My NCDevCon Picks

NCDevCon 2010

5/22/2010

• 8-9 AM                 
• Registration
• 9-10 AM               
• The Not A Keynote Session, Adam Lehman
• 10-11 AM             
• Component Lifecycle, Andy Powell
  
• 11-12 Noon         
• Database Tips and Tricks for Programmers
  I'm tempted to make a snarky remark about being a "big fish in a little pond", because I've worked with SQL Server, Access and Filemaker Pro . . . while some folks I've worked with consider Excel to be a database. But the truth is, you can never have too many database tricks up your sleeves.
• 12-1 PM               
• Lunch
  Try to eat without completely embarrassing myself by gawking & gaping at all the CF celebs. (OMG! Is that Sean Corfield?!) Go ahead and laugh, but you know you've done it too.
• 1-2 PM                  
• Understanding Security in Adobe AIR applications, Jason Dean
  I don't even write AIR applications (yet!), but Jason's blog entries over at 12Robots.com have been so informative and interesting, that I'd kick myself if I missed this session.
• 2-3 PM                  
• Getting Started with Coldfusion 9 ORM
• 3-5PM                   
• Hands on coldfusion session 3, Daria Norris
  I've learned more about and used Application.cfc and CFCs since CFUnited 2009, and even dabbled a little bit with UDFs and custom tags, but everything's been piecemeal from blogs and documentation on an as needed basis. I'm looking forward to a live, structured presentation of information to help fill the gaps in my conceptual understanding.

5/23/2010

• 8-9 AM                 
• Registration
• 9-10 AM               
• Pecha Kucha
  I actually tried my hand at a Pecha Kucha presentation three years ago, after reading Daniel Pink's "A Whole New Mind." The topic was "Writing Valid Webpages" and it had lots of pop culture references and visuals to drive the points home. I was hoping it might change the "death by Powerpoint" culture of our organization. Maybe this session means we are approaching a tipping point? 
• 10-12 Noon         
• Building a Website in Mura CMS (in 2 hours or less), Sean Schroeder
  I hear very good things about this particular CMS, but every time I've tried it out, it's been a case of getting it installed and then, "Now what?" I'm hoping a live demonstration will get me over that hump.
• 12-1 PM               
• Lunch
  Feed my face and cool down my overloaded brain cells ;)
• 1-2 PM                  
• MVC for the Rest of Use, Dennis Clark *OR* 
• CSS Frameworks: Faster Layout, Consistent Results
  It happens at every conference.  There are always two really good sessions happening at the same time. I can't decide between these two. Crap. I may have to see if something comparable is being offered at CFUnited to help me break this tie.
  
• 2-3 PM                  
• Confessions of a Crackberry Addict, Jerry Lankford
  This is my "leap of faith." I know nothing about Jerry Lankford, and I can only speculate what the content of his presentation may be-- but with a title like that, I have a hunch it's going to be lively and entertaining. Simon Free's my backup choice here, because I know he's presenting at CFUnited in about two months.