If you're reading this, then I've already left for CFUnited. There's no real rhyme or reason to this post; I just wanted to abuse the schedule-post ability and at the same time, rub it in that (if?) I get to go and you don't!
If you're going to be there, I suggest you buy this man a beer. I hear that his hair isn't quite as long any more, but the face doesn't change:
Like J.J. Merrick, I'm going to go ahead and include my schedule for you, too. It's changed since the last time I posted it:
Posted in
CFUnited
June 17 2008
I was listening to some back-episodes of the Stack Overflow podcast the other day, and they mentioned the difference between Computer Science and Software Engineering (that the latter is more about working on software in a team, how to design together, etc), and the thought occurred to me that if I wanted to get my Masters Degree, maybe that would be something worth pursuing.
I have my Bachelors of Science in Computer Science. I found it to be a wholly worthwhile program, because as much as I already knew about programming, I got so much experience with different types of programming and the fundamentals behind it all -- from Turing Machines in Mathematics of Computer Science to writing my own File System in Operating Systems, to writing a very basic game with OpenGL in Computer Graphics. Between all of my other programming classes, I got to play with VB, C, C++, Perl, Awk, Bash shell scripting, and Java. At work I was writing Natural/Adabas/JCL (IBM Mainframe), ColdFusion, and a touch of VB. When I graduated, I really felt like I had tried everything and I was ready to choose my career path.
I'm really glad I chose to pursue a career in ColdFusion. It's been exciting and rewarding, and a lot of fun. My wife and friends think I'm crazy for coming home from work only to want to sit down and write more CF code -- but it's like an infectious disease, and one that I like.
Every now and then I've thought about going back to school to get my Masters Degree, but I always write it off to the idea that a Masters in Computer Science would be a waste of time: Nobody is looking for them on resume's, and the content seems like it would be a rehash of my undergratuate work.
But the idea that Software Engineering might be something new -- and a way for me to become a better developer -- has me kind of intrigued. Is there something worthwhile I could get from a graduate program on Software Engineering that I haven't already gotten from eight years of working in "the industry"?
Posted in
Meta
June 16 2008
I've been watching the Stack Overflow site and it's developers pretty closely, because I hope to help bring a little bit of the ColdFusion community to their site once it's online; and I would encourage you to do the same. I saw this note on their blog, that they will reportedly be using jQuery as part of their application stack, and I thought I would just take a moment to pimp that to the CF and larger Adobe Community.
To be quite honest, I haven't taken the time to learn jQuery myself yet -- but it's on the list and I will... someday.
Posted in
Adobe |
AJAX
June 15 2008
Over on the CFUnited Blog, Liz asks us to answer a few questions related to CFUnited. Here are my responses:
What are you looking forward to most?
Being surrounded by thousands of other CFML developers. I love the sense of community I get from attending CFUnited. This year will be my second (consecutive) in attendance, and I've already made plans to meet a few community folks I've been talking with on Twitter for a while now.
CFUnited is also the only formal CF training I get every year, and it's great to see what everyone is up to and learn some tips and tricks to improve my own code. This year, I'm particularly hoping to pick up some new ColdSpring tricks from Mark Drew's Better Living Through Configuration presentation, as well as improve my OO approach by attending Peter Bell's RAD OO presentation. Most of all, though, I'm pumped to see what new stuff Joe Rinehart will be presenting on Model-Glue 3.
Which speaker will most likely end up on your camera?
As many as possible! The only one I'm scheduled to see more than once is Mark Drew, so I suppose my chances of snagging his picture are a little better.
What do you plan to do outside conference time?
I'm staying with a friend and old college roommate. I'm sure we'll be up to all the old antics, which mostly means drinking some beer and playing Rock Band until the early hours of the morning. I have tons of friends in the area, so hopefully I'll get to catch up with all of them.
Fill in the blank: I will mainly be around the ______ booth.
I have to pick just one? I never really hang out at one spot, unless it's got great wifi signal.
Do you have a new project you are working on and will reveal it at CFUnited?
I wish! I am working on something kind of secret, but can't even dream that it'll be ready by CFUnited.
Posted in
CFUnited
June 05 2008
