Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2012 May 24

= May 24 =

new language
anyone know where i can learn (in full if possible) html, php, cgi script, bash script, css, and coffee script? (if you know of one or more, not all on the same site, that would be great.) thanks Abbey1997 811-a (talk) 04:57, 24 May 2012 (UTC)


 * w3schools. Just google them, they have lots of stuff. Nothing is complete, and it keeps changing, but this will get you off the ground. Focus on the examples, and play around in their interactive window. Fun and quite efficient, IBE (talk) 06:59, 24 May 2012 (UTC)


 * http://w3fools.com/ Nothing is complete, but some things are actually consistently wrong. ¦ Reisio (talk) 18:22, 24 May 2012 (UTC)


 * There is no learning anything "in full" — you learn the basic grammar, the major constructs, and then you figure out more as you program. I recommend picking one or a few of those to start with, finding a tutorial (google php tutorial, for example), and work through it. I doubt you really will need all of those very urgently; if you are trying to wrap your head around web app development, HTML (a pretty quick learn — you can probably pick up the basics in a day or two), CSS (easy to get the basics of, hard to master), PHP (longer learn if you've never programmed before), and Javascript (easy if you know HTML, CSS, and PHP), in that order, will probably be enough. Bash scripting can be useful but unless you are working as a server admin you probably won't need too much of it anytime soon. CGI scripting is just another former of server side scripting; learn PHP first and then see if you need more than that. --Mr.98 (talk) 12:54, 24 May 2012 (UTC)

thank you ibe, reisio, mr98. ps: im 15, so im not an admin lol. Abbey1997 811-a (talk) 23:39, 24 May 2012 (UTC)


 * You could be. I could even find some current, old admins who are less inquisitive than you are, and consequently less useful. :p Have fun out there. ¦ Reisio (talk) 21:05, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Microsoft Word digital signature numerical value
Does anyone know how I can look at the numerical value of a digital signature in Microsoft Word 2010? I don't mean the fingerprint of the signer's digital certificate. Jc3s5h (talk) 10:57, 24 May 2012 (UTC)


 * Solved. Just rename the file to end in ".zip", open it, and poke around. Jc3s5h (talk) 11:30, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

VirtualBox's virtual monitor
I have Windows in VirtualBox on my Mac. The window (virtual monitor) is way too small to let me work in the style to which I've grown accustomed, and I can't find a way to embiggen it; the Display control only asks how much memory to give it. Am I doomed to cramped disappointment? —Tamfang (talk) 17:53, 24 May 2012 (UTC)
 * Install Guest Additions (Devices > Install Guest Additions) then simply re-size the window using the gripper at the bottom right. Or, change the display settings from within Windows; in Windows XP right click on the desktop -> properties -> settings tab and then move the screen resolution slider. In Vista/7 right click on the desktop -> personalize -> Display (under "see also") -> change display settings. AvrillirvA (talk) 18:04, 24 May 2012 (UTC)
 * Couldn't find Devices, but to my surprise Windows did let me change the resolution. Huh. Thanks. —Tamfang (talk) 20:11, 25 May 2012 (UTC)

Analytical Engine virus
Had it been built, would it have been possible for the Analytical Engine to become infected with a computer virus? Whoop whoop pull up Bitching Betty 20:38, 24 May 2012 (UTC)


 * A computer virus is just an unintended or undesirable program. If it could run programs, someone could slip in a punch card into a stack that would hijack the existing procedures and just rudely output "80085" over and over again, and I guess we could call that a virus. (It would probably be a pain to locate and remove the rogue cards if they were cleverly inserted into the stack.) If you mean, could it have run a program that somehow self-replicated... well, I don't really see how. It didn't have much "memory," per say, and it couldn't output its own programs, so that would seem to put a limit on replication. --Mr.98 (talk) 22:43, 24 May 2012 (UTC)


 * Um, what? First line of computer virus:

"A computer virus is a computer program that can replicate itself"
 * An unintended function is a bug, and an undesirable program is malware. As for whether or not it could be infected... I suppose you could infect the punch card inputs. Not sure if that counts. --Wirbelwind ヴィルヴェルヴィント (talk) 22:54, 24 May 2012 (UTC)
 * I think the key here is that the analytical engine is turing complete. That means it could, in theory at least, simulate any computation or program possible on even today's computers, including a virus. Having said that, a program running on a single computer with no means of infecting other computers is not really a "virus". Only the invention of easily transportable media, such as floppy disks, gave the virus a practical "vector" for infecting other computers, and obviously then computer networks and eventually the internet eliminated the need for physically transportable media. The analytical engine could have certainly been programmed with something resembling a computer virus, but without a transmission "vector" it would have been pointless. Vespine (talk) 04:11, 25 May 2012 (UTC)
 * The AE was intended to read its program from punched cards, and to be capable of creating punched cards as output, so in principle there could be a transmission route. But when we think about having a whole bunch of AEs transmitting viruses to each other via people carrying around decks of punched cards, we're getting into the realm of the exceptionally bizarre. Looie496 (talk) 20:30, 25 May 2012 (UTC)
 * I think you've just thrown down the gauntlet to Sidney Padua. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 90.197.66.211 (talk) 19:15, 28 May 2012 (UTC)

file "a"
i downloaded an article. in the files folder i found a file called "a". it a text editor, it had my ip address, and city. anyone know why? thanks, Abbey1997 811-a (talk) 23:32, 24 May 2012 (UTC)
 * It comes from http://geoiplookup.wikimedia.org. It is used to put country-specific notices at the top of pages, see Geonotice AvrillirvA (talk) 23:51, 24 May 2012 (UTC)