[openbeos] Re: Pineapple News

On Wed, May 7, 2008 at 9:35 AM, Allen Brunson <brunsona@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> I've been away from the BeOS scene for a good long while, so I'll refresh your
> memory.  In 2000, I released a USENET newsreader for BeOS called Pineapple
> News.  I sweated blood over it for like nine months or so.  It was good enough
> to get me hired at Be.  I worked there for seven months, then Be went out of
> business.  R.I.P., Be and BeOS.  Currently I'm a Linux server programmer
> living in Nashville, TN.

Cool, I didn't know you worked at Be. I always find it interesting to
see people's history, especially in relation to BeOS.

> I had my doubts that Haiku was ever going to amount to anything.  But it looks
> like you guys have really been plugging away, and have something that's pretty
> close to usable.  I am impressed.  I guess what alerted me to the status
> change is that my sad little website is getting an increasingly large number
> of hits for BeOS in general and my newsreader in particular.

Yeah someone was asking about newsreaders on the Haiku web-site, and
Pineapple News was linked to as one of the premiere Usenet clients for
BeOS :)

> I've received several requests for me to release the source code for Pineapple
> News, or at least a binary that doesn't expire.  Since you guys are doing most
> of the work on Haiku, I guess that's the least I could do.  I haven't had time
> to dedicate to this task for awhile, but today is my last day at my job, so
> now I can put some time into it.  I'm writing here to say that yes, I hear
> you, I'm working on it, give me a little time to dig out the old computer I
> used for BeOS stuff and see if I can remember what's what.

Yes that would be great if you could either compile Pineapple News for
Haiku or release the code if you want to. The latter option is purely
your choice, though it might be nice since other people could help out
to fix bugs and add features. But it is your code that you spent 9
months working hard on, so only do what you want to :)

> Terrible self-plug alert: I'll be looking for contract work or another
> full-time job pretty soon, if anybody's got anything.  I'm good at Linux
> development, C++, MacOSX development, Objective-C, TCP/IP, and standard
> internet protocols, and I'm in the process of teaching myself Ruby on Rails.

Wow, quite a skill-set. I would recommend you stick with learning Ruby
on Rails, as in my experience if you are a good programmer and can
understand Ruby and Rails well you can pretty much write your own
ticket. Given your language and platform experience you probably won't
find Ruby or Rails too hard. I got involved with Ruby long before
Rails and I will say knowing the Ruby language well helps a lot in
being a good Rails programmer, though you can get by pretty well in
the beginning, since in many ways Rails is its own language.

See if you can find a Ruby meet-up in your area
(http://ruby.meetup.com), it can be a good resource for networking and
getting involved in the Ruby culture and community.

Also to get back on topic: if you find time you are welcome to
contribute to Haiku now and again ;)

Regards,
Ryan

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