Hot Computers & Programming Posts

How To: Install Microsoft Silverlight 2

In this video, Tim Heuer demonstrates fundamentals of ensuring that end users have a good installation experience when installing Silverlight 2. He walks through a few deployment methods and demonstrates tips on how to test your own experience. For more information on installing Microsoft Silverlight 2, watch this video tutorial.

How To: Use the gconf-editor in Ubuntu Linux

This video tutorial takes a look at using gconf-editor in the Ubuntu Linux distribution. In particular this video addresses what gconf-editor is, how to use it, and what it offers. While this tutorial is Ubuntu-oriented, its lessons will work on other systems such as Fedora and gNewSense, but only if they are GNOME-based. To learn more about gconf-editor, and why you should learn how to use it, watch this how-to.

How To: Program in PostSharp

PostSharp is an free, open-source and extensible platform for enhancement of .NET assemblies, that is: PostSharp transforms assemblies after compilation. Pretty abstract, isn't it? Not so much. It has great applications. PostSharp Laos, a Lightweight Aspect-Oriented Solution, provides aspect-oriented programming (AOP) to .NET Developers without the learning curve. This tutorial presents an introduction to the PostSharp programming language, one that's more than sufficient to get you started. ...

How To: Use the fingerprint scanner on an Lenovo X60 Tablet PC

If I were to tell you you could login to your Lenovo PC using your fingertips, you probably wouldn't be very impressed. The Lenovo X60 Tablet PC, however, is equipped with a biometric fingerprint scanner, which is, in fact, quite impressive, and which you can use to login to your Windows machine in the place of a password. To learn how to use it, watch this handy how-to.

How To: Build a simple Core Data application in Mac OS X

Core Data is a powerful data-management framework introduced with Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger. When you take advantage of Core Data, it slashes the amount of custom code you need to write in order to manage application data. Opening, saving and undo management can all be handled by Core Data, freeing you to concentrate on creating unique features for your application. This video tutorial, which presents a general introduction to using Core Data, will walk you through the process of building a simple...

How To: Use date and time functions in Ruby

New to the Ruby programming language or simply looking to brush up on your skills? In this installation from his Rubyology series of Ruby tutorials, YouTube user cmatthieu demonstrates some of the cool time functions supported by the Ruby programming language. Make time for and with this how-to.

How To: Install and use the Python programming language

In this how-to, you'll find instructions for programming with the Python programming language. More specifically, this tutorial addresses everything from locating and installing Python to running it and writing your first programs. If you're interested in learning more about the Python programming language, watch this helpful video tutorial.

How To: Map text files with MapForce

MapForce supports flat files as the source and/or target of any mapping involving XML, database, EDI, web services or other flat file data. In this how-to, you'll find instructions for mapping data from arbitrary text files (such as log files, CSV, fixed-width, and other legacy data sources) to databases and XML files.

How To: Map EDI data with MapForce

MapForce includes support for the two most popular EDI formats, UN/EDIFACT and ANSI X12. In this how-to video, you'll learn how to use MapForce to map and convert data between EDI messages (X12 and UN/EDIFACT) and XML, databases, or text files. Learn to map EDI data with this how-to.

How To: Call C and C++ from Python with SWIG

If you're interested in learning a general purpose, high-powered programming language, Python might be the way to go. In this installment from his video tutorial series dedicated to programming in the Python programming language, you'll learn how to call C and C++ from Python using SWIG, or the Simplified Wrapper and Interface Generator. To get started using SWIG with Python, take a look!

How To: Create interactive programs in Python

If you're interested in learning a general purpose, high-powered programming language, Python might be the way to go. In this installment from his video tutorial series dedicated to programming in the Python programming language, you'll learn what's necessary to create an interactive program from a Linux shell. To get started programming with Python, take a look!

How To: Use the vi editor for Python programming

If you're interested in learning a general purpose, high-powered programming language, Python might be the way to go. In this installment from his video tutorial series dedicated to programming in the Python programming language, you'll learn how to set up the vi editor to code in Python from the Cygwin Windows/Linux environment. To get started programming with Python, take a look!

How To: Set up a bash shell for Python programming

If you're interested in learning a general purpose, high-powered programming language, Python might be the way to go. In this installment from his video tutorial series dedicated to programming in the Python programming language, you'll learn how to set up your bash shell for programming in Python.

How To: Set up Cygwin for Python programming

If you're interested in learning a general purpose, high-powered programming language, Python might be the way to go. In this installment from his video tutorial series dedicated to programming in the Python programming language, you'll learn how to install the Cygwin Windows environment. To get started setting up to program with Python, take a look!

How To: Add a CNAME record to tinydns (or djbdns)

In this überbrief video tutorial, you'll find instructions for adding a CNAME record to tinydns. The steps, demonstrated in the video, are as follows: Open up the data file, type a capital C, the domain you'd like to use, or subdomain, the IP address of the machine or destination you'd like that hostname to route to and the TTL or time to live. Save the changes, type make, and test it out!

How To: Change your IP address from the Windows command line

Need to change your IP address? In this how-to, you'll find instructions for changing your IP address from the Windows command prompt with the ipconfig console application. For step-by-step instructions, take a look. NB: Changing your IP will not protect your identity; it's merely a simple expedient for getting around certain problems ones might encounter while using the Internet.

How To: Install an internal 3G HSDPA modem in an ASUS Eee PC

Going mobile? While the ASUS Eee PC is undeniably one of the most portable travel laptops available, it's by no means the the most mobile, because mobility also implies mobile connectivity. In this video tutorial, you'll learn how to install a 3G HSPDA modem in an Asus Eee PC. This mod will work on any Eee PC without the extra PCIE slot. For step-by-step instructions, watch this how-to.

How To: Upgrade the RAM in an ASUS Eee PC

Your ASUS Eee PC is small but is it fast? In this video tutorial, you'll find step-by-step instructions for installing a RAM, or memory, module in an ASUS Eee PC up to 2 GB. (Note well that this upgrade will void your warranty.) To learn what you'll need to upgrade your Eee PC, press play!

How To: Install Webmin on a Debian server via SSH

This video demonstrates how to install Webmin via SSH. Once you've downloaded the Webmin interface package, you'll want to install it onto your serve. In order to do that, you'll need to depackage it. If you're new to Linux or otherwise unclear about how to proceed, then watch this video for step-by-step instructions.

How To: Install memory in a MacBook Pro

The more memory your MacBook Pro has, the more it will be able do it once, the faster your MacBook will feel and, presumably, the happier you'll be. This video tutorial will walk you through the mechanical process of removing and upgrading your MacBook Pro's RAM cards. If you're interested in upgrading the RAM in your own MacBook Pro, you would be well served to take a look.

How To: Use the Mac OS X terminal

This video tutorial offers an introduction to the terminal for those making a switch from Windows to Mac OS X, one of the most powerful (yet cryptic) of OS X, which will allow you to interact with OS X's underlying UNIX layer. If you'd like to get acquainted with the terminal, simply press play!

How To: Upgrade a MacBook hard drive

This how-to video will walk you, step by step, through the process of upgrading the hard drive on your MacBook. More specifically, this tutorial addresses saving your old data by creating a copy, or cloning, your MacBook hard drive with SuperDuper, removing it, and installing the new drive. For precise instructions, press play!