The release of Google Maps was a "Wizard of Oz / Technicolor" moment for web developers everywhere. It didn't just change the way we look at mapping sites; it forever changed the way we look at all web sites. It put AJAX on the map, both figuratively and literally.

One way to become a better developer is to learn a new programming language. Another way is to take a half-step out of the mainstream and use your current language in new and novel ways.

In this talk, we'll take a high-level romp through the world of mapping and software development. In addition to seeing some beautiful imagery, we'll see innovative, state of the art solutions to familiar challenges like SOA and Web 2.0, moving bits to cell phones and storing terabytes of information in databases.

Come for the pretty pictures. Leave with a fresh perspective on what it means to be a software developer.

This is the year of the dynamic scripting language. Ruby (and Rails) has won the hearts and minds of many independent software developers. JavaScript is experiencing a renaissance thanks to the wild success of AJAX and websites like Google Maps. And Groovy (JSR-241) brings the same level of excitement and "scripting goodness" to the Java platform.

In this presentation, we take a very pragmatic "prove it in code" approach to learning Groovy. Since the syntax is (almost) identical to Java, we can dive right in from the very beginning, learning the "syntactic sugar" as we solve real world problems.

You'll learn how easy it is to install Groovy and get started working with it. You'll tackle file I/O, reading and creating text files. You'll create and parse XML and HTML. You'll interact with databases. You'll create Groovlets (servlets sprinkled with Groovy-dust). And finally, you'll get a brief introduction to Grails (hint: the 'G' is silent).

How do you get started with an Agile development methodology? Everyone has been talking about eXtreme Programming for years, but how do you get it introduced to your team? Many times, you're not simply transitioning from from one methodology to another -- you're introducing a methodology for the first time. Adding structure to a previously unstructured endeavor. Adding a touch of discipline where programmers once roamed free.

This presentation talks about how to introduce Agile practices slowly. Think of it as refactoring your team iteratively. If you drop 25 new "best practices" on developers all at once, the chances of getting any of them to stick is slim. If you start with one practice and get buy-in on it, sneaking in the next one (especially if it is complementary) is far easier.

• starting with source control
• easing into iterations with XPlanner
• is your team ready for pair programming?
• writing your first unit tests
• evaluating your code base for unit test coverage

The release of Google Maps was a "Wizard of Oz / Technicolor" moment for web developers everywhere. It didn't just change the way we look at mapping sites; it forever changed the way we look at all web sites. It put AJAX on the map, both figuratively and literally.

Based on the book Pragmatic GIS, we deconstruct the mechanics behind Google Maps, showing you the magical combination of JavaScript and CSS that allows it to work. In 12 easy-to-follow steps, we take you from static HTML all the way to your own "slippy map", complete with zooming and different map types.

Even if you don't have immediate plans to add maps to your website, come look at "the man behind the curtain". The hands-on, practical approach to learning AJAX in this talk will pay you dividends. The pretty map you get at the end is just the icing on the cake.