Next to eliminate much of the plumbing from the code.

This expanded into an System.Collections.IEnumerable interface which allows a new construct of the ForEach statement.

Code Snippet


1:   static void ForEachLoop(int[] data)
2:   {
3:   foreach (int currentData in data)
4:   {
5:   //Do something with current item
6:                  Console.WriteLine(currentData);
7:   }
8:   }

So now, we’ve gone from 18 line function to a 6 line function. So this is a built-in syntax that allows for much more abstraction, more power per command.

Now, what about commands not built into the language? Wouldn’t it be nice if you build a method like:

Code Snippet


1:   data.ForEach(Console.WriteLine);

Originally posted on RapidMind Solution’s Blog

is reading “Getting Real” http://ping.fm/Pr82U

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:39:01 -0400

is reading “Getting Real” http://ping.fm/Pr82U

is a home owner.

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:41:17 -0400

is a home owner.

Photo

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 22:04:16 -0400

Reading tips and tricks on distributed team management. http://ping.fm/BdknI

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 04:38:47 -0400

Reading tips and tricks on distributed team management. http://ping.fm/BdknI

Your Mind is Green

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 18:37:00 -0400

Of all the mind types, yours has the most balance. You are able to see all sides to most problems and are a good problem solver. You need time to work out your thoughts, but you don’t get stuck in bad thinking patterns.

You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about the future, philosophy, and relationships (both personal and intellectual).

What Color Is Your Mind?

Photo

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:06:45 -0400

whoisi.com: Follow your friends on the Internet.

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 13:06:40 -0400

whoisi.com: Follow your friends on the Internet.: A quick and easy way to find people online. Like a searchable friendfeed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oga_DBOP1Y/

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 20:43:56 -0400

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Oga_DBOP1Y/: In case you may have forgotten, here is a little reminder not to believe everything you see and hear; especially those self-help books and tapes.

I don’t wish to say there may not be anything to be…

Interview questions I have never been asked, Episode I

Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:48:04 -0400

Interview questions I have never been asked, Episode I: What makes code readable?

sexyelf (image)

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:10:00 -0400

sexyelf (image): Hmm, a Christmas treat.

by: The Joy of Tech comic… laughter is the best tech...

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 18:35:20 -0400

by: The Joy of Tech comic… laughter is the best tech support.

TaskFreak! web based task manager / todo list written inPHP

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 13:22:47 -0400

TaskFreak! web based task manager / todo list written inPHP: Yet another Task manager. These all seem to me to be distractions from getting tasks done.

Perhaps it’s just me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of GTD, but I want to simplify my life, not add…

Comments are now available

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 19:37:07 -0400

I have just added comments on this blog; powered by Intense Debate. It appears you need either an account by them, or an OpenID. I will play with this some to find out for sure.

Feel free to leave a comment, and let me know what you think.

PS. I had to remove my previous design in order to get them to work. A new design will be here, whenever I get my main site back up.

Law of Attraction -Your Words and Your Vibes (via Michael J....

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 13:51:39 -0400

Law of Attraction -Your Words and Your Vibes (via Michael J. Losier)

Random Thought - Software Cycle

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 18:19:35 -0400

Write => Prototype
Re-Write => Alpha
Re-Factor => Beta
Unit Test => Release
Maintenance

Or something like that.

Eye to Eye: ‘The Secret’ (via CBS)

Tue, 27 May 2008 22:08:10 -0400

Eye to Eye: ‘The Secret’ (via CBS)

The Cleveland Show (via youtube)

Tue, 27 May 2008 19:48:45 -0400

The Cleveland Show (via youtube)

So I’ve been thinking about branding a new site for myself. I’ve been working with George Matthews...

Tue, 20 May 2008 14:17:37 -0400

So I’ve been thinking about branding a new site for myself. I’ve been working with George Matthews on creating a logo for the new design.

This is the current design. Nice, clean, functional design. I’ll extract the symbol to use as a favicon on the site as well.

I’ll be putting the site together through out the next month. I’ll post here when it is complete.