This is in my dad’s front yard in Ocean City, Maryland, USA.
Blog
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A Hybrid’s Fear
The title’s a statement, but to me it’s a question. Maybe I have low self-esteem and don’t know it, but I could of sworn that someone who comes from Java, and has a year experience in Flash vs. someone like me who comes from Rollerblading and a brief stint in Director is certainly worth more than me. In what context is worth? In terms of marketability to an employer for a “Flash Job”.
This by no means implying that they, a Java programmer utilizing Flash, is better than me at accomplishing a task set before them. Anyone feels the need to test my skills, I reply with a “Bring it the *beep* on, sucka!” However, they do have many advantages, the key mainly being comfortable with OOP, design patterns, and experience in another mature language to give their new world context to compare things to. My compensation to that is to lay down some timeline skillz with design funk, drop some audio talent, and crank the video utilization to create a top notch presentation; the Rich in Rich Internet App.
Now, it’s not fair to clarify and attempt to nail down a recent job title in the technology world, especially the progressive one we’re in. However, it’s what I have to work with, time is short, and we need to move forward towards a point. The work people are doing with Flash has been diversifying since the days people started screwing with it. Animations, banner ads, prototypes, alternative graphic format, devices, web applications, Flash panels, stand alone fat client’ish applications, integration with other fat/thin clients, web meeting platforms, interactive videos, kiosks, eLearning… all are marketable job positions, excluding alternative graphic format. That, to me, is given to SVG. That’s how every firkin retarded article starts. Blah, blah, blah… vector render via XML, blah, blah, blah…
The same java programmers I’ve been answering questions for the past 2 years suddenly get to my level, and then start surpassing me. Granted, it’s funny to see them wielding around terms like “abstract classes” and bitching about the limitations of interfaces this, and frame delay that only to scream like a little girl when they have to do something timeline related. The pleasure is short lived. I see on the horizon an upgrade to Flash satisfying my soldiers in arms, the designers. The only reason I program Flash is so I can hang with designers. Granted, my last 2 jobs I have been lucky enough to have had the opportunity to work with some insanely talented and intelligent developers from all disciplines in which I siphon as much knowledge as possible before I get shot by the duck with the gun. Regardless, my technology is successful for one reason: my stuff is cooler than the regular stuff. Period. Point-blank. I look cooler than you, and even if I don’t work as well, the user thinks I do. And that good looking candy has spawned Flex to satisfy the bored Java developers who already have a phat language but lame ass GUI… until now. “Son of a…”.
So, uh… the new Flash WILL have developer improvements, but I’m not sure how many developers will stick around. I mean, Flex has cooler stuff than Flash has; a few extra controls, fixes, layout classes, etc. The development paradigm is largely familiar to most developers it seems, form based which I hear is popular amongst them, and has already taken off with some great fanfare. Difficult to see a rocket launch into outer space here in Atlanta since Houston, Texas is faaaaarrrr away, but I know it happened, listen to the news, and see it on TV. Same with Flex. Hell, if people like Darron Schall can make money, and have positive things to say about Flash forms, I’m clearly missing part of the picture.
And finally, the point. People seem to think I don’t give myself enough credit, but as far as I’m concerned, I have about 6 months left to be “complacent”. It’s only natural that as a technology becomes successful, supply seeks to balance out the demand. As an early adopter, however, my door prize is merely a head start. I feel I am valid in my worry about needing to ensure other areas of my technological knowledge and talent base are covered, mainly towards those experienced, “true programmers” who have embraced Flash. Maybe there’s solace in coding Flash 4 on a Palm Pilot. …naw, heck with that. I like competition, don’t get me wrong, but it seems the fear isn’t valid via others’ questioning, but I think it is.
BTW, 6 months is merely a guesstimate on past timeframes of technological vs. business need changes in terms of what is in demand.
Mention of Flex’ positive response, near bottom.
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Flash Confession
“Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It’s been 2 weeks since my last confession.”
“Speak, my child.”
“I used _root in Flash today…”
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The Cost of Not Being Connected
I can’t afford not to be connected in order to perform my contracting responsibilities. Had an interesting effect of that cost from another entity negatively affecting me.
Brought my car (formerely her majesty’s) into the shop for her 30 & 40k mile checkup + new tires. I got out of class early, but still ended up waiting for 3 hours whilst they operated. Best excuse ever to watch Coneheads on Comedy Central as the news in the newspaper was pretty lame and no good tech mags.
Last night, my headlights didn’t work. I burned my brights all the way home. It was pretty funny; if I didn’t have my ligths off, people flashed theirs at me. If I had my brights on, people flashed their brights at me. I’d rather them see me then not, but felt bad as many people in their driving patterns of encircling me, quickly getting over, etc. were obviously irritated.
Turns out, Honda had a recall on 2k1 Civics that the headlights could go out while your driving. The shop I was at, however, couldn’t connect Saturday (so they tell me) to see any recall updates. Therefore, they didn’t catch it.
So, I’ve lost 1 hour and 30 minutes this morning in contracting time. Since I get paid hourly, their lack of internet access caused me to lose some income that I could of garnered. Naturally, I never actually owned the money, therefore it’s more of an opportunity that I didn’t attain rather than a loss; however, as far as I’m concerned the money was in the bag, therefore, I still consider it a loss. Because it was a recall, I didn’t get charged for parts and labor, but still lost money in the hours I didn’t log at work.
This is the first time I can remember that not only did I lost money because I wasn’t connected, I also lost money because someone else wasn’t. I need one of those phones so I can connect my laptop to at least get email. I have enough pockets for another device to add to the 50.
It’s just neat to see how things have come full circle. It costs to be connected; it costs to be setup; you can’t afford not to be connected; your lack of being connected costs others.