In one of my old post http://blog.prabir.me/post/Windows-Live-Writer-Syntax-Highlighter.aspx, I had release the binary of Syntax Higlighter plugin that I had created. This plugin contained the basic functionalities of the Syntax Higlighter plugin, which would more than suffice for an ordinary code.

But due to my hectic schedule and other different projects, I haven’t been able to develop this plugin further. So, I have decided to release the full source  code (at first I was planning to release the source code when the plugin is complete). You can download the code which is hosted by codeplex.com at http://synatxhiglighter.codeplex.com. The code is written in C#.

I have been searching for some developers who would like to contribute to this project. If you are interested please leave a comment below or us the contact page to contact me.

To download the source code please visit http://synatxhiglighter.codeplex.com

You can download the binaries from http://blog.prabir.me/post/Windows-Live-Writer-Syntax-Highlighter.aspx, or directly from one of the below links

Prabir.wlw.Syntaxhiglighter.dll.zip (38.40 kb) [Downloads: 149]
Prabir.wlw.SyntaxHiglighter.msi (Setup) (360.00 kb) [Downloads: 204]

Get from Windows Live Gallery

I usually like running some software as portable. It allows me to easily use the same configurations across various computers.

One of the software that I use is a bash shell from called msys. I have attached the zip file which can be downloaded at the and of the post.

Note: It only contains the core shell and no other stuffs such as the binutils and C/C++ compilers.

msysCORE-1.0.11-20080826_portable.zip (2.88 mb) [Downloads: 141]

Even though not an Eclipse user, I had to use it for my university course. I really don’t like the default white theme. Even in Visual Studio I use the dark theme which can be downloaded from http://blog.prabir.me/post/My-Visual-Studio-Theme.aspx.

In order to increase my productivity the coloring is same as my dark Visual Studio Theme.

To use the theme download the file (.epf). In the Eclipse menu. Click File>Import. You will land up with a dialog box. In the tree view Select General>Prefrences and click next button. Select browse and point to the .epf file which you just downloaded. Select import all and click finish. That will import all the color settings.

I would prefer you to download the consolas one, which i think is a better font for coding rather than the courier new.

Note: The font used is Consolas which comes preinstalled with Windows Vista and up. But incase you want to use it for your Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 or others you can either download from below or from the official Microsoft link over here.

Click here to download the theme

Consolas Font Pack.exe (4.33 mb) [Downloads: 756]

prabir_darktheme_consolas_epf_v1.1.zip (latest) (5.10 kb) [Downloads: 1217]

prabir_darktheme_consolas_epf.zip (5.00 kb) [Downloads: 426]

prabir_darktheme_epf.zip (4.85 kb) [Downloads: 529]

[UPDATE]

Due to the popularity. I moved moved the themes to be in source control, which can be found at http://gitorious.org/themes. If any one of you would like to contribute your own theme or extend my dark theme please post it in the comment below. My dark themes for various IDEs and text editors can be download from http://www.ohloh.net/p/themes/download

Lately, I needed some software to allow me to design the user interfaces as part of my project. After searching on the Internet I came across a few of them which I think they can really help you out especially to make your customers happy (they usually look at the user interface).

The first software I found was Balsamiq Mockups. While seeing the demo, I instantly downloaded the Balsamiq Mockup and started to play around with it. It is multiplatform as it is built using Adobe Air. Within an half an hour I landed up creating the following mockup (there are better examples then mine on the net – you can check some of them at http://mockupstogo.net)

Twitter mock up is a sample taken from mockupstogo.

One of the downside of Balsamiq is that you need to purchase a license to save your mockup. It also provides free licenses if you fulfill the following criteria -

We are very happy to donate our software to non-profits, charitable organizations and other do-gooders.

If you go to their link http://www.balsamiq.com/customers , you will see who uses their products. There is a huge list companies such as Adobe Systems Inc., Apple Inc., Autodesk Inc., BT Internet, Dropbox, IBM,Microsoft MacBU,Rent.com, eBay, The WorldBank, Time Warner Cable, Yahoo Inc. to name a few.

You can also find other similar software.

• http://www.iplotz.com
• http://www.carettasoftware.com
• http://mockupscreens.com
• http://www.flairbuilder.com
• http://www.evolus.vn/Pencil
• http://dub.washington.edu:2007/denim
• http://developer.yahoo.com/ypatterns/wireframes
• http://wireframesketcher.com
• http://www.serena.com/products/prototype-composer/index.html

Microsoft has partnered with some hosting companies to give you guys free hosting for 60 days along with a free copy of Expression Web 2 which is valued at US$ 299.

They offer all shared hosting, virtual dedicated hosting and dedicated hosting.

For more information please check http://www.microsoft.com/web/jumpstart/platinum-hosting/default.aspx

Microsoft finally has officially unveiled the office web applications.

Micrsoft has guaranteed that it will work with Mac and Windows along with firefox users.

Microsoft will also be providing the mobile version, but it is meant only to support viewing access.

You can find the more info at microsoft website. Microsoft has removed the link but can be found using google cache at http://74.125.153.132/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial&hs=j2Z&q=cache%3Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.microsoft.com%2Foffice%2F2010%2F&btnG=Search

Good news isn’t it. Microsoft has been committed to designers and developers on providing free access to their Expression Studio, Visual Studio Products, Sql Server (Not talking about express edition) and even Windows Server.

Here’s the list of products they provide to you (students). Isn’t it just wonderful?

It had been doing this for students for quite a long time, but now Microsoft hasn’t forgot about their companies in which they get jobs.

Well there are certain criteria to get them.

1. Student, (http://www.dreamspark.com) or
2. Company, less than 3 years old making less than  One Million US Dollar.(http://www.microsoft.com/BizSpark)

For some of you out there who have been working on wpf or silverlight, you must have known the codename of Silverlight – WPF/E. It stood for WPF Everywhere, meaning, WPF could run on any platform or Operating System. Well the same applies to .NET also which I like to refer to it as .Net/E (just kidding). Even this project has similar goals. Its not about other .NET frameworks or engines like mono or portable.net, but rather takes a total different approach to making .NET apps run everywhere.

Unlike those traditional frameworks mentioned earlier, Mainsoft Grasshopper, takes a totally different approach by converting .NET codes to Java bytecode, thus allowing the code to run everywhere the Java runtime is installed. Since Java Runtime is installed in many of our computers, especially non Microsoft OS, our code could run on more platforms and OS without telling the user to install the mono framework. ( you need to provide easy access to the customers). To summarize, it about running your .NET code anywhere Java works. That’s a face to face challenge with Java.

For more details please have a look at it official website here.

You can download the plug-in for visual studio from following links. I’m just providing these links as alternatives.

For Visual Studio 2008 (52.8 mb) [Downloads: 2863]
For Visual Studio 2005 (56.7 mb) [Downloads: 824]
For Visual Studio 2003 (58.9 mb) [Downloads: 229]

I have also been working on a similar project for my bachelors degree, which I posted on my blog out here. Its about converting C# code to a portable code called LLVM that can be compiled and run in almost all sorts of platforms. For more information please check the official site of my project at http://projects.prabir.me/compiler.

Even though I’m a great fan of Windows, especially being fully satisfied with the upcoming version (hasn’t RTMed) of Microsoft’s latest OS – Windows 7. I occasionally use linux, specially to try out certain codes with c++ and a bit of traditional assembly codes in using system calls.

Ubuntu my favorite distro of Linux, is available for free to download as any other linux from its official website here. What surprises me more is that you can still order the Ubuntu Desktop Edition or Server edition without paying a penny, even after a month of its official 9.04 release last April. Click here to order yourself a copy.

I’m not talking about rapidshare, torrents or any of those p2p software which you guys most probably are using. No.No. No. not those ones. I’m talking real

If ever thought of buying software (shareware – software that you are required to pay for it, before you use them), and you don’t have those papers at back of your pocket. Never mind. All you need is internet connection (which you most probably have – coz you are reading this from the net). This wonderful site allows you to download the new shareware everyday. Only one. Still better than nothing. But with certain limitations. You are required to install that software on the same day, because when installing the software, it refers to its server to check. So ready to get free software. Click here to check the site.