ACM Problems

After a quite time, I'm into blogging again. My flight was off track for sometime, but now I'm back to the track. This is one of the main advantage of having Goals in Life.

ACM Contests = online problem solving+verification+ranking+fun

My ACM Page Enjoy !!!

I have promised myself to solve as much problems as I'm able to solve before my last call. It is purely for my own satisfaction. To make it happen I must be able to sacrifice my sleep and learn new things. It gives me great pleasure solving these little riddles.

* C++ (My Forgotten Love)
* Data Structures & Algorithms
* Problem Solving

"Whatever you want in life, you must give up something to get it. The greater the value, the greater the sacrifice required of you. Everything has a price. There's a price to pay if you want to make things better, and a price to pay for just leaving things as they are. Nothing worthwhile ever comes easily."
- Max Steingart

Einstein's God

Other than Computer Scientists and Mathematicians, I like physics very much. Einstein is one of the scientists I admire.

His famous is equation E=mc^2. Today while browsing internet I found an article of Einstein's God. One of his famous quote is "God doesn't play dice", he didn't believe in personification of God. To him God is something a Universal Mind, far beyond our comprehension and perception.

John sometimes quote this thing in a different manner, "How can a computer program (eg. AI) will perceive us (humans) if they intelligence ?" It is like the same thing that how we perceive God (The Creator). Note I'm not talking about any religion here.

Einstein is far more intellectual that any human being alive. He admired God in the mathematical elegance of Nature in terms of its working.

"Matter and Energy" is equal to "Sivam and Sakthi". Matter and Energy is different manifestation of the same thing. There is a hidden truth in the Ancient Tamil Literatures. It say "Without Sakthi(Energy), there is no Sivan(Matter). Likewise Without Sivam, there is no Sakthi." They my co-exist, intervened together.

Robin Podcast on Habits

Recently, I heard the podcast from Robin Sharma on "8 Habits of Effective People". The podcast is too good to miss. There is bunch of podcasts, altogether 35 are available there.

Here is the summary

* Focus
* Positive & Passion
* Work Hard
* Never Stop Innovative (How Can I improve life)
* Time Management
* Serve Others
* Human Connection
* Devoted to Excellence

Awareness --> Better Choice --> Better Results

The list is nearly closer to Anthony Robbins' Commodities of the King. I've made good progress on "Being an Early Raiser", I wakeup on an avg. @ 6:30. I need to improve more on this.

In case, If you want to hear the posdcast...

Current Reading: The Monk who sold his Ferrari - Robin Sharma
Next Reading: The Mechanism of Mind - Edward de Bono

Robin Sharma

I've been reading "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari" again. This is one of the good book have ever come across in my life. It is a must for all Self-Help book readers and all those you want to improve their standard of living.

Two main reason which why I say this book is unique is that.

* It is written in first person singular, so that when you read you get a feeling that as if you are writing the book as Julian Mantle comes into your life. (Note: Every Robin Sharma books are written in first person singular)

* The way of association of the principle with the fable will make you remember the concept very well. You don't need to refer it again.

The major concepts of this book is:

* Master your Mind (The Magnificent Garden)
* Follow your Purpose (The light house
* Practice Kaizen (Sumo wrestler)
* Live with Discipline (Pink wire)
* Value your Time (The golden stop watch)
* Serve Others (The fragrant roses)
* Embrace the Present (The path of diamond)

The mind is a monkey, but if we train it, it can do wonders. Every concept can be composed into a Fable, which can be easily remembered by our Neural Networks. Because they are trained like that. I need to read the book Mind Map by Tony Buzan.[**Note**]

When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all of your thoughts break their bonds: your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world.

Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive and you discover yourself to be a greater person than you ever dreamed yourself to be.

- Robin Sharma (The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari)

Programming Magic

Computational processes are abstract beings that inhabit computers. As they evolve, processes manipulate other abstract things called data. The evolution of a process is directed by a pattern of rules called a program. People create programs to direct processes. In effect, we conjure the spirits of the computer with our spells.

A computational process is indeed much like a Wizard's idea of a MAGIC(yes, the same type of magic in Harry Potter, LOTR,etc). It cannot be seen or touched. It is not composed of matter at all. However, it is very real. It can perform intellectual work. It can answer questions. It can affect the world by disbursing money at a bank or by controlling a robot arm in a factory. The programs we use to conjure processes are like a spells in HP. They are carefully composed from symbolic expressions in arcane and esoteric programming languages that prescribe the tasks we want our processes to perform. Magic Spells are carefully composed in Elven Language (Refer: Eragon, LOTR).

Fortunately, learning to program is considerably less dangerous than learning Magic Spells, because the spirits we deal with are conveniently contained in a secure way. Real-world programming, however, requires care, expertise, and wisdom. A small bug in a computer-aided design program, for example, can lead to the catastrophic collapse of an airplane or a dam or the self-destruction of an industrial robot.

Master programmers have the ability to organize programs so that they can be reasonably sure that the resulting processes will perform the tasks intended. As Top Wizards like Dumbledore or Lord Voldemort have the ability to organize and control their Magic Spells.

Master Programmers can visualize the behavior of their systems in advance. They know how to structure programs so that unanticipated problems do not lead to catastrophic consequences, and when problems do arise, they can debug their programs. Well-designed computational systems, like well-designed automobiles or nuclear reactors, are designed in a modular manner, so that the parts can be constructed, replaced, and debugged separately.

Djinn/Wizard need to visualize the behavior of their Spells and their consequences (The Children of Lamp).


Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.
-- Arthur C. Clarke

(Reference: Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs)

Road-side Vendors and Single Day Customers

It was a routine that Indra, Sankar, John and myself go for having tender coconut to the Road-side Vendor near Vijaya Hospital, Vadapalani. These guys always cheats one way or other, it is frustrating that these guys are cheating themselves by cheating us.

I'm seeming the same pattern over and over again all over Chennai. The Road-side Vendors always try to find a way to Cheat you. And obviously they will only get "Single Day" Customers. If vendors are not loyal to their customers, how could they expect loyal customers. People hate getting FOOLED !!! You get something negative emotional effect towards those who fools you. He will look like an Enemy, the next you see him.

I don't know why these people are not using their Common Sense and have long-lasting relationship with the customer. These people wanted to make "Quick Money", analogous to the childhood story "The Goose with the Golden Eggs". But, I could see few of them practice building trust in their customer and they reap a good harvest.

Unix Books

There is lot of improvements I can see in my life, after started blogging and maintaining a daily journal. I can see my patterns are changing. Now, I need to Goal to move toward it.

This is my plan to become a Unix Hacker:

* Unix C Odyssey
* Advanced programming in Unix - Rebecca Thomas
* Advanced Unix Programming
* The Design of Unix OS - Maurice Bach
* Unix Internals - Uresh Vahallia
* Linux Programming - Wrox Pub.
* Understanding Linux Kernal
* Unix Network Programming - Vol-I, Vol-II
* Illustrated TCP/IP - Vol-1, Vol-2, Vol-3

This is my Road Map for 1 Year (2007). I must follow it consistently to be sucessful.

Currently, I'm reading "The Road Less Travelled" By Scott Peck. I have also improve my blogging skills. Need to buy some book abt blogging and read it.

The Illusionist

I recently watched movie "The Illusionist". The movie's plot is really good. It is a love story of "Eisenhiem the Illusionist". It's has "The Sixth Sense" and "The Others" sort of Climax.

Currently I'm reading "Living With Honor" By Shiv Khera. As I have mentioned before, it give you "Clarity on Values". A man must be sucessful in every aspect of life. You are not a complete sucess, if you have attained sucess in some aspect of life with the expense of others.

I'm also reading "Understanding Linux Kernal". I have completed the introductory chapter. Day by day my blogging ablity is decrecing, I should read some books on blogging.

Yesterday, I got 2 more movies, "Proof" and "The Prestige". I will be watching it in this weekend.

C++ Pure Virtual Functions

Can C++ Pure Virtual Functions can't have implementation ? The Answer is yes.

#include
using namespace std;

class A {
public:
virtual void display()=0;
};
void A::display() {
cout<<"A::display"<<endl;
}

class B : public A {
public:
void display() {
A::display();
cout<<"B::display"<<endl;
}
};

int main() {
B b;

cout<<"hello world"<<endl;
b.display();
return 0;
}

Yesterday, I went to Chennai Book Fair - 2007 with Sankar. I bought "Ke. Mu. Ke. Pe" by Madhan, "Bharathiyar Poems", "48 Laws of Power" by Richard Greene. I'm currently reading "Unlimited Power" by Anthony Robbins, here are the Commodities of the King.
* Passion for Excellence
* Belief that you can succeed
* Strategy for Excellence
* Clarity of Values
* Energy to Persist
* Bonding with others
* Mastery of Communication (Both Self and others)

Network/System Programming

Today is an important day in my life. I have made a important career decision. I had it in the dilemma for a longtime. Now, I have decided to choose Networking/Network/System Programming, I'm going to focus on it. I dont want to be a "Jack of all", I wanna be a Expert on these areas.

* TCP/IP
* Unix/Linux Programming

Other things are not important. But still I read other topics, My focus is those two. One book per month. I need to complete CCNA and CCNP in this year.

2007 New Year

2007 - New Year was good. Got lot of SMS from friends wishing "Happy New Year". Kannan & Mani called up from US to wish Happy New Year. I spend all the my time with My Boy and Wife. It is his first New Year and Our's too. And it is my first Christmas/New Year without my Mom. I really miss her a lot.

Yesterday, I read an article in Health. I found the SMART principle by Paul J.Meyer. If you want to achieve some goal, it should be SMART.

What 'SMART' ? Yes, It should be

S - Specific
M - Measurable
A - Attainable
R - Realistic
T - Tangible

All my life goals remain same for this year also, I need to SMART it. I mean I need to put it into words according to SMART principle.

Today, We had our Team Lunch in Adithya sponsered by Sankar.

Today's Quote :

Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.
- Ambrose Redmoon

Anish Trade Secret

Atlast, I got what I want. The Trade Secret of Anish (My PL). He is a geek, he use to have interest in Unix Internals and Network Programming in his college days.

Today, I learned something important from Anish which I used to do in my college days and lost in touch of it in these days. It is imagination or having a mental picture of what you are studing or what you are doing while fixing the Bugs. I remember now, why I have interest in Fatasy Books like HP, LOR, ... I have a taste of Imagination. Pure Imagination. To put it in Shiju's Word ENVISAGE.

I'm going on a long weekend, I will be back only on wednesday(27-Dec-06).

Paulo Coelho

Yesterday, I read one novel and completed it. Now, I can read a Novel in a Day. It is The Valkyries by Paulo, the novel is abt "Seeking once Angel/Dream". It is really good to read. I have already read The Alchemist and The Pilgrimage, and reading "The Manual of the Light Warrior"(I will be reading it thru out my life). I once read it to my boy, when he is inside his mother.

In short, it says "Follow your dream, however hard it is, have patience. Seek help from god, he will help you." It also talks abt relationship between husband and Wife.

I have to start reading again "Awaken the Gaint Within." I have started returing to my god. Wisdom - Knowing and Doing what is right.

I read the Six Hats by Edward de Bono.

White hat - Informational (no good or bad, only info.)
Red hat - Emotional (or linux implementation)
Black hat - Caution
Yellow hat - Possitive Thinking
Green Hat - Creativity
Blue hat - Overview (thinking abt the thinking) control hat

Six Thinking Hats
- From Mind Tools

Waking Up Early

Today, I woke up at 9:00 am. What the hell is this mean ? I'm slowing off the Track. If one want to improve his personal effectiveness, he must be a early raiser. Great Guru's like Robin Sharma & Anthony Robbins advises to wake up early in the morning.

Now I have decided (my decision = my commitment) go to bed at 11 or 12 pm and wake up at 5 or 6 am.

Benefits of waking early in the morning

* having good Coffee or Tea in the early morning
* can read your newspaper
* going for a walk in Anna nagar Tower Park
* the freshness when you go to work
* start your work with the good song
* can save money by eating the food in the nearby hotel
* taking your breakfast on time
* if you come early and leave early from work

Never lie to yourself. It is a trust you cannot abuse. If your subconscious know that you won’t do what you say you want to do by getting up early, it’ll sabotage your efforts and dilute your commitment.

Proud Moments

These are the moments which I was proud of myself.

1. When I won first programming competition in TCE.
Thousand of hands clapping for me. (me alone, its great). Ofcourse, I submit it for my mom and my dad and my god. I won it in the following year also. One more in ASAN memorial college.

2. When I got an offer letter in Polaris, 2 days before my flight to Sharjah.

3. Got an offer letter from HCL Technologies and faced Sriram (my polaris manager) and greeted him with a smile in my face. (to put it correctly, I laughed at him)

4. When I got the project in IMSc, Taramani. After a lengthy interview with Venkatesh Raman Sir. Thanks to Girish.

People who shaped my thoughts:

* Manonmani Miss (St. Thomas)
* Suruli Sir (He taught me everything I need to know in Life, My Role Model)
* Peter Sir (He taught me programming)
* Murugasen Sir (MKU HOD, My Role Model)
* Alex Sir (My philosopher)
* Shanmugam Sir (Kamaraj College)

I'm greatly indebted to:

* Pakyam Sir (My Guru, My Guide, My philosopher)
* William Sir (MKU VC PA, A great personality)

My Song

It's a song from "The Lord of the Rings", sung by Enya. Whenever I get stuck, this song keeps me going.

May it be an evening star
Shines down upon you
May it be when darkness falls
Your heart will be true
You walk a lonely road
Oh! How far you are from home

Mornie utúlië (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now

May it be the shadows call
Will fly away
May it be you journey on
To light the day
When the night is overcome
You may rise to find the sun

Mornie utúlië (darkness has come)
Believe and you will find your way
Mornie alantië (darkness has fallen)
A promise lives within you now
A promise lives within you now

Friday (08-Dec), I went to Tuticorin to see my wife and my baby. Both are doing fine. Thank God.

I'm currently reading "Awaken the Gaint Within", It is a great book. I have decided to put forth the ideas given in it to my life. Anthony Robbins is my guru. Once in my life I want to meet him in person. (I will). The Pain and the Pleasure principle is a great idea. (This man must have read a lot of books to achieve such a great wisdom.)

If I would I will translate this books in Tamil. This book stands third in "To Be Translated into Tamil", the first 2 are Fountain Head and Atlas Shrugged.

Redirection and Pipes

Yesterday, Kamesh wrote a program to redirect the output of the program to a file.

char *ar[]={"ls",">","mylog.dat"};
execv("ls",ar);

I'm going to kill this guy. He dont know what is the difference between passing argument to a command and output redirection. And also dont know who is doing the redirection.

when you say,

ls -l > mylog.dat

this is what shell does

1. Shell forks itself
2. Close the stdout of the child process
3. Open the file and bind it with the stdout of the child process
4. execl "ls -l" on child process
5. parent process (i.e. shell) waits till the complete execution of the child process

Program 1:


#include <unistd.h>
#include <fcntl.h>

int main() {
char *ar[]={"ls","-l"};
int fd;
close(1);
fd=open("/users/revincen/cpp/sample.dat",O_CREAT|O_WRONLY);
write(1,"hello world\n",12);
execv("/bin/ls",ar);
return 0;
}


Program 2:


#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

int main() {
char buf[256];
FILE *inp,*outp;

inp = popen("ls -l","r");
outp=fopen("hello.dat","w");

while ( fgets(buf,sizeof buf,inp) != 0 )
fputs(buf,outp);

pclose(inp);
return 0;
}


My Son

My son born on 03-Dec. I left home at 7:00 am morning, took a flight to Madurai, took cab to matuthavani bus stand. I reached AVM Hospital at 6:00 pm. I saw my Baby the next day (04-Dec). I took him in my hands on 05-Dec. He is too small, so fragile, like new born flower. When I called Pappukudi, he opened his eyes and saw me. I lost myself.

Till now we have 2 name choices Aslan (The lion in Narnia) and Romulus (Brother of Remus).

I love my son.

Same Mistakes

I'm making the same mistakes again and again. I should not do that. I dont have a plan for my life, I'm walking in the direction of Life.

Yesterday I bought "Awakening the Gaint Within", a great book by Anthony Robbins. I need to change my behaviour.

Coming weekend I will be father a child, but I still myself feel like a child. I still need to mature a lot. Till now I dont have Vision and Mission. I need to start with a Vision statement for my life.

Vision - What would I be after 5 years from now ?

I see myself as
* Good programmer (only C, C++ & Perl) nothing else
* Good Debugger (In my work, Fix more bugs)
* Good husband (Few Fights, more understanding)
* Good Dad (Good caring)

Mission - What are the steps I will be taking to achieve it ?
* Read books on programming (General, C/C++/Perl)
* Start solving problems in ACM
* Start reading documents on my work
* Serious abt Professional Growth
* Speak to Juliet (1 hr atleast)
* Play with & Care my Pappukudi
* Blog my growth daily

Dont Do List
=========
* Stop beating the bushes (no more book collecting)
* Stop skip reading books

Book Reading

After a long time I completed reading "Anahetken Adventures: Children of the Lamp" - PB Kerr. It is a good book to read. I mostly read fanstacy Novels. Waiting for Harry Potter Book-7.

Yesterday, I had chat with Guna Machi. We had a rough calc. of how many books am I going to read in rest of my life.

Currently Reading
=================
* Discover you destiny (Robin Sharma)

Reading on hold
===============
* C++: STL
* Beginning Linux Programming

Books on My List(2 months)
================
* Color of Magic
* Greatness Guide (Robin Sharma)
* Perl Programming
* Cosmos
* Power of Now