Archive for April, 2005
Probably the best resume in the world
Apr 24th
Not to be big headed but recruiters often tell me that my resume is awesome/ best they have seen in a long time/ very impressive etc. Good job I did not let it go to my head, during today’s blog-catch-up-a-thon a stumbled across Scott Hanselman’s resume:
http://www.hanselman.com/resume/ScottHanselmanResume.htm
Can anyone beat that? Overly ambitious and hard working as I am, finding this was a real
I love his posting style: generally just statements with little explanation or conclusion. Certainly challenges the grey matter. He was on DNR with Rory a few weeks ago which is how I stumbled on this gem of a blog. While listening to the show I had deja-vu of some recent interview questions when Scott’s (apparently) famous .Net interview question post was mentioned:
http://www.hanselman.com/blog/WhatGreatNETDevelopersOughtToKnowMoreNETInterviewQuestions.aspx
Line numbers in your error logs
Apr 24th
This
will be basic trivia to those with a Microsoft development background, but I only learned it on my last project: In a nutshell Release v’s Debug only sets certain compilation switches. Consequently it is no problem to deliver a release build with Debug Symbols. From my research compile time and JIT optimizations are not affected, but I stand to be corrected on that point.
Can anyone tell me why one would NOT always deploy pbd (debug symbols) files with your code other than IP issues? Note to Sys-admins: ‘because I hate all developers and it makes my day to see them struggle debugging blind’ is not a valid answer 
Coupled with log4net deploying pdbs really helped me stabilize a nightmare of a background process on my last assignment. What is log4net I hear many ask? Attend the first fifteen minutes of my Atlanta Code Camp presentation or read a post or two like this:
http://blogs.acceleration.net/ryan/archive/2004/11/10/380.aspx
Do I hear a few voices at the back are saying they love EIF and the MS Application Block? If you are using them already then probably stick with them as they do work, if not scan these posts and make an educated decision:
http://weblogs.asp.net/cazzu/archive/2004/05/17/133196.aspx
http://www.cauldwell.net/patrick/blog/CommentView,guid,13345.aspx
http://dotnetjunkies.com/WebLog/kenbrubaker/archive/2004/10/04/27581.aspx
There are many more posts debating EIF and log4net:
Atlanta: Stepping down from .Net UG involvement
Apr 24th
It is with great sadness that this is happening. While being involved with user groups I tried to accomplish the goal of making them a more open and inviting place for newcomers regardless of their .Net expertise. Yes the C# group is targeted towards developers/ architects with advanced knowledge, but again a core aim of mine was to prevent it being a clique of regular members.
From email feedback it appears that many people learned a great deal from my presentations. Delivering those presentations was a great help in recovering from a side effect to a Malaria vaccine called Lariam. If you are the 1 in 10,000 who gets hit by the side-effect then this is a very nasty drug and it has taken me many years to recover. No one knows how it works chemically, but the worst side effect was paralyzing fear in social situations. The technical term is fight-or-flight which translates to ‘wanting to leg it asap’ – this even happened in cubes of colleauges and at the dinner table with friends! It was quite embarrassing and at times debilitating. Anyone who saw my kick off to the mobility group was witnesses to such an episode
A post on Lariam is about to happen, hence I mentioned it above. Yes, posting about it publicly can only harm me – over the last few years a few individuals have used it against me in the work environment. Now I am 99% recovered I see no problems with work, but am aware some selfish individuals who read this post will use it as leverage against me. After overcoming a personal hell with the drug, I need to make a Google accessible post for new suffers to find – the first few months were utterly unbearable and if I can help any future sufferers that is worth far more than a few blows to my career.
So the reigns of the C# Group are officially handed over to the group’s ‘second in charge’ Keith Rome. Maybe later in the year I will be invited back to help the C# group out again? If not I am sure Keith will continue to take the group forward keeping the content very technical.
What I am doing with all the spare time? After a recent round of interviews with some of Atlanta’s best Architects my head will be down in books trying to catch up to their level. IMO it is easier to learn advanced material from books than user groups, but the groups can be great motivation to learn. Hopefully I will find time for cycling again and hang out with the great bunch of guys and gals I used to see before last year’s wreck.
Finally: a BIG thanks goes out to Doug and Kirk of Microsoft. They put up with a tremendous amount from us user group people and have the patience of saints dealing with some members. Please everyone try to appreciate
what they do for us, and do not hassle them too much. They both go far beyond what their job asks of them.