One of the things I'd like to get out of this group is some closer, shoulder-to-shoulder work to really immerse myself in Drupal. I was thinking this might work as a skills / training barter.
I've got a Drupal project I'm trying to get off the ground, but I'm struggling with it. I need a shove in the right direction, and some more hands-on experience with Drupal (and php,sql) to carry me over the hump. I'd love to get some structure around my learning, and the quick feedback and dialog you can only get when working directly with someone who knows what they are doing.
My experience is that best way to learn is to do. My project can wait, but I'd really like to accelerate my learning curve. I'm up for 1:1 time exchange (you help me with my problem, I help with yours), or some other opportunity to get some Drupal mentoring - maybe like a "barn-raising" kind of collaboration.
So, if you are interested, or just like the idea and think its the kind of thing our group should/could facilitate, add your thoughts.
Me: I've got 10+ years doing front end dev / design / implementation, with (x)html/css/javascript + xml, and various templating/scripting systems - including Drupal themes. I've worked on very visible, fortune 500 company sites, intranets and web apps. I'm currently employed full time as user-experience engineer architecting and building out new (ajax/RIA-style) front-ends for a suite of enterprise web applications. My sweet spots are CSS and Ajax.
Sam
Comments
Did someone mention a barn-raising?
Hi Sam,
Your idea sounds very interesting. Unfortunately, I'm not that technically inclined and all I'm probably good for at this point is for someone to hand me the hammer and tell me precisely where and how to drive the nail. ;)
So, although I don't have the technical skills to help you, if and when there's a barn-raising and if my schedule allows, I'd like to pull up a seat and watch, listen, and learn, if that's OK with you.
By the way, your background sounds very interesting as well.
Walt Esquivel, MBA; MA; President, Wellness Corps; Captain, USMC (Veteran)
$50 Hosting Discount Helps Projects Needing Financing
Walt Esquivel, MBA; MA; President, Wellness Corps; Captain, USMC (Veteran)
$50 Hosting Discount Helps Projects Needing Financing
you want the drupal
you want the drupal dojo!
http://groups.drupal.org/drupal-dojo
Immerse yourself in the knowledge, it will set you free!
count me in
Sam,
I'd definitely be up for more hands-on barn raising/collaboration. One of the projects I'm working on could benefit from your user-experience expertise. If this thread doesn't evolve into a larger scale get together, feel free to contact me directly. As for my experience, I've done some beginner-level development of a custom module, some Drupal theming, and have worked with a wide variety of Drupal modules on various projects.
I'd definitely be interested
I'd definitely be interested in something along these lines. I've been helping a friend out in this manner with her social/political startup, League of Technical Voters, and I think it's been a winner all around. It was my introduction to Drupal as a matter of fact.
And Sam, my background reads almost exactly like yours. Perhaps a little more Java focused, although I'm moving to a new job in May that's using Ruby on Rails.
Great responses..
we've a job opening for someone just like you jugglebird - sorry to miss you.
I'm glad there's interest. And I appreciate the generous offers of time-for-beer-tokens. I work at home too, so I can be pretty flexible about times. I could do a lunchtime, or an evening.
(Maybe I should dig into jQuery more so I can offer something more concrete back to the community - lots of opportunity there. I'm currently working mostly with the Dojo Toolkit (which actually now comes to Drupal via the Dojo Module: http://cb1inc.com/projects/drupal/dojo-module). But jQuery is still a better choice for lightweight, occassional whizbang, and a sweet library.)
I like the idea of learning with people who are also learning. What about we meet up and sit through the next Drupal Dojo lesson, and then spend the next hour or tackling whatever problems we're working on?
Would that be too cosy? We'd need good bandwidth, and coffee - its usually 1pm local time on sundays? - I've not caught one "live" yet.
Sam
interested as well
I am interested as well. I have a software background, but have been more focused on the biz side of things for quite a while. as well, I am tied into one of the entrepreneur networks here in town, and can help others get connected into it as desired.
I am as well building out an experimental drupal site for housing a new network that i am putting together. i have got it started, but could use some help in doing some of the lower level drupal stuff (or even figuring out what module to use, how to configure it, etc) especially if it is in exchange for helping someone get inot the venture side of the house (or find deals, etc.)
See you guys this next week.
Take care,
Kevin
It seems that you all have
It seems that you all have general ideas about what you want to do and how you think you might accomplish doing it with drupal. Id be happy to help you along individually or as a group if you have specific questions or general needs. If you provide the pint (Gingerman, or Uncle Billy's, etc) ill provide the consulting free of charge. Wrapping your head around drupal can be daunting but there are a couple of strategies that you can use to really help yourself out in both the near and long term. I'll give you the quick and dirty answers if youd like but id prefer to show you how to figure it out for yourself in many cases. I live at barton springs and lamar and i work from home im available to help anyone out on a lunch break or after hours. Just use the contact form or organize it here. All i ask is that you help others in a similar situation after you find your feet, with YOU getting the beer of course. :)
Good approach
i like Michael's suggestions. I wouldn't mind helping people figure things out on their own as well in return for mutual barter activities or a pint or two.
Looking forward to seeing the (expanded) group again next week
Jeremy