Community
We already mentioned earlier that we specialize in Microsoft .NET development. Beyond mere technical or business advantages for the clients there is a definite fun-factor in writing .NET applications.
Of course there are situations where the initial joy turns into frustration or despair after a while. Anyone with personal programming experience is familiar with these moments.
It is probably a mixture of both, strong interest in technology on the one hand and the desire for help in mastering it on the other, which underlies the continuous growth in Usergroup membership for both Microsoft and competing technologies.
Microsoft has recognized this trend on international and local/national levels. Microsoft Germany has hired a dedicated "Community Manager", whose sole responsibility is support for and fostering of German Microsoft technology communities together with his team of about 7 persons.
Munich (Netspectrum's current location) has its own .NET user group since April 2003 – the
.NET Developers Group Munich.
It is run by Hardy Erlinger and currently has about 250 members. The monthly meetings present an
opportunity for interested developers to meet with peers and brush up on their technical knowledge
since we regularly host lectures on a wide range of .NET topics. Sounds interesting? Register at the
user group's Web site
and attend one of the upcoming meetings.
Note: both the meetings and lectures are usually held in German. We do have English speakers occasionally, so if you're English speaking you may want to register anyway.
Microsoft Germany has appointed Hardy Erlinger a member of the Microsoft Community Leader/Influencer Program (CLIP) in 2003 as an acknowlegement of his activities in the .NET community.