Operation Terminator
Last Thursday at 1:26pm Pacific Standard Time, I received an email from my boss, who had just gotten off the phone with an exec from HQ asking if our team could possibly pull of a small miracle and build a demonstration that showcases the value of our company's products and solutions for a VIP press and media event at the CeBIT conference.
Meeting this challenge required 4 near sleepless nights, working through the entire weekend and around the clock with a virtual team distributed around the globe. While it was a pretty intense and tiring effort, we were able to put together an impressive demo showcase and I'm happy to report that the entire management team was quite pleased with our execution and delivery.
The demo showcase we built was delivered earlier today by Software AG CEO Karl-Heinz Streibich to German Chancellor Dr. Angela Merkel and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger at a VIP press & media event at the CEBIT conference in Hanover, Germany.
Here are some pictures from the event. You can see one of demo pages we built being shown on a 60" Flat Panel touchscreen monitor that was used to "deliver" the demonstration.
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- Karl-Heinz Streibich, CEO Software AG, meets international leaders at CeBIT 2009
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- Karl-Heinz Streibich, CEO Software AG, meets international leaders at CeBIT 2009
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- Karl-Heinz Streibich, CEO Software AG, meets international leaders at CEBIT 2009.
Image source: http://www.softwareag.com/Corporate/Press/photos_artwork/events/pg_cebit_2009.asp
Now that this mini-project / event is over, I'm going to try and catch up on some much needed sleep. It was a privilege and honor to work with such dedicated colleagues around the globe, with a near impossible deadline, to pull this off. Now I can add a new line to my list of accomplishments on my resulme: "Built a demo for the Terminator!"
Hasta la Vista baby!
Bits & Pieces of meta from my early career surface in Duane’s World
The timing of this couldn't be more relevant. I recently reconnected with my good friend Duane Nickull who I worked with in the early stage of my career in the enterprise software business. We worked together on an early web services and e-business standards initiative led by the United Nations CEFACT group and the OASIS standards organization. We co-edited a standard called the ebXML Technical Architecture specification nearly 8 years ago.
Duane just crafted an excellent blog post recapping the challenges we faced, the experiences we had, and the lessons we learned. This is in support of his new O'Reilly book "Web2.0 Patterns". I highly suggest that anyone responsible for building systems, managing software projects and cross-organizational initiatives check it out:
Forensic Architecture and other lessons from SOA land.
Long live LICFROG!
Labor Day Weekend Projects
My day started at Zoka Coffee in the University District.
Coffee, breakfast, and some light coding / app config. Then bailed for home, which is where I'm at right now. As it's a holiday weekend, where many our out squeezing in one last extended summer weekend, I'm pretty well tied up with the reality that are my unavoidable deliverables. I've got no problem spending my weekend this way, as I know I am working hard towards something much bigger. So with that, here's a list of what I've got on tap this Labor Day weekend.
What are you all doing? @infinitelymeta me on Twitter or *Like* this post on Friendfeed to get in on the conversation. That's where I tend to hang out on socnets these days.
Happy Labor Day everyone!
Brian's Uber List
- New range/oven delivery for unit 2214 (one of my new tenants stove broke so I replaced it with this:
- Put out For Rent sign for my soon to be available 1BR apartment in Eastlake, Seattle WA 98102. It rents for $1400 and is the entire lower floor of an historic Victorian home that was built in 1908. An excellent spacious unit with great lighting. Email eastlakeassociates at gmail if interested or call 206.328.3379 and leave a message.
- Java/JSF/AJAX - I'm putting the final interfaces and code tweaks in place for a project that I've spend a quarter working on. Final interfaces in place, but still have 75+ line item bug list. Need to go code complete by Monday evening to begin FTP transfer of Development VMware image from one side of our network to an internal only host. Still have A LOT of work ahead of me to finish this project and go into team only beta next week with Public Beta (internal corp net) on Sept 8.
- Landscaping & trim to prep for fall. Luckily, I really enjoy this task. Especially when my 5.5 yr old nephew Logan joins me. He makes some pretty good coin and he's a GREAT helper.
- Working with my friend Thom, the Ichthyogenius on our latest project, Reef In A Box that we are looking to launch in the coming months.
- Working on the YTranslate.us engine. Coding in PHP/mySQL/Python/etc. Toying with new SMS gateway (thanks to Mona' Friendfeed post).
- Meeting with contractor on some fix-r-up-r projects for 3 of my apts in preparation for Fall/Winter.
- Looking for electrician to install some motion-sensor aware lighting in my back alley and in between my building to deal with my unwanted-persons-on-my-property challenge.
- Water changes & general maintenance on my 300 gallon reef tank.
- Prep/meet with GC on new reef tank project. Wait till you see what I'm going to build. It's gonna pop!
- Shade garden v2. Part of the landscaping stuff I suppose, but definitely worthy of mention.
- Replace fire extinguisher in common area to be in compliance with recent Seattle City Fire Department inspection.
That's all I can remember for now.
Accomplishments for Q2 2008
Here's my accomplishments for the quarter, scrubbed for any internal/confidential/proprietary stuff.
===========================
Category 1: Infrastructure
===========================
$$$$ $$$$$ v4 Project -
See $$ v4 Project Status email sent on July 2, 2008 for more detailed
breakdown.
Feature Spec: http://$$.$$
Feature List: http://$$.$$
Network Topology: http://$$.$$
Collaborative Development Guidelines:
http://$$.$$
Business Processes
$$$$$$ Management - Implemented in Q2. Roll out to field early Q3
$$$$$$ Management - Implemented in Q2. Roll out to field early Q3
$$$$$$ Engagement - Implemeneted in Q2. Roll out to field early Q3
$$$$$$ - Modeled in Q2. Implement in Q3
$$$$$$ - Modeled in Q2. Implement in Q3
$$$$ UIs
New $$$$ - DONE
My $$$$ - DONE
Update $$$$ - ALMOST DONE
Search for $$$$ - DONE
New #### - DONE
My #### - DONE
Update #### - ALMOST DONE
Search for #### - ALMOST DONE
New @@@@ - DONE (partner)
My @@@@ - ALMOST DONE (partner)
Search for @@@@ - IN PROCESS (partner)
&&&& UIs
Review $$$$ - DONE
Acquire $$$$ - DONE
Resubmit $$$$ & Request Review - ALMOST DONE
Review #### - DONE
#### Compliance Check - DONE (Pending review by YYY)
Update #### - ALMOST DONE
Review & Quantify @@@@ - DONE (partner)
Assign @@@@ Project Lead - DONE (partner)
Define Project @@@@ - IN PROCESS (partner)
Review @@@@ Project Plan - IN PROCESS (partner)
Upload & Review $$$$ Documentation - NOT STARTED (Joint)
Upload Final Doc & Signoff - NOT STARTED (Joint)
Live Pre-Alpha / Active Development site: http://$$.$$
===========================
Category 2: Implementation
===========================
Field Support
ppp ppppp - xxxxxxx - one week "firedrill mode" field support for team
on site at xxxxxx. See email summaries from ppp for details. I believe
his comment on my presentation to the xxxx Java development team was
something like "You hit it out of the park."
pppp ppppp - supported custom task UI and uuu development for xxxxxxxx
opportunity. [Need to verify VMs that ppp submitted this quarter.]
pppp ppppppp - built custom skin, shell, pages, & rules for xxxxxx opportunity. Assisted with implementation of
yyyyyyyyyy for [Need to follow up and make
sure that pppp submits this solution after the engagement is over]
pppp pppppp - helped with specific UI tweaks for custom jjjjjjjjj for
follow up demo/showcase to sssssss (hot customer).
ppppp ppppp - helped him setup custom ffffff Report viewer portlet for
hhh demo.
ppp ppppp pppp - helped with questions on file attachments
provider/panel for custom UI.
pppp ppppppp- assisted with zzzz UI, assignment, and rules config for
zzzzz demo VMware image.
pppppp pppppppppp- assisted with zzz UI, nnnn and page refactoring
for new version of zzzz w. sss demo / VMware Image. [Need to
confirm that we have this vmware asset/solution.]
ppppppp ppppp - helped with specific questions on Bootcamp training
setup and some of the initial modules. Provided email assistance.
ppppppp ppppppp - support on techniques for using zzz and/or sss
for publish to xxx ccc directly from Windows.
ppppp pppppp - assisted with sss UI, ddddd, page design & layout
for refactoring sssss demo.
ppppppp ppppppppp- assisted pppppp and Course Developer with scoping out
and validating zzz course topics and techniques for Advanced zzz course.
pppppp ppppp - helped ppppp with some issues he was having with zzzzz
Reports. Sent him copy of my generic zzzzz Report Viewer portlet, which
seemed to solve his problem.
General Field Support - monitor and respond to questions when
appropriate on zzz and aaa mailing lists. Day to day repsonding to
questions on qqqq team aliases.
=======================
Category 3: Innovation
=======================
Product Development & Product Related Innovation
Submitted at least 10 bugs to
Product Development teams. [NOTE: I can track down xxxxx entries if you
need them.]
Defined new approach and technique for ***************************************
*********************************** [super secret sorry]
Perfected new technique to **************************** [ again too cool and confidential]
ppppp ppppp - worked with ppppp to setup hosted zzzzzz
environment for him to test sssss z.z.z scenarios. In exchange, he's
going to personally help us use zzzzzzz to **********************.
Perfected new techniques for ****************** [ sorry. that's the super secret special sauce]
pppp pppp - Product Marketing - Reached out to pppp to help get
our business processes more visibility within the company.
Hoping to use our current zzzzz project as a success story for how xxx
is***************** [sorry]
ppppp pppppppp - Reached out to ppppp to begin exploring
options for building new ******* [sorry]
ppppppppppppppp - managed collaborative development
and implementation of ********* [sorry confidential ]
****************
*******************
****************
******** [confidential & proprietary]
====================
Category 4: Improve
====================
Assets (e.g. Bootcamps, training, CAF Utils)
Training & Mentoring - assisted ppppppp & pppppp
with zzz and xxxx UI skills development for projects they were working
on this quarter. Held several webex sessions to demonstrate techniques
and showcase implementation patterns for zzz/xxxx UI building.
Training & Mentoring - delivered several 1:1 sessions with zzzzzzz
partner development team to establish baseline level of agreement and
understanding for specific *************** [confidential]
Training & Mentoring - held several 1:1 sessions in zzzzzz office with
pppp ppppppp to do skills exchange. I helped him with some zzzz/xxxxx
stuff and he helped me by showing some of his dddd/ssss techniques.
Training & Mentoring - worked directly 1:1 with pppp pp to help develop
zzz UI and kk backend skills and techniques. pppp's expertise in
Database/DBA stuff is critical to making sure our relational model is
optimized.
Training & Mentoring - Recorded Webex of advanced zzz UI building and
custom Java coding techniques from presentation to xxxxx Java developer
team.
Created new section on aaaaa site for reusable components. Precursor to
zzz Util library that we will roll out on aaaaa site in early Q3. Added several reusable components such as xxxxxxx, yyyyyyy, zzzzzzz, etc.
Personal growth, knowledge & skills development
Technology - Learning fundamentals
Self-paced learning of essential skills needed to independently develop,
deploy, and manage ************** [ confidential]
Implemented all ************** [confidential]