After 7 years, I'm finally moving on. I had experience switching companies 3.5 years ago, but that was due to the team getting bought, so this is the first time I'm doing it voluntarily. Quite happy that such an opportunity knocked at the right time.

Basically I got linked in several weeks, as a recruiter sent me an InMail asking me if I'll be interested in a position at certain well-funded startup company. I figured why not; at least to get some practice on my interview skills. What I didn't expect was one short week later, after two phone conversations, I was sitting in their conference room with an offer in hands and their CEO and CTO right on the opposite side of the table at the end of my first and only interview. But I also already knew I was going to take it since the whole opportunity is just perfect, in term of my skill sets, the kind of products I could work on, the atmosphere, and where I want to go down the road; pretty much everything. Looking back, as attractive as the offer is, I probably could've pushed for more given how well the interview went and the eagerness they were showing, but I'd rather prove myself on the job, and a few percentage difference in base salary is not what matters with startups.

The company is called Aptana, and they're building IDE and end-to-end tools to do web development, so it could be used by in fact anybody, and it's free and open source. I'll be responsible for their Studio product, so feel free to download it, play with it, and send your complaints in.

Overall, definitely an eventful year, with engagement and a new place to work, just in time before turning 30.

Hope you have a good time at the company and see lots of success

Awesome stuff Xiayun!

Care to tell me more about the IDE, I'd be interested to hear target languages, what kind of value you think you can add over existing products, etc. If it's anything I'm familiar with, I'd be happy to give my opinion along the way!

From what I know, it supports code assist/editing for JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and PHP development. You could also develop iPhone apps there and preview how it would look. This is sort of a feature list.

I think comparing to Dreamweaver and myEclipse, they're trying to be that one all-inclusive IDE where you could develop and test any web-related contents on it. I'll let you know more once getting more familiar with its internals, starting next week.

Well, considering I have a lot of experience using both Dreamweaver and Eclipse, that sounds right up my alley. I utilize php, css, html, xhmtl, etc on a daily basis ... so let me know when something gets released, I would love to play around with it.

Do you know if you will support 64 bit?

There is currently a 1.1 version available: http://www.aptana.com/studio/download.

The IDE is Eclipse-based too, and looks like right now to run it on 64-bit Linux, you'll need to download the 64-bit version of Eclipse and then add Aptana as plugin to it. It does support 64-bit Windows.

I took a look at the site, seems you do support 64 bit, and seems this is way more advanced than I assumed! I was thinking you had very little built, but that's not the case at all! Seems that the IDE is already thriving, and you will just be joining on for future iterations, which is great because that means stability.

I'll download it and give you my impressions later.

Good luck.

I have to say Xiayun, I'm impressed with the IDE, and I wish I knew it existed sooner. The real test will come this weekend when I do some real development using it, but so far so good.

Glad to see you're going places, you deserve it!

Congrats.

Working for a startup is the best possible experience (especially if there are smart people to learn from).

Not to steal your thunder, but I just kinda got promoted, but it doesn't deserve its own thread. Yet.

Congrats on your new job and promotion, xiayun and Krem!

Michael!

You, Snrub and Krem: Making me feel like the least accomplished person nearing 30 ever. Congrats on doing so much in so little time!

Good luck Xia!

I didn't understand a lick of what you said in your post, but congratulations anyway! You seem to be excited, so I'm excited for you.

Congrats xia! Seems like you wowed them. Im sure they would have given you more but as long as you enjoy what you do!

Congrats too Krem. Im also in the same boat - received a promotion recently aswell. But the extra work is noticeable.

You too? Can you people please develop some poor work habits, immediately? You're making the rest of humanity feel bad about itself.

Congratulations! Twenty years from now, you'll be the chief-something of a thousand people.

Thank you all!

Congrats Krem! Yeah, I definitely agree with you on startups. Before getting bought, my previous work was also with a startup, and you really learn a great deal about a lot more different things, even if the result didn't turn out the best.

MadGez, Congrats too!

This is incredible, Xiayun. Congrats!
I wanna start my own start-up now too.

I used to joke that i'd walk around the office looking angry and irritated - which made me look busy. Now its a reality

Though I do keep KJ open most of the day - so here's hoping i slip back into my old lazy ways

Starting a new job on Monday, or rather a job with the same company but will have a promotion. Finally will have good insurance, so can go to the doctor for the first time in a few years. Dentist too.

It's funny that you dug this thread up. I still use Aptana to this day, it actually played a role in making me a better developer.

Prior to Aptana, I was far too reliant on Dreamweaver's drag and drop UI, which pumped out poor markup. It was an adjustment, but I've really taken to the code only approach. Even when I develop in Visual Studio, I ignore the design view and I can't imagine ever reverting back.

As for you Caius, glad to hear you're moving up in the world, hope it works out.

WYSIWYG development = lame


BTW.....congrats!

I don't know what any of you just said.

xiayun, another seven years have passed. How's the job? Are you liking it?