About This Site
Colin Mackay is a technical reference site providing documentation on file extensions, troubleshooting guides for common computing issues, and development notes covering .NET, SQL Server, and web technologies.
The content is written for IT professionals, software developers, and anyone who works with computers and needs reliable technical information. The aim is to provide practical, accurate information without unnecessary complexity or marketing language.
Content Areas
The site covers three main areas:
File Extension Reference
The file extension section documents common file formats, explaining what each format is, which applications can open it, and how to troubleshoot common issues. This is useful when you encounter an unfamiliar file type or need to convert files between formats.
Each file extension page includes information about the format's purpose, compatible software, common problems and solutions, and frequently asked questions specific to that file type.
Troubleshooting Guides
The guides section provides step-by-step instructions for common technical tasks. These guides cover topics like identifying safe downloads, understanding MIME types, and other practical computing tasks.
Guides are written to be accessible to readers with varying levels of technical experience, while still providing enough detail to be useful for experienced users.
Development Notes
The development notes section contains technical articles aimed at software developers. Topics include .NET programming, SQL Server database development, security practices, and general software engineering concepts.
These articles focus on specific technical challenges and provide concrete, tested solutions. They're based on practical experience rather than theoretical discussion.
Approach to Content
Content on this site follows several principles:
- Accuracy over comprehensiveness – It's better to cover fewer topics well than to provide superficial coverage of many topics
- Practical focus – Content addresses real-world problems and provides actionable solutions
- Clear writing – Technical topics are explained clearly without unnecessary jargon
- Current information – Content is updated when software or best practices change
Where behaviour varies between operating systems or application versions, the content notes this rather than presenting a single approach as universal.
Technical Details
The site is built as a static site for reliability and fast loading times. It uses modern web standards and is designed to work well on both desktop and mobile devices.
No tracking cookies are used, and the site doesn't collect personal information beyond what's needed to process contact form submissions (which are handled with appropriate privacy protections).
Getting in Touch
If you have questions, find errors in the content, or want to suggest topics for coverage, visit the contact page. Corrections to technical content are particularly welcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who writes the content on this site?
Content is written and maintained by Colin Mackay, drawing on experience in software development and IT.
How can I report an error?
Use the contact form to report errors. Please include the URL of the page with the error and describe what needs correction.
Can I use content from this site?
Please see the terms of use for information about content usage. In general, brief quotations with attribution are acceptable, but reproducing entire articles is not permitted.
Is there an RSS feed?
The blog section has an RSS feed for new posts. The main site's sitemap can be used to track new pages.