Nathaniel Schutta

By Nathaniel Schutta
While some companies have the luxury of a full time usability team, most of us have to make do on our own. Sure, it might be easier (and more comfortable) to focus on all the hip back end goodness, but if your user interface makes users yack, your product is doomed.

This talk will provide an overview of usability from the perspective of the software engineer.

By Nathaniel Schutta
When starting a new project, most developers make sure that testing is a priority. However, only the lucky few live in the idyllic world of greenfield development; the vast majority of us must contend with code written when "test" was a four letter word and testing was the sole responsibility of that "other" organization. We'll examine some techniques for introducing testing - not just to your code but to the rest of your development organization.

When starting a new project, most developers make sure that testing is a priority. However, only the lucky few live in the idyllic world of greenfield development; the vast majority of us must contend with code written when "test" was a four letter word and testing was the sole responsibility of that "other" organization. We'll examine some techniques for introducing testing - not just to your code but to the rest of your development organization.

By Nathaniel Schutta
With all the attention being paid to Ruby and it's hip cousin Rails, many in the Java camp may be feeling like their party invitation is "lost in the mail". Fear not loyal Java lovers, the dynamic language meme is alive and well in your space! Between numerous JSRs and various languages, the JVM is becoming quite the dynamic disco. After an overview of what it means to be dynamic, this talk will look at JRuby, Groovy, and Rhino.

With all the attention being paid to Ruby and it's hip cousin Rails, many in the Java camp may be feeling like their party invitation is "lost in the mail". Fear not loyal Java lovers, the dynamic language meme is alive and well in your space! Between numerous JSRs and various languages, the JVM is becoming quite the dynamic disco. After an overview of what it means to be dynamic, this talk will look at JRuby, Groovy, and Rhino.

By Nathaniel Schutta
So you've convinced the boss that your new web application just has to have Ajax...but now what? With dozens of libraries making even the most blinkish of interactions trivial, how do you decided where to sprinkle the magic Ajax dust? This talk will give a plain old boring "web 1.0" an Ajax facelift with a focus on improving the user experience providing you with a game plan for introducing Ajax to your world.

So you've convinced the boss that your new web application just has to have Ajax...but now what? With dozens of libraries making even the most blinkish of interactions trivial, how do you decided where to sprinkle the magic Ajax dust? This talk will give a plain old boring "web 1.0" an Ajax facelift with a focus on improving the user experience providing you with a game plan for introducing Ajax to your world.

By Nathaniel Schutta
It seems that software follows the second law of thermodynamics - in other words, code tends towards disorder. Of course it doesn't have to be that way, and we have a number of tools and techniques that we can apply to keep our code in tip top shape. This talk will discuss ten things you can do to fight back!

It seems that software follows the second law of thermodynamics - in other words, code tends towards disorder. Of course it doesn't have to be that way, and we have a number of tools and techniques that we can apply to keep our code in tip top shape. This talk will discuss ten things you can do to fight back!

By Nathaniel Schutta
Thanks to Ajax, JavaScript is cool again and developers are taking a second look at this much maligned language. This session will give you an overview of this misunderstood language as well as opening your eyes to some of the excellent tools available to ease the pain of developing in this dynamic language.

Thanks to Ajax, JavaScript is cool again and developers are taking a second look at this much maligned language. This session will give you an overview of this misunderstood language as well as opening your eyes to some of the excellent tools available to ease the pain of developing in this dynamic language.

By Nathaniel Schutta
We all know that code can have a certain...odor but frankly so can projects. Everyone has their favorite horror story or tale of a death march. In this talk, we'll discuss common project smells and what you as a developer can do to maintain your sanity - and your hair line!

We all know that code can have a certain...odor but frankly so can projects. Everyone has their favorite horror story or tale of a death march. In this talk, we'll discuss common project smells and what you as a developer can do to maintain your sanity - and your hair line!

By Nathaniel Schutta
So you want to do some Ajax and you've rightly concluded that you don't want to build your own library. After some thought, you've settled on using Dojo - but you're not sure how to get going. This talk will introduce Dojo and discuss several ways that Ajax can improve your new or existing application.

So you want to do some Ajax and you've rightly concluded that you don't want to build your own library. After some thought, you've settled on using Dojo - but you're not sure how to get going. This talk will introduce Dojo and discuss several ways that Ajax can improve your new or existing application.

By Nathaniel Schutta
We'll pick up where Part 1 left off working in even more advanced approaches such as offline support with Google Gears.

We'll pick up where Part 1 left off working in even more advanced approaches such as offline support with Google Gears.

By Nathaniel Schutta
While your project might have nearly 100% code coverage on the server tier, many projects ignore testing the web layer. With more and more code being pushed to the browser, a lack of tests for the client code begs for trouble.



This talk will explore several testing options including Selenium, JsUnit, Crosscheck, JSCoverage, Watir, JSLint, JSSpec and others.

By Nathaniel Schutta
The single most important tool in any developers toolbox isn't a fancy IDE or some spiffy new language - it's our brain. Despite ever faster processors with multiple cores and expanding amounts of RAM, we haven't yet created a computer to rival the ultra lightweight one we carry around in our skulls - in this session we'll learn how to make the most of it. We'll talk about why multitasking is a myth, the difference between the left and the right side of your brain, the importance of flow and why exercise is good for more than just your waist line.

The single most important tool in any developers toolbox isn't a fancy IDE or some spiffy new language - it's our brain. Despite ever faster processors with multiple cores and expanding amounts of RAM, we haven't yet created a computer to rival the ultra lightweight one we carry around in our skulls - in this session we'll learn how to make the most of it. We'll talk about why multitasking is a myth, the difference between the left and the right side of your brain, the importance of flow and why exercise is good for more than just your waist line.

By Nathaniel Schutta
Being on a high performing team is a transcendent experience - unfortunately, many of us find more dysfunction than function. In this talk, we'll take a look at some of the common issues that face teams and discuss some ways of working towards a happy crew.

Being on a high performing team is a transcendent experience - unfortunately, many of us find more dysfunction than function. In this talk, we'll take a look at some of the common issues that face teams and discuss some ways of working towards a happy crew.

By Nathaniel Schutta
By now, developers know they aren't supposed to use tables for layout but despite good intentions, most look at CSS as a black art. While schooled in algorithms and data structures, when it comes to CSS, most of us just copy, paste and pray. This talk will remove some of the mystery surrounding styling web applications. We'll cover the basics and show you how libraries like YUI can make things even easier.

By now, developers know they aren't supposed to use tables for layout but despite good intentions, most look at CSS as a black art. While schooled in algorithms and data structures, when it comes to CSS, most of us just copy, paste and pray. This talk will remove some of the mystery surrounding styling web applications. We'll cover the basics and show you how libraries like YUI can make things even easier.

By Nathaniel Schutta
Ah, that new project smell, it's intoxicating! Full of hope, we trek off in pursuit of technical greatness. In this talk, we'll cover some of the important first steps of a new project including continuous integration, creating a testing culture and establishing low ceremony process.

Ah, that new project smell, it's intoxicating! Full of hope, we trek off in pursuit of technical greatness. In this talk, we'll cover some of the important steps of a new project including continuous integration, creating a testing culture and establishing low ceremony process.

By Nathaniel Schutta
We've all used web applications that had us screaming at their creators - unfortunately sometimes we're the ones being cursed. Believe it or not, there are some simple steps we can take to ensure that our users have a great experience. We'll talk about the role of testing, easy ways to make a web site perform as well as where Ajax can help give a richer experience.

We've all used web applications that had us screaming at their creators - unfortunately sometimes we're the ones being cursed. Believe it or not, there are some simple steps we can take to ensure that our users have a great experience. We'll talk about the role of testing, easy ways to make a web site perform as well as where Ajax can help give a richer experience.