59DaysOfCode » Blog

12 Things To Know For 2012

irms — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 18:30:36 +0000

In case you missed the deluge of information yesterday:

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

2011 Afternoon Workshop Abstracts

irms — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 09:16:08 +0000

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

irms — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 03:00:35 +0000

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

irms — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 04:56:38 +0000

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.

Face Palm: The Conference Your Employer Might Want You to Skip

admin — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:09:18 +0000

Facepalm

“…the last thing I need is to inspire my team to become entrepreneurs.”

During the outreach efforts, one representative from a large, locally-based technology company stated that he was concerned about “inspiring [his] team to become entrepreneurs;” therefore, the company would not be attending the conference. This is strange. Is this a mindset that is shared in the community? He says the company is concerned with the flight of talent, but what about the demise of innovation and stifling internal entrepreneurship? We live in an era that welcomes innovative thinking and an entrepreneurial mindset from the lowest level on the oragnization chart to the top of the food chain. So it is odd when a company fears innovation. We know there are companies out there that strive to innovate. There are companies that create ways to inspire the troops to play. We need those companies to participate in59DaysOfCode next week. The above quote is not the sentiment of those at the City of Clovis. Clovis, a proponent of innovation, is a huge supporter of 59DaysOfCode for the second year in a row. 59DaysOfCode is the region’s only web and mobile application showcase, competition and conference. The target audience stretches beyond tech-heads and geeks. While there are nearly 20 teams showcasing innovations they have feverishly worked on during the 59 days of the competition, the event will also host technology firms from traditional tech-hubs like the Bay Area and a few of our own local tech companies. The conference appeals to people who just like technology or people who want to believe that Fresno and Clovis can produce innovations on par with the big boys from the Bay. So we now think that 59DaysOfCode might be perfect. If you do not want your team to be inspired to do great things, take chances, look for way to innovate within your company, then you should keep them away. Keep them away from the workshops that will broaden their skill set. Keep them away from the keynote speakers who will share important point and mistakes to avoid during the development and innovation process–it’s probably better that your employees “discover” this on their own. Oh, and please, please, please keep them away from their local peers and, heaven forbid, competing firms who might snatch them away; we wouldn’t want them to find strength in numbers. 59DaysOfCode was created to build community, showcase talent and celebrate innovation. If your boss is afraid of you attending a conference that might make you a better employee, you might consider taking a sick day. For the innovative and progressive firms out there across sectors, register your employees to attend 59DaysOfCode on June 21-22, 2011. It’s FREE and it will be amazing. Agenda (great program) Videos from Teams (cool products) Prizes (over $100k total) The Rules (taking it seriously) Reserve a Booth (be seen…only 2 left…gotta do it by 4pm 6/17/11)

Kickoff Details and Shirts

irms — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 21:13:55 +0000

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!

What Can You Do In 59 Days?

irms — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 07:41:54 +0000

This is a challenge. A chance. A moment. Lot’s of people have ideas. Lot’s of people can build stuff. What can you do? We believe in starting. We kick off in less than 4 days. If you haven’t submitted your application to compete, do so now! Video credit: Foogooboo. A.K.A. Jonathan Sindell of Ambiguous Studios

Official Release: Central Valley puts Programmers on the Innovation Timer

irms — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 23:57:59 +0000

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?

irms — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:48:27 +0000

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)

irms — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 07:42:52 +0000

[ Cross posted at postEcho. A tracking tool for social media releases and last year's zero-code winner!]

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:

Shirt Concept by Brian Gadberry

simplyDesign

Yes, competitors will get shirts too

So what now?!! Well two things:

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.
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.