programming - News, Features, and Slideshows

News

• Juniper buys SDN startup for $176M

  Juniper Networks this week acquired Contrail Systems, a startup that makes controllers for software-defined networks, for $176 million in cash and stock.

• Google Translate glitch opens security hole

  Developers moving to the upcoming paid version of <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/community/blog/google-uncorks-iphone-language-translation-ap">Google Translate</a> need to follow the documentation so their implementation of the package doesn't lead them to paying for someone else's use of the platform.

• Programming in Lua

  I haven't talked about programming languages for a while so here goes: We start this week with the free, <a href="http://www.networkworld.com/subnets/opensource/">open source</a> (<a href="http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.html">MIT License</a>) <a href="http://www.lua.org/">Lua</a> language.

• OpenFlow vs. programmable ASICs

  Can you program a network of multivendor switches and routers, all running different operating systems, command line interfaces and configuration routines, to work in concert when it comes to managing flows?

• Watch out for FOSS advertising

  The appeal of free and open source software is undeniable - after all, who doesn't want to take advantage of OPM (other people's money) to develop a finished software product or platform that would otherwise require long lead times, dedicated programming resources and significant cost? 

• Microsoft .Net skills in demand, job site reports

  Many IT pros in the past have shied away from specializing in .Net application development, out of fear of choosing too narrow a specialty and limiting future job opportunities. Now that it's clear the Microsoft development platform is sticking around, there's a shortage of .Net talent in every area of the U.S., according to Dice.com.

• 9 hot IT skills for 2012

  Slowly but surely, many US companies are loosening their viselike grips on IT hiring and looking to add new staffers to bolster business growth in the year ahead.

• Lost programming skills

  Today's coders may know how to whip up a PHP script or a Drupal extension, create a mobile app for both the iPhone and Android, and run DOOM on their car's GPS. But there's a lot that their predecessors knew that today's programmers don't.

• Microsoft struggles to get Hyper-V drivers in Linux kernel

  Microsoft isn't exactly dumping Windows for Linux, but it has become one of the busiest contributors to the Linux kernel. Microsoft's attempt to get Hyper-V drivers into the Linux kernel has taken longer than expected, having begun in July 2009, so Microsoft is apparently trying to speed up the process.

• Charity launches $22 computer to bridge digital divide in schools

  A London-based charity has announced the launch of a low-cost computer which it hopes will revolutionise the education sector.

• Former MySQL boss: Code 'in better shape than ever' under Oracle

  Despite concerns that Oracle would be unfriendly to open source projects acquired through the merger with Sun, former MySQL CEO Marten Mickos says the MySQL code base is in fantastic condition.

• How secure is Windows Phone 7 app code?

  A recent glitch on Microsoft's download servers for brand new Windows Phone 7 applications has sparked widespread Internet chatter among developers and focused new attention on the best ways to protect smartphone apps from being hacked.

• Lack of BlackBerry migration no bar for RIM PlayBook developers

  Although the full application development story is still being ironed out for Research in Motion's newly announced PlayBook tablet, developers are anxious to get their hands on one and start building anyway.

• Billionaire SAS co-founder keeps on coding

  John Sall doesn't have to work. As one of SAS Institute's four co-founders, the 60-year old has a net worth of $US3.1 billion, according to Forbes' estimate, ranking him the 196th richest person in the world (just ahead of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg and Ralph Lauren).

• Parallelism needs killer application for mass adoption

  The addition of multiple cores to microprocessors has created a significant opportunity for parallel programming, but a killer application is needed to push the concept into the mainstream, researchers said during a panel discussion at the Hot Chips conference.