JSON and Browser Security on the YUI Blog

Douglas Crockford posts a set of guidelines on writing secure web applications using remote scripting and JSON on the YUI Blog.

JSON is a data interchange format. It is used in the transmission of data between machines. Since it carries only data, it is security-neutral. The security of systems that use JSON is determined by the quality of the design of those systems. JSON itself introduces no vulnerabilities.

JSON and Browser Security on the YUI Blog

We Should Always Try to Reinvent the Wheel

All the things we currently use will eventually become obsolete. They should, and reinvention helps make sure of that. Reinvention allows the shedding of the unnecessary and retention of what is optimal. It gives way for improvement and sometimes leads to discovery of new and better ways.

This also applies to software development. Having hand-me-down APIs and open source solutions is good, but this should not stop us from creating things from scratch on our own. With doing things from the ground up, you do not just learn how to extend, but you also figure out how things work, where you can improve, and what you don’t need. In some cases, reinvention is much more convenient than trying to understand something that’s not of your own. Dictate, instead of trying to figure out, how things work.

I like reinventing the wheel. I think most developers do. We love solving problems, and we love challenging solutions.

Nope, You Don’t Need to Work Abroad to Achieve Growth

After reading “Growth means going abroad?” and Migs Paraz’s related post “Exodus”, I couldn’t help but ask myself similar questions. Was my move to Singapore worth it? Do the pay I’m currently getting, and the affiliation that I have justify leaving my home country, being away from my family and fiancee, and giving up a community and company I founded? Am I learning new things that I couldn’t possibly learn if I chose to stay in the Philippines? Is this really a step forward career-wise or just a big jump in salary?

I’m not really clear with my answers. I’m not really learning new things that I couldn’t learn on my own, I’ve always been keen on exploring new things related to my field. I’m working for a big name in the web/internet industry, but almost as a nobody. It doesn’t beat running your own company and steering things yourself, but the beef it adds to my resume is a pretty big plus. About the pay, I can’t complain about the pay.

So is it worth all the sacrifices made? I’ll have to say yes. The increase in pay allows me to sort of fast track things - help support my family, save up for properties, prepare for my wedding, etc. As for the step-down in the job title, I like to think of it as a small step back in preparation for a big leap forward. Save up now, then go back and fund yourself later. Getting in touch with family is no longer a problem. The world is too connected now, and we have the internet to thank for that. With regards to learning, I can keep learning new things on my own. I can keep growing professionally and skill-wise, with or without my current affiliation, in or outside my home country.

So for now, I’ll stay here, do what I can do, learn what I can learn, and earn as much as I can. I might just be trying to justify my greed, but It’s how I like to think of things. Sort of looking at the positive side of things to boost my morale.