One of the most exciting promises of building Web servers in JavaScript has been the notion of sharing JavaScript code between server and client -- no more duplication of application logic! Still, sharing code is harder than it looks. I present techniques and libraries that help you pull it off. View Slide Deck
Tangled JavaScript code is hard to read, understand and maintain, but it's not broken -- yet. I teach the foundational principles of detangling (or refactoring) JS code to keep your code clean, legible and bug-free.
Jasmine isn't just for Rubyists - it's for anyone that wants to revolutionize their Javascript code and development workflow. I give a tutorial in getting up and running with an agile, Test Driven Development workflow using nothing but HTML and JavaScript.
Most Rubyists are becoming comfortable of using TDD with their Ruby code using RSpec, yet have never written a test for their Javascript. I introduce Jasmine as an easy to learn, easy to use Javascript TDD framework to help you start writing tests now.
This talk will be taking us through an overview of how HTML 5 WebSockets work and demo some of its applications. It will demonstrate how WebSockets can be implemented on both the server and client sides, and how you can be up and running in 10 minutes with the help of the Pusher service.
JavaScript libraries (especially jQuery) have empowered Web developers to create very complex Web interactions and animations in the browser using easy syntax and few lines of code. Unfortunately, it is also easier than ever to write JavaScript code that is untestable while being difficult to read, extend and maintain.
Cloud hosting provides huge benefits, but can come at a cost. Services like Heroku give you a Read-Only filesystem that prevents many of the usual dynamic asset management techniques. Amazon S3 is a great solution, but if you're already using MongoDB then you can use GridFS for free.
I am currently working as a software engineer at Groupon. As a leader in merchant services, Groupon presents unique challenges in scaling and optimization given its significant traffic load.
DRW is a leading trading firm distinguished by their investment in technology. As an Obtiva consultant, I helped internal DRW teams build out infrastructure projects using JavaScript, Node.js and Ruby.
Metromix is the best resource for planning a fun night out on the town. As an Obtiva consultant, I helped the Metromix team build out their Deals section and daily e-newsletter system.
Broadband Illinois is a central repository for high-speed internet availability data. As part of the Obtiva Studio, I lead a team in building out their public API and Developers section.
Careerli was a finalist in Chicago Startup Weekend and a contestant in SPARK Chicago. As part of a 3-day incubation with Obtiva, I quickly helped bring to life their vision for empowering students making big life decisions.
Up and coming singer/songwriter Tiffany Thompson needed a flexible portal page to help connect all of her social media into a central hub. I was able to give her an easy to maintain site that would reduce her costs long-term.
Eventwax is the premier online tool for quickly and easily setting up online event registration. As an Obtiva consultant, I built out the form customization system that lets users add customized fields to their registration ticket forms.
SmartRealEstate.com is a consumer-facing tool for finding and monitoring real estate listings in the Chicagoland area that match your search criteria. I led the team that built this site from the ground up.
This site was my submission for the Node Knockout competition. Get Thumbs Up gives Web designers with little or no coding knowledge an easy Web service to dynamically crop their images on the fly.
This site serves as the central hub of Own Health's Web presence. It was built using Rails and is powered by a custom CMS.
Save the Cups was an experiment in branding and social media while promoting a good cause. I developed the site in Rails and was one of the founding members of the organization.
Chris Powers has been developing Web applications for the last six years, now specializing in JavaScript and Ruby development. He strongly believes in the power technology has to bring people together and enjoys developing platforms that empower the user. Currenty Chris is working as a software engineer at Groupon and lives in the northern Chicago suburbs with his wife, daughter, dog and cats. In his free time he enjoys sketch-noting, playing the drum kit and homebrewing.