Sam Ruby has been doing a bang-up job fixing the bugs in REXML. Who knows when these improvements will trickle down to vendor distributions of Ruby. In the meantime, let's bundle the latest version of REXML with Instiki. We check the version number of the bundled REXML against that of the System REXML, and use whichever is later.
34 KiB
Write a comment abouth the test here. *** Parameters: *** {:archive=>false, :date=>"Nov 20 2006", :inmenu=>true, :subject_short=>"painless software", :subject=>"Software not painful to use", :topic=>"/misc/coolsw", :order=>"-9.5"} *** Markdown input: *** Subject: Software not painful to use Subject_short: painless software Topic: /misc/coolsw Archive: no Date: Nov 20 2006 Order: -9.5 inMenu: true
General
- Operating System : Mac OS X: heaven, after the purgatory of Linux and the hell of Windows.
- Browser: Firefox. On a Mac, Camino.
- Email: GMail, "search, don't sort" really works.
- Text Editor: TextMate, you have to buy it, but it's worth every penny. There are rumours that it's been converting (recovering) Emacs users (addicts). Unfortunately, it's Mac only. An alternative is jedit (GPL, Java).
Development
-
Source code control system: ditch CVS for subversion.
-
Project management: Trac tracks everything.
-
Scripting language: Ruby is Japanese pragmatism (and has a poignant guide). Python, you say? Python is too academic and snob:
$ python Python 2.4.1 (\#1, Jun 4 2005, 00:54:33) Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>> exit 'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.' >>> quit 'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.'
-
Java IDE: JBuilder is great software and has a free version (IMHO better than Eclipse). Java is not a pain anymore since it gained generics and got opensourced.
-
Mark-up language: HTML is so 2001, why don't you take at look at Markdown? Look at the source of this page.
-
C++ libraries:
Research
- Writing papers: LaTeX
- Writing papers & enjoying the process: LyX
- Handsome figures in your papers: xfig or, better, jfig.
- The occasional presentation with many graphical content: OpenOffice Impress (using the OOOlatex plugin); the alternative is PowerPoint with the TexPoint plugin.
- Managing BibTeX: jabref: multi-platform, for all your bibtex needs.
- IEEExplore and BibTeX: convert citations using BibConverter.
Cool websites
- Best site in the wwworld: Wikipedia
- Mutopia for sheet music; the Gutenberg Project for books; LiberLiber for books in italian.
- Blogs: Bloglines
- Sharing photos: flickr exposes an API you can use.
*** Output of inspect *** md_el(:document,[ md_el(:header,["General"],{:level=>3},[]), md_el(:ul,[ md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["Operating System"]), " : ", md_link(["Mac OS X"],"switch"), ": heaven, after the purgatory of Linux and the hell of Windows." ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["Browser"]), ": ", md_link(["Firefox"],"firefox"), ". On a Mac, ", md_link(["Camino"],"camino"), "." ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["Email"]), ": ", md_link(["GMail"],"gmail"), ", ", md_entity("ldquo"), "search, don", md_entity("rsquo"), "t sort", md_entity("rdquo"), " really works." ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["Text Editor"]), ": ", md_link(["TextMate"],"textmate"), ", you have to buy it, but it", md_entity("rsquo"), "s worth every penny. There are rumours that it", md_entity("rsquo"), "s been converting (recovering) Emacs users (addicts). Unfortunately, it", md_entity("rsquo"), "s Mac only. An alternative is ", md_link(["jedit"],"jedit"), " (GPL, Java)." ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]) ],{},[]), md_el(:header,["Development"],{:level=>3},[]), md_el(:ul,[ md_el(:li,[ md_par([ md_em(["Build system"]), ": ", md_link(["cmake"],"cmake"), ", throw the ", md_link(["autotools"],"autotools"), " away." ]) ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li,[ md_par([ md_em(["Source code control system"]), ": ditch CVS for ", md_link(["subversion"],"subversion"), "." ]) ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li,[ md_par([ md_em(["Project management"]), ": ", md_link(["Trac"],"trac"), " tracks everything." ]) ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li,[ md_par([ md_em(["Scripting language"]), ": ", md_link(["Ruby"],"ruby"), " is Japanese pragmatism (and has a ", md_link(["poignant"],"poignant"), " guide). Python, you say? Python is too academic and snob:" ]), md_el(:code,[],{:raw_code=>"$ python \nPython 2.4.1 (\#1, Jun 4 2005, 00:54:33) \nType "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.\n>>> exit\n'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.'\n>>> quit\n'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.'"},[]) ],{:want_my_paragraph=>true},[]), md_el(:li,[ md_par([ md_em(["Java IDE"]), ": ", md_link(["JBuilder"],"jbuilder"), " is great software and has a free version (IMHO better than Eclipse). Java is not a pain anymore since it gained ", md_link(["generics"],"javagenerics"), " and got opensourced." ]) ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li,[ md_par([ md_em(["Mark-up language"]), ": HTML is so 2001, why don", md_entity("rsquo"), "t you take at look at ", md_link(["Markdown"],"markdown"), "? ", md_im_link(["Look at the source of this page"], "data/misc_markdown.png", nil), "." ]) ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li,[ md_par([ md_em(["C++ libraries"]), ": * ", md_link(["QT"],"qt"), " for GUIs. * ", md_link(["GSL"],"gsl"), " for math. * ", md_link(["Magick++"],"magick"), " for manipulating images. * ", md_link(["Cairo"],"cairo"), " for creating PDFs. * ", md_link(["Boost"],"boost"), " for just about everything else." ]) ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]) ],{},[]), md_el(:header,["Research"],{:level=>3},[]), md_el(:ul,[ md_el(:li_span,[md_em(["Writing papers"]), ": ", md_link(["LaTeX"],"latex")],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["Writing papers & enjoying the process"]), ": ", md_link(["LyX"],"lyx") ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["Handsome figures in your papers"]), ": ", md_link(["xfig"],"xfig"), " or, better, ", md_link(["jfig"],"jfig"), "." ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["The occasional presentation with many graphical content"]), ": ", md_link(["OpenOffice Impress"],"impress"), " (using the ", md_link(["OOOlatex plugin"],"ooolatex"), "); the alternative is PowerPoint with the ", md_link(["TexPoint"],"texpoint"), " plugin." ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["Managing BibTeX"]), ": ", md_link(["jabref"],"jabref"), ": multi-platform, for all your bibtex needs." ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["IEEExplore and BibTeX"]), ": convert citations using ", md_link(["BibConverter"],"bibconverter"), "." ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]) ],{},[]), md_el(:header,["Cool websites"],{:level=>3},[]), md_el(:ul,[ md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["Best site in the wwworld"]), ": ", md_link(["Wikipedia"],"wikipedia") ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[ md_link(["Mutopia"],"mutopia"), " for sheet music; ", md_link(["the Gutenberg Project"],"gutenberg"), " for books; ", md_link(["LiberLiber"],"liberliber"), " for books in italian." ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[md_em(["Blogs"]), ": ", md_link(["Bloglines"],"bloglines")],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]), md_el(:li_span,[ md_em(["Sharing photos"]), ": ", md_link(["flickr"],"flickr"), " exposes an API you can use." ],{:want_my_paragraph=>false},[]) ],{},[]), md_ref_def("firefox", "http://getfirefox.com/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("gmail", "http://gmail.com/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("bloglines", "http://bloglines.com/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("wikipedia", "http://en.wikipedia.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("ruby", "http://www.ruby-lang.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("poignant", "http://poignantguide.net/ruby/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("webgen", "http://webgen.rubyforge.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("markdown", "http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("latex", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaTeX", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("lyx", "http://www.lyx.org", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("impress", "http://www.openoffice.org/product/impress.html", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("ooolatex", "http://ooolatex.sourceforge.net/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("texpoint", "http://texpoint.necula.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("jabref", "http://jabref.sourceforge.net/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("camino", "http://www.caminobrowser.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("switch", "http://www.apple.com/getamac/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("textmate", "http://www.apple.com/getamac/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("cmake", "http://www.cmake.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("xfig", "http://www.xfig.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("jfig", "http://tams-www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/applets/jfig/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("subversion", "http://subversion.tigris.org", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("jbuilder", "http://www.borland.com/us/products/jbuilder/index.html", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("flickr", "http://www.flickr.com/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("myflickr", "http://www.flickr.com/photos/censi", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("bibconverter", "http://www.bibconverter.net/ieeexplore/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("autotools", "http://sources.redhat.com/autobook/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("jedit", "http://www.jedit.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("qt", "http://www.trolltech.no/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("gsl", "http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("magick", "http://www.imagemagick.org/Magick++/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("cairo", "http://cairographics.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("boost", "http://www.boost.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("markdown", "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("trac", "http://trac.edgewall.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("mutopia", "http://www.mutopiaproject.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("liberliber", "http://www.liberliber.it/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("gutenberg", "http://www.gutenberg.org/", {:title=>nil}), md_ref_def("javagenerics", "http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/guide/language/generics.html", {:title=>nil}) ],{},[]) *** Output of to_html ***
General
- Operating System : Mac OS X: heaven, after the purgatory of Linux and the hell of Windows.
- Browser: Firefox. On a Mac, Camino.
- Email: GMail, “search, don’t sort” really works.
- Text Editor: TextMate, you have to buy it, but it’s worth every penny. There are rumours that it’s been converting (recovering) Emacs users (addicts). Unfortunately, it’s Mac only. An alternative is jedit (GPL, Java).
Development
-
Source code control system: ditch CVS for subversion.
-
Project management: Trac tracks everything.
-
Scripting language: Ruby is Japanese pragmatism (and has a poignant guide). Python, you say? Python is too academic and snob:
$ python Python 2.4.1 (\#1, Jun 4 2005, 00:54:33) Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information. >>> exit 'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.' >>> quit 'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.'
-
Java IDE: JBuilder is great software and has a free version (IMHO better than Eclipse). Java is not a pain anymore since it gained generics and got opensourced.
-
Mark-up language: HTML is so 2001, why don’t you take at look at Markdown? Look at the source of this page.
-
C++ libraries: * QT for GUIs. * GSL for math. * Magick++ for manipulating images. * Cairo for creating PDFs. * Boost for just about everything else.
Research
- Writing papers: LaTeX
- Writing papers & enjoying the process: LyX
- Handsome figures in your papers: xfig or, better, jfig.
- The occasional presentation with many graphical content: OpenOffice Impress (using the OOOlatex plugin); the alternative is PowerPoint with the TexPoint plugin.
- Managing BibTeX: jabref: multi-platform, for all your bibtex needs.
- IEEExplore and BibTeX: convert citations using BibConverter.
Cool websites
- Best site in the wwworld: Wikipedia
- Mutopia for sheet music; the Gutenberg Project for books; LiberLiber for books in italian.
- Blogs: Bloglines
- Sharing photos: flickr exposes an API you can use.
\begin{itemize}% \item \emph{Operating System} : \href{http://www.apple.com/getamac/}{Mac OS X}: heaven, after the purgatory of Linux and the hell of Windows. \item \emph{Browser}: \href{http://getfirefox.com/}{Firefox}. On a Mac, \href{http://www.caminobrowser.org/}{Camino}. \item \emph{Email}: \href{http://gmail.com/}{GMail}, ``{}search, don'{}t sort''{} really works. \item \emph{Text Editor}: \href{http://www.apple.com/getamac/}{TextMate}, you have to buy it, but it'{}s worth every penny. There are rumours that it'{}s been converting (recovering) Emacs users (addicts). Unfortunately, it'{}s Mac only. An alternative is \href{http://www.jedit.org/}{jedit} (GPL, Java).
\end{itemize} \hypertarget{development}{}\subsubsection*{{Development}}\label{development}
\begin{itemize}% \item \emph{Build system}: \href{http://www.cmake.org/}{cmake}, throw the \href{http://sources.redhat.com/autobook/}{autotools} away.
\item \emph{Source code control system}: ditch CVS for \href{http://subversion.tigris.org}{subversion}.
\item \emph{Project management}: \href{http://trac.edgewall.org/}{Trac} tracks everything.
\item \emph{Scripting language}: \href{http://www.ruby-lang.org/}{Ruby} is Japanese pragmatism (and has a \href{http://poignantguide.net/ruby/}{poignant} guide). Python, you say? Python is too academic and snob:
\begin{verbatim}$ python
Python 2.4.1 (#1, Jun 4 2005, 00:54:33)
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
exit 'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.' quit 'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.'\end{verbatim}
\item \emph{Java IDE}: \href{http://www.borland.com/us/products/jbuilder/index.html}{JBuilder} is great software and has a free version (IMHO better than Eclipse). Java is not a pain anymore since it gained \href{http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/guide/language/generics.html}{generics} and got opensourced.
\item \emph{Mark-up language}: HTML is so 2001, why don'{}t you take at look at \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markdown}{Markdown}? \href{data/misc_markdown.png}{Look at the source of this page}.
\item \emph{C++ libraries}: * \href{http://www.trolltech.no/}{QT} for GUIs. * \href{http://www.gnu.org/software/gsl/}{GSL} for math. * \href{http://www.imagemagick.org/Magick++/}{Magick++} for manipulating images. * \href{http://cairographics.org/}{Cairo} for creating PDFs. * \href{http://www.boost.org/}{Boost} for just about everything else.
\end{itemize} \hypertarget{research}{}\subsubsection*{{Research}}\label{research}
\begin{itemize}% \item \emph{Writing papers}: \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaTeX}{LaTeX} \item \emph{Writing papers & enjoying the process}: \href{http://www.lyx.org}{LyX} \item \emph{Handsome figures in your papers}: \href{http://www.xfig.org/}{xfig} or, better, \href{http://tams-www.informatik.uni-hamburg.de/applets/jfig/}{jfig}. \item \emph{The occasional presentation with many graphical content}: \href{http://www.openoffice.org/product/impress.html}{OpenOffice Impress} (using the \href{http://ooolatex.sourceforge.net/}{OOOlatex plugin}); the alternative is PowerPoint with the \href{http://texpoint.necula.org/}{TexPoint} plugin. \item \emph{Managing BibTeX}: \href{http://jabref.sourceforge.net/}{jabref}: multi-platform, for all your bibtex needs. \item \emph{IEEExplore and BibTeX}: convert citations using \href{http://www.bibconverter.net/ieeexplore/}{BibConverter}.
\end{itemize} \hypertarget{cool_websites}{}\subsubsection*{{Cool websites}}\label{cool_websites}
\begin{itemize}% \item \emph{Best site in the wwworld}: \href{http://en.wikipedia.org/}{Wikipedia} \item \href{http://www.mutopiaproject.org/}{Mutopia} for sheet music; \href{http://www.gutenberg.org/}{the Gutenberg Project} for books; \href{http://www.liberliber.it/}{LiberLiber} for books in italian. \item \emph{Blogs}: \href{http://bloglines.com/}{Bloglines} \item \emph{Sharing photos}: \href{http://www.flickr.com/}{flickr} exposes an API you can use.
\end{itemize} *** Output of to_md *** General-perating System: Mac OS X: heaven, after the purgatory of Linux and the hell of Windows. -rowser: Firefox. On a Mac, Camino. -mail: GMail, search, don t sort really works. -ext Editor: TextMate, you have to buy it, but it s worth every penny. There are rumours that it s been converting (recovering) Emacs users (addicts). Unfortunately, it s Mac only. An alternative is jedit(GPL, Java).
Development-Build system: cmake, throw the autotools away. -Source code control system: ditch CVS for subversion. -Project management: Trac tracks everything. -Scripting language: Ruby is Japanese pragmatism (and has a poignant guide). Python, you say? Python is too academic and snob: -Java IDE: JBuilder is great software and has a free version (IMHO better than Eclipse). Java is not a pain anymore since it gained generics and got opensourced. -Mark-up language: HTML is so 2001, why dont you take at look at Markdown? Look at the source of this page. -C++ libraries: * QT for GUIs. * GSL for math. * Magick++ for manipulating images. * Cairo for creating PDFs. * Boost for just about everything else.
- Research-riting papers: LaTeX
- -Writing papers & enjoying the process
- LyX -andsome figures in your papers: xfigor, better, jfig. -The occasional presentation with many graphical content
- OpenOffice Impress(using the OOOlatex plugin); the alternative is PowerPoint with the TexPoint plugin. -anaging BibTeX: jabref: multi-platform, for all your bibtex needs. -EEExplore and BibTeX: convert citations using BibConverter.
Cool websites-est site in the wwworld: Wikipedia -utopiafor sheet music; the Gutenberg Projectfor books; LiberLiberfor books in italian. -logs: Bloglines -haring photos: flickrexposes an API you can use. *** Output of to_s *** GeneralOperating System : Mac OS X: heaven, after the purgatory of Linux and the hell of Windows.Browser: Firefox. On a Mac, Camino.Email: GMail, search, dont sort really works.Text Editor: TextMate, you have to buy it, but its worth every penny. There are rumours that its been converting (recovering) Emacs users (addicts). Unfortunately, its Mac only. An alternative is jedit (GPL, Java).DevelopmentBuild system: cmake, throw the autotools away.Source code control system: ditch CVS for subversion.Project management: Trac tracks everything.Scripting language: Ruby is Japanese pragmatism (and has a poignant guide). Python, you say? Python is too academic and snob:Java IDE: JBuilder is great software and has a free version (IMHO better than Eclipse). Java is not a pain anymore since it gained generics and got opensourced.Mark-up language: HTML is so 2001, why dont you take at look at Markdown? Look at the source of this page.C++ libraries: * QT for GUIs. * GSL for math. * Magick++ for manipulating images. * Cairo for creating PDFs. * Boost for just about everything else.ResearchWriting papers: LaTeXWriting papers & enjoying the process: LyXHandsome figures in your papers: xfig or, better, jfig.The occasional presentation with many graphical content: OpenOffice Impress (using the OOOlatex plugin); the alternative is PowerPoint with the TexPoint plugin.Managing BibTeX: jabref: multi-platform, for all your bibtex needs.IEEExplore and BibTeX: convert citations using BibConverter.Cool websitesBest site in the wwworld: WikipediaMutopia for sheet music; the Gutenberg Project for books; LiberLiber for books in italian.Blogs: BloglinesSharing photos: flickr exposes an API you can use. *** EOF ***
OK!
*** Output of Markdown.pl ***
Subject: Software not painful to use Subject_short: painless software Topic: /misc/coolsw Archive: no Date: Nov 20 2006 Order: -9.5 inMenu: true
General
- Operating System : Mac OS X: heaven, after the purgatory of Linux and the hell of Windows.
- Browser: Firefox. On a Mac, Camino.
- Email: GMail, "search, don't sort" really works.
- Text Editor: TextMate, you have to buy it, but it's worth every penny. There are rumours that it's been converting (recovering) Emacs users (addicts). Unfortunately, it's Mac only. An alternative is jedit (GPL, Java).
Development
- Build system: cmake, throw the autotools away.
- Source code control system: ditch CVS for subversion.
- Project management: Trac tracks everything.
Scripting language: Ruby is Japanese pragmatism (and has a poignant guide). Python, you say? Python is too academic and snob:
$ python
Python 2.4.1 (#1, Jun 4 2005, 00:54:33) Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.exit 'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.' quit 'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.'
Java IDE: JBuilder is great software and has a free version (IMHO better than Eclipse). Java is not a pain anymore since it gained generics and got opensourced.
- Mark-up language: HTML is so 2001, why don't you take at look at Markdown? Look at the source of this page.
- C++ libraries:
Research
- Writing papers: LaTeX
- Writing papers & enjoying the process: LyX
- Handsome figures in your papers: xfig or, better, jfig.
- The occasional presentation with many graphical content: OpenOffice Impress (using the OOOlatex plugin); the alternative is PowerPoint with the TexPoint plugin.
- Managing BibTeX: jabref: multi-platform, for all your bibtex needs.
- IEEExplore and BibTeX: convert citations using BibConverter.
Cool websites
- Best site in the wwworld: Wikipedia
- Mutopia for sheet music; the Gutenberg Project for books; LiberLiber for books in italian.
- Blogs: Bloglines
- Sharing photos: flickr exposes an API you can use.
*** Output of Markdown.pl (parsed) ***
Subject: Software not painful to use Subject_short: painless software Topic: /misc/coolsw Archive: no Date: Nov 20 2006 Order: -9.5 inMenu: true
General
- Operating System : Mac OS X : heaven, after the purgatory of Linux and the hell of Windows.
- Browser : Firefox . On a Mac, Camino .
- Email : GMail , "search, don't sort" really works.
- Text Editor : TextMate , you have to buy it, but it's worth every penny. There are rumours that it's been converting (recovering) Emacs users (addicts). Unfortunately, it's Mac only. An alternative is jedit (GPL, Java).
Development
- Build system : cmake , throw the autotools away.
- Source code control system : ditch CVS for subversion .
- Project management : Trac tracks everything.
-
Scripting language : Ruby is Japanese pragmatism (and has a poignant guide). Python, you say? Python is too academic and snob:
$ python
Python 2.4.1 (#1, Jun 4 2005, 00:54:33) Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.exit 'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.' quit 'Use Ctrl-D (i.e. EOF) to exit.'
-
Java IDE : JBuilder is great software and has a free version (IMHO better than Eclipse). Java is not a pain anymore since it gained generics and got opensourced.
- Mark-up language : HTML is so 2001, why don't you take at look at Markdown ? Look at the source of this page .
- C++ libraries :
Research
- Writing papers : LaTeX
- Writing papers & enjoying the process : LyX
- Handsome figures in your papers : xfig or, better, jfig .
- The occasional presentation with many graphical content : OpenOffice Impress (using the OOOlatex plugin ); the alternative is PowerPoint with the TexPoint plugin.
- Managing BibTeX : jabref : multi-platform, for all your bibtex needs.
- IEEExplore and BibTeX : convert citations using BibConverter .
Cool websites
- Best site in the wwworld : Wikipedia
- Mutopia for sheet music; the Gutenberg Project for books; LiberLiber for books in italian.
- Blogs : Bloglines
- Sharing photos : flickr exposes an API you can use.