I have a new article on different ways in which you can synchronize your Unix files.
From the intro:
There are many tools available that allow you to synchronize files across UNIX directories, but doing it effectively, and securely, takes a little bit more effort. This article looks at solutions for synchronizing files across UNIX filesystems and different computer systems securely, and at solutions that allow you to synchronize encrypted versions of your files for the purposes of backup.
File synchronization is the process of adding, changing, or deleting a file in one location, and having the same file added to, changed, or deleted at another location. This article covers three utilties, cp, tar, and rsync, that can aid with synchronization of UNIX files. While cp and tar commands have limited synchronization abilities, rsync provides you with the full range of options; however, all three have their place.
Of particular interest is a script that provides an encrypted wrapper around rsync, which I use to provide a nice secure rsync-able backup.
A new article on Ten XML Schemas that you should be aware of is now available at IBM developerWorks. The article collects together some of the XML schemas that I think are important.
In this article, look at some top XML schemas that provide solutions for all sorts of problems, from the basics of Web services to data description. You’ll also cover database-like solutions that involve contacts and invoices. The schemas in this article were chosen for their usefulness and utility, plus their impact on the XML community in how information is shared and exchanged using the XML format.
A new article on some of the best XML usage habits is now available. The article aims to look at some of the main trips and mistakes made by people when using XML as a data or processing format:
Make your XML work easier with the ten tips in this article – ultimately you’ll be less prone to errors and more productive.
You love XML and the flexibility and interoperability that it offers, but you can do some things to make your interaction with XML and the tools that you use to work with it significantly easier. Picking up some basic good habits when you work with XML will ensure that you get the most efficient use out of your XML documentations and applications.