Category: Conferences

  • Speaking at RubyRX

    RubyRXAre you a Ruby developer working in the Triangle? Are you registered for the RubyRX conference next weekend? If not, hop over to the Terralien blog to find out why you should come, then get registered!

    The talk I’ll be giving at RubyRX is titled “Homesteading: The New Entrepreneurial Model.” Many years ago a community would come together to help a neighbor get started building a house. They’d all pitch in, knowing that when they needed help, those same friends would come to their aid as well. This model of community self-sufficiency has been recycled in the software world.

    In this talk we’ll discuss how I’ve been using the homesteading model to build products with Ruby, and how others are doing the same. You’ll get enough of a grounding to move forward on your own, or help someone else while you learn more.

    We’re going to have a great time at RubyRX. If you’re not planning on attending RailsConf or RubyConf this year, this may be your only chance to experience some expert teaching on Ruby. Best of all, it’s right in your backyard. Don’t miss it!

  • RubyCamp is coming to Raleigh

    Raleigh’s first RubyCamp is coming to Red Hat on October 18th. This is a similar format to BarCamp in that the presentations are pitched the morning of the conference, and attendees self organize the remainder of the day. Relevance will be running their popular Refactotum workshop in the morning. The conference is free, but attendance is capped at 200 so visit the wiki to grab your spot.

  • Pair programming showdown at BarCampRDU

    BarCampRDU 2008 came and went. It was quite enjoyable. There wasn’t as much grub as last year, but I thought the topics were more interesting.

    I gave a talk on pair programming during the afternoon. It really became more of a group discussion, which was exactly what I was hoping for. Some attendees have requested the slides so I’ve attached them to this post as a PDF.

    The slides have been edited somewhat. I gave this same presentation at Agile ITX last month and it was an hour and a half long. I had to cut out a few things for BarCamp. But the central ideas are still there.

  • Speaking at Agile ITX next weekend

    I’ll be speaking at the Agile ITX conference in Reston, Virginia on June 27th. My presentation is titled Pragmatic Pair Programming and is based on the many diverse pairing experiences I’ve had over the past six years. Mention pair programming in any crowd of programmers and you’ll get two responses: adoration or outright hatred. Why is pairing so controversial? Does it have any tangible benefits? That’s what we’ll be exploring together. Agile ITX is shaping up to be a great conference with many top-notch presentations. I’m excited about getting the chance to participate. Hope to see you there.

  • One week left for Ruby Hoedown proposals

    You’ve got about a week left to get your proposals in for a talk at the Ruby Hoedown, the South’s regional Ruby conference. Speakers will receive free admission and an as of yet undetermined honorarium along with dinner the night before the conference. (C’mon, you can’t possibly pass up free food.) Ping proposals@rubyhoedown.com if you have any questions.

  • Ruby Hoedown 2008

    Ruby Hoedown 2008The Ruby Hoedown moves to Hunstville, Alabama this year. I’m filling Nathaniel’s place as co-organizer this go round, along with Jeremy McAnally who was the driving force behind the conference last year too. We’re cooking up a good mix of Ruby talks. It’s not too late to get your own proposal in: the deadline is June 2nd. David A. Black and Chris Wanstrath are keynoting so you’re in good company.

    This year’s conference is shaping up to be another rip-roaring success, with several companies already onboard as sponsors and some nice giveaways in the works. I expect to see y’all down south in Alabama come August to celebrate our favorite language: Ruby!

  • Registration for BarCampRDU 2007 is open

    Registration for this year’s BarCampRDU is now open. This is an event I unfortunately had to miss last year due to a prior commitment. I’m really looking forward to attending this year. It’s shaping up to be a fantastic experience.

  • Lone Star Ruby Conf now accepting proposals

    For those of you interested in a trip to sunny Austin, the Lone Star Ruby Conf is now accepting speaker proposals. LSRC is a regional conference similar to the Ruby Hoedown that’s coming to Raleigh in August. It’s great to see these regional conferences taking off.

  • Speaking at NCHE again this year

    For the homeschoolers who read my blog, I’ll be speaking at the North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE) state conference in Winston-Salem again this year. I’m giving my distance education talk on Saturday, May 26th, from 12:30 to 1:30 PM in South Main 3. A few of the points I’ll cover include:

    • Why distance education is a good alternative to traditional college for homeschool graduates
    • How I earned my own four-year degree through distance education
    • Which colleges currently offer distance education and how to choose wisely from among them
    • An overview of the different methods that can be used to earn credit through distance education (portfolio review, CLEP, etc.)

    There will be a few surprises too! I hope to see you there.

  • Slides from my RailsConf talk

    For those who may have missed my talk at RailsConf, you can download the slides to get a better idea of what the talk was all about.

    I had a blast, by the way! The audience seemed to enjoy it, and I was pleasantly surprised at the number of questions people had about Teascript and the process of building it. About a dozen people came up to me afterwards saying that they had an idea they were mulling over, and my talk had inspired them to get started on it.

    I’ll probably be writing a couple of follow up articles that go into more detail on how homesteading worked for me. I didn’t have enough time to cover everything I wanted to at the presentation due to the enthusiastic response from the audience. To those who attended, thanks for being there and making the talk a success!