RAPID APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT

RAD

Computer Programing in the days gone by wasn't easy. Those antiquated IBM, ICL and Burroughs mainframes -Dinosaurs-running Cobol, reading cards and process at the speed of an XT computer are all becoming extinct, and opened up the market to smaller and faster computers with processors capable of executing millions of instructions per second. As a consequence programming has also become easier and faster. Today programing  has become more widespread than ever before, and has also become more accessible to the masses. Starting of with Visual programming, applications like Visual C, Visual C++, Visual Basic, etc, was welcomed and embraced by many lay people who never dreamt of ever becoming a computer programmer but actually churned out a programme or two using these tools. Amongst both novice and seasoned programmers IDE (Integrated Development Environment) packages like Eclipse,  Aptana Studio 3, Cloud 9 IDE, Microsoft Visual Studio,  Dr Java and Netbeans etc, has also become very popular speeding up computer programme development from years to months. 

Lianja APaaS Developer.

Lianja App Builder

However, the latest trend is RAD (Rapid Application Development) Software which is slowly becoming the standard for writing computer application programs for the web, for mobile and  Windows. Developing apps has not gone from months the days. Applications like Aptana studios, Wavemaker, WxHatch, WideStudio, LANSA, Lianja APaaS,Ultimate++, RAD Studio XE7,  and PWCT (programming without coding technology) gives us this power and provides us with all the Integrated Development Environment (IDE) we will ever need for rapid application development. With technology doubling every six months, computer programmers / developers are spending a lot of time keeping up-to-date with what's new at the expense of writing code. With rapid application development tools you and use one skill set, to develop applications for Mobile, Web, Windows and several other platforms.

Wavemaker High Speed Web Development 

Most RAD programs are cross-platform GUI based, that can interface with databases via ODBC. Their integrated development environment (IDE) makes  creating makefiles and automating the build process to generate cross platform source code for application in C, C++, Java, Perl, Ruby and Python a breeze. Several of them  supports  "internationalization"  and runs on T-Engine,  Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, FreeBSD, BTRON and Solaris, Android, gadgets, and wearables. Most of them have built in  C++ compilers. These RAD programmes are designed for high performance applications that connect with enterprise cloud services, devices and gadgets. A high end enterprise  web application that normally takes a year to develop and debug using traditional development tools such as Java or XCode, only takes 1 week to create with a RAD program like Web App Generator that automatically makes extensive use of AJAX. RAD programs arrived in the nick of time and will definitely be popular with developers developing for The Internet of Things.(IoT)

Screen view of PWCT (programming without coding technology)

ANDROID DEVICES

Android Devices

Here's a crazy question for you. What does words like apples, happy, appeal, wrapper, appliance, mapping, appropriate, happens, appendix, disappearance, approval, approach, overlapping, apply, append, appreciate, applause  and application all have in common? If you answered "app" then  you are absolutely right because we are going to discuss "apps" or "applets" or "applications", whichever you prefer. Just to clarify, an "applet" is the diminutive of "application", and "app" is an abbreviation of it. "Applet" is a word coined by Sun Microsystems (now Oracle Corporation) referring to a mini application that runs on client side computer system whereas "Servet" which in reality is just an "applet" the difference is, it runs on server side computer systems. "Applets" are normally written in Java, and even though conflicting technologies may also refer to the client side code as applets, they are non-the-less script. Scripts are written in Java script, Perl, python, tcl, etc.. and non of them deliver near the interactivity that Java does. Anyway, "apps" run on many appliances and devices, all made possible by Java.

Android is an Operating System maintained by Google

Java runs perfectly and seamlessly on the Google Android platform which is an absolutely free / open and awesome mobile system that runs on all sorts of cell phones, televisions, tablets and hoards of other devices whether  Mac, Linux or Windows, etc.  So, if you really, really want to get into "app" development and learn how to create your own "apps" with multiple device support, then the very first thing you need to do is like this blog, +g it, then follow it. This will entitle you to view, follow and recommend  "app" building to your social fraternity and impress them with your very own creations. Once you become proficient at  building your very own "apps" you could make a small fortune selling them on Amazon, Verizon and the Android Market. With the Internet of things, app development is going to take off like wildfire, so stake your claim.

In successive blogs we will discuss building "apps" for cell phones and tablets. Discuss Java programming for Android, app basics, the Android platform, the Android Eclipse Integrated Development Environment (IDE), the Android Software Development Kit (SDK), Android emulator (AVD), Android Development Tools (ADT), Android packages and the Tomcat Server but not necessarily in that order.

BEWARE MALWARE

BEWARE MALWARE 

It can be said without any doubt that computers have revolutionised modern day industry and business at large. The advances brought about by computer technology in the past three decades was nothing short of astounding. And as such, we really have to take out hats off to the computer scientists, software engineers and technology integrators and those behind the scenes who are never mentioned, - the human capital who brought us this amazing technology. But, as great as this is, it also has its downside. They have also created a platform for malicious interferences by others, using the same software tools. Interferences like Viruses, Tracking Cookies, Browser Hijackers, Toolbar hijackers, Pop-up ads, Adware helpers and other Malware in general. These software tools are used by those unscrupulous individuals intent on pushing their products and wares in your face. Besides, they are brazen enough to hold you computer to ransom, disrupting your workflow, compromising your business and productivity, forcing you to give them a hearing, forcing you to view their ads, or forcing you to subscribe to their spam. Some  uses aggressive marketing strategies to turn visitors into customers totally against their will. This is the start of the Internet of  Things. (IoT)

Of late there seems to be an influx of these interference especially on the windows platform. Many of these unscrupulous vendors design their Adware helpers using Ajax technology to give their audience a more pleasant user experience, conning them into downloading the  Adware Helpers  camouflaged as program updates. Adware helpers are program that automatically display advertisements in your web browser, or in  pop-up windows.  Adware regularly comes bundled with free software such as utility programs, games, movies, emoticons and  screensavers, etc.  Adware helpers specifically track your web surfing habits and interests,  based on the site you visit then relaying that information to third parties who deliver targeted advertisements enticing you to buy their wares.  Adware helpers generally does not threaten your privacy nor computer security, but its heuristic nature can slow down computer performance, occupy harddrive space and frustrate you with those incessant and annoying pop-up adverts.  

FilmFanatic Toolbar uses misrepresentation to hijack your browser and your search results then changes your Internet settings. FilmFanatics Toolbar normally lock your settings to their servers, intercepting and track your surfing habits then flooding you with ads. Besides its embeds itself into your computers registry and any attempt to remove it, just relaunches the reinstall script hidden on your hard-drive.
FilmFanatic Toolbar is associated with Publisher - Mindspark Interactive Network. http://search.mywebsearch.com/mywebsearch/default.jhtml (See image below.)

PUP.superTap / PUP.AnyProtect (PUP abbrv. for possible unwanted program) is disguised as an  IePluginServices and vigarously consumes your system resources, even when its in an idle state and autoconfigures itself to start automatically at boot up.

Isearch.omiga-plus.com use misleading practices and aggresive marketing stratergies to hijack your browser and embed itself into registery in dozens of places.
Find it under c:\Users\Alice\AppData\Roaming\omiga-plus\..\...\...\
(In the above path, Alice is in place of your name). See image below.

Google was the Default Browser until it got hijcked by Conduit, Mystartsearch & omiga-plus

Downmcflplayer.com/ZA/ is vicious in their marketing statergy as can be seen below. They use Google's Logo and an  Ellu to trick you into thinking they are legitimate but believe me they not. They kinda force you to download a setup file that creates havoc on your computer. (See image below.)

This image looks fairly convincing persuading  unsuspecting users to update their Video player

Recommended is in your face, not giving an option to quite but to download it.

tlbsearcha2.com and Ppcs.tlbsearch.com; are some what similar to Isearch.omiga-plus. They hijack your browser and claims default status.

Anti malware Software like Spy Hunter and Hitman Pro can easily remove these interferences and return your computer to a working state. (See images below)

Images shows how Hitman pro  identifies Malware by name.

 Hitman pro  identifies deletes and quarantines malicious Malware

WHAT IS THE BEST BROWSER

WHAT IS THE BEST BROWSER.

Millions of people surf the net daily, using desktop computers, network servers, mobile phones, iPads, proxy servers, tablets, atom PCs and notebooks. Each enjoying a different level of user experience even though these devices are all different in functionality, speed, network connection and operating system.  But surprisingly, all of them have one piece of software in common - which is called a browser.  There are numerous browsers out there, probably a lot more than most people even realize. However, the reality is that not all these browsers are created equal. Some, like the older versions of Internet explorer do not support the latest HTML standards, some have slow Javascript engines which can be remedied with a  plugin, - Google Chrome Frame for example. Chrome Frames enables JavaScript applications to run fairly fast in the Chrome V8 engine even if the application is installed from an older version of Internet Explorer. Unfortunately Google retired Chrome Frame in June 2013. 

Be that as it may, right now we are only interested in the best browser and will their look at the  "big three" for both desktops computers and mobile devices.

1) Gecko: used by the Mozilla Foundation for Firefox,
2) WebKit: used by Apple's Safari and Google's Chrome
3) Trident: used by Microsoft's Internet Explorer.

What makes these 3 better than the other browser generally is their rendering speed, their developer support, their HTML5 features and how well they support it. When I design websites, I religiously check their appearance in Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer and Opera, but not necessarily in that order.  If the web visuals are the same in all four of them, then  I am confidently assured that my code is doing exactly what it should and  functionality and appearance across a large contingent of browsers will be more than acceptable by most.

So the tossup is between these three -Gecko, Webkit and Trident. Apple Mac and iPad users generally prefer Safari natively installed with their OS and Google chrome is in essence safari with a different dress of clothing. This is easily verifiable. Just look at the Google Chrome crash icon when Chrome crashes, its a genuine sad mac face.

The sad mac face seems to have influences both Mozilla firefox and Google chrome.

Internet Explorer seems to have compatibility issues. IE6 works perfectly well on Windows XP which cannot be upgraded to IE7 nor IE8 because they are made for vista and windows 7 & 8 thus incompatible with XP. Firefox is a favourite among the open source crowd and a fantastic browser in general with good security features and accepts a generous amount of plugins. Based on this Firefox is the outright winner since it can replace IE whereas Google chrome depends on IE on install. Firefox's newest release is called Firefox "Lorentz," (Firefox 3.6.3) designed to minimized crashes. Firefox, was always thought to be the leader in browser innovations, but now also seems to be following Google's sad mac face convention and IE explorers crash apology, that offers you the option  to submit a crash report.

Even though, my browser of choice is Google Chrome but my personal favourite is Opera. It is so versatile that it runs on almost anything that's web savvy. I've installed Opera mini on a "not so smart-phone" to remotely view CCTV footage, and it works beautifully. I even have a portable Opera version on my flashdrive for mobile surfing. I'm not paranoid but I am careful about where I leave my browsing history so whenever I  use a computer at an Internet cafe or just someone else's computer, I launch Opera from my flash drive because Opera is fast and furious and won't leave my history behind for others to view.

SOME BROWSER YOU MAY WANT TO TRY

ZenMate
Maxthon
K-Meleon 
Konqueror
SeaMonkey
PowerBrowser
Camino
Flock
iCab
Galeon 
Avant
Shiira 
Netscape Navigator
NetSurf
Conkeror
SlipKnot
Arena
Cyberdog