Requiem for the farm
While elements will still remain, to some extent it appears to be
The big nerd farm is locking up the paddock for good.
A long time ago, I was their original Android app development trainer. Working on a contract basis, I provided training in Historic Prohibition Mills
(“Come for the workout, stay for the zipline!”) on many occasions. This included leading nature hikes during breaks, helping people figure out how to get cell service (tip: walk up a steep hill to get out of the valley), and occasionally wrestling with a piece of luggage. Banning Mills was an unexpectedly delightful place to teach, one of the most entertaining places I've ever used.
Eventually, Big Nerd Ranch concluded that this Android thing might be over, so they hired a dedicated team and I continued to deliver training through a host of other companies. Over time they wrote
own set of booksAnd you'll likely recognize some of the writers for their contributions to the Android development community.
I remain grateful to Aaron Hilgas for taking a chance on me and giving me the opportunity to train at Big Nerd Ranch. This has played a significant role in my overall success with CommonsWare. I even ended up doing some more contract work for them in 2018-19, though not in the form of imparting training.
As written in their announcement post, “the technology education landscape has evolved significantly since our inception.” That's putting it mildly. Discontinuing their public bootcamps and book series is no surprise—after all, I did the same thing. Still, it's hard to see and makes for a gloomy end to the day.
However, maybe I'll take a Stetson and put a propeller on top, for old times' sake. 🤠
– June 11, 2024