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Which Programming Language Are You?

Programming trends, like most trends in technology, are difficult to follow and even harder to predict. There are literally thousands of programming languages, many of which are never used except by a handful of programmers. It’s even possible to become proficient in programming by knowing only a few languages.

Each programming language functions by a different set of rules and syntax. Languages like Java, Python, Perl, Visual Basic and Lisp are each unique with a “personality” of its own. Like the languages themselves, programmers are just as diverse and unique. Regardless of what you consider to be the best, or easiest to use, it might surprise you to know which language actually matches your personality.

To help determine what programming language you “are,” we’ve created a quiz. Take the quiz, feel free to spread the word by sharing with friends and coworkers, and no matter the outcome, don’t take it too personally.

Eureka’s Guide to SXSW Interactive 2015: Part 1

SXSW is just around the corner! As SXSWi veterans and Austin locals, we’ve got some great recommendations. 

Announcing the Eureka Software Scholarship For Young Developers and Entrepreneurs 

Eureka Software is proud to announce the first annual Eureka Software Scholarship for Young Developers and Entrepreneurs. In an effort to reward outstanding students with an aptitude for programming and technology, we’re awarding one $1,000 scholarship to assist in covering the cost of college education. Texas high school seniors who have built their own software-related product or app are invited to apply for this award.

The scholarship requirements are as follows:

Current high school seniors who are Texas residents

Plan to enroll in an accredited U.S. college or university in the Fall semester following high school graduation

Student must have built a working, unique product or app

Letter of Recommendation must support that product or app was built by the student

GPA 3.0 and up — official high school transcript required

Preference will be given to students planning to study software engineering, computer science, engineering, or other software/technology related major.

The scholarship deadline is May 1, 2015 at 11:59 pm central time.

Interested? Visit our Scholarship page for more information and FAQ.

9 Things To Know Before Taking Over An Existing Project

Taking over an existing project is one of the toughest things our customers ask us to do. By the time a customer is fed up enough with their previous developer to want transition the project to us, the software is almost guaranteed to be a mess. The project is behind schedule, and the customer is stressed out, and we are called in to be the Silver Bullet. 

One of our gifted developers, David, shares a real-life scenario in which we corrected a troubled project using Agile methodologies. Hopefully it will provide you with some insights on how you might do the same for your own wayward project.

5 Tech Trends to Expect in 2015

A new year brings new innovations and technology, so what can we expect to see in tech this year? I asked our team here at Eureka, did additional research, and came up with these 5 tech trends to expect in 2015.

What’s It Like to Work at Eureka Software? A Look Inside Our Company Culture 

Often we are asked, “What’s it like to work at Eureka Software?” and “What’s Eureka’s company culture like?” Ask anyone around the office, and most likely you’ll get a blank stare or some kind of non-answer like, “We’re just different.” It may sound cliché, but we really are different. Here's why.

10 STEM Gifts For Children (Our Future Programmers and Engineers!) 

The holidays are right around the corner! Want to give the kiddos in your life something educational that is also fun? Consider STEM toys and games.

What is STEM?

STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics education and is an important part of our daily lives. The U.S. Department of Education reports that only 16% of American high school seniors are proficient in mathematics and interested in a STEM career. Internationally, the U.S. ranks 17th in science and 25th in mathematics, much too low if we want to continue to be the global leader in STEM fields.

Additionally, a 2010 Georgetown University report estimates that by 2018, STEM will provide the sixth-largest share of job openings in the economy over the next decade.

An Overview Of United States Patents And Patent Law

A United States patent is an exclusive right granted by the U.S. government to an inventor to exclude others from making, using, offering for sale, or selling the invention throughout the United States or importing the invention into the U.S. Essentially a patent represents a government granted monopoly over the invention. The monopoly lasts for the limited term of the patent, generally 20 years. The primary purpose of the U.S. patent process is to further and foster the advancement of innovation. Thus, if you file a patent application and/or are issued a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (“USPTO”), the patented invention must be disclosed in a manner that allows others skilled in the art to understand how to make or perform the invention, and any patented inventions, including, devices, goods, software, or other methods and processes, will be open for the public’s eye, even if not available for the public’s use.

Metric Driven Development

Metrics are as old as numbers themselves. The first software programs ever written, or more accurately wired, did little more than reveal metrics. Metrics hide in data, and in the early days, the primary use for building software was to process and learn from the vast amounts of complicated data. Then, somewhere along the way software evolved from simply telling us things to helping us do things… and we seem to have forgotten, at least with regard to design, how to listen to what our software is telling us.

Put The Customer First In Software Product Development

Taking on any innovative software product requires more than just technical skills. The most important (and often most difficult) aspect of the software development process is understanding your customer’s true needs – or in our case, our customer’s customer. What exactly does that mean? Adopting a customer-centric approach, of course!

6 Reasons Agile Results In Better Software

Even with a solid vision, a talented team, and an ample budget, a project can still fall apart. In fact, more than two-thirds of technology projects fail outright. So what about the ones that don't fail? 

The Difference Between Copyrighting Software And Patenting Software 

The United States government offers multiple ways to protect intellectual property rights. Intellectual property refers to creations such as inventions, literary works, designs, symbols, names and images (logos), or similar objects. There are three main types: a copyright, a patent, and a trademark (including service marks). Most people have heard of these three types and are generally aware of them. However, despite their uniqueness, many people confuse the three.