Scott Davis
Greater Atlanta Software Symposium
Atlanta · October 23 - 25, 2009
Author of "Groovy Recipes"
Scott Davis is the founder of ThirstyHead.com, a training company that specializes in Groovy and Grails training.
Scott published one of the first public websites implemented in Grails in 2006 and has been actively working with the technology ever since. Author of the book Groovy Recipes: Greasing the Wheels of Java and two ongoing IBM developerWorks article series (Mastering Grails and in 2009, Practically Groovy), Scott writes extensively about how Groovy and Grails are the future of Java development.
Presentations
Groovy XML Ninja Skills
“XML is like violence: if it doesn't solve your problem, you aren't using enough of it.” (Anonymous)
XML is everywhere. Whether you are dealing with local configuration files (web.xml, struts-config.xml) or remote web services (SOAP, REST, RSS, Atom), the modern software developer needs to be able to request, slice, and dice XML with ease. That requires a set of razor-sharp tools that reduce the inherent complexity of the problem, not multiply it. Once you see XML tremble in fear at the awesome power of Groovy, you'll wonder what you ever did without it.
RESTful Grails
“Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius - and a lot of courage - to move in the opposite direction.” (Albert Einstein)
REST and Resource-Oriented Architecture (ROA) are popping up in technical discussions more and more frequently. Here, you'll see practical examples of adding RESTful web services to your Grails application.
Web 2.0 Checklist: Deconstructing Modern Websites
“The challenge of modernity is to live without illusions and without becoming disillusioned.” (Antonio Gramsci)
There are plenty of sarcastic “Web 2.0” checklists out there – be perpetually in BETA, when in doubt add rounded corners, etc. While we can all laugh at the superficial aspects of the Web 2.0 revolution, there are plenty of serious aspects to it as well. Is your website mash-up friendly or hostile? Do you tell your visitors when things change (via RSS or Atom syndication), or do you expect them to check in daily for updates? Is your website a silo or a part of a larger ecosystem?
Lizard Brain Web Design
“There's an old story about the person who wished his computer were as easy to use as his telephone. That wish has come true, since I no longer know how to use my telephone.” (Bjarne Stroustrup)
The “lizard brain” is the oldest part of the human brain – the part responsible for autonomic functions like breathing, heart rate, and navigating websites. OK, maybe not that last part, but your website should be easy to use. Stupid easy. Lizard brain easy. Any time your user spends figuring out how to do something – even for a split second – is wasted time due to poor design. Inspired by Steve Krug's book “Don't Make Me Think”, this talk answers the question, “Why is that website so hard to use?”
Groovy Testing
“Tests don't break things; they dispel the illusion that it works.” (Anonymous)
In this era of “Test-First” and “Test-Driven” development, the modern software engineer knows that testing is no longer an optional part of the process. You need to have the best tools at your fingertips: a set of utilities that maximize your results with a minimum of effort. Groovy offers Java developers an optimal set of testing tools.