Microsoft announces the next version SQL Server for Windows and Linux

Microsoft’s announcement that it was bringing its flagship SQL Server database software to Linux came as a major surprise when the company first announced this in March. Until now, the preview was invite-only, but as Microsoft announced today, anybody who wants to give it a try can now download the bits. That public preview is part of the launch of the next version of SQL Server, which will be the first one that’s available for both Windows and Linux.
Thanks to its support for Docker containers, even macOS users will be able to run it. Indeed, Microsoft is betting on containers as one of the main distribution mechanisms for the preview, which will soon be available on Azure Virtual Machines and the Docker Hub (though you can obviously also download RPM and APT packages for popular enterprise Linux distributions like Red Hat, Ubuntu and SUSE).
“This represents a major step in our journey to making SQL Server a true platform of choice across operating systems, development languages, data types, on-premises and the cloud,” Microsoft writes in today’s announcement.
For now, the Linux version will include all the standard SQL Server management features that come with the Windows version. These include advanced features like always-encrypted and row-level security, as well as in-memory columnstores.
As Microsoft corporate VP Julia Liuson told me, it won’t include the business intelligence stack yet (though this part will be added over time). For users, though, what’s maybe most important is that they will soon be able to run SQL Server on Linux and in Linux-based Docker containers, giving them more choice in how they want to deploy their databases (assuming they decide to go with SQL Server and not one of its competitors, of course).

The new version of SQL Server will include improved support for R Services and a number of new machine learning and deep neural networking features.
SQL Server for Linux is just another example of how Microsoft’s view of competing platforms has changed in recent years. This move would’ve been unthinkable under its former CEO Steve Ballmer. Under Satya Nadella, however, the company’s mission is to bring its services and tools to where its customers are, even if that’s not on a Microsoft-owned operating system.
In addition to the SQL Server for Linux news, Microsoft also today announced the preview of Linux support for Azure App Service. Oh, and in order to puts its money where its mouth it, Microsoft is also joining the Linux Foundation.
For SQL Server users on Windows, Microsoft also today announced both the release of the first service pack for SQL Server 2016, as well as a change to its pricing structure: all SQL Server users — including those using the free edition — will now get access to the developer features that were previously restricted to the Enterprise edition.

Allo and Duo: How are they holding up?

It's been about 3 months since Google released its new video calling app, Duo, and just under two months since Allo, its new messaging app, was released. These two services were a pretty big deal at Google I/O earlier this year, but despite the intriguing features of both apps, skepticism was prevalent - even among enthusiasts - considering Google's history of support (or lack thereof) for their other messaging services, namely Google Talk (RIP) and Hangouts.

So how are things going a few months after the fact?

I wrote about my initial impressions of both. I was, and remain, pleasantly surprised by Duo. If you're looking for a no-frills video call app, Duo is an exceptionally simple choice. I've already recommended Duo to a couple of people who have downloaded it and agreed that its simplicity is an appealing factor, and have even kept it. I don't do much video calling myself, but when I do I use Duo when I can.

Allo, on the other hand, I'm not as happy with. I'm willing to adopt new messaging platforms if they're ultimately better than the one that I'm using. I've written a couple of times how I've become fond of Textra since returning to Android back in May, which is the app that I continue to use today. Allo had potential – and I guess it still has potential – but without SMS support or a desktop client, it just won't catch on.

Well, I guess I can't say it doesn't support SMS. It technically does, but in an extremely annoying way. When you send an SMS to a friend who isn't using Allo, they're pandered to download the app each time you send a text. I wasn't about to keep dealing with that, so texting people with Allo is currently out of the question. Allo developers have hinted that they could be adding SMS support in the future, along with a desktop client, Duo integration, and some other features that really should have been there from the get-go. Today, Google announced that they would add themes and sticker predictions (you know, the important stuff). As a messaging app, Allo is a flop.

Despite its shortcomings, Allo isn't completely useless. Allo is currently the only way for most Android users to access the Google Assistant, which I found to be quite enjoyable. However, I'm more excited at the prospect of Google Assistant being integrated into Android rather than going through Allo, like it is on Pixel devices.

I'm torn. I do like Duo, but I wanted to like both Duo and Allo. I wanted a messaging system on Android that made me stop missing iMessage, and Google's current iteration of Duo and Allo simply don't do that for me. There's a good chance that the apps flourish and are unified in time, but I'm just not sure I can put that kind of faith in Google yet. I loved where Hangouts was heading once upon a time, but instead of working on fixing it issues, Google went in a completely different direction that ultimately ended up in the company supporting three different messaging apps. Not only do we have Hangouts and Allo, but there's also Google Messenger, which is currently working on rolling out RCS (Rich Communication Services). There's just a lot going on, and none of it is unified, nor does it make much sense.

I suppose it is nice that Duo and Allo are currently separate apps, because I likely would not care for Duo if I had to use it with Allo in its current state. I'll continue to use Duo for video calls, but when it comes to messaging I'm going to pass on Allo and Messenger and stick with Textra, who is also (thankfully) working on implementing RCS and has plenty of other features that I enjoy.

Angular 3 coming hot on the heels of Angular 2

Fresh from the long-awaited release of its Angular 2 JavaScript framework in mid-September, Google will release Angular 3 in a few short months.
Expected in March, Angular 3 will focus on improved tooling and a reduction in generated code, said Rob Wormald, of the Angular core team and a developer advocate at Google. It will feature a template compiler that provides feedback in an IDE on errors in a template, and it will generate 25 percent less code, thanks to improved compilation and changes in the framework's underlying mechanics.
While more than two years passed between the April 2012 introduction of the 1.0 line and the Sept. 15 debut of the rewritten Angular 2 framework, Angular 3 gets a much-accelerated release schedule. Wormald promised a new major version twice a year from now on. "This is just semantic versioning in action for us and it means that we will every six months have a predictable release schedule," he stated.
Wormald said he was not aware of any features that would be deprecated in Angular 3, but when features are to be deprecated, the Angular team will let developers know ahead of time and keep supporting that feature for two major release cycles.
Unlike Angular 2, Angular 3 is not a rewrite. "There's nobody on the team who ever wants to rewrite a framework again," said Wormald. Using TypeScript, Microsoft's typed superset of JavaScript, Angular 2 was rewritten to allow decoupling of the framework from the DOM to enable use of multiple renderers.

How do I master python from scratch for free?

online resources and all for free. Here are a few free resources -

1. Online courses - https://www.coursera.org/learn/python, https://www.coursera.org/course/... , https://www.coursera.org/course/...
2. A very basic online course - Python
3. Interactive Tutorial - Learn Python - Free Interactive Python Tutorial
4. Written Tutorials and Lessons - Learn Python The Hard Way
5. Learn python syntax quickly - Learn python in Y Minutes
6. The best resource really is the Python Docs - Python 2.7.11rc1 documentation - It is really vast and contains references to each and every library function.

Here is a list of the best resources  to follow to learn python -

1. MIT OCW - MIT uses python for teaching major portion of their courses including introduction to computer science, introduction to algorithms, data structures and advanced data structures.
1. MITx 6.00x : Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python
2. MIT Introduction to algorithms Introduction to Algorithms (SMA 5503)
3. MIT Introduction to Algorithms
4. MIT 6.851 - Advanced Data Structures
2. Python Book - Welcome to Python for you and me , Amazing hands on approach
3. Google’s Python Class - Google's Python Class Covers advanced topics like yield, generators etc

I'm not a genius. Can I get a job at companies like Google by just working hard?

Yes, you can get a job by working hard. You don't have to be a genius to get a job at Google, or pretty much anywhere.

The most important thing to be successful at a job, in my experience, is precisely what you say, working hard. That doesn't mean you spend all day moving bricks if you're supposed to be programming, it means you focus on your work, you learn relevant related things, and you keep an eye out for new opportunities. You develop a reputation for doing what you set out for do, and for identifying problems early, notifying your colleagues / managers as appropriate, and addressing the problems.

That doesn't take genius, just a good work ethic.

Getting the job in the first place is a bit trickier. The hardest part is getting an interview.

If your goal is to work at a software company like Google or Facebook, you'll need to do some planning to maximize your chances of getting and passing an interview. Attend a university the companies you care about recruit from. Get a relevant degree. Try for internships each year. Sign up for campus interviews when they visit your campus.

Keep in touch with people who share your goals: you can help each other later by referring one another for jobs in the company you're in, which will help move them to the front of the line.

So yes, work hard, succeed. Don't worry about being a genius, I know geniuses who were never able to get a job anywhere more interesting than a hotel desk.

But No. Not just by working hard.

But thankfully - it DOESN'T take a genius to work smart :)

So here's how:

1. Google 'How to get a job at Google'
2. Put all links into a spreadsheet
3. Put together 30 links
4. Read said 30 links
5. Catalogue data
1. How to get an interview
2. How to prepare for the interview
3. How to crack the job interview
4. How to improve your current resume  with life experience
5. How to network your way into Google
6. If you do all of the above you'll probably know more about it than anyone on this thread
7. If you work fast all of the above shouldn't take more than one day. Maybe two.

tips for surviving - and winning - political arguments on Facebook

Today is Election Day, which means Facebook posts (and thus arguments) about Trump and Hillary are inevitable.
Judging by our newsfeeds, these political debates don't always go down gracefully.
So Business Insider consulted Daniel Post Senning, an online-etiquette expert and the author of "Manners in a Digital World," about how to discuss politics online. Here are a few of his tips.

First, decide if it's worth it.

Before you post or comment, you should decide how much you care about actually having the discussion, Post Senning says. In the heat of the moment, some discussions can seem more significant than they actually are.
"Some issues are life and death," he says. "Ask yourself, is the discussion itself as important? Is it really going to improve the issue?"
Go in with a clear goal or outcome that you're trying to gain from the conversation, he adds. If you're just looking to troll or make a personal attack, refrain from posting. But if your intention is to have a civil discussion, you should engage accordingly.

Avoid political discussion on holidays.

AP
Hillary, Bill, and Chelsea Clinton.
The election will end on November 8, but arguments about the winner's future leadership will likely come up during Thanksgiving or Christmas.
There's a long-standing etiquette rule that you shouldn't talk about politics at the dinner table - and especially during holiday get-togethers with the family. Post Senning says the same guideline applies online.
If you want to post a political article, consider waiting until the holiday has passed. Most people won't want to have discussions about polarizing topics on Thanksgiving or Christmas, he says.

Show respect.

One of the most important rules is: Don't make things personal.
"Don't question someone's intelligence or integrity," Post Senning says. "Make your argument about the situation or issue, not the person you're talking to."
If you want to survive and win a political argument on Facebook, it's best to separate the person from their politics.



Carlo Allegri/Reuters
Donald Trump.

Illustrate your point with a specific, living example.

Don't keep things abstract or general, Post Senning says.
People are able to understand another point of view better when they can put a face or specific situation to an issue. To make your point stronger, try talking about your own experience.
As Hanna Rosin discussed on an episode of the podcast "Invisibilia," people's views are guided by their frame of reference. We don't see the world for what it objectively is, but how we feel the world is.
"It's rare you're going to win an argument or change someone's opinion by using logic alone," Post Senning says. "It's important to build accord, rather than just point out information from a source."

Listen.

Thomson Reuters
Trump speaks as Clinton listens during their third and final 2016 presidential campaign debate at UNLV in Las Vegas.
Listening is just as important as what you write, Post Senning says.
It's best to look at things from the other person's perspective, so that you gain a better understanding of their worldview. You're more likely to have a nuanced argument when both parties honestly listen to each other.

Know when to retreat.

Unfortunately, other people might not want to have a civil political discussion on Facebook, Post Senning says.
If things escalate and someone doesn't treat you with respect, it's best to back out of the thread.
"You need to be OK with not getting the last word," he says.
Of course, once you sign off, there are plenty of ways you can make a difference.
Whether or not you engage in Facebook or Twitter debates, make sure to vote.

Job Profiles That Might Be Stopping Your Growth in Future

Today, jobs and skills arena are upgrading and evolving continuously. However, with time, some relevant skills became redundant, mostly because of advancement and transformation in working climate at industries.


The industries look for those who can proactively align and cohere themselves delimiting new challenges. "Rapid developments and transformations across sectors are likely to reinvent the way we work. Additionally, jobs that currently don't exist may become the hottest jobs in the future," said Irfan Abdulla, director of talent solutions at LinkedIn India.


Product manager in FMCG sector


Traditional forms of delivery (the way FMCG products reach out to the consumers) are changing and that requires polishing.


FMCG is now hugely connected to E-commerce space, which in turn doesn’t move an inch without social media. So, a product head on some website is responsible for point of sale, branding, dealer distributor work for delivery. This might put traditional FMCG product manager’s job at peril. Salaries vary by 30-35% increment.


Data Analyst in FMCG sector


"The role of a data analyst is itself undergoing a sea change, primarily because better technology is available now to aid in decision-making," said Sumit Mitra, head of group human resources and corporate services at GILAC.


Data is crucial to understand human behavior and response, which ultimately benefits companies to decide and identify trends quickly. This responsibility is currently experiencing a demand-supply gap.


UX designers in technology


Having being evolved from the stylistic endeavor to one that solves spiky technology and social problems, scholars in this field must enhance and correlate their skills with various fields such as machine learning, applied science, contextual intelligence, environmental and material design, etc.


Quality testing in technology


Reportedly, tech companies in the US have got rid of about 63,000 positions this year alone. What brings disruption to this space is automation. “More and more jobs are likely to get reinvented with automation. With the rise in complexity of technology, automated testing will stay and grow.


Digital architect


In IT industry, an enterprise architect shapes the solution for clients and provides the delivery of it. The role embeds responsibilities like integration, ERP, SCM, E-commerce, etc. Besides core language computing, a digital architect must add understanding of Design Patterns, XP, .NET, Java/J2EE or similar industry standards.