Ask The Programmer Episode 190 - Budgeting For AV Programming Ask The Programmer podcast

22:39

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss InfoComm25 and programmers' involvement in AV events in general. Going to events is not just about visiting the booths. It's about networking, education, speaking opportunities, and having in-person conversations. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or on Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 215 - Are touchpanels becoming less prevalent in AV systems? 24:35

11 days ago24:35

24:35

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss whether touchpanels are becoming less desirable in AV systems. Why is this the case, and what is being used as an alternative? To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or on Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 214 - AV Control System Programming vs. General Software Programming 24:56

18 days ago24:56

24:56

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss the differences between AV control system programming and general software programming. Although general software programming has many advantages, the challenges of AV control system programming are what make it unique and a specialized niche for those who become skilled in it. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or on Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 213- Dan Ferrisi Asks About the Future of Walled-Gardens & Interopability 20:51

25 days ago20:51

20:51

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor, Commercial and Security with Emerald, to discuss his question about whether AV programming will be approached with a Software-as-a-Service (SasS) model rather than traditional custom programming. Dan Ferrisi can be reached on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-ferrisi-55675a7/), CommercialIntegrator.com, and Securitysales.com. He encourages you to attend CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo (https://cediaexpo.com) and Total Tech Summit (https://totaltechsummit.com). Be sure to also check out Dan's previous appearances in episodes 212, 200, 199, 182, 181, 173, 174, 124, and 125. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or on Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 212 - Dan Ferrisi Asks If AV Programming Can Implement a SaaS Model 20:24

5 weeks ago20:24

20:24

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor, Commercial and Security with Emerald, to discuss whether control system programming will be approached with a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model rather than traditional custom programming. Dan Ferrisi can be reached on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-ferrisi-55675a7/), CommercialIntegrator.com, and Securitysales.com. He encourages you to attend CEDIA Expo and Commercial Integrator Expo (https://cediaexpo.com) and Total Tech Summit (https://totaltechsummit.com). Be sure to also check out Dan's previous appearances in episodes 200, 199, 182, 181, 173, 174, 124, and 125. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or on Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 211 - Modern User Interface Designs 13:54

6 weeks ago13:54

13:54

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss the growing trend toward implementing user interface designs that are simple, clean, and follow a templated, pre-developed, or product-based look and feel. Is this the new norm and the end of fully customized designs? Is there still a place to blend a common look and feel with custom? To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or on Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 210 - Dedicated vs. Centralized Hardware and Processing 18:05

7 weeks ago18:05

18:05

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss the pros and cons of having dedicated vs. centralized hardware and processing. While this may seem like an easy decision, beware of the impact it can have on programming, maintenance, and future upgrades. Experienced programmers should be consulted before deciding to design systems innovatively, whether centralized or distributed. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or on Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 209 - Managing Programming Changes 15:44

8 weeks ago15:44

15:44

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss the impact of client requests and scope changes while a programmer actively works on code or configuration. It's not easy for programmers to say "no," but it is also crucial for the health of a program to manage changes and client expectations effectively. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or on Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 208 - Fourth Year Anniversary 24:55

9 weeks ago24:55

24:55

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss highlights from the past four years of the Ask The Programmer episodes. including the value of programmers, the different types of programmers, coding vs. configuration, and AI. Since the beginning, we have focused on building community and helping programmers find their voice in the industry. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or on Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 207 - Options for Learning AV Programming 19:01

10 weeks ago19:01

19:01

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss options for learning AV programming. While there is no tried-and-true path to becoming an AV programmer, there are many informal and formal approaches to learning, building a skill set, and solving specific challenges online, in a classroom, and through communities. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 206 - Learnng and Growing as a Programmer 17:53

11 weeks ago17:53

17:53

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss how to learn and grow as programmers. Some programmers establish their own approach to writing code, while others adopt a coding style defined by their employer, organization, or mentor. Working with a team and participating in code reviews can raise the bar for all involved. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 205 - Programmers and Tariffs 17:05

12 weeks ago17:05

17:05

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss the impact that potential trade tariffs can have on integrated systems, programming, programmers, and clients. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/witter and @asktheprogrammer on Bluesky.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 204 - Is Building Control Back? 27:45

13 weeks ago27:45

27:45

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss the renewed conversation around building control, which stems from Acuity Brands' acquisition of Q-SYS in October 2024. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or @asktheprogrammer on Bluesky.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 203 - Guest Brittany DiCesare Shares How Manufacturers Help Programmers 15:26

14 weeks ago15:26

15:26

Steve Greenblatt sits down with Brittany DiCesare, Director of Sales and Operations at Control Concepts, Inc., to discuss how manufacturers are helping programmers by making controlling their products easier. Brittany DiCesare can be found on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittdice/ and on X/Twitter @brittdice https://twitter.com/brittdice. Control Concepts can be found at controlconcepts.net. Manufacturers looking to learn more about API integration can visit controlmyavproduct.com. This episode was recorded live at ISE2025. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter and @asktheprogrammer on Bluesky.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 202 - The Importance of Technical Support 18:03

15 weeks ago18:03

18:03

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss how timely and effective technical support impacts the performance of AV programmers. What makes good technical support and how should it be best utilized? To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter and @asktheprogrammer on Bluesky,…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 201 - How Does the AV Industry Contend with Changes in Software Apps 20:26

16 weeks ago20:26

20:26

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss how modern software applications and mobile apps can change user operation without notice. With the AV being change-averse, how will this impact users and support teams? What can be done to limit surprises and issues? To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter and Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on Twitter and @asktheprogrammer on Bluesky.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 200 - Dan Ferrisi asks If Programmers will be Better Recognized in AV 23:17

17 weeks ago23:17

23:17

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor, Commercial and Security with Emerald, to discuss if there will come a time when AV programmers are better represented and recognized in the industry. Dan Ferrisi can be reached at @danferrisiedit on X/Twitter and Bluesky, LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-ferrisi-55675a7/, and at CommercialIntegrator.com and Securitysales.com. Be sure to also check out Dan's previous appearances in episodes 199, 181 , 182, 173, 174, 124, and 125. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on Twitter and @asktheprogrammer on Bluesky.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 199 - Dan Ferrisi Asks Whether Programmers Must Know How to Code 20:13

18 weeks ago20:13

20:13

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor, Commercial and Security with Emerald, to discuss his question about whether programmers need to know how to code or whether all the other skills that contribute to their success can overshadow this need as long as coding can be outsourced or addressed with a no-code tool. Dan Ferrisi can be reached at @danferrisiedit on X/Twitter and Bluesky, LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-ferrisi-55675a7/, and at CommercialIntegrator.com and Securitysales.com. Be sure to also check out Dan's previous appearances in episodes 182, 181, 173, 174, 124, and 125. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter and Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter and @asktheprogrammer on Bluesky.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 198 - Are you buying a functional program and code that is well-written? 19:01

19 weeks ago19:01

19:01

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss why it is essential to have a fully functioning program that runs an AV system and just as critical to have well-written code that can be easily modified and updated. A special thank you to viewer/ listener feedback from @bryankaioshin regarding a suggestion for covering suggestions for getting into programming. Please tune into our previous episodes 187 and 188 on how Britt Yenser is learning AV programming. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter and @askthegrammer on Bluesky.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 197 - What to know about Maintaining Campus and Enterprise Standards 18:19

20 weeks ago18:19

18:19

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss the importance of maintaining, managing, and updating campus and enterprise standards. A special thank you to viewer/ listener feedback from @jamesbond-lb7se regarding a suggestion for covering Programming Best Practices. We look forward to covering this in more depth in a future episode. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter and Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter and @asktheprogrammer on Bluesky.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 196 - Time Management and Discipline Tips for Programmers 27:02

21 weeks ago27:02

27:02

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss tips for programmers on managing their time and being disciplined about working efficiently. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter and Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 195 - Certifications for Programmers 25:11

22 weeks ago25:11

25:11

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss certifications for programmers and the actual value they provide, considering the criteria of unfiltered knowledge, time investment, career advancement, and practical use. We previously discussed programming certifications and credentials for programmers in episode 23. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter or Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter and Bluesky as @asktheprogrammer.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 194 - The Future of AV Programming Revisited 23:33

23 weeks ago23:33

23:33

James King and Steve Greenblatt revisit one of the most popular episode topics on the Ask The Programmer podcast: The Future of AV Programming. The discussion includes how the vision for AV programming has changed, how the visibility for forecasting more than 1-2 years into the future has become very difficult, and what tools programmers should look to leverage if they are not doing so already. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter and Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter and @AskThe Programmer on Bluesky.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 193 - Appreciation for Programmers' Knowledge During the Holiday Season 19:03

24 weeks ago19:03

19:03

James King and Steve Greenblatt celebrate another holiday season on Ask The Programmer and discuss the role that a programmer's technical knowledge plays in selecting, setting up, and troubleshooting technology gifts as automated decorations. What is your favorite technology gift for a programmer? To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter and Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter or @AskTheProgrammer on Bluesky.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 192 - Guest Marc LaVecchia Discusses Manufacturer Support for Programmers 24:53

25 weeks ago24:53

24:53

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Marc LaVecchia, Owner of BMA Software Solutions, to continue the conversation about modules, drivers, and plugin and the critical importance of manufacturer support for AV programmers. Marc LaVecchia previously appeared on Ask The Programmer Episodes 132 and 133. Marc LaVecchia can be found on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-lavecchia-3a9815/ and BMA Software Solutions can be found at www.bmasoftwaresolutions.com. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X, Twitter, and Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on Twitter and @AskTheProgrammer on Bluesky.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 191 - Guest Marc LaVecchia Discusses Modules, Drivers, & Plugins 23:44

26 weeks ago23:44

23:44

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Marc LaVecchia, Owner of BMA Software Solutions, to discuss his article in Commercial Integrator entitled Modules, Plugins, and Drivers: The Case for Supporting Them https://bit.ly/41nWRAz where he makes a case to manufacturers about the critical nature of supporting AV programmers by providing proven and tested API integrations. Marc LaVecchia previously appeared on Ask The Programmer Episodes 132 and 133. Marc LaVecchia can be found on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/marc-lavecchia-3a9815/ and BMA Software Solutions can be found at www.bmasoftwaresolutions.com. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X, Twitter, and Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on Twitter and @AskTheProgrammer on Bluesky.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 190 - Budgeting for AV Programming 29:28

27 weeks ago29:28

29:28

ames King and Steve Greenblatt discuss how to budget for AV programming, including defining a practical scope, understanding how to estimate costs, and educating on how to effectively approach the programming of AV systems. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter and Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter and @asktheprogrammer on Bluesky.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 189 - Finding a Role and Advancing a Career in AV Programming 36:51

28 weeks ago36:51

36:51

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss how to find a job and advance your career as a programmer in the AV industry. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on X/Twitter as well as Bluesky and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on X/Twitter.…

Ask the Programmer

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Ask The Programmer Episode 188 - Guest Britt Yenser Brings Her Questions to Ask The Programmer 25:27

29 weeks ago25:27

25:27

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome guest Britt Yenser, AV Manager at Northampton Community College, to discuss her questions about programming as she progresses on her journey of learning and mastering AV programming, including: - Are you choosing hardware, or does someone else select the hardware you program in your systems? - I struggle with the visual feedback and don’t know why. What can you tell me that will help? - What do you wish you had done when starting out? Britt Yenser can be reached on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/britt-yenser/) or X/Twitter (@brAVe_britt_). You can also find the brAVe Space podcast and its offshoot brAVe Skills on your favorite podcast player. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Programmer group on LinkedIn and post a message, leave a comment, or reach out to us @AV_JamesKing or @stevegreenblatt on Twitter and be sure to include #AskTheProgrammer. The Ask The Programmer podcast can be found at @AVProgrammerPod on Twitter.…

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Ask The Programmer Episode 187 - Guest Britt Yenser Shares her AV Journey and Programming Training 29:20

30 weeks ago29:20