Preeti at Web Hosting Search: You have worked in design, development, SEO, and even been a teacher? What got you started in the technology world?
Barrie North: I worked at a small school where we didn't really have anyone in charge of the technology. I had picked up some things so I volunteered to take on the role of technology coordinator. I then went on to be the coordinator for a new school district and did some pioneering work with wireless laptop labs and using websites for training and faculty communication.
WHS: How did you decide to teach high schoolers?
BN: I am not sure I consciously decided. I started teaching middle school and then over my teaching career moved to working with the older students.
WHS: You joined Joomlashack in 2005. What got your fancy?
BN: I was just getting into Joomla and started chatting with Casey Lee, who had only just founded Joomlashack. We had very complimentary skills so we partnered up and were able to really grow Joomlashack as a company.
WHS: How would you describe Joomla if you were to tell someone who has just started to learn programming?
BN: Well, I am not much of a programmer, but I'll give it a shot. When you start making extensions for Joomla, it is basically a framework, in some ways like something like CakePHP. This speeds up the process as there is lots of stuff to reuse.
WHS: Tell us about your book, Joomla! A user's guide, that came out last December.
BN: It seems to have been really successful, I have been really flattered by the response. Lots of people have emailed me to tell me thanks for writing something in a language they can understand. That was my main goal for the book, to explain to people how to create a website with Joomla, but without slipping into geek-speak. I think its been in the top 3000 Amazon bestsellers for most of 2008.
WHS: What do you see as the future of Joomla?
BN: It seems Joomla is one of the most popular open source content management systems around today. I think that sometimes it tries to do two things, one to appeal to the end user through simplicity, and then to appeal to coperate/enterprise audiences by emphasizing the framework. I wonder if it can continue to do both or the code will evolve one direction or another.
WHS: You also run Compass Designs, a blog about Joomla. How did that get started?
BN: Everyone has to have a blog! Seriously though, its a way to give back to the community. Hundreds of thousands have read the free tutorials there and I try to write about one high quality guide a month. I also use the site as an example of how Joomla can be used for blogging.
WHS: Lastly, and on a funny note, what one thing can you not live without? And it cannot be electronic (phone, computer, software) or related. :)
BN: The easy answer would be my kids (3 boys), but I am not sure they are in the thing category (though we do have Thing 1/Thing 2 T-shirts). Probably the answer would be snow, I live in Vermont and really enjoy skiing up here.
Thank you Barrie for this awesome interview. It is always wonderful to meet some of the people who influence the web world. You can visit his sites at: www.joomlashack.com, www.compassdesigns.net, and www.simplweb.com.
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