IBM developer portal targets Pinoy IT community
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/04/2009 3:25 AM
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IBM Corp. launched Friday a new online destination that allows Filipino software developers to collaborate with a global network of IT professionals using IBM middleware.
Charles Manuel, ASEAN program director of IBM's IDR & University Relation Software Group, said the IBM MydeveloperWorks site seeks to tap into the country's growing number of software developers, which now number about 150,000. "As a company we pride ourselves at being at the forefront of innovation. We want to engage this community in a compelling way because we believe in the Philippine government's vision to create a smarter workforce, representing knowledge-based workers," he said in a press briefing.
"It's now a great time to invest and increase our workforce here," he added.
Manuel said My developerWorks uses the different social networking attributes of Twitter, Facebook and MySpace into a single view for users, enabling them to tap into their existing online relationships to create new groups. Since the site is geared for developers, users can more easily gain real-time access to key technology updates, link with other experts and build critical skills requirements more quickly.
For example, he said developers who want to learn XML could simply tailor their homepage to receive content on XML healthcre standards, join professional groups and stay current on new skills resources.
"When we provide a platform like My developerWorks, they get the raw technological engines and assets from IBM Research Labs. It is also collaborative so there will also be some content that will come from foreign and local developers," he said.
Manuel said the importance of collaboration could be seen in the success of Linux, which spawned thousands of applications created by different individuals.
My developerWorks currently has a membership base of eight million IT practitioners. Local developers can simply log on to www.ibm.com/developerworks/mydeveloperworks and sign up for free.
IBM executive Iris Hester Tan-Chiu said IBM Philippines will be collaborating with different universities to actively engage them to use the site. "It is an IBM corporation initiative, not just a local initiative," she said. - David Dizon, abs-cbnNEWS.com
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