Orb Swarm Rolling Robot Video at Maker Faire

Update: this is part of the Orb Swarm project. They intend to build several orbs and take them to events like Burning Man.

Workplace Myths - Career Advice

Some very good career advice on Guy Kawasaki's blog today. The Nine Biggest Workplace Myths, by Penelope Trunk. I've spent a lot of time mentoring people and helping with career development and this is pretty much what I've been telling people for many years.

Its not easy to follow the advice, but it does give a clear vision of what to aim for, and how to know when you get there...

See you at Techshop at Maker Faire this weekend

I've been using Techshop to make cases for my homebrew phone on their 3D Printer, and I signed up for annual membership since I have a few other projects to work on (e.g. TIG welding some modifications to my Fiat 124 Abarth Rally replica :-)

I'm going to be at Maker Faire in San Mateo this weekend, helping explain the 3D printer to attendees at the Techshop pavillion, and hanging out with Matt on the SVHMPC booth. I'm on duty from 2pm onwards both Saturday and Sunday for Techshop so I should be easy to find and I'd be happy to chat about how to make mobile phone cases or millicomputing or whatever.

I'm hiring a senior engineer at Netflix

In my new role, I manage a small group and I have an open headcount for a senior engineer

The full job specification is at http://jobs.netflix.com/DetailFlix.asp?flix1642

Here's what we are looking for:

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Designing and developing the Netflix web application and middle-tier architecture focused on personalization software.
  
• Full software life-cycle ownership of key strategic business logic from inception through production.
  
• Conceiving, articulating and implementing projects in coordination with technical and non-technical coworkers for product enhancement and improvement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Experience with high-traffic, highly scaling, multi-threaded software design.
  
• 7+ years of web application development experience. (Java a plus)
  
• Experience with Oracle or equivalent database system.
  
• Flexibility to shift priorities based on changing needs of the business.
  
• A Bachelors or Masters in Computer Science or equivalent engineering.

Characteristics of Success at Netflix:

• Strong customer orientation, both internally and externally.
  
• Strategic thinking both technically and business-wise.
  
• Ability to execute successfully on business strategy.
  
• Self motivated / self starter.
  
• Personal drive to achieve world class software development.
  
• Desire to work in a fast-paced, evolving, growing, dynamic environment.
  
• Love of technical challenges and the sense of pride it brings to solve them.
  
• Ability to work well in a cross functional environment.

Netflix and Silverlight and Joost

Very interesting demo of Microsoft Silverlight as a Netflix application from MIX07.

This seems like a nice, high performance multiplatform way to build web based user interfaces. It should give Flash some competition...

I'm handing back eBay's Dell D600 with Windows XP and getting a MacBook when I start at Netflix, it will be nice to have XP running only when I need it, and when the Silverlight version of Netflix web video ships, it will support Mac.

Joost has also released a new beta build, however I don't have a machine I can run it on during this transition. They don't support my old PowerBook G4 yet....