Abstract: A method for providing fully automated software development services using only preexisting proprietary software to perform the software development, thus eliminating the human programmer from the software development process. The software, running on network accessible computers, receives a set of requirements that defines for it the nature of some custom software that it should develop/create. Based on the input, the preexisting proprietary software then develops the custom software source code as “work made for hire”, compiles the code, installs the compiled code onto one of its own computers and runs tests against the software to prove that the developed software satisfies the supplied requirements. The results of the test are presented to the customer and, if the test results are approved by the customer, the developed custom software or source code is then made available for downloading by the customer after they have paid for the software development services used to create that software.

Abstract: A method for enabling a software developer to provide software development services to an end user. The software developer has a website and other network accessible computers that the end user can access to define for the software developer the nature of the custom source code or software to be developed for the end user. Based on the input by the end user, the software developer then develops, compiles and installs on one of its own computers the defined custom software or source code for review and testing online by the end user. The developed custom software or source code is made available for downloading onto the end user's computer once the end user has approved it online after review and testing. The custom software or source code is “work for hire” and is owned by the end user who has exclusive intellectual property rights therein.

Abstract: A method for enabling a software developer to provide software development services to an end user. The software developer has a website and other network accessible computers that the end user can access to define for the software developer the nature of the source code or software to be developed for the end user. Based on the input by the end user, the software developer then develops, compiles and installs on one of its own computers the defined software or source code for review and testing online by the end user. The developed software or source code is made available for downloading onto the end user's computer once the end user has approved it online after review and testing.

Abstract: An Er:YAG laser system has a resonant cavity including an Er:YAG rod pulse-pumped by a pulsed flashlamp. The pump-pulse repetition rate and average power is selected to provide a known essentially constant thermal-lensing power in the Er:YAG rod. Design parameters of the Er:YAG rod and the resonant cavity are selected to compensate for this thermal-lensing power. A shutter in the resonant cavity, when closed or open, respectively prevents or allows a laser output-pulse to be generated in response to a pump-pulse. Laser output-pulse duration is continuously variable and is controlled by controlling the duration of flashlamp-pulses. A sequence of laser output-pulses is controlled by opening and closing the shutter. This arrangement has the advantage that the laser output-pulse repetition rate can be selected to be the flashlamp-pulse repetition rate or some sub-multiple thereof while maintaining thermal-lensing power in the rod essentially constant and compensated for.

Abstract: A laser power supply including circuitry for converting standard, 115-120 volt, AC power from a wall outlet to current pulses for powering a laser, to generate a pulsed laser output beam having laser pulse amplitude and duration matching pre-selected parameters. In a preferred embodiment, the invention powers an argon laser tube and generates output laser beam pulses having power in the range from about 50 milliwatts to 2 watts, and duration in the range from about 0.01 second to 2 seconds. The invention converts standard AC power to current pulses having controlled duration, average amplitude, and ripple amplitude for powering a laser, and can produce laser output beam pulses with a turn-on time of less than 1 millisecond, with a switching frequency in the range from about 10 to 20 KHz without significant overshoot.