I was at CodeCampNYC 2016 at the Microsoft Store in Times Square. I now know ways to hack the NES or hack the HoloLens by Microsoft. I have better React-Fu and AspNet-Core-Do /* yeah, that pun’s a stretch*/.
(It wasn’t free free, it was $10 to register plus the train ride… so virtually free… don’t fact check me bro. ;)
Attending CodeCamps could lead you on a path to programming something like this
Just because the CodeCamp was at Microsoft’s office doesn’t mean that it was only Microsoft technologies. I wore my “AWS Lambda / I survived the zombie apocalypse” T-Shirt without any incidents with building security.
At CodeCampNYC, topics are suggested by volunteer guest speakers and attendees vote on which topics they are most interested in. On the day of the event, you can attend 5 out of 65 unique 75 minute workshops. This is not a sponsored demo “training” event: these workshops range from React front-end development to advanced cloud architecture to NES development. The speakers are not provided with monetary compensation, only guaranteed entry to Valhalla.
Every year Captain Picard (aka Steve Bohlen ) and other wonderful volunteers organize this virtually free annual all-day training event in all things software engineer. Virtually free means that for $10 you get free water, coffee, soda, donuts and pizza. (and whatever goodies the sponsors will have at their tables.)
Plus, and this is very important, at the end of the day is a raffle for free prizes. Yes, I said free. Oh yeah! The prizes go from a reaping ceremony for the Hunger Games (aka free books) all the way to a free trip to Nirvana (aka Free Xbox One S with Gears of War 4).
These Code Camps happen all around the world. CodeCampNYC is an invaluable training resource. Philly’s is even bigger than New York’s. Boston has one. There’s also SQL Saturday events for the data-minded. Google it. Buy a ticket. Hop on a plane, train or automobile and have fun learning.
Me headed on the train to CodeCampNYC. Now if only they had a workshop on how to do selfies.
I attended these five awesome workshops!
NES Development using NESpectre by Andy Reitano
He integrated development between a Node.js website that used socket.io to communicate with the RAM on a NES in real-time. I got to play Contra while the other participants in the room would choose on their phones which weapon I would have.
In Track & Field long jump we all tapped our phones to simulate button presses on the controller which resulted in our player jumping clean off the screen and entering again from the left side of the screen. That’s actually hilarious.
I always try to do a random class unrelated to my work. This was my choice. I lucked out. Thanks Andy! Embedded picture 1 and embedded picture 2
Andy Reitano or @batslyadams
People add random objects and change the environment using their phones over socket.io, you see it switch to B&W
Crash Course in React by Eddie Zaneski
One piece of valuable advice from Eddie, if you’re trying to learn React you’ll probably overload and confuse yourself if you try and find the perfect example code on how to implement everything. He said you’re better off looking at the FB articles, especially their article on how to think in React.
Eddie walked through three simple starter examples of doing React. I’ve got the first two jsbin links saved in my Instagram comments.
Embedded picture 1 and embedded picture 2
He used jsbin.com for his tutorials, check the comments for links to code
a screenshot of his second example to fetch a list of tacos from giphy API
A diary of pain points encountered by a consultant who made the switch from .NET 4.5 to ASPNET Core: by John Brown
This was really practical advice, nothing ooh and ahh or complex. Which is what you should look for after you’ve just ate two slices of pizza and a leftover donut from breakfast.
I’ve included some of his pointers in the comments. He started with an empty MVC ASPNET Core website in Visual Studio 15 Preview 2. He said that was easier than navigating through the bloat-code that comes with the template.
Embedded picture 1 and embedded picture 2
Again, check the comments, that’s where the notes are
More notes via Instagram comments
First time presenter Lee Brandt talks about doing OpenID connect in ASP.NET Core
I’ve done some OAuth2 and SAML integration and federation projects, so I wanted to stay updated on other new stuff that’s out there for easy IDP and Auth integration. Great job to Lee on first time presenting.
He reiterated a couple of times in the workshop that “OpenID Connect” (OIDC) is not the same as “OpenID”. OIDC has a standardized list of basic claims and a certification process. Successful OIDC authentication also returns an endpoint for retrieving the user’s list of identity claims.
Embedded picture 1 and embedded picture 2
check the comments for notes, he used aspnetcore yo generator
sample config for OpenID Connect in ASP.NET Core
Rob Zelt presents a Hello World course on the Microsoft Hololens using C# and Unity
This was fun. The pictures say it all. (I know what you’re thinking, why do I always count from 1 instead of 0?)
Embedded picture 1 and embedded picture 2 and embedded video 3
walking through the hardware specs and common dev feedback he receives, check the comments
Hey, Ma! Look! I’m on TV, Ma! (Also sitting next to my awesome Slalom coworker and friend Kevin Mulder)
video demonstration of a hand coded bowling app. later he showed how the ball would bounce off of the podium.
There was also a sponsor led workshop during lunchtime but I skipped that to socialize and to catch up with a former client coworker. Overall, CodeCampNYC was very much worth the ten dollars and train ride from New Jersey. :)
Find a Code Camp or SQL Saturday event happening near you. Such investment. Much fun. Very learn.
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— like the CodeCampNYC presenters, your praise is what I live for. ;)
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