Advent of Code 2023 Has Come To A Close

Another year of Advent of Code is in the books. The puzzles seemed much harder this year than they have in past years, but it was still a load of fun. 

Once again, I didn't make it as far as I wanted to. I think I got somewhere around 7 1/2 Days completed, with some work done on the first part of a couple of more days. And once again, I'm reminded that some things probably shouldn't be done. SQL is a really bad language for most of these puzzles. But the ASCII art is fun to reveal. :-)

This year started with over 227K participants, which is a pretty good jump over their first year (2015) with around 87K people. The stories are always entertaining and the puzzles are always fun and challenging. It's been an amusing exercise, although the holiday time begins to get in the way towards the end. 

Around the middle of the season, I was also made aware of another set of puzzles; this one more amenable to SQLish solutions: Hanukkah of Data. This one was a bit different, and a lot shorter, than Advent of Code, and I only completed a few days of the puzzles, but it's worth taking a look at. I'll try to complete it over the year, and probably play along again next year. 

As far as Advent of Code, I'm not sure what language I'll try it again next year. I'd like to keep solving these with SQL, but they aren't really teaching me anything except how to not use SQL to solve procedural problems. It's been pretty amazing that I have been able to actually come to some of these answers, but my code is a whole different level of ugly. We'll see what next year brings. 

To wrap this up for another year, I'd like to thank my fellow participants from the Working Code Podcast.  Give them a listen and join the Discord. And next year, join with us for Advent of Code 2024. 

Advent of Code 2023 Has Begun!

 How did December get here so fast??? 

It's time for another iteration of Advent of Code.

I'll likely try these in SQL again. I may do multiple languages. We'll see

I Am Speaking At PASS Data Community Summit 2022!

 I have been accepted to speak at PASS Data Community Summit on November 15-18, 2022. They are going for a hybrid conference this year, with the main conference being held live in Seattle with an online component! 

I'll be presenting You've Been Hit By A Bus about preparing for that horrible, but inevitable,  moment when you won't be able to handle your geek belongings. 

I'll be one of the On-Demand recordings, but I'm going to try to make it to the live conference, too. I've never been, and I've been looking forward to going.

You should come out, too. There are heaps of great sessions going on. Mostly on much less depressing  topics than mine. But come join the #SQLFamily!

From my abstract:

If you’re like me, you’re probably IT Support for your home. Your business probably has a Continuity Plan. Shouldn’t your home have one, too? 

What happens to our digital selves when our physical selves are gone? Most of us probably haven’t given much thought about our digital footprints and how they will far outlive us. Or, more importantly, about how our passing can leave our loved ones in a tight spot. Our modern lives have changed to include a significant amount of digital stuff that could easily disappear if that bus comes around. Will the people you leave behind be able to continue to function without you? We need to have a plan.

Come out to The Summit! 

 

Tron is 40 Years Old!!!

Wow. Am I really THAT old??? 

It was originally released July 9, 1982.

I still love the original Tron. The modern "sequel" was pretty good, but doesn't come close to the original.

That was one of my favorite movies ever! In a very tight race with Star Wars: A New Hope, Flash Gordon and Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Plus, we're talking about a rogue AI chess program. This movie was made WAY too early. 

But I have heard that Flynn Lives!

Ortus Has Invited Me Back Again!

I'm speaking live at Into The Box again! 

This year, I'll be talking about Impostor Syndrome: "I'm Just Here For The T-Shirt".

As the even gets closer, I'll try to share more info with you. 

Big thanks to Ortus for continuing to have faith in me. 

Support TryCF

 If you use ColdFusion, chances are, at some point, you've used TryCF. This is an invaluable resource that allows a developer to try out their CF code in several different flavors of CFML, both current and not-so-current. I believe the current iteration of the site goes all the way back to Adobe CF 10, Lucee 4.5 and Railo 4.2.

Hello, World Example from TryCF.com

Abram has put a ton of his own blood, sweat and tears into this project, and for years the community has asked him how they could help. Now he has finally opened up a Patreon for TryCF. 

If you are so inclined, help him out by becoming a Patron. 

May the Fourth Be With You!

 It's Star Wars Day again! 

And this year, I learned that the day had its origins in the election of Margaret Thatcher!

From The London Evening News, May 4, 1979

Gotta love an interesting history lesson.