Other People's Code - Open Source

I think that open source software (with license agreements that let me use it in commercial applications even if it means contributing my changes back) is great. We use it extensively in my work and have contributed back our changes as required in one component. Another component we use has proven to be a constant thorn in my side that I'm almost at the point that I'm going to scrap the code and write it myself; however, it does stuff that I don't know how to do. I've had to fix this particular bunch of code twice in the last week. On a positive note, it keeps me employed.

New iMac

I picked up a new 17" iMac running the Intel Core Duo today to do testing and development. I didn't realize until I got home that I had the wireless keyboard/mouse model which wasn't a big deal as it was only $60 more (the box doesn't indicate this...not even the label, unless you can decode part numbers). Setting it up took a few minutes, but the wireless keyboard and mouse was kind of weird as it took awhile for the Mac to discover the keyboard and mouse after I figured out how to put in the batteries.

As I always use disc images for development so that I can wipe down a hard drive and start over, I plugged in my external 120 GB FireWire drive, partitioned it, booted from the CD and attempted to install the software. It failed. Turns out I had to switch from the Apple Partition Scheme to the GUID Partition Scheme. Yeah, that was an easy one to figure out.

I haven't played much with the machine, yet, but will do so later after I finish imaging the drive.

New recycling laws/fees in California

Starting February 8th (my birthday), any product that contains mercury (batteries, circuit boards, etc.) can no longer be put in the trash. I think this is a great idea for helping the environment. However, I see a few flaws in the system:

• It isn't convenient. People will have to collect their stuff and go to the landfill on a Saturday (it is only open on Saturday for the Miramar/San Diego landfill).
• People will be charged $0.25 per pound. While that doesn't sound like a lot, it is definitely a barrier to recycling. I've have to remember to take apart whatever I recycle so that I only recycle the circuit board from say a radio and not the rest of the bulk.
• The paper has reported officials saying that they won't be policing the trash for banned materials. If there are no consequences for throwing stuff away, people will continue to do it. The news reported that over 60% of the people in their poll would keep throwing out batteries.
• For computers, there has already been a law requiring a recycling fee to be paid upfront. Now the consumer will have to pay a recycling fee twice for products.

I'll make sure I keep a separate area/bin for this stuff and periodically recycle it, like I do with bottles and cans.

Bluetooth Vodoo

I think that the concept of Bluetooth is great; allow devices to connect without wires. While there are standards on what to do, in my experience it just doesn't work right all the time. With my cell phone, I still can't get a headset to function properly. In dealing with software, I spent the last several days tracking down an issue customers were having with our software. As far as I can tell, it was Apple's implementation of Bluetooth that got messed up on some people's machines which caused our stuff to stop working. Of course, people blame us. Some day maybe I won't have to fight technology to use it.