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October 31, 2003
Mobile Whidbey
Check out these screenshots of Whidbey (via Matt). Notice the support for mobile devices on one of them. Oooohhh, now that's interesting.
Posted by Matthew at 06:14 PM | Comments (0)
Getting ready for Munich
The last few days have seem me preparing the presentations for next week. I'll be in Munich from Monday through Wednesday - so blogging will be light at best until after W-Jax.
Posted by Matthew at 04:34 PM | Comments (0)
October 29, 2003
Wallop
There is a mention of Microsoft's blogging software "Wallop" here and here. The first I've heard of it.
Posted by Matthew at 07:37 PM | Comments (1)
Scared stiff
Reflecting back on the last 2 posts and a theme seems to be common to both of them: FUD. In the case of the weblog-firing, I reckon Microsoft is basically scared about what real "secrets" employees may actually blog about - maybe inadvertently. (Of course firing the guy doesn't solve anything - it's just typical corporate overreaction and not even Microsoft-typical). In the case of Open Source inside corporate networks you have the same problem. Corporate management is scared about what may happen if they "publicly" go the Open Source way.
And I think it is really really important - both for us to understand why they are scared and for them to realize that they are not going to be able to prevent it anyway. In both cases.
Posted by Matthew at 05:17 PM | Comments (0)
Blogging can get you fired
This blog entry was the reason Michael got fired. And to be honest I can even understand Microsoft in part for their reaction. No company would want you blogging "sensitive" stuff like that. At the same time it is an easy line to cross - especially if the company you're working for doesn't have a weblog policy.
Posted by Matthew at 04:01 PM | Comments (2)
October 28, 2003
Open Source Citizenship
Jon Udell has written an article on the way corporations are forking Open Source projects behind their corporate firewalls. He expands on the subject in his blog.
The points he make are all valid and reflect my own experience from the past 3 years leading an Open Source group that talks nearly daily to large corporations about exactly these subjects.
These companies are really thankful that there is an Open Source offering they can use for their own solutions. However there are several things that prevent them from actively participating. In addition to the points Jon mentions: Often, the department using the Open Source solution has a hard time pushing Open Source inside the company to start with. So they keep relatively quiet about it, arguing that higher management doesn't really care what they use - as long as it works. One customer told me that he would wait until the Open Source based solution had been in production for a while before mentioning the fact internally. Another customer told me that he was afraid to "visibly" participate in an Open Source project because he thought he would receive lots of emails about the companies products. As I think I have mentioned before, there are companies that ask us to donate newly developed Open Source components back to the project, because they do not want to do it themselves.
But something that follows a red-line through our discussions is the missing education of management and developers on the "Open Source way". So they basically do not understand the way an Open Source community works and to some extent are really afraid to participate. We must not forget that those walled-in developers and managers are just not used to the different culture of Open Source projects.
I think this is still the most important job we - Open Source evangelists - have. Spreading the word on Open Source inside the corporations and bringing down the FUD. Once we achieve that, then those developers will join us. Regardless of what management thinks.
Posted by Matthew at 08:04 PM | Comments (2)
Cellular Radar
This was new to me. It makes you wonder what sort of systems are already in use - if this sort of information is becoming public.
Posted by Matthew at 11:37 AM | Comments (0)
Ubiquity Breeds Utility
Over on VentureBlog, Naval Ravikant writes a thought-provoking article on what wireless networks hold for the future. Some of the points aren't even in the future.
Posted by Matthew at 07:59 AM | Comments (0)
October 27, 2003
eBay does TV spots
eBay is now doing TV spots here in Germany. I think this is the first time they've done them here. Together with the press coverage that Google got over the weekend - another sign that the Internet economy is picking up (or that it is expected to pick up)?
Posted by Matthew at 11:01 PM | Comments (0)
PDC gets going
Reports from PDC are starting to emerge on blog pages. Scoble has some news on the Aero UI in Longhorn and there seems to be a sidebar part in Longhorn that can display RSS feeds in real time. Integrating an RSS reader into the OS seems a logical step for MIcrosoft to take and this should push RSS usage even further. Check here and here for a roundup of PDC buzz.
Posted by Matthew at 10:13 PM | Comments (0)
Social networking bubble?
A German startup (openBC) is trying to make money off the wave (bubble?) of social networking software/websites. The organisation is aimed at commercial entities who want to network with each other via the openBC website. Apart from the fact that openBC doesn't tell you the price of their premium membership (which gets you most of the real "functionality") until after you've actually registered as a user, their use of the "six degrees of separation" meme everywhere on the site as a justification for this type of commercial offering shows just how much of a bubble this kind of thing is becoming.
While personal networks are becoming increasingly important - as will formats such as FOAF - it strikes me that these companies are trying to make a quick buck out of something that is only just emerging and still quite a way from being mainstream.
Posted by Matthew at 07:51 PM | Comments (0)
Silent-Penguin goes mobile
I've started a moblog - over here. I set it up so that I can show mobile blogging next week during my presentation. Very basic.
Posted by Matthew at 04:39 PM | Comments (0)
October 26, 2003
PDC starts
Tomorrow, the Microsoft PDC (Professional Developers Conference) starts - check out some pics here. (via Scoble). I like this quote as well: Works with those new Cell phone cameras too!. The US is catching up!
Posted by Matthew at 08:20 PM | Comments (0)
Soggy Sunday
It's been raining here since yesterday afternoon. Grey, wet, cold uggghhh. Makes you want to be Russ.
Posted by Matthew at 09:39 AM | Comments (0)
October 24, 2003
Those were the days
Frank points to an article that I think we should really just...well....umm....ignore. Otherwise we'll find ourselves having to explain to our kids just why Pong and Donkey Kong were sooooo cool - back then.
Posted by Matthew at 06:18 PM | Comments (0)
Snow
First snow of the season here today. Not much - but enough to say: "Welcome Winter!". Time to start planning the Xmas wish list :).
Posted by Matthew at 06:00 PM | Comments (0)
50.000 and counting
While I was away and without any form of Internet connection or a laptop - the 50.000th message zipped through the cocoon-dev mailing list.
Posted by Matthew at 05:58 PM | Comments (0)
W-Jax and blogs
I will be speaking about Wikis and Weblogs at the upcoming W-Jax - so I'm collecting links to articles I need to read and incorporate into my talk. Like this one.
Posted by Matthew at 03:38 PM | Comments (0)
Google goes for online IPO?
According to several articles floating (get it?) around the net - like this one, Google is considering an online IPO for early next year. If they do - then it will be interesting to see if the auction is worldwide or limited to the US only.
Posted by Matthew at 03:32 PM | Comments (0)
Why we wiki
An interview with Ward Cunningham. (via Daniel)
Posted by Matthew at 03:26 PM | Comments (0)
So where's the problem?
I survived! So did the kids actually. In all it went quite well and I would even consider doing it again. The main problem I encountered is quite easy to describe: logistics.
Imagine the following scenario: You are leaving the swimming pool with 3 small children. The four of you are soaked (obviously). Your clothes are stashed (unordered) in 2 lockers opposite small changing cubicles. The cubicles are only large enough for 2 children at the same time. You decide to occupy 2 changing cubicles and allocate them to the 3 children plus the bag.
Describe the quickest route to three fully dried and dressed kids (plus yourself) taking the following into consideration: each kid must wear their own clothes (on completion), the kids cannot be persuaded to access the lockers themselves, the temperature of the changing area is slightly above freezing (ok, that's a slight exaggeration) and you are only allowed to dress yourself if all 3 children are at least occupied.
And there were more puzzles like that. Of course it does get easier the more often you run the puzzle :).
Posted by Matthew at 03:17 PM | Comments (0)
Back
...no losses.
Posted by Matthew at 12:41 PM | Comments (0)
October 19, 2003
Nearly off
Packing up the stuff needed for a short week of fun (there's positive thinking for you). And the only gadget I'll be taking with me is the iPod. So the Powerbook stays at home this time.
Posted by Matthew at 07:00 PM | Comments (0)
October 17, 2003
Advance warning: Silence
I will be offline next week starting Monday. In case you're wondering, I'm taking the kids here. On my own.. My wife has to work and so.....(somehow I think I'm missing part of the big picture here :-)). Feel free to add any tips or notes of sympathy (yeah right) to the comments. Should I survive - then "I'll be back".
Posted by Matthew at 02:43 PM | Comments (0)
October 16, 2003
Summing up
I like Frank's quote on Apple and the music business: While the others still argue, Apple releases. So true. But (still) not in Europe.
Posted by Matthew at 08:47 PM | Comments (0)
iPod goodies (and more)
Just announced: 49$ microphone and speaker, 99$ photo storage. Add-ons for the newest generation of iPods. A pity I still (:-)) have an older one. Roll on Xmas! Also Apple is ramping up their online music store with audio books, gift certificates. When will it come to Europe? "One more thing": Windows version of iTunes! Jobs demos software on a Windows PC - that's a first. Hell froze over
Posted by Matthew at 07:22 PM | Comments (0)
Counting down
Apple has a cool countdown in place. Counting down to Panther.
Posted by Matthew at 07:12 PM | Comments (0)
October 15, 2003
Seed sowing
Out and about today presenting Cocoon to a large German financial institution. Just a short cramped presentation but enough to get some thoughts flowing. It's always interesting to present Cocoon to a group to techies who know their way around web architectures but who have never actually used Cocoon or know much about it. At first they are all sort of "unimpressed" - "show us something we don't know" types. Very friendly - but reserved. And then - as the presentation progresses - the questions and thoughts start flying: "You mean you can do this .. with Cocoon?" "Could we do this .. with it?" and even the odd "oh, wow". So all in all, a few more seeds sown. Now they need watering :).
Posted by Matthew at 10:19 PM | Comments (0)
October 14, 2003
Got a job?
Frank is looking for a job via his weblog.
Posted by Matthew at 09:32 PM | Comments (0)
IRC - hmmm..
The past few days we have been using IRC to coordinate stuff we've been doing. "We" in this case means Orixo companies and other parties. Now, as I've written before, I'm not a fan of "chat" and the long IRC sessions we've been having have sort of strengthened my opinion.
IRC doesn't seem to me to be an ideal tool to discuss things. Basically a lot is lost because people often misunderstand what is being said and conversations start to become mixed up in different threads. Also - press the send button and whatever you wrote is visible to all. So if you're angry at something and write without pausing to reflect - then you may do damage you'll regret. I prefer email for exactly this reason.
If you're angry, write an email expressing all your anger. Then delete it and write another one. Send the second. Simple but effective. I first heard of the 2-email pattern from Stefano some while ago - and it's stuck
Another problem with IRC is that it takes place in real time (yeah well..) - meaning that you can basically not do anything else in parallel and find yourself glued to the chat. Thinking you're missing something.
So, if a discussion is well prepared in advance - then IRC is probably good for streamlined decision-making (crossing the Ts so to speak). But if you want to use it to actually work out a concept then perhaps something else like a Wiki would be better.
Posted by Matthew at 06:58 PM | Comments (0)
Head-down mode
I'm slowly resurfacing from several days in head-down mode. If you're in Europe and have ever submitted an EU bid - then you'll know what I mean. If not - you've not missed anything and will probably live longer :).
Posted by Matthew at 06:45 PM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2003
Geocaching - me too
Just returned from our first geocaching expedition. I choose a fairly easy one (actually there aren't that many close by) and off we set. It went pretty well actually - we reached the general area of the cache pretty quickly. It just took us a while to actually find it - and I needed to check the hints for that. In all though - fun. And the kids enjoyed it as well.
It was reading Steve write about his adventures that set me off on this - but not until last week did I realize (duh) that I could use my pocket navigation stuff for that.
Posted by Matthew at 04:52 PM | Comments (1)
October 11, 2003
Weekend bliss
Today I was home alone, looking after 7 kids (in da house) while trying to get some EU bid together. Rock on.
Posted by Matthew at 09:03 PM | Comments (1)
We're through
Both England and Germany make it through to the European Championship in Portugal. That makes life interesting again for me as they will probably meet in the semi-final (history repeating). I then get to choose who I support.
Posted by Matthew at 09:00 PM | Comments (0)
Into the future
Russell is heading to California today. Best of luck Russ!
Posted by Matthew at 05:38 PM | Comments (0)
October 09, 2003
iTunes moves to Windows
Next Thursday. Maybe.
Posted by Matthew at 10:57 PM | Comments (0)
GT Presentations
If you weren't able to make it to Gent this year for the Cocoon GetTogether, then check here to download the presentations.
Posted by Matthew at 10:55 PM | Comments (0)
Cocoon keeps on Rockin'
The Cocoon "meet-up" circus moves to Vienna for November.
Posted by Matthew at 07:03 PM | Comments (0)
October 08, 2003
Old and new friends
One of the most important things (for me) at the GT was being able to meet and talk to old and new friends. People like Ugo, who I met for the first time (at last) face to face. Other people like Thor Heinrichs-Wolpert came all the way from places like Canada to join in the community gathering that is the Cocoon GetTogether.
Posted by Matthew at 08:31 PM | Comments (0)
Attending conferences
Steven posts on the different tools that were in use during the GT. Using the tools really allowed us to keep those informed that were not able to be there themselves. It also allowed those that were there to work together on writing and publishing notes. Kudos to Bertrand for driving this forward during the GT.
Posted by Matthew at 08:17 PM | Comments (0)
Back home
Finally back home after leaving Gent around 1 pm this afternoon. A morning Orixo meeting to synchronize activities and exchange ideas and peeves.
Posted by Matthew at 07:29 PM | Comments (0)
Last GT notes
Notes from my talk are here. After the panel discussion there was the closing reception and a meal. And then all Cocooners left for their part of the world. See you next year.
Posted by Matthew at 10:09 AM | Comments (0)
October 07, 2003
Lunch is over
So it's back to the presentations and next up is Michael Wechner talking about Lenya. Lenya is a Cocoon based CMF/S currently in incubation in the Cocoon project. Michael is starting with a demonstration of Lenya.
Bertrand is next and he is talking about tools that are commonplace in Open source projects.
Posted by Matthew at 01:56 PM | Comments (0)
Bach and Cocoon
David Casal is now talking on the similarities between Bach fugues and Cocoon. You have to be here.
Posted by Matthew at 12:36 PM | Comments (0)
Woody
After the morning break, Sylvain is now presenting the Woody framework for form handling. He begins with an overview of the available form handling stuff in Cocoon. Next he is giving a detailed overview on what is possible with Woody. The WIFI which has been great all morning just died - but the problem was quickly fixed. There are enough geeks here :).
Posted by Matthew at 11:42 AM | Comments (0)
More GT pictures
 Morning break |
 Stefano and Pier |
 The hackathon bug table |
Used to be ribs |
GT morning crowd |
 Waiting for ribs |
Posted by Matthew at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)
Off we go
127 attendees, 16 countries and Stefano is the first speaker this morning. He will be taking us on his visual journey through Cocoon. Cocoon is "designed for people, not for machines". After giving an overview of the current state of Cocoon, Stefano is now previewing how the Blocks concept will change the way Cocoon and Cocoon based applications will be deployed. Find more notes on his talk here.
Christian Haul is next and will be presenting on database integration. Notes from his talk are here.
Posted by Matthew at 09:45 AM | Comments (0)
Good morning from Gent
After an evening meal of spareribs - where the Hackathon team celebrated clearing out 37 bugs - we're back at the GetTogether. The place is starting to fill up with around 130 people scheduled to come. If you have an irc connection then we're on the #cocoon channel.
Posted by Matthew at 08:58 AM | Comments (0)
October 06, 2003
Hack' a bug
Now that the morning topics are over (and it's only 5pm :)) Carsten is introducing the hackathon. Basically it' a bug cleanup - where the bugs contained in Bugzilla are supposed to be cleared during a joint effort.
Posted by Matthew at 05:57 PM | Comments (0)
Cocoon usability
My small talk/discussion on increasing Cocoon usability. Sylvain is adding his comments on making the xconf file easier to understand.
Posted by Matthew at 04:43 PM | Comments (0)
Pictures from the Hackathon
 Group picture |
Pier |
Stefano |
Sylvain |
Reinhard |
Posted by Matthew at 03:40 PM | Comments (1)
Content managment and Cocoon
Connection to a content repository via JSR 170. David Nueschler is talking and he is lead on the spec. The subject of connecting Cocoon up to a CMS is something that will be expanded on tomorrow. There are over 800 different CMS APIs in the world of content management. JSR170 is described as the API equivalent to the WebDAV protocol.
Stefano launches into a rather lengthy discussion on building CMS with Cocoon - for Cocoon.
Posted by Matthew at 01:53 PM | Comments (0)
Go with the Flow
Carsten is on now introducing the Flow talks. Several are planned in this area and Carsten has started explaining what he doesn't like about the current concept. Next up is Marc talking about continuations. He's now entering into a discussion on the Apples functionality (which is an alternative to the JavaScript version of Flow).
After lunch, Reinhard Poetz is talking about what he has been doing on flow stuff. He has been working on Interceptions in flowscript. He poses the question whether static interceptions are enough. Stefano has lept forward and now he is "hacking" the flipchart to show his idea of Interception.
Posted by Matthew at 11:30 AM | Comments (0)
What's a core
The discussion on Woody has turned into a discussion on what should be in the Cocoon core and what not. This needs to be decided before 2.2 is shipped. Various opinions on whether Woody or the Flow should be part of the core or not. One of the things discussed is that perhaps the name Woody should be changed to show that this is the Form handling mechanism of choice.
Posted by Matthew at 11:04 AM | Comments (0)
More talks
Upayavira is up next talking about the Cocoon CLI and what he would like to see there. Ant task, Bean interface, report statistics.
Sylvain is now talking about Form handling in Cocoon. He's giving an overview of all the different ways of form handling in Cocoon. An interesting discussion is taking place concerning Woody, the Cocoon form framework.
Posted by Matthew at 10:17 AM | Comments (0)
Stefano and Blocks
The first quick talk of the Hackathon is Stefano up talking about blocks. Start with a basic Cocoon installation and then add the additional components you need via blocks. Move to an architecture where the blocks are outside Cocoon and not inside Cocoon as today.
People are collaboratively taking notes using SubEthaEdit. The collected notes from the talk will be (are) published here.
Posted by Matthew at 09:21 AM | Comments (0)
Cococon Hackathon
Good morning from Gent. The Cocoon Hackathon, the first day of the GetTogether, is about to get underway here. Already, quite a few people are here - even though the hardcore Cocooners met for drinks last night. Here's a short and incomplete list of webloggers here this morning: Carsten, Sylvain, Steven, Bertrand.
Total: Now around 34 people here.
Posted by Matthew at 08:34 AM | Comments (0)
October 05, 2003
Weekend chaos
I'm having and inducing a pretty hectic weekend. I went down to see Frank for a couple of days and the new car broke down on the way back. Luckily the automobile club fixed it so that I could get back and hopefully to Belgium later today. This afternoon it's off to Gent for the Cocoon GetTogether(130 registrations!) and other Cocoon related stuff. Stay tuned.
Posted by Matthew at 11:07 AM | Comments (0)
October 03, 2003
Cocoon release notes
Steve puts his finger in a wound. This is one of the topics we will be discussing at the GetTogether next week. At the moment the Cocoon project has this page.
Posted by Matthew at 02:30 PM | Comments (0)
October 01, 2003
On the money
When the registration for the Cocoon GetTogether opened a couple of weeks ago, we had a company internal "bet" on how many registrations there would be. At first I thought I was way too high with 120 - everyone else said a lot less would register. But right now - I'm spot on. What a surprise!
Posted by Matthew at 09:44 PM | Comments (0)
The sun is in your hands
Konami will be releasing Boktai in Europe next year. The Gameboy game comes with a solar sensor on the cartridge. The amount of sunlight it absorbs influences gameplay. Watch for loads of Gameboy carrying kiddies walking around outside next year. Sun seekers.
Posted by Matthew at 11:33 AM | Comments (0)