Scotch on the Rocks - What I got out of it
June 08, 2008
There is so much to learn and I'll never know it all; new frameworks, concepts and methods appear all the time, not to mention the new features introduced with each ColdFusion release or related technology (Flex, LCDS). In a commercial environment it is hard to keep up with it all as you just need to get things done and that often means falling back on your tried and trusted code even when you know it probably isn't the best way to go.
Scotch on the Rocks was my first conference and I have to say it is an experience I want to repeat. As a developer I've learnt a lot from my own mistakes, and the writings of others, but never attended a conference. That is why I started writing my own blog and started Devon CFUG, not because I think I know it all but so that I could help other developers who can benefit from my experiences and mistakes and also to learn from others.
What Scotch on the Rocks has done for me is to make me realise that I'm not alone. Some of the session I went to left me scratching my head, others I understood completely (which was reassuring - I do know something!) The presenters where all great and had so much to offer. I actually found the talks on concepts more engaging that the ones focusing on code as they inspire you and make you think about why as well as how to do things. Toby Tremayne did a great talk on aspiring to be an enterprise developer. I was also lucky enough to be able to have a quick chat with several of the presenters.
So what should I be doing? The methods and technologies that seemed to be endorsed by all the speakers were:
- Use CFCs to manage you business logic
- Use direct injection to manage you CFC dependancies (ColdSpring / LightWire)
- Use a framework (Model Glue, Fusebox etc)
- MVC (although Peter Bell did blur the edges a bit!)
- OO instead of procedural
- Use CFEclipse (developing with notepad is not big or clever)
- Unit Test (MXUnit)
- Use version control
- Always write good code (it will become a habit)
- Code generators will help you (even if it is your own code generator - which is something I do)
- Adobe cares about it's developers
- There is no singular "best practice" for everything, only good and bad practices.
I met a lot of great people, and have to give a huge amount of credit to the guys who made it all happen. I can only hope to improve my code and become a better developer. In the meantime, I'm now the proud owner of a space hopper, courtesy of Scotch on the Rocks, which I dutifully tested in my garden this afternoon!
- Posted in:
- ColdFusion
4 comments
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If you found this post useful, interesting or just plain wrong, let me know - I like feedback :)
If there are any areas you want us to patch up for next year then feel free to ping me an email.
Comment by Big Mad Kev – June 08, 2008
Good to meet you at Scotch - I go along pretty much 100% with what you've put here...
Comment by Dan Lancelot – June 08, 2008
I hope that a lot of developers and managers see your write up and all the others that I'll slowly aggregating for one big post, so that they all realise the technological and cost benefits of sending some of their development team to events like Scotch on the Rocks and attending their local technology User Group meetings.
Comment by Stephen Moretti – June 09, 2008
Seriously, you guys did a great job and I really enjoyed it. At a mere £199 (early bird price) for 3 days, you can't argue with the value for money, especially when you look at the quality of the speakers. I'll certainly be extolling the values to my User Group members.
Comment by John Whish – June 09, 2008