Zero load time file formats

When your app needs to be fast, you can't afford to load things fro disk. In this toy example, an on-disk data structure helps you instantly look up lists of related words.

Rules for Effective C++

The rules for safe C++ code are surprisingly controversial.

When programmers design web sites (comic)

C++: A language for next generation web apps

On Monday, I was pleased to be an uninvited speaker at Waterloo Devhouse, hosted in Postrank's magnificent office. After making some surreptitious alterations to their agile development wall, I gave a tongue-in-cheek talk on how C++ can fit in to a web application.

Game Theory, Salary Negotiation, and Programmers

When you get a new job, you can breathe a sigh of relief, but not for long. You have an offer letter in your hand, and it is easy to miss one of the most important opportunities of your life: the starting salary. Here's what to do to increase your chances.

Compressing dictionaries with a DAWG

A practical, memory efficient way to store and search large sets of words.

Simulating freehand drawing with Cairo

How QBASIC almost got me killed

The day arrived when my project was ready to be unleashed upon the world. I waited until the teacher was hovering nearby and then I started my application, running the FORMAT command on the network drive. Some classmates were watching the screen and she hurried over to see what all the fuss was about.

Usability Nightmare: Xfce Settings Manager

Rant: Why can't anyone make a good settings screen?

An instant rhyming dictionary for any web site

Sometimes your API has to be simple enough for non-technical people to use it. Find out how to include a rhyming dictionary on your web page just by copying and pasting.