October 2009

Austin is a beautiful mistress…

Submitted by Lynn Bender on Wed, 10/28/2009 - 12:00am

I first met RJ Nagle back when he was writing docs for Dell. I became aware of RJ's writing when he started posting to GeekAustin. Some of you might recognize Rob from his book reviews for Slashdot.

A while back, Rob moved from Austin to Houston, in search of stable employment. Rather than simply grumble about Houston, he started organizing events and making things happen. He now helps run the Houston Fray Cafe.

About six months ago I asked Rob to write an article about the differences in Houston and Austin geek culture. Six months and a few thousand words later, he finished. The result is So Long and Thanks for all the Foobars . Rob comments that the essay "describes my life as an unemployed geek in Austin between 2001 and 2002. Now that I am ex-Austinite living in Houston, I wonder why I stayed in Austin for as long as I did."

The article ended up being much too long for GeekAustin. So you can read the article on Rob's own site. Check out his other writing while your at it.

RGM Advisors seeking Quantitative Researcher

Submitted by GeekAustinJobBot on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 7:52am

RGM Advisors, LLC is looking for a Quantitative Researcher with the following qualifications:

* Excellent analytical skills
* Creativity
* Academic background in engineering, computer science, physics, math, statistics or another quantitative discipline (advanced degrees a plus, but not required)
* Familiarity with machine learning algorithms, statistical analysis and/or quantitative analytical techniques
* Familiarity with UNIX and C++

  

RGM Advisors seeking Quantitative Research Developer (C++, Unix)

Submitted by GeekAustinJobBot on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 7:45am
in

RGM Advisors, LLC is looking for a Quantitative Research Developer with the following qualifications:

* Exceptional development and problem solving skills that include C++ in a Unix environment
* Ability to rapidly develop solutions to complex problems involving both elegant software design and deep analytical thinking
* Experience with quantitative research, market microstructure, trading systems and machine learning techniques are highly desired

  

RGM Advisors seeking Software Developer (C++, Java, Python, Perl)

Submitted by GeekAustinJobBot on Tue, 10/27/2009 - 7:11am
in

(additional positions at RGM listed in our Jobs section)

RGM Advisors, LLC is looking for a Software Developer with the following qualifications

* Outstanding development and problem solving skills
* Strong understanding of software engineering discipline and best practices
* Experience with modern C++ in a Linux environment is a plus
* SQL and scripting language experience (e.g. bash, Perl, shell, Python, etc.)
* Ability to work in a dynamic, team-oriented environment
* Experience with quantitative trading software development is a plus
* Experience with high-performance distributed systems is a plus

  

emPowered seeks Drupal site builder

Submitted by GeekAustinJobBot on Mon, 10/26/2009 - 2:14pm
in

This comes from Chad at emPowered:

Here are the details:

What is a geek?

Submitted by Lynn Bender on Sun, 10/25/2009 - 3:22pm
in

When I first chose the name GeekAustin for the website, it seemed pretty clear to me at the time what a geek was. Geeks were the people who hung out at my bookstore on most afternoons, chatting and reading tech books. They were the ones not talking about Foucault and postmodernism. Around campus at the time, there was something of a consensus regarding what the term geek meant.


Geeks hanging out at Desert Books.

Somewhere along the way, things changed.

Wrapup: Austin QA Pros Inaugural Happy Hour

Submitted by Dennis Gyor on Fri, 10/23/2009 - 9:44am
in

There was a good crowd at the GeekAustin QA Group Meet and Greet this week. About 50 members from the Austin QA Pros Linkedin Group showed up for the inaugural event at Triumph Cafe, which was co-hosted by Valentine and Associates and sponsored by AutomatedQA. Flying down from Boston to Represent AutomatedQA were Derek Langone, President, and Steve Miller, VP of ALM Solutions.

I've been examining AutomatedQA's product Software Planner for a while, and it was great to have my questions answered by Steve Miller, the product's creator.

Some of the things I heard when meeting with members was the desire to gain a stronger understanding of web based testing and automation. Another hot topic was project management methodologies and the ways it interacts with various QA processes. Look for these topics in upcoming events. Overall it was also a great opportunity to meet peers in the quality community in a relaxing setting and "talk shop". I discovered that we have a very diverse group and and am looking forward to our next event. For more details on future events, join the Austin QA Pros LinkedIn Group.

Dennis Gyor
Austin QA Pros
GeekAustin

This week's Austin Drupal News

Submitted by Lynn Bender on Thu, 10/22/2009 - 7:54pm
in

What have I been telling you? Is Austin DrupalTown or what? First, the DrupalCamp Austin website has been launched. The registration fee is only $40. Two days of drupaliciousness for only $40 -- right here in Austin. Register now!.

Second, it was announced this week that Dries Buytaert (wikipedia), the creator of Drupal, will be at SXSWi 2010. Now I can quit begging Hugh.

Third, this month's Austin Drupal Meetup on October 28th features Michael Godeck speaking on drupal database management, drush, & command line scripting.

Fourth, Drupal 6 Search Engine Optimization, the new book by Ben Finklea, CEO of Volacci, just made the front page of Drupal.org. Congrats, Ben! Last, David Strauss, of Austin's own Four Kitchens, was just interviewed by the Lullabots regarding PressFlow -- 4K's high performance enhancement of Drupal. Listen to the interview here.

-Lynn

First batch of SXSWi 2010 panels. Weeeee!

Submitted by Lynn Bender on Mon, 10/19/2009 - 9:57am
in

The SXSW panel/speaker selection process has really come along in the last decade. Back around 2000, Hugh would contact a group of people, ask us what's hot, and what's not yet on the radar. To a great extent, that determined the panel make up.

Then Lindsey Simon (geekaustin interview) came up with the SXSW Panel Picker, and everything changed. People can submit panels, and everyone can vote on them. While some people shamelessly promote their panels -- attempting to influence the vote -- the process works rather well. Judging by the list of submitted panels, this year's SXSWi looked pretty promising.

For the very few of you who haven't already seen it (I debated even bothering to post), this morning, the first batch of approved panels has been released. You can find it at:

http://sxsw.com/interactive/talks/panels

Grab a cup of coffee. It's a long list.

Sweet C/C++ Game Programming Gig at Gendai.

Submitted by Lynn Bender on Wed, 10/14/2009 - 12:54am

If you're involved in the game scene at all in Austin, you probably already know about Gendai Games. No doubt you've seen these guys around town.

Michael Augustin, the CEO and co-founder of Gendai just informed me that they are looking for a software engineer to join the team. Well, he didn't just   inform me. He told me last week, but I've been slacking.

Gendai is looking for someone with the following qualifications:
* 3+ years of professional game software development experience. Experience with at least one shipped title a plus.
* BS or BA degree in computer science or equivalent foundation. Masters Degree a plus.
* Fluency in C/C++. Objective-C is a plus.
* Familiarity with scripting languages (Lua, Javascript, etc).
* Experience with the ActiveX, OpenGL, and Netscape Plugin API
* Experience porting software between Mac OS X and Windows XP/Vista/7 a plus
* Experience developing GUI applications / tools a plus.
* Comfortable working within an existing code base
* Self-motivation and willingness to participate in many areas of game development
* Excellent verbal and written communication skills
* Strong interpersonal skills and problem solving ability
* Demonstrated ability to work under pressure and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team
* Passion for games

Interested? Send your resume to jobs@gendaigames.com

Update: Austin QA Pros Inaugural Happy Hour

Submitted by Dennis Gyor on Tue, 10/13/2009 - 9:36pm
in

Not only has AutomatedQA graciously offered to sponsor our inaugural happy hour, we just got word that Derek Langone, President of AutomatedQA, will be coming down from Boston to join us.


I love the patio at Triumph Cafe.
Also coming will be Steve Miller, former President of Pragmatic Software, now Vice President of ALM Solutions at AutomatedQA. As many of you know Pragmatic Software was recently acquired by AutomatedQA.


This is a great place for conversations.

Thanks to Lynn's wicked spidering programs, we think we've managed to locate just about every QA pro in Austin. This will be a great opportunity to trade tips and tricks with our peers. We've spent a bit of time putting this together. If you are involved in the QA process in any way, I hope you can make time to join us. The event is free and the hors d'oeuvres are courtesy of AutomatedQA.

Here's the details:

Austin QA Pros Happy Hour
5:00-8:00PM, Tuesday, October 20
Triumph Cafe (google map)
3808 Spicewood Springs
Austin, TX 78759
RSVP (not necessary) at Facebook
This is a free event.

Dennis Gyor
Austin QA Pros
GeekAustin

Texas Linux Fest is Go!

Submitted by Lynn Bender on Fri, 10/09/2009 - 9:35am
in

For the last year, I've been following the various regional Linux events and thinking to myself: "Why not Austin?". Apparently, other folks were thinking the same. Now, thanks to the initiative of a core group, plans are under way.

If you want to participate in the planning of Texas Linux Fest, you should join the Texas Linux Fest Google Group. If you want more information, visit the Texas Linux Fest Wiki.

The group will be holding a planning meeting next week. Here's the details:

Texas Linux Fest organizational meeting
* When: Wednesday October 14 at 7pm
* Where: Zenoss
4807 Spicewood Springs Rd.
Building 4, Suite 201
Austin, TX 78759
* Map: Google Map
* Phone: We'll arrange a conference call number.
* Questions/RSVP: Matt Ray at Zenoss (mray@zenoss.com)
* Pizza & sodas to be provided

The Texas Linux Fest Google Group:
http://groups.google.com/group/texaslinuxfest?hl=en
The Texas Linux Fest Wiki:
http://wiki.texaslinuxfest.org/index.php/Main_Page

In search of the (perfect) venue

Submitted by Lynn Bender on Mon, 10/05/2009 - 2:11am
in

Europa Books opened in November 1989. Soon after, I threw the first party.


europa books (dobie mal) circa 1990

Books for learning QA / Testing?

Submitted by Lynn Bender on Sun, 10/04/2009 - 7:05pm

Until the last few years, there were only a handful of books on software testing. The two that I saw on most often on friends' shelves were:

The Art of Software Testing
by Glenford Myers (1979, revised 2004)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0471469122/

Testing Computer Software,
by Cem Kaner (1999)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/0471358460/

Both of these books are old enough that they don't cover more recent methodologies, like unit-testing, test-driven development, agile, etc.
Although the books are still considered classics, I'm not sure that they are as useful as they once were.

What are the new classics of Software QA and testing? What's on your bookshelf?

-Lynn

Another great Refresh Austin meeting

Submitted by Lynn Bender on Sun, 10/04/2009 - 3:30pm

Alex Jones(@baldman) and friends are doing a hell of a job with Refresh Austin. Each month, they continue to have timely, and useful, presentations from local experts.

I know from experience that it's hard to come up with interesting speakers month after month. It helps that Austin has so much web/design talent. Still, one has to have a pretty effective radar to stay ahead of the latest trends and know who's qualified to speak about them. If you're not on the Refresh Austin mailing list, you should be.

The October Refresh meeting features Diana M. Dupuis speaking on CiviCRM(wikipedia entry), and Kyle Simpson (co-organizer of the Austin.Javascript group) demonstrating a new game he's working on -- written in Javascript.

This month's meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 13, at Buffalo Billiards. For more details on the event, and to RSVP, visit the Facebook event page.