Category Archives: Events

Blog Notes, Events, Simplifying Software

Code Camp Downloads Available


Another Successful Event

This weekend was yet another Code Camp that came off without a hitch. I learned things. I got inspired. I made new friends. I won a raffle prize.

It’s time already to start preparing for the next one in January, at Cal StateFullerton.

Slides Available

I gave two speeches this time. Here are the slides (as a PDF) for the Introduction to Groovy talk I gave today at Code Camp. And, here are the slides (as a PDF) and the 1-page handout for the Simplicity Appreciation 101 talk. As always, feedback is appreciated.

Blog Notes, Events, Simplifying Software

Code Camp Schedule Posted

The next SoCal Code Camp is coming up fast. It’s the weekend of October 15 & 16 on the campus of USC. I will be giving two presentations. One talk is entitled “Groovy and Groovy++, In Case You’re Curious” and the other is an encore of my “Simplicity Appreciation 101” talk from the January Code Camp (at Cal State Fullerton). (Full descriptions below.)
Both of my presentations are on Sunday the 16th in room GFS-107.

  • 12:30-1:30 – Groovy and Groovy++, In Case You’re Curious
  • 3:00-4:00 – Simplicity Appreciation 101

For the complete Code Camp schedule, see http://www.socalcodecamp.com/schedule.aspx Continue reading Code Camp Schedule Posted →

Events, Lean/Kanban

Kanban Slides Posted

Here (finally) are the slides (as a PDF file) for the Intro to (Personal) Kanban speech that I gave at the OCDUG meeting on July 26th. Actually, the set of slides I posted just now has been embellished quite a bit from what I actually used during the presentation (which is why it took me a while to post them). If those embellishments spark any questions, feel free to post a comment here, or contact me directly.

If you enjoyed this speech, then you might also be interested in materials from other speeches that I’ve given in the past.  You can find them on the Downloads page.

Events, Extreme Programming, Simplifying Software

TDD Slides Posted

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Here are the slides (as a PDF file) for the Intro to Test-Driven Development speech that I gave at the SCQAA meeting last night.  I haven’t seen the speaker feedback forms yet, but based on the comments from people walking up to me afterwards, it was an effective speech.  In particular, everyone loved my grand experiment to demonstrate TDD — without requiring any programming knowledge — by having the audience break up into teams and write limericks test-driven.

If enjoyed this speech, then you might also be interested in materials from other speeches that I’ve given in the past.  You can find them on the Downloads page.

Events, Simplifying Business, Simplifying Software

Fullerton Code Camp Next Weekend (1/29 & 1/30)

The schedule for the SoCal Code Camp next weekend (1/29 & 1/30) has been posted: http://www.socalcodecamp.com/schedule.aspx. My talk, Simplicity Appreciation 101, is during the first session on Saturday, so be sure to get there early. It starts at 8:45 in room H 123, which appears to be the designated room for the, “agile & project management track” (quotes are mine).  Building H is the Humanities/Social Sciences Hall, which is to the right as you walk in from the parking lot (lot F).

After me, Llewellyn and Woody give their Agile Introduction talk. Then, Woody keeps going with “10.5 Easy Code Excellence Techniques”, and that’s followed by various talks about project management survival. Note: the schedule is subject to changes up until Thursday (1/27).

This promises to be the best Code Camp yet. I’m looking forward to the fact that I get to give my speech early, so I can then kick back and enjoy the rest of the conference.

Events, Simplifying Business, Simplifying Software

Simplicity Appreciation 101

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If you happen to be near Raleigh, NC on December 7th, I’ll be speaking at the local Agile developer’s group while I’m out there on business.  The title of my speech is “Simplicity Appreciation 101,” and here’s the synopsis…

Update: Due to a scheduling conflict, I was not able to deliver this talk in Raliegh, but I did present it at the Fullerton Code Camp on January 29th. The slides are available for download on the Downloads page.

Complexity is insidious.  It creeps in and takes hold and doesn’t let go.  Time and again, we see major undertakings fail due to overwhelming complexity.  That’s why proponents of Agile methodologies all tout the virtues of simplicity.  “Do the simplest thing that works.”   “YAGNI.”  “KISS it!”

But what exactly is “simplicity?”  Can it be dissected and described?  In many ways, simplicity is ethereal and personal, gleaming only in the eye of the beholder.  But, yes, it can be broken down and viewed with an objective eye.  In this presentation, we’ll explore dozens of examples of simplicity from the realms of software development, business enterprises, and life, in general.  We’ll look at specific cases of simplifications as well as tools and techniques recommended for achieving simplicity.

Our starting point will be ten observations about simplicity by an MIT professor named John Maeda.  In his book, “The Laws of Simplicity,” he describes how simplicity relates to size, time, context, emotions, trust, and more.  These revelations alone provide a solid foundation for making better decisions to achieve simplicity, but, time permitting, we’ll also consider the nuanced wisdom of Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Winston Churchill, and others.

For further information about this event, see the group’s MeetUp page: http://www.meetup.com/agileRTP/

Events, Extreme Programming

Pair Programming Roundtable at SD Code Camp, Interested?

Do you plan on attending the San Diego Code Camp the weekend of June 26-27?  If so, please consider voting for the session I submitted, “Getting the Most out of Pair Programming.”  To vote, go here: http://www.socalcodecamp.com and log in (or register), then click on the Sessions tab, scroll down the the G’s (alphabetical by title), and check the box next to the “Interested” count.  Thanks.

Here’s the Session Description I Submitted: I’ll start with a 10- to 15-minute presentation of my experiences with pair programming going back 10 years Continue reading Pair Programming Roundtable at SD Code Camp, Interested? →

Blog Notes, Events, Pragmatic Marketing

Week in Recap

The second week of the month is always busy for me.   On Wednesday, I reconnected with Barbara Nelson of Pragmatic Marketing when she spoke at the Orange County APLN meeting in Irvine. It was the first time I’d seen her since she taught my Pragmatic Marketing class years ago. (We were both at the 1-day project managers conference at UC Irvine in February, but failed to connect.)

It was another great APLN meeting. For one thing, I snagged a laminated copy of the new-and-improved Pragmatic Marketing Framework chart, the one that shows the 37 different areas of responsibility of product marketing management. This chart served as the base layer for most of the slides that Nelson presented, as she talked about different roles within product marketing and the impact of Agile on those roles.  (More on that in a future post.)

The next night, I attended the Orange County Java User Group meeting where Josh Long stood in for Rod Barlow and gave a thorough review of the state of concurrency in the Java world and how they take advantage of it at Shopzilla.  I picked up more than a few pointers.  The OCJUG presentation calendar page has a link to the complete slideshow.

Next week, I’m participating in the kickoff for a new Scrum adoption project, so there will be plenty of things going on shortly to inspire new posts.  In the mean time, I’m also looking forward to the Orange County GTD Meetup next weekend.