Bash still worth learning?

Today I needed to write a script that would copy a few of my dot files into a git repository. I cracked vim open and began to experiment with rudimentary bash constructs, but after a while gave up and decided to write the thing in Python, just because Python is simple and I know it.
Are there any good reasons as to why I should pursue a knowledge of bash with other, higher level languages around (e.g. Python) when bash's breadth of use is (relatively) limited?

Kiwi wrote:So what Xyne is saying is that Python sucks more than Bash? Unless, I suppose, if that is a vacuum made by Microsoft.
Heh. Oh the flame wars!
Cyrusm wrote:I say if you're comfortable with python, and it does what you need it to do, then use python. There is no real "need" to learn Bash imo. personally I like bash for quick and dirty scripts, python for more elaborate scripts. but really it's just what ever you're happy using.
Exactly my thoughts... If you can achieve the same thing 2 different ways and the result is the same, then do whatever is more comfortable/easier for you.
Although, if you'll excuse this little anecdote..... I used to *hate* perl, with a passion. I'd go out of my way to avoid it, because I didn't know it and when I tried to use it I found it esoteric and painful. Over the last few months though I had managed to get a (basic) grasp of perl, and now I love it. It can make things so much easier than doing the same in bash. The reverse is also true.
Moral of my anecdote (I think): Right Tool for the Right Job. The more tools you have (know), the easier to find a suitable tool for your task.

Similar Messages

UML2 is it worth learning?

Hello,
I am currently attempting to learn UML2 standard in a class I am taking. It seems that there are a lot of benefits and downsides to the modelling procedure.
I wanted to ask the developer and the academic community about how they view UML2 and how effective it is from an industrial point of view. I failed this module last year. The professor taught it from a purely academic point of view and although there were some good things about the ADLs (Architecture Description Languages) it did not seem very relavant to the industry but I could appreciate how it might be applied if one were to take an obscure view on matters e.g connectors and components in Wright and CSP (academic languages) . My current teaher not the guy I failed under informs me that UML2 is also affected by academic research.
He is also very keen on MDA (Model Driven Architecture). I have already read the gigantic post where jschell and SoureError duke it out round after round about process modelling and formal techniques. I am only interested in answers to a couple of questions.
1. UML2 claims several advantages however I can still see the same problem of gigantic diagrams and adhoc design patterns being formed to suit implementation do you agree?
2. UML2 modelling porbably wont' be used by smaller teams of developers. So is it relavant to argue that modelling techniques need to be scalable to the problem size and the team's man power. If so please suggest alternatives?
3. I have been informed that there can be quite some confusion between Asynchronous and Synchronous modelling in UML2 is this true or am I confused?
4. What about other "silver bullets" e.g design by contract of AOP(Aspect Orientated Programming) we have already spawn modelling concepts based on these approaches. How do you think they compare?
Kind regards
Prashant

In mathematics it is fairly widely accepted that there are two different type of mathematician, namely "geometers" and "algebrists". The presumed difference is between those who prefer to rely on their visual cortex for thinking - they "see" the problems and those who prefer to rely on their audio/language cortex and are pushing words around to solve their problems.
Some problems are easier to work in one mode and others are easier in the other mode. All working mathematicians, understand both methods, they just in general prefer one method over the other. Like being right handed or left handed.
My view of flowcharts and their modern UML equivalent is that they are just a way of presenting the design problem in different ways to the brain. They are ways of attempting to recruit different brain tissue to work on the problem.
This model of how people think, explains all the facts that I am aware of, namely that some people love UML, some people hate UML, some projects are helped by UML and some are hindered.
A complicated diagram with lines runing all over it is just the graphical equivalent of spaghetti code and just about as useful and easy to maintain. You have done something wrong. Just like it is easy to say that if you have a rountine with thousands of lines in one method it is certainly wrong.
As a mathematician I am most certainly a geometer, as a programmer, probably largly by training, I am an algebrist. I see math, I hear programs.
I have sympathy with those who say that you must learn this or that technique, because any technique that you can learn will enlarge the set of problems that you can solve elegantly. On the other hand I am extremely skeptical of ony one who claims that any particular technique is absolutely necessary for solving any problems.
For everyone that swears that UML is the only way to do design I can no doubt find someone that runs a UML emitter over their code when they are finished with a project so that they can satisfy some "requirement" that they produce UML design documents. Neither party is "right." Left handed people are not broken versions of right handed people.
I think it is foolishness to claim that one tool works for all things at all times. I likewise think it is foolishness to shun a possibly useful tool just because it is not the way your brain likes to work. Fix your brain. Exercise it.
As for what you will find people actually using in industrial settings, well Horatio, there are more things than ever dreamed of in your philosophies.
Is UML2 worth learning. Absolutely. Soak it up and then forget it. Try not to lose any sleep.

Is it worth learning JAVA?

Howdy!
Is it worth learning JAVA or would I be oaky with just sticking with ABAP and learning ABAP objects?
All opinions welcome y'all!

Hi Steve,
Sticking to ABAP is for the (near) future an option.
However SAP is migating to the SAP NetWeaver environment where a totally new development suite is presented: The SAP NetWeaver Development Studio.
With it you can develop the new Web Dynpro's and the studio is based on IBM's Eclipse (totally Java).
You can develop without knowledge of Java, however some knowledge of Java is very helpfull.
If you want to stick to ABAP: Somewhere half/end of the year 2005 this Developer studio will also be expanded with ABAP (you have to wait for that).
On the other hand, current releases of SAP components (Like CRM, Enterprise, SCM, APO and so on) still require the knowledge of ABAP (preferably ABAP Objects).
In my view ABAP Objects will play a major role in the new Developer Studio (when it comes available). Straight forward ABAP (without OO parts) will see it's role slowly getting less and less.
So my advice would be: Learn Java (at least do a beginners training with it) and learn all about ABAP Objects. You will be ready for the future.
Regrads,
Rob.

Is it still worth getting one?

I have someone offering a G5 2.0Ghz Dual Processor with a 20in display. The Mac itself is what Im interested in and its in prestine condition. 3 yrs old and used only for graphics design. Has 3GB ram and Im not sure about HDD, but thats no problem. My question is, are they still worth getting? Or should I hold off? Im only using FCP 5.1 for light HD work. Any input would be nice, let me know, thanks!
GC

If the price is really low, say $600 or less (taking into account the value of the 20-inch display), it may be. Depends what you want to use it for...
It will probably do a better job with FCP than your non-Pro MacBook. With 3GB of RAM, it will run Leopard very well. But if you are still going to be using your MacBook most of the time, the Power Mac G5 is a pretty large hunk of metal to be sitting around taking up space.
I have the last 2.0 GHz model (dual core) from 2005. Someone uses it full-time, and it will be useful for a long time, even if Apple stops supporting it with the latest OS release. But I got it three years ago. I don't think I would get one now.

Are the all silver cinema display still worth getting?

I'm getting a mac mini anf will need to get a new monitor for it. I was on ebay and saw the all silver cinema displays on theren for arounf 200 dollars. Are those still worth the money and are they good monitors?

This new display is designed for use with the new MacBooks. If you want a dual display solution that works with the current iMacs then you need to buy one of the current Apple Cinema Displays.
Future Apple Cinema Displays will be using the new DisplayPort interface which will require a mini DVI to DisplayPort cable to be used with current iMacs.

Carrier in SAP: Is it worth learning MDM?

Hello Everyone,
Looking for a carrier guidance please let me know your thoughts.
I'm a J2EE Developer specializing in Content Management systems/Portals with about 8 years of experience.
Looking for learning new skills specifically learning vendor(canned) applications which would also require J2EE Experience so that i can use all my J2EE experience and as well learn new applications to better position myself in the consulting market.:-)
Started looking at the SAP Netweaver Technology and all the products stacked against key areas of the Netweaver Architecture. Lack of my experience in SAP landscape made me get confused on what product to pick and learn to position myself in and also was not sure about whether one would really get any jobs after going through all the learning with no experience in that product.
So wanted to reach out to all of you and see what you guys think and suggest after reading through my thoughts and confusion.
Getting into emerging technologies in SAP made more sense since there will be opportunities for people with less or no experience in sap landscape :(.
Do you guys think it is worth learning and planning a carrier in MDM?
How does the feature look for SAP MDM?
How should one go about planning to get to the MDM world. What other skills one should know that would help ?
Thanks All for all the help.
Rajes

Hi Rajesh,
MDM is truly a new way of solving old data management problems, Morris said. Traditional information architecture focuses on the infrastructure and design of systems in a company, and can include practices like synchronizing data around a hub. These architecture approaches are much more monolithic than MDM. Applied MDM, which includes data governance techniques, along with MDM infrastructure tools, represents a more flexible way of approaching the problem.
Andrew White, research director at Stamford, Conn.-based Gartner Inc., agrees that MDM is a legitimate solution for data management difficulties.
"Information architecture is lost," White said. "We're realizing that we need a different kind of governance model."
MDM is "80% old stuff and 20% new stuff," White said. The "old stuff" is technology expanded from product information management and CDI tools, as well as some of the data definition concepts of metadata management. The "new stuff" is a major emphasis on data governance and new MDM tools, which are different from anything the industry has seen before, White said.
MDM software, from companies like IBM, Kalido and others, acts as middleware, in essence giving systems a commonplace to look for approved data definitions. White describes this MDM software as an "intermediate tier between physical data and the consumption of that data." Combining software and data governance best practices, MDM is an innovative approach to solving data management problems, he said.
It's only a matter of time before companies start to adopt MDM, White said. The coming year will be one of awareness, and the peak of spending will come in two to three years, he predicts.
Between emerging technologies like SOA and RFID requiring consistent data definitions and motivators like heavy-handed fines for inaccurate reporting and non-compliance, analysts like Morris and White feel that MDM is a critical component to many business initiatives.
Master data management is not a technology market, but a business capability," said Rob Karel, principal analyst with Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester Research Inc. "All of the vendors branding themselves as an MDM solution, I liken to comparing apples and Volkswagens. They're all very different pieces of the larger complex technology puzzle that's required to solve the master data management capability."
Vendors from across the IT landscape emerged in force in the last few months, joining such players as IBM, SAP and Burlington, Mass.-based Kalido Inc. in announcing MDM products. Dayton, Ohio-based Teradata partnered with Dallas-based i2 Technologies Inc. for its new Teradata MDM platform. Other announcements amounted to repositioning and re-branding. Product information management (PIM) vendor TIBCO Software Inc., based in Palo Alto, Calif., announced its Collaborative Information Manager MDM application. Customer data integration (CDI) players made their move as well. Redwood City, Calif.-based Purisma Inc. updated and re-named its "data hub," and San Mateo, Calif.-based Siperian Inc. emerged with a new "customer-centric MDM" hub. Other pure-play vendors and big players alike have scrambled to use MDM label.
Of course, every vendor has a slightly different take, and the relative infancy of the MDM discipline makes product comparisons tough. Buyers should be wary of any vendor that claims to solve MDM problems with just one tool -- an impossible feat, Gartner and Forrester analysts agreed.
Forrester: Evaluate your MDM ecosystem
Karel introduced the concept of an "MDM ecosystem audit guide," a tool intended to help companies identify technology components that should be part of their data supply chain.
"MDM is a capability which will cross multiple technology platforms," Karel said, "because information is being captured, managed and consumed across many platforms."
An MDM capability may include processes and technologies such as data governance and stewardship, data quality management, integration tools, service-oriented architectures -- as well as systems that help manage master data definitions. Ultimately, successful MDM will be achieved by combining a wide variety of technologies and applications that create, manage and consume master data. Some capabilities might already exist in a company, Karel said. In fact, he added, companies could conceivably manage master data with no tools bearing the MDM label at all.
"If you knit together some of these disparate tools [that you already have] with custom code and random wrappers, you can create an MDM solution for your company -- it just won't be pretty," Karel said. "The vendors that will be successful are the ones that [can] create a more seamless administrative experience and the ones that allow you to leverage your existing investments."
No vendors really fit that description today, though some, such as IBM, are further along than others, Karel said. And there are more mature sub-segments of MDM, namely CDI or PIM, with vendors that have successfully addressed the problems of managing a specific kind of data entity. But, he said, a true MDM capability should address multiple kinds of data entities -- not just customer or product -- and that's where the complexity comes in.
Gartner: Consider the MDM continuum
The Gartner study placed vendors on an "MDM continuum," according to Andrew White, study co-author and research vice president with the Stamford, Conn.-based analyst firm. The continuum looks like a horizontal line, with "MDM niche" vendors on the left, "MDM generalists" on the right, and infrastructure giants Oracle and SAP in the middle.
The niche vendors on the extreme left of the continuum solve complex problems in certain industries or domains, White explained. These products can handle the complexities of very specific kinds of entities, such as customer or product data. They can potentially manage thousands of attributes and hundreds of hierarchies and are suited for operational purposes. This is where PIM and CDI vendors fit in, he said. Gartner placed IBM, Siperian and Wayne, Penn.-based PIM vendor FullTilt Solutions Inc. on this end of the continuum.
Products that appear closer to right side come from generalists and help companies get a single view of many different data entities, White said. These products are probably more appropriate for analytics and business intelligence uses. Generalists' products handle many different kinds of entities with relatively low complexity -- for example, labeling many master data objects with a low number (say, five to 25) of attributes. Kalido; Hackensack, N.J.-based Data Foundations Inc.; and Paris-based Orchestra Networks appear on this end of the continuum.
The study was specifically presented as a continuum, not a ranking, White said. Like all IT programs, the selected MDM tool should fit a company's specific problem, and legacy vendors might not always be the best choice, he cautioned.
"Vendors are making hay with [MDM]. They're all calling themselves MDM vendors," White said. "Customers have to be very careful. It's not that one MDM vendor is better. It's really about form fitting function. Where is your business? What is your particular problem of the day, and what will your problem be next year? Then figure out which data is most important, and look at that part of the continuum."
For Details learnings go through this link, which requires SAP Service Market place ID.
<u>https://websmp201.sap-ag.de/~sapidb/011000358700004121872006E.HTM</u>
Hope you are more confussed.
Regards
Rehman

Wordpress - as a website developer, is it worth learning?

I've always made websites with Dreamweaver using HTML, CSS, and Jquery. If the client wanted a CMS, I used CushyCMS or Pagelime. I haven't done an eCommerce website, but if I was called upon to do one, I guess I would have installed Shopify or something similar.
I've been thinking I should learn how to create custom websites for my clients powered with Wordpress. My reasoning for that was that it provides a free CMS and shopping cart solution for them, plus who knows what other goodies are available?? I imagine a plethora of fabulous stuff that I can put on their websites very easily, like discussion forum pages and opt-in newsletter buttons and other magic widget thingies.
I have a new client who has specifically requested a Wordpress site, so now seems to be the time to learn. However, having spent a whole day already trying to get my head around Wordpress, and reading a few comments on the forums here, I've realised it's actually not that easy! Certainly not the magic carpet ride it says it is! I think it'll be quite a learning curve for the client, and maybe Cushy is a better option for clients who just want a simple CMS for their business website.
What do others on the forum think? Is it worth a developer going to the effort to learn Wordpress? Is there any advantage to my clients? Does it have a free shopping cart solution?

Yes it's worth at least investigation Wordpress. No, it's not that easy to get your head around.
What you have to do is determine what it is you want your client to have the ability to do. Personally I can't see a reason to give a client FULL CMS control of a website because they will create a train wreck in only a few days. No CMS is a subsitute for a professional web developer.
What I'm leaning towards is implementing Wordpress into sites of say 20-30 pages or less, where specific area/pages of the site can be updated by the client. Anything bigger then its my opinion that the company probably needs help updating the site and should employ a professional to do so.
You don't need to take onboard the FULL capabilities of Wordpress just isolate the bits that fit in with YOUR workflow NOT Wordpresses workflow.
With this in mind my approach (at the moment) is to build a site as normal in Dreamweaver and then integrate Wordpress into it so I have control rather than what is the normal procedure where Wordpress takes control and you have to jump through hoops manipulating other peoples themes and css files.
Many Wordpress tutorial you'll find on the net are outdated or assume you know more than you do about Wordpress and leave you 'hanging'
After Googling around I found what I believe to be one which is fairly easy to follow and shows you how to turn a static html website into a Wordpress CMS website.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1o2XcHqQbRY&list=UU0f9NbKjUUbnL2cOa12ENIQ&index=81&feature= plcp
The tutorial above is very basic BUT very understandable, you have to then build on it to take advantage of more Wordpress features like adding new editable 'content blocks' and 'global post areas'.
Wordpress in its original form is very powerful but rather complex to understand as the pages are made up from compiling a number of other files into one page. If you have been used to building in Dreamweaver then this will most likey NOT be a comfortable workflow for you. The video link above shows you how to avoid this and yet still get some CMS fetaures into your site.
Personally I think Wordpress 'out of the box' is either for amateurs or those who are extremely advanced in html,css and php. Those inbetween are well advised to sift through Wordpress and disregard the bits that will cause issues. Take for instance the automated menu system. May sound good but what happens when your client adds more menu buttons to your carefully crafted horizontal menu bar. Depending on the space it could we'll break it very very easily. So you need to know what bits of Wordpress to include and what bits not to.

InDesign ExtendScript...is this worth learning?

Hello,
I have been trying to learn AppleScripting so that I might automate more of my of my InDesign stuff. When searching for more books, I came across a book by Shirley W.Hopkins called automating Adobe InDesign CS4 with ExtendScript. Does this scripting option seem to be a good one to learn, even over AppleScripting? It seems like a valuable option if I want to focus on InDesign, but I would like to hear from others if they are using it and is it worth the learning curve?
thanks!!
babs

sstanleyau wrote:
It seems like someone could simply write a JavaScript API/interpreter that interfaced with AppleScript. Then JavaScript would work on a Mac for other apps, too.
Someone did, several years ago; it was in Script Debugger. It's since been abandoned due to overwhelming lack of interest.
Cool. I'll look it up. Thanks.
If Apple were as committed to open standards as they claim, we'd already have JS that could automate a Mac.
The only claimed commitment was to "open Web standards", which has nothing to do with IAC languages like AppleScript. And if they did implement js scripting at a system level, it would of necessity be different to Adobe's custom implementation (running outside an app's environment raises a whole lot of other issues). So people would have a choice of two flavors of js, instead of js and something else -- that seems like a retrograde step to me (and would make life around here really interesting).
I was being partially facetious on this point. Just poking a little fun at the Apple worship (I'm a Mac user as well, but for lack of a better alternative).
My opinion as someone who codes quite a bit, is that terseness is a preferred quality in a computer language.
And many people who code quite a bit would probably agree with you. (Whether that's because that's how they learned to code is another question.) But the point of using a natural-language like interface for AppleScript was to make it accessible to those who don't necessarily "code quite a bit". One size doesn't suit all.
Actually, I was a designer before I was a developer (and I still am a designer). I work almost entirely with designers (and not other developers). So I have a reasonably balanced perspective on this. The idea of a "natural-language" is a bit bogus. Especially because programming is about logic, so "natural" should reflect an ease of writing logical statements. You still have to learn an entirely arbitrary language with Applescript (especially arbitrary in English, which is loaded with synonyms, so you can't guess keywords), it's just more verbose. And it still has to write logical statements. Something that is truly oriented to a non-coder, omits code entirely (e.g., Automator).
I'm not suggesting one-size fits all, I'm all for different languages for different purposes...if I can state it a bit hyberbolically...just that a tissue box does not make a great shoe, though it may cover your foot.

Worth learning Score Editor for printout or 3rd party software bettereasie?

Hi,
I can either start seriously checking out the Score Editor for lead sheets and more involved printing of music... or get Sibelius or Finale and use those. I am not familiar with any of these - as I haven't started printing out music - but feel it's time.
I'd prefer just to stay in my all in one Logic Studio - but not sure if it's worth it in the big picture. (as in - if 3rd party software is easier/better by far - and most Logic people use those - why waste the time learning Score Editor in Logic?).
Any of you use the Score Editor for printing out scores, lead sheets? Whatdya think?
Thanks in advance.

It depends on the music genre you want to score for....
But, it's not a waste of time because it's another way for editing...but it really depends. I use sibelius but I still use the score editor in Logic, not for printing but I use it, a lot.

DFM still in learning state

Hi,
I have newly installed LMS 3.2.But device status in DFM shows "learning" state and 10% completed.Here attaching the screen shot
DFM 3.2.0
common services 3.3.0
RME 4.3.0
LMS is running on Windows platform.I am not using any .Net2.0 SP 1 update.
Restarted the DFM services and rebooted the server still no result.I have got the following procedure to be done if the device stuck up at 10%
Step 1 Download the tools from the following location: http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/PsTools.html
Step 2 Unzip it into a directory.
Step 3 Enter pdshow DfmServer pdshow DfmBroker to check whether the processes DfmServer and DfmBroker are running.
Step 4 Enter /objects/smarts/bin/brcontrol
Step 5 Check whether the host name is the same as in DNS.
Step 6 Check whether there are multiple instances of brstart and sm_server
You can use the downloaded Pstool to see one branch each of brstart and sm_serve.
For example:
pslist -t
brstart 5708 8 1 16 8476 1104 264
brstart 5880 8 7 86 32720 11240 9664
sm_authority 6452 8 1 52 14376 3616 1528
sm_server 6332 8 1 16 8476 1104 264
sm_server 6416 8 124 678 212696 58784 56812
sm_authority 6444 8 1 47 14376 3572 1528
There should be only one branch. You need to terminate any extra branches.
Step 7 Stop the daemon manager by entering net stop crmdmgtd.
Wait for five minutes.
Step 8 Enter netstat -a -n -p tcp to make sure that ports 9002 and 43501 to 43508 are not in listening state or timed wait state.
Step 9 Start the daemon managerby entering net start crmdmgtd.
Can any any body elaborate step number 3,5,6 and 8. will there be any impact if i go ahead with this procedure.
Ikbal

was the hostname of the server recently changed?
test with nslookup if the FQDN of the server is resolvable (it must be)
if it is not, change your DNS or hosts file and restart LMS
if still does not work, please post the output of
from a DOS box the output of:
"pdreg -l DfmServer"
set
your md.properties file (NMSROOT\lib\classpath\md.properties)
and the following log files:
NMSROOT/objects/smarts/local/logs/DFM.log
NMSROOT/objects/smarts/local/logs/DFM1.log
NMSROOT/log/dfmLogs/TIS/TISServer.log.

Early 2008 still worth it?

I'm currently thinking about buying a 24'' early 2008 iMac model. It has a 320gb hd, 4gb of ram, and is has a 2.8 GHz processor. I'm curious if it's really worth it? It clocks in at $965 with shipping, and it's used, but I'd end up getting AppleCare for it. I know the refurbed ones from the Apple Store are a bit over $1000 with shipping, and that's something I really don't want to get into. I was honestly also considering the same spec'd model, but with a 20'', but a friend of mine talked me out of it. Any ideas on this, folks?
Wanting to keep it for 5+ years or so.

refurbed ones from the Apple Store are a bit over $1000 with shipping
Shipping is free on Mac purchases from the online Apple Store.
If it's used, and being purchased from an individual seller, I would only buy it if all the original discs are included and if I can return it if it is not in satisfactory (as described) condition. Also, if it has been more than one year since originally purchased, you will not be able to buy AppleCare for it. And I'm not sure if a second-hand owner can buy AppleCare for it, even if it has been less than one-year since purchase (you should check into that).
I don't know what your performance needs are, but you can get the current get 21.5-inch iMac for $999 on the refurb page.
http://store.apple.com/us/product/FB950LL/A?mco=MTU0MzQ1NTg

Is it still worth getting Elements 6 for Mac?

At the moment I am using the free Gimp software. This does most of what I need, but I have seen Adobe Photoshop Elements 6 for Mac going relativly cheap. I know it's not the latest version (which I doubt could run on my old OS 10.4 PPC G5 anyway) but is it going to be better than Gimp, or would it be a waste of money?
I hope to get a better understanding of photosop, and follow some of the many tutorials out there. These rarely refer to Gimp, which functions differently, and so are of little benefit.
All advice is gratefully appreciated.

If the price is really low, say $600 or less (taking into account the value of the 20-inch display), it may be. Depends what you want to use it for...
It will probably do a better job with FCP than your non-Pro MacBook. With 3GB of RAM, it will run Leopard very well. But if you are still going to be using your MacBook most of the time, the Power Mac G5 is a pretty large hunk of metal to be sitting around taking up space.
I have the last 2.0 GHz model (dual core) from 2005. Someone uses it full-time, and it will be useful for a long time, even if Apple stops supporting it with the latest OS release. But I got it three years ago. I don't think I would get one now.

Is a Mac Pro 1,1 2.0 Xeon still worth buying?

Hello,
I have an iMac I have been playing with and getting used to the Mac OS and I must say that Snow Leopard for me is a vast improvemnt over Tiger. It just seems to be smooth and work very well. I am seeing that the iMac I have is great but is falling short on graphics power. I found a used Mac Pro 1,1 2.0GHz with 1.0GB ram and 160GB HD. They are asking $500. That seems high to me with the cost of Ram upgrades and video upgrades. For my use I would want atleast 4GB Ram and a newer ATI Graphics card. I am just looking to people that have more experience with the Mac systems than I have for advice on how much longer this Mac Pro will be serviceable for the a Demanding Home user and what seems like a fair price for this machine considering the upgrades it would need.
As always thanks for your time.

I just added 4 x 2GB FBDIMM for $120 / Corsair 120GB SSD $165
Cost of GPU are always on the high side going with Apple supported.
eBay macvidcards
People are finding upgrade processors to a pair of 5355s for $300 to get 8-core 2.66 is nice performance boost, but I am still using 4-core 2.0GHz (I have other systems which are faster but I don't need or miss - the 5200 pts score in Geekbench is fine even compared to 9-10-11K system.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=1333421
I think $500 is 'reasonable.' A Mid-2010 4-core 2.8 3GB ATI 5770 would set you back $2119.
Mac Pro Refurbished Special
That model is "highly" unlikely to support post-Lion OS (ML) but then Lion is only needed if you have to use an iDevice and some features.

Is the Gaia framework worth learning?

I've been learning greensock and I find it helpful now when studying greensock I've been introduced to Gaia does anyone here have an opinion on Gaia?

I have never used it before, but just gone to look at it. I am not a good flash developer yet, but I do know java extremely well, and if someone asked me if a similar library was good to learn with the java language, I would have mixed opinions. If the person asking me was new to the language, and did not know a lot, I would say stay away from it. In java, I tend to call them sort of libraries "lazy developer libraries", meaning that the people who use them are too lazy to actually learn the language, and would much rather use a library which does most of the work for them. I mean looking at the features Gaia provides, it is nothing which cant be done directly with as3, without any use of that library.
However, if an experienced developer asked me the same question (like yourself for instance), then I would suggest that using it could be of great benefit, especially if your expected to deliver projects in a relatively quick time. Reason I say it is ok to use for experienced developers is because they understand how to do everything the package provides them with manually, and using the package will not interfer with their learning. It has actually got me interested in it, especially when I saw you could create websites in under 10 minutes. However, I will try to stay away from it until I get better with AS3

Is it worth learning JSTL?

Hi,
I know JSP and use it everyday.
Now I want to generate my html pages fully with taglibs, but I wonder if it is worthwhile to learn JSTL, or just stick with Struts taglibs, or some taglibs from another MVC framework.
What would be the advantages and disadvantages of learning JSTL?
How does the efficiency of the JSTL is, compared to just plain JSP with scrptiles?
TIA,
Gabriel

I have a slightly different take on this.
Everyone here is a developer, and so JSTL is "easy to learn" since the concepts of control flow etc, are second nature. However, my experience is that the intended audience for JSTL (i.e. web designers, right?) rarely find it that easy. So I question the value of this standard library for all but the most technical/creative designers.
In my personal real world, writing a tag takes less time than the discussion or design of one to meet the needs of that audience.
In my own applications, I provide application-level custom tags designed for that specific application according to the current wants/needs of the designers. Obviously I have built up a library of generic tag code, which i extend to deliver against the latest request... usually in less than an hour.
I don't know if you have tried to explain the concept of an iterator to a non-programmer, but in my experience it saves a lot of messing around and a lot of time-wasting "how do i" questions to give them the functionality in a way that they can understand, rather than the way dictated by concerns that they never face in the usual course of their work (not to mention the massive reduction in broken markup when things -- inevitably -- change in their design).
A simple example:
<table>
<myapp:chat-list>
<tr><td><myapp:chat-user property="username"/></td><td><myapp:chat-user property="logged-in"/></td></tr>
</myapp:chat-list>
</table>/k1

Bash still worth learning?

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