Firefox 3.0.1 and GMail: Gray Background???

Am I the only one who gets a gray background on many websites after the update to Firefox 3.0.1?

Update: Apparently so. If not, browse to about:config and search for "browser.display.background_color". In my version of FF, that was set to #C0C0C0 for some reason (when it should have been #FFFFFF).

Installing Eclipse 3.4.1 Despite p2

If you're, like me, one of the unlucky ones that aren't on p2's friends list (translation: Eclipse p2 provisioning causes you an endless stream of pain and suffering), then you can't install the 3.4.1 patches because p2 won't let you.

There are several ways to deal with this. One of them is to delete your workspace's .metadata, your Eclipse install and start from scratch, installing all plug-ins again, etc., always hoping that p2 doesn't mess up until you've installed everything.

The other way is a workaround. It needs a bit of disk space and discipline. Do this:

1. Leave your original Eclipse install alone. Specifically, never ever use the menu "Software updates..." again! Never. I mean it. Disable the entry if you can.
2. Install eclipse again in a new place. This must be a standard install (not a shared one!!!)
3. Do not start this install! Specifically, do not attempt to add all your update sites to this base template! Just unpack it and rename the "eclipse" directory to "eclipse-template".
4. Copy "eclipse-template" to "eclipse-install".
5. Start eclipse-install. If you worry that you might accidentally start the template once in a while, rename "eclipse.exe" to "eclipse.exe Is this install".
6. Download the 3.4.1 updates.
7. Exit eclipse-install.
8. Use your favorite file copy tool to copy all new files and directories in eclipse-install\plugins and eclipse-install\features to your working copy of eclipse.
9. Start your working copy.

Installing and updating plug-ins works in a similar way:

1. Delete eclipse-install and recreate it from eclipse-template.
2. Start eclipse-install.
3. Open the install software dialog. Add the update site. You may be tempted to add the update sites to eclipse-template. Don't do this! As soon as p2 can see more than one update site, it will eventually mess up in the dependency calculation.
4. Install the plug-in.
5. Create a directory for your new plug-in in the driectory "dropins" of your working copy of Eclipse.
6. Copy the new files and directories from eclipse-install\features and eclipse-install\plugins to the new directory below "dopins" in your working copy of Eclipse.
7. If you need to install more than one plug-in, start with step 1. After you have installed anything in eclipse-install, the Eclipse instance is tainted and shouldn't be used again.

That's all folks. At least until the p2 guys fix the many bugs in their code. Which will probably in the Eclipse release in 2010.

That's not because I believe that the p2 guys are stupid or lazy but because this kind of product just takes three years to mature and they started in 2007, so the first working version can be expected in 20010.

Stack Overflow Launches

Stack Overflow is a Q&A site for programmers. If you're looking for an answer to a question or if you know a lot and can't really fill your needs to help in your current position, have a go at it.

Amiga Forever 2008

I have the set for a while now (thanks Michele!) and after reading the announcement elsewhere, I'd like to remind all you Amiga fans out there that the 2008 release of Amiga Forever is ready. Did you know that Andy Warhol (yeah, that Andy Warhol) gave a demo of the system when it was launched 1985? If not, grab the premium edition and watch him do his thing with Marilyn Monroe (or rather a picture of her).

How To Launch Software

If you're still wondering if "big bang" software releases are a good thing, read this.