jeudi 21 septembre 2006

Zope is doing alright Looks like there was a bit of news in Zopeland today.  I'm sure there were lots of reasons for that decision.  However, I'd like to step back and say: Zope ain't doing so bad. As a specific example, I'll point to Martijn's wonderful, joyful, upbeat DZUG Keynote.  For the obvious, personal reasons, I greatly enjoyed watching that.  (Martijn, the rule is, whoever gave the history last is the official historian.) More importantly, though, I got satisfaction from Martijn himself.  What a fun presentation!  I think Martijn was superb in being the "voice of Zope".  Pointing out what Zope has to be proud of.  Listing the warts without being too judgemental.  Emphasizing how we need to build bridges.  Finally, and the part that I think is most important, identifying the fundamental need for storytelling and a storyteller. Martijn has had his hand in lots of pivotal moments over the years.  I think his keynote could, if a few things he discussed play out, be viewed as an inflection point. Especially when juxtaposed with today's news.  Namely, we can point to Martijn's speech as the point where it was ok for Zope to be fun again. As proof, the message and the messenger combined in a way sufficient to lure me out of my non-blogging torpor. [wink] I'll add one extra point for Zope is doing alright.  I'm really busy these days.  Why?  Zope and Plone are in demand.  I'm doing well as project manager on a reasonably big project which uses Zope 3 (via Five), Plone, Enfold Server (and Windows integration), and some interesting other pieces.  I'm working with the great Enfold team, a clueful and honorable client, and a swath of subcontractors.  It has all the joy and purpose of Lifestyle, Inc., plus a darn good wage. And that's not all.  5 times a week, new, big leads get on the radar.  There's money to be made in Zope consulting.  People want Zope. I obviously have my bones to pick on some things.  And as Zope blindness has shown, there is a cadre of people that take delight in poking Zope in the eye.  But sometimes it's ok to step back, view Martijn's keynote, and say: "Zope is doing alright." 11:05:02 AM   comment []

Re-reachable As mentioned in my last post, I went unreachable for a while, as we moved from France back to the US.  We're all settled into our house in Fredericksburg (f12g, as Tres and Whit say.)  Well, settled in being a stretch.  Anybody that has moved knows that the boxes don't get completely unpacked until you're forced to move again. It felt weird to leave France and weird to be back in the US.  But it also feels really different than last time we lived here, and we're having a ton of fun.  I'm still using the dining room table as an office until I get into a routine and go to ChrisM's place to work.  (Tres, Chris, and soon I work out of Chris's apartment, which is conveniently located 70 meters from where my wife works.  She and I can meet in the middle at the old-fashioned diner/pharmacy for a milk shake.) Feels good to start resurfacing. 10:33:02 AM   comment []