The Coder's Log

Being a developer for web and desktop applications, I have to talk about one of my favorite languages to use, in this case being Java. Java is a very simplistic language, with being limited to what you can make, however. The annoying thing that doesn't make it my favorite language, is that you need extra libraries such as LWJGL and other things. That doesn't necessarily mean other languages need it either. C++/C requires the C++/C libraries to use even the simplest functions, Javascript requires extra libraries to create more advanced applications, (such as JQuery, three.js, etc.). Java does come with one very good addition, which is known as Swing. Swing is a GUI library INCLUDED with the JDK, thus allowing you to make slick and simple user interfaces. Java's syntax is very simple, and has been the base for other languages such as C-Sharp (C#). A simple hello world application can be made by a person who has never coded in the past, which is a huge change from C and C++, which will need for you to learn proper syntax to print "Hello World!" to the console. Another great point is the BUILT IN COMPILER. Any experienced coder should know that C/C++ requires a compiler such as Visual Studio (for Windows) or GNU GCC/G++ (for Linux/OS X). Java, on the other hand, comes with a cross platform compiler, which some IDEs have support for doing instantly, or can be executed by using "javac" in any terminal application (Command Prompt, GNU Terminal, OS X Terminal). Unlike the C and C++ compilers, which compile straight to native code for the system, The Java compiler will compile into .class files, which could be executed cross-platform wise. The compiler can also create .jar files, which can contain your class files, thus creating a cross-platform application that can be executed by just double-clicking it. Well, that's my little talk about the Java programming language. If you're just beginning to code, I wouldn't recommend it. Start off with a web-based language, such as JavaScript or HTML5. 

The digital divide is a topic seen on many online forums, and mainly about people complaining about why computers aren't priced equally. I have been asked to state my thoughts on this subject, and thus, I will. The main point of this subject is about why Apple computers are priced significantly more than computers by Dell, HP, etc. My opinions are, that the Macintosh is priced more, and is impractical for average user, but that's why. The Macintosh is targeted towards the professional market. Apple is trying to make the switch to the consumer market, but that is happening very slowly. As a Mac user myself, I know why Macs are priced higher, and can come up with very good reasons for this. My main point, is that with the cash you use to buy your computer, goes towards the cost for materials, and since MacBooks, and iMacs, and even the Mac Pro use aluminum, the costs are sometimes high. It also goes to the cost of computer parts such as hard drives, processors, and memory, etc. Since Apple uses such high-quality parts, cost for them can increase rapidly. The money also goes to Apple, so they can create even more great products. People are complaining because they want to use Apple's rock-hard operating system, Mac OS X. It is very simple to use OS X on a PC, but it is time-consuming, and thus most users are ignorant about it. The reason for the complaining is because people think they'll be cool, or look rich. No. You don't need to own a Mac at all, if you don't think you'll be doing anything such as editing movies and pictures, or 3D renders. There's nothing wrong with owning a PC, and owning a Mac doesn't make you look rich, even if people think that it does. A Mac is just a more advanced PC among the PCs, and isn't really that special if you think about it. It really angers me when people are whining about why are Mac computers are so expensive. Macs are only special for their aesthetics, and by that I mean Macs are made from high-quality, durable aluminum, while PCs are made from low-quality, cheap plastic, however that's not very important, as I know most of you reading this aren't planning on dropping your computer anytime soon, and I certainly aren't. But the main reason why you'll ever need a Mac is if you plan to be doing any professional work anytime soon, or if you need rock-hard security (trust me, UNIX does it's job, and well at it too), or want a flexible operating system for your work.

Next up, is high-speed internet, or broadband. People are complaining about why high-speed internet costs are getting higher and higher. (and don't worry, this part will be relatively short) This is because the companies that supply your access to the internet have to pay to get the materials to get you connected the rest of the world. As the prices for that stuff gets higher, the ISPs (internet service providers) will have to charge more to stay up to date and in business. I really don't know why it's like this, but that's how it goes. Dial-up still exists, and will probably exist for a few more years, if the cost of internet stays, but however, I think the cost is fair, as it is going towards materials, and paying the people who are spending countless hours making sure your internet is always up and ready for use. 

I don't know why this topic exists, as it really shouldn't. I hope this article has informed you on this outrageous topic, and has changed your thoughts (or gave you thoughts).

Politics. What do I have to say about… politics. 

I really don't care about it. 

TotalFinder is in a nutshell, the normal Finder with tabs. However, looking closer into it, there is some more features that may or may not be of any use to you. Of course, the first one is tabbed browsing. The tabs are the much-loved Chrome-esque type, which makes going through your computer, a breeze to navigate. The next function is Cut and Paste. This is the drag and drop function, only much faster. It proves to be useful when copying large amounts of files, as some older Macs experience movement lag when dragging-and-dropping. The very useful option for fans of the drag-and-drop, is Dual Mode. This enables you to have two Finder windows, in one Finder window, if that makes any sense. It gives you the ability to easily drag and drop files without having to move windows. My favorite personal feature is the Visor. The Visor allows you to be in ANY application, have the Finder open at any time, in a way similar to the in-game console from id Software's Quake (classic...) Now we are going to move on to the features, that may or may not, be of any use to you. The first one, is very simple and easy to explain. (actually, both of them are easy to explain.) Anyway, the first of two, is the ability to show system files. This is NOT recommended for the average user as you may have a risk of messing something up. For power users, move right on ahead. This kind of a NOT needed feature, as it's really only needed for tinkerers and the aforementioned power users. The next one on the list is a simple one, it just lets you have the folders on top of the files, which makes it easier to access the folders you need without having to look through all your files.

Well, there's my review. There's actually much to say about TotalFinder :) But, it does prove to be useful to your average Mac user, or even your advanced user.

I give it a rating of... 9.6/10. 

TotalFinder is truly a great piece of software for the Mac platform, and I hope more awesome features get added in the future, so my rating is actually kinda incomplete. Thank you to Antonin Hildebrand at BinaryAge for this plug-in (yes, it's a plug-in.)