GreaseMonkey lets you run custom JavaScript code based on the page you’re viewing.

For those with a desire to customize or need to automate their web experience (without emailing the webmaster), this little FireFox extension puts the power in your hands. Firstly, running custom JavaScript within a web page is not new. Quick example – copy and paste the following in your address bar, then press return/enter: “javascript:alert(document.title);” If all goes well, you’ll see a prompt displaying the title of this web page and a single button that does away with the prompt. Simple, huh?

Secondly, GreaseMonkey is not new; according to the development history, it was introduced in 2005. Today, the site boasts thousands of ready made scripts that customize many popular websites, like Google, Yahoo, and MySpace. What’s this add up to? Perhaps the most overlooked, accessible, productivity tool on the planet. Build entire applications for specific pages, and enjoy them auto-magically – as if the website decided to lend you a hand and make life easier. Any company and individual can save time and increase online productivity, with some JavaScript coding and the GreaseMonkey extension. Check out Mozilla’s JavaScript tutorials and references (they develop the FireFox web browser), at http://developer.mozilla.org, then visit GreaseMonkey’s community at http://greasespot.net to download the extension and ready-made scripts.

Have you ever had to submit an assignment or resume in the pdf format but only had access the document in Microsoft Word format?

This all too familiar problem is easily solved using the new free online pdf conversion site, PDF Online. I tried submitting a document of my own to the service, and was pleasantly impressed with the result. My page was filled with finicky formatting like columns, headers, and pictures, and the service turned out a pdf that looked exactly like the document I uploaded. They email the finished document to you, and while this initially turned me off, it seemed like the best way to do it once I thought it through. Top-notch service, give it a try!

If you’re a programmer, you’ve probably noticed the ever-growing stream of new technologies, languages and APIs, with new concepts and promises of speeding up development and making your life easier.

However, most of this technologies have been focused on web development, RAD or in radical new paradigms, without giving attention to low-level programming, generation of native code and speed. If you haven’t seen it already, I would like to bring to your attention the D programming language. It was created by Walter Bright, the developer of the first native C++ compiler and it’s meant to be the successor of both C and C++. D has more object orientation features than Java, many of the constructs of modern/high-level languages (Such as built-in strings, array concatenation and slicing, complex numbers, hash tables, templates, mixins and lazy evaluation) and the best of all: It compiles (cross platform) native binaries, giving all the speed and optimization you would expect of something coded in C++.

It’s hard to express all the features of D in such a short article, but it has already risen to the 14th position on the programming language rank, according to TIOBE, and with current growth rates will surpass Delphi soon. While it currently isn’t the easiest language to set up a build environment, it sure is a breeze (and incredibly fun!) to code with. The two compilers available right now are GDC and DMD and a good option for IDE is Code::Blocks (however, for D support, you’ll need to download the nightly builds).

Is your PC slowing down? Do you want to know why? Eliminating unnecessary processes can speed up your PC like nothing else!

Sysinternals free Process Explorer for Windows v10.21 makes the Windows built-in task manager look like a 97 pound weakling. This nifty little program enables you to monitor running processes in real time, find out what a given process does, and kill or suspend suspect processes. Just right-click on the process in question and choose from the context menu. For those willing to work “under the hood” of Windows XP, this free download is just the ticket. Get it here:

Camtasia Software by Techsmith.com is an amazing piece of software that allows you to capture movements on your computer screen with voice overs, pop ups, add interactivity, create demos, and so much more.

If you are searching for a tool that will enable you to create training videos with added voice directions- look no further. Camtasia is simple to use and affordable. A nice feature available with the Camtasia software is the “10-minute tutorial” which will have you using the software and creating your own videos in just a few short minutes. The videos are easy to edit and can be saved in a variety of formats. Download a free test version today from the TechSmith website.

This isn’t one of my usual posts, but since it infuriated me so much while writing the previous post I thought I might as well right about it since I was here in my blog anyway.

While I was trying to copy and paste in my links, my right click button on my mouse stopped working. I was no longer able to simple right click and “copy” or “copy shortcut”. I had to use the Edit>Copy menu items. I dont’ know why, but this infuriated me to no end. My mouse is lucky to be in one piece. It’s still not working and after I reboot if it doesn’t see fit to cooperate my wife and I will have another piece of office equipment to go Office Space on! (I wish I had made a tape of us destroying my old fax machine!)