OSS Speaker Series: The State of the Linux Kernel
Google engEDU
1 hr 22 min – May 1, 2007

Google Tech Talks
May 1, 2007

ABSTRACT

Andrew will present a broad look at the trends in recent changes in the Linux kernel: what areas of kernel functionality are people working on, and what changes can we expect to see over the next year ?

This feature-by-feature walk-through will be tied to an examination of the motivations of the kernel contributors: why do particular individuals and organizations choose particular things to work upon ?

He will also examine areas of the kernel which are arguably suffering from some neglect, the reasons for this and some possible corrective actions which might be taken.

Andrew will finish with a discussion of the importance of individual testers to the kernel development effort, as well as a look at the steps which a kernel tester should take to maximize the effectiveness of his or her contribution to the kernel. Read the rest of this entry »

GCC: Current Topics and Future Directions
Google engEDU
47 min – Feb 27, 2007

Google Video Tech Talks
February 27, 2007

ABSTRACT
The GNU Compiler Collection is one of the most widely used C and C++ compilers. It has been under active development for over twenty years. This talk will be a discussion of major topics in overall GCC development, covering the efforts going on today, the plans for the future, and how Google’s GCC team is helping. Read the rest of this entry »

Competing On The Basis Of Speed
Google engEDU
1 hr 1 min – Dec 15, 2006

Google Tech Talks
December 15, 2006

ABSTRACT

Companies that compete on the basis of speed create a huge competitive advantage. But going fast is not easy. Speed requires a precise understanding of value: who, what, when, where, how, and why people will love your product. And it means getting value to them without complexity creeping into either your product or your process.

Complexity comes in three basic flavors:
1. Inconsistency – Anything that is uneven, unbalanced, or irregular.
2. Overload – Any excessive or unreasonable burden.
3. Waste – Anything that unnecessarily takes up time, effort, space, or money.

All three flavors of complexity are rampant in software development processes, and you can’t go fast until you root them out.

To learn more, join Mary and Tom Poppendieck in a discussion of Complexity, Queuing Theory, and Constant Innovation. Read the rest of this entry »

Python 3000
Google engEDU
1 hr 26 min – Feb 14, 2007

Google Tech Talks
February 14, 2007

ABSTRACT

Since the renewed Python 3000 effort was announced at PyCon 2006, a lot has happened. We’ve implemented about half of the promised changes in a branch, we’ve solidified the schedule, there’s a refactoring tool that can do source-to-source translations, and we’ve produced several gigabytes of discussion about language change proposals (most of which were deemed too radical in the end . In this talk, a preview of a keynote to be given at PyCon 2007, I’ll discuss the Python 3000 road map, status, and what this means for the average Python user.

This talk is part of the Advanced Topics in Programming Languages series. The goal of this series is to encourage all of the people at Google who know and love programming languages to share their knowledge. Read the rest of this entry »

FIRST LEGO League Nano Quest Challenge Kickoff
Google engEDU
1 hr 24 min – Sep 15, 2006

Google Tech Talks
September 15, 2006

Mark Edelman is Co-founder and Director of Technology for Playing At Learning, a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded to identify, develop, support, and foster technology-based educational enrichment programs for children. He has over 13 years of experience as a software engineer, and has spent 5 years as a youth robotics coach, mentor,instructor, and volunteer.

ABSTRACT
A gathering of the Northern California FIRST LEGO League community to formally kick of the 2006 Nano Quest Challenge.

At the gathering, there will be:

- Viewing of a short video explaining the 2006 Nano Quest Robot
Game
- A Description of the 2006 Nano Quest Research Project
- A Discussion of table Rule Changes
- A Questions and Answers Session Read the rest of this entry »