Disruptive jam. Or: more choice is not always better. I experience this on more than one domain. One actual example is GPS: I've been sniffing at various mobile GPS devices, but the choice is so overwhelming that I postpone the purchase every time again. Not that I need a GPS device so badly. I've already succeeded in memorizing the 6km ride to my job...

In Dutch, there's a saying: "To choose is to loose". So I try to win by not choosing ;-)

• MaxMind - Geolocation IP Address to Country State City ISP Organization by MaxMind
  (categories: web)
• YouSendIt | Email large files quickly, securely, and easily!
  (categories: web)

How jong... dat ziet er sjiek uit. Via Jan

... finally start to make sense. I've heard a lot of buzz about them, but only now I start to understand them a bit.

One question that remains: why store "what will follow" under some key, instead of storing "what has been" under a key? Wouldn't it be easier to claim "this page id means that this user has done that and that and that, and these request parameters indicate that he will now go there". The net effect will be the same, I think, but the abstraction wouldn't leak that much (to the programmer, that is).

Let's try to restate that: instead of changing objects in a session when receiving a HTTP request, you take a copy of those objects (leaving the originals as they were), and start working on the copy. You can do the same actions that you would normally perform on the original objects. There's only one difference: the original objects are now stored in a repository under a page-specific ID. When the user has cloned her window (or pressed the back button, or...), you can fetch those objects again (thus going back to the state she was), and continue from there. In my gutt feeling, this would reduce the amount of continuation-specific code (sendPageAndWait() - huh?), including the JavaScript-flow enabling dependency.

I think I have to re-read the article, seems like I have missed something. If you can explain me what I've missed, I will be very grateful.

A well-written piece about BitTorrent's future. Via Matthew.

• Abandonia - Home of abandonware DOS games
  (categories: fun)
• Martian Software - NailGun: Insanely Fast Java
  Run all your Java apps in the same JVM, the NailGun server, which only needs to start once.
  (categories: Java)
• Bertrand's weblog: XmlHttpRequest rocks
  (categories: Java web)

• Retroweaver
  Retroweaver is a bytecode weaver that enables you to take advantage of the new Java 1.5 language features, while still retaining total binary compatability with 1.4 virtual machines.
  (categories: Java)
• The Official TableLayout Site
  TableLayout is a layout manager that provides all the power of GridBagLayout, but is simple and easy to use.
  (categories: Java)

• iText, a Free Java-PDF Library: Home Page
  iText is a library that allows you to generate PDF files on the fly.
  (categories: Java)
• Spring Rich Client Project - java/j2ee Application Framework
  a viable option for developers that need a platform and a 'best-practices' guide for constructing professional Swing applications quickly.
  (categories: Java)
• NDoclet
  (categories: Java)
• gems: Home
  This project provides a collection of portlets that you could use in your own application. Think of these portlets as the little Gems that could be used on a Portal page.
  (categories: Java)
• SimpleGameNet - SimpleGameNet Home
  SimpleGameNet allows you to play a set of multiplayer games
  (categories: Java fun)

Erik pointed me to NDoclet, a MSDN-style Javadoc doclet. The MSDN style seems a bit weird to somebody who's used to look things up the Sun way, but it sure looks clean. You can view the result of my little experiment here, and compare it to the more traditional approach.

Hear, hear.

Just one of those obnoxious "I'm not alone" posts.

• Simple URLs for Search Engine Robots: SearchTools Report
  (categories: web)
• Google Suggest
  my new homepage!
  (categories: web)
• Javanoid.com - The game. The ball. The legend.
  (categories: fun)

• JSmooth
  JSmooth is a Java Executable Wrapper that makes a standard Windows executable binary (.exe) from a jar file.
  (categories: Java)
• Good sleep, good learning, good life
• .htaccess tricks and tips.. part one: tasty food for web serving thoughts.
  (categories: web)
• Fingersticks Presents : The Battlefield IV
  (categories: fun)
• Dan's Blog: For What it's worth.
  how to set a favicon
  (categories: web)
• Javalobby.org - Swing: Stop GUI freezing with Spin
  (categories: Java)

• Here is a log4j.xml file which uses all appenders
  (categories: Java)

• KIYUT - Sketsa SVG Graphics Editor
  Sketsa is a cross platform vector drawing application based on SVG.
• Jarnal
  Jarnal is an application for notetaking, sketching, keeping a journal, or annotating a document using a stylus, mouse or keyboard.
  (categories: Java)
• Microsoft SQL Server: FAQ: How Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) Affects SQL Server and MSDE
  (categories: sysadmin)

• rsync
  rsync is an open source utility that provides fast incremental file transfer.
  (categories: sysadmin)
• Rsync for Windows :: Gaztronics.net
  (categories: sysadmin)
• SourceForge.net: Project Info - Icon Collection
  Dean S. Jones' Icon Collection
  (categories: Java web)
• JavaMail API - FAQ
  How do I send HTML mail in Java?
  (categories: Java)
• O'Reilly Network: The New Bloglines Web Services
  A Complete Bloglines API Application
  (categories: web)

• MP3 library for the Java Platform
  (categories: Java)

• Commons�Attributes - Overview
  annotations in java pre-5.0
  (categories: Java)

• JPOX Java Persistent Objects JDO
  a free and full compliant JDO implementation released under an open source license.
  (categories: Java orm)
• Covariant return types
  Can't wait until I can start using J2SE 5.0 for real ...
  (categories: Java)

• StrangeBanana: Computer-generated webpage design
  StrangeBanana is a program that creates a random webpage design.
  (categories: web)
• Java theory and practice: Going atomic
  The new atomic classes are the hidden gems of java.util.concurrent
  (categories: Java)
• Willibrordvertaling
  Willibord en nieuwe bijbelvertaling zij aan zij
  (categories: fun)
• ONJava.com: Flash Remoting for J2EE Developers
  (categories: Flash Java)
• Open Source Web Design - Home /\\^/\\
  Open Source Web Design is a community of designers and site owners sharing free web design templates as well as web design information
  (categories: web)
• Macromedia - Developer Center : Designing Java Applications for Flash Remoting
  (categories: Flash Java)
• Telescope Game: Free game to download or play online
  (categories: fun)
• TimeBomber.com
  Volkswagen cup
  (categories: fun)

After being a celebrity in technical circles, Steven is now moving up to the business management circles. Congrats!

Koen showed me Konfabulator. Nice looking stuff. Pleasing to the eye. And since that last item seems to be the most important nowadays (the phrase "perception is reality" comes to mind), I'm sure they'll have their share of loyal users waiting for them.

Lycos is following a weird train of thought. I thought spammers (the companies that *sell* spamming services, not the ones that buy them) would be paid by the number of clickthroughs? And I'm sure the amount of money they receive for each click is enough to cover for its bandwidth costs. Sorry, Lycos, I'm out.