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spolsky posts

Filed under: Developer, Web services, Freeware

StackOverflow - software development questions and answers

Stack Overflow
Speaking of Joel Spolsky, it turns out that he recently unveiled a new online community for software developers to ask and answer questions. Well, Joel didn't do it himself; he partnered with Jeff Atwood, another well-known developer.

The concept behind Stack Overflow is that it is a focused arena where developers can help each other, with a digg-like voting scheme to try to bubble the good stuff to the surface. The homepage at Stack Overflow certainly reminds us of digg, but hopefully the level of discourse is not similar.

Stack Overflow has been criticized for solving a problem that does not exist, and for having a questionable reputation system. Developers looking for answers typically turn to Google, so why the need for a new site? I think Stack Overflow could turn into a bit of a nexus for developers looking for quick answers. A clearinghouse, maybe.

StackOverflow is currently in public beta.

Filed under: Windows, Macintosh, Linux, Productivity, Freeware, Browsers

Spolsky's cross-platform password management method

Password SafeJoel Spolsky's name is well known and highly respected in the software community. When he talks, people listen. So it was with a bit of interest that I noted his blog post about his truly cross-platform password management method.

Joel uses the recently-graduated-from-beta DropBox on each of his Windows, Mac, and Linux machines to share files amongst them. He then uses Password Safe on his Windows machine, and Password Gorilla on his Mac and Linux machines, since it is compatible with Password Safe files. He stores the encrypted password file in his DropBox folder, making it available on every machine, and even better instantly synchronized on every machine.

This looks like a slick approach to an age-old problem, and it's great to see an accomplished developer hacking together a useful approach out of existing tools rather than feeling the need to go to the drawing board and write their own solution.

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The World's Hardest Game 2.0 - Time Waster

So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do. Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game. The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...

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