I’m highly recommend the following videos to any IT person for developing web application. Although I have only watched 2 videos, YouTube and Goolge Talk presentations; they already brow my mind. It is not just because how great the solution, truely there is no one magic solution fits every application/system; it is more about how solution was came out for fixing the performance and scalability in limited resources issues, either short or long term.
Good presentation overall, Enjoy!
Google scalability conference 2007
YouTube Scalability
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6304964351441328559
Building a Scalable Resource Management
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3937025764791991714
Abstractions for Handling Large Datasets
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2727172597104463277
Lessons In Building Scalable Systems
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6202268628085731280
MapReduce Used on Large Data Sets
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=741403180270990805
Scaling Google for Every User
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7039469220993285507
SCTPs Reliability and Fault Tolerance
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=210885113635893162
Cheers!
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Recently, I have been enjoying to read job posting related to my career. It is not that I want to find a new job, I actually do like my current company. However, once a while, you just want to self evaluate yourself, either for your career or personal life. I guess is part of the process of self and continue learning. I’m currently working as Group Program Manager and here is one of the job posting which I recently find is very good to describe this job requirement. How much am I qualified? :>
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Program Manager
Role:
A Program Manager is responsible for helping to define new Ticketmaster.com products by working with the Product Management, Engineering and Operations teams to define, develop, test and launch these products across the organization. Specific tasks on each project will include authoring functional requirements, developing project plans and schedules, managing tasks and teams, defining and testing usability, and identifying and resolving issues. It is essential that the Program Manager understands the scope and effect of all new or upgraded products, solicits input from all constituents, and involves all appropriate teams. Program Management works closely with every facet of the product and with every part of the organization.
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Responsibilities:
·      Primarily responsible for multi-cycle projects, or groups of single-cycle projects as part of a larger program designed to release a large product.Â
·      Responsible for scope control with stakeholders, task execution with the development team and relevant upward communication to managers.
·      Primarily operates within existing product and technology offerings, working new products into an existing code base through integration management.
·      Helps define process improvements and feedback for large, multi-part projects that need creative project management strategies required for timely execution.
·      Gathers necessary assets required for development of each project, including but not limited to: specifications, HTML, images, project tool workflow entries, test data and any additional technical documentation required.
·      Provide necessary feedback to project stakeholders. Examples include specification feedback, issue escalation to managers or scope changes/clarifications to project resources.
·      Manage handoffs at each of the 5 stages in the project life cycle according to guidelines specified in Ticketmaster’s development policies.
·      Update relevant project information in the project information database, in real time, when things are happening.       Â
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Requirements:
General
·      BS or equivalent degree required. PMP Certification a plus.
·      Demonstrated ability to manage software development projects in the 5 stages of the project life cycle.
·      Successful track record in working with business and technology teams to define, develop, test and launch new products. Must be able to present specific examples where your role required the ability work between technical and management teams.
·      Experience in authoring business and technical requirements. Strong writing and documentation skills are a necessity. Must have some experience writing formal technical specifications (i.e., data dictionary, process flows, architectural diagrams, etc.).
·      3-5 years experience in a software development environment, preferably with consumer orientated projects with a regular release cycle. Experience working with Open Source applications a plus.
·      Applicant should be a functional web technology generalist without a strong adherence to a specific platform.
Intellectual
·      Innate capability to create order out of chaos. Proven problem-solving skills. Demonstrated ability to think out of the box and generate creative solutions.
·      Proven ability to communicate effectively with both business people and software engineers.
·      Desire to work in fast-paced, multi-task, fluid environment capable of reacting instantly to changes in a competitive business environment.
·      Ability to plan, organize and proctor efficient meetings through preparation, stakeholder subscription and an innate ability to guide a group towards agreed upon objectives.
Technical
·      Proven experience with UNIX/Linux-based software development. The ideal candidate will have some actual coding experience and abilities, but prefers to see the larger picture and pull together projects.
·      A working knowledge of SQL and relational databases is required. Must be able to read a schema diagram and reconcile it with product requirements flawlessly and instantly. Must be able to extract, manipulate, insert and troubleshoot data using SQL without GUI-based tools.
·      Solid experience with HTML and other web technologies. Must understand common issues with HTML, XHTML and CSS interaction. Must understand how to read these technologies and provide feedback. Actual development experience in any web technology a plus.
Another good software development from Steve Mcconnell. Although, I only read part of the first chapter, I already learn and agree some things. As a good software estimator, you should aware the differences between tagert, estimation and commitment. Most of the time, project sponsor would like to ask you for an estimation by telling you that they want to finish that many features within a certain time with no additional resource. If you are careful enough, it is actual ask you to commit to a target. As a good software project estimator, you should always remember the 3 key dimensions of the trade-off triangle, as indicated in Microsoft solution framework (msf). The 3 dimensions are resource, schedule and feature. You should go back to ask the project sponsor which dimension is the most important factor and adjust the other two. So if schedule is the most important, then feature may have to cut or resources have to be added. I highly recommend any IT professional to read and own this book.
Steve Mcconnell has others book called: Rapid development and Code Complete.
“Estimation is a process of refinement” from chapter in Rapid development
Learn MoreAfter I week back from the launch tour, I still enjoy to see so many people excited about the new Microsoft products and technologies. Also amaze the how knowledgable for the presenters/experts. May be because that was my first time to attend this kind of Microsoft event.
Anyway, I have used SQL Server 2005 management studio for a week, although still back against 2000 database. It was kind of funny, one day, I have to switch back to use 2000 Enterprise Manager to manage a database emergency issue in my company. The new user interface just too developer friendly, feel like a development tool. It will definitely take a while to familiar, so you anyone else, you should start to use the new management studio even though you still use 200 database. However, one thing I like is allowing you to create a database solution/project, so you organize your favourite db scripts and documents related to database. In my company, going to commit a database projects with useful scripts to version control, so I can share them with my co-worker. Will update my sql server 2005 experience in the coming months.
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