OS X Snow Leopard GLUT problem

So recently I installed OS X Snow Leopard on my Macbook Pro after knowing the 10.6.2 solves the problem in Autodesk Maya. However, I forget to install XCode so I used XCode 3.1.2 and hell what did I find. All my GLUT based program is a total mess. First of all, it does not compile. So I downloaded version 3.2 and it compiled. But then, the next problem is the screen did not refreshed. Means that I have to switch windows to 'force' GLUT to redraw. I am not really sure what happened, but when I updated my mac, the problems suddenly vanished (forever I hope).

I know that Apple has been very mean to non-updated software/hardware but this is very crucial. GLUT is really important in graphic based programming, how come they missed this. OS X Snow Leopard is a great price/performance update but bugs just popping in. Luckily Apple are good at updating software but I really hope I don't have to spend more times on figuring out wether this is a bug or just an error code.

Lesson learned: update OS X, update XCode, and you'll be find until further notice ;)

Programming: blank password not recognized in UNIX?

So I'm using OS X (a UNIX based OS) and try to do things in terminal. I rarely use password on my personal computer, so I just skipped it in OS X installation. Apparently, OS X recognized my password as empty/no character. So if any program required and admin permission, it will ask for a password and I just keep it blank and continue. 

Apparently, when trying to do a sudo command on UNIX, it does the same thing: it asks password. However, if I keep it blank, Im not recognized as admin: I failed to write files to specific folders such as /usr/local/... . 

The solution is to change my password so its not blank. I works fine after that. 

Anyone else experience the same problem? Is my theory is true?

5 things on Windows I want to have on Mac

There are reasons why PC Users dont want to switch to OS X, and Software compatibility is the main cause. I as a mac user, sometimes cry alone on my bed envying folks using software that I really want, but not compatible in OS X(unless you do virtualization and stuff). So you may have your wish list, I have mine. So here they are:

1. Autodesk 3D Studio Max

Its like the collest 3D Application ever(citation needed). I've tried Maya, Lightwave, and a little bit of Cinema4D but no one can beat 3DS Max(citation needed). Well then since I chose my path as an Apple Fan, bye bye Max, welcome Maya. Let see what it can do.

2. Total War series

There are two kind of people: those who like/will like/should like Total War, and idiots. I mean, cmon, hundreds and thousands of guys under your command, killing each other, blood everywhere, who wont like it. There are 7 series of Total War(including expansion), I got 7 of them. The next one, Empire, is really promising. But I can only wish I can play it :(

3. Paintbrush

Great application for emergency small image editing task such as cropping, cropping, and cropping. We Mac also have a few competitor for Paintbrush but honestly, nothing as convenient and efficient and fast as paintbrush. Ow yeah...

4. Garena Client Application

If you play Warcraft 3, and play it online, I really dont have to describe why we need Garena. If dont, well then... youre not my type of friend :p Here is the short info: it is one of the most famous gaming server for PC, and yes it has lots and lots of user. Battle.net might be cool but Garena is a third party server. It means they will develop it more and more by time even if Blizzard leave their attention to another game *cough wow cough*

5. Visual Studio

Well, maybe this one is a little bit too much to ask. But hey... dont stop imagining things ;) Ive been through a lot of development IDE and I must say (even compared to XCode) VS is the best editor I've ever used. Good code sensing, simple file management and nice layout. XCode is good too but its too premature to give a head to head comparison between them. 

So there you go. My big 5. Im currently enjoying my life with OS X but God knows for how long. Good luck, Lord Jobso.