As I'm sitting comfortably in my work chair at home going through yet another Griffon experiment I can't help to recall what just happened at Codemash 2.0.1.0. Codemash is an unique and awesome software conference. First, it takes place in a big (really big!) indoors water park (the Kalahari Resort at Sandusky, OH). Second, it has an excellent organizing committee that pays attention to every details; and the volunteers, they make sure everything runs smoothly. Third, you have 72hrs to make the most of a wide range of software related topics: agile, .Net, JVM, Ruby, PHP, Python, etc. If that wasn't enough there is an open-spaces track that can harbor any topic (here's but one small example of a suggested session: Recovering group for those who saw Doctor Who's "The End of Time"). In short, Codemash is a geek fest.

This year I had the opportunity to reconnect with old friends (some of them I met for the first time at Codemash 2009) and make new ones. I also found out that Michael Kimsal (yes, that Michael) has a promising career as stand-up comedian if he ever wishes to let go of the IT business, just ask him about his experiences with naming websites, you'll see what I mean

NoSQL: Death to Relational Databases? (by Mike Dirolf) was the session I looked forward the most, followed by Clojure: Concurrent Functional Programming for the JVM (by Howard Lewis Ship), and boy, they did not disappoint! I now have plenty of ideas for nosql based plugins for Griffon, so little time ... *sigh*. Howard's Clojure talk was well delivered, excellent FP pitch (Clojure makes it really easy and Howard knows his trade pretty well). Back to nosql, I couldn't make it to the MongoDB because the Griffon talk was scheduled at the same time, no way I could sneak out from the latter to attend the former Fortunately there is already a MongoDB griffon plugin published by James. Here's hoping we can integrate nosql with domain classes and scaffolding.

Dick Wall's Funky Java, Objective Scala was not much of a Scala pitch but rather a well laid travel plan from Java's objective/functional awkwardness to Scala's functional approach (with a 'sightseeing' stop at Project Lombok no less). Another great talk was See Processing Run, Run Processing Run by Wes Faler. He basically showed how Processing can be used to simulate an engineering scenario, presenting a better alternative for stakeholders than a bunch of numbers on a spreadsheet or a boring chart. Of course a griffon plugin is underway

All in all, Ixchel and I had a great time together while attending the conference (not to mention we spent a fair share of time sliding through the tubes at the water park). We definitely look forward to next year's version, however our eyes are currently set for JavaPosse Roundup 2010, here's hoping there's still space left for two.

Keep on Groovying!