If you are trying to run bundle install or rake version:write ib windows and receive the message The 'json' native gem requires installed build tools or 

Gem::InstallError: The 'json' native gem requires installed build tools.

Please update your PATH to include build tools 

you can resolve by doing the following:

Visit  

http://rubyinstaller.org/downloads

and download the development kit (make sure you download the link for the development kit, not ruby,etc) 

Once downloaded, follow the instructions on:

https://github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller/wiki/Development-Kit 

The following instructions are for installing apache and php on Windows XP:

1. Download the apache msi from the apache website
2. Run the msi, you can use localhost for the Domain and Server.  The admin email can be what you like
3. If you choose the default install dir, the files will be placed at C:\Program Files\Apache Software Foundation\Apache2.2
4. By defualt the "home" directory is htdocs
5. If you are running IIS on the same server, it will be using port 80, so you need to change apache to use another port to do this edit the conf\httpd.conf file:
   
   Listen 8000
   
   ServerName localhost:8000
   
   
6. Restart apache, then you should be able to browse to http://localhost:8000
7. If you want to change the home directory edit httpd.conf:
   
   DocumentRoot "C:\All\htdocs"
   
   and change the <Directory...> to
   <Directory "C:/All/htdocs">
   
   
8. Next for the php install, download the latest php zip file (I downloaded php-5.2.8)
   
9. Unzip to program files\php-5.2.8
10. Copy php.ini.dist to C:\Windows and rename to php.ini
11. Now we configure apache to run php
12. Copy php5ts.dll to the bin dir under your apache install directory
    
13. Edit http.conf to include:
    
    LoadModule php5_module "C:/Program Files/php-5.2.8/php5apache2_2.dll"
    AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
    AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps
    
    
14. Restart apache
15. Create a file in your home dir (by default htpdocs) called info.php and add:
    
    <? phpinfo(); ?>
    
16. Browse to http://localhost:8000/info.php and you should see your system info
    
    

If you receive the following error message Mysql::Error: Unknown system variable 'NAMES': SET NAMES 'utf8' when trying to run MySQL with ruby on rails it may be due to the version of MySQL you are running.  I was receiving this error when running a basic ROR app as well as when trying to run a migration rake db:migrate.

Turns out I was using MySQL version 4.0.12-nt which is not supported with the most recent version of rails. 

 I had MySQL 5.1 running on a different port, so I also needed to update the database.yml file to specify the port.  If you need to specify a MySQL port with rails, you need to add port: to the yml file...mine ended up looking like: 

  host: localhost
  port: 3307

 With those changes in place, I was then able to run my rails app and migrations.

Below is a list of software development podcasts, IT Podcasts, and general computer related podcasts. Please add commnets on podcasts you enjoy...

.NET Rocks - This is a really good (quality and content) podcast that focuses on .NET development.  While the main focus is .NET there is a fair amount of content that applies to general computing and development such as design patterns, agilie practices, and more.

Software Engineerig Radio - This podcast provides an excellent variaty of topics that span technologies, languages, platforms, methodologies, etc. The shows can be rather technical and geared more toward knowledgable developers, but still offer a wealth of knowledge for beginners through experts.

Hansel Minutes - This is a weekly podcast that is primarily focused on Microsoft technologies but also includes other technologies and topics from time to time (for example digital photography).  While Scott is a Microsoft employee, the cast is rather open to non MS technologies and techniques such as TDD, ALT.NET, etc.

The Java Posse - This is an excellent podcast focused on the Java language, platform, and related technologies.  It provides both technical information as well as news and events within the Java community.

Buzz Out Loud - This is a daily podcast that is a summary of news and events relating to technology.  The personalities of the hosts really help to seperate this podcast from the usually news recap type shows...certainly worth checking out...

Polymorphic Podcast - A good podcast focusing on development and .NET.  The podcasts sometimes include screencasts and overall provides a lot of good content.

SSWUG - A database centric podcast dealing mainly with SQL Server but does include topics on other RBDMS as general database best practices.

Slashdot Review -  While at times biased, this can be a quick and informative cast.

Google Developer Podcast - Hopefully this will be a good resource to learn more about the technolgy offerings available through google.

Windows Weekly Podcast - Interesting take on the windows world.

ALT.NET Podcasts - A really good podcast that covers topics that all developrs should familiarize themselves with.

Deep Fried Bytes Podcast - Good podcast focusing on mainly Microsoft development

Thirsty Developer - Another good developer podcast focusing mainly on .NET

herdingcode.com - Good podcast relating to development

WebDevRadio - Covers web development

eCorner - Stanford entreprenure podcast 

Stackoverflow - development podcast 

ThoughtWorks - Business and technology topics

Agile Toolkit - topics relating to Agile development 

Udi Dahan - SOA podcast 

Endpoint.tv - New show hosted by Ron Jacobs on REST, SOA, web services, etc. 

http://pixel8.infragistics.com/default.aspx - UI, UX, RIA info

Finacial Physician

Railscast - webcasts on Ruby on Rails

Rails Podcast - podcasts on RoR

FLOSS - Weekly podcast on free and open source software

GiaOM - weekly show about technology and business 

Pragmatic Programmers - Interesting tech podcasts

Rails Envy - Regular podcast on Ruby on Rails

The Start Up Success Podcast - Name says it all...

This Week in Start Ups - Podcast on business and technology

Mobil Orchard - iPhone development topics

Stuff You Should Know - Variety of interesting topics from science to general knowledge....quite entertaining....

I ran into an issue when trying to activate an Enterprise edition of Windows Server 2008.  I had installed the software from my MSDN account and when I tried to activate the software, I received a "DNS name does not exist" error.  To fix this problem, I had to re-enter the product key for the software.  After entering the product key (I just entered the key that was already entered from the install) I was then able to activate the software.