datacrush.info

I’m currently in Singapore attending an advanced session on OPCAT (Object Process Case Tool), a modeling tool based on OPM (Object Process Methodology).

A recent OPCAT upgrade from version 2.xx to version 3.00 also requires a JRE upgrade from JRE 1.5 to JRE 1.6. As of Mac OS X 10.4.10 the standard is still JRE 1.5. Mac OS X users would need to download Java SE 6.0 from ADC website.

After installing JRE 1.6 you need to set JRE 1.6 as the default Java Runtime version. To do this, go to Applications -> Utilities -> Java SE 6 and click on Java Preferences. Under Java Applications Runtime settings under General tab, drag Java SE 6 to be the first one on the list. Your other JREs are still on the system and you may revert if necessary.

Next, having installed (proper .exe decompression) OPCAT in my Windows VM I copied the entire folder to my Mac OS X environment. Since OPCAT is written in Java it would run cross-platform, but unlike previous OPCAT version some minor tweaking is required to get it running smooth on Mac and Linux.

There are four environment variables that must be set manually. If you ran OPCAT installer on Windows, check your system variables and you should see the following:

OPCAT_BACKUP_HOME=C:\Program Files\Opcat

OPCAT_COLORS_HOME=C:\Program Files\Opcat

OPCAT_HOME=C:\Program Files\Opcat

OPCAT_PROJECTS_HOME=C:\Documents and Settings\…

To set environment variables in Mac OS X, you could run command shell and use env command. For lazy bumps there’s a free RCEnvironment utility which allow users to control their environment variables in GUI from the Preferences pane.

I have mine set like this:

OPCAT_BACKUP_HOME=/Users/datacrush/Opcat

OPCAT_COLORS_HOME=/Users/datacrush/Opcat

OPCAT_HOME=/Users/datacrush/Opcat

OPCAT_PROJECTS_HOME=/Users/datacrush/Documents

If this doesn’t work for Linux users, here’s a clue: The OPCAT Java class responsible for loading paths is using System.getenv().get("OPCAT_HOME"). Go figure.

Of course, you’re free to move your OPCAT folder anywhere you want on the system, even under Applications if you wish. I would recommend that you keep OPCAT_HOME and OPCAT_PROJECTS_HOME separated to simplify any future upgrades. Just make sure your environment variables are set accordingly.

A system restart is not necessary at this point, but recommended. A simple user logout and login would suffice.

To run OPCAT on a Mac OS X or Linux you may ignore opcat2.exe file and click on opcat2.jar or run java -jar opcat2.jar from your command shell instead.

Be warn though that presently some paths inside .opz files are hard coded to point to a particular directory, say file://C:\Documents And Settings\... which would cause OPCAT to fail on a Mac with a java.lang.String.subString error when loading such .opz file. This isn’t a major issue since I’m able to manually edit an .opz file with a text editor and fix the erroneous file paths. I believe future version of OPCAT would resolve this problem.

OPCAT 3.00 has taken OPM concept a step further, having improved in areas of teamwork modeling and simulation. While the previous version had an Academia look and feel, this latest update to Prof. Dov Dori’s OPM arsenal reflects a more professional commercial product.

Also, OPCAT 3.00 look and feel blends seamlessly with Mac OS X. Cool!

Apple. It just works!

I’ve been using Macbook Pro for over 2 weeks now and I’m not looking back. Apple is right, why upgrade to Vista when you can upgrade past it?

One of my colleague was excited that he got Vista installed on his new Acer notebook. So he went ahead and flaunted his Windows Vista with its eye-candy Aero technology and Mac wannabe widgets, but he flopped when Vista couldn’t recognize his devices. That included built-in bluetooth and video camera.

I knew better. In fact, I tried converting him. Friends don’t let friends use Microsoft. We leave that to the noobs who runs the company’s servers and network.

Not too long ago when Vista was in beta, I had it installed on my old Dell Inspiron 8500. It was a nauseating experience and I promptly reverted to XP. Microsoft’s a big weasel. Vista doesn’t give better performance, nor is it worth an enterprise wide upgrade.

Just what about Vista security? Watch this movie on Apple’s website.

Now, Mac OS X may not have graphical features like Vista, but it is still smooth looking and is certainly a superior operating system. Just wait until Apple releases Leopard. Apple is in no rush to release it, but anything that Vista has right now is a copycat of Mac’s feature. Already Mac OS X has better features than Windows but Leopard will top it up even further, and no copycat is ever better than the real McCoy. At this rate, Microsoft will never catch-up.

So, if you’re looking for a new computer, get a Mac. Hey, you can even run Windows on it, not that you’d want to. Anything that you’re used to working on Windows you can do it better on a Mac. Use Adium as a replacement to MSN Messenger, Yahoo, Google Talk, ICQ and AIM. Download NeoOffice as a free alternative to Microsoft Office. Control your home from your Mac through Indigo. The possibilities are endless and Windows future is no match for an Apple.

Come on, do you really think Captain Kirk would allow the Enterprise to run on Windows? Sure Mac seems a little pricey, but it really is not when you compare it with a high-end PC with the same configuration.

In short, running Vista for better productivity is oxymoron. You upgrade your hardware just to have the power consumed by the operating system instead of channeling it to your applications so it can do stupid things faster, like this coffee advertisement.

In contrast, Mac OS boots up fast and shuts down fast. Saving your precious time and battery power for something better than booting up and shutting down.

And what’s with this name, Vista? It sounds like a toilet paper brand name!

I was replying a project e-mail when it happened. The display on my Dell Inspiron 8500 had red spots all over and it was only getting brighter. My keyboard was not responsive. I had to reboot.

The display was shades of grey. My Dell had died.

I tried several isolation and reparative maneuvers and when that didn’t work, I decided to peek under the hood. Had it unscrewed and I was looking for loose cables or burn marks (my Dell was hot all the time) but found none.

It was just dead.

A few months before, the computer had on several occasions gone bonkers. Keyboard and mouse would freeze and it would let out a series of loud beeping. It was irritating, but a quick reboot would solve the problem. Now, it just quits.

The days after were worse. I was struggling against jitters and withdrawal symptoms of not having a computer. I must’ve used quite a bit more of my Nokia N80 to send and receive e-mails that time, but I was just going bonkers.

Then was it nice to have supportive friends. One said “Have a break. Have a KitKat!” and another “Get a girlfriend instead. Forget your laptop!“. I love them but with friends like these, who needs the devil?

I was floating through a black hole, void of light and time. Pitch darkness around me.

…

Then I saw a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel. I bought an Apple MacBook Pro. I thought, “This is cool!“. It does exactly what I want it to do and if it does something wrong, that means I screwed up. With Windows, it was always Microsoft’s fault. Now it’s all my doing. I’m in charge now! Mac OS X simply just works, and it doesn’t stop me from working.

My Dell was a high-end one for its time, but its time had passed. I found that configuring a Dell with high-end specification today costs nearly if not just as much as a MacBook Pro, so it makes sense to go for a Mac.

Windows is a virus, and like a real-life virus it should only exists in contamination facilities. Some noobs talk about buying a MacBook Pro and installing Windows because it is now Intel powered. Well darn idiots, do you know how much this machine costs? I’m not going to put that poop in here! Hey, if all you want is Windows, go for a standard PC.

The safest way to run Windows on a Mac is through Parallels. Virtualization.

Macbook Pro comes ready, pre-installed with all the stuff that an average person needs. Also, I work a lot on JBoss and Java, and I require a stable and fast UNIX based OS. The speed is achieved partly by not running an anti-virus, which is critical in Windows but not in Mac.

The Dell had a good death. It died in the line of duty. I’ve written many key programs on that machine. It had a memory upgrade and keyboard replacement once, alas, its time had come. It used to compile tons of codes daily. Now it rests in peace.

Waking up in the morning to find my MacBook Pro next to me gives me an inexpressible warm fuzzy feeling. I love my Mac!