Time to rebuild

So after only having my new site up for about 3 months or so I gotta retire it as a Freelance service because of this new job that I accepted. No big deal really, I'll just toss it into my portfolio like I've done before. The thing is that I had planned on turning my current site into a blog type site where I can post some tutorials and down loadable scripts in whatever programming language I feel.

That's all fine and dandy but many of my geeky buddies are suggesting that I go the Word Press route but I'm not sure if that's the way I would like to go. I do know that it would be the more sensible route to take but I'm the kind of person that takes pride in the work that I do, and if I use an application that was already built, I won't have the glory of saying I did it. Don't get me wrong, I use scripts that I find here and there to cut development time in half like many other coders but by using an entire application is not my style.

As for what language to use, I'm think PHP but it would be cool to do it in ASP.NET only for the reason that I like to use the technology that I'm currently learning and put it into action and use it as a learning curve. Problem with that is I am still a noob to the language of ASP.NET.

My current site is coded in ColdFusion (which is flippin awesome) and would definitely program every site in CF if I could but in the real world it's not like that. In the real world, your given a site (sometimes a completed site) and asked to do it right there on the spot, basically asking you to learn this new language, right now. I've gone through this many times and find it to be one of the best ways to learn something new but can be rather frustrating at times.

To end this babble, I'll just say, PHP? Or just go ahead and do the ASP.NET deal. I'm sure I'll do what I feel is best.

- Pete

Freelance stuff

So, I'm gonna say that the site for my freelance work has been up for a bit now, not too long but a good amount of time I presume. It's looking like I may have to turn it into a portfolio site for myself do to the fact of this new job that I have acquired. It seems as though I will not be able to do any freelance work while working for this company which I do believe is nonsense but hey, it's an opportunity that I'm willing to going along with. But I will tell you one thing. Since I'm so proud of the work I did with my new site, you better believe that I will definitely be putting it into my portfolio. There's no way I'm gonna scrap all that work.

As for my future plans, I'm thinking about doing what basically every programmer does; create my own personal blog site that will have scripts that can be downloaded along with tutorial videos.

I know I know, please god not another programmer with a site with scripts that barely ever work and are a massive pain in the neck to get up and running. I look at it this way. If I feel like posting my scripts for free and allow people to download them for free then stop your belly aching and either download the free stuff or be on your way to another site to get some free stuff.

- Pete

Gaining more knowledge

I'm sure that I can't be the only developer out there that has a language that they call their primary and preferred coding language. For myself, I would definitely say that I am a ColdFusion buff to the highest level. I love the stuff! Especially for it's ease and speed of development and a must is the simplicity of creating a database connection to virtually any major database application available today.

But, the time has come where I feel the need to add another language to my brain. Which one to choose? Well, I am quite handy when it comes to ColdFusion, PHP, Classic ASP, SQL and how can we forget AJAX (it's pretty much a must these days). So, which language do I go forth with? There's actually an easy answer for this question and sorry to say but is includes learnign some Microsoft technology, and yes, I am not a big ole fan of MS stuff. But I have selected to start getting my hands dirty with some ASP.NET and of coarse there is reason behind this decision.

Recently, I have been going on a couple interviews, all going rather well I must say and was offered a developer position at a local Web company. I did accept the offer for reasons that should be obvious without me saying and I'm definitely very interested to see how this company plays it's role in the community. The thing is that I was hired to develop in Classic ASP, PHP and of coarse do those little and not so little updates, upgrades and changes to existing web sites and application along with doing some developing in ASP.NET.

Now, I am not one of those guys that shows up for an interview and lies just to get the job. If I don't know something I will make it very clear that I have no clue but if given the chance, I'm a quick learner and could definitely pick it up quick.

That's why I have decided to make an attempt at ASP.NET. I also think I got everything I need to get a going with it. Download and install of silly ole Visual Web Developer 2008, SQL Server 2008, I have Dreamweaver still although I don't really use it too often because Eclipse and Aptana do the same stuff (and are FREE).

That's about it, I got a new job and I hope it works out good (WOOT Me!!!).

- Pete

Haven't blogged in a while for good reasons

Well it's been sometime since I've written my last blogged, mainly because I've been very busy working on my new web site for my freelance service that I call Blue Web Techniques. In fact, I can't remember when I got a site together as quick as I did with this one. I mean everything came to me unbelievably easy and I pretty much knew what I wanted right away instead of constantly pondering about small details.

Some new features on my new site include, slick and simple navigation, live Twitter feed (not always about tech stuff), A tag cloud that is updated whenever someone does a search, a new search box that opens up in a light box, almost all new content that gets right to the point, a very basic contact form (no more non sense fields), Language Translation with the Google API, new portfolio content and I think that's about it, but of coarse, I'm always working on something so expect many more additions.

I hope you like my new site, click here to check it out.
I'm also more active than ever on Twitter.

- Pete