From the plug-devel email list: -------- Original Message -------- Subject: Ann: PLUG Devel Meeting, Thursday, February 7th Date: Wed, 06 Feb 2008 14:32:17 -0700 From: Alan Dayley To: List for Linux development and software engineering discussions. Tomorrow night. What: PLUG Developer Meeting When: Thursday, February 7th, 2007 at 7:00 PM Where: Adtron Corporation Adtron Corporation 4415 E. Cotton Center Blvd., Suite 100 Phoenix, AZ 85040 (Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=4415+E.+Cotton+Center+Blvd.+Phoenix+AZ+85040&ie=UTF8&ll=33.402803,-111.986496&spn=0.008473,0.015535&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1) The building in question is actually south east of the green arrow marker. It is the mostly square building directly south of the traffic circle in the road. Topic: Algorithms and Languages Using the right tool for the job is always best. But if I'm only familiar with programming in C, that's the only tool I'll use. Many of us know and use multiple programming languages but tend to specialize in only a few, at most. What is a quick way to get meaningful exposure to alternatives? At this meeting we'll have a discussion on two fronts leading to a future goal. First we'll come up with a list of "popular" or well known programming languages used in Linux development. This will include some discussion of strengths and weakness of each. Ask questions, pontificate purposefully and share your expertise about languages. Second we'll discuss some well known algorithms that programmers implement or re-implement consistently. Things like bubble sort, string case changes, regular expressions, sum of squares and so on. We can discuss what they are and where they are used. The GOAL: Compare the code when each algorithm is implemented in each language. This comparison will have to take place in a future meeting. We will make a list of languages and algorithms, maybe 5 or so of each from the discussion above. Then volunteers will go away to write code that performs the algorithms in the language(s) they know. In a future meeting, next month or later, we can have the authors come back to compare the code. Sounds fun to me! See you at Adtron. ------------- Wired Internet access is available. The public wireless is currently disabled. If someone brings an access point, we'll plug it in and everyone will be grateful, I'm sure! We have a candy machine and soda machines that will take your money for refreshment. You are welcome to bring your own food. No alcohol please. Alan