Last week during my birthday giveaway, SlickEdit was kind enough to donate a copy of their product Slick Edit Tools for VS.NET. Of course, I was unable to keep my mitts off of it and I had to give it a test drive before I gave the license away.

First off, I am going to tell on myself and admit that I have not yet dug my heels into ReSharper, SlickEdit, CodeRush, or any others that I maybe missing. I do know a lot about ReShaper’s functionality due to using IntelliJ in my short Java career, and as a result I figured SlickEdit was going to be “another refactoring add-in”.

Instead, it turned out to occupy a completely different space of functionality. I don’t quite know how to explain the space of features that they occupy other than - it does everything else that ReSharper and VS.NET doesn’t.

To further attempt to explain it’s features apples to apples, it is a lot like VisualSVN, WinDiff, NDoc Viewer, Ants Profiler, and ReSharper’s feature to quickly open files with acronyms – all mashed into one VS.NET add-in. In short, there is a lot of lighter weight functionality going on here.

SlickEdit Tools is actually broken up into 2 smaller products: Editing and Versioning Toolbox

The Editing Toolbox provides the features that enhance the editing experience. Just to name a few examples:

• Open files and folders quickly using acronyms
• Preview what /// comments look like in NDoc and auto-wrap source comments that get to wordy
• Document your code without modifying source – “annotations”

Of these features, the one that intrigued me the most was the annotations. I guess I have never given thought to storing source code comments in a separate file, and to be honest, it isn’t a practice I would take. Either way, I give credit for the original thought. Some might find that feature handy in situations that I have not come across.

The Versioning Toolbox provides features that let you easily understand and navigate the history of your source code. This is like the VisualSVN + Tortoise SVN combo only they have some really interesting (and again original) features and visualizations.

So what is the end verdict?

Even though SlickEdit Editing Toolbox occupies a much different space than ReSharper, I really felt that the features that existed were like a Lexus – solid but still in the unnecessary luxury class. I just felt that there should have been more to it in terms of features and the profiling was the only feature well worth the cost.

On the other hand, SlickEdit Versioning Toolbox will definitely be getting a second look. With both VisualSVN and SlickEdit Versioning Toolbox having a price point of $49, SlickEdit seems to definitely come up on top in terms of features. VisualSVN has its’ one or two strengths as well, so if you are looking for a paid alternative to ANKH, I would highly recommend test driving SlickEdit Versioning Toolbox.

SlickEdit Editing Toolbox

SlickEdit Versioning Toolbox

Notice: All reviews on codesqueeze are not paid nor are traded for services. These reviews are shared so you may save time in your quest for better tools.

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It is true, Twitter is huge time sucking blackhole void of time; however, Twitter does have its fantastic community aspects. For example, the other day I had a quick development question. I could have went to a forum to post the question. I could have emailed a colleague. Instead I reached for Twitter.

Quicker than IM, Email, or a forum, I reached out to over 100 of my peers and immediately started a conversation. This is a support group at the speed of light.

If you are debating on joining Twitter, my I suggest giving it a try using Twhirl, and if you aren’t already, feel free to follow me.


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Because everyone can relate to this chart the same, what happens when you use it in a client meeting? Let me tell you – great things.

Getting client feedback is sometimes very difficult. Some clients don’t want to complain. Others complain to much. Most do not know how to communicate their level of frustration towards changes. If you allow clients to communicate in terms of the pain chart, communication has now boiled down to a single number.

This new streamlined communication has many benefits:

• Shorter meetings as discussion is held only when needed
• Introverted clients get to voice their opinions
• Extroverted clients don’t get the opportunity to monopolize discussions
• Results are more consistent across clients (5 to one is approximately 5 to another)

If you are looking for a unique and fun way to communicate with your clients, give the pain chart method a chance. I think you will find the results a 1.

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I am going to open up the polls and ask, what does your company do to help you learn? Which of these are essential for every business as an absolute minimum?

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Seriously effiecient developers do not go hunting for new information, they use RSS to have it delivered. Here are some videos and links for both the RSS beginner and the feed reading veterans:

Beginners

Veterans

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Most developers have thoughts racing through their minds at break-neck speeds. I am no different, but it was only this year I learned to capture those thoughts as they occur – I started carrying a moleskine.

You are probably thinking, “What a schmuck, he is telling me to write down my ideas”. You are partially correct, but more importantly I am suggesting form the habit of carrying a notebook everywhere.

You can have ideas anywhere, and it is important you that you get them down as quickly as possible. Everywhere I go, I carry my mini-moleskine. I have stopped in my tracks to write down ideas:

• Sketched out The New Consultant at a red light
• Stopped reading Alan Watts (on a boat) to write the core of Why Linguists Are True Code Artists
• Stopped mowing the lawn 4 times in one day to add items to 101 Ways To Know Your Software Project Is Doomed
• Invented the Cereal To-Go cup while eating breakfast in a rush (to bad someone already had the same idea first…)

You don’t have to exclusively carry a moleskine. Plain notepads or PDAs can act as digital moleskines. For extra fun, there are plenty of moleskine hacks such as dream journals, stashing extra cash, or even a hard drive case.

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I do not normally post hardware reviews, but it seems like headphones are a common tool of the trade. Additionally, I can not stop gushing about this product. Long story short: OMG, I am so deaf! Best headphones ever.

For sometime I had been looking to replace my current headphones. Like an old baseball cap, my Sony headphones were comfortably broken-in and ever reliable. Unfortunately, their old age had started to show and it was time to retire them. I searched high and low and to no avail suitable replacements were never found.

A recent trip to the local Best Buy turned fruitful when my eye caught the Skull Candy brand. I tested two models – Lowrider and Skullcrusher. I couldn’t resist the most wicked brand name ever and bought the Skullcrushers. I have not stopped grinning since.

First, both the Lowriders and Skullcrushers are amazing in the high to mid ranges. Crisp and clear sound at every volume level. The low mid to low range is where they begin to differ.

I was slightly disappointed with the Lowriders in the low mid range. My coding music is predominately techno, and my old headphones out played the Lowriders in this range. As a result, I had to say goodbye to these headphones.

Then came the Skullcrushers. Compared to the Lowriders, the Skullcrushers are heavier and slightly more clumsy. Immediately, I felt that these headphones were very comfortable; ones I could wear for 24+ hours. I gave these headphones a test drive with Prodigy – Hyperspeed. Now I have a detached retina. When they mean subwoofer headphones, they really mean subwoofer headphones. Physically these headphones vibrate with bass.

Next up, I tried a little Weezer and NOFX just to make sure that the Skullcrushers were not too bass heavy. At the Prodigy bass level (50%), they sounded amazing. If that much bass is not for you, it is always adjustable.

The Good

• Amazing sound quality
• Very comfortable
• Resonably priced: Lowrider:$39 – Skullcrusher:$69
• Lifetime warranty under normal use. 50% warranty under any use
• Comes with a fun sticker (shut up, I like stickers)

The Bad

• Short 5′ chord
• Skullcrushers have awakward battery box
• Skullcrushers battery lifetime (1AA) < 40 hours of heavy use.
• Lowriders weak in the lower ranges
• Lowriders leak some sound due to DJ flips

The combination of clear highs and the ability to tune in the lows make the Skull Candy brand the hottest to date. Jazz boppers and metal heads alike can appreciate these headphones as they will bring home stereo sound into the office.

Skullcandy SC-LOW Lowrider

Skullcandy SCS-SCBP3.5 Skullcrushers

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