maven-compiler-plugin memory management

Here is how you give more memory to maven-compiler-plugin:

http://maven.apache.org/plugins/maven-compiler-plugin/examples/compile-with-memory-enhancements.html

Fixing MySQL after upgrading to Snow Leopard

After upgrading to Snow Leopard, I found that MySQL would not start for me. I found this link that walked me through getting it up and running again.

http://planet-geek.com/archives/2009/09/osx-snow-leopar.html

I haven't had the time to figure out what exactly was messed up in the installation of Snow Leopard. If anyone knows, I would be interested in that nugget of information.

CSS override

To override any CSS on an element, use !important as below

#my_widget_id {

background-color: #191919 !important;
/*#191919 is gray */

}

GWT: Speed Tracer Tutorial

Sending mass emails

I was advising a client about a press release they sent with a tiny 0.63% of response rate.

Note: I am not a big fan of email campaigns, I believe the most effective way to communicate is when friends send stuff to friends because it is interesting to them, but sometimes you just have to blast it out...

Few generic pointers:

• make subject is interesting to the recipient, eg. includes a name they recognize (their club, their own)
• make sure the text of the email is short and sweet
• if you are trying to make several points, use short bullets
• avoid too many caps and long paragraphs
• send a sample batch, adjust text and re-sent until you get acceptable response
• ensure that you are addressing the right demographics
• use http://bit.ly/ to track different campaign responses
• use the right tools, check out http://www.mailchimp.com/

Compilation issue with gwt-dnd-2.6.5.jar - Java 1.6

Recently I had to use an updated version of gwt-dnd-2.6.5.jar with Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6). I was using Java 1.5 and I got below error, which indicates a class being compiled with a different Java version:

java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: Bad version number in .class file

Solution: It turns out that gwt-dnd-2.6.5.jar is using Java 1.6, therefore I had use same Java version (Java 1.6) in my environment in order for my project to comile correctly.

1. Click Eclipse -> preferences -> Java -> installed JRE

2. Click Eclipse -> preferences -> Java -> compile -> select 1.6

Eclipse 3.5 installation with GWT 2.0 RC1

1. Install Eclipse 3.5 (Galileo Eclipse IDE for JAVA EE Developers): http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/ Extract Eclipse package in Application directory (on your Mac).


2. Download latest Eclipse 3.5 plugin for GWT http://dl.google.com/eclipse/plugin/3.5/zips/gpe-e35-latest.zip Extract the archive into the dropins directory in your Eclipse installation. Your installation of Eclipse will now have a directory dropins/eclipse/features/com.google.gdt.eclipse.suite.e35.feature_version and some newly installed JAR files in dropins/eclipse/plugins/

Restart Eclipse. The plugin should now be installed!

3. In eclipse, Install SubEclipse (SVN):

Click on Help menu -> Install New Software -> paste http://subclipse.tigris.org/update_1.6.x and click add button

Select all options and click next

Click Finish and you will be asked to restart your Eclipse 

4. Install Maven, if you are using Maven to manage dependancies in your project
Click on Help menu -> Install New Software -> paste http://m2eclipse.sonatype.org/update/http://m2eclipse.sonatype.org/update/ and click add button

Select all options and click next

Click Finish and you will be asked to restart your Eclipse 

Install Java 1.5 on Snow Leopard using Pacifist

Download the official  Java 1.5 update 4 zip file from the Apple: Java 1.5 update 4
Open Java package (JavaForMacOSX10.5Update4.pkg file.) using Shareware utility called Pacifist ($20 per license)
After you have successfully opened the downloaded Java package:

• Using Finder application, navigate to
• HD -> System -> Library -> Frameworks -> Java.VMframework -> versions
• Select 1.5 and 1.5.0 versions and move them to Trash. Be sure to empty your trash.
• Using Pacifist, select 1.5, and 1.5.0, right-click and choose to install default location 

Java 1.5 update 4 issues with Snow Leopard

CAfter Mac OS X Snow Leopard upgrade, I had to download Java 1.5 update 4 and got following error:

Java for Mac OS X 10.5 update 4 can't be installed on this disk. This software can only be installed on Mac OS X Leopard

Here is a solution:

1. Click on Finder -> Utilities -> Disk Utility 
2. Click on HD and run Repair HD Permissions
3. Restart you Mac and magic should start happening!

Also see:

Another way to fix this issue 

Java 1.5 update 4 download for Snow Leopard

Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 4

Java for Mac OS X 10.5 Update 4 delivers improved reliability, security, and compatibility for Java SE 6, J2SE 5.0 and J2SE 1.4.2 on Mac OS X 10.5.7 and later.

This release updates Java SE 6 to version 1.6.0_13, J2SE 5.0 to version 1.5.0_19, and J2SE 1.4.2 to 1.4.2_21.

Download Java:
http://support.apple.com/downloads/Java_for_Mac_OS_X_10_5_Update_4