IronPython is a version of Python that is tightly integrated with .NET, originally developed and maintained by a team of Microsoft engineers but recently released to the open-source community. IronPython integrates with Microsoft Visual Studio and allows you to combine traditional Python code with .NET technologies, including Windows Forms and WPF for UI design. The result is a Python-coded application that looks and behaves no differently than any other Windows program, which is a big improvement over the command-line programs typical of the language.

'Hello World' with IronPython

But how exactly does IronPython fit into the .NET world? The diagram below shows the basic functionality where the Python code makes calls to both the .NET framework classes as well as Python libraries. The Python code is then compiled by the IronPython Engine and converted to assembly code that can be executed by the .NET runtime.

IronPython isn’t just for the desktop and can be used to develop web applications that integrate with Silverlight, a Microsoft framework similar to Adobe Flash. If you’re worried about pigeon-holing yourself into Windows with .NET, fear not, IronPython is supported by Mono, an open-source and cross-platform alternative to .NET. Likewise, if you don’t have the money to throw down on a license for Visual Studio, IronPython Studio is a free IDE that runs from the Visual Studio Shell.

So, if you’re a Python developer and want to make user-friendly apps that can take advantage of all that .NET has to offer, bust out of your command-line world give IronPython a spin.

Bring Python to Your .NET Development with IronPython is a post from Techerator.com.

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We can do better than this. Without the massive amount of distractions inherent to the Internet our writing has more substance and fewer errors. Writing can be such a joy, but it’s so easy to get off track — how can we sweep away the distractions and get the best version of our content on the page quickly? Here are a few tips and tools that have cut my typical write time in half, and I like to think these tricks have made my writing better as well.

1. Do your research before you start writing

This seems like a no-brainer, but I think a lot of people (myself included) ignore this very basic concept. Until recently, I had a tab in my browser dedicated to my WordPress post editor and I would rapidly switch back and forth typing a sentence or two at a time as I figured out what I planned to say.

Grab a notebook (you know, that old paper version of the internet) and jot down your ideas as you’re reading. Collect all of the images you plan to use, and formulate an outline on paper. After 15-20 minutes of dedicated reading and establishing your position on a topic, you’ll be amazed how prepared you feel to write. When we have a solid stance on something, our natural instinct is to share that feeling.

2. Use BreakTaker

You need to take breaks while you’re working. It’s easy to get sucked into your project and forget to stretch, sit up straight, or even breath properly — this costs you productivity, and more of it than you’d expect. Techerator’s own Evan Wondrasek created a useful tool called BreakTaker that will remind you to take a break at user-defined intervals and offer suggestions for your 60-second breather. Set it up and use it. Evan is working on a feature that will kick you in the groin if you ignore your BreakTaker.

3. Eliminate the distractions and write… JUST WRITE

This is the meat of my argument, and trust me, eliminating your distractions will make writing so fast that you’ll be back to your Xbox in surprising time.

Here’s what you do: Gather your materials; you should have everything you need to complete your article. Disable your wi-fi and close your browser. Now, open your text editor… but screw your old text editor. If you’re running on a Mac, WriteRoom is the tool for you, and if you’re on Windows, Dark Room is almost the exact same thing.

WriteRoom and Dark Room are minimalistic editors that occupy your entire screen and allow you to fully engage your material. You can change the colors to fit your preferences, but seriously, green on black is so awesome I don’t know why you’d want to change it. Try these editors with the lights off — writing in a dark room is a technique some of the most successful bloggers use (like @arrington). Combine with headphones; now you’re big-time. With nothing else to draw your attention, you will absolutely blaze through your article.

4. Proof read with a partner

I know, this seems over the top —  but believe me, it is completely possible and makes a world of difference. If you’re a writer, you probably have writer friends, or at least writers that contribute to the same blog or newspaper. Coordinate with a writing partner to exchange articles at a specific time to quickly proof, edit, and offer notes for each other. It takes 10-15 minutes at most, and the perspective offered by a reader will improve your word choices, your story flow, and on rare occasion they’ll recommend that you scrap it… because sometimes we convince ourselves that total garbage is worth publishing. Get a buddy and your writing will be better and your editing much quicker. Your managing editor will thank you.

These tricks have helped me reduce my write time and improve the quality of my content, and if you’re diligent, they’ll work for you, too. Good luck out there, and if you have tips that work for you, please share them in the comments.

Tips and Tools for Better, Faster Writing is a post from Techerator.com.

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Note:  Friendly reminder that selling your Cr-48 is against the TOS — don’t be that guy!

1. Remove the battery and flip on the ‘Dev’ switch

Power down your Chromebook, flip it over and remove the battery. The Chromebook engineers cleverly hid the Dev switch behind a piece of black tape. The tape covering the switch can be found right next to the battery pins (see below). Flip that very tiny switch, and do so carefully.

Bottom view

Bottom view after battery is removed

The hidden 'Dev' switch

2. Boot into Developer Mode

Turn on the power and allow it to boot until you reach the Sad Chromebook screen. At this point, hit Ctrl+D to enter Developer Mode and initiate the wiping of your partition. The wiping initiates automatically and takes just a few minutes. When the “recovery” has completed, you’ll be prompted to reboot. Turn off the Chromebook and move on to step 3.

When you see the sad Chromebook, hit Ctrl+D

Down the rabbit hole

3. Power down and flip off the ‘Dev’ switch

Pretty self-explanatory, but we don’t want to stay in Developer Mode, so once again remove the battery and put the switch in its original ‘off’ position.

4. Reboot and reconfigure

You should be able to reboot now and you’ll be greeted with one final message to let you know you’re back in Normal Mode. After a minute or so, you’ll be prompted to connect and configure.

Transitioning back to Normal Mode

You're done!

That wasn’t so hard! In fact, once you’re configured, Chrome OS will automatically update, so you’ll be exactly where you want to be. Start to finish, this shouldn’t take more than 15 minutes.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with your Cr-48. Heck, maybe you want to try to install Ubuntu Linux on it. The worst that can happen is that you’ll be out 15 minutes. Have at it!

How to Reset Your Cr-48 Chromebook to its Default Factory Settings is a post from Techerator.com.

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<img src="location/of/image.png" alt="alternative text" />

But did you know that you can embed your image directly into the HTML without having to link to an external file? Yep, but first, why would you want to? In a word, portability. In certain cases, you may want to be able to pick up your page and simply relocate it without worrying about whether linked images are going to transfer correctly as well. How do we do this? Observe.

Let’s say you have an image that you want to include in your markup — when you link to it, the browser interprets it as encoded data in a format dictated by your <img> tag. In theory, you can convert the image directly to encoded data and put it directly into the src parameter, right? Let’s find out.

A Blue Star is a tool for converting data, including images to Base64 encoding. It allows you to upload an image and then spits out the Base64 conversion for you. After uploading an image, you’re left with an image tag that has a stream of Base64 code instead of an image location.

<img src="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAM0AAAD
 NCAMAAAAsYgRbAAAAGXRFWHRTb2Z0d2FyZQBBZG9iZSBJbWFnZVJlYWR5c
 cllPAAAABJQTFRF3NSmzMewPxIG//ncJEJsldTou1jHgAAAARBJREFUeNrs2EEK
 gCAQBVDLuv+V20dENbMY831wKz4Y/VHb/5RGQ0NDQ0NDQ0NDQ0NDQ0NDQ
 0NDQ0NDQ0NDQ0NDQ0NDQ0NDQ0PzMWtyaGhoaGhoaGhoaGhoaGhoxtb0QGho
 aGhoaGhoaGhoaGhoaMbRLEvv50VTQ9OTQ5OpyZ01GpM2g0bfmDQaL7S+ofFC6x
 v3ZpxJiywakzbvd9r3RWPS9I2+MWk0+kbf0Hih9Y17U0nTHibrDDQ0NDQ0NDQ0
 NDQ0NDQ0NTXbRSL/AK72o6GhoaGhoRlL8951vwsNDQ0NDQ1NDc0WyHtDTEhD
 Q0NDQ0NTS5MdGhoaGhoaGhoaGhoaGhoaGhoaGhoaGposzSHAAErMwwQ2HwRQ
 AAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" alt="beastie.png" />

Cute, right? It’s not exactly reader friendly, but look below to see how the browser interprets it — cool, that’s eight-bit me! And no linked image required!

If you’re interested in trying this on your own without a pre-made base64 conversion tool, pay special attention to “data:image/png;base64“, which precedes your converted string in the src of your image tag.

Whether you’re creating a Read Me or streamlining your file structure, embedding images directly into your HTML may be just the thing you need. This isn’t practical for day-to-day decide, but at least now you have the option.

How To Embed Images Directly Into Your HTML is a post from Techerator.com.

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I’m fortunate to have a group of software engineer friends — if I ever have a question about Dungeons & Dragons or programming, they have me covered. Over a couple of beers, I presented them a seemingly mundane question got these code monkeys a little hot under the collar:

Hey, guys… What framework should I develop in?

With the ensuing noise you would have thought I’d just thrown an unopened Chewbacca action figure out of a moving vehicle. Unsurprisingly, debates over the best framework can send nerds into a tizzy — after all, they’ve devoted a hell of a lot of time becoming well-versed in something that the opposition considers a “waste of time!” Once the bickering subsided, two contenders rose to the top of everybody’s lists: Nokia’s Qt and Microsoft’s .NET.

Qt is better than .NET? How about you say that to my face?

All you need to do is Google Qt versus .NET to see that the debate rages on, but there is no clear winner. However, depending on your situation, there is definitely a best fit for you. Some discussion and research led me to a few considerations when choosing where to focus your learning efforts.

What are your platform needs?

Both Qt’s SDK and Microsoft’s Visual Studio have a full set of tools for developing desktop apps complete with user interface controls, but if you intend to make software to work across all major platforms (Windows, OS X, Linux), you may want to think carefully. Qt is available under GPL for all platforms and will let you deploy desktop apps that don’t require the user to install a framework like .NET does. The .NET framework is pre-installed in modern versions of Windows, but the Mono framework allows for .NET-compatibility in Linux and OS X. Any way you cut it, you can probably make software that works on any machine — but Qt definitely has the advantage here.

Personally, I like the idea of developing cross-platform software from a single IDE installation (à la Qt), but you can’t ignore the fact that .NET works with WPF and Windows Forms to deliver some pretty awesome functionality without a lot of effort. How much emphasis do you put on cross-platform compatibility? If the answer is “a lot,” then Qt is for you. If you’re content to stick with Windows development, .NET will more than satisfy you.

Do you have strong programming fundamentals?

If you’re a student, the answer is probably “not yet.” Because Qt is a framework that uses C++, it requires you to learn certain concepts like pointers, memory management, and other lower language abilities that are greatly abstracted in .NET’s C#. The idea here is that if you are a burgeoning programmer, you should gain familiarity with practices inherent to a language like C++ because it will make the transition to C# much easier.

So, if you’re looking to be the best programmer you can ever be and you’re not very experienced in baseline techniques, pick up Qt. If you’re more interested in getting a good job quickly, .NET developers are a hot commodity.

How much time are you willing to invest in learning?

The general consensus is that C++ isn’t an easy language to master, but it is pretty close to the metal when it comes to the stack, I/O devices, and memory management. Gaining proficiency in Qt is definitely going to take some time, but perhaps will make you a more well-rounded programmer in the end. However, don’t underestimate the value of getting something done quickly and smoothly — because .NET and C# will allow you to do that.

In the end, both are great frameworks

The truth is that there is no “best” framework, and it will ultimately come down to your needs, professional goals, and personal interests. For fast-paced commercial programming, .NET/C# has an edge, but for open-source cross-platform development, Qt will lead you to good places. There is a lot of functional overlap in these two frameworks, so it may be wise to try them both…and don’t be quick to dismiss either.

A Programmer’s Dilemma: Choosing between Qt and .NET is a post from Techerator.com.

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Batch is an iPhone app that allows you to easily share large numbers of photos with your friends without needing to make a stop at your computer. Sharing photos from your phone isn’t exactly a game-changer, but Batch is one of the first to offer a way to share many pictures with just a few taps.

Credit: iTunes App Store

The beauty of Batch is its simplicity. A focused design lets you snap pictures, tag friends, and share your albums without any fuss. Friends can leave comments or simply ‘Like’ what they see. Batch allows you to post a link to your albums on Facebook and Twitter for friends to view anywhere. Photos dominate the screen and you can easily flip through pages of your own pictures or albums posted to your feed by friends. Privacy settings are a cinch, letting you make some albums private or share with just a few friends at a time.

The downside? Batch requires a Facebook account for login. But come on, you already have one of those…

Batch keeps your photos safe and your friends updated. If you take a lot of pictures with your iPhone, batch is an absolute must. Photo-sharing apps seem to be the big thing right now, with Instagram and Path making big gains each month, but Batch is the first to perfect the idea of sharing full albums on the go.

Take a boatload of photos, share them with Batch.

“Batch” is the ultimate mobile photo sharing app for iPhone is a post from Techerator.com.

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ShiftEdit is a web-based development environment for HTML, PHP, Ruby, Python and more, and they’re adding new languages all the time. Like the usual desktop-based WYSIWYG counterparts, ShiftEdit offers ‘Code’ and ‘Design’ views for creating your applications, as well as syntax highlighting for their expanding portfolio. As you code, your projects are automatically saved, safe and sound in the cloud and accessible from any computer with a browser and internet connection.

Code, design, and split views

If you require FTP access and database connectivity for your projects, ShiftEdit gives you the ability to connect to one site for free with the option to add unlimited sites by upgrading to their Premier service ($5/month). ShiftEdit also gives you access to basic version control tools in case you’ll be collaborating with other users.

FTP and database connectivity

If you’re looking for enterprise-class tools that help you whip out projects at lightning speed, ShiftEdit may not be everything you need. The IDE currently lacks auto-complete functionality and only provides real-time syntax debugging for JavaScript and PHP. Combine that with a finicky FTP tool, and you may want to steer clear with your high-impact projects. That said, ShiftEdit is on the right track to being a feature-rich IDE with new things being added all the time, like Dropbox support.

With more and more production-grade development tools becoming web-based, don’t be surprised if you’re developing straight to the cloud in the next few years. Give ShiftEdit a try and put yourself ahead of the curve.

ShiftEdit: A Web-Based IDE for PHP, Python, Ruby and More is a post from Techerator.com.

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HTML5/JS frameworks are beginning to pop up as viable development environments for the entire range of web-based applications, from desktop to mobile. Here are four HTML5/JS tools that will turbocharge your apps and keep you savvy with this new trend in development.

1. Yahoo! Cocktails

Yahoo recently announced its newest mix of HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript tools, and believe it or not, Yahoo still knows how to bring decent services to the table. Cocktails brings existing Yahoo! services like YQL and YUI together with HTML5/JavaScript tools for rapid multi-device and multi-platform development. The most impressive aspect of Cocktails is its integration with Yahoo!’s Mojito, which allows JavaScript functionality for your apps even if the device has JavaScript disabled by running scripts on the server side. Yahoo! isn’t dead yet!

2.  SproutCore

SproutCore is an open-source set of tools built using MVC (model-view-controller) architecture for creating universally accessible, scalable, and speeding applications. The team that created SproutCore offers many easy-to-follow guides for beginners, and the well-established community of developers make troubleshooting relatively pain-free. Of the frameworks I’ve encountered, SproutCore is the most polished…and it doesn’t hurt that it’s free.

3. LimeJS

If your forte is creating web-based games, LimeJS is a framework for rapid development of native-experience touchscreen apps for mobile devices or desktop browsers. This simple but flexible tool set is free to download and takes the headaches out of creating rich cross-platform user experiences with standardized code and solid community support.

4. Sencha

The only non-free framework on this list, Sencha is meant for industrial strength app development. Sencha offers an array of tools like a visual designer, rich spreadsheet support, CSS3 animator, and skinning to put a unique look and feel to your application. The Sencha API allows for rapid development for touchscreens or standard desktops, and while it isn’t free to download, Sencha provides professional support and training for its customers. User interface, app functionality, and data connectivity — Sencha does it all.

Conclusion

Will HTML5/JavaScript bring about the downfall .NET/WPF app development? Not anytime soon. But if you’re looking to bring your application to as many users and devices as possible, HTML5/JS is your ticket to fame. These frameworks will get your started, and if you have a favorite not listed here (there are many), please leave it in the comments.

Four HTML5 and JavaScript Frameworks To Jump-start Your App Development is a post from Techerator.com.

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Domainr's clean search interface, complete with innuendo.

Domainr is an interesting tool for domain search that goes through almost every top-level extension out there and lets you know if your query is available in some form, discombobulated as it may be. A single search for a root word returns a listing of several possibilities from which to choose, and Domainr does its best to indicate whether the options are available or already taken. Probably my favorite part is that the search returns possible short URLs for your service.

If a particular domain is available, Domainr gives you several options for registering it and probably collects a little bit of referral coin in the process. If the domain is taken, Domainr provides a link to “Make an offer” which is facilitated by Sedo, a domain brokerage company. Now, I’ve never worked with a company like Sedo before, but I’ve attempted to negotiate a domain purchase on my own and got the guy as low as $45,000 — I can only imagine Sedo would do a better job. If the domain really matters to you, it is probably wise to go to the professionals.

If you’re in the market for a domain, search quickly with Domainr. Chances are quite good that your desired domain won’t be available, but Domainr does a great job of offering alternatives, and sometimes the interesting spelling techniques can lead to an inspired name that is completely different than your first choice. Oh, and don’t forget — they have an iPhone app, a lifesaver for those who tend to get inspired in the bar.

Good luck out there.

Domainr Makes Domain Search (Almost) Pain-Free is a post from Techerator.com.

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Bill Gross has been getting a lot of press lately. The serial entrepreneur and CEO of UberMedia masterminded keyword search advertising in the heydey of the dotcom era, a system Google has perfected to earn billions, but Gross now believes he’s onto a bright idea in the social network space — with Chime.in. In a territory saturated with household names like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+, Gross plans to set Chime.in apart by filtering the noise.

Chime.in, which made its public debut on October 18, refers to itself as an “interest network,” but what exactly makes it different from the social networks we already use? Gross seems to be aware the just another social network isn’t going to be a winner, but he’s developed an idea that may cause some ripples. At a glance, Chime.in is the same as any other social network with the ability to post status updates up to 4,000 characters (called “chimes”) and share media publicly or privately with friends. What’s causing some to take notice is that Chime.in allows the users to be in full control of the advertisements displayed on their pages and in their posts. In fact, Gross plans to split the proceeds from ad revenue 50/50 with the users. Whaaaat?

Paid social networking? Really? Oh boy. If you thought Facebook was addicting, now imagine getting a paycheck for using it. But will Chime.in be able to lure the masses with financial incentive? I personally doubt it, because nothing makes a website “uncool” more quickly than pasted everywhere (you’ve seen Social Network, right?). So, what exactly can Chime.in offer its users? According to Gross, content more relevant your interests. Hmmm…color me skeptical.

When you first start your account, you’re asked to check a few boxes to help decide the news bits you’ll receive, but despite my best efforts, I still have Ashton Kutcher poisoning my “chimeline” — perhaps I’m in denial, and Kutcher really IS relevant to my interests. For the most part, the Chime.in is Google+, but with the exception that I have almost no confidence in the effort — I’m probably not going to put too much time into a social network that I honestly don’t think will be around in 12 months.

Dude, why are you here?

Some companies have already committed to providing content to Chime.in, like E! Online and Disney, but there seems to be very little disparity between the company profiles of this new social network and the well-established communities already present on Facebook. Am I missing something here?

Maybe I’m not being totally fair, because the one nice thing is that you can sign into Chime.in with your existing Facebook or Twitter accounts. I should also note that I’m pleased to see more competition for Facebook, because Zuckerberg’s service only gets better as he sees ideas to borrow.

Is Chime.in worth your time? At this point, I say no. I haven’t had a chance to try the mobile apps, but Chime.in is so feature-poor that I’m not sure I need to. Is Chime.in poised to be a Facebook or Twitter killer? Not yet. From my first impressions I would guess not ever.

Chime.in has advertised itself as a replacement for social networks (Facebook, Twitter) and bookmarking sites (Digg, Reddit), but at launch it looks like a desperate attempt at a Google+ clone. If that piques your interest, Chime away.

A Challenger Appears: Chime.in Enters the Social Networking Ring is a post from Techerator.com.

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