Concepts are out of C++0x

Concepts were supposed to be an important new feature in C++0x. They were meant to allow programmers to specify properties (like constraints) for templates, allow compilers to do some optimization and tools to do some formal checking on the code. After years of debate, the standard committee found them “untried, risky and controversial” and ruled … Read more

Windows 7 and Server 2008 R2 RTM available on MSDN

Windows 7 RTM and Windows Server 2008 R2 RTM are now available for download on MSDN for MSDN and TechNet subscribers. Currently, the only available bits are in English. The other languages will become available on October 1st. Volume License customers with an existing Software Assurance license will be able to download the bits starting … Read more

Circle Crop Pictures

I run across this site featuring hundreds of amazing circle crop pictures, taken by Lucy Pringle, one of world’s leading crop circles photographers. For the record, I don’t believe they have anything to do with things from outer space. They are all man made. But I must admit, lots of them are amazing. Here are … Read more

.NET out string[] to Automation SAFEARRAY**

.NET allows you to expose components as COM and consume them from unmanaged code. There are many references on how to this (and you can only start with MSDN), and I will not talk about that part. What I want to explain here is something different. Suppose you have this interface: [Guid(“2F8433FE-4771-4037-B6B2-ED5F6585ED04”)] [InterfaceType(ComInterfaceType.InterfaceIsIDispatch)] public interface … Read more

Project Tuva

Project Tuva is an enhanced video player created by Microsoft Research to freely host the lectures give my Richard Feynman at the Cornell University in the ’60s. Bill Gates saw the lectures two decades ago, was impressed with them and wanted to make them freely available. Now, it finally happened. You can watch them at … Read more

Romanian Winners at Imagine Cup 2009

Romanians won two of the nine awards at the 2009 Imagine Cup in Cairo: Software Design, the most important category, won by Sytech team, Adrian Buzgar, Calin Juravle, Andreas Resios, and IT Challenge, won by Cosmin Ilie. This year’s theme was “Imagine a world where technology helps solve the world’s toughest problems.” About 300.000 students … Read more

Windows API Code Pack for .NET 3.5

MSDN Code Gallery made available an update for the Windows API Code Pack for .NET Framework 3.5 (or above), a library that provides access to some Window 7 features and some existing features in previous operating systems. It includes: Windows 7 Taskbar Jump Lists, Icon Overlay, Progress Bar, Tabbed Thumbnails, and Thumbnail Toolbars. Known Folders, … Read more