Cool registry tip..

It is fairly common to use a reg file to get data into a registry. I always wondered if there was a simple way to remove keys from a registry without doing all that hand traversal (it does not help that the standard reg editor does not have bookmarks). Found this tip which I found useful..

add.reg:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MicrosoftWindows NT\CurrentVersionImage File Execution Options\lodctr.exe]
"Debugger"="windbg.exe"

remove.reg (note the - after [ and before HKEY...):

[-HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\MicrosoftWindows NT\CurrentVersionImage File Execution Options\lodctr.exe]
"Debugger"="windbg.exe"

what platform?

Everytime I tell someone non-techy that I have a software job, the inevitable question I get out here is:
"What Platform do you work on?"
After the first time, I knew that they expect an answer like java, dotnet, oracle, sap or some such thing. If you answer with stuff like "we are building a framework for blah", "we build software for controlling fusion reactors", "we are decoding the gene sequence using some advanced algorithms" etc, all you will get is a condescending look :).

Writing good code...

The pragmatic programmers write great articles on writing good code. I especially liked this one Writing good OO code. How many time have you seen these seemingly obvious things violated? [Hint: 100s of times :)]

If you write code for a living, do take the time to read the article and save the poor souls who have to maintain your legacy :).

Xml prettifier in python

Since xml is the "format of the day" for any and everything, I find it more and more common to edit/generate/hack xml files in daily routine. Since xml is not exactly write/read friendly to humans, I end up writing tools to update and maintain these monsters :). Python has a good and friendly xml parsing api that I find useful. For starts, a prettifier can be written in a few lines of code:

import sys, StringIO
from xml.dom import minidom

def prettify(inxml):
    xmldoc = minidom.parseString(inxml)
    # use 2 spaces to indent instead of tabs
    lines = StringIO.StringIO(xmldoc.toprettyxml("  ")) 
    #remove redundant empty lines 
    lines = [ x for x in lines if x.strip() != ""]
    return "".join(lines)

Startups !

N friends/relatives have started some or the other companies/websites in the last 5 years; some fulltime, others partime. This post attempts to gather them all at one place for a better overall view ....

Full/parttime companies:

http://www.carwale.com - Jabal and Co
http://www.techbrix.com - Vamsee and co
http://www.tachyontech.net - KS and Rampi
http://www.propertywale.com - Jabal and Co
http://www.thecressidagroup.com - RK
http://www.stockfundas.com - Anand and Co

Websites:

http://www.shabdanjali.com (Online hindi magazine..)
http://www.indianhousehold.com

Some of these are pretty new; good luck, folks!

If you know me directly and I forgot to list your site, please drop me a mail/comment

Articulate writing...

Chomsky is one of the most articulate writers I have ever read. It is an interesting change from inane stuff that is doled out in the news channels. Read an interesting one recently: It's Imperialism Stupid

"... It is a rational calculation, on the assumption that human survival is not particularly significant in comparison with short-term power and wealth. And that is nothing new. These themes resonate through history. The difference today in this age of nuclear weapons is only that the stakes are enormously higher."