Universities Seeing the Open Source Light

I just recently learned about UCOSP. The details of the program can be found here.

We are continually seeing academic institutions realizing the benefits of having their student body taking part in open source development work as part of the curriculum. I give credit to those universities or colleges that are participating in such activities. For too long, aspiring software engineers have frowned upon the completion of a degree, primarily due to the lack of relevance their studies provide them upon graduation. This no longer needs to be the case.

As this program shows, it is possible for students to make meaningful contributions to an open source project while attending the school. Not only does this provide them with "real world" experience by collaborating with engineers throughout the world; but, it also provides them enhanced opportunities for securing employment at the completion of their degree. It is a win-win for all involved.

Hopefully, as more institutions become educated on the benefits of such a program, we will continue to see them evolve. Advanced education in the computer science arena no longer needs to be something done in the past, but something that provides great benefits for the future.

Florida Linux Show Update

I will be speaking at 9:30AM this Saturday, 10/24, at the Florida Linux Show. It is at the Radisson Resort Orlando-Celebration in Kissimmee, FL. Look forward to seeing anyone there that will be in attendance. Looks to be a promising event!

All About the Brain Power

Here is an enlightening article about the core of open source. Too many companies get so excited about open source based on the price tag they associate with it. Lest they forget about what makes it such great software to begin with. Behind every great product is a great brain, and in the case of open source, we are talking about thousands of great brains. As has always been the case, the power of collaborative development bears fruit for all involved.

Helpful Hints In Avoiding the Ax

Given the state of the labor market, the one thing you want to try to limit is your chances of getting fired. Of course, there are plenty of instances (workforce reduction, etc.) that are out of your control. However, it is imperative that you take care of behavior that is in your control.

In this Datamation article, Eric Spiegel outlines three steps you can follow to limit your chances of getting the ax. All three are very relevant, but one in particular sticks out to me. The notion that you, as a developer, must promote your own work.

I agree completely with this. In a number of cases, this can be quite difficult for the developer. There are a number of highly skilled engineers that tend to be introverted. They might not necessarily be the best "sales person" for their own code. If that happens to be you, it is time for you to do your best to break out of your shell per se. Make sure that not only your team, but others in the organization, are aware of your accomplishments. With that being said, you do not want to come across as cocky, whereby you hurt the chemistry you have with your team members. But, there is nothing wrong with stating your accomplishments in a professional manner that results in your determined worth to the organization.

In this day and age of corporate expense scrutiny, you must do everything in your power to show your worth. Following these couple of easy steps will assist you in realizing your career goals.

Why Do Companies Give Tests to Open Source Developers?

Recently, I have had a couple of companies give programming tests to individuals that have had code accepted for an open source project. Why is that? Sometimes I have a hard time understanding what is going to be gained by doing so. I have always been under the impression that if your code is accepted by a particular project, that is a testament to your abilities to program in that language. At the very least, it is the perfect opportunity for a company to take the necessary time to review the code to determine ones ability. Most of the time, below par code is not allowed into an open source project. Just the process of elimination given the competition.

However, for some apparent reason unbeknownst to me, that universally visible code is not enough. Again, I ask why is that? Corporations constantly are trying to evolve the hiring process at their companies. Meanwhile, they lose sight of the core of the mission at hand. While all this "trickery" takes place with exams that usually have gray areas, people that could be great assets to achieve the corporate mission are passed over. Perhaps that does not hurt them tremendously at the moment given the economic environment, but over time, it will provide a challenge for them.

Everyone wants to find the best person for the job. That should be the goal of every open job requistion. In order to do so, perhaps some of the processes that are put in place should be examined given the position at hand. Does a person that has viewable code out there need to be given a debatable quiz on code structure? I, of course, think not. But, I realize that is just my opinion. Let me know what you think.

Presenting at Florida Linux Show

I am looking forward to presenting at this years Florida Linux Show. The web site with full details on the show can be found here. It is shaping up to be a good show, with Red Hat being the title sponsor. Hope to see you there!

Training Courses by the Linux Foundation

If anyone is headed to LinuxCon in September, they may want to take a look at the training classes the Linux Foundation is offering. A full listing is here . They obviously have a number of very highly talented developers at the Linux Foundation. I am curious to see if any of them are going to take part in leading these sessions. If anyone decides to participate, please let us know your feedback. I am curious to see the success of these courses.