C4[3], scheduled for September 25-27 2009, is now open. Register now. Update: C4[3] sold out inside 8 hours.

Speakers

Augie Fackler: Inside Mercurial, Subversion and Git and Why Patch Algebra isn’t Actually Compelling

Want to learn a version control system? Read a book. Want really learn how things work? Extend a dvcs to seamlessly interoperate with a wholly different vcs.

Augie got his hands simultaneously dirty in both Mercurial and Subversion thanks to his hgsubversion project, which aims to unseat git-svn as the premier dvcs interface to Subversion. Augie will illuminate how hg and svn work under the hood, with side trips to git and why darcs' comp-sci-sexy Patch Algebra doesn’t actually matter.

Christopher Lloyd: Dispatch from Cocotron Control

Cocotron is an ambitious project designed to liberate your Objective-C code from the prison that is OS X. Modern, Windows-friendly and non-viral open-source: this isn’t your father’s GNUstep. Christopher—Cocotron’s founder—will provide an introduction to the project and demonstrate how use it to make cross-platform Cocoa applications.

Dave Dribin: Testing, Testing… 1, 2, 3

Writing unit tests can be oddly addictive, once you start. As a reward, you build confidence in the quality of your application, you get better designed code, and you document your APIs with lots of executable examples. Dave will cover what unit testing is, why you should consider using it, and some practical tips.

John Welch: The Carrot or the Stick

It may not seem like it from reading his blog, but John would rather not yell at developers. While it can be fun, it’s always born of frustration and resentment from being ignored. John will provide insight into helping developers engage and even benefit from irate customers.

Jonathan ‘Wolf’ Rentzsch: Studies in JavaScript Object Design

Remember when it was cool to hate JavaScript? Now it’s cool to love JavaScript. Or at least embrace it and understand it for what it is—not what you wish it were. Wolf will explore one small but critical aspect of robust browser-side software: JavaScript inheritance design.

Matt Drance: How to be a Good Developer™

Matt has broken free from the mothership, but while there he saw… activities… that weren’t conducive to a productive professional relationship with your platform vendor. Matt provides insights on how best to waltz with your friendly local 800 lb gorilla.

Michael Lopp: Talk Shit, Delegate, and Know What You Want

Michael has a topic. He blogs about it. He tweets about it. He wrote a book about it. For us, he has some stories to tell about effectively managing teams, virtual and otherwise.

Nick Bradbury: Simplicity Ain’t So Simple

Nick has been deemed an an honorary Mac developer by Mac indies' godfather. That’s pretty impressive for a Windows programmer, even if he writes Windows' most popular RSS reader. Nick demonstrates the passion for software excellence and attention to detail that’s signature to the Mac indie scene. In this talk, Nick will stroll through the ironically-complicated act of creating simple software.

Patrick Thomson: Why MacRuby Matters

MacRuby, the new Ruby implementation powered by LLVM and based on CoreFoundation and Cocoa, has garnered a lot of attention from both the Ruby and the Cocoa communities. Patrick will offer an overview of the rationale behind its creation, explain the ways in which it can benefit your application, and speculate wildly as to what the future may hold.

Peter Wayner: Translucent Databases

One or more of your apps probably has a database in it. And chances are you're collecting more information than you need, and you're storing it insecurely. No fear: Peter literally wrote the book about translucent databases. In his talk, Peter will discuss minimization, misdirection, “stunt” data, equivalence and quantization. From storing prescription records with sensitive data, to implementing a tollway system that keeps travelers anonymous but still accountable to fines, translucent databases are an idea whose time has come.

Along with the accepted Blitz talks:

Jim Correia: 5 Minute Guide to a Better Scripting Interface

Scott Morrison: Building (Unsupported) Plugins for 64 Bit Applications

Fraser Hess: Cocoa Boutique

Rob Rhyne: Design Validation on the iPhone

Jeffrey Czerniak: Emerging Mac OS X Security Tools

Fraser Speirs: Finding the Time: Stories from a One-Man Band

Philippe Casgrain: Friction-free Documentation

Louis Gerbarg: How to Become a Compiler Engineer (in 5 minutes)

Bob Frank: How to Give a Good Preso

David Shayer: Life Recording

Dan Wood: Marketing Is Also Important

Jose Vazquez: Motivational Contexts

Ken Aspeslagh: No Pain, No Gain: Indie Nuggets from Ecamm

Jacob Godwin-Jones: Opacity: A Great Tool for Designers Developers

Kevin A. Mitchell: PyObjC

Mark Boszko: Video and You

And of course expect the standard C4 fare: lunch, dinner, late night poolside parties and Gino’s East Chicago-style deep-dish pizza.

Registration

Register here.

C4[3] costs $512 including meals and is held in downtown Chicago. Strive to arrive at the hotel by Fri Sep 25 at 5:30 pm. It all comes to an end Sun Sep 27 around 4:30 pm.

The hotel (which I ask that you stay at if at all possible) runs ~$140/night until the group block runs out.

Monday, August 10, 2009
12:00 AM