48: Exploring the Process of Resizing
2009-03-09
Download MP3 For Geekons Episode 48
Pop-Up: Process Explorer
- Basically an incredibly advanced alternative to the Process tab in Windows Task Manager
- You can view active processes in a nested tree, so you know what process started which other processes.
- You can view tons of info on each process, such as:
- Process Name/ID
- User Name
- Description
- Company Name
- Version
- Window Title
- Window Status
- DEP Status
- CPU Usage
- Handle Count/Type/Name
- Priority
- I/O Reads/Writes
- Page Faults
- Private Bytes
- Virtual Size
- Working Set Size
- And of course you still have the traditional Memory/CPU/Network Graphs you're used to.
- When you select a process, you can view the handles it has (including files it has locked) and you can set its affinity on multi-core machines.
- It also has a nifty cross-hair icon that you can drag and point at programs and windows on your screen to have it show you what process is tied to that window.
- Another neat feature is the ability to search for handles, so if there is a file you can't delete because it is in use, you can search for that file and see what program has it in use.
- Once you know what software is locking your files, you can close that software, or kill the process using Process Explorer so you can free up you files.
- 5 out of 5 stars, Sure it's closed source and written by Microsoft, but if you are looking for a tool to monitor what your processor is up to I don't think there is anything better.
Geek-Tweak: Resizing multiple pictures without opening a graphics app
- If you've ever wondered why your emails full of photos keep getting blocked, or if you've noticed your photo website takes forever to use, chances are the photos you are sending are way too big.
- You don't need fancy graphics editing software to resize all your photos, you just need the Microsoft image resizer.
- Head over to the PowerToys for Windows XP page and download the image resizer ( http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx )
- After installing, just right-click on a picture (or a group of pictures) and choose "Resize Pictures".
- You have the option of Small, Medium, Large, and Handheld PC.
- If you'd like to resize to a specific dimension, you can click the "Advanced>>" button and choose a custom maximum width and height.
- By default Image Resizer will create a copy of the picture, rather than modifying the original, but in the advanced view you can change that.
- Another feature that should be default, but isn't, is the "Make pictures smaller but not larger".
- Once you finish resizing your pictures, just grab the new ones and email or upload them! (better yet, upload them and email a link)
View-Source: God's Summer of Code
- As usual, there's tons of spiritual truths to learn from coders, and just as common, Paul wrote about it!
- Galatians 6 starts with some basic Open Source community advice: review each other's code, but be sure to follow best practices.
- If we notice someone that is sinning, we should help them out. The difficult part is, we need to watch ourselves and make sure we don't fall into the same sin.
- The open source development theme continues as Paul reminds us to carry each other's burdens, fulfilling the law of Christ.
- He also reminds us to focus on where we are and who we are, in verse 3 we learn we shouldn't deceive ourselves thinking we are more than we really are.
- Just like a developer in a large project, we need to test our own code/actions and do our best, without validating ourselves by other people.
- We are also instructed in verse 5 to carry our own load. If a developer signed up for a Google summer of code project, and waited for other people to help instead, the work would never get done.
- And in the same way most open source projects borrow from others, we are told that when we receive instruction in the word, we should share with our instructor.
- Verses 7-10 emphasize that we reap what we sow.
- God has offered us the ultimate summer of code project: to love, serve, and obey Him.
- If we stop work on that project, and pick up work on other projects, we won't be near as effective as as we could be, and won't accomplish the goals God has in mind for us.
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