Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 16:31:30 -0500 From: John Barrie Subject: NESOFTDEV: March 9 1) We Meet Again! 2) VB 3) Internet 4) Java 5) $100 6) Enterprise Development 1) We are back in the swing of things again. NESOFTDEV meets every second Tuesday of the month September - June. Prospect Place (Cafeteria, 9 Hillside Ave., Waltham) has invited us back (our 2nd Angel) so the jumpstart meeting is March 9, 1999. Stan Rydell has volunteered to setup the meeting equipment again (our Angel # 3). Come yourself and bring everyone. Seriously, we lose 50 members each month because of people changing their emails and not letting me know (and mail is just too expensive). So, please pass the word along -- New Members Are Very Welcome. E-mail this notice to everyone you think appropriate. 2) As Jim Alchin of Microsoft says of the OPs, you have no choice. As the world turns, most programmers use VB as a development tool. And, in spite of the VB6 fiasco, I still code predominately in VB. My company has active development projects ongoing in VB6. But, I choose very wisely the types of applications that can use VB6 safely and add another 25% fudge factor because I know VB6 just doesn't work yet. I am waiting for VB6f before I commit to spreading the word. So, I am looking for a volunteer to hold VB sessions at our monthly meetings. This is not hard. Can you do it? I am also doing a VB Office Objects type of application (automate all the enterprise presentations with one click productivity app) and think it is way cool. Does anyone want to give a presentation on using the office objects (VBA) (or any object for that matter) (how about a creating objects session!)? This is supposed to be our future and lots of people have asked for it. I can help you over the ruff spots. I would like to do it myself, but I just don't have the time. And, I am angry with the VB marketing people for what they have done. 3) I want to provide more web sessions at the meetings. So, if you know of any graphics, Human Factors, WebMasters, E-Commerce, resources ask them to call (508) 829 2181. Better yet, present something yourself. We are all doing it. Share it! 10 minutes. 30 minutes. Whatever it takes. Contact: johnbarrie@compuserve.com 4) VB6 makes me look bad and I have decided that the last blue screen was the last one that one of my machines would ever have. My time is too valuable to spend it rebooting, using Dr. Watson and re-orging the OP all the time. So I went out and bought RedHat Linux and will be moving in the direction of using Linux with Java for development (part of my toolkit). No, I am not recommending this for everyone. Heck I do not even know anything about it myself. I am just letting you know where I am headed with the Java training. We will not have a chance to meet to decide what Java book to use before the next meeting so I will just have to pick one. I will let you know beforehand. Let me know if you have a suggestion. 5) The end of Feb is coming. The last chance to attend our May 7th ("Introduction to Internet Development Using VB") training session for $100 is approaching. 6) We have a volunteer company (our Angel # 4) that will be doing a series of Java in the Enterprise sessions. I know, the last two times I did this the volunteers told me it was their group now so I didn't need to show up anymore (silly, we have been active for over 9 years), but I am willing to try it again. I will be sending out a notice about the March 8 meeting when the topics are firm. I need your help! Please pass on the word to any other organizations you think might be interested in doing a developer presention.