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Over the years, I asked this question over and over again because my work needed some projects from me, and I was able to get everything in order, knowing what is next. After about 10 years ago or little earlier, I started to hear "Why are you working on this?" and the reason was they already were done and out there, there is no reason to keep reinventing the wheel. I felt so bad, and lately I am feeling pretty down not knowing what to work on "next". I am out of job over a year, and trying to teach myself C# very badly. Each move, I hear the same thing "It is already done". Most, I don't care. Because it is fun to create stuff and see them working. But in actuality, it's the painful truth. The other problem is, things are "going out there" now much faster than old days. Now, there are "In the mechanism" people, and there are "trying to get into mechanism" people (which contains majority). I don't even count myself, I am at the bottom of the barrel. high School grad, self taught everything. Age 46. For me, flipping the burgers or cleaning the toilet is the way from this moment. Last mechanism throw me out like a bad meat. but even good programmers, educated bunch can't get into the mechanism anymore. Life is shifting to some other dimension or something.
Since I am running out of ideas, my Articles getting more childish like each time. I will keep doing it though, even with rough comments, and "What the heck is this" look. I have nothing to lose. Maybe I find something "unique" and "useful" one day.
What to work on "next"... everything is done and out there already. Aren't we all having "invention constipation" and aren't all those products out there similar copies of each other now? Am I alone on this thinking?
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some people LOVE to make things more complicated, because 1-Probably "the right way" to do it, 2-Make them look more intelligent
Following code from MS help page (I think I just answered my own question)
void toolStripDropDownItem_DropDownItemClicked(object sender, ToolStripItemClickedEventArgs e)
{
string msg = String.Format("Item clicked: {0}", e.ClickedItem.Text);
this.toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = msg;
}
And this also works the same way,
void toolStripDropDownItem_DropDownItemClicked(object sender, ToolStripItemClickedEventArgs e)
{
this.toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = e.ClickedItem.Text;
}
I sometimes look for a solution for my problem... I end up getting 100 answers, and most of them pretty complicated and for the name of coding, I just don't k now why. I have another theory for it, "old fashion programmers". New tools are pretty much easier, and maybe old programmers can't break the habit.
I don't know, but it makes my stomach sick when I see things like that and can't find out the answer "why"
Do you know?
modified on Friday, April 23, 2010 6:59 PM
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I have to start new naming conventions for my code. I used to have set of naming rules, but it was in VB and that's a long time ago 
Let's see if I can come up with a few ideas here,
I used to have controls named "txtName" for text boxes or combo boxes as "cmbName". Let's change that to "TXT_Name" and "CBO_Name"
I don't know, maybe...
Also, my variables, usually went something like this, for string "strName", Boolean "blnInOut", Integer "intNumber" etc. How about changing them to "STR_Name", "BLN_InOut" "INT_Number"?
The most difficult ones for me to find names for methods... Usually full name with capital letters and stuff,
Private void DoSomeWorkForMe()
Private string GetMyTextBox()
...boring as is. I might change them to,
Private void DO_SOME_WORK_FOR_ME()
Private string GET_MY_TEXT_BOX()
You know... having caps-lock on and hitting underscore key is not fun. I think I will find out something simpler.
Here is the point though. The code has to be readable and most of them should be self explanatory. To do that, variable and control names as well as methods and classes should be simply named not too long but also consistent throughout the code... and yes, I failed to do so until now (for C# coding).
I will discipline myself and do better job. It's not only for me but also for you people, who are "trying" to read my code from time to time. Maybe I get a job in a good company and work with others one day... that (a good naming convention) also would be a good thing for my team.
Happy coding 
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Silverlight or not? Should l I go with everyone and jump from he bridge? and why?
NO... no silverlight for me, even if that would be the only thing in the future. I am really sick and tired of running where MS wants us to run... Thank you very much, my older codes work just fine.
You know, honestly I am getting dizzy over the web-pages too much things moving on and have tons of shiny buttons that also gets me other places shiny and moving. The whole place started to look like Broadway if you ask me. Whatever happened to the "Informational" side of the Internet? Now I have to "DIG IN" to find stuff to read or whatever. I can't even move the mouse on the page anymore because something pops up front of my face... and we want more? with silverlight?
The most visited page on earth is not a porn site, not a code site, not a newscast site.. it's the drudgereport.com... I am not making advertisement for the guy, but he has the information and that's why he has million hits a day.
I am sticking with whatever I have and know. New stuff for new generation and I would like to warn the new generation, the way things are going, don't feel like you're the best thing forever.
(end of my rant)
modified on Monday, April 12, 2010 1:24 PM
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There is one program that is tested by almost every one of us, and probably impossible to break... and if there is any miracle comes up and finds something out to crash it, it would make the whole world start turning the other way.
Think about it. What that program could be? Which program, code that is written in every coding languages available, and tested more than billion times.
It's not even a joke, it's a fact. That's the "Hello World" program with one button on a form (or in a console).
It's amazing, if every programs we wrote works that well all the time
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Human being is a communicator in a way of no other animals can. Sometimes I wish I had more senses like other animals, but I feel lucky to be able to talk and discuss...
Why did I say all that here, in C#? Because I believe everyone should try their best to be in the group of one or another to survive. Even if you have your own group, stay touch with others and continuously refresh your members the healthiest way... of course without loosing it all... What makes you loose all your members in your group? If you don't have communication with other groups.
Many moons ago, at the time some of you even weren't in the first grade, I started my Internet journey with around 10-20 domain names, couple of servers at home. In The "bubble" years (I kind of feel responsible as a part of the Internet bubble) I was very excited about the Internet and even though didn't know much about coding and all, I started to reach out to the other enthusiasts and exchange information and links. Because of what was going on in my personal life, it kind of melted down over the years until now, when I started something good again: Learning C# and starting a domain to help others.
I am not a greedy person, I like to communicate and have my own group, either with members or visitors... I do take advantage of learning and sharing the most, like I am doing here with my blogs and articles. But this time when I started to request exchange links to the other websites, I got very cold reaction to start with, which I am not used to. Because there are many websites out there about C# or any other subjects, people are afraid of loosing whatever they have already... or they think they have enough and decide not to communicate with other groups.
The Code Project will be one of my best places that I will continue to interact and participate. Even I have my domain about C#, and I will build my own group, more or less, it does not mean I will stop checking out the other sites, and talk to the other groups and their starters... it's healthy thing to do... and I don't think I can provide everything, just like the others can't
Happy coding.
modified on Sunday, April 4, 2010 11:11 AM
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I just signed up here maybe a few weeks ago and this place helped me a lot to find many answers so far. Here is how I use my sources: My specific searches usually find a few hits. I look at the code in the article or blogs. I already know what I am looking for so all I need is the right code to show me how my problems can be solved. Sometimes I find my solutions in places some people might think not orderly put... which I don't care. All I care is the code.
My last article (Virtual Photo Album) contains a TreeView. Honestly, this is the first time I am dealing with TreeViews. Chandana Subasinghe has only one article and it came up first when I search about TreeViews. Not much of details, but enough for me to start my own code.
I am not here to vote but learn. I see some of the people here to vote, and to give detail critiques... which is very useful for the rest of us to make things organized... also teaches doing things formal, better way. I never wrote any articles anywhere until I found TCP. After this website, I started to write at other places as well.
If I vote in the future, I would vote for the code most likely. If you do have extra information in your article(s), they wouldn't bother me as long as I can find whatever I am looking for.
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Finished my second Study (WebPlus) and posted my article. Although so far I am doing simple stuff, learning new language is a big joy so far. I think I will be writing a couple more simple codes before I jump into a bigger, more difficult tasks.
I was in "Document Conversion" business for a long time. I am still aiming that way since it is very important to discover documents fast and most accurate way. I think with my next big code will be about that. I am planning to transform my Coder and QCer program that I created in VB6 to C# and add a module, my other big program, Scanner. Make all in one compact system adding "Discovery" module with SQL server.
Watch my posts and read my articles. Please do let me know if you have any better ideas doing things easier and faster in C# code... I would appreciate it
Leo
PS: Watch WebPlus in action here
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...when I finish my project, everything works just fine and start my clean up and commenting. Now that's something I enjoy doing the most
My suggestion would be, don't wait too long to comment your code... you might be scratching your head a lot at the end 
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Some of us new starters probably asking “What the other guys know that we don't know? Why does it always seem like they do everything the complicated ways? How come they get the big bucks?
I will not talk about codes and won't even mention a line of code here, but I will tell you what I feel about the whole coding us vs. them (us, as beginners vs. them, as pros)
You probably know, programming languages are layers on top of each other starting from “1”s and “0”s. Binary language, assembly language... all the way top to VB. VB probably is the top of the mountain in this pile. Each layer somebody wraps the bottom layer to make things easier for upper level. It's like onion layers, it stinks more when you peal it more (Stinking = difficulty). Especially older days, we (as programmers) were worry about the speed more than security. Now, it's speed and security. Whoever can go deeper (code closer to the bottom layer) makes things run faster and more secure. Because each layer that is wrapped is actually more work for the hardware and more risks for leakage (memory and security wise).
Have you ever heard of “Ear to ear message” game? You have friends sitting next to each other, and first one starts saying something to the other's ear, everyone passes the same message the same way, whispering to the next person's ear. Sometimes you hear much different outcome at the end. You should try it, very entertaining game. Less people you have is less likely mistakes made. Not because there is something wrong with anyone, but because of the sound differences and hearing differences of each person. An average programmer is the person at the end, but a good programmer gets up and goes a few rows down to ask what the word was. In return, that programmer gets better results because of the extra work (by the way, it's not in the rules of the game. You just can't go and ask others what the word was during the game but after the game is over).
So, they (pros) code the way closer to the bottom layers, so computer would have much better and faster understating what was said and process better and faster. Should this make anyone uncomfortable? Well, yeah, but it's not the end of the world. Companies hire programmers to make their jobs “easier”, “secure” and “faster”… in production and/or services. So, who would get the big bucks? Of course whoever sits closer to the first person.
Study hard and code (learn) everyday
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Sorry, but i think you are wrong here: "Whoever can go deeper (code closer to the bottom layer) makes things run faster and more secure".
Indeed, a low-level programming language such as assembly is faster, but it is not more secure. Java is managed code, it runs in a virtual machine. It is not faster, but it is safe. So is C#. In assembly you work directly with memory segments, so it's not that secure.
If you are good you can make a great app in assembly, but it would take you a lot of time, since you can only use Win32 API calls.
Layers matter, but not that much. C# is not the fastest, but it is the best for developers that want to create an app fast and good (by fast i mean for them to create it fast).
I don't see why pro's would code to the bottom layer, i agree that they should know it, but coding in assembly (or even other low-level languages) is not that pleasant .
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I had some feedbacks from visitors. One of them told me about LINQ. I have researched some websites and watched a video about it... I think it's a very powerful wrap-around to get-around for XML file. It makes a huge difference. I added a few changes to my code, but didn't update on the article, you can see them in one of the replies I sent.
Coding world is larger than universe. One thing has billion solutions and keeps growing. It's impossible to know everything, no lifetime is enough. Even I understand the concept of most languages, it's impossible to learn all syntax built into them. Properties and how they work...
I will be checking out many stuff until I find a steady job I guess. After that, whatever the business is for, I focus on my learning that way.
New programmer's nightmare is overwhelmingly huge arsenal of tools. Where to star? what to do?
Linq... it's good. I think I might be using it for my future projects.
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For the new generation coders... I can't tell you how lucky you are to be able to find whatever you're looking with snap of a finger. I envy you ("younger" new coders). You don't have to buy as many books that you could make furniture out of, like we (I) did. I remember the times reading books and not finding stuff for days. All you have to do now is to "google" it.
C# is a very popular language. There is no way on earth that anyone could not find something he or she is looking for on the Internet. Although, there is a bit downside of having huge information database, wasting time to chose the best solution. I know we'll find the answer, and not once but hundreds at a time.
After my first article (http://www.codeproject.com/KB/cs/Study00.aspx) I looked around (CP) and there are others wrote about the same thing, but different approach. "Let the best man win" for your searches.
Anyways, I am extremely happy about the information load (makes this old man's job easier). Hopefully we won't get hit by a huge solar flare and loose all the satellites .. that would suck. my books are outdated already, I would have to buy new ones 
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I usually google my question. If i will ever buy programming books again, i am sure thy will be in PDF format, makes the search a lot easier .
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I am here at CP website for a few reasons. First, to get help by searching forums and articles, there are TONS of them, and also to participate and interact. I never wrote an article before, only blog stuff, which there are basically no rules. My first attempt of writing article here was a self-destructed piece (I had to delete it after its second comment received).
What I will do now is to look at some of the "beginners" articles (more) and get some idea how should construct mine. What's in my mind is to share my C# studies. I probably will call them Study I, Study II, etc... Explaining what the code does, how the program works and all that.
There are tons of good stuff here in CP website. Sometimes looking at some of those articles (codes) intimidates me thinking "how the heck people know all that stuff"... I am pretty sure no one was born with these knowledge (keep saying to myself)... but I didn't know how to code in C# two weeks ago either and I am planning to write my first (better) article? now that's progress.
Well... I think you'd be the judge. ( If you have seen my previous article, try to forget about it )
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