Free time has been scarce recently but I’ve slowly been working my way through this tutorial on Ruby. I figured I’d cover all the basics before jumping head first into rails.

Ruby feels like a step forward in programming compared to a step sideways when I’m learning Java. For example, Java and Ruby both have automatic memory management yet in Java there are still four different sizes of integer (byte, short, int and long). Whereas Ruby being more human than machine orientated simply has integer.

A useful feature I’d like to see make it’s way into PHP are the attr_reader, attr_writer and attr_accessor attribute visibility functions. These save a fair amount of code you’d otherwise have to write in PHP and Java when providing accessors and mutators.

I’ve only scratched the surface so far but I can already see the appeal of this language – it’s succinct and the code to functionality ratio is refreshing.

Zend have finally posted some information about their new PHP5 certification. This new certification was planned to be released yesterday but has been postponed now until the end of August/early Sept.

There’s a fairly comprehensive list of topics – hopefully it’ll be a more worthwhile qualification than the original! No rushing the study guide this time please guys!

I just read about Bambalam PHP EXE Compiler/Embedder on phpdeveloper – very cool. Then I spotted WinBinder, genius! (I wonder how well PHP performs for desktop GUI apps).

I bit the bullet last week and ordered a Zend Certification Voucher. This afternoon I went to book an exam; during Pearson Vue’s registration process Zend require you to enter a Zend network username (I forgot I had one). While scouring the site for my username I stumbled across this thread on their forums.

With the new PHP 5 certification going live in just 5½ weeks (26th July) I figure I’ll hold off booking my exam until this materialises. Now to Ebay my Zend Certification Study Guide!

Well it seems I was a little slow off the mark with spotting this but I stumbled across Xgl today. What is Xgl? (quote lifted from Wikipedia)

Xgl is an X server architecture, started by David Reveman, layered on top of OpenGL via glitz. It takes advantage of modern graphics cards via their OpenGL drivers, supporting hardware acceleration of all X, OpenGL and XVideo applications and graphical effects by a compositing window manager such as Compiz.

It certainly looks impressive, especially the rotating 3D desktop demo that Novell have showcased. Shame it doesn’t support multiple monitors though.

If I’m honest I did think to myself, after the novelty factor has worn off, how much will this improve productivity? Sure spinning the desktop on a 3D cube looks cool but I never used the multiple desktops that were available in Linux anyway, it was usually a case of “out of sight, out of mind”.

After a few days of using Windows XP’s Luna theme I found it bulky (and always reminds me of fisherprice) and switched back to Windows Classic, I’ve found most of people at work have too.

Check out Novell’s Xgl showcases.

When Zend released their certification in 2004 I promptly picked up their study guide in October 2004 (along with MySQL’s study guide). However, even now I’m still not certified, I’ve studied the material but never booked the exam. When I stumbled across this thread it reminded why I never booked the exam. Read the rest of this entry »