http://ayende.comAyende @ RahienCopyright (C) Ayende Rahien 2004 - 2021 (c) 202660@Manoj Waikar Thanks for the tip, unfortunately Clojure is a little too lisp-y for my liking. Python is terse, dynamic and worthy but Scala looks to be my first candidate to replace C# and target the JVM. Go-lang is interesting but may never grow out of its toy-language state. http://ayende.com/4522/teched-israel-2010-may-only-accept-speakers-from-sponsors#comment5http://ayende.com/4522/teched-israel-2010-may-only-accept-speakers-from-sponsors#comment5Wed, 26 May 2010 16:03:09 GMTHi Demis, Try Clojure :) and since Google App Engine can run java code, it can also run Clojure. http://ayende.com/4522/teched-israel-2010-may-only-accept-speakers-from-sponsors#comment4http://ayende.com/4522/teched-israel-2010-may-only-accept-speakers-from-sponsors#comment4Wed, 26 May 2010 15:26:23 GMTThis may or may not be relevant but I have also been disappointed in Microsoft's ability to generate enthusiasm for developers and I find the Google I/O and Apple WWDC events to be much more energetic. I'm not sure exactly why it is but I think its their insistence on catering for the lowest common denominator and circling all their efforts around 'click box development' and 'graphic designers first' rather than looking to empower developers. They are also very re-active and will jump on the latest bandwagon and be the last to push technologies like Azure that personally I have no interest in. Rather than re-inventing the wheel and changing their data access and web service technologies every couple of years they should be looking to enhance existing platforms. I would've preferred that they embraced Ajax and HTML5/Canvas and focused on sneaking C# into every browser than trying to push another Flash at us. The only thing I like about Silverlight is its ability to create cross-platform 'Out of the Browser' rich applications but sadly since this is not its primary use-case will not get the attention it deserves - it will probably remain a dumb WPF app. Even though I find C# a far superior general programming language with best mix of productivity and runtime performance I have been spending more and more of my free time tinkering with Python and Java so I can tap into Google App Engine and Android tech. Life would be much easier if Google displaced their NIH syndrome and embraced C#, sigh. http://ayende.com/4522/teched-israel-2010-may-only-accept-speakers-from-sponsors#comment3http://ayende.com/4522/teched-israel-2010-may-only-accept-speakers-from-sponsors#comment3Wed, 26 May 2010 09:34:52 GMTNot good at all, given the amount of talented developers in Israel. You could always move to the UK ;) http://ayende.com/4522/teched-israel-2010-may-only-accept-speakers-from-sponsors#comment2http://ayende.com/4522/teched-israel-2010-may-only-accept-speakers-from-sponsors#comment2Tue, 25 May 2010 19:54:44 GMTI wonder how much of the issues get down to the person responsible for the area. I'm an MVP from the US (Alabama). Our regional developer evangelist, Glen, is great, i hear from him on a regular basis plus often see him at various regional events. In addition I get weekly emails from my MVP lead, Ryan, about what's going on. I will agree on one point, I do wish Microsoft did a bit more marketing around the MVP branding so that "MVP? What's that?" isn't a question many employers or potential clients would be asking. http://ayende.com/4522/teched-israel-2010-may-only-accept-speakers-from-sponsors#comment1http://ayende.com/4522/teched-israel-2010-may-only-accept-speakers-from-sponsors#comment1Tue, 25 May 2010 19:47:02 GMT