Amanda Laucher, "F# Amanda"

Amanda Laucher is a software developer/architect focusing on Microsoft technologies. She is currently based in Columbus, OH and working with The Sophic Group.

Presentation: "Demystifying monads"

Track: Functional programming

Time: Wednesday 16:30 - 17:30

Location: Rutherford Room

Abstract:

Are you starting to become interested in functional programming languages? Are you being held back by the word "monad" and the Wikipedia definition isn't cutting it? There is a lot of misinformation out there to make for even more confusion. In this session we'll look at examples of monads in several languages to leave you with the warm fuzzy feeling you've been hoping for.

Keywords: Monads, Languages, Functional Programming

Traget Audience: Developers, and anyone else looking at functional programming languages will benefit.

Presentation: "The State of the Art .NET - 12 months of things to learn"

Track: AlphaGeeks on .NET

Time: Thursday 16:30 - 17:30

Location: Rutherford Room

Abstract:

For some people the .NET ecosystem comes along with some negative connotations related to closed-source, prescriptive, narrow solution architectures.

Nonetheless, there is a rich array of interesting technology available when using .NET – whether on Windows or on Mono. Microsoft is investing in languages and frameworks, open-source innovations are being applied from other platforms, and very smart people using .NET as the best choice for their circumstance.

This talk will showcase some of the very interesting languages, development tools, frameworks and architectural approaches (whether from Microsoft or from the Alpha Geeks in the .NET community) that you should have on your list of things to research, learn, and use over the next 12 months.

Keywords: .NET, open source, innovation, Mono, tools

Target audience: MSDN subscribers looking for something more, .NET architects and developers, the .NET-curious