Hello. I am Paul Kinlan.

I've been experimenting with XLinq in C# 3.0, but I'm not impressed with its querying capabilities. It seems to require loading the entire XML document into memory, which caused problems when I tried to process a 900MB file. A simple XML reader was much more efficient for this task. I'd like to see an XLinq implementation that can process XML data in a streaming fashion, similar to SAX or XmlReader, to avoid memory issues. This would make it more practical for large documents. Perhaps XLinq already supports this, but I haven't found how. For now, it seems best suited for smaller files.

I recently commented on an old blog post about C# 3.0, expressing initial agreement with a sentiment against functional programming in the industry. However, upon reflection, I realized C# 3.0 isn't purely functional but rather integrates some academic concepts into a practical context for industry use. While still learning C# 3.0, functional programming, and LINQ, I've found my tests using these features to be clearer and more presentable. Although there's a learning curve, especially with the generic delegate syntax and translating between "SQL" and object syntax, I'm embracing the ongoing learning process.

I just got Sky+ installed and it's awesome! I've set it to record my favorite shows like Stargate SG1 and The Simpsons. I have the Toshiba 80GB model with two USB ports, but I've heard they're not functional. If you have any cool Sky+ tips, email me!

I'm thrilled to announce the launch of my new blog on topicala.com! Visit http://www.topicala.com/blog to stay updated on all the latest news and developments related to my Topicala aggregating search engine.

My friend, Paul Pierce, has started a new blog! He plans to cover various topics, including .Net. He's already got a helpful post up about using NMock 2. I encourage you to check it out, it is very good - possibly even better than mine. Visit his blog here: http://www.paulpierce.co.uk

In this post, I explored C# 3.0 and XLinq by parsing a music style XML document from MusicMoz. I created a simple class "TagCategory" to store the style name and category. Then, using XLinq, I loaded the XML, extracted the "style" elements, and created a List of TagCategory objects. The code concisely retrieves and stores the data using object initializers. Feel free to share your feedback or suggestions for improvement!

I've just added OPML output to Topicala, my topical result aggregation engine. Now, all results displayed on the site are also available in OPML format. Check it out and let me know what you think!

I'm excited to announce the launch of my new project, Topicala! It's a topical search aggregator where you enter a topic and discover all the related information. It's almost complete, just needs a few bug fixes and OPML output. Try it out with some example searches and give me your feedback!

I've created a tool that converts BBC program listings into iCal format, allowing you to subscribe to a calendar of your favorite shows. Just add the program keyword to the end of "http://www.kinlan.co.uk/bbc/" (e.g., "http://www.kinlan.co.uk/bbc/breakfast") to get the iCal feed. You can then add this feed to Google Calendar, MS Outlook, or other calendar applications to stay updated on program schedules. I'm still developing this, so feedback and suggestions are welcome!

I've been busy with side projects lately, so the blog has been quiet. One project should be released this week. Another is a .Net 2.0/ASP.Net 2.0 hosted site for examples from this blog (and to help me learn .Net). It's behind schedule, but will eventually host controls, tutorials, etc. More info soon on the first project. And, btw, the FIELDSET tag is awesome!