<<< Previous speaker Next speaker >>>

Glenn Vanderburg, Independent Consultant

 Glenn  Vanderburg Glenn Vanderburg is an independent consultant focused on cutting-edge software development technologies and techniques, including Ruby, JavaScript, Ajax, and state-of-the-art development practices.

Presentation: "Seaside: A Radical Web Framework"

Track:   Emerging Web Technologies

Time: Monday 14:30 - 15:30

Location: SAS Dania

Abstract:

We've been writing web applications now for 10 years, and they're still no fun. They're awkward and clumsy to write. Internally, they're overly complicated (which almost invariably means that they're buggy). Meanwhile, they're usually too primitive externally. To put it another way: the web programming model is so cumbersome for programmers that the users pay-through reduced features, clumsy interaction, bugs, and poor performance. There's a better way. I know - who needs another web framework? But Seaside makes even Rails look primitive.

Seaside represents a new generation of web frameworks. Using it, web development is simple. A little code goes a long way. The code is simple and clear. There are powerful development tools that magnify your productivity. You can focus on making your web application good rather than having to strive with all your might just to make it work. It might not be perfect for your situation - it's written in Smalltalk, for one thing, which presents a barrier to adoption in many organizations. And it's not quite as scalable as more traditional web frameworks. But for most applications, it would drastically reduce the development effort while also increasing the usefulness and robustness of the application.

Sound too good to be true? Yeah, I thought so too. But it is true. In this talk, we'll see an extended demo of Seaside, and all the things that make it special. We'll discuss how it works, as well as its limitations. Finally, we'll look at other frameworks that are trying to bring the same ideas and techniques to other languages. Whether you try Seaside or not, a better way of developing web applications is in your future, and Seaside is showing the way.

Password protected Download slides

Presentation: "The Beauty of Ruby"

Track:   What Makes Ruby Roll?

Time: Wednesday 09:45 - 10:45

Location: Conference Hall 2

Abstract: As Edd Dumbill wrote, "the subtle elegance of the Ruby idiom is a slowly appreciated and highly satisfying flavour." It's true that some of the best things about Ruby aren't obvious to newcomers. The point of this talk is not to belittle other languages or to claim that Ruby is the best possible language. Instead, I will try to demonstrate some of the subtle beauty that experienced Rubyists know and love.

Password protected Download slides

Tutorial: "Introduction to Ruby and Ruby on Rails"

Track:   Tutorial

Time: Sunday 09:00 - 16:00

Location: To be announced

Abstract: Ruby on Rails is an extraordinary success story; use of Rails is growing at a rapid pace. Use of the Ruby language is growing along with Rails, but not solely because of it; Ruby has many charms of its own, and Rails' creator claims that Rails wouldn't have been possible without Ruby. In this tutorial you will gain an overview of Rails, starting with the language that makes it tick.