Author Archives: irms

12 Things To Know For 2012

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In case you missed the deluge of information yesterday:
  1. We have a new website, it was designed by @Hundred10 (thanks, @Hundred10!). (Kinks are being worked out, content is being filled in.)
  2. We have a new venue this year: The Holiday Inn, downtown Fresno. We are proud to be sponsored by @hiFresno!
  3. We are now a regional competition and all 5 SBDCs & 16 counties are involved. Culminating showcase will continue to be in Fresno!
  4. @Hashtag_Fresno will be offering a discount to ALL competitors during the 59 days. Details & sponsor info soon.
  5. The big showcase will take place on a Saturday this year. You’re welcome! SAVE THE DATE: 6/23/2012
  6. There will be an exclusive party the night BEFORE the showcase @hiFresno Skyroom. Space limited, all competitors in. Details TBA.
  7. We’re in the process of amending the rules so that we don’t have a Chris Brown/Grammy situation. Website updated soon.
  8. New this year: $40 to register to compete. This let’s us know that you’re serious. Questions? Contact us.
  9. We are proud to partner with @KSEE24 this year for our news media needs. Thanks, @KSEE24!
  10. Registration is currently open! Closes 4/16!
  11. SAVE THE DATE: Kickoff Event will be @Hashtag_Fresno on 4/20 9p-12a. Details soon, but it’s gonna be a good time. (read:prizes)
  12. Have an idea need a programmer? Have a programmer need an idea? New (basic) matchmaking site goes up this week (beta!!).

2011 59DaysOfCode Winners

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2011 59DaysOfCode Winners

Zero-Code: GuideKit

GuideKit will help you create better documentation with less effort, whether you’re building API documentation, first-time user guides, or in-depth tutorials.

In-Progress: re.vu

Re.vu makes it simple and fast for anyone tocreate an original and compelling visual resume. The rich combination of widgets, themes, and personalized settings makes each re.vu unique and memorable.

People’s Choice: Ensemble Online

The world’s first true MMORTS. A Flash-based massively-mulitplayer online real-time strategy game.

2011 Afternoon Workshop Abstracts

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  More pot sweetening:

2:00pm – 3:00pm TBA

Last minute issues, you understand.

2:30pm – 3:30pm Workshop: SMS in Web & Mobile Apps Presented by Twilio

Previously, building SMS apps was hard… it could take months of negotiations, approvals, and hundreds or thousands of dollars up-front and every month to get started. Well, not anymore!

3:00pm – 4:00pm Workshop: Object Oriented JavaScript and APIs Presented by Girl Develop IT’s Sara J. Chipps

JavaScript is the cornerstone of a good foundation as a web applications developer. As today’s apps get more complex, and more logic migrates client side, the need for Object Oriented Javascript has grown. This talk will cover when to use JavaScript objects, and how to build them using common design patterns. Also, we will be learning about polymorphism, encapsulation, inheritance, constructors, and helper functions using the JQuery library.  We will be using object oriented JavaScript to work with web APIs do display content in a web sandbox in order to illustrate how much it improves developer experience and readability.

Meet the 2011 Judges

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We’ve worked real damn hard to step up our game this year and the judging panel is no exception. So, without further ado, let us introduce our judges:

Sara J. Chipps

Sara is an independant developer living in NYC specializing in web applications with a focus on JavaScript. She’s an irreverent blogger atGirlDeveloper.com, and a self descriped “Nerd Wrangler.” In 2010 she started an organization called Girl Develop It which teaches low cost web development classes geared towards women. Girl Develop It has had over 400 students in New York City, and now has several chapters around the US.

Rob Walling

Rob Walling has been starting companies for most of his life and is author of the book “Start Small, Stay Small: A Developer’s Guide to Launching a Startup.” His blog, Software By Rob, is a top 20 startup blog and is read by about 20,000 tech entrepreneurs each month. It covers launching a startup with no external funding, startup marketing and software entrepreneurship. Rob also owns the leading ASP.NET invoicing software on the market in addition to a handful of other profitable web properties, and runs an online learning community called the Micropreneur Academy that helps one-person web startups go from zero to launch in about six months.

Chris Brown

Site Owner & Host of The Married Gamers Podcast Chris has been gaming since the days of Pong, with a brief hiatus just after college (the dark PS1 days he calls it). In 1997 he married Kelly Brown which then meant their household would be a gaming ark filled with two of any gaming device. This ‘Gaming Noah’ will try most any game, but has a particular love for first person shooters, zombie games, and still is mad in love with music games.

Neil Capel

Neil Capel is the founder and CEO of Sailthru Inc., a leading SaaS user analysis and predictive behavior platform for publishers, advertisers, and e-tailers. A history of working on large scale, high demand web systems led him to develop Sailthru’s unique capabilities in handling mass-to-one personalized content onsite and in email. He has served as the CTO for MoneyMedia, aSmallWorld, and Music Nation, and as an adviser to Refinery29.com, and Zootoo.com among others.Sailthru is succeeding by catering to the individual; rewarding user engagement with priority delivery and content tailored to who they are, proving that the true worth of a database is in knowing what engages each individual and providing quality content.  

Matt Pardee

Matt Pardee is a JavaScript developer for Ajax.org, working on its flagship product Cloud9 IDE — an IDE that operates entirely in the browser. Matt started programming C++ and Python at the age of 14, and now at 26 is thrilled to be a part of a thriving community of JavaScript developers pushing the limits of what’s possible on the Web. Matt lives in Orange, CA with his girlfriend and their mullet-haired dog, Cody.

2011 Morning Workshop Abstracts

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    Just sweetening the pot for the conference on June 22:

9:30a -10:30a Workshop: Platform as a Service, Windows Azure for Beginners Presented by Microsoft’s Bruno Terkaly

Billions of mobile devices are connecting to the web and the way customers shop, work, and play is dramatically forcing IT to adapt… Social networking and commerce are now part of the IT challenge, as consumers and businesses struggle to move most commerce and shopping activities from a laptop to a mobile device…How will IT be ready to scale in a securely and responsively?.. In my session I plan to illustrate how easy and natural it is to embrace Platform as a Service technologies, such as Windows Azure.  I plan to illustrate that you can take existing, on-premise data and existing, on-premise web services and migrate them to the cloud using familiar tooling. You will learn that all of your skills with Visual Studio, SQL Server Management Studio are still there and can take you to the next level. Join me for an action packed hour and find out how you can be ready for the huge changes in IT.

10:00a – 11:00a Workshop: Cloud9 IDE, Code Anywhere, Anytime Presented by ajax.org’s Matt Pardee

During the workshop I’ll go over Cloud9 IDE, an IDE that exists entirely in the browser, the basics of NodeJS, its module format, Node Package Manager (NPM) and how to use a couple of the awesome modules built by the NodeJS community to create a multiplayer game in the browser. The game I will build during the workshop is a multiplayer version of Mario Kart.

10:30a – 11:30a Workshop: Platform as a Service, Windows Azure Advanced Presented by Microsoft’s Bruno Terkaly

The AppFabric Service Bus is key to integration in Windows Azure. The AppFabric Service Bus is extremely powerful way to connect systems and content outside the firewalls of companies, unifying it with internal, often legacy systems’ data. The AppFabric facilitates transmitting content to any device, anywhere in the world, at any time.

 

Kickoff Details and Shirts

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SHIRTS ARE ON SALE!

Our first ever thing for sale! $11/each. Free pickup at the kickoff party or shipped to you for $4. Buy Now Thanks again to our print sponsor: Dog Prints!! And, since we kick off this weekend, here are the party details:

  • When: Saturday, April 23rd.

     
  • Time: 10p – 12a. Clock starts at 12:01a  
  • Where: The Hashtag (1298 N. Wishon Ave., Fresno, CA) 
  Posters for 2011 are available for download here. Let us know if you can help us distribute some!

Official Release: Central Valley puts Programmers on the Innovation Timer

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59DaysOfCode Press Shot   Cross posted at postEcho:
“Amazon.com and Microsoft have jumped in as event sponsors for this year’s event. Successful start-up, Twillio, is also participating as a sponsor. “The quality of sponsors is matched by the quality of participants. Many sponsors are not only providing support for the event, but sending personnel and executives to attend the conference, conduct workshops, and connect to Valley talent,” said Irma Olguin, Jr., owner of GeekWise and event co-producer. “The shift in format has made 59DaysOfCode more attractive to key sponsors locally and nationally.” At the local level, Fresno Paw Prints and Simply Design Fresno are among the early supporters.”
See the full release on postEcho.

Demo Days – A 59Days Preview?

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SUPPORT LOCAL STUFF

The local tech scene is growing, and 59DaysOfCode is proof. But what about the other things going on? Next Thursday, the Central Valley Software Cluster is holding Demo Days. Inspired by a long-standing Silicon Valley Tradition, and motivated by a belief that there’s more interesting work in this area being done than most people realize, they have invited local companies, developers and student groups to showcase locally written software. It’s a free event, it’s a good way to get see what’s going on (nerd-wise), it’s a great warm-up for 59DaysOfCode, and there’s food! What else could you ask for? Let the Cluster know if you’re coming: http://ccswcdemodays.eventbrite.com/

New this year for 59DaysOfCode 2011 (Part I)

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Don’t get us wrong, last year was a blast. But 2010 was so last year. Here’s what we’re cooking up for this year’s 59DaysOfCode.

New Two-Day Format

Lot’s of people walked away from our inaugural event wanting more. So we’re giving it to you. Our second annual 59DaysOfCode is turning into a bona fide tech conference.
  • We’re adding keynote speakers. (To be announced, but you’re going to like them!)
  • We’re adding workshops during the event. (Including a workshop by Twilio, who sponsored us last year, sponsored TechCrunch Disrupt, is powering the People’s Choice Award App this year,  and just raised $12M in Series B funding.)
  • We’re adding food. (At least one, but probably TWO plated meals; lunch and dinner.)
  • We’re selling seats for Honored Guests. There are only 20, and they’re $100 each. Here’s what you get (sales open March 1st April 22, 2011):
    • Preferred seating at dinner and awards
    • TWO 59DaysOfCode t-shirts
    • Name listed on 59Days OfCode.com
    • $25 of eCash for use at Chuckchansi Gold Resort & Casino
    • …
  • We’re adding swag. Two shirt designs will be available for purchase at the event and online. Here’s a preview:
     
    Yes, competitors will get shirts too ;)
So what now?!! Well two things:
  1. Convince your boss that your tech department should come to this tech conference. It’s the largest one in the Central Valley, and it’s going to be worth it.
  2. Buy an Honored Guess ticket. (Sales begin March 1st.)
We’ve got more announcements to make, but we’re waiting for the ink to dry before we go public.