Groovy and Dynamic Developer Productivity

This just in from the Java User Group Scotland (JUGS):

Our next talk will be presented by Niels Nielsen in the kindly provided CIVIC office space. As usual space and refreshments are restricted, so please register by adding your name to the MeetingSignup page. Here is the abstract:

In most software projects, its common for the developer to focus on the application and not necessarily the surrounding environment, hence the level of project automation is mostly related to 3rd party tools, such as Ant, Maven, CruiseControl etc. 
However, there are often many specialized tasks, who has no immediate tool, nor is it possible to easily tweak existing tools into place. These tasks are often poorly addressed.

Enter the Agile Language - Agile Languages are dynamic languages, who facilitate a faster and leaner approach to software development. One of these languages, Groovy, is a JVM language, providing optional typing and improved dynamics, has a low learning curve and less verbosity.

This presentation will adress the need for an Agile Language in a traditional project, before introducing the Groovy language, before finally presenting real-world examples of the applicability of Groovy.

So if you want to know how to use a GString…….

The speaker, Niels Bech Nielsen, has been working as a software contractor for more than 16 years with at least 12 of these related to java development. 
He has worked in induestries such as finance, media, telecom and airports. 
He works currently for J.P. Morgan delivering trading applications for the investment bank.

The presetation assumes you have done java development at some point in your life, in order to understand it. 
The target audience will take an interest in their work, seeking ways to improve their current development skills. 
Humour may be required..

It is on Wednesday 26th November at 7pm in the CIVIC office (12 South Charlotte Street Edinburgh EH2 4AX).

DDD7 Registration Open

UPDATE 15:35 22/Oct/2008: The event is full with a waitlist in operation. The registration process was only open for 5 hours.

[Register for DDD7]

An event put together by the community for the community, in other words you. With Microsoft UK very kindly providing the venue, logistic support and a free lunch.

DDD is all about developers learning, sharing and interacting with each other in an informal and relaxed atmosphere.There will be NO Microsoft speakers presenting, just speakers from the UK .NET developer community; although we will have some of the

Microsoft UK Developer Team on hand to help out and chat to attendees.

Microsoft UK Developer Team on hand to help out and chat to attendees.

If you want to find out a bit more about the latest in .NET development, or if you just want to come along and find out what’s going on i your local community, make sure you check out DDD7

http://www.developerday.co.uk/ddd/default.asp

[Register for DDD7]

Edinburgh ALT.NET Beers Night

The Edinburgh ALT.NET Beers Night will take place at 7:30 on the 3rd of November.

The location will be the Rutland, which is roughly half way between Haymarket and Waverley stations, so it should be easy for anyone travelling to Edinburgh to get to. You can find more information about getting to the Rutland here: http://www.edinburghpubguide.co.uk/PubDetails/Rutland_86.html

As with the Glasgow nights, this is an open discussion and is open to everyone and anyone to come along and participate. So clear your diary and drag along the developer next to you.

11th Annual VBUG Conference

There is a need to “Sharpen Your Axe” so to speak, every now and again. What do we mean by that? In the pioneering days of the West, it was no good for a lumberjack to just keep chopping at trees day in day out with the same old axe. Every now and then he had to sit down, relax, take time to sharpen his axe, and to smell the roses. That way he got a lot more done.

It’s the same with Software Development . In the daily need to meet deadlines and milestones often we neglect the things that brought us into the industry in the first place. The desire to experiment and to learn ‘new stuff’! Half the problem of course is that there is more than enough ‘new stuff’ out there or so it seems, and it is a bit of a head scratcher, trying to decide which way to go first off.

Join VBUG and a host of stars for the 11th annual Developer Conference, held at the Microsoft Campus in Reading.

Keep your schedule clear for the 4th and 5th November and join us in Reading

Speakers confirmed so far, include :-

Ken Getz, Roy Osherove, Jeffrey McManus, Oliver Sturm and Tony Whitter.

Visit the Event Booking Page to secure your place for this excellent opportunity to sharpen your axe.

Location: Microsoft Reading, Microsoft Campus - Building 3, Thames Valley Park, Reading, RG6 1WG, GB

[11th Annual VBUG Conference]