May | 2009 | Melbourne PHP Users Group

Meeting cancelled

May’s meeting has been cancelled as we cannot use the venue.

When?

6.30pm for a 7pm start, Thursday 14th May 2009.

Where?

TO BE CONFIRMED – check back soon or join one of the mailing lists to find out.

What?

Hands on Introduction to PHP by Ben Balbo

It’s been too long since the last phpMelb presentation targeted at those that are new to PHP. Ben Balbo will give a hands on tutorial on writing simple PHP pages and cover the most useful and commonly used functions to create funky havoc. He will also introduce functions and file inclusion. Attendees are encouraged to prepare questions for discussion during the talk. No question will be too simple.

Most people grew up wanting to be an astronaut or a fire-fighter. Ben Balbo never had such illusions of grandeur; he wanted to play the drums. That didn’t work out so well for him, so he turned his hand to stagecraft at the age of 14 and soon became enraptured by the world of sound and light. Adhering to societal norms, upon graduating from University at the age of 22, Ben decided to get a real job, substituting passion and fire for money and security. This gradually led him to become a respected member of the PHP and wider open source community. Now quite happy to slap behavioral expectations in the face with a large haddock, Ben has returned to his passion, augmented it with videography and brings with him his experience as a software developer. He now introduces himself as a Director of Photography in the making in the vain hope that affirmation will lead to confirmation.

Experiences Working as a Web Developer, a Casual Presentation by Graeme Bryan

I have been working in the tree and ink publishing industry for over 2 years now as a PHP web developer. What I have found in the organisation I work for has explained what I read about the news and print industry
all over the world (any copyright content ownership in fact). For preparation for this discussion, go and have a look at my company’s web site http://www.archmedia.com.au/ and related sites. Even though I have been there long enough to update the site, it is still a relic from the nineties. It would also be prudent to update yourself with copyright law and what content owners, in general, are up to.

Please note that this discussion is not about sour grapes with my work. I love my work and I have great respect for the owner and publisher. This is about an endemic problem the whole industry shares and I think an insider’s point of view would be interesting to all of you. Below is a guide to the discussion.