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The LangaList
End-Of-The-Year Special Issue

2001-12-20

A Free Email Newsletter from Fred Langa
That Helps You Get More From Your Hardware, 
Software, and Time Online

Please visit our sponsors and help keep the LangaList S.E. free!

1) Bloatus Maximus

The InformationWeek.Com article on software bloat has brought some wonderful replies from a wide range of readers--- including a programmer from Microsoft!  It's well worth checking out  the article at http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20011212S0003  and the replies at http://www.informationweek.com/forum/Fred Langa !

Here's one small (and fun) example from reader Ciaran Hamilton:

Regarding your article on software bloat, I was fascinated to find that the assembly language program referenced is 408 bytes. In actual fact, even that is bloated - the same thing is possible in only 24 bytes - 1/17 of the size. Here's the code I used (the offsets are only shown for readability):

0100 MOV DX,0108
0103 MOV AH,09
0105 INT 21
0107 RET
0108 DB "Hello, World!", 0D, 0A, "$"

This was assembled using the good ol' DEBUG program, included with every version of DOS I've ever known. Okay, so maybe using RET instead of the MOV AH,4C/INT 21 combo isn't fair play, but even if you were to use the combo, it only takes 3 extra bytes, bringing it up to 27 bytes.

There are several reasons that even assembly language programs can be bloated - here are just a couple:

* If they're under 64Kb, then compiling them as EXE files rather than COM files adds 32 bytes due to the header that they have. If they're over 64Kb, you don't have any choice - you have to use EXE.

* If you don't care what errorlevel your program returns, use MOV AH,4C rather than MOV AX,4C00 - that'll save 1 byte.

I could go on, but in today's world of multi-CD programs, a few extra bytes doesn't seem a lot. It all adds up, though.

Hope you found this interesting!---- Ciaran

Thanks, Ciaran!

For much more, click to  http://www.informationweek.com/forum/Fred Langa . See you there!

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2) Fast, Easy Backups For Win98 / ME / NT / 2K / XP

We’re breaking the mold in the rest of this issue, and doing something very different: Due to the extreme interest shown in--- and the need for--- easy, reliable backups, we’re devoting the rest of this issue--- and a special, 7,000 word feature article I've written just for LangaList subscribers!--- to that one topic.

And, as my Holiday gift to you, I’m also pleased to offer two FREE scripts that can help automate management of your backups, including automatic date-based renaming, data compression, and password protection of your backup files. The scripts come in two flavors: One for Win9x/ME and one for WinNT/2K/XP.

But I'm getting ahead of myself here. Let's take a moment to get on the same page:

We’ve been covering a *lot* of info about backups in recent issues of the newsletter, and those prior discussions constitute *essential background information* for understanding the context of what follows in the full article. Please take a moment to refresh your memory:

Backups, Part One
http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-11-26.htm#3

Backups, Part Two
http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-11-26.htm#4

What About Backup To/From Tape?
http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-11-19.htm#3

Tape Vs CDs
http://www.informationweek.com/story/IWK20010719S0003

What About "Go Back" and "Restore" Tools?
http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-12-03.htm#1

Mobile Rack Storage
http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-12-03.htm#2

Reader Backup Response
http://www.langa.com/newsletters/2001/2001-11-29.htm#2

Much More Backup Info:
http://search.atomz.com/search/?sp-q=backup&sp-a=0008002a-sp00000000

Please also note that what’s “best” for you may not be what’s “best” for me, and vice versa. Different people, different circumstances, different operating systems, (etc etc etc) all need somewhat different solutions.

As a result (and this is important) this article is NOT intended to provide you with a one-size-fits-all, cookie-cutter answer that will work for everyone, all the time. When it comes to backups, there’s simply no such thing.

So read the following, and then decide whether all, or some or none of it will work for you; and if the answer is “none” then do a web search to find a solution that *will* work for you. There are literally dozens--- maybe hundreds--- of backup alternatives out there: All you need to do is find *one* that works for you. The only really bad backup is one that’s never made. <g>

The full backup article is almost 7,000 words long--- way too much to send in an email! Click here for the full text and free downloads (via a public download area for Standard Edition subscribers, and a private download area for Plus! subscribers): http://www.langa.com/backups/backups.htm

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3) Just For Grins

A modern-day, politically-correct holiday greeting:

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all; and a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2002, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures, and without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform, or sexual preference of the wishees.

By accepting this greeting, you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law, and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.

Oh, what the heck: Happy Holidays and Best Wishes for the New Year! <g>

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See you next year! (Next scheduled issue: January 7th, 2002)

Best,

Fred
(fred@langa.com)

Please recommend the LangaList to a friend! (And maybe win $10,000!I)

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