Post-POSS

Highlights from the 2nd Day from sessions I attended at the POSS.

SugarCRM. I was able to catch a brief talk about this open source CRM and seeing how lightweight it is as an application is quite SaaS-sy. Will be testing it more on the next couple of days as I was able to get a demo cd.

Open Source in the Academe, Gov't and NGOs.
Take-aways.

1. IBM Phils. bullish on RP IT sector. Partnering on their SSME programs with a lot of colleges and universities.

2. DCI - Official IT company that handles and manages all Philippine government agencies IT needs still into proprietary software under the pretense of being unbiased and "pro-choice". Uh-oh. How about pro-cost-effective? I hope I misread that.

Had the temerity to stand up and speak about the SaaS option in general but I don't think I got my message right in this room of execs and officials. They thought I was doing a marketing pitch. Nooooo.

3. Mark Buenconsejo on Ruby on Rails for Pinoy IT. Hope he does encourage some more RoR guys. Pity that I did not win the Rails book he was giving away.

Then, a smooth segue to SaaS and PaaS as discussed by our main man, David Abramowski. What can I say? Just proud to be there listening to a great explanation as usual. Will post some pics later so you'll see what I mean.

Bedfellows: Is Ruby the perfect match for SaaS

Hey, I don't intend to add fuel to the fire of language wars as it has been a raging debate intense enough to rival the current US Democratic presidential aspirants.

But consider this. Now that SaaS is clearly going mainstream and as more and more businesses consider SaaSsyfying their applications, which programming language would most of them adopt?

Will they go the way of social network tools such as Facebook or Myspace that have scale as a driving force in choosing the language and/or follow the web site as web application principle to easily reach more customers for an easier learning curve?

Or will eventually cascade to advantages and risks that concern Ruby, Java, Php, Python and the others. Remember. we're talking implications on SaaS only.

Ruby is Hot-rod Red or Red-hot Read, Whatever.

I've recently come across a bunch of posts for newbies who would like to try their hand on Ruby or Ruby on Rails. Regardless of your motive, no doubt that the buzz that Ruby has received the last few years has contributed to its ever-growing popularity. Thanks to the web, you too can become a much sought after Rubyist or Rails programmer. You just have to put the necessary effort to learn the program which is touted to use the least effort and code. Bit of a tongue-twister there.


A List Apart
You can never go empty-handed with A List Apart. Found two (2) fairly recent articles for Ruby/Rails newbies written by Dan Benjamin and Michael Slater, respectively. Read both so you will be able to find out how to sign up for a free online learning course.

Getting Started with Ruby on Rails
Creating More with Less Effort using Ruby on Rails

If you're like most people who are too busy to search and click for references, you may want to head over to Aeonscope.net. This one is about as comprehensive as it gets from reference materials to news and even Rails hosts should you be able to succeed in building your very own apps.

Last but definitely not the least, head over to Ruby-Lang.Org and complete your research into Ruby, the Programmer's Best Friend. Try your hand in their 20-minute tutorial and be prepared to get hooked.

Still not satisfied, eh? OK, you need to haul off your butt and pray you're in time for Satish's class at Ruby Learning. Read through the testimonials and it will give you an idea of how interesting this site is for aspiring Ruby-wannabees. What's more, resident Ruby Guru is one cool teacher.

Now, 'scuse me as I build my own Jarvis. An armor suit definitely is a welcome breather for visions of 'men-in-tights'.

Gotham and Ruby is way up there in Cool

Fact is that GoRuCo is sold out! Now if any of you folks would wish to be there but haven't been registered yet, pray that you get one (1) free slot courtesy of Morph Labs, Inc courtesy of our good friend Manny.

Check out the details and maybe, just maybe you'd bump into Bruce Wayne or his alter-ego - (no, it's not Matz).

E -seuss

Looking at my Google Reader, Netnewswire and even Delicious account, it is quite easy to surmise that what interests me the most pertains to Tech issues that relate to the Morph Application Platform and updates particularly Ruby, Rails and Social Media in general. Sure, I do because it's not just work but it's really pretty interesting, a sub-culture of puppet masters of the economy and the radical future. Yet, I honestly admit that I still get easily drawn to issues close to my heart like personal stories of human inspiration and yes, human struggle which simply can't quite exist without the other.

Sure, I continue to seek out and carefully read blogs by programmers and developers. What's surprising is that more than a few of them are putting time writing about these human issues and personal things, too. So, without much ado, I'm going to fire away about things not typically Educe/E-juice.

Tibet and (sporting) glory
The Beijing Olympics is about to start its Olympic torch relay and what a real bummer for them. For years, Tibet, under the Dalai Lama's strict non-confrontational stance even in exile, quietly protested to no avail. But a change in strategy is sure to happen especially when younger Tibetans, who have not been as strongly exposed to the Dalai Lama's teachings nor guidance (compared to ideas about freedom, rights and internet), take to the fore.

Questions:
1. Are the Olympics really insulated against politics? Each gold necklace represents a noose for Tibetans. Glory to the Games? And so what about the training and date with destiny? Who stands to lose more if there is a boycott? Athletes, China or even companies...
Ready...set...go/fire!!!

2. What are the sentiments of typical Chinese people to the Tibetan occupation? Do they really believe Tibet is worth the trouble, a historical Chinese claim/right or a show of might? Oh, geography...

3. Is the Dalai Lama advocating that Tibet be like Hong Kong? Autonomous and partly-free? Do Hong Kong residents really feel free? Or is it just about commerce and being powerless?

TED is more than a name
The site for me. Go visit and marvel at true... uhmm, universality of resonant ideas. And presentations of remarkable people, as well.

Mac, not your average Joe
Yes, I use a Macbook and I'm way too cool to be cleaning the toilet and/or washing the dishes (but I do as a form of meditation). Uh uh. Better still, I'm into raising my daughter, Zaki to be the village bully as well as the classiest nose picker among 3-year olds. But don't take my word for it, read this. And how about the Ruby and Rails guys? Control-Alt-Delete

Who what...
Horton, that's who. From the ever creative Dr. Seuss - "Seuss" which was supposed to rhyme with voice than with juice. Now that would have been eedious.

Stalled and installed: Disclosures 2

Stalled: New Posts

It had been a whirl of a 2 weeks and a half, most of which was due to this:



This is my very first screencast, crappy voice and all. It is actually version 3 already and really spent a lot of restless days and nights trying to make it presentable. But overall, it's been a rewarding experience and gasp, I look forward to doing a lot more - but this time with a better mic and a sound-proof room (as if it was possible).

Installed:

Yep, I wanted to do more blog posts but wasn't expecting something like officially writing for Morph as one of its bloggers for Asia. Anyway, expect to see some of my posts there while I ponder on how to keep up writing here. Any suggestions on how to do it will be most appreciated.

Disclosures 2.

I've now been officially part of Morph Labs, Inc (actually started early February). This means I may have to do more writing about company products and sharing them with you over at the company blog. Good thing is, hearing from our guys again this week, the Morph Application Platform really is something. I am as wide-eyed as a kid learning about space as I was upon attending product briefing on its cool set of features. Technology and innovation truly is something.

Still expect to get more news and views on SaaS happenings and Asia Ruby on Rails updates here along with a few occasional rants and personal advocacies in the world of tech. Maybe we could also put in some profiles of interesting persons and places I now meet along the way.

Surreal.

Morph Make Rails Deployment Seem Too Easy

It was just a couple of hours ago that I got the video of how quick rails apps deployment is in the Morph Application Platform. But apparently, there's somebody quicker ...

Rails up to Speed

The world sure is an oyster for Ruby on Rails developers these days.... , spoken with every bit of jealousy

Rails on the Orient Express: Next Stop - Hong Kong Part 2

Many of you probably have heard about this guy. But in case not, here's Leon Ho as Top 4 Businessweek Asian Entrepreneur for 2007. Great!

Good thing we got his replies, too.

1. Personally, what makes Rails special?

Probably the defined conventions. It unifies the design and implementation from developers across the team. The language, Ruby also makes Rails special.

2. Are there barriers towards a broader Rails adoption?

People usually have to see success story before going to adoption,similar to people buying books based on a review. The problem is that there aren't many big scale (with high complexity) apps yet

3. What are the things you would like to see happening as a member of the Rails
community in Hong Kong?
First thing to build a community really is engagement. Probably have more activities and chats in mailing list is a good start.

Rails on the Orient Express: Next Stop - Hong Kong

Let me just say that combing the web does bring out some pretty good info, all things considered. It led me to David Wong from Tripleplay Communications Ltd. in HK. Here is what David posted in google groups in December 2007,

" I am a Ruby user for 3 years and a Rail users for 2 years. A year ago, our company became a full Ruby/Rails shop and also created what we call rubykingdom to group together. But back then activities were rare and we are all split around the Globe, and didn't organized enough meetings in HK."

He further adds,

"I have a mailing list of around 10 members. I have created a basecamp and a wiki. Would love to add you guys to list if you wish. My goal is to group together as much Ruby communities as possible, so we can do some good sharing, war stories on Real Development cases and trends that really impact our lives as Ruby/Rails users."

Naturally, I just had to contact him. Thankfully, he replied.

1.Personally, what makes Rails special?

I started picking up Ruby first, and later naturally evolved with Rails as it is a killer app for Ruby. On Ruby, its one of the best language I have used since it closely resembles SmallTalk, an advance language at its time, but too difficult to master for mass usage. With Ruby, its one of the most economically simple language I have used so far, and it kept things simple, plus its double byte based due to his inventor Matsu, should suit Asians much more than anything else.
On Rails, I wont' say too much as its obvious set off a new trend on MVC framework where copycat sprung up just to mimic it functionalities, but most people miss the boat as the core was the Ruby Language that make its unique.

2. Are there barriers towards a broader Rails adoption? If so, any ideas on how to overcome it?

Asians are afraid of being at (the) bleeding edge, they are more kind of followers rather than innovators. They do not like to be on a bleeding edge, but once they confirm that - they are.

3. Any other things you wish to see happening as a member of the Rails community in Hong Kong?

1. We should create a proper community to collect thoughts and share resource, after
2. We should create some good reputation of the local community, both by providing seminars and contribution to the Ruby/Rails community.
3. Working with Industry Computer and Academic associations to spread the power of Ruby/Rail, and share with others how we succeed with the languages.

More Hong Kong Ruby on Rails stuff on the coming post. Thanks, David!

Rails on the Orient Express: Detour - Down Under 2

While we're already exploring Australia, I'd like to present to you another good chap who has agreed to participate in our mini- Rails survey. He is Tim Lucas. Not only does he do coding in Rails but he says he is a bit of a celebrity, too as he hosts a TV game show there. So on with the show ...

1. Personally, what makes Rails special?

For me firstly it's that it does things the right way whilst still keeping the architecture simple and clean, and secondly the community.

Every experience I'd had with best-practice web app architectures pre-Rails involved a lot of repetition for adding simple things like database fields and a lot of scaffolding for problems which I'd yet to need to solve. I work with small teams who need to hand-craft everything from the URL structure, user interface and the data models, and Rails provided a nice balance of best-practice, flexibility and productivity without forcing too much of a particular structure on the final result. I've found with Rails (that) it's quite often easier to do things the right way than to do things the quick or hacky way.

The community was probably what I saw as being most special about Rails. Here was a bunch of people rethinking assumptions by building tools to demonstrate how they thought web apps could and possibly should be built. No doubt we will and are rethinking all the assumptions used to build Rails applications and Rails itself, but for now it still seems to be the boiling pot of innovative tools, techniques and ideas.

2. Are there barriers towards a broader Rails adoption? If so, how (can they be overcome)?

I think one of the biggest barriers is gaining the critical mass to form a development community. Once a community is formed you get local champions who blog, organise events, share knowledge and speak at conferences which would no doubt encourages take up through marketing and education. Online activity no doubt has a great effect, and the large number of Rails bloggers in the US, and the feedback effect of blogging encouraging blogging, has no doubt helped their growth.

3. Any other things you would like to see happening as a member of the Rails community in Australia?

I'd love to see the other cities ramp up their communities. Sydney and Melbourne have quite large communities but the other cities are still gaining critical mass. Events such as Railscamp[2] attract people from all over Australia and are probably key to building a wider community.

Rails sure sounds easy, while community is difficult. Online activity? I promise to do my share even whilst I begin to bust my wits to learn some RoR fundamentals. Any patient Ruby developer out there willing to take me on, as a student that is? Please.

Rails on the Orient Express: Detour - Down Under

If we are going to push for more Ruby on Rails adoption in the East, it might be good to look for models to help us achieve our goals. We can look to Japan, home of the great Matz and where sensibly RoR would invariably be in greater use. But that is easier said than done owing to barriers in language. (But worth trying as soon as I exhaust my contributors).

Which leaves us with Australia. They have a vibrant Rails group over there and has even organized a Rails Camp last year. One of those who are quite active in the group is Pat Allan - (Definitely no bad ego. Positive). Following is his take about Rails adoption (emphasis were mine).

1. Personally, what makes Rails special?

It provides a structure which pushes you towards good practices for web development (particularly MVC), and it's written in Ruby, which is such a nice language to work with.

The community is also a massive influence - having a great bunch of people to bounce ideas off and get support from really helps.

2. Are there barriers towards a broader Rails adoption? If so, how (can they be overcome)?

Some people may argue that getting Rails into the enterprise market is something important - personally, I'm not so fussed. Also, my (admittedly small) amount of experience with large corporations makes me think they won't appreciate Rails to the full extent, nor will they use it appropriately (ie: in an agile workflow, instead of one filled with bureaucracy).

Some people are suspicious of Rails - perhaps because of the hype that has accompanied it, and the fanatical approach some advocates have. I'm not sure how we can get around that, beyond keeping an open and considerate mindset.

3. Any other things you would like to see happening as a member of the Rails community in Australia?

I feel that, at least in the Melbourne and Sydney groups, things are progressing well - there's a growing sense of community, and increasing interaction with groups in the other states. The RailsCamps have been fantastic, and the relaxed atmosphere at monthly meetings is great.

So I've no big targets that we should aim for - but we do need to make sure we don't lose the vibe we currently have, and ensure that the groups are welcoming to new people. It shouldn't seem like an exclusive club to outsiders.

An open and considerate mindset, a community that has to shed perceived image of exclusivity. Makes sense, not just for RoR but any endeavor. Asians can do that. Or can we?

Ruby on Rails: On the Asia Pacific Express. First Stop.

There is no doubt that Ruby on Rails or Rails has become such a popular web application framework. The buzz about it has taken a life of its own making icons of Mr. DHH and even leading others to proclaiming that it is the best.

But what about this part of the world. Quick surveys of Rails communities using G00gle in Asia (Hong Kong, Singapore, India & Philippines) suggest that it is growing but apart from Australia, it seems that group activities have been few or at worse, lifeless. I'd like to think that the Rails developers are relatively quite busy with jobs and projects but my gut feel says that for something that is "open source", Rails communities in Asia, ironically, don't feel close knit.

Hope I'm wrong though.

Next: Building the Rails Orient Express