javax.mail.MessagingException: 501 Syntax: HELO hostname

I Googled around and found a number of articles and blog posts that all said the same thing – that the host name is not properly set on the server. In my case, the server host name was set just fine. I was left scratching my head until I found one StackOverflow post that referenced the /etc/hosts file. I took a peak at the server and realized that the hosts file was complete wrong. Instead of

127.0.0.1    mydevbox

it was…

mydevbox     127.0.0.1

…a simple mistake by the sysadmin. But it completely broke the Java Mail API.

This mistake was also causing the following ehCache exception during app startup.

ERROR ehcache.Cache  - Unable to set localhost. 
This prevents creation of a GUID. Cause was: mydevbox: mydevbox
java.net.UnknownHostException: mydevbox: mydevbox

A simple change to the /etc/hosts solved both problems.

Internet Explorer does not support console.log but you will never know that once you open the Developer Tools!

Internet Explorer 8’s javascript support is less than stellar. Its better than it was, but still far from perfect. If you are like me, you probably develop your apps with a real browser like Chrome, Safari, or perhaps some of  are still using Firefox. Then you run it in IE and hope for the best. So when I finished coding a new release today, everything ran fine in IE so out the door it went.

Sure enough, a few hours later, the client comes back reporting a bug. My javascript was broken but for the life of me I couldn’t find where or why. It turns out that I had gotten lazy and left an unwrapped console.log message in my code. There are a million blogs out there that show you how to safe guard against this for IE  (window.console && console.log && console.log(”foo bar”); ). But I was lazy.

I admit… its partially my fault. But here is why I hate IE – once you open the Developer Tools, console.log is available from that point forward. An end user that has no idea what the Developer Tools are will see code that crashes due to an “Unsupported Object or Property”, essentially a Null Pointer Exception. But as a developer who has used the Developer Tools, everything works fine and dandy. Ugh.

So take heed. Don’t be lazy and leave unchecked console.log messages in your code. If you do, it could cause trouble for your users without you even realizing it.

This is the perfect opportunity for recent grads or junior level developers looking to be part of the mobile technology boom. You will work hands-on with Thorn Technologies founder and owner, Jeff Thorn, who has been at the forefront of mobile software development for over a decade. This position provides an excellent opportunity for advancement in a young business that is flourishing in a very exciting industry.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in mobile application development. Experience building and submitting apps to the iPhone Store or Android Market is a strong plus. Strong knowledge of web application development, including a thorough understanding of the HTTP Protocol is required. Candidates must be familiar with the following programming languages / technologies:  Java (J2SE and J2EE), Java Servlets, Tomcat, Linux, MySQL, PHP, Subversion, HTML5, CSS3, Object Oriented Javascript, Android SDK, iPhone SDK, and Objective C.  Experience with web application frameworks, such as Groovy/Grails or Ruby on Rails, is a strong plus. Successful candidates will possess the ability to learn on their own and quickly pick up new technologies.

Interested candidates should send resumes to resumes@thorntechnologies.com. U.S. citizens only. No recruiters please.

Company: Thorn Technologies LLC

Type: 6 Month Temp to Perm. Entry/Junior level.

Salary: Competitive

Industry: Mobile Application Development
Web Application Development
Computer Software

Location: Telecommute and onsite at client offices.
Must be local to the Baltimore / Washington DC area.

Education: B.S. in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or equivalent 4 year degree

Experience: Software Engineers with 1-3 years of experience. Recent grads welcome.