The Lambda Jam 2015 Experience

Working in software development is like being the proverbial kid in candy store. Every new language is a shiny and delicious thing. Lambda Jam (which bounces between Chicago and Melbourne) is a traveling candy store. And, like the kid in the candy store, I am sometimes distracted by tangential temptation.

Most of my time is spent running WisdomGroup, where we focus on Ruby and Swift. We’re object-oriented all the way. Given that, why would I want to attend a functional programming conference like Lambda Jam? For the brain-stretching experience. If your background is anything like mine, you might enjoy it, too. Here’s why.

Parallella Examples

Performance is of paramount importance in parallel programming. The reason we are in the game of writing parallel programs is either to solve a problem faster than on a serial computer, or to solve a larger problem than could previously be done.
 
~D. Thiébaut, author
 Parallel Programming in C for the Transputer

Some developers buy a Parallella board because they already know parallel programming. They knew what to do with the device the moment they laid eyes on it. Others (like me) are relatively new to parallel programming. We see Parallella as an inexpensive tool for hands-on learning.

3D Printing at BLUE1647

Every visit to BLUE1647 is full of pleasant surprises. There’s new equipment, a new opportunity to learn new technology, new people to learn from, or all of the above.

I recently bought a second Parallella for a WisdomGroup project. Since it’s important to protect the device with a case, this seemed like a good time to try one of the 3D printers at BLUE1647. The result is in the photo, above.

Getting Started With Jekyll

Jekyll is a static HTML generator for web sites that don’t require a content management system (CMS). Jekyll sites load quickly, especially when combined with GitHub Pages. Bobby Reyes and I will present Jekyll at ChicagoRuby: 1871 on Thursday, June 25, 2015. Slides are below.

Unleash Your Awesomeness at WindyCityRails

Are you driven to excel? Do you see yourself here?

• You have already built a successful Rails app. Now that you’re “done”, you know you can make it better, but you’re not sure how. You want to take your skills to the next level.

• You recently graduated from Dev Bootcamp, Starter League, Mobile Makers or another school. You’re ready to meet and interact with your next generation of mentors.

• You are no longer a beginner. You have seen advanced developers in action, and you are determined to get there yourself.