To all Cattle Drive Students

[bill bozeman]

I started a sight and am wanting to see if others are interested in participating. My only requirement was that the participants go through the Cattle Drive because I wanted everyone to follow the same style. So instead of having to create a new style, I stole the one here. Sorry for the theft Paul
What I wanted to do was create a place where developers can work on different projects together. For instance, one of the first projects we have is to create a simple Database utility so that we can easily access our database. The next project will be to create a user registration and login area so that we can log in and view the current projects and status. Once we get all the formal projects out of the way, we can start working on more fun projects like some cool applets or games. But in the end, we all work as a team to create and build the projects and all those who participated will be noted on the web site (so if you needed it for you resume, your name will be up there)
My idea is more of an extension to what we do here at Java Ranch and the Cattle Drive. Here we discuss various topics and ask general questions. And at the Cattle Drive we have assignments that we go through individually. What I wanted to do was have a place where we can work together as a team and build real projects.
If anyone is interested, check out this page: www.javaworkshop.net and read some more on it. I think I will be changing the process (going to more of an XP route) but you get the general idea. And since we don't have a way for you to login yet, I stole another idea from Roseanne Zhang and create an e-groups page for us to communicate with each other. Take a look at the JDBC thread and add your comments there. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/javaworkshopnet
Hope to see some of you there.
Bill

[Amber Woods]

Sounds like a great idea Bill!
I will probably be joining soon. I have only made it through the first two Assignments on the Cattle Drive though and currently being nitpicked for the third. I don't yet have much experience with java yet. But I would like the experience.
Amber Woods

[Rick Prevett]

I've been to the site and am really impressed. This is a great idea. I'll be hanging out there and learn as I hopefully contribute and learn some style!
Rick

[ryan burgdorfer]

Very nicely done, Bill! You get mega-kudos for this one. For those of you who have not yet checked out Bill's brainchild, do so.
I can see many possibilities in the evolution of the site. With the number of "paper" SCJPs out there (i.e. certified people with no practical experience), it could prove to become very popular very quickly. I hope the machine hosting the site can handle it
Again, great job implementing a great idea, Bill.

------------------

• Ryan Burgdorfer
  
• Java Acolyte in
  
• Columbus, OH USA
  

[Johannes de Jong]

Very, very impressive and brilliant idea Bill. My compliments.
It explains why you have been so quite lately doing your assignments .
Questions:

• Must one complete the whole Cattle Drive ?
  
• How does Paul et al. feel about this?
  
• The Assignment Log project, done by/at your new site?
  

As soon as I can contribute I will, thanks for the invite.
Regards
JdJ

[Rashid Ali]

Dear Bill, that's definitely a great effort by creating those web pages as a place to do the real live projects.
i would also like to participate as a member for which i have registerred at yahoo group myself as raashed99 (which is my yahoo address) but that is at present not accepted by the moderator. as required, i am working at Java-4a 3rd attempts. please suggest what to do. thanks

[bill bozeman]

Thanks all.
ryan,
To tell you the truth, I am not sure what this hosting company can handle. I went with a cheap one for now to see what participation would be like. Even if no one participated though, it would still be a way for me to get some real experience. But if it does grow, I'll probably have to change hosting companies after a year.
Johannes,
I am not sure how Paul feels, to tell you the truth. I, along with Angela Poynton who has a site with a similar theme, discussed this in the moderator forum and the feedback was generally positive. I don't want to do things that we are doing here. Javaranch is a great place for this kind of stuff. I just want to focus on team projects and team involvement. I'm sure I'll be coming back here to get a lot advice.
Rashid,
Currently it was setup so that I had to approve new members in the Yahoo group. I am going to get rid of that for now and let anyone join. I just approved your status though.
Thanks again everyone. I hope everyone keeps going through the cattle drive however. I'd look at this as in between submitting assignments and waiting for picks, you can come over and see if you can contribute at the other site. Just more ways to learn and get experience.
Bill
[This message has been edited by bill bozeman (edited April 18, 2001).]

[Pauline McNamara]

Hey Bill, that's a really great idea and a nice site, too. I'm hoping I'll have learned enough here to be able to contribute there soon.
Big thanks for setting it all up and inviting the nitpicked.
cheers,
Pauline

[pete hesse]

Hi Bill! Great idea, I joined the group today and hope to learn and contribute much.
Thanks,
Pete

[Elizabeth Jacob]

Hi Bill,
Looks like a great opportunity for guys like me.I dont have any
programming experience,except with the assignments in the cattle drive and I know little about JDBC.Will I be able to join you guys.
Elizabeth

[Anonymous]

Bill,
Just went through your site, great idea. Can't wait until I complete the drive to join up.
Peter

[tomgreg vasile]

Ditto for me!

[Greg Tuck]

Hmmm...guess this means I better git the cattle drive finished up real quick like...
See you soon!

[bill bozeman]

Since the Cattle Drive has become so busy and with the recent addition of having to charge people, I am not requiring people to go through the Cattle Drive to participate. I do ask that you follow the style guide here at the Ranch, but going through the Drive is not mandatory.
Thanks,
Bill

[Dave Nanda]

Hi Bill,
This is an excellant idea.
My sugestion is to make use of some existing sites like www.sourceforge.net . This site is real cool. This is what they do ...
"SourceForge is a free service to Open Source developers offering easy access to the best in CVS, mailing lists, bug tracking, message boards/forums, task management, site hosting, permanent file archival, full backups, and total web-based administration."
This will be the most ideal site for a development team separated geographically. You can still maintain the www.javaworkshop.net for those not participating in the development process but interested in the project for whatever reason. for release downloads and daily snapshots put a link to sourceforge from your site .
Please have a look at www.sourceforge.net and post your feedback.
/Dave

[Chris Caillouet]

Bill,
I concur with all who've already pointed out what an awesome idea this is. I've long lamented the fact of my extensive "academic experience" in various languages, which really ain't worth beans on a resume (that's not to say there's anything wrong with beans per se! ) I'd love to participate in this as my skills and time permit.
Thanks,
Chris

[james mendoza]

Bill,
I visited the javaworkshop site and it looks very interesting. I hope to join soon.

[ione walker]

Bill,
I like the site.
I will be regerestering ASAP.
& hope to contrubute too.

[Carol Murphy]

Dear Bill-
Let me give you some feedback from a complete novice. Don't know if you guys have wings, but the Java Ranch sure was the answer to prayers I didn't even say.
I was a professional dancer in my former life, and since retiring from the stage have been looking for interesting and financially viable ways of supporting my family. Was 1 day away from enrolling in CLC ( the school that went bankrupt ) to learn programming. When that imploded, I stumbled upon the ranch while looking for online tutorials. What a god-send!
I also have to admit that having signed up before the May 1st cut-off was fortuitous, as most of my meager income goes towards living expenses here in San Mateo County.
Now for the meat of this posting. I don't know anything about Data Bases, have a smattering of experience with HTML and making web pages, and my all-around knowledge of computers is very scattered. ( I only know what I have had to know in order to make my little system work. ) However, I follow instructions well, can be a great team player, and I really want to learn this stuff. I don't know if you would consider me an asset or liability, but I would like to participate, as long as you can deal with questions like, "So exactly what is a Data Base, and why do we need one?"
Please respond! ( Sorry for the long post. )

[Johannes de Jong]

Carol look at this link http://www.uwf.edu/coe/tutorials/technolo/data base/database.htm?ti2Xdw=www.uwf.edu/~coe/tutorials/technolo/database/database.htm for a very basic explanation on databases.
I do however suggest you search the web for a better tutorial. You do need knowladge on Databases & SQL to survive in the IT jungle as a programmer.
Regarding your attempt to learn a new skill, I can only say that you have my respect, good luck.
[This message has been edited by Johannes de Jong (edited May 09, 2001).]

[Carol Murphy]

Thanks! I'll check it out!

Originally posted by Johannes de Jong:
Carol look at this link http://www.uwf.edu/coe/tutorials/technolo/data base/database.htm?ti2Xdw=www.uwf.edu/~coe/tutorials/technolo/database/database.htm for a very basic explanation on databases.
I do however suggest you search the web for a better tutorial. You do need knowladge on Databases & SQL to survive in the IT jungle as a programmer.
Regarding your attempt to learn a new skill, I can only say that you have my [b]respect, good luck.
[This message has been edited by Johannes de Jong (edited May 09, 2001).][/B]