home links tools blog about
home

« August 2005 | Main | October 2005 »

September 30, 2005

The Realm where Google Breaks down

I hate it when this happens.

I've got a ClickOnce application that I've created for a top secret project I'm working on for MS (via 3 Leaf, of course). Only I built it on v2.0.50215.44 of the Framework, and deployed it on a server, loaded with one of the SQL Server 2005 CTP versions.  I sent it on to QA, and ClickOnce just won't work - it can't seem to push the files down as needed. Sure enough: the QA server was built with a SQL Server 2005 CTP, but with v2.0.7something.

So my first thought is to ask Google - to see if anyone has blogged about versioning issues with ClickOnce. Only, ClickOnce is ALL about versioning (i.e. people grab an executable from a server, which opens up a secure/sandboxed .NET app pool and runs locally - and the executable can be configured to check for versioning updates on the server - all so that versioning isn't an issue with your applications (pretty cool eh)).

In other words, searching for information about the version of the Framework that ClickOnce is running from is pointless - just about every thing out there about ClickOnce will be about versioning, and the Framework. Google returns so much info, and there's really no way to fine-tune the query... It's that place where Google breaks down. (I mean what do you type: "Framework version clickonce" etc.)

*sigh* Guess I'll just go recompile my app in a higher version of the framework, and see if that will then work on the QA .7something builds...

Posted on September 30, 2005 | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

September 29, 2005

What would be really cool?

You know what would be REALLY cool Some type of tool that would show me where my RAM was REALLY being used up.

Task Manager is kind enough to show me that I'm currently using 1.79 GB of RAM, but if I do a quick sum of the memory/virtual memory being used by listing the processes, I'd be lucky to come up with 500MB of RAM.

No.. I don't have spyware, a rootkit, malware, etc. I'm running Virtual PC - and that's a beast (and appears to lie to the kernel about where memory is)... but still.

I'm open to suggestions..

Posted on September 29, 2005 | | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

Transitioning my MSDN Subscription

So, I get the big-bad email today from MSDN telling me that VS2005 will be coming along, and that I'll need to transition my MSDN Universal Account to one of the Role-Based Team Edition/Premium Subscriptions.

If you've been under a rock, that means that the MSDN Universal Subscription is no longer your ticket to 'just about everything MS has under the sun for one big gob of money' (because Team Suite more or less takes that spot, and will cost considerably more to buy - but I think it's going to be worth it for enterprise customers, once TFS matures enough). Of course, I'm still a bit grumpy, that as a one-man-shop that I can't somehow get all 3 of the role-based editions of VS 2005 without spending a small fortune. It's my ONLY gripe with the changes they're making.

Well. *wait for it... * There is one other thing that bugs. And it's just a question of execution. My MSDN subscription cost over $2k, so making the transition to a new 'role based version' isn't something that I'll want to SCREW up on. i.e. I'm going to want to make sure that I select the best version for me (as a one-man-shop) - meaning that I'll want to compare features, etc. The link that MS sends me to in the email sends me here.

If you go look at that, you'll see that it doesn't mention bupkiss about what each version contains, just that the Software Developers Subscription comes with Visual Studio for DEVELOPERS, the Architectural Subscriptions comes with ... VS 2005 for Architects, and you can guess the details on the Software Testers' subscription.

I guess the problem stems from the fact that the Visual Studio Team BUILDS VS, and the MSDN people sell it, etc. Meaning that there's a disconnect. The bigger problem Hunt and peck on the MSDN site, and you won't find an overview of the differences. I had to go back and pull an image out of a slide deck that showed the differences (graphically, and without much explanation other than the obvious).

I've included that image here for both of my readers.

Though I don't know if either of them will be worried about picking the right MSDN Subscription. (I wonder what is the bigger waste of time, writing blog posts that nobody reads, or scanning blog posts that you encounter to see if you'll read it or not... )

Posted on September 29, 2005 | | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)

September 23, 2005

Absurd NEW Functionality in Windows 2003

Honestly, this one just makes me mad.

Windows 2003 Server. IIS configured to serve a site out of D:\Webs\mySite\.

In order to ensure that IIS/ASP.NET can serve that site, I've configured everything as needed:
IUSR_<machine_name> and
IIS_WPG
both have read perms (plus I've given NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE write access to the Temp ASP.NET files folder in the applicable version of the Framework (in my case 2.0)).
AND (heaven's to betsy... ) because I need to be able to use the FileSystem, and OPEN a file in my web, I've granted NT AUTHORITY\NETWORK SERVICE modify on a directory where needed.

That's a lot of security mumbo jumbo when you think about it but I'm NOT griping about THAT (though somebody should).

I'm griping about what happens when I create a new folder on my desktop called test (drop a sample .aspx into it, etc.), and then COPY/PASTE that into my D:\Webs\mySite\ directory. If I then open a browser and point it at the /test/ directory, I get prompted for my credentials.

Yup. Sure enough. Check the ACLS, and IUSR_<machine_name> and IIS_WPG haven't inherited credentials in that directory - they're completely NOT permitted into a child directory where they've been granted access on the parent.

What gives (And this isn't just an IIS thing.) I understand the whole notion of traverse checking, but that's actually a different notion (goes the OTHER way around, is truly a security concern). This... this is what How does this make me more secure, or safe

Let's look at it this way: If I have a directory called \Financial Docs\, and I've granted Bob in cubicle 37 access to read that directory, and then paste in \September2005\ as a child directory - Bob can't read that directory until I expressly ACL him

Somebody tell me how that makes sense. Seriously, if I don't want Bob to read that directory then I won't drop it into the share (an EXPLICIT action on my part) - or I'll make sure to DACL him.

Likewise, if I don't want anonymous web users browsing the /underwear/ directory that I drop into my site, I'll DACL that in similar fashion.

I REALLY WANT to be WRONG here. But I've tested it a few times and the results are always the same. What gives And which service pack screwed me

Posted on September 23, 2005 | | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Google and the Chupacabra

Seriously. Jerry Seinfeld was right when he said that saying 'salsa' was fun. But salsa doesn't hold a candle to Chupacabra.

So, I was delighted when it made it to the dictionary, etc. And even posted as much. What surprised me was the number of hits I've gotten to my site from that posting (I'll invariably get more now.)

But I wanted to get an idea of where I was, in Google, on the Chupacabra as well. So I did a search. A normal, simple, Google Search.

Click here to avoid typing, and see what I saw.

Looks like someone at Google likes saying 'Chupacabra' as well <g>. (I don't know of any other searches that provide results in that same way - and I'm glad to see that Milk-Bone is trying to save goats by offering a hearty substitute.)

Posted on September 23, 2005 | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Piddly VS 2005 Debugging Tip

I spend entirely too much time in Virtual Machines. And while they tend to work pretty close to real machines when you've got a real hardware, there are a few subtle differences - especially in the drawing/visual arena.

For example, if you are debugging a webform/webservice on a virtual machine, as you step through the debugger, you may experience the pain of switching back OUT to the web browser, and back to the file you are debugging, each time you step through another line of code. (It's terribly annoying - especially since VMs/VPCs suck most at painting - even blank pages which is what's ocurring, etc.)

This is probably obvious, but in case it isn't: Just minimize the browser window, and presto: you're back to just stepping through code with no need to wait for painful repaintings of a blank page...

Posted on September 23, 2005 | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

September 22, 2005

Debugging in VS 2005

So, I'm playing around with deserializing a collection in VS 2005, and I'm stepping through the code.

And right in the line where I've got mySerializer.Deserialize(blah blah blah), I hit F11 to step into the code. This isn't a HUGE thing, but what I noticed was that the debugger was actually showing me the creation of my new objects, and the assignment of each of the properties.

In other words, all of a sudden the debugger was out in the code for the class/object I was hydrating in the default .ctor. Then, after that, control switched to each of the set { this._suchAndSuch = value; } lines.

Very cool if you ask me. Of course, once I was sure that that's what it was doing I got bored with it and hit SHIFT+F11 to move on with my life, but good to know that you can watch property assignement etc. as it happens during deserialization.

Posted on September 22, 2005 | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

September 19, 2005

An Open Letter to Windows Explorer

Dear Windows Explorer,

We've been through a lot together. You help me find things. Generally that works. When it doesn't, I curse and bang on crap. You've gotten a lot better over the years (although I don't know what you were thinking by trying to bring that stupid dog onboard to help me search).

But let's get something straight: I use my computer. Applications don't use my computer. So they shouldn't be able to CHANGE how my data is displayed.

I've told you over and OVER AGAIN that I like to see my files in details mode. That's MY preference. But somehow you've forgotten that I'm the human, and that clippy and his band of idiots aren't in charge. So, when I save a file from Office, don't let Clippy toggle the bits, because I don't care how Clippy and his idiot friends want to 'see' my files. Or - hey, I'm a kind enough guy in my own right, let Clippy flippin' toggle bits to change a folder's display properties - I know you NEED to bloat here and there and can't control yourself. But DON'T forget that I view the files, not Clippy. So keep my preferences intact, not his.

Love,

--Mike

Posted on September 19, 2005 | | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

USB 2.0: Stupidities

I've got a scanner. I've got a laptop. My laptop has 6 USB Ports. Each time I plug in my scanner, if I hit a new USB slot/port, I have to reinstall the drivers. Lame.

How is it that Windows/USB isn't smart enough to reckognize that it's already seen this device What's worse I look in my Device Manager and it shows <Scanner Name> # 3.

Posted on September 19, 2005 | | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

September 15, 2005

Speechless

This thing really has me "without speech." I can't think of an easier way to make $1million. It's so simple, it's absurd. You know advertisers are going to be clamoring to 'waste' money on this...

There's a blog explaining how well the 'endeavor' is going as well. (Oh, and thanks to Carson for showing me this in the first place - I guess misery loves company.)

Posted on September 15, 2005 | | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

Next »