I just got back from RailsConf in Portland. It was really fun to be a designer among a sea of programmers. I spent a lot of time talking to programmers about what designers do on a Rails team and how we should work together. A number of those ideas worked their way into an interview with Geoffrey Grosenbach of PeepCode. Listen to the podcast at Rails Podcast.
UPDATE: Here are some quick video interviews with Ryan, Jeremy, and David from RailsConf 2008.
Ryan Singer
Jeremy Kemper
David Heinemeier Hansson
Jonathan Ng
on 03 Jun 08This was one of my favorite talks out of all the sessions during RailsConf.
Raymond Brigleb
on 03 Jun 08I enjoyed Ryan’s talk a ton. David’s also. I personally wasn’t sure that half the audience really got it (for either), as there were some disparaging comments I overheard after each.
However, I thought the talk on Designers and Programmers was very interesting. There were a number of ideas I hadn’t really thought of, such as how version control can be useful to designers, and it was somewhat comforting to see a designer being comfortable with working on the code in Rails views. And not worrying about “breaking tests!”
David’s talk was great, too. I would sum it up as “get a hobby!” It kind of reminded me of that old SNL skit where William Shatner is talking to a bunch of Star Trek fans and tells them to “get a life.” Sure, programming is great, but you need to use the rest of your brain! You need to take breaks, get some sleep, and learn other disciplines. It’s certainly helped me, and I’ve always heard stories of epiphanies that happen when you’re NOT thinking about the problem you’re working on at that particular moment. Relax, and inspiration will come to you!
A big thanks to all three of you for the talks at RailsConf this year. They were all high points in an already excellent (third) conference!
aubrey
on 03 Jun 08I’m sad I can’t get this to play on my iPod touch. I can subscribe, but it doesn’t seem to like the video format.
Arlo
on 03 Jun 08That short clip conveyed more about you guys than the countless blog posts I’ve read and products of yours that I’ve used. I think your blogs read a little condescending and at the same time self-absorbed, but seeing Ryan’s clip broke it down to show your plain old enthusiasm and interest (read: nerdiness) that I’m able to relate to and is genuinely respectable.
David Andersen
on 03 Jun 08Well said Ryan.
Dhrumil
on 04 Jun 08Ryan, you’re a beast. Keep up the yoga.
Massimo Sgrelli
on 04 Jun 08@aubrey These interviews have been made by GotThingsDone.com – my company – and we’ll make them available starting from today in iPhone/iPod compatible format at http://www.railsonwave.com or at http://factory.wavegroup.it
Aubrey
on 04 Jun 08Thanks, I’ll be subscribing tonight after work.
Jim
on 04 Jun 08Is the Rails Podcast video feed subscribable to be viewed on my ipod touch?
Massimo Sgrelli
on 05 Jun 08@ Jim – we haven’t planned any podcast video feeds at this moment, but we’ll look into creating a webpage that will be compatible to view on iphone’s
Massimo Sgrelli
on 05 Jun 08Ryan, may I have the slides you showed us at the RailsConf? Thanks
This discussion is closed.