Since you are smart, you know these things anyway. Just tell your friends too.

Avoid using select * from in your queries.

Why? Selecting every column in the table reduces the performance of the database, the network and the application in general.

Alternative: Use something like select required_column1, required_column2,… from table_name instead.

Avoid using code like a = resultSet.fields(1); in your application

Why? When somebody changes the query, 1 may refer to another column.

Alternative: Use code like a = resultSet.fileds(“column_name”);

Never assume same order of records when a query is fired multiple times.

Why? Each database engine retrieves records using different optimization techniques. The order of the records fetched may vary each time due to difference in different system conditions.

Alternative: Try to use order by clause in your queries wherever applicable. (Remember that there is a performance penalty associated with the order by clause)

This is a post on how to connect your PC or Laptop to the internet using your vodafone mobile connection in India (It may work for other countries also).
You need:
(1) A vodafone connection in India
(2) A Bluetooth enabled mobile phone with GPRS facility.
(3) A Personal Computer or Laptop.
(4) Bluetooth Dongle.
Steps:
(1) Delete all the internet profiles (if any) from your mobile phone.
(2) Delete all the data accounts (if any) from your mobile phone.
(3) Send the message WWW to 52586
(4) Save the settings that you receive.
(5) Connect your PC/Laptop to the mobile phone using the Bluetooth software.
(6) In the software select the option resembling “Connect to Internet”.
(7) Provide the number to dial as *99***1# and dial.
(8) You will be connected to the internet.
This procedure was tested from Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh and it worked fine. If you know of any different procedure for any other locale, please comment below.

Here is my first attempt on HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography, using a Sony Ericsson W810i.

The picture is not sharp because I resized it. The photo was taken from Kondapur market, Hyderabad. Continue Reading »

Browsers are the most important applications in the modern world. Many people spend lots of time surfing the internet, so choosing the right browser should be a priority. I have been trying out Internet Explorer 7, Firefox and Opera to find out the right one for me. There are many things people want in a browser and they advocate browsers based on that. Standard compliance and security may be features many would be looking forward to. For me, it is ease of use. The functions I need freuquently should be the ones that are easiest to do. Continue Reading »

Here is a list of smilies that you can use in a Wordpress post. Use the code for the smiley and the curresponding image will appear on the page. Some smileys have two or more codes. (Remeber to remove the quotes) Continue Reading »