Sas Jacobs: Flash Possibilities
You're going to be seeing Sas's name on a lot more articles (and maybe see her at some forthcoming conferences), so we thought we'd give DMXzone readers a chance to find out a little more about who she is, what she does and ask is everything possible?
DMXzone: There seems to be a big difference (to me at least as a non-coder) between the 'hard-core' logic programming needed when doing PHP/ASP.NET and the more artistic nature of Flash? How do you feel about straddling both sides of the presentation/logic fence?
SJ: I'd agree that there's a big difference. People who design all day and have "the eye" generally can produce better looking work than programmers. There are some people who can do both but I think they're rare. I feel that I can produce some attractive work but, if I need something truly beautiful and innovative, I will bring in a designer. As a developer, I think that my technical knowledge sometimes limits my creativity.
DMXzone: Go on then wax lyrical about Flash for a moment – the floor is yours <g>
SJ: I love it! I think it's the future of interface design and I am working hard to encourage Flash front ends to applications wherever I can.
My only concern is that many people hear the word Flash and associate it with those "Skip Intro" movies. They don't understand that it is capable of so much more. The Flash community needs to spend more time educating our clients about the possibilities of Flash.
DMXzone: Retuning to the subject of server-side code for a moment – the list of technologies (PHP, ASP, ASP.NET) can be a bit bemusing for the newbie. If you were just starting out on the road of Web development at the moment, which server-side technology would you suggest focusing on?
SJ: What a huge question! As a professional, I guess the most important thing to decide is what area will provide you with the most work and hence the most reliable income. Languages like PHP and ASP.NET are easy to learn when you're first starting out and you can set up a development environment on a home PC. I've always found a lot of clients using these technologies. However, I don't have experience in the other areas so my answer may be a little biased!
DMX: Are there any pitfalls you see newer web developers making and any advice you can share?
SJ: My main focus is applications development and that needs a really diverse range of skills. Some of the most important things are database and application design, SQL and strong coding skills – both server and client side. I guess a mistake I commonly see is that people don't spend enough time on the design of their applications – they just start coding and hope for the best.
When things go wrong down the track, it's usually because the database structure or application design is wrong. You wouldn't build a house without detailed plans would you? Sometimes I can spend one quarter to a third of the total time for a project just on the design phase.
Being a self-employed web developer is all about client service. Make sure you deliver what you say you can deliver, on time, with a smile on your face :-) You can be the best coder in the history of coding but the client has no way to judge that. They are only concerned with your interactions with them, what you charge and whether you meet your deadlines. And be prepared to work hard - very, very, very hard!
DMXzone: OK there's a (to me) third big development area – back-end database design … all that normalization logic, scary? Do you ever sub-contract some of that type of work?
SJ: I only ever sub-contract design work. I like to keep all the "hard core" stuff for myself and database design is one of the things I like best. Sad isn't it!
DMX: Looking forwards, what technologies are you looking at next and how do you stay on top of things?
SJ: Being a Web Developer means that you'll never be totally on top of things. It's a mad scramble to learn the skills you need for your next project! I am learning more about Flash server technologies at the moment - Remoting and Communication Server. There is never enough time in the day!
Ian Blackham
Following a degree in Chemistry and a doctorate in Scanning Tunneling Microscopy, Ian spent several years wrestling with acronyms in industrial R&D (SEM with a side order of EDS, AFM and TEM augmented with a topping of XPS and SIMS and yet more SEM and TEM).
Feeling that he needed a career with more terminology but less high voltages, Ian became a technical/commissioning editor with Wrox Press working on books as diverse as Beg VB Application Development and Professional Java Security. After Wrox's dissolution and a few short term assignments Ian helped out with DMXzone's premium content section.
Ian is a refugee from the industrial Black Country having slipped across the border to live in Birmingham. In his spare time he helps out with the website of a local history society, tries to makes sure he does what his wife Kate says, and worries that the little 'un Noah is already more grown up than he is.