Useful Online unicode utilities

Regexp Unicode Block : Builds a JavaScript regular expression that matches characters that fall in any number of specified Unicode blocks.

Unicode Code Converter : Converts characters into their various code representations like hexadecimal, html, URI encoding, unicode hex notation,  UTF-8 code units and JavaScript escapes.

Adidas fails to deliver promised sponsorship in Sundown marathon 2010 contest

Winners(not) from Sundown Marathon 2010 – Get Spotted Contest

I was 1 of 25 runners that “won” the “Adidas Get Spotted Get Sponsored Contest” in Sundown marathon 2010 held in Singapore last year.

http://www.sundownmarathon.com/index.php?mact=News,cntnt01,detail,0&cntnt01articleid=35&cntnt01returnid=78

Adidas then sent us a congrats email, which indicated we can start redeeming on Jan 2010, via this email - Running.sg@adidas.com

However, it is now already mid feb and no news from Adidas. Despite countless emails to Running.sg@adidas.com, i have not gotten a single response from them.

Adidas is really disappointing. Never attempt to deliver empty promises to your customers. Creating a contest without delivering the prizes to the winners is blatant cheating, in my honest opinion.

Maven Dependencies for Eclipse Helio WTP

So you’ve been wondering why doesn’t your WTP project’s maven dependencies get copied over to the directory where eclipse stores your web project files.

Mine is C:\Documents and Settings\kenny\workspace\helios\.metadata\.plugins\org.eclipse.wst.server.core\tmp0

For that to happen, follow these steps:

1. Install m2e-extras. 
2. Right click on your web project and choose “Properties”->”Deployment Assembly”->”Add”.
3. Select “Java Build Path Entries”->”Next”. 
4. Select “Maven Dependencies”->”Finish”.
   

   Maven dependencies for eclipse

5. Clean your project and you should be done!

Eclipse marketspace for 3.6 – Saves the hassle of searching for the update site

Debuging java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoaderListener in Eclipse, tomcat, maven

If you’re developing a spring-enabled web application using the combination of Eclipse, Tomcat and Maven. You might encounter the following error when you try to start tomcat within eclipse.

Error configuring application listener of class org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoaderListener
java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: org.springframework.web.context.ContextLoaderListener
at org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1358)
at org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1204)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.listenerStart(StandardContext.java:3773)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardContext.start(StandardContext.java:4337)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.start(ContainerBase.java:1045)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardHost.start(StandardHost.java:719)
at org.apache.catalina.core.ContainerBase.start(ContainerBase.java:1045)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardEngine.start(StandardEngine.java:443)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardService.start(StandardService.java:516)
at org.apache.catalina.core.StandardServer.start(StandardServer.java:710)
at org.apache.catalina.startup.Catalina.start(Catalina.java:566)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke0(Native Method)
at sun.reflect.NativeMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at sun.reflect.DelegatingMethodAccessorImpl.invoke(Unknown Source)
at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Unknown Source)
at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.start(Bootstrap.java:288)
at org.apache.catalina.startup.Bootstrap.main(Bootstrap.java:413)

You’ll need to configure your eclipse project settings by:

1. Right click on the project in eclipse on the left panel under the package explorer view.
2. Click Java EE Module Dependencies.
3. Check (make sure the checkbox is ticked) the Maven Dependencies option (the last option).

My 7 fav free apps for Apple’s iTouch

Recently got a free iTouch after finally purchasing my Mac Book Pro under the “Back To School” Promo which will end on 16 Sep 08.

So i checked out the app store for any free apps/games and noticed i needed to purchase the iPhone upgrade for iTouch at USD 9.95. Well, didn’t came across as too expensive, so purchased i did and downloaded the following FREE apps/games.

1. Twitterific (Category: Social Networking). I twit some garbage collections here by the way.
2. Airport Status (Category: Travel) – To check airport statuses.
3. Talking Spanish, Italian, French (Category: Travel) – In case i sign for Real Madrid or AC Milan.
4. GPS Tracker (Category: Navigation) – Well, i am an infantry company scout during reservist. So…
5. Free Hangman (Category: Games(Free) ) – The only worth-while free game.
6. Remote Desktop Lite (Category: Business) – Provider access to a PC running, woohoo, Windows XP.
7. Checklist (Category: Productivity) – Think “Get Things Done(GTD)”

Now my iTouch is packed with apps, the default ones + the downloaded ones, and they flows to 2 screens (1 screen can only contain 16 apps). So i placed all the important apps on the 1st screen, naturally.

Worth the USD 10 bucks? Probably. Do note that the installation took 30 minutes and just a handful of clicks, the rest are magic. Bonito!(Spanish) Buono!(Italian) Beau!(French)

Anyone has other good recommendations? Non-Free or Free.

Combining Agile Methodologies – XP and Scrum

Since XP is more focused on development practices(engineering), while Scrum more towards project organization(management), it seems possible to combine this 2 methodologies.

Having experience both agile methodologies separately, here’s my take on the must-haves.

1. Planning
   • Daily Standup(XP/Scrum) – What you done yesterday, going to do today, obstacles if any.
   • Break down requirements into user stories (XP), then put them into a product backlog using excel or web tools like acunote (Scrum)
   • Physical task-board for easy and quick viewing of sprint tasks
2. Coding
   • Test Driven Development(TDD) by writing the unit tests first. (XP/Scrum)
   • No one owns any particular code. All code can be changed by anyone. And codes are integrated often. Thus a source control system(CVS, SVN, VSS, etc) have to be in place. (XP)
3. Testing
   • All code must be tested before putting to production. (XP)
   • When bugs are found, new unit tests are written to guard against repeats. (XP)
4. Releasing
   • Have a demo before release and review after release. (Scrum)
   • Release early, release often as they say. (XP). Preferably keep a sprint within weeks rather than months.

Interesting Differences.

• XP prefers having no overtime anytime, anyday, while scrum prefers no rest within a sprint, which probably means no off days and leave, unless urgent, for a good 3-4 weeks.

Summary
Majority of the coding and testing rules come from XP, while planning rules come from SCRUM. The key is to keep the rules flexible. Sprint reviews after each sprint allows you to better fine-tune your rules, based on team strength/weakness or project nature. Well, as long as they work for you.

Free Scrum/XP E-book

• scrum-xp-from-the-trenches from Infoq