Desert Code CampIs the expression "you are what you read" true?  I think it is to some degree.  Not only does it give you knowledge but it also says something about you.  My most innovative friends are heavy blog, book and magazine readers, and I believe there is a correlation.  I frequently ask people what blogs or magazines they are read because I want to know a little more about them.

When it comes to software development, I think it is especially important to keep up with the state of our art and its related technology.  Knowing about something does not mean you have to run out and implement it, but I believe you're in a better position to make future decisions.

It's truly a treat when you can spend a whole day learning from experts (or just people who know more than you) and it doesn't cost you anything but time.  That's why I especially love the Desert Code Camp that the guys at AZGroups (formely AZ .NET User Groups) have been putting on for a while now.  You can spend 8 hours and ramp up very rapidly on several things which you may have only heard very little about  -- whether you want just an overview of a technology or want to go deeper into something you've read only a little about.

At the upcoming DCC on Saturday, May 31 you'll have a chance to learn about things such as:

  • FLEX and Adobe AIR
  • Agile SCRUM
  • iPhone SDK
  • Continuous Integration
  • LINQ
  • Silverlight (I love the presenters description of this class: No "Hello World". No MS Comic Sans. No interminable feature dump of XAML attributes. And most definitely, no multicolor-gradient-filled rotating rectangles "just because they're possible". There is a correct time and place to create a multicolored gradient: when you're five years old and playing with watercolors. "I'm a developer not a designer" is no reason to build an application that looks like one of Bill Cosby's sweaters.)
  • Google AppEngine
  • SOA / Enterprise 2.0 REST
  • ColdFusion 8 (are people still using ColdFusion???)
  • and more!

So clear your schedule on Saturday, May 31 and join me at the Desert Code Camp!