WynApse

I can understand my client's IT department blocking MySpace, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. I might not like it that Twitter is blocked, but I do understand. I don't understand if they work so hard keeping their employees off Internet sites, then why they allow them to use IM on the Intranet, but hey... that's why I write software, not set policy I guess.

So today's exercise in useless time is spent getting ready for a software audit. Now, of course, I'm not dumb enough to be running a cracked copy of anything, but I AM running tools that I've installed that are free or I hold a license. Tools such as:

• SlickRun -- app launcher and quick note-taker, like the Vista start menu launcher only for non-Vista machines
• FreeWheel -- if you aren't aware of it, the mouse wheel does not work inside most of Access. FreeWheel gets you around that
• PrimoPDF -- installs and appears like a printer, but produces a PDF file
• Command Here Power Toy -- lets you open a Command Window on any folder
• Treesize Free -- tells you how much space a folder is chewing up
• Maxthon -- corporately they are using IE6, and I want tabs and to be able to open groups, enter Maxthon, an IE wrapper that works just great for all that
• MbUnit
• NUnit
• Script#
• ToadFree -- the tool we've used for years building stored procs/functions/etc on Oracle
• OneNote -- I own the license on this
• Silverlight

So the rule reads:

"Prior to the self-audit, you should check you[sic] computer(s) to ensure all software is:

• Properly licensed
• Company owned
• If not part of the standard image or downloaded from the xxx web site, installation was approved through X, Y, or Z"

Therefore, the software has to either be on the image they originally installed, or something downloaded from an internal vetted site of freeware, or secured by a variance according to one of 3 different policies.

I looked at the freeware site, and huge surprise, there's all sorts of freeware tools out there that the IT folks might want. Of course there is... they make up most of the songs we all dance to, and they don't want to have to uninstall all THEIR productivity tools.

Sigh... yeah, yeah... I know Silverlight isn't a productivity tool... but I'm not sure how I can work without Toad, and I've trained myself to become reliant upon OneNote to the point that I don't want to work without it.

I guess it means getting used to loading my backpack in the morning instead of my bag, because my backpack is how I bring in my laptop, and I'll just have it sitting here alongside me for taking notes, since that's a pretty large deal breaker with the whole licensing thing not belonging to the company.  I'll try to hand-wave Toad, and maybe they won't find Silverlight. The rest I'll just have to do without until some time after the audit that I decide I can reinstall.

But boy... we ARE being productive...