Rob Janssen (RobIII)

Invented here syndrome

Are you afraid to write code? Does the thought linger in your brain that somewhere out there somebody has already done this? Do you find yourself trapped in an analysis cycle where nothing is getting done? Is your product mutating to accommodate third party components? If yes, then perhaps you are

The x86 Memory Model

Often I’ve found myself wanting to point someone to a description of the x86’s memory model, but there wasn’t any that quite laid it out the way I wanted. So this is my take on how shared memory works on multiprocessor x86 systems.

First Computer Bug (Large Photograph)

The First Computer Bug Moth found trapped between points at Relay # 70, Panel F, of the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator while it was being tested at Harvard University, 9 September 1947. The operators affixed the moth to the computer log, with the entry: "First actual case of bug being found".

Stanford Seminar - Melissa O'Neill of Harvey Mudd College

"PCG: A Family of Better Random Number Generators" - Melissa O'Neill of Harvey Mudd CollegeColloquium on Computer Systems Seminar Series (EE380) presents the current research in design, implementation, analysis, and use of computer systems. Topics range from integrated circuits to operating systems

It’s Time To Get Over That Stored Procedure Aversion You Have — Rob Conery

In the .NET world (and beyond), data access is a cluster-fucked echo chamber of half-assed rocket engineering and cargo cultism based on decade-old cathedralized thinking and corporate naval -gazing.

A string of unexpected lengths

When you start learning to program, or working in a new language, it’s often suggested that you build a simple program like Battleship or Tic-tac-toe. The games' rules are well-defined and easy to grasp, and you only need to read and print text to get started.

No Such Thing As Plain Text

While there are numerous excellent articles, blog posts and books about the correct handling of character encodings in software systems, many systems still get it wrong because their architects and developers never understood what this is all about.

Why programmers should be a part of the design process

This has become the hackneyed answer given by many a proud software builder to questions about user interface design. Push this big green button here, and your document is instantly everywhere. How did such magic occur? You don’t know. You don’t care. It just works.

mnot’s blog

HTTP/2 is getting close to being real, with lots of discussions and more implementations popping up every week. What does a new version of the Web’s protocol mean for you? Here are some early answers: Making HTTP/2 succeed means that it has to work with the existing Web.

My Love-Hate Relationship with Stack Overflow: Arthur S., Arthur T., and the Soup Nazi

Warning: In the interest of maintaining a coherent stream of consciousness, I’m lowering the setting on my profanity filter for this post. Just wanted to let you know ahead of time. I’ve been a user of Stack Overflow since December of 2008.