Recently I downloaded BugTracker.NET, an excellent ASP.NET/C#/Sql Server open-source bug tracker developed by Corey Trager. Set up was very simple - just read the README file! I really like how flexible BugTracker.NET is. Below are 5 of the simple changes I made, to make the product better suit my needs. 1. Set a different background color for "Closed" Bugs"Closed" bugs are marked with status 5 (by default). You can enhance the built in background colors on "bugs.aspx" by checking for status 5 and setting a different background color in queries. First go to the "queries" page, and select edit on one of the...

...I'd be using Red Gate's SQL Multi Script. The initial "alpha" version is available now for free. I've given it a whirl and it works exactly as advertised, with further improvements in the pipeline too. At first glance I thought a utility like this would be better off being built into SQL Server Management Studio. After using it (and reading on the forum what other users want it for), I reckon a small, stand-alone product is probably better. I've been advised that this alpha release will stop working at the end of 2007. Tags: sql server, database, script, server

Here's an interesting metric (via Usability in the News) for testing websites: Q: “What percentage of your interface contains stuff that your customers want to see?” 10% 25% 100% If you answer a, or b then you might do well, but you'll probably get blown out of the water once someone decides to enter the market with option c. (continued at "A really simple metric for measuring User Interfaces" at iQ Blog) This test could easily be applied to utility-type software whether web or windows e.g. Flickr or WinZip (it would be a little harder to apply the principle to fully-fledged applications, where "infrastructure" user interface...