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It took a lot of time for me to really get Git, and reading this document I finally got it. Genuinely recommended.

I also like PeepCode's "Git Internals" http://peepcode.com/products/git-internals-pdf .

As one of the people behind NodeBox, I'd love to know why you think this is unfortunate. We have been working hard on an application that runs on Windows, Linux and Mac, and a blanket statement like "unfortunately Java" is a bit frustrating.

As graphic designers we are really sensitive to awkward Java applications that look out of place on Mac or Windows. We are trying to find the right look that works on every platform. We discovered that this has more to do with an attention to detail than the underlying technology. As an example, look at a "Mac-like" application iTunes, iPhoto, iCal or Garageband: none of them use the standard aqua buttons in the main interface, instead opting for custom bitmap buttons.

For us, the choices are really down to Qt or Java. We need a solid graphics layer that provides the same results on every platform. Java's 2d graphics does this, and it has native back-ends (Quartz). Also, by using Java, we can speed up a lot of the Python code without resorting to hunting memory bugs in C++.

Lastly, I discovered at Pycon 2009 that Jython really has become a first-class citizen, officially supported by people like Guido. It also does away with the GIL.

I knew the Java argument would come up eventually: I'm surprised it took so long. However, it doesn't come up with people using the software: our users don't realize/care that we use Jython. Instead they're just happy they can use NodeBox on Windows.

Can we please stop linking to Techcrunch?

This is a great hack, although it requires a lot of work. I have it installed on my server and my Mac, and surfing/e-mailing works fine.

I have been toying with the idea of having the client part ported to my iPhone, so I can use paywall wifi directly from a mobile device. This would require porting the Perl client code over to C.

Are you kidding? Developing for a crappy browser first is the perfect recipe for an unmaintainable mess of code, since you will be relying on hacks to get IE to do render correctly, then adding hacks again for every browser that does the right thing.

First develop for a standards-compliant browser, then add (conditional) hacks to support IE. The other way around is just silly.

It works in the latest WebKit nightly as well:

http://nightly.webkit.org/

Same problem here -- just signed up, and none of my media files (css/png/jpg/gif) get transferred. HTML works fine.

I sent a support request, but this is not a very good first impression.

"Bureaucrat Conrad, you are technically correct – the best kind of correct."

Well, Apple can do what they want. It's the others that need to adhere to these rules.

On Mac there's a nice new application called Silverback that can record the screen + the image and audio from the webcam.

http://silverbackapp.com/

One of the blackhats proposed a clever outside-of-the-box solution:

1. Create a site that promises free ringtones.

2. Once a visitor enters their cell number, forward it to Craigslist, who sends a verification call to that number.

3. Ask them to enter the verification code on your ringtone site.

4. Redirect the verification code to Craigslist, and send your visitor a ringtone.

This is how CAPTCHA's got cracked as well: by embedding them into porn. ("Would you like me to take off my dress? Enter this code") It sounds hard to beat.

Any other outside-of-the-box solutions that you can think of?

Isn't this what Parrot (http://www.parrotcode.org/) set out to do? Any idea how that project is coming along?

I never found this "correct" way to quit the game, but learned that just pressing Alt-F4 in any of those screens does the trick.

This is classic FUD: "we're working on it", "it'll be quite a bit better". It's only relevant when it's released. In the meantime, let's work with something that actually exists.

Any idea what the font of the Django logo is? (http://www.djangoproject.com/)

While playing with this project I noticed a tear running down my face.

A warning before switching to the latest nightlies (http://nightly.webkit.org/): Gmail doesn't seem to be supported. Spoofing the user agent to pretend to be Safari 2.0.4 does load the page, but none of the links work.

MediaTemple anyone?

And if you're on a Mac, you might want to take a look at NodeBox: www.nodebox.net

(Disclaimer: I'm the author of NodeBox)

The best trick (as suggested by Simon G.) is to add a "honeypot" field, such as email or website, that is hidden by CSS (display:none). Spambots will scrape the HTML and fill in this common field. Once something is filled in in this field, you know the comment came from a spammer.

Wow! That's a lot of buzzwords in one sentence.