The WGBH.org Development Blog

As I write this, my buddy and co-developer Pete Bull is gallivanting around Hawaii, enjoying a well deserved vacation in paradise. So, until our own Don Ho gets back next week - no doubt tan, refreshed and mellowed out - I’m on my own coding up the new version of WGBH.org.

We’re making good progress with the new TV programs and schedules module. As mentioned earlier, the Programs A-Z list, schedule grid and full day by channel schedules are pretty much good to go. I’m currently up to my neck coding up the episode pages.

The big news as of late is that we’ve decided to forgo program pages (or, rather, series pages) and go only with episode pages. I’ll have more on that in an upcoming post. That, folks, is what they call a cliffhanger.

I’d actually like to take today’s post to introduce you to the newest member of the WGBH Online development squad (I prefer to think of us a “squad” more than a “team”; please note there is still no I in “squad”).

This member joined the team just about a month or so ago and has already proven to be an impact player. This member has also proven to be an invaluable cog in our machinery. I’m already having a hard time remembering what life was like before this member came on board.

So, without further adieu…

allow me to present…

the newest WGBH Online technical squad member…

my new MacBook Pro!

After years - actually, technically, decades - of working primarily on a PC (mainly out of convenience, not any religious thing), this little cupcake worked her charms on me and has caused me to switch sides!

It’s not that the MacBook is making me any more efficient; the tools aren’t all that different, in many ways. My main development tools went from Macromedia HomeSite, Firefox, and PuTTY to ActiveState Komodo, Firefox and the Mac terminal.

What it comes down to, I suppose, is that the thing is just so dang … sexy. I just want to use it! Silvery smooth, light weight, a keyboard that’s a delight to tap, it’s got all sorts of sensory goodness going on. You gotta give Steve Jobs and his squad mad props (whatever that means): they sure know about industrial design.

Anyhow, the MacBook has become my new official workstation of choice. I really like it. In fact, truth be told, I’ve become quite attached to it in a very short amount of time. Actually, I think I’m even developing feelings for it.

Ahh, heck, who are we kidding? I’m in love!

OK, time for a meeting, which means I must leave my MacBook (ever so briefly) … I’ll miss you sweetie! XOXOXOXOXO!