How to program in computer languages: August 2014

Sunday, 31 August 2014

Now You Can Switch From Smartphone to Laptop Easily

by Nitin Balodi

Smartphones have made our life easier than ever. Almost every phone provides HD screen and a larger display. However, they create inconvenience when one has to draft an email or to watch a movie. The virtual keyboard of a smart phone causes inconvenience while drafting an email. Moreover, we all want to play and watch movies on bigger screen. The bigger screens provide us a completely different viewing experience.

In such instances, we generally prefer our laptop as it has a bigger screen and keyboard. Email drafting and documentation on laptops is easier than drafting the same email on smart phones. Their bigger screens also provide good experience when we are watching movies or playing games.

We believe that the scenarios that we discussed in above written paragraphs have happened with you at least once. It might happen when you played a movie on your phone and then you desired to watch the rest of the movie on your television screen or on your laptop. We all prefer bigger screens for enjoying movies and games.

Another case is when you started drafting an email on your smart phone and after sometime you felt that it would be good if you could finish the draft using your laptop or desktop where typing is easy because that has a larger screen size and keyboard.

Yes, we know that you wanted to perform the above-mentioned tasks but couldn't. However, now it's going to be possible as Google is coming up with a method. Now you can finish draft of your email from your laptop that you have started through your smart phone.

Now a question may pop up in your mind that how can I do this? You may be thinking that - do I have to purchase special hardware? Do I have to install new software? You do not need new hardware or software at all. The Bluetooth that is already installed on your smart phone and in your computer is enough for that. Google is utilizing the near field communication like WiFi and Bluetooth in this technology.

What you have to do is that you just have to bring your mobile phone into close proximity of your computer or TV. You have to bring them within a range of 10cm. Your TV should support Bluetooth. Even the WiFi connectivity in your laptop or smart phone will also work.

When you will bring the device in a predefined close proximity they will detect each other's presence and will establish a communication network. This set network will help in transferring the application states of devices with each other.

Let suppose you have started editing of an email on your phone. You have felt inconvenience and now want to use your laptop and keyboard to finish draft of the email. You will bring your phone and laptop in close proximity. The screen of your laptop will receive the current state of unfinished drafted email from the phone, and in response, it will download a copy of the email message from messaging server via communication network. And as soon as you will sit down in front of the display on your computer, the same email message you were reading on your phone will be displayed on the screen of your computer. Now you can finish your draft of your email by using the keyboard of your computer.

Apart from this one can even play music files, videos and games that he has started playing on his phone, but now wants to continue the playback on his computer screen from the very same point.

Spreadsheets Are Old News - Why All Economists Should Learn C++

by Michael Grogan

In my opinion, the C++ computer programming language gives economists and other business professionals the greatest degree of flexibility and sophistication to quickly analyse data and infer conclusions from it. But, wait a minute... Don't we have Excel for that? We do indeed, I use it myself.

Nonetheless, using a spreadsheet program to analyse economic data does have its limitations. In most instances, a spreadsheet is not very efficient at analysing new data that is updating instantaneously. Let's take a simple example; suppose that we are running a regression equation that analyses the relationship between GDP and consumption. Essentially, we wish to see if higher GDP is correlated with higher consumption:

Y Variable (Consumption) = Intercept + X Variable (GDP)

Technically, it is possible to plot the data for GDP and consumption in Excel, or any other spreadsheet program and regress the two. However, suppose that we have new data coming in by the hour, minute or second? Now is when the conundrum occurs - the spreadsheet will not calculate the new values unless we have specifically set up a macro through VBA to do so. In addition, this will have limitations as:

1) a spreadsheet program only has so many rows and columns;

2) one has to continuously open and refresh the spreadsheet to analyse the results - this could have potentially long waiting times;

3) spreadsheets become very sluggish when it comes to analysing vast amounts of data and can potentially crash as a result.

C++ is much more efficient at handling such a task, as the user has the ability to both allocate memory in a more efficient way to ensure faster processing times, and the flexibility of specifying a specific location for the retrieving of data does not make the user dependent on one particular spreadsheet to complete the task. Suppose we have two separate files with very low data storage requirements (e.g. typically a txt. or csv. file); one contains GDP figures, the other contains consumption data. In addition, suppose that these files were continuously being updated through a server, e.g. Reuters, Bloomberg Terminal, etc. Once we have the raw data, we can program C++ to do anything with the data in those two files - we can run regressions on the data, we can analyse how the data has changed over a short time frame, perform several calculations at once, etc. This is why many statisticians use programs such as Stata over Excel to analyse vast amounts of data at once (incidentally enough, both of these programs were written using the C++ language). However, an added advantage of knowing the programming language is the user has the ability to tell the computer what to do, not the other way around.

To conclude, spreadsheet programs may be useful up to a certain point. However, they are limited in what they can achieve on their own. They are not an application as such, and a C++ programmer is in a much better position to manipulate data in ways most of us never dreamed possible.

The Strengths and Weaknesses of Node JS In a Nutshell

by Ben Shirk

Node.js is a relatively new programming platform (2009) that is becoming increasingly popular. In fact, it has recently been picked up and implemented by some major name-brand companies such as Dow Jones, PayPal, LinkedIn and The New York Times. Additionally, Node is getting a significant amount of positive feedback in a number of different areas. For instance, it is often reported to be fast and flexible while scaling to millions of online users. It seems to be well suited for building mobile applications. It unifies JavaScript on both the client and server. And finally, it has a very active user community supporting it.

So why not rush out today and start building your next killer application with Node? Well, it's quite possible that this is not a terrible idea, but before you jump in headfirst it's worth taking a moment to understand the areas where Node really shines as well as where it does not. First let's discuss the situations where it shines.

In a nutshell, Node.js is great at handling tasks that involve real-time, network input-output (I/O). This is its bread-and-butter scenario. At its core Node was designed to be a highly scalable network platform with the intent of solving a few specific challenges. In particular it does very well at handling multi-user environments with very high numbers of concurrent connections.

The classic example of an application that leverages the strengths that Node has to offer is the multi-user chat application. This type of application is network based and involves potentially thousands, if not millions, of simultaneous connections. Moreover, it utilizes the push-pull, two-way communications capabilities that Node.js offers. It's quite possible that true two-way communications is nothing short of a complete game changer in terms of the way applications are built. Let's take a quick look at why this is the case.

Before Node.js came onto the scene, applications were restricted to a one-way communications paradigm inherent in the Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), the dominant protocol of the web. In this paradigm, the client always initiates communications with the server, thereby making a pull request. In contrast, it was not possible for the server to push information to the client. This fact was a major limitation in the way applications worked, and this is one of the primary challenges that the creator of Node was trying to solve. With Node, it is now finally possible to have true two-way communications between client and server, with the client initiating communications and pulling information from the server, and the server initiating communications and pushing information to the client.

These then are some of the main strengths of Node.js. However, while Node is good at a number of things including those just discussed here, it is also true that it was not intended to solve every problem. In particular Node is not very good at performing tasks that involve a high degree of raw computation or number crunching. Node applications are single-threaded, which is perfectly fine for handling network and I/O tasks where its asynchronous nature can be put to good use. However, if a section of Node.js application code winds up performing a task that involves heavy computation, this will have the effect of tying up the single thread, which in turn will prevent other events from getting the attention they need. This dramatically decreases the responsive characteristics that make Node so powerful. As such, this kind of use case should be avoided.

In conclusion, Node.js is great at real-time, network applications involving a high degree of concurrency within a multi-user environment. In contrast, it is not so great at pure number crunching. So if your next killer application does not involve a ton of number crunching, you might want to take a serious look at Node.js.

Styling the Canvas for Your HTML5 Browser Game

by James R. Pierce

An important part of any game is how it is presented. Creating games is part of the entertainment industry and consumers want to have a great experience playing your games. A good game can lack success if its presentation doesn't convince the players to try it or doesn't motivate them to play more. Now keep in mind that presentation doesn't necessarily mean high-end graphics. There are some things that we can do using CSS.

The Browser as a Gaming Console

One thing I like to imagine when creating HTML5 games is the browser as a gaming console. When using this approach there are two things that immediately come to mind: a frame and a centered screen. With the help of a little CSS we can give our canvas a border and center it in the middle of the browser window. Moreover, if we would set a dark background color for the white space around the canvas we could have a nice looking game screen that will make a new visitor start playing.

Giving the Canvas a Border

The first thing we want to do is give our canvas a dashed border. You could also use a solid or dotted border, of course. However, I prefer a dashed one especially while developing the game. When you add the canvas tag to your webpage set the id to canvas, too. Now we can give it a border by writing the following CSS code: 1px dashed black. If you refresh your webpage now, you will see the canvas as a small rectangle in the top-left corner of your browser window.

Centering the Canvas

As you can imagine, even a great game isn't appealing if you have to play it in the top-left corner of your browser window. That's why we want to move the canvas to the center of our browser window. Again, we can do this using CSS code. The first thing we need to do is add a div tag around the canvas tag. We will give this div tag an id of "wrapper". Wrapper is a generic id name that is used a lot in web design to properly arrange elements on the website. Inside the wrapper is the main content which - in our case - is the canvas for our HTML5 game. Now we can center the wrapper and the game canvas inside of it. We do this by setting the width of the wrapper to 800 pixels and setting its margins to auto. It's important to give the wrapper a width else the auto margins won't center it.

Practical Implementations Of PHP Development

by Lori K. Reese

PHP provides us with endless opportunities for development, customization and making the best out of the available technologies. Your creativity is the limit! Today there are millions and millions of websites that are running on PHP. There are also many ways in which you can implement PHP to create technology wonders either to ease business processes or add value to the way businesses work. Here are some practical implementations where PHP has been tried, tested and is popularly used.

PHP for E-commerce

Businesses whether large or small are always on the lookout for new channels for reaching out to customers and what better channel could be than an online presence! One of the greatest uses of PHP is creating e-commerce websites. This can either be done by PHP development or by using PHP frameworks and content management systems. With the help of frameworks or CMS, e-commerce development becomes very easy. Understand the benefits and analyze your business requirements and select the best approach for your business.

Project management software with PHP Development

Another popular use of PHP is for developing project management software. Project management software is important aspects of businesses today. There are many excellent web-based software readily available today. However with PHP, you can build your own project management software from scratch with the exact features you wish.

Facebook apps with PHP

PHP can also be used to integrate Facebook to your website. To develop apps, Facebook provides a PHP client library which can be easily installed and used by developers. It contains detailed instructions for use too. This is an excellent social implementation of PHP.

PHP based Content Management systems

One of the most popular and practical implementation of PHP is in content management systems (CMS). A content management system allows users to update website content without any programming knowledge. User need not have HTML or CSS knowledge to make any changes to the content on the website. The most popular CMS that are PHP based are: WordPress, Drupal etc.

PHP Photo galleries

PHP has excellent file handling functions. You can easily place photos in one directory and create excellent thumbnails on the user interface using PHP.

Creating dynamic website templates

PHP enables you to add pages to a website dynamically. You can create templates and users can very easily use them for adding new pages to their website. That's the charm of using PHP as a preferred development language.

Plug-in development

PHP can also be used to develop plug-ins for popular content management systems. These plug-ins or extensions enable you to add new features to your website that add some business value or ease some administrative tasks.

Over all, PHP proves to be a great choice for all web development efforts. Whether you are creating a plain blogging site, a photo gallery, a complex e-commerce site or a content management system - PHP helps you get what you want!

Practical Implementations Of PHP Development

by Lori K. Reese

PHP for E-commerce

Project management software with PHP Development

Facebook apps with PHP

PHP based Content Management systems

PHP Photo galleries

PHP has excellent file handling functions. You can easily place photos in one directory and create excellent thumbnails on the user interface using PHP.

Creating dynamic website templates

Plug-in development

Practical Implementations Of PHP Development

by Lori K. Reese

How to Set the Canvas Size and Context for a 2D Browser Game

by James R. Pierce

Once an HTML canvas tag has been added to your webpage you will need to define its size and context, which can only be done in JavaScript. Resizing the canvas is important for obvious reasons: It has to be big enough to provide sufficient space for your game or animation that you want to run inside the canvas. A less obvious characteristic of the canvas is the context. In this article, I will explain a bit more about the context, why we need it and finally how you can set the canvas size and context in JavaScript for a 2D browser game.

The Rendering Context for Your HTML5 Browser Game

If you search for definitions online of rendering context you will get very technical explanations. Moreover, it usually depends on the API that you are working with. Since we are working with the canvas we are using the HTML5 Canvas API for JavaScript. In this sense, the rendering context contains all the information to render a renderable object. It also includes paths to the object and any other request parameters. I think it's best if I give you a simple example in JavaScript: context.fillRect(). If we have defined the context as 2D, we can then use the aforementioned method on the context to draw a rectangle on the canvas. This is only possible if we have set the context. For a complete list of all methods you should consult the official specifications page from Mozilla.

How to Set the Canvas Size and Context in JavaScript

Now that we know a bit more about the rendering context and understand why we need it, we can finally write the code. Writing the code is always the easiest part once you understand the big picture. Let's start by setting the width and height of the canvas. For a regular game screen that fits into most desktop browsers I use a width of 800 pixels and a height of 480 pixels. Later on we can add an options menu to change the size but when developing this is my favorite size. To do this, you first need to save the HTML canvas element in a JavaScript variable that I suggest you name canvas, too. Now you can set the width as follows: canvas.width = 800. The same way you can set the height to 480. If you refresh your browser window you will now see the canvas has changed the size. Setting the context to 2D requires only the following single line of code: ctx = canvas.setContext("2D"). As you noticed, I use the variable ctx instead of context. I do this because I prefer shorter variable names.

Developing Mobile Apps With Drupal Is Easy and Effective

by Priyesh Kumar

Mobile applications are becoming very critical for all brands that are willing to offer their users with more interactive information and easy accessibility while on the go. With all business applications becoming web enabled in the past few years, it's time to become tablet and Smartphone enabled in the next. So, all organizations irrespective of their size and industry are trying to become accessible via mobile devices in order to survive and expand into the emerging future. Since Drupal is flexible, free and a powerful content management system, it allows the users to easily manage, publish and organize a wide variety of content on the website and keep the users well informed in just a click of the button.

Using Drupal to create mobile applications

Drupal can enable a company to create powerful websites and it is a great means to create everything from smaller blogs to even the largest business websites. Since mobile applications need to meet the demands for content, it is important to identify the best way to deliver content on the mobile device and at times it can be a tough decision. Built with Drupal, building mobile apps has become easier and less confusing.

Discussing some mobile applications for Drupal websites

DrupalGap

It is an open source mobile application development kit that is used for Drupal sites and it uses Drupal, PhoneGap, jDrupal, jquerymobile. With this application development kit, the developers can easily create and customize multi-platform mobile applications that communicate with their websites. Such applications are easily installable on Android and iOS mobile devices and once they are installed the mobile application can easily interface with a DrupalGap enabled site. Creating a mobile compatible Drupal site can be attained in two different ways. One involves the method of using it as a backend datastore for a native application and the other is more of a traditional web app with a mobile theme. The greatest advantage that the native application offers is the ability to use the features that are inherent to the mobile OS. Such native apps can be easily configured to cache data locally so that even when the device is out of range the applications still work effectively.

Creating a native mobile application offers two different things - access to native functionality and distribution through mobile appstores.

Here are some features that users can get with a native app

Subscriptions through the appstore, Google Play and etc.
Easy access to camera for video and images
Native map functionality
Access to the file system of the device for caching
Image filters and background location awareness
Access to accelerometer, compass, map, gyroscope.

The Distinct advantages of using a Drupal mobile web application are

Developed administrator controls: This offers an authority to set up a new account and administer it completely by you.

Dynamic designs: This carries some of the most unique and interesting themes and templates that are easy to use.

Multi featured with excellent option to create content: The user can add different modules like videos, blogs, podcasts, polls, revision control in their blogs with Drupal CMS.

Easy management- It is easy to manage and the user can easily categorize the posts, create custom lists and much more to organize their website or blog.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Open Source Web Development

by Sarita Yadav

With the rapid change in technology, newer versions of digital devices and their applications are produced every day. We, common people strive to keep up with the most up-to-date versions of the technology, to use it effectively. Software development is the hottest and in demand trends. Open source development plays an important role in the field of software development. In the open source method, developers prepare a code system which can be used by the programmers. Some examples of open systems are Drupal, WordPress, Joomla, and Magneto. Almost all programmers and coders, especially new ones, refer these to improve the quality of the webpage. This program can be customized according to the needs of the users.

There are many benefits related to the open source web development and there are also some drawbacks too.

Some of the benefits are -

Open source development is very cost effective when compared to others. The budget will always be of prime importance in any business. As the development is economic, it is preferred by many companies.

Open source web needs less time to develop. It can be successfully introduced to promote your website and business. There is no need to worry about expensive license fee. Hence, it saves both time and money for users as well as developers.

It is considered as one among the best and efficient website solution providers.

There are no hassles and problems related to this web developments.

You get the complete details of the developers who have effectively used this method and benefited from them. You can find any kind of resource and information from the website for your assistance.

The programs offer a variety of options for the user.

Unlike other developments, this method is simple to learn and understand.

It provides a safe and secure program. Problems such as internet and content upload will not change the functioning of the system. This is the main reason why large companies prefer this method of development.

Any changes and updates related to the program can be easily seen on the website.

It is available publicly. Developers from across the world contribute and analyze the code making it more reliable and secure. This constant updating also increases its quality.

Encryption and compilation is not mandatory which keeps problematic debugging at bay. You can also edit and delete the web pages.

All good things come with a pinch of salt. In the same way there come some restrictions in the open source development. Here are some drawbacks of the technology -

Caution is necessary while using any open programming. Because many of the offered codes are in the initial stage and developers lose enthusiasm in further modifications.

Quite often, open source available in the internet communities or on web are with bugs.

There are chances that the developers ask for extra money in the name of critical implementations. Never pay extra money, open source development is a cost effective mode.

Challenges and Opportunities in the Upcoming Drupal 8 Upgrade

by Julia White

An object-oriented approach lowers the barrier to entry for new developers

Drupal 7 and all previous versions used a procedural approach to scripting. This means that code is executed the same way every time the script is run. Procedural scripts are more reliable, but less customizable. Reliability is good, but in order to capitalize on it, developers must be intimately familiar with exactly what procedures are occurring, and in what order. This depth of knowledge gave Drupal 7 its famous steep learning curve.

The object-oriented approach used by Drupal 8 means that the execution of scripts will be much more dynamic. Functionality is treated like mutable objects, able to be modified programmatically. With object orientation, Drupal will operate more like a true API. Newcomers will appreciate this, since the framework will more closely resemble popular imperative languages such as C++ or Javascript.

Having a lower barrier to entry for new developers means that the Drupal community will grow even faster. This is good news for everyone, since it means more Drupal projects will be created, more Drupal jobs will be available, and the labor pool for Drupal development will be even larger.

"Twig" reduces front-end programming, makes it easier to develop site themes

Theming is a huge part of Drupal. It's what separates the look and feel from the functionality of a site. Previously, Drupal used its own PHP framework for developing and executing theme files. Drupal 8 is integrating the Twig framework from the Symfony library, giving frontend developers a new box full of rich and well-established tools. Twig doesn't reduce the capability of Drupal's theme engine, but instead makes it easier to accomplish the same tasks with fewer lines of code.

Since Twig is used widely among Symfony developers, the barrier to entry for newcomers will be lower here, as well. More developers creating themes more easily means that we'll see a real surge of high-quality themes moving into the future.

Streamlined content editing inspired by "Spark"

There are several ways to create content in Drupal 8. The default experience is simple and understandable, but not the most intuitive process. Starting with Drupal 8, the Spark framework will be fully integrated with Drupal core, enabling the following features:

True WYSIWYG via drag-and-drop layout tools
Powerful save tools: autosaves, drafts, and more
Mobile content authoring and administration support

A more streamlined authoring environment means your content creators will spend less time fighting the interface and more time creating great content. Imagine a content authoring system that's more like Google Docs and less like Facebook Posts. This is the vision of Drupal 8.

Redesigned toolbar for centralized navigation

Good user experience begins with intuitive navigation, no matter the framework. Drupal 8 has a redesigned toolbar that appears at the top of the page for any content moderator - not just admins.

With the new "shortcuts" menu, authors will be able to bookmark popular content. This will be particularly useful during development - both of the site and of content in progress.

Accessibility options expand the audience for your site

Drupal 8 has several new accessibility options built into core, such as:

Large fonts for the visually impaired
Braille export for the severely visually impaired
Screen reader export
Better multilingual support

In the age of online content, the more markets you can reach with your message, the better. Drupal 8 is bringing content to a whole market segment that very few appeal to - the visually impaired.

In addition, Drupal will have dynamic multilingual capabilities including on-server translation. In areas where Google translate is not available, Drupal will offer to translate pages for users. If you have a dedicated localization team, you can optionally save content for a page in each language and have your team review it.

Simpler integration with third-party web applications

Part of the object oriented approach to Drupal 8 is its expanded support for RESTful applications. With the Web Services framework, Drupal will be able to seamlessly communicate with any web platform that uses the REST API. In additional, Drupal content can be serialized between formats such as JSON, XML, binary, and plain text. This enables tighter and more performane integration between different platforms.

Drupal 8's launch is still half a year away, but the developers at Propeople are already getting excited. Nothing scratches a programmer's itch like a truly flexible core, and Drupal 8 is all about flexibility. These changes come at the cost of familiarity, however. Instead of a scriptable core, we'll have a programmable core. Although the transition will take some time to get used to, we agree with Drupal creator Dries Buytaert that the big changes will be worth it.

The upgrade to Drupal 8 won't be easy, but as Dries Buytaert (the founder of the Drupal project) stated:

The reason Drupal has been successful is because we always made big, forward-looking changes. It's a cliché, but change has always been the only constant in Drupal. The result is that Drupal has stayed relevant, unlike nearly every other Open Source CMS over the years. The biggest risk for our project is that we don't embrace change.

The Success Story of Android Apps

by Sarita Yadav

Android is an answer to Apple's OS, developed by Google. Due to its flexibility and various choices, it has become a favorite for both developers and consumers. Unlike other phones, Android phones are available at reasonable prices. They are also very user friendly and designed to meet the customers' needs. No wonder android phones sell like hot buns all around the world. A wide range of apps is available for Android gadgets, ranging from finance to health in Google Play Store.

The huge success of the Android has marveled the whole mobile industry. What is the secret behind this phenomenal success of Android apps?

Mainly because it has a large number of faithful followers in every part of the world. Statistics say that more than 70% of the market of phone companies belongs to Android phones in the year 2013.

Android is an open source development that is, it is available free of cost. This has increased its fame to greater heights. Who does not like a free OS or application?

The Software Development Kit (SDK) offered by Android is open to inventive uses and one can get a head start to creating an app in an instant implementation.

Many of Android Apps are available free while some are sold at an affordable price.

Google Play Store is the largest mobile app market with hundreds of clicks on it every day. Android applications have a greater reach on audience than those from other platforms.

Android presents an easy to use development environment, thus, many custom android apps are developed and tested for their functionality before uploading them for downloads.

Google is constantly updating Android according to changing trends and needs. Developers are coming up with more strategies to improve the businesses of many companies.

Developers also get support for designing their applications using the Android until their app is uploaded to the Google Play Store.

It also has added features that allow developers to port apps from other companies like BlackBerry and iPhone and then transform them in to cross platform apps that can be used on all devices. Android app development is perfect for all kinds of inter-application integration.

There is also scope for innovation, which attracts many creative developers.

Android is extremely consistent and strong compared to other platforms. The fact that more than 49 billion Android applications have been used proves its reliability.

Android allows safer access to source code. Due to this, software experts and security companies can audit the applications. Higher security is preferred by users.

Android applications are vastly customizable. They can be altered and modified to meet the requirements of the consumers and businessmen.

The availability of source code helps the programmers in solving security flaws of Android apps instantaneously. This feature is not found in many other applications.

Technical independence, better features, great security and good quality! All these benefits is what makes Android the best application development environment in the world.

The Hadoop Training Advantage

by Ankit Raj

Give Your Career the Hadoop Training Advantage

Summary: This training and certification for professionals has opened up a world of opportunities as it will enable professionals to help in proper structuring and management of enterprise data.

This framework as it is most commonly known, has become a "buzzword" in the industry since its release on April 7, 2014. It is expected to be a boon in disguise for businesses worldwide as it offers a path for better data handling strategy. At the core of this training is its central idea-the need for implementing data management at a granular level. This will prevent scattering of data clusters in the unstructured environment. What this framework focuses on is providing a comprehensive solution that will help businesses in managing their existing data and also adding new information pieces with ease.

The salient aspects of the this framework have opened the doors to a promising future of professionals.

Will This Training Benefit Professionals?

It is mind blowing to even think of the amount of data that is created, assorted, managed, analyzed, and stored everyday across the world. Almost, 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created everyday and it is an upward slope where future creation is concerned.

Research has also indicated that almost 90% of the data that exists in the world today was created in just two years. Here is another surprising piece of information: Eighty Percent of the data being captured is unstructured, commonly known as Big Data.

This is where this training will come in handy! It is the perfect open-source software framework that professionals like system administrators, DBAs, BI analysts, ETL data architects, and data analysts can use for analysing a huge amount of data or big data within a significantly lesser time period.

Once you complete this training, you will become a Developer. It is being heralded as an important component of the modern data architecture. As a part of the training, you will learn how best to complement and integrate the existing systems in organizations for creation of a highly scalable and efficient solution for managing enterprise data.

There are 3 key areas that training in this platform will help professionals to focus in and they are:

• Iterative Analytics: It will empower professionals with the ability to store data in any format. You will also be able to create schema when you decide to analyze the stored data.

• Single cluster - multiple workloads: When you learn about Apache Hadoop YARN, you will be able to leverage its ability to support multiple access methods like in-memory, real-time, batch, streaming, and others, for a common data set. Learning this will enable you to view and transform data in several different ways for obtaining close-loop analytics. This will bring "time-to-insight" very close to real time.

• Date warehouse optimization: It will enable you to offload any low-value computing tasks like extract, transform, and load. This tasks can consume significant enterprise data warehouse resources. You will be able to use Hadoop for freeing up important resources like the data warehouse so that it can perform high-value functions like operations and analytics.

This training will ensure your placement in technical roles like that of Developer, admin, business analyst, and data scientist. Here is the icing on the cake-the average salary for a developer in this sector in U.S is $102,000!

How to Prevent In-App Purchases?

by Polly Uma Simpson

With rapid changing technology, it is easier to surf anywhere and anytime. Android Smartphones, Windows powered Smartphones and iOS devices are often attracting attention for what they have to offer a user. Any technology user would be thrilled to have an iPhone or an Android device to upload apps and play games. Now if this is such a fun thing for an adult then what about kids, they too need their entertainment.

Often, it is seen that due to lack of proper security and other measures kids end up spending thousands of dollars accidentally on in-app purchases. There are many such games that trigger off these expenses that are often hard to control. Additional charges to your credit card and escalating bills is frustrating. However, by taking just a few measures you will be able to prevent accidental in-app purchases.

Before starting off on preventive measures let us first define the term 'in-app purchase.'

About In-App Purchase

Devices and Smartphones with OS like iOS, Windows and Android are designed with a feature of in-app purchases for the apps that you have installed. For example, if you have installed an app from the App Store then the in-app feature will charge you on your credit card before quitting the app. This requires immediate payment that is charged on your credit card bill.

There are other things called freemium that are based on a model that allows a user to play a game for free up to a level and then they are charged to proceed ahead. Even though the payment might just require a dollar for a few levels but this becomes tricky and expensive in the long run. The in-game items require purchases and this is what ends up in hiked bills.

There are some games that require in-app purchases. For example there was a game where a virtual fish needed to be fed to keep it alive. If it dies the user can resurrect it but with a cost. These tricks are often hard to understand and you end up with expenses that you do not remember purchasing. However, now with a solution for each OS you will be able to prevent such accidental or forced in-app purchases that require some adjustments in your device.

For iPad and iPhone

Apple has designed its software with the feature of 'Restrictions' that enable in turning off the in-app purchases. By creating a pass code you can enable the restrictions for purchases, here is how it is possible:

• Go to Settings app-> General category
• General screen-> Restrictions
• Enable Restrictions and choose to enter a password you prefer, remember to keep it a secret

Go to Allowed Content-> In-App Purchases, turn it off. This way when anyone attempts purchases your device will prompt password command to enable it. For making purchases you will get a time lag of 15 minutes before the restriction is back on.

For Android Smartphone

App purchase are possible through Google Play Store where you can enter PIN that will allow you to make a purchase from the Store or do in-app purchases, here is how this is possible:

• Go to Google Play Store and select Menu-> Settings
• Tap User Controls to change PIN or create it, choose to enter a PIN that no one else knows
• Select the checkbox against Use PIN for purchases.

For Kindle Fire Users

If you are using Kindle Fire and wondering how to restrict the purchases then you need not worry as Parental Controls give you the means to set restrictions.

• Go to Store app-> Menu-> Settings
• Go to Parental Controls to enable it and use your Amazon.com login details here for making purchase, or use the option of 'Use PIN' to enable purchases
• To disable the option of in-app purchases go to Settings screen and disable the option completely.

It is essential to disable or make appropriate settings for in-app purchases to avoid accidental purchases. You will be able to keep a tab on purchases and avoid hiked bills that are a result of purchases made by kids online.

Command 2000 Simple Guide for Arris (Moto) Systems

by Michael A Paisis

Open your favor terminal emulator like Putty or SecureCRT. Create a new SSH connection to the CMD2K address.

type the User name and Password

Type: bash <enter>

Cd disk1/dvs/cmd2000/scripts <enter>

To enable a box for CMD2000 you have to execute this command first:

./en_cmd2k.sh <STB_IP address>

If is successful and the box is enabled it will return this:

bash-3.00#./en_cmd2k.sh <STB_IP_ADDRESS>

SNMPv2-SMI::enterprises.9.9.705.1.1.1.0 = Hex-STRING: 11 05 00 01 00 00 00 00 FF 00 00 39 2D 00 00 00

00 00 00 00 00 0A FD 01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 64

80 BC 00 21 01 E9 00 00 00 00 19 00 18 02 18 00

02 43 32 4B 20 20 20 20 20 80 1E 54 45 4C 4E 20

20 20 20 00 00

bash-3.00#

Then execute this command at the prompt:

./quickfdr_v6.pl <IP_Address> <Name_of_file> <enter>

If successful it will return this:

QUICKFDR 6.02:

WARNING - Only command responses will be monitored.

Log monitoring sockets are already in use.

Main FDR log capture will now run in the background.

When complete, file will be available as Name_of_File_IP_Address_Date_Number.txt.gz

bash-3.00#

Takes about 10-15 min for the file to complete (you can hit F5 to refresh) and the file will be a.GZ file. Now is the time to open Filezilla and go to the Command 2000 you're using.

Open Filezilla client (or download it for free if you dont have it from https://filezilla-project.org ). Input Host name in the field (which is the IP address of Command 2000 server) then input your user name and password (same as you use above) and then enter port 22 which is for SSH connections and hit enter.

On the left column you find the information and directories for your computer and on the right it will show you the root directory of the Command 2000 server. Go to the same directory as above and find the file or files you have created as the steps above explain (look for the name of the file such as G8_MikesBox_IPADDRESS_DATE_NUMBER.TXT.GZ) right click on the file and chose download (make sure you chose the directory where to download all your logs on the left first) and the file will be download. Of course use 7zip to extract the file from GZ to text before using Notepad++ to read the file.

Video Systems Engineer and Inventor with 15+ years of Video, Data and Voice. Author of various engineering, technology and automotive articles.
He has a passion of teaching and inspiring others to learn and reach their fullest potential at work or play.

Agile Cloud Indicating The Next IT Model Shift

by Jeff Yelton

Remarkable developments in the IT sector have created a vibrant business environment worldwide. Improvement in fields like virtualization and consolidation has promoted the IT growth rate to a level that is unprecedented. However, to make the most of these favorable IT advancements, human advancement is vital to create a win-win situation both for consumers and producers. Cloud computing can be quite effective in terms of achieving this common goal, through reduction of complexity in the IT mechanism. If applied properly, it can create a shared environment and can help any business organization, small or large, save time and space.

Advantages of Cloud Computing in Business

'Cloud computing is a better way to run a business' - This is how SalesForce.com, one of the most notable cloud service providers, described the emerging IT trend. It may sound like a slimy sales pitch to you if you don't consider the 'Say No to Software' symbol in the website of SalesForce.

In short, cloud computing is a chance for businesses to operate applications through a shared information center. It gives organizations an edge over the ones that use conventional software development methods, such as Oracle and Microsoft, which have too many processes like installations, testing and failovers. Cloud computing, on the other hand, is fast and effective. Here are some of the major benefits of cloud computing.

It doesn't require any software or hardware (other than access to a browser)
It follows a simple process, facilitating faster integration with different business solutions
It's allows quick operations and reduces chances of failovers
It creates a flexible IT environment, where solutions can be customized as per specific requirements of any business with ease
It helps in obtaining maximum utilization of resources

With all these advantages, cloud computing is steadily becoming accepted among organizations around the world. In fact, some businesses are limiting their IT infrastructure in order to keep in tune with the settings of Cloud computing, as reported by SalesForce.com.

The Lean-Agile Approach

Lean and Agile are two major production techniques, used widely in businesses. The Lean approach originated from the production methodology of Toyota, post World War II. It's a biological process stressing mainly on:

Producing only what is required
Removing irrelevant things that does not contribute value
Discontinuing production when something is wrong

The Agile approach has contributed exponentially to the developments in the software industry. In this process, software is built in parts and is tested individually before proceeding further. The purpose of using this method is to build an immediate feedback loop between the creators and the users. However, use of the Lean method has become more extensive than the Agile method after 2008. As a result, a new trend that combines both the methodologies emerged. The need for this amalgamation rose primarily due to certain drawbacks in the Agile methods. The Agile method skips any discussion regarding the process of organizing stability of software between different wings of the business. The Lean process can be quite useful in terms of dealing with this. It breaks down development tasks into smaller streams, so that the output of one stream can create the next value stream. Therefore, this combination enables to create a more process-oriented approach to software development; thus, yielding better results.

The Waterfall Approach

The Waterfall Approach has been quite effective for developing software since 1970, when it was first introduced. The method is combination of various steps. The first stage is, understanding the requirements of the customer. To achieve success in this stage, it is important to communicate with clients. The next stage is to design and implement ideas. This is followed by an evaluation process. The phenomenal success of the Waterfall method has been due to the following benefits it has to offer:

Potential changes can be easily recognized
Development can be facilitated even in a large team
The budget can be easily chalked out, as the process defines stages clearly
Time and energy is saved due to the linear approach

Because of its impeccable track record, the Waterfall method has been able to outdo other methodologies of its time, including the incremental and spiral approaches. However, there are some pitfalls to the method as well. The effect of these drawbacks can go all the way to hamper the growth of the software industry. Its name itself is symbolic of its biggest shortcoming. Much like when the water crosses the edge it cannot retreat, similarly if a fault has been overlooked in a stage, it cannot be corrected.

Agile in Cloud Computing Environment

There is a lot of similarity in the approaches of Agile and cloud services towards application development. The Cloud approach is well known for delivering end-to-end services in application development. Likewise, the Agile method focuses on the requirements of end users. In order to achieve this goal, the Agile method breaks down the task in small parts. This facilitates detail orientation. Planning, developing and testing of each segment is done individually, which helps to remove bottlenecks in the process and maintain high quality standards. Moreover, the Agile process focuses on building a two-way beneficial environment for developers and end users. This creates ample scope to obtain and implement feedbacks as well as make the required changes at every stage.

A highly interactive environment can be created for developers as well as users by integrating Agile and Cloud. Once the developers start utilizing the cloud service, the users are instantly able to review it and give feedbacks on the process. Therefore, stages like patch installations and distributions can be eradicated, which eventually helps in saving time and energy of the organization. One of the leaders in IT consulting and technology outsourcing services, Capgemini, conducted a survey in 2010 in order to measure industry trends regarding incorporation of Agile process in cloud computing.

This study which was conducted by CapGemini in collaboration with HP on around 30,000 quality assurance managers, cloud experts, engineers, and IT managers, employed across leading firms in Asia, North America, and Europe. According to study, as much as 60% of the organizations that participated in the survey are likely to incorporate Agile methods as a part of operations for upcoming cloud projects and services. Some key advantages of integrating Agile with cloud computing are:

Improvement in the quality of application
Maximum utilization of available resources
Lower time to market
More cost effective

Jonathan Rende, the Vice President and General Manager, Business Technology Optimization Applications, Software and Solutions, HP says 'IT providers are facing intense pressure to develop new applications that provide competitive edge, bring greater efficiency and generate measurable results.'

Agile and Cloud Computing Integration: The Best of Both Worlds

Cloud computing has become a buzzword in the software industry. The immense benefits of the cloud technology have even forced Microsoft to invest heavily in enterprise cloud solutions. However, combining cloud computing with the Agile methodology can be even more rewarding, helping make the best of both worlds. If you hire a cloud computing expert for your business, it is necessary to enquire about their know-how of the Agile process as well. Knowledge on Agile is very essential to achieve the optimal results with application development.

As noted by the founder and CEO of Cyrus Innovation (an Agile consultation company), Bruce Eckfeldt, 'The greatest strength of Agile methodology is that it is self-adaptive'. This is why having someone on board who is experienced with both cloud and Agile methodologies can be a great boon for any business. The cloud technology is experiencing a dynamic paradigm shift, and the cloud technology is gradually becoming more demand-focused.

It is time for application developers in the barcoding, mobility and point-of-sale space to adopt these new approaches to application development if they intend to remain relevant in the future.