Open Letter: Stepping down as DFWCFUG Manager
Am I tired of doing it? Am I leaving the language? NO, and NO!
As an Adobe UGM, one of my responsibilities is to endorse and evangelize the product of Adobe ColdFusion (ACF). For numerous reasons over the past year or so, I have found myself at growing odds with this task. As competing open source engines such as Railo and OpenBD are gaining in functionality, stability, and performance, as well as being made freely available to the CFML community, it is impossible to ignore them as true contenders in this space. Where they were once viewed as free alternatives, they have moved to the position of driving change and driving features that I would like to see in ACF. I wholly feel that these engines are the future of our community, and should be given equal attention rather than be viewed as just an alternative. Based on that fact, it is disingenuous for me to continue in my role as an Adobe UGM.
As of its inaugural meeting on April 5, 2011 at the Paladin Consulting office in Dallas, I am going to serve as coordinator of the DFW CFML User Group, a non-product-specific user group composed of enthusiasts of the CFML language, regardless of the engine that runs it. Without the pressure of promoting one company’s product over another, we can focus on what is really important to us, which is the power of the CFML language and the diverse ways that it can be used across various platforms.
It is important to note that the new group will not be strictly an “open source” group, nor is this a swipe at any kind of Adobe itself. The group is simply not going to endorse a single product as the only viable solution to writing enterprise level applications in CFML. Our content will doubtlessly include Adobe ColdFusion, but will not be exclusive to it.
So where does this leave the DFWCFUG? Adrian Moreno has served as co-manager of the group for several years now. Adobe mandated this hierarchical approach to how their groups will be organized so that in the event of the departure of a manger, the group can carry on without interruption with the co-manager taking over. I have spoken with Adrian at length on this topic, and he does not share my vision on the DFW CFML User Group, and feels that it is important to have a product-focused user group under Adobe. As a result, he has opted to take the role of group manager effective immediately and will be leading the DFWCFUG.
I want to make it abundantly clear that this will not be an “us vs. them” scenario between the two groups. We are in this together as one community with varying interests and it is in all of our interests to positively promote both groups.
Fortunately, I think that this leaves the DFW CFML developers with some excellent options!
I plan on sharing much more about the new DFW CFML User Group in the near future. Please follow us on Twitter at @dfwcfml and look for upcoming announcements in the next few days.
Lastly, thanks for letting me serve as leader of the DFWCFUG all these years. It has been an honor and a privilege to do so.
~Dave Shuck
@dshuck
daveshuck.com
I’m genuinely looking forward to where we, as a community, will be taking this new group. Between Dave and I and a number of the members of the local CFML community, a number of excellent ideas have been brought to the table as far as format, topics and general focus for the new group and its meetings.
I’d like to underscore what Dave said, this new group is NOT about bashing Adobe or pitting the groups against each other. On the other hand, the group is also not about exclusively singing the praises of Railo and OpenBD, but like Dave said, all three engines will inevitably be talked about.
Again, I’m looking forward to what the future holds for CFML and this group is a step in the right tdirections.
In the very short time I’ve been a UGM, I can see that conflict, and I’ve in no way leaned on way or the other (yet) but it’s not an easy question to answer. I know the DFWCFUG has really succeeded during a time when others struggle, and kudos for that. As the language we all know and love matures, I wish both you and Adrian good luck in continuing the mission of meeting the needs of developers first and foremost.
Having been an avid and loyal member of the DFW CFUG for many years now, I can’t thank Dave enough for his consistent hard work in running the group. It’s not easy trying to line up speakers, sponsors, topics, themes, swag, etc., month after month. And Dave has been a regular presenter on topics running from the gamut from new and exiting to mundane but necessary. I am extremely appreciative of what he has given us and where he has taken us. I fully support any decision he makes and will be interested in following and participating in, yet another, CFML group in Dallas/Ft Worth while continuing my affiliation with the DFW CFUG! Thanks Dave!
Thanks Dave for all of your hard work and efforts over the years with the DFWCFUG. I’m looking forward to hearing about different perspectives on the CFML in the open source world.