Valley of the Scotts

Following the announcement that my employer is to acquire CodeGear from Borland, I went down to the CodeGear headquarters in Scotts Valley, California to spend a couple of days with my new brothers and sisters in software.

The CodeGear campus is a stunning achievement in architecture and landscaping. I did not have a camera, but I think this aerial view, courtesy of Google, along with these photos will give you an idea.

You can expect many years of great software (Eclipse-based and otherwise) when the acquisition is complete, and I can only hope for more visits to the Valley.

Optimize This

Tuesdays with Ryan

Since the recent rave by Andrew Overholt on what a life-changing experience it is to have lunch with me, my social life has picked up. In fact, I am booked solid right through Labor Day.

At least once a week though, I make time to have lunch with Ryan Smith, a fellow program manager at Embarcadero, where we discuss technology, America's Next Top Model and the meaning of life.

One time, Ryan mentioned how I am far from being the hardcore Eclipse fanatic he had expected me to be, what with me being the PDE guy and all.

That is true. Je love Eclipse. Je can't live without Eclipse. But I don't blindly believe that everything that comes from Eclipse.org is great, and everything else is suboptimal.

DB Optimizer

For DB Optimizer (currently in beta), after evaluating our options for a charting component, I authorized the use of a lightweight, powerful and sexy Swing-based component that did not come from Eclipse.org. Does that make me a bad person? :)




Eclipse is a Great Technology, not a Religion

Incidentally, the IBM Ottawa lab has endured multiple disasters of biblical proportions (floods, power outages, etc.) over the years. No locusts yet.

So on second thought, maybe Eclipse is a religion, but I just pick and choose what is convenient :)