Developers Newsletter #18 - 30-AUG-2001
INDEX
1. A FEW WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
2. DELPHI VS. VISUAL BASIC (and III)
- Comparisons by NTSL
- Support
- Links to more comparisons, testimonials, etc.
- Conclusions
3. CODECHARGE
- The browser interface
- What is CodeCharge?
- Features
- Sample sites
- System Requirements
- Downloads
- Price
- More information
4. VIRUS ALERTS
- Code Red
- Sircam
- Outlook.PDFWorm
5. LINUX DOCUMENTATION
6. WINDOWS NT DOCUMENTATION
7. LINKS
########################################################################
1. A FEW WORDS FROM THE EDITOR
Last month we had isolated little problems with our mail server and -as
a consequence of that- a few messages were lost. If you sent an email to
our subscription address to manage your subscriptions and you haven't
received a reply, please resend your message. I apologize for the
inconvenience.
Here in this issue goes the third and last part of the article DELPHI
VS. VISUAL BASIC that a couple of issues ago:
http://www.latiumsoftware.com/en/developers/0016.php
http://www.latiumsoftware.com/en/developers/0017.php
In this issue I'm glad to introduce CodeCharge, a code generator for
database web applications.
I hope you enjoy this issue.
Best regards,
Ernesto De Spirito
eds2008 @ latiumsoftware.com
########################################################################
2. DELPHI VS. VISUAL BASIC (and III)
Comparisons by NTSL
===================
National Software Testing Laboratories, Inc. (NSTL) prepared two reports
comparing Delphi 4 with Visual Basic 5 and Visual Basic 6. These reports
are published at Microsoft's web site:
* Client/Server Development Tools - by NTSL, 1999
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/technical/articles/nstlbench/
* Benchmark: Rapid Application Development Tools - by NTSL, 1999
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/prodinfo/benchmarks/bench1.asp
There are some things about these reports I'd like to point out:
1) Delphi 4 is used for the comparisons, and not Delphi 5
2) The hardware used for testing hides the inefficiencies of Visual
Basic. I wonder why the test didn't include several hardware
configurations (like two/thirds the speed and half the memory?)
3) There are lots of features that (deliberately) hasn't been evaluated.
Would it be because Delphi has many features that Visual Basic lacks
and they don't want to show that Delphi is a far superior tool?
4) The selection of tests is too arbitrary. It looks very much that they
studied Delphi's weaknesses and selected the few tests where Visual
Basic had a comparable or better performance (take the time of a for
loop from 1 to 1000000000 to see what I mean). Clearly to me, these
tests are (deliberately) not comprehensive. Would it be because they
don't want to show that Delphi is the clear winner in many other
tests? http://www.mers.com/INPRISE/FAQ/2780.HTML
5) I don't buy that the Sieve algorithm to find prime numbers runs
faster in Visual Basic than in Delphi. I think that this is the
result of poor coding in Delphi or something. "Curiously", the code
used used in the benchmarks is not revealed. Also curiously, I recall
that the old Clarion Desktop Developer claimed to outperform C in
this test... Yeah right! :-)
6) The testers admitted not to have a good knowledge of Delphi. Does
this mean that benchmarks are comparing the code produced by a senior
Visual Basic programmer with the one produced by a Delphi newbie?
7) Testers were contracted by Microsoft. Of course! ;)
8) The reports are published under Microsoft's copyright.
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| It looks to me that these reports are not independent |
| and that are too biased to be considered seriously. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
Support
=======
Product support is usually a critical factor when deciding which tool to
use. Microsoft has physical presence in almost all major cities of the
world. I've heard that if you wait long enough over the phone, you get
transferred from one person to another until you finally get to talk
with the programmer who actually wrote that function that gives you
trouble. What a support! But I would like to ask you a question: what
kind of support is waiting two or four hours on the phone to finally be
told that a bug has been corrected in the latest version (i.e. "pay the
upgrade") or that it'll be corrected in the new version (i.e. "wait and
pay the upgrade when it comes out")? When I have a problem I want a
solution, and I want it now, and I don't want to pay the cost of an
upgrade.
One of the things I like of Borland is that they are very responsive
with this issues (for example if you find a bug in a VCL component,
likely someone already developed a patch or found a workaround, or if
you need additional functionality for a component, if it's a common task
probably someone has already developed a substitute component or else
someone in the newsgroup can give you a hint or some source code to do
what you want). Tech support is very important for me, and the
architecture, the extensibility and the availability of the source code
of the VCL gives me confidence, and I feel well backed when I see that
the members of Borland technicians and the members of the Community that
participate answering questions in the forum have a high level of
knowledge and strive to answer from the simplest questions to the
roughest ones.
Borland is a company with experience and dedication to development
tools, not a division of an operating-systems company. I know what to
expect from Borland in the future, and I know they'll keep developing
and supporting Delphi, but the truth is I don't know what Microsoft
will come up with in the future, if they'll keep developing Visual Basic
or if one day they'll decide to stop supporting Visual Basic and say
that they want Visual Basic programmers to migrate to a Microsoft
Universal Language or something like that...
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Tech support is important. Don't let the physical proximity |
| of an office guide you, and ask your colleagues about their |
| experience with the support of one or the other provider... |
| and how much it cost! |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
Links to more comparisons, testimonials, etc.
=============================================
* Thirteen ways to loathe VB - by Verity Stob, 2000
http://www.geocities.com/antivisualbasic/thirteen.html
* Why I really like Delphi - by Null Writer, 1999
http://www.geocities.com/antivisualbasic/liked.html
* Saying Goodbye to Hardcore Visual Basic - by Bruce McKinney, 1999
www.devx.com/upload/free/features/vbpj/1999/mckinney/mckinneytoc.asp
* The End of Hardcore Visual Basic - by Bruce McKinney, 1999
http://members.home.net/bruce2u2/hardbook.htm
* Hardcore Visual Basic - by Bruce McKinney, 1999
www.vb-zone.com/upload/free/features/vbpj/1999/mckinney/mckinney1.asp
* The Wrong Tool for the Right Job - by Don Kiely, 1999
www.vb-zone.com/upload/free/features/vbpj/1999/mckinney/kiely1.asp
* The Case for Delphi - by Alan C. Moore, Ph.D., 1999
http://www.delphimag.com/opinion/2000/01/di200001fn_o/di200001fn_o.asp
* The cult of Delphi - by Marco Cantů, 1999
http://dn.codegear.com/article/10253
* Delphi. Reasons why. - by Greg Lorriman, 1999
http://www.lorriman.demon.co.uk/delphi.htm
* Client/Server Development Tools - by NTSL, 1999
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/technical/articles/nstlbench/
* Benchmark: Rapid Application Development Tools - by NTSL, 1999
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/prodinfo/benchmarks/bench1.asp
* Free Value - by Peter Jackson - Published in PC Magazine UK, 1999
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/pcmag/labs/1999/04/visual/
* Delphi 4 and VB6 take aim - by Peter Coffee, 1998
http://www.zdnet.com/eweek/reviews/0615/15dev.html
* Delphi vs Visual Basic - by MER Systems Inc., 1998
http://www.mers.com/INPRISE/FAQ/2780.HTML
* RAD Programming Tools Shootout - by Les Kendall, 1997
http://www.cybsoft.co.uk/back/rad.htm
* Delphi 3 closes in on Visual Basic 5.0 - by Maggie Biggs, 1997
http://www.idg.net/crd_delphi_13192.html
* Visual Basic and Delphi Head to Head - by Stephen W. Plain, 1997
http://www.zdnet.com/pcmag/issues/1415/pcm00122.htm
* Comparing OOP Languages: Java, C++, Object Pascal - by M. Cantů, 1997
http://www.marcocantu.com/papers/ooplang.htm
* Should Delphi people be worried about C++ Builder? - by David
Lipschitz, 1997
http://www.orbitaldecisions.co.za/text/worried.htm
* Delphi Leaves Visual Basic In the Dust...Again - by Paul Bonner, 1997
www.zdnet.com/computershopper/edit/cshopper/content/9708/cshp0011.html
* Battle of the Visual Masters - by David S. Linthicum, 1996
http://www.dbmsmag.com/9604bvm.html
* A Comparison of Client/Server Development Tools; Powerbuilder 5.0 vs.
Delphi 2.0 - by Michael Lant, 1996
http://dn.codegear.com/article/10326
* Delphi vs Visual Basic - by Borland Staff, 1995
http://www.consist.it/de_vb.htm
* Why Shun Delphi? - by Graham Perkins
http://www.mk.dmu.ac.uk/~gperkins/language/debate/ydelphi.htm
* Why not VB.Net?
http://home.earthlink.net/~butlerbob/VBNet/index.htm
http://home.earthlink.net/~butlerbob/VBNet/AllPorting.htm
http://news.cnet.com/news/0-1003-201-4523043-0.html?tag=st.ne.ron.lthd
http://www.geocities.com/antivisualbasic/cantbeignored.html
http://www.vsj.co.uk/archive/dec2000/vb/hovb1-0012.asp
www.vbpj.com/upload/free/features/vbpj/2000/11nov00/pr0011/pr0011.asp
http://members.home.net/bruce2u2/vbnet.htm
* Why Delphi?
http://sandbrooksoftware.com/DPSC/Articles/WhyDelphi.shtml
http://www.w3data.dk/whydelphi.htm
http://www.matlus.com/scripts/website.dll/WhyDelphi
http://community.borland.com/article/0,1410,20481,00.html
http://www.marcocantu.com/papers/Standup.htm
* Case studies
- ASSESS: Delphi Helps American Skandia Compete
by Denis Perrotti, 2000
www.delphizine.com/casestudies/2000/12/di200012dp_c/di200012dp_c.asp
- California's CalJOBS Project - by The EDD Development Team, 1997
www.delphizine.com/casestudies/1997/05/di199705jo_c/di199705jo_c.asp
- Inquire Within - Engaging Kiosk System Reels in Apartment Shoppers -
by David Rippy, 1996
www.delphizine.com/casestudies/1996/11/di199611dr_c/di199611dr_c.asp
- Microsoft Visual Basic and Delphi The Decision Making of
Systems of Emergency Management - by Binh Lam, 1996
http://userpages.umbc.edu/~schmitt/331S96/blam1/Paper.html
Conclusions
===========
Visual Basic is suitable for simple front-end applications, typically
management applications (billing, inventories, payrolls, etc.). Its
ease of use makes of it the right choice for beginner programmers.
Delphi is even better for front-end applications since the availability
of VCL components allows one to develop superior-quality interfaces,
both in terms of functionality and presentation, but it's not as easy to
use for beginners, that are the majority group and for whom this factor
prevails over the quality of the work, execution speed, code-size, use
of system resources, development time, costs or any other factor.
Corporations prefer to have many candidates available when they need to
cover a position, than to have fewer candidates to cover a position
that requires more qualifications and for this reason they prefer Visual
Basic over Delphi. If you want to get a job, learn Visual Basic.
I think it's only possible to convince an executive to choose Delphi
instead of Visual Basic when there are specific requirements that
justify it, for example if the company can't have the latest in
hardware, can't buy the upgrades to the latest version of Visual Basic,
can't afford to pay for solutions every time they find a limitation in
Visual Basic, needs a better-quality GUI (more functional and/or more
visually appealing) or when the Visual Basic staff can't deliver
applications on schedule (this normally happens when they are crashing
against some VB limitation, because usually the code gets complicated to
circumvent it and thus it gets difficult to maintain) or when shorter
development times are required for applications that are not so simple.
Delphi is harder to use than Visual Basic at first, no question about
that, but it allows us to do all. Like someone said, "Delphi is more
Windows-compatible than Visual Basic". Those programmers who carry in
their luggage some knowledge of an object oriented language (like C++,
Turbo Pascal 5.5+ or FreePascal) don't have problems to learn Delphi.
They are usually those who have a base in formal education in
programming (universities, colleges, etc.) or learned by themselves.
The market of Delphi is not limited to front-end applications: Delphi
is also used for the back-end (servers, libraries, ActiveX objects,
etc.), a market out of the reach of Visual Basic.
Visual Basic does a lot of things for the programmers, so many that use
it are too comfortable with it (Delphi might look too arcane for them),
and if they haven't faced Visual Basic limitations, why change? Visual
Basic is the right tool for them. On the other hand, I see many that are
unhappy, and I really think they will be much better off programming in
Delphi... as well as a few Delphi programmers (newbies with bad, little
or no background in programming) that perhaps should be programming in
Visual Basic. My concept of Delphi is that it's a professional tool for
a professional programmer, while my concept of Visual Basic is that it's
for those that are satisfied with the little the tool gives to them
because either they only develop simple front-end applications without
much aspirations, or they lack preparation or experience in Windows
programming or OOP, or they don't want or don't like to program, or they
don't have time to learn, or they don't know English, or because with
Visual Basic it's easier to get a job since companies prefer to hire
people who meet this profile. Despite of all this, it must be said that
Visual Basic is a great tool that has put programming at the fingertips
of a lot of professionals that come from careers outside programming
(Information Systems Analysts, Electronic Engineers, etc.).
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
| The best tool for the job is the one that best conforms |
| to your requirements, limitations and expectations. |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
########################################################################
3. CODECHARGE
The browser interface
=====================
In the third part of the article "The User Interface" presented in a
past issue we said that «some MDI and SDI applications are difficult to
use for most beginners and many intermediate users. They seem to easily
get lost in all the menus and windows. Believe it or not, many beginners
find it hard to determine which one is the topmost window. They think an
application got stuck when they hear the beeps whenever they click on
any part of it... except the modal dialog that appeared, but they can't
"see" it because incredibly they don't distinguish the tridimensionality
of the screen objects.»
This problem can be solved using a browser interface, that is, an
interface that consists of only one window where "pages" or "frames" are
shown. This kind of interface seems to be more familiar and easier to
use by most people, specially computer novices.
The browser interface «is difficult to implement in a single application,
so it is quite common to see HTML pages combined with small CGI scripts
or programs (or other forms of server processing, like PHP, ASP, JSP,
etc.).» Apart from being easier to use, this processing scheme has the
additional benefit that the user can be anywhere in the world and can
access the application using almost any platform and web browser.
However, these kind of applications aren't easy to develop and maintain.
Or at least that was is my view until I found CodeCharge.
What is CodeCharge?
===================
CodeCharge is a revolutionary code-generating tool designed for web
developers, Internet consultants, application programmers, and
webmasters who need to speed the deployment of database-driven web
applications. CodeCharge is a code generator that allows you to easily
generate dynamic web sites faster than ever. Anyone with little database
knowledge may now easily connect databases to the web by using
CodeCharge.
CodeCharge is the only tool that generates the same server-side code
that you are familiar with. It allows you to stay focused on
implementing business logic, while significantly accelerating the
development of forms, grids, search and login elements. Best of all,
CodeCharge produces robust, bug-free code in the language of your
choice - ASP, ColdFusion, JSP, PHP, Perl and ASP.NET/C# (Beta)
CodeCharge can be used to develop dynamic-data-driven applications
fast and bug-free. It is mostly used to create dynamic web sites, but
the model works as well for a corporate application on an Intranet or
even a very simple network.
Features
========
With CodeCharge you may quickly:
* Web-enable databases and applications by an easy assembly process
* Build new web applications . . . fast!
* Create e-commerce components such as online stores and shopping carts,
classifieds, or auctions
* Add dynamic content to your site, such as message boards, surveys, or
catalogs
* Build powerful, user-friendly intranet and Internet applications with
much less manual coding, if any
* Develop dynamic, database-driven sites in matter of hours or days
instead of weeks or months
* Create customized message boards, classifieds, online catalogs, and
shops, auctions, directories, or other Web systems
* Create code in ASP, ColdFusion, JSP, PHP, Perl, and other languages
* Generate clean and robust code that is compatible with any database,
platform, or browser
Features of the development environment of CodeCharge:
* Works with most databases, including Microsoft Excel, Microsoft
Access, Microsoft SQL, MySQL, Oracle, PostgreSQL and Sybase
* Generates source code in many programming languages including ASP,
ColdFusion, PHP, JSP, Perl, C++ (soon), ASP.NET (soon)
* HTML and WAP output support
* Shows visual site diagram
* Supports Extensions/Components
* Live HTML page template preview. Instant Live Site preview
* Supports file locking
* Custom HTML and Code editor
Features of the code generated by CodeCharge:
* Robust and easy to modify
* Optionally utilizes Styles/CSS to customize site look
* Runs on Windows and UNIX (all flavors) platforms
* Supports multi-level security (administrator, editor, user, etc.)
* Optionally, code may be generated separately from HTML template files
for easy layout changes
Sample sites
============
A number of sample sites that have been developed using CodeCharge are
included in the main download with their respective source files and
databases. You can also see their screenshots and download them from
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?section_id=2&app_id=3
The source code is available in some or all of the following languages:
ASP/VBScript, ASP.NET/C#, ColdFusion, Perl, PHP3 and PHP4. Usually they
come in both standard and with-templates versions.
You may use these examples as a framework to create expanded systems or
use them "as is". Free source code. No restrictions on the usage,
modifications and distribution.
* Bookstore
Fully functional online store. Utilizes VeriSign's Payflow Link system
to verify and charge credit cards.
- User Registrations
- Product Voting
- VeriSign Payflow Link integration
- Categories
- Shopping Cart
- Administration of Members, Orders, Items, Categories and Credit Card
Types
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=3
* BugTrack
Basic, yet fully functional web based Bug Tracking. Great for small
teams working on software projects.
- Search by Project, Assigned Person, Priority, Status
- Sorting by any of the columns (Bug Name, Project, Priority, Assigned
Person, Status)
- Login Authentication
- Administration of Users, Priorities, Projects and Statuses
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=1
* Classifieds
Basic, yet fully functional online classifieds system.
- User Registration
- Multi-Level Categories
- VeriSign Payflow Link integration
- "My Classifieds" section
- Shopping Cart
- Administration of Members and Categories
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=5
* EmplDir
Basic, yet fully functional Employee Directory. It is great online
system for small companies.
- Front page picture of the "Employee of the Month"
- Search by Name, Department or Email
- Sorting by any of the columns (Name, Title, Department, Work Phone,
Email)
- Administration of Members and Departments
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=6
* Events
Basic, yet fully functional online Event management system.
- Event information such as Event Name, Date, Category and Presenter
- Search by Keyword or Category
- Users can add new Events
- Administration of Events, Users/Members and Categories
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=7
* Forum
Basic, yet fully functional Online Discussion Board.
- Discussion Threads with Responses
- Search by Keyword
- Sorting by any of the columns (Thread, Author, Date)
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=8
* Ledger
Example implementation of a web-based ledger, allowing you to track
bank deposits and withdrawals and view current balance.
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=9
* Links
Basic, yet fully functional online Link management system
- Link information such as Name, Category, Description and URL
- List of recently added Links
- Description Search by Keyword
- Users can add new Links for approval
- Multi-level Categories
- Administration and Approvals of Links
- Administration of Users/Members and Categories
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=2
* MetaSearch
Basic Meta-Search system. It searches Yahoo and/or ABC news sections
for specified keyword.
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=10
* NewsWAP
Basic, WAP compatible application outputting information in WML
format, to be read on a WAP device, such as wireless phone, or a PDA.
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=15
* Portal
Fully functional online web-based Portal. It is great system for small
organizations, clubs, user groups and schools.
- Links, Events, News and Articles
- List of Club Officers
- News section
- Keyword and Category search
- User Registration
- Description Search by Keyword
- Users can add new Links for approval
- Administration and Approvals of Links
- Administration of Events, Club Officers, Users / Members
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=11
* RegForm
Simple registration form with validation of required fields.
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=12
* TaskMan
Basic, yet fully functional web-based Task Management System. It is a
great application for small companies and organizations.
- Task List with Search by Assigned Person
- Search Tasks by Priority or by Status
- Sorting by any of the columns (Task, Project, Priority, Assigned
Person, Status)
- Administration of Employees, Priorities, Projects and Statuses
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=13
* Tell-a-friend
Application that allows users to enter a message and specify who to
send it to. The application will automatically send the email message.
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=14
* YellowPages
Basic, yet fully functional web-based Yellow Pages application.
- Listing information (Name, Address, City, State, Zip, Category)
- Multi-level Categories
- Search by Name, Address, City, State, Zip Code and Category
- Administration of Listings, Users, Categories
http://www.gotocode.com/apps.asp?app_id=4
System Requirements
===================
Desktop Application Requirements (for generating Web sites):
* Intel Pentium Processor or equivalent
* 64 MB available RAM
* 20 MB available disk space
* 256-color monitor capable of 800 x 600 resolution
* Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4 or 2000
* Database application (MS Access, MS SQL, MySQL, etc.)
* MS Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher
Server Requirements (for hosting Web sites):
* ASP 3.0, ColdFusion 4.5, JSP 1.1, PHP 4.0 or Perl 5.0 server, or
higher
* Runs on most systems including Windows and UNIX
Downloads
=========
There's a trial version for 20 days available for download (~13MB):
http://www.codecharge.com/download/
The trial version comes with an online help file, and you can also
download a manual in PDF format (~1.3MB):
http://www.codecharge.com/download/files/pdf/CodeChargeManual.zip
You may also download a number of pre-defined style files from
CodeCharge's web site. From these Style files, you may choose your
favorite graphic scheme for the general look of the tables, headers, and
fonts for your site.
http://codecharge.com/download/?templ=styles
Price
=====
CodeCharge is used at IBM, Sun, AT&T, Compaq, Sony, 3com, Cisco Systems,
Dell, Intel, Nasa, United States Postal Service, Goodrich, Looksmart,
State Farm Insurance, Kerr-McGee Corporation, Arizona State University,
Rice University and University of Central Arkansas. It must be very
expensive you may think, but not, the price of CodeCharge is actually
very attractive: the Single User License costs only just $ 149.00 (USD).
http://www.codecharge.com/purchase/?step=1
More information
================
For more information about CodeCharge, to take the online tour, to see
the examples, participate in the discussion group or the newsgroup, or
get support, visit CodeCharge's web site:
http://www.codecharge.com/
------------------
Portions of this article were taken from CodeCharge's and GotoCode's web
sites and are Copyright (c) 2001 YesSoftware - All Rights Reserved. They
have been reproduced and modified here with the author's permission.
########################################################################
4. VIRUS ALERTS
Code Red
========
This virus has spread quite a lot lately, mainly because it doesn't
require human interaction to enter a system since it exploits a
vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS). The virus
attacks the following web server platforms: Windows NT 4.0 running IIS
4.0, Windows 2000 running IIS 5.0 and also Windows XP running IIS 6.0
beta.
It is very interesting how the virus works. It enters a system as a web
request that IIS fails to handle and ends up executing code from the
request with full system level access... The rest is history. The virus
installs in the system (without creating any disk file), and creates
threads to infect 99 or 100 web servers (choosing IPs pseudo-randomly).
The virus also attempts to spread the first day of each month. The
number of infected systems is enormous.
You can find more information about Code Red in the following page:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/C/CodeRedWorm.asp
Sircam
======
This Internet virus has rapidly infected a lot of computers in the last
month. It comes in an email message with a random title and a 176K
attachment. The text of the message can be in English or Spanish and
may read something like:
Hi! How are you?
I send you this file in order to have your advice
See you later. Thanks
Or (in Spanish):
Hola como estas ?
Te mando este archivo para que me des tu punto de vista
Nos vemos pronto, gracias.
There are variations of middle line of the text, both in English and in
Spanish.
The attachment may look like a document file (.doc or .xls), but it has
a second extension (.exe, .com, .lnk, .pif) that may be hidden. Once you
open the attachment your computer gets infected. The virus will send
itself to other computers and will infect other computers in a local
network. The virus may reveal or delete sensitive information.
The moral of the story is, DO NOT OPEN UNSOLICITED ATTACHMENTS, even if
they come from your best friend.
You can find more information about Sircam in the following page:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/W/W32.Sircam.asp
Outlook.PDFWorm
===============
This virus is not too widespread because it requires Adobe Acrobat (the
authoring tool, not Acrobat Reader). It spreads using Outlook as a PDF
file with a game. To see the solution of the game, the user has to
double click a file annotation which will run a VBS, VBE or WSF file
(the virus) that will send the PDF file to other email addresses using
Outlook.
You can find more information about Outlook.PDFWorm in the following
page:
http://www.pestpatrol.com/PestInfo/O/Outlook.PDFWorm.asp
########################################################################
5. LINUX DOCUMENTATION
The central place of Linux documentation is the Linux Documentation
Project: http://www.linuxdoc.org/
Besides the classical HOWTOs and FAQs, there you'll find user guides,
installation guides, administration guides, programming guides, etc.,
including the following:
- Installation and Getting Started Guide v3.2 (oldie but goodie)
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/gs/gs.html
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/gs.html.tar.gz
- The Linux Users' Guide (oldie but goodie)
http://www.ibiblio.org/pub/Linux/docs/linux-doc-project/users-guide/
- Linux System Administration Made Easy v1.06
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/lame/LAME/linux-admin-made-easy/index.html
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/lame/lame.html.tar.gz
- The Linux System Administrators' Guide v0.6.2
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/sag/index.html
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/sag.html.tar.gz
- The Linux Network Administrator's Guide, Second Edition v1.1
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/nag2/index.html
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/nag-2.0.html.tar.gz
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/nag2/nag2.pdf
- The Linux Programmer's Guide v0.4 (oldie but goodie)
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/lpg/index.html
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/lpg.html.tar.gz
- The Linux Kernel Module Programming Guide v1.1.0
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/lkmpg/mpg.html
http://www.linuxdoc.org/LDP/lkmpg.html.tar.gz
There are more guides and they are available in more formats (including
LaTeX sources):
http://www.linuxdoc.org/guides.html
At the end of that page there's a table where you can find versions of
the most important guides in languages other than English.
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6. WINDOWS NT DOCUMENTATION
Here are some interesting documents about Windows NT:
* Developer Issues
- DCOM Architecture
- DCOM: A Business Overview
- DCOM-Cariplo Home Banking Over The Internet
- DCOM Solutions in Action
- DCOM Technical Overview
- Optimizing Applications for Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server
Edition
- International Support in Windows NT 5.0
- Color Management Technology Brief
- Differences in Win32 API Implementations Among Windows Operating
- Systems
- Avoiding Conflicts When Running Windows 95 Applications on Windows
NT
- Updating Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Serial Device Drivers for Windows
NT 5.0
- Windows Management Instrumentation
http://enete.us.es/docu_externa/w2000/Whitepapers_Dev.asp
* Active Directory
- Active Directory
- Display Specifiers
- Active Directory DS Strategy
- Active Directory Interfaces
- Active Directory Technical Summary
http://enete.us.es/docu_externa/w2000/Whitepapers_ad.asp
* Networking
- Cache Array Routing Protocol and Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0
- Deploying ATM with Microsoft Windows
- IP Security for Microsoft Windows NT Server 5.0
- IP Telephony with TAPI 3.0
- Microsoft Virtual Private Networking: Using Point-to-Point Tunneling
Protocol for Low-Cost, Secure, Remote Access Across the Internet
- Understanding Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP)
- Installing, Configuring, and Using PPTP with Microsoft Clients and
Servers
- Windows Quality of Service Technology
- Routing and Remote Access Service for Windows NT Server
- Microsoft Windows NT 3.5/3.51/4.0: TCP/IP Implementation Details -
TCP/IP Protocol Stack and Services, Version 2.0
- Microsoft Windows NT 5.0 Windows Internet Service (WINS) Overview
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Windows Internet Naming Service
(WINS) Architecture and Capacity Planning
- Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol for Windows NT 5.0
http://enete.us.es/docu_externa/w2000/Whitepapers_Networking.asp
* Distributed Security
- Secure Networking Using Microsoft Windows NT 5.0 Distributed
Security Services
- Encrypting File System for Windows NT Version 5.0
- IP Security for Microsoft Windows NT Server 5.0
- Microsoft Windows NT Security Support Provider Interface
- Smart Cards
http://enete.us.es/docu_externa/w2000/Whitepapers_DistSec.asp
* Management & Administration
- Microsoft Management Console: Overview
- Snap-In Design and the Windows NT 5.0 Administration Model
- Microsoft Management Console: Snap-in User Interface Guidelines
- Guide to Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Profiles and Policies
- Group Policies in Windows NT 5.0
- Microsoft Security Configuration Editor
- The New Task Scheduler
- Windows Scripting Host: A Universal Scripting Host for Scripting
Languages
- The Microsoft ScriptIt Utility
- Windows NT 4.0 Remote Troubleshooting and Diagnostics
- Microsoft Systems Management Server Database Maintenance
http://enete.us.es/docu_externa/w2000/Whitepapers_Mgmt.asp
* Windows NT Core
- Microsoft Windows NT: The Foundation
- Plug and Play for Microsoft Windows NT 5.0
- Microsoft Windows NT 5.0 Backgrounder
http://enete.us.es/docu_externa/w2000/Whitepapers_Ntcore.asp
* Enterprise Issues
- Cluster Strategy: High Availability and Scalability with Industry-
Standard Hardware
- Distributed File System: A Logical View of Physical Storage
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition: The
Benefits of Windows with the Low Cost of a Terminal
- Windows NT and UNIX Interoperability
- Writing Microsoft Cluster Server (MSCS) Resource Dynamic-Link
Libraries (DLLs)
- Customizing the Windows NT 4.0 Upgrade Process: A Framework for
Building and Managing Complex Automated Upgrades
http://enete.us.es/docu_externa/nt4/whitepapers_enterprise.asp
* Profiles and policies
http://enete.us.es/docu_externa/Whitepapers/prof_policies.exe
* DirectX and Multimedia
- Multimedia Made Easy Through DirectAnimation
- DirectX Media - Multimedia Services for Microsoft Internet Explorer
and Windows
- DirectX 5 New Features Review
- DrawPrimitive
http://enete.us.es/docu_externa/varios/whitepapers_directx.asp
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7. LINKS
* VB Information Center
Gary Beene's Visual Basic Information Center
http://www.vbinformation.com
* Brad Appleton's WWW Links
3927 links to Computer Science and Software Engineering (unfortunately
most of them don't work, but there are some interesting ones)
http://www.enteract.com/~bradapp/links/
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