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Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning animation. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Animated Mouse Cursor
February 3, 2008
INTRODUCTION
We now live in a fast paced society where we expect products and services to be delivered rapidly (some say ‘yesterday’), cheaply, and with a high degree of quality. This is particularly true in the systems and software industry. If we lived in a perfect world, systems and software would be developed rapidly and inexpensively, they would effectively satisfy business needs, and would be easy to maintain and modify. There is only one problem with this scenario: it is a fantasy. In reality, we live in a ‘disposable’ world where systems and software are slapped together in the hopes everything will hold together and will pacify the end-user for the moment. Some people believe striving for a Utopian world is an impossibility and, as such, resign themselves to rewriting systems and software time and again as opposed to designing them to be industrial strength.
Improving speed in the development process is relatively simple to accomplish; e.g., the plethora of programming tools available. But adding quality into a product is something entirely different. From the outset we must recognize that quality doesn’t come naturally to people anymore. Back when there was a sense of craftsmanship, quality was rarely a problem. This is back when people identified with their work products, and strove to seek perfection as it was a reflection of their character. Corners were not cut and products were made to last. Unfortunately, we no longer live in such times and people tend to disassociate their work from their personal lives. Further, the speed and sophistication of our tools leads us to believe we are producing quality products. The reality is that our tools are only as good as the people using them, not the other way around.
A PERFECT WORLD
How one person perceives quality may be entirely different than another’s. This is because we tend to have different perspectives in how to build something, e.g., whereas one person may build a product one way, another may build it using an entirely different approach. This means products are commonly built using inconsistent methods. Let me give you some examples:
- If we lived in a perfect world, we would have a standardized approach for defining requirements, thereby everyone would be operating with a standard approach for scrutinizing requirements. But the reality is our approach to requirements definition is redefined with each development project, thereby making it impossible to validate requirements with any consistency.
- If we lived in a perfect world, developers would be working with standard data definitions that would include validation/editing rules, among other things. This would result in a consistent approach in the use of data (aka ‘Data Cleanliness’) and would promote system integration through data sharing. But the reality is that each programmer specifies the use of data (including its physical characteristics and validation/editing rules) on a program by program basis, thereby defeating the opportunity to share and reuse data in a consistent manner. Even worse, implementing changes on a consistent basis is difficult at best (e.g., the Y2K problem).
- If we lived in a perfect world, programs would be designed in a standardized manner so they may be easily modified or maintained by any other programmer at a later date. But the reality is that programs are written based on the personal nuances of the programmer, making it next to impossible to maintain or modify by another person. Consequently programs are discarded and rewritten.
- If we lived in a perfect world, developers would adhere to a standard and consistent approach (methodology) whereby uniform work products could be produced and reviewed, thereby improving communications among the staff and allowing for the interchangeability of workers in the development process. But the reality is, the development process is defined on a project-by-project basis, thereby uniformity and interchangeability is defeated.
The reality is we live in an imperfect world. What would appear to be obvious approaches to development seldom occurs in most systems and software shops. It is simply unnatural to developers who prefer to operate independently as opposed to adopting a shop standard. This of course means development organizations tend to ‘reinvent the wheel’ with each project.
Because of such inconsistencies, the only option for improving quality is to try to inspect the product after it has been built, not during development. Under this approach, inspection is complicated as each person has designed the product according to their own personal interpretation of development, not as a standard body of work.
BUILDING QUALITY INTO THE PRODUCT
It is obviously cheaper and more sensible to arrest a product defect early during development as opposed to trying to catch it afterwards. To do so, the development process has to be subdivided into defined units of work specifying what is to be
produced (work products, aka ‘deliverables’), how it should be produced (using accepted tools and techniques), and its acceptance criteria (including review points). Such a work environment is in sharp contrast to ‘The Black Hole’ approach used by most organizations today; e.g., requirements are fed into an unknown development environment and the resultant product is inspected afterwards. This approach concentrates only on the final deliverable and not on the overall process by which the product is to be developed. By the time the final product is produced, it may be unrecognizable to the user and the project may have exceeded estimated cost and schedule. Even worse, the product may have to be redesigned and rewritten over and over again. Interestingly, this is the approach advocated by today’s ‘Agile’ proponents.
In other manufacturing practices, the definition of the work environment is the responsibility of an Industrial Engineer who defines the units of work in the development of a product (assembly line), the standard tools and techniques to be used, the work products, and the acceptance criteria. Although the concept of Industrial Engineering is applicable to systems and software, few development organizations are familiar with the concept.
THE PRICE OF QUALITY
Regardless of what you call it, Industrial Engineering or Quality Assurance, quality requires a dedicated group of people to define the overall development process, monitor progress, and constantly research new ways to improve it (tools and techniques). This does not mean quality is the sole responsibility of such a group. It is not. Quality is the responsibility of every person involved in the development process. The group simply provides leadership in this regards.
In terms of costs, the truth is that quality is free (as the likes of Philip Crosby have pointed out to us). True, it requires an outlay of money upfront to embark on a quality assurance program, but this will be offset by reduced costs later on in terms of reduced development time and fewer defects requiring rework. By having everyone working according to defined processes and work products, errors are caught and corrected early in the
development process. Further, work products are easier to maintain and modify later on, this specifically includes systems and software. Such a program, therefore, does not add overhead to the development process, it reduces it.
To make this work though requires commitment from management and herein lies the rub. As I mentioned earlier, we live in fast-paced times. Implementing an effective quality assurance program takes time to cultivate, it cannot be installed overnight. There is more to it than mechanics; standards have to be devised, attitudes have to be adjusted, consciousness’ raised, etc. In other words, it is the people-side of quality that takes time to mature and become ingrained in the corporate culture. As such, a quality assurance program requires management vision and long-term commitment to see it come to fruition. This is difficult to sell to managers who have trouble thinking past the next financial statement. But if executives understand that a company truly runs on systems and software, then they will be more amenable to investing in industrial strength applications.
CONCLUSION
Its interesting, the systems and software industry is one of the few industries that resists standardization as opposed to embracing it. Standardization is an inherent part of any quality program. It means devising and applying craftsman-like rules in the development of a product or service. Such rules substantiates completion of work in a prescribed sequence and is measurable. And maybe it is this kind of accountability that developers resist.
Some developers even go so far as to question the necessity of a quality assurance program since many companies rewrite their systems and software year after year. Maybe they are right, but I tend to see this as a defeatist attitude, that we can do nothing more than produce mass mediocrity. I believe we can do better. But to do so, we need to invest in ourselves and our future. Remember, you must first plant the seeds in order to harvest the crop. Unfortunately, most companies tend to eat the seeds and then there is no crop to harvest. Somehow I am reminded of the old expression, ‘You can pay me now or pay me later, but you’re going to pay me.’
‘Quality must be built into the product during design, not inspected in afterwards.’
- Bryce’s Law
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Tim Bryce is the Managing Director of M. Bryce & Associates (MBA) of Palm Harbor, Florida, a management consulting firm specializing in Information Resource Management (IRM). Mr. Bryce has over 30 years of experience in the field. He is available for lecturing, training and consulting on an international basis. His corporate web page is at:
http://www.phmainstreet.com/mba/
He can be contacted at: timb001@phmainstreet.com
Copyright ? 2006 MBA. All rights reserved.
January 22, 2008
Microsoft Great Plains upgrade, customization redesign, placing back into Microsoft Dynamics annual enhancement program, custom reports version revision, Dexterity and VBA/Modifier custom logic upgrade
When you have out-of-the-box non-modified version of Microsoft Dynamics GP Great Plains 6.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0 or 9.0 upgrade is pretty straight forward process, Dynamics GP Utilities do the job. However this ideal case is rare, real customers have Microsoft Dexterity customizations, ReportWriter modified reports, modified Great Plains forms (Modifier with VBA scripts), Crystal Reports, SQL stored procedures ? all these modifications needs professional consultant to be analyzed, upgraded and even redesigned. Let?s look at technical highlights:
? Microsoft Dexterity. Great Plains Dexterity customizations were introduced in earlier 1990th and since then the whole spectrum of Great Plains clients depends on these modifications. Dexterity was initially aimed to provide database independence (with Dexterity cursors ? these were working with Btrieve/Pervasive SQL, Ctree as well as MS SQL Server 6.5). In 2004 Microsoft Business Solutions stopped support for all the other DB platforms, except Microsoft SQL Server 2000/7.0. This single fact makes Dexterity cursors pretty slow and less efficient, than aggregated logic of SQL select and update statements. The other typical Dexterity customization upgrade issues are alternate forms.
? ReportWriter reports. Microsoft Dynamics GP upgrade guidelines list reports, that needs to be recustomized, or modified from scratch. Our experience indicates that in the majority of cases we can ?upgrade? these reports without ?demolition? by analyzing change to Dexterity functions, introduced in the new version.
? VBA Modifier. These mods are the likely candidates to be redesigned on the new technology base: eConnect, MS Visual Studio.Net and even Dexterity. VBA is not a .Net technology
Please give us a call: Alba Spectrum Group: 1-866-528-0577, Brazil: 55-11-3444-4949, help@albaspectrum.com skype: albaspectrum
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Andrew is consultant at Alba Spectrum Technologies ( http://www.albaspectrum.com http://www.enterlogix.com.br ) - Microsoft Business Solutions Great Plains, Navision, Axapta, MS CRM, Oracle Financials and IBM Lotus Domino Partner, serving corporate customers in the following industries: Aerospace & Defense, Medical & Healthcare, Distribution & Logistics, Hospitality, Banking & Finance, Wholesale & Retail, Chemicals, Oil & Gas, Placement & Recruiting, Advertising & Publishing, Textile, Pharmaceutical, Non-Profit, Beverages, Conglomerates, Apparels, Durables, Manufacturing and having locations in multiple states and internationally.
January 21, 2008
Structural engineers use engineering formulas relating to material properties and physics to design structures which will withstand all the forces the structures may be subject to. Examples of such forces are gravity, wind shear, stresses due to aging of materials and seismic vibration.
Structural drawings are part of the language the same structural engineers use to communicate with contractors, fabricators and regulatory bodies. These drawings describe the details of an object?s supporting members, such as beams and columns, which are designed by the structural engineer.
Structural drawings are crucial in the construction of buildings, tunnels, ships, aircraft, oil drilling platforms, bridges, retaining walls, mines, infrastructure projects, automobiles and any other object subject to significant forces.
Examples of elements described in structural drawings are beams, columns, trusses, roof framing, braces, steel connections, concrete footings, pile foundations, metal decking, joists, stairs and handrails.
Structural drawings are executed by structural draftsmen. Structural draftsmen typically work under the structural engineer responsible for the structural design. Skilled structural draftsmen convert the engineer?s sketches into CAD drawings, and also check that the designs conform to the relevant statutes and building codes.
In addition they compile material takeoffs and are responsible for keeping records of all drawings produced and transmitted downstream.
During the later half of the twentieth century, structural drawings were created on the computer using specialized software. This software created two-dimensional (?2D?) images of structures; conceptualizing the actual object in its real, three-dimensional (?3D?) form took place only in the mind. This called for highly developed spatial conceptualization abilities on the part of the concerned individuals.
But the twenty-first century saw the emergence of advanced 3D software tools for structural drafting. These tools enable draftsmen to instantaneously create a 3D element (such as an I-beam) by merely entering its dimensions. Subsequently, on the screen, the element can moved, rotated and joined with other elements just as it would be in the real world.
Once an entire object has been thus drawn from 3D elements, the software automatically creates a bill of materials, and if costs are put in by the draftsman, an itemized estimate is also output.
All this translates to shorter turnaround times for the production of drawings and more accuracy in the drawing itself.
Since the time structural drawings were created on computers, they were stored in electronic form. With advances in network communication, paperless transmission of drawings from one node in a network to another became possible. The network now encircles the world (as the Internet) and structural drawings are transmitted between countries quickly and easily.
Using additional collaboration software, structural drawings are now created by teams separated by thousands of miles, faster, more accurately and with more creative input than at any time in human history. No wonder a structure can be designed in the US, drawn in India and built in the Middle East!
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Lucky Balaraman runs The Magnum Group, one of India?s best-known engineering CAD services providers. The Company offers an outstanding structural drawing service that is overseen by in-house engineers and architects. To learn more about it, go to
http://themagnumgroup.net/Structural_Offer.htm
January 6, 2008
This article gives you an introduction to C++ Programming from ground level.
This article won’t teach you all the fundas of C++ programming rather it gives
you the base to learn C++ programming, remember that for further learning, the
base should be strong and this is what this article tries to do. It would let
you know many fundas which will help you in further learning of the the language.
C++ was developed in 1980s in the Bell Laboratories by Bjarne Stroustrup as an
object oriented programming language. This language is considered by many as an
extension of the programming language C. The extension of programming language
C to create C++ is obtained by adding classes to C. This is why C++ was initially
called ?C with Classes?. The C++ programming language derives its
name from the increment operator used in C, which increments the value of a variable.
The symbolic name of C++ rightly indicates that this language is enhanced version
of C.
Features
of C++ Programming Language:-
- C++ programming language is highly flexible, versatile and very powerful
programming language for developing any software specially the system software
namely operating system, compilers etc.
- C++ is most ideally suited language for development of reusable programs,
which is very important to keep the production cost minimum.
Comparison of C++ Programming Language
Let us see how C++ compares
with other programming languages. All the programming languages can be divided
into two categories:-
- Problem oriented languages or High-level languages: These languages have
been designed to give a better programming efficiency, i.e. faster program
development. Examples of languages falling in this category are FORTRAN, BASIC
etc.
- Machine oriented languages or Low-level programming languages. These languages
have been designed to give a better machine efficiency, i.e. faster program
execution. Examples of programming languages falling in this category are
Assembly Language and Machine Language.
C++ stands in between these two categories. That?s why it is often called
a Middle level language, since it was designed to have both: a relatively good
programming efficiency (as compared to Machine oriented languages) and relatively
good machine efficiency (as compared to Problem oriented languages).
Getting Started with C++ Programming
Communicating with
a computer involves speaking the language the computer understands, which immediately
rules out English as the language of communication with computer. However, there
is a close analogy between learning English language and learning C++ language.
The classical method of learning English is to first learn the alphabets or characters
used in the language, then learn to combine these alphabets to form sentences
and sentences are combined to form paragraphs. Learning C++ programming is similar
and much easier.
Therefore, instead of straight-away learning how to write programs, we must first
know what alphabets, numbers and special symbols are used in C++, then how using
these, constants, variables and keywords are constructed, and finally how are
all these combined to form an instruction. A group of instruction would be combined
later on to form a program. Character SetCharacter set is a set
of valid characters that the language can recognize. A character represents any
letter, digit or any other sign. C++ has the following character set:
Letters A-Z, a-z
Digits 0-9
Special Symbols space + - * / ? ? ( )[ ] etc.
White Spaces blank space, horizontal tab, carriage return, newline etc.
Other Characters, C++ can process any of the 256 ASCII characters as data or as
literals.
The alphabets, numbers and special symbols when properly combined form constants,
variables and keywords. Let us see what these are:-
- Constants: Constants are data items that never change
their value during a program run. C++ programming language allows several
kinds of constants.
- Variables: Variables are quantities that may vary during
program execution. Variable names are names given to locations in the memory
of computer where the value is stored.
- Keywords: These are the words that convey a special meaning
to the language compiler. Keywords are the words whose meaning has already
been explained to the C++ compiler. The keywords cannot be used as variable
names because if we do so we are trying to assign a new meaning to the keyword,
which is not allowed by the computer. Examples of keywords are if, void, for,
switch etc.
Data Types in C++
Data types are means to identify the types of
data and the associated operations to handle it. In C++ data types are broadly
of two types:-
- Fundamental Data Types: These are predefined to the C++
language itself. there are at least five fundamental data types.
- char- represents that the declared variable of this type can store
characters
- int- represents integers
- float- represents floating point numbers
- void- represents valueless data
- Derived Data Types: These are constructed from the fundamental
types. I will not give you the details here because this is a bit high-level.
Instructions in C++ Programming Language
Now that we seen the
different types of constants, variables and keywords the next logical step is
to learn how they are combined to form instructions.
- Type declaration instructions: to declare the type of
variables used in the program.
Eg:- int num;
Here a variable num is declared of type int(eger).
- Input /Output instructions: to perform the function supplying
input data to a program and obtaining the output results from it.
Eg:-
cin>>a;
cout
In the first line input is taken from the keyboard by the function cin and
is assigned to a pre-declared variable a. In the second line ?Hello?
is printed using the function cout.
- Arithmetic instructions: to perform arithmetic operation
between constants and variables.
Eg:- c=a+b;
Here c is assigned a value which is the sum of the variables a and b.
- Control instructions: to control the sequence of execution
of various statements in a C++ program.
Eg:- if (a>b) func1();
Here it is checked whether a is greater than b, if it is, then program execution
goes to a user defined function ?func1?.
The first C++ Program
Armed with the knowledge about the
types of variables, constants, keywords etc. we would write down our first C++
program.
Each instruction in a C++ program would comprise of a series of statements. These
statements must appear in the same order in which we want them to be executed.
The following rules are applicable to all C++ programs no matter ho long or complicated
they are
- Blank spaces may be inserted between two words to increase readability
of the statements. However, no blank spaces are allowed within a variable,
constant or keyword.
- Usually all statements are entered in small case letters.
- C++ has no specific rules for the position at which a statement is to be
written. That?s why it is often called free-form language.
- Any C++ statement always ends with a semicolon (;).
Now, let us have a look at a program which calculates the sum of two numbers given
by the user.
//To calculate the sum of two given numbers
#include
main()
{
int num1; //declares a variable num1 of type int(etger)
int num2; //declares a variable num2 of type int(etger)
int sum; //declares a variable sum of type int(etger)
cin>>num1; //takes input and stores to the var num1
cin>>num2; //takes input and stores to the var num2
sum= num1+num2; //adds vars num1 & num2
cout
}
A few useful tips:-
- Any C++ program is nothing but a combination of functions, main() is one
such function which is always there in a C++ program in one form or the other.
Empty parentheses are necessary after main.
- The set of statements belonging to a function is enclosed within a pair
of braces
Ex.
main()
{
statement1;
statement2;
statement3;
statement4;
}
- Any variable is declared before using it.
- Any C++ statement should always end with a semicolon.
- iostream.h is the file needed to use the functions cin and cout, which
is included in the program with the include keyword.
Summary
After going through the article you have got an
introduction to C++ Programming, you now know what C++ is and how it is used.
You now know the C++ language and have learnt some of the most fundamental parts
of C++. you have learnt how to declare variables and how to use them in arithmetic
operations. In one sentence you have got an introduction to C++ programming which
will help you in further learning of the language.
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Original article by Arvind Gupta. You are free to republish
this article in any form you like, as long as this Resource Box
with the ALIVE LINK to the related article is there.
Related article written
by Arvind Gupta:-
http://learning-computer-programming.blogspot.com
December 29, 2007
In this XSitePro review, we found that XSitePro is gaining an ever larger market share when it comes to website building products. Of course, when a product is found to be taking off as is XSitePro, people wonder what the cause of the interest and market share increase actually is at a given point in time.
There are two significant reasons why XSitePro continues to gain in the website building marketplace — even at a time when many Internet marketers are cutting back on their software purchases.
We found that two of the primary reasons why XSitePro was gaining in the market were the fact that XSitePro is full of features and, further, because XSitePro is designed to work with you as your business and your website grows and develops.
When it comes to the features, XSitePro includes a good selection of professional templates that are attractive and appealing. In addition, XSitePro includes easy to use site layout tools, including those to assist an Internet marketer in creating and developing the perfect homepage layout for any imaginable business venture.
XSitePro allows a person interested in developing a website the ability to automatically do things that otherwise would have to have been done manually. For example, XSitePro allows a user the ability to do content formatting, sitemap creation, navigation menus and even keyword editing automatically. These are all tasks that traditionally had to be done manually by a person who was creating a website.
Beyond containing a comprehensive set of tools and applications, it is also apparent that XSitePro is a product that has been created for the long term. By this it is meant that XSitePro has tools and applications that are necessary to allow a person the ability to adapt and change an Internet website over time.
Many website building programs are static and simply do not allow a person the ability to alter and change a website appropriately over time. Understanding this, XSitePro breaks that mold. XSitePro is a website building software program that grows with an Internet business enterprise and that can help an Internet businss venture adapt and change adequately with the times and with the market.
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Visit XsitePro Reviews today and see just how easy it can be to build your own website. While you’re there be sure to pick up your free copy of Search Engine Optimization Made Easy ebook.
December 19, 2007
MySQL is a rock solid, lighting fast database server which has been designed for two factors speed and performance. It is the Ferrari of databases: Light weight, fast and Built for the high speed tracks!
I still hear an awful lot of stories from owners whose databases are running two slow. In my experience, the three main places to look for problems are:
1. Faulty Database Design
2. Bad Queries
3. Server factors
Faulty Database Design
Proper database design is the single most important factor for the ensuring performance and maintainability of the database. Here is what you need to answer when designing a table: Can I reduce the size of data that each row will have? Here is what you can do:
1. Use unsigned numeric values when the application will not store negative numbers. Like the ?quantity ordered? of an item in an ecommerce application is never going to be -$125.
2. Use Variable length values instead of fixed length value i.e. used varchar instead of char.
3. Do not use unnecessarily large field sizes. For most ecommerce application ?unsigned smallint? is more than enough to store inventory count. A field described as ?unsigned smallint? can store a max value of 65535.
4. Don?t ignore normalization; its helps prevent unnecessary repetition of data. The part B of this is, don?t overuse normalization. If the table will not grow in size significantly, there is no point in normalization. For example, if the user table has just 20 rows (i.e. 20 employees in a company), all attempts of normalization are wasted.
5. Use Keys. Don?t decide keys by ?The customer id has to be indexed in the order table?. If the order table is being searched 90% of the times by ?order date?, it makes more sense to index ?order date?.
Remember, how a table will be used should determine how it is designed. Spending time here will save years of frustration.
Bad Queries
It sounds too good to be true but you wont believe the number of developers out there who completely suck at writing queries. There are two types of bad queries:
a) Unnecessary Queries: These are the queries that shouldn?t have been made in the first place. The only way to avoid this is asking, ?Do I really need this data??
b) Inefficient Queries: These are the queries that do not use the underlying table structure or MySQL functions in the correct way.
Here is a starting point to start looking at problem areas:
1. Unnecessary usage of ?Select * ?statements when the entire processing is being done on a single column. The more data is fetched from the server the more work MySQL has to do and more bandwidth it takes.
2. Using sub-query instead of a join. On a properly designed database, joins are incredibly fast. Using sub-queries just shows a lack of knowledge.
3. Improper use of Keys. This is especially valid for range checks. Remember to use the ?Explain? statement to check the usage of keys and then use the ?use key? statement in your ?where? clauses to force key usage.
Server Factors
Everything done correctly, there still may be some server factors that may be causing the system to be slow. These are:
1. Hardware related
2. Server configuration related
Here is what you can do about the hardware:
1. The more RAM is on the system the better it is. MySQL frequently fetches data from the RAM and more the RAM is on the system, the better it is.
2. Buy the fastest possible RAM! A slower RAM is just irony.
3. Once you are settled with the RAM size and speed, look for processing speed. MySQL can use multiple processors.
Once you are satisfied with the hardware, there are a set of variables in ?my.cnf? that you must look at:
a) key_buffer_size: This describes the memory available to store the index keys. The default is 8 MB but you can set it to 25% of the RAM.
b) query_cache_size: This value is by default 0. if you have a lot of repeating queries like in reporting applications etc, make sure you set this value high.
c) table_open_cache: This determines the number of table descriptors that MySQL will keep in the cache. The default value is 64. But, if you have 100 users accessing a table concurrently then this value should atleast be 100. You also have to take into considerations joins etc. Thus, this value should also be kept high.
I hope this article will take one step further in unlocking the mystery of slow servers and help solve some of the problems.
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Mukul Gupta is the CMO of Indus Net Technologies, an India based Internet Consulting firm which specializes in Opensource solutions. You can reach him at script@script2please.com or visit www.script2please.com
November 30, 2007
Do you just want to dabble or include a little 3D rendering in your website? Perhaps you are a 2D designer and want to start incorporating 3D in your illustration work. Maybe you have learned about 3D using free software and intend to pursue 3D as a career. Here we will go over the options available in three general sectors of the market: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Most 3D programs are available as demo versions, so you can try them out and get a feel of how they work before committing any of your hard-earned cash.
Basic
At the bottom end of the market there are plenty of low cost, easy to use 3D programs. Because of the low cost and small market share, this is a volatile sector, with 3D applications popping into and out of the market quite rapidly. Some of these applications last a little longer than normal, while others vanish without a trace, so don’t be surprised if any mentioned here are no longer available by the time you read this! Whatever the name, they all tend to follow the same basic path-making 3D as easy as possible, but without the power and finesse of the more expensive packages.
If you want something for nothing, there are a few freeware versions of 3D packages available. 3D Canvas from amabilis.com is a cut down version of the company’s commercial 3D packages. It’s a fully functional 3D application but is probably more suited to the intermediate 3D users or keen beginners.
Xara 3D is a typical low end 3D package, still going strong after multiple versions. Costing about $39, it’s a PC-only 3D program that won’t break the bank but is pretty limited as 3D programs go. Xara is great for quick logos and fun titles, but really that is about it.
Adobe Dimension is a plug-in for illustrator (Mac or PC) that generates rendered 3D objects from illustrator curves and text. Again, it’s limited but very simple to use, and for some it’s all that is needed.
Although more suited to intermediate users, Amorphium from ElectricImage Inc. is an esy to use 3D program designed to work in a very hands on way. If you want to sculpt 3D objects as if they were lumps of clay then render them very simply, it’s a good way to go.
Poser is included here because it is so easy to use, but in fact it’s usefulness extends right up to the pro level. It’s a 3D character renderer and animator that lets you pose and animate ready-made, high quality 3D figures. It’s very powerful, but it’s not an all rounder- it does one thing only-but does it very well.
Intermediate
The quality of intermediate 3D software can vary, but there are a few things to bear in mind. Make sure the rendering is up to speed, and examine online galleries of the software, which you can usually find on the developer’s site. This will usually give you a good idea of the quality on offer. Most of the programs are available as demo versions, so they can be downloaded for evaluation.
Strata’s Strata 3D has a long history and is available for Mac and PC. It’s a sturdy if slightly archaic 3D program, but it has found favor with many digital illustrators. It has some good rendering features, including radiosity, which are rare at the price. www.strata3d.com
Pixels is a Mac-only 3D program that offers advanced rendering and animation and robust modeling for a modest cost. It also features a renderer based on the REYES algorithm-the same one used in Pixar’s RenderMan software.
Corel’s Bryce 3D is an interesting 3D program. It’s primarily a landscape rendering application, designed to produce skies, seas, and terrains in a very efficient way. It can be pressed into service as a more general purpose 3D tool, but lacks any serious modeling tools. www.corel.com
One of the best free 3D applications available is Blender. This program is a full featured 3D production package featuring the kinds of tools you’d expect to see in a mid to high end application.
Advanced
At the high end level of 3D applications, it’s not so much the tools as their implementation that makes the difference, and each 3D application listed here has its own style of working. Some of these applications are costly, seriously powerful, and used for many high-end effects in movies and television.
Newtek’s Lightwave 3D is a dual application featuring separate modeler/texturing and animation/lighting/rendering apps. Its quirky interface is deceptively powerful, and it offers one of the best quality renderers out there.
Softimage XSI combines sublime modeling with non-linear animation, scripting, and phenomenal rendering through tight integration with Mental Images’ Mental Ray rendering software. It also features an integrated 2D/3D compositor.
Alias’s Maya 3D is extremely powerful. Its node-based architecture enables complex animation and rendering linkages to be created and it offers a nonlinear modeling history, plus Mental Ray rendering.
Discreet’s 3Ds Max has always been a popular choice. Its design is not as modern as Maya or Softimage but it holds its own, especially in the games production market, and comes with Mental Ray rendering as standard.
Houdini is a fully procedural animation system that takes the node-based architecture to the nth degree. Sublimely powerful, it’s not for the faint hearted, but offers the kind of flexibility other applications only hint at.
The full suite of plug-ins for Cinema 4D takes it into the high end. With advanced radiosity rendering, sophisticated character tools, and a GUI based expression system, it’s also one of the easiest high-end 3D apps to get to grips with.
Now, go forth and create!
By M Adley
http://www.your3dsource.com
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M Adley is webmaster @ http://your3dsource.com , a resource for beginner to intermediate web designers and 3D artists.
Animation and Art Schools
November 18, 2007
The Picture
Imagine if you will, trying to buy a car, it looks slick, shiny, fast, the salesman wants you to have it as bad as you do. But you’re a smart buyer you want to check things out before you lay the money down. But the salesman won’t let you see inside! Won’t let you look under the hood. You have no idea what the vehicle can actual do or if it can do anything. I feel the very same way with commercial software. It cost half a grand for the Operating System to run a computer, another half grand for some decent graphic design software, and however much for a legitimate HTML editor. From this and, of course from the title, you can tell that I am focusing on software for web development, but many principles discussed here can be applied to all software. So many stores sell on the web, it’s a hassle free environment, and so many people buy from the web because they know they can buy anything. So a web page may be something you really want, but you’re going to want to get what you paid for, or heaven forbid it being an investment….more out of it than you put into it. Read on!
Why Open Source
The reason Web Development is a such a huge industry is because it is a business that has everything all other businesses don’t have. Accessible from millions of locations, in every country that has plumbing, AND….theoretically it can be manufactured, maintained, changed, or destroyed from any internet capable computer (included phones, and hand helds). The biggest upside to anything Open Source is the cost of the software, you cannot compete with free. The cost of a website is pretty high when you go through a company, which takes their cut and then assigns it out to one or two employees that do all the work. But that company has to buy software to run right? Of Course! But what does a company do when an Open Source product is better then the ones it is currently using? Do the people on the inside of the company prefer to use the same software, usually not until they have had that software pounded into their head, and even not then if it costs a lot. So why Open Source, is it the cure all? You still have to work, have hardware to run it on and so on and so forth. But then you can pay just for the time of an employee, you can try different solutions. And since we are speaking about web development, we can look at the amazing content managers that are Open Source such as Joomla, or PHPNuke where anybody can put the content in.
Big Companies and Open Source
So knowing that Open Source is free and it’s freelancers and underpaid programmers that work on this with the occasional paid employees and projects that have sponsors, who benefits and who does not from the Open Source movement? I will readily let you know that I benefit extremely from all the free software that is out there in my own freelance web design, like I explained above, the software to edit graphics and HTML code is expensive, I could not imagine also paying for the FTP (File Transfer Protocol, use to upload files to a server) client. Now it is a given that all us little people save tons of money, but now who does it hurt? I was doing a little research and found that a lot of companies that were beginning to embrace Open Source solutions such as IBM and Novell, also any smaller company providing a service and struggling to become larger. The larger companies like IBM don’t mind that the programs are free because they are making hardware and if people don’t have to spend as much on software they would spend a little more on the hardware. Novell wouldn’t mind because they can make the code flawlessly integrate with the Operating Systems that they can see all the code for. The only software company that is hurting (I’m sure I could find more if I looked) is Microsoft, funny to me it seems that Microsoft would put so much money and time into their gaming console when it specializes in its operating system. At first I though it was another piece of the market that Microsoft wanted to dominate, but now knowing how prevalent Open Source is becoming, it was actually a brilliant idea that will give them something to live off of when people eventually switch over to Linux or any other free OS.
The Internet in All We Do
The reason this article focuses on Web Development along with Open Source is that we spend so much of our computer time on the internet, if it were not for music I think I wouldn’t need a large hard drive at all, I only have a few gigs of applications at any given time. But if my computer cannot connect to the internet I feel stranded! I mean, I got to check my e-mail (the two different online accounts that I have), edit or just view my website, chat with my family in Canada and friends that still live an hour or so south of Salt Lake City, and make web pages for other people. So the internet is critical for myself, and that is why I need Open Source products, I could never afford to buy high end software and then make a web page for as little as I do.
This Concludes this Broadcast Article
Thanks for reading and please give Open Source a chance, if you are using Google you can type in Linux, Joomla, SourceForge, or Open Source and you can find all that free software for Linux and Windows. Enjoy!
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Michael Hart
www.hartdevelopments.com/joomla
November 17, 2007
Picasa presents powerful features for organization and optimization of digital images. The article provides a full review of the use of this software for amateur photographers.
The tremendous increase of using Digital Photography in the past few years gave birth to a growing need for good, easy to use and free picture editing and organization software.
There are not too many good and satisfying softwares for ordinary people like you and me that just want to download photos from our new digital camera which were taken on our last vacation.
We don’t need the complicated and deadly frustrating features that require half a year course to understand.
Most of the softwares on the market today have been tailored for the use of photography professionals, graphic designer artists and image processing technicians. These softwares are very very expensive and hard to use.
All we need is an easy way to organize, edit and share our pictures. This is when Google decided to develop software just for our needs.
And so they came up with ‘Picasa’.
Picasa is surprisingly intuitive and easy to use, has very comfortable interface and relaxing graphics.
The moment you enter Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures, you will be surprised of how many pictures Picasa found that you didn’t even know they exist.
You can edit, share, organize in albums and print your pictures. Let’s find out about the new features Picasa presents:
-Editing: Optimize your digital pictures with Picasa: remove red-eyes, improve color saturation, sharpening and much more with just few simple clicks.
-Organize: With Picasa you can instantly locate and organize all pictures on your PC and create your own photo albums
-Share: Send your photos to your Friends and Family right from Picasa.
-Publish your pictures on your blog and creating your own picture website was never easier like with Picasa.
-Creating beautiful slide shows is simple and intuitive
Print your favorite photos at home or order professional high quality Photo books , collages or movies directly from Picasa.
In addition to the main features above Picasa also gives you the possibility to burn Gift CD?s with Pictures inside to add label for every picture and it is able to perform a Ranking within all available images in order to choose the best ones.
As you can see Picasa offer great variety of options and features while keeping it simple as possible for the common amateur photographer like me.
With the free distribution of this excellent software product, Google has set a heavy milestone in the fast growing Digital Imaging business.
No doubt that Picasa is the best choice now days:
You can visit Picasa Download center at www.picasa-officiale.com and Download the software for free.
Best regards and fun photo organizing.
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