Charity Code Jam

360Flex – Let’s do a Code Jam

January 19, 2011 By John

We wanted to make sure this process and call for help got started as early as possible.

Let’s Code Jam!

We’re looking for someone to help organize the 360|Flex 2011 Code Jam!

What’s that mean? Well it means we need someone to ride herd on the main efforts of the Code Jam, before and during 360|Flex. This person will be the main point of contact with the charity, and the onsite organizer during 360|Flex.

This person will also be responsible for identifying the charity that app will be built for. Ideally the charity will be a local Denver Charity. We can help with identifying and selecting the charity but would rather this be an effort from the community.

We provide a space (A nice suite with plenty of room to stretch out) and plenty of sugar and snacks to keep code Jamm’ers going all three days.

If you’re interested let us know and we can start this process. It’s a great time for all involved, and is a great cause and great way to get some karma points :)

Filed Under: 360flex, Announcements, Charity Code Jam Tagged With: 360flex, Amazing Deals, Charity Code Jam, Community, Denver, Reasons to Come

360Flex – Speaker David Ortinau

September 10, 2010 By John

David Ortinau is.. well a great guy! He’s smart as hell and doing 2 sessions at 360|Flex DC

The First session, Tuesday at 10:50a ‘The Invaluable Freelance Flasher’ will cover what you need to know as a freelance developer. The second session, Wednesday at 1:30p ‘How to Scale Your Freelance Biz and Maximize Your Profit.’ will supercharge your freelancing!

Q:How long have you been working with Flex?

A: Since about the time Flex 3 came out. I was starting my affair with Rails and picked up Peter Armstrong’s “Flexible Rails” book figuring I could combine my new passion with my longtime Flash platform love. Sadly, I’ve still not been able to use both on the same project.

Yeah we still see a lot of Flex/CF and Flex/Java combos, not so much with rails… yet we hope.

Q: What do you like most about Flex?

A: Oh, I’d probably have to say data binding was a revelation coming from old school Flash development. For me, Flex sings when building data centric apps with lots of services, forms and visualizations. I still do a lot of pure AS3 apart from the Flex framework, so I’m constantly on that boundary trying to decide which way to go with my projects.

By far one of my favorite features (i think i’ve said this before, LOL) is databinding. So easy and so, ‘damn why hasn’t it always been this way?’

Q: What 1 session are you most excited about seeing at 360|Flex DC?

A: Gah, just 1?! This is 360Flex, are you kidding asking for just 1? I’m definitely looking forward to Antonio Holguin’s talks, especially the mobile UX session.

LOL Yeah it’s easy to say “All of them” much harder to pick a single one from such a great line up!

Q: What about 360|Flex DC are you most excited about?

A: The people. At past 360s I’ve talked to people writing Flex consoles for telco systems, deep sea mapping, HVAC GUIs, games, an app that tell you when to pee during a movie, and tons more. I guarantee attendees will have at least 1 eye-opening conversation during this conversation that make a significant, measurable impact on their career over the next 6 months.

Q: Do you prefer ninjas or robots?

A: Based on the movies I watched throughout the 80s, the hours I practiced catching arrows shot at my chest by my younger brother, the throwing stars, the sneaking through the woods on my tip toes…. I’m gonna have to say Ninjas.

Much like the spanish inquisition, no expects NINJAS!!! I hope the arrows were blunted :)

Q: What is one thing you’d like to see improved in the Flex Framework?

A: The file size. I’d like to only incur the weight for the bits I use.

That’d be nice. Oh wait, kinda like Reflex :) Check out Tyler Wright’s session

Q: Is there someone you’re hoping to see at 360|Flex DC?

A: Clinkinbeard. He never replies to any of my tweets; so what if we’re complete strangers. Hi Ben!

He’s shy.. If you threaten to fire him for not properly supporting his open source projects, he opens right up…

Q: Lastly, what would you tell someone who was on the fence or hadn’t heard (I know, they’re out there though) of 360|Flex to get them to come?

A: I know how hard it is to consider taking time away from project deadlines to travel and attend a conference. Despite what it feels like, you’ll survive and your projects can still get done. You can even scrum before morning sessions. And what the 360Flex experience will do for your career far outweighs the impact of a few days on your current workload.

That’s what we try to tell everyone :) 360|Flex is just a week away! Don’t miss out! You’re career will thank you! Register now!

Filed Under: 360flex, Community, East Coast, Reasons to Attend, The Speakers Tagged With: 360flex, Amazing Deals, Charity Code Jam, Community, Countdown, Flash Platform, Reasons to Come, speakers, Washington DC

360Flex – Charity Code Jam – Why we do it

September 3, 2010 By John

Why you should be at 360|Flex DC and why we love having a Charity Code Jam.

Having an application that would allow our volunteers to register our participants in a user-friendly manner when they don’t have access to the internet will create a much better user-experience for our volunteers and will save a large amount of time and manpower for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation,” said Kathleen Ruddy, Executive Director, St. Baldrick’s Foundation. We’re excited about what the programmers from 360|Flex are creating to help the St. Baldrick’s Foundation raise more money for childhood cancer research and can’t wait to get it to events for use!

This is why.

Filed Under: 360flex, Announcements, Charity Code Jam, Community, East Coast Tagged With: 360flex, Charity Code Jam, Community, Countdown, Reasons to Come, Washington DC

360Flex – 10 awesome facts – Flash Platform Shirt!

September 3, 2010 By John

I’m not gonna write a bunch about this, because well there’s a video.

So yeah that’s it. There’s three false facts. one per tweet with the hashtag #360flexfacts. First person to get each fact, gets a shirt!

Oh and feel free to join in on the fun and make your own video with 360|Flex Facts, it’s fun!!

Filed Under: 360flex, Announcements, Community, Groups, Hands-On, Reasons to Attend, Ryan Stewart, Schedule Tagged With: 360flex, Charity Code Jam, Community, Competition, Flash Platform, Reasons to Come, Washington DC

360Flex – The Charity Code Jam is On!

August 30, 2010 By John

Want to build an app for a great Charity? Want to do something bigger than you? The 360|Flex Charity Code Jam is a great way to do that!! Thanks to Adrian Pomillio for pushing forward and locking in the details.

Check out the full details here. For those that don’t know here’s how the Charity Code Jam works.

Monday morning at the keynote we kick off the Jam. We’ve got a room in the hotel, and from Monday morning until Wednesday morning anyone who wants to help simply shows up and contributes code, mentorship, DB skills, design, whatever is needed. The Game Jam doesn’t stop for breakfast or dinner, and often attendees who participate, aren’t seen until its done.

This time the Charity we’re building an app for is the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. You can find out more about this great Foundation fighting children’s Cancer here (PDF).

We can’t say enough about how awesome the Code Jam is. It’s so great to help support non profits, by building software they most likely wouldn’t be able to afford otherwise. In previous years we’ve built apps for Food Banks, and other non profits, things that have helped them and their constituents immensely.

Build up some software Karma points, help out during the Code Jam, there’s no other event where this happens, and it’s part of what makes 360|Flex such an awesome event (if we do say so ourselves). Register now!!

Filed Under: 360flex, Announcements, Charity Code Jam, Community, East Coast, Reasons to Attend Tagged With: 360flex, Charity Code Jam, Community, Countdown, Flash Platform, Reasons to Come, Washington DC