SnapImpact

Taking a Break From Saving the World

joshclauss — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:15:24 +0000

As a volunteer crew that builds web things that help people volunteer, I’d say we’re well positioned to know when people need a break from the volunteering.

Perhaps not coincidentally, summertime is that time for us.

SnapImpact is on a hiatus. The band isn’t breaking up; we’re already a side-project as it is. We’re simply pursuing other, more sun-soaked interests. Except for our Co-Founders – they’ll be buried under about 3 tons of concrete trying to build a company. As for Fiona, well, she is taking the summer to pursue her dream of cat-herding across the Outback. Have fun, meow.

The project will resume at a day and time TBA this Fall. If you want to know when and where, you’ll have to join our fancy new Meetup page, which costs us money, so…like it.

Thanks to all volunteers who helped make 2009 & 2010 incredible years for SnapImpact and All For Good. Go get your GTL on, and we’ll see you in a couple months.

Cheers Big Ears,

Your Friendly Neighborhood SnapImpact Mngmt

Boulder Startup Week

fiona — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 23:28:01 +0000

SnapImpact is partnering with Boulder Community Computers to give back during Boulder Startup Week. We hope that the Boulder Startup Week participants will joins us in this Be a Geek Hero event on the Pearl St Mall (2-4PM, Wednesday @ Front of Courthouse btwn 13th and 14th St).

Come help Boulderites with their computer and smartphone questions and issues. We’ll be setting up shop on the Boulder mall and offering free assistance to fix problems, setup software and just answer lingering questions or concerns about their devices

The Big Check

fiona — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 14:06:12 +0000

The tradition for most startups is to hang their first $1 on the wall. Well, we get to hang a big check on the wall thanks to Precision. They have a campaign to donate $1000 per month to local non-profits and SnapImpact was selected for March. Tom Robichaud, President, joined the SnapImpact team to deliver the donation and yes, there was a smaller check included. THANK YOU PRECISION!

Thanks for Helping Make Doing Good Easy!

joshclauss — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:31:26 +0000

Wow, and just like that, SnapCamp2 is over! We were working so hard in these awesome SenSage offices in downtown San Francisco, we did not realize how the time flew by. A million thanks to the Sen Sage team and Adam Sah for donating the space for us. It is hard to leave when you feel like you just got rolling but have no fear, we will keep in touch via Assembla and Sunday night virtual check-ins (no, you will not need to be online for these).

We are so excited to build out a stronger development community for the All for Good platform. Thanks to everyone who came out to camp with us! We look forward to working with you for the June release of All for Good 2.0.

- The SnapImpact Team

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David Pollak Being Interviewed by the Cutest Kids in the World

joshclauss — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:31:14 +0000

David Pollak gets interviewed by our crack team of reporters – his kids.

Why is he spending his weekend working at SnapImpact’s SnapCamp? Play the video to find out!

Download now or watch on posterous

Dave_Pollack_Why_SnapCamp_-_iPhone.m4v (15201 KB)

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SnapCamp2 – Progress Update!

joshclauss — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:31:05 +0000

[Post by the awesome Fiona Schlachter.]

We had so much fun last night that we didn’t have time to post about our progress. The team has been working hard on writing tests in Scala/Lift to build up their knowledge base while they contribute to the All for Good platform migration. There is some investment required to do this, but that is what camp is all about, right? You get some scratches, bumps, and maybe even a rash, but it is worth it for the experience.

This is our last day, so the team is hunkering down for 3-4 sprints to get the goal of live data by the end of the weekend. How do I know? Well, I came down with a nasty bug and could not attend in person but have been able to check in via video for the kickoffs and sprint updates. Gotta love the technology! I am sure that it would be better in person, but this is the next best thing and the bonus to all is my germs are with me in Colorado.

Way to go, Campers!

- Fiona Schlachter

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SnapCamp2 (SF) Morning Kickoff & Roll Call

joshclauss — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:30:57 +0000

[Post by Lloyd Nimetz -- Welcome, Lloyd!]

We’re all at the Saturday morning kickoff of SnapCampSF. There was the requisite coffee and bagels, intros for new people like me, and then Dave, Rich and Adam set the foundation for a productive weekend. The table is full of rockstar coders and other committed do-gooders photographed below.

We started with some the basics like what is this all about, and what are we doing this weekend? The big goal is… “live data by the end of the weekend.” It’s written on the white board and going to be hovering over everybody for the rest of the weekend. It’s an ambitious goal but a lot of the code base is already in there so the group is up to the challenge.

The new back-end is being rewritten in Scala Lift and conveniently David Pollack is here with us; he wrote the book on it!

Rich and I are the only non-coders, but we’re finding ways to contribute within our skill sets like UX, UI and, being a future distribution partner… general ‘customer’ feedback.

So you know who the heck is writing this: I’m the founder of Blitz Bazaar. Like SnapImpact, we are a distribution provider and will be relying on AFG data. Blitz Bazaar is a new enterprise software start-up that will layer a whole bunch of engaging social gaming and networking UI on top of All for Good’s social actions. It is designed for bounded communities like universities, schools and corporations that want to spice up their community service programs.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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SnapCamp2 Sprint #1 Update

joshclauss — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:29:59 +0000

After our opening and a big Scala/Lift tutorial by David Pollak, folks split off into function-based teams. Although the pre-event plan was to do 3-hour sprints, this is the first check-in for the day.

Here, Fiona is running the check-in, holding court as the iChat-enabled talking head.

The basic 411? We’ve spent a bunch of time today getting folks up to speed, writing tests, and making headway.

Yes, there’s a learning process involved in using Scala/Lift, but it’s the right choice for the project and we’ve got lots of whip-smart folks who are really working hard on this. The goal for tonight is that everyone will have written a contribution – most of them tests.

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Chipotle Knows How to Do Customer Service

joshclauss — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:29:47 +0000

So… I show up at the local Chipotle with two pages of scribbled burrito orders from the SnapCamp crew.

Not only did they manage to get ALL of the orders exactly right (there’s a coding metaphor in there somewhere…), they went above and beyond for our crew of volunteers. They made sure we had names written on each of the burritos, gave us free sodas, kicked in three burrito gift cards, and even provided door-to-door delivery.

Thanks again to the Chipotle crew at the New Montgomery Street Chipotle!

Adriana and Juan bringing afternoon caffeine to the SnapCamp2 folks.

Thanks!

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Have you seen this developer?

joshclauss — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:19:17 +0000

Caffeine is Developer “Go Juice.”

Here, Mark Chance helps round up the coffee that will fuel this morning’s SnapCamp2 introduction and first coding session.

One interesting tidbit: this Starbucks location is just down the street from the Moscone Center, where Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone. As part of that intro, he went to the Google Maps app, found the local Starbucks locations, and called the closest one.

When they answered, he said:

“Yes, I’d like to order four thousand lattes to go please.”

I remember thinking it was both awesome and hilarious.

Apparently lots of people still watch that YouTube video, see the number, and decide it would be awesome and hilarious to call that same store and order four thousand lattes. According to the store manager, people have been pulling that same prank at least once a day ever since then.

I think it might be time for Starbucks to change the store’s number and redirect those calls to something hilarious and awesome. Maybe Steve Jobs’ home number?

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