Showing posts with label Chrome. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chrome. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Giving Node.js a Try

Based upon their own description: "Node.js is a platform built on Chrome's JavaScript runtime for easily building fast, scalable network applications. Node.js uses an event-driven, non-blocking I/O model that makes it lightweight and efficient, perfect for data-intensive real-time applications that run across distributed devices." (-http://nodejs.org/)

Seems pretty tempting. In particular I'm interesting is using Node.js for Javascript unit testing in combination with Jasmine. As I've started creating some basic script libraries for dependency injection and publish-subscribe I need a way to unit test and a way to run these tests. It's also promising for use with JsRender as well for templating on the server-side.

This blog post (5 reasons to give node.js some love) covers what I think are the basic reasons why to give it a try:
1) You get to write Javascript on the server and the client
2) Event-based asynchronous stuff is just How Things Work in JavaScript
3) Awesome package management!
4) Community community community
5) It's easy, really easy, like super easy, We can all do it!

(-http://codeofrob.com/archive/2011/04/30/5-reasons-to-give-node-js-some-love.aspx)

The download link on the Node.js site offers three download options: Windows Installer, Mac Installer, and source. Today I am going to download both the Windows Installer and the source (to take a look). For reference the project is hosted on GitHub here: https://github.com/joyent/node. Taking a look, the project seems active and had a recent check in (43 minutes ago).

After running the installation, getting started is easy.
1. Open a command-prompt
2. Navigate to the executable path (on my machine): "C:\Program Files (x86)\nodejs\"
3. Create a small, sample script to be executed, and name it example.js. In my case I copied it from the example:
var http = require('http');
http.createServer(function (req, res) {
res.writeHead(200, {'Content-Type': 'text/plain'});
res.end('Hello World\n');
}).listen(1337, "127.0.0.1");
console.log('Server running at http://127.0.0.1:1337/');
4. Type node example.js
5. node.js will respond with the result of the executed script. In this case:
"Server running at http://127.0.0.1:1337/"

How to exit node.js:
To exit node.js you have to enter the key-combination Ctrl-C twice or Ctrl-C, Ctrl-C

References:
Node.js
Jasmine
JsRender
5 reasons to give node.js some love

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Microsoft 'Windows Cloud' Internet-based operating system

The rumor is that Microsoft will announce a Windows Internet-based (Cloud) operating system at this year's Professional Developers Conference (PDC).

From what I can find, the basic idea is that the core components will be installed on a user's machine, with many of the features that we assoc ate with an operating system being available via a connection to the Internet.

This basic strategy will be based upon the Windows Live Core. Here is a great description I found online:
Windows Live Core is in essence the evolution of the Live services platform, a "cloud-based platform services that will allow the creation of compelling applications that make deep use of network-based information," according to Microsoft.
Link to article

While this is interesting, you might also be interested to learn of the discussion that Google's Chrome is also the beginnings of a Cloud operating system, by extending the browser's functionality for Internet based applications.
Link to article

How will it all go together, and what is the plan? Not sure. I guess we'll know more after PDC.

References:
http://windowsitpro.com/mobile/pda/Article.cfm?ArticleID=100445&News=1 on 10/2/2008

http://news.softpedia.com/news/Microsoft-039-s-Cloud-Operating-System-50353.shtml on 10/2/2008

http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2008/09/google_chrome_b.html

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Google Chrome (BETA) for Windows

The beta version of Google's open source browser is out! It's called Chrome, and appears to be a very minimal design. According to the download page, its compatible with Windows XP and Vista.

Information on the product seems pretty limited, but I was able to find this quote from Google on FoxNews about the product:

"On the surface, we designed a browser window that is streamlined and simple. To most people, it isn't the browser that matters. It's only a tool to run the important stuff — the pages, sites and applications that make up the Web," Google says on its Google Chrome site. "Like the classic Google homepage, Google Chrome is clean and fast. It gets out of your way and gets you where you want to go."

Google Chrome (BETA) for Windows is available for download here.

If your interesting in what features it offers, here is a features list.