The Chronicles of Riddoch

I wrote an article about WorldForge development strategy over on the WorldForge Developnment Journal. Basically I am trying to come up with a new way of approaching changes to client server interaction that mean we have a well designed protocol without getting bogged down in writing details specs before writing any code. Basically I am proposing abandoning the Big Design Up Front in favor of a more Agile approach.

After several years of trying to make it happen I finally made it to the DNA lounge on Sunday night, to a live show with band described by Jamie as “a bunch of guys with pineapples on their heads”. The band were really not my kind of thing, but the DJs were pretty good. It was not that easy to get a feel for how the place is on a regular club night, but overall I was glad I went. Should be able to make it down for Meat in a couple of weeks.

Depicted here, the Canadian Rocky mountains under the wing of a Virgin Atlantic 747, carrying me to California where I am now based until December, in the vast Mountain View Googleplex. Been here a week now, and its slightly distressing how quickly I have adjusted to the California way of life. Already I am driving into work everyday to an air conditioned office, and have almost stopped drinking entirely. While the Google food in Dublin is really excellent, the cafes here put it to shame.

Over the course of this summer, I spent a considerable ammount of my time and effort working with a team of people to install a wireless sensor network in a safe and secure location on a glacier in Norway. While I am no longer directly involved in the research, it would have been nice to know that the system was still safe and secure.

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Having got so used to secrecy, it is slightly surreal to see ones work and co-workers discussed so publicly on slashdot.

After 4 weeks I have finally got round to setting this up, so people can follow what I am up to. So here is a representative picture of what I have spent most of my time outside the office doing since I join Google:

Whatever else, the Irish certainly know how to drink. Depicted are various members of my team from senior manager to recently hired graduate. Not depicted, me standing in the middle of a pub with a camera, looking like a tourist.