How to read pdf in chrome in ubuntu 12.04

1. Download the latest chrome software from google
2. extract the libpdf.so from the archive and copy to the /usr/lib/chromium-browser, you need admin rights to copy do sudo
3. close chrome if opened, then check out chrome://plugins/, Chrome PDF Viewer  should be enabled

Ubiquitous Windows

Long ago, during Bill Gate times, every home should have a PC was the motto. As matter of fact it has been evident, now every home has a PC. Fortunately or unfortunately, time changes things, now every individual has a tablet, phone, laptop attached to his body. How this customer requirement direct the coming years of Microsoft?

If I remember correctly at some windows developer conference, our age old Mr. Gates vision has been modified to, "Every and any computing platform should be able to run Windows. Windows everywhere!!!” This according to me is a smart move from Microsoft. What has this got to do for developers and people who are aspiring for a career with Microsoft technologies?

This thought came to me while talking with my friend who is into device drivers. Microsoft has its arms spread out in Phones, Laptops. Tablets, Gaming Devices and Enterprise level software development. Making windows run on every platform is a herculean task which requires an in depth knowledge of device drivers, windows architecture and programming skills. To all those who are starting out a career like me with Microsoft my suggestion would be to keep Windows Device Drivers (WDD) and .NET Micro Framework(NETMF) up their ally. With more and more devices pouring into display, camera, various sensors and other cool things learning how to integrate them with windows would require an understanding of windows architecture itself. It’s a big area to ponder; I am starting out with these free tools given by MS. I think the day will come where I will say, “Hey, I want to port Windows on my new printer, get me the image.”

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware/gg487428

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/hardware

Fixing the csc.exe issue

I had to write fairly small programs in C# of late and did not feel like using the IDE, however I ran into the path setting problem. My command line was not able to call the csc.exe to compile my code. The error:  'csc' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file. This is what I did to fix it:

1. Locate 'csc.exe' on your PC. Here is thing which I don't know. I have googled this issue and people suggested  to add Framework location and other folders. Also, on my box I have csc.exe on multiple locations none of them worked for me except for this one. c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 10.0\VC. Copy this address on a notepad.

2. Go to Control Panel\System and Security\System and click on Advanced system settings on your left, if you are admin you can access else call the admin. Once you click on Advanced System Settings click on environment variables which will open a dialog box look for System Variables under that you have multiple system variables. Select path and click edit

3. Carefully copy the address which is on notepad and add it to the end of the variable value list. click ok, twice and viola you are ready. Now you should be able to access csc from cmd prompt. 

Happy Coding!!

Inline table value function (tvf)

1. Produces a dynamic table at the time of execution

2. Unlike a view table valued function can be parameterized

3. Table valued function accepts a search criteria as function parameters; in a VIEW it is can be specified in a where clause 

VIEW:

create view view_person
as
select top 5 * from person.address

select * from view_person

TVF:

create function person.tvf_person
returns table
as
return
(
select * from person.address
);
go

select * from Person.tvf_person()

Importance of Software Requirement and Requirement Gathering

Business requirements for building an enterprise scale software apps are very crucial and critical for the business. Every IT professional is aware of the process of gathering requirements and its implications. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the cost of formulating an incorrect business rule and coding the rule is least understood by most IT professionals. The following is my experience of requirement fallacy.

My organization is providing health care services to disabled individuals. The IT division in my org is building apps to facilitate the other employees to handle the financial, medicare/medicaid, placement of the disabled. I am part of new project and we don't have a business analyst to gather the requirements (imho BA's are PRO for IT), so switched multiple hats (as usual) went straight to the stakeholder to get the required info. The stakeholder redirected to a specific employee to answer my questions. One of the main questions I had was

Can the benefit amount awarded to the client be split among entitled payees?
The reply was, yes the benefit amount comes in one check and is split among multiple payees.

Benefit Amount (ID  1) = $100
BenefitID 1 $X to Payee 1
BenefitID 1 $Y to Payee 2

So, took this reply and went to my team to discuss the implications because this was new information. The current database cannot handle the split amount of the benefit. For ex. the benefit could be $100 and is split $50 each if there were two payees.  We had about two months of intensive discussion on how to change the current asset table which houses all the benefit info of the client. Plan for how to change the front end screen to handle this new feature along with planned changes to the triggers and stored procs.

After 2 months we had a meeting again and I raised same to make sure we were on same page.  

Can the benefit amount awarded to the client be split among entitled payees?
The reply was, yes the benefit amount comes in one check and is split among multiple payees. The split is not on the entitled amount but it is as follows
Benefit ID1-a $X to Payee 1
Benefit ID1-b $Y to Payee 2
and its is not

This threw off the discussions to waste.  As most employees in IT are consultants, the IT management team successfully utilized the consultants time to design, build and  test an incorrect business requirement.

What can be the done to bridge the gap? Business communication is critical. Client may speak gibberish but they are always  correct because it makes sense to him/her. Its up to the translator to convert the gibberish  to proper sentences.   

Rule 1: Always double check the answers/business rules
Rule 2: Re ascertain yourself by asking  "is this what you are trying to say" or "Is my understanding of the situation correct?"
Rule 3: Try ask questions beginning with what/why/who/where/when and how

A part of software engineering is requirements gathering which form the basis for the software application.