Dr. Dobb's Launches Developer Resources In Second Life

Dr. Dobb's Journal on Wednesday launched Life 2.0, a program of software developers tools, information, and training for Second Life.

Life 2.0 will include resources both in Second Life and on the Web to help developers take advantage of the business opportunities in Second Life.

"What is really most impressive about Second Life is that it is the most powerful engine we've seen so far for identifying, motivating, training, and maybe even -- in the next couple of years -- employing. Creating a new generation of cross-disciplinary software in new and creative ways," said John Jainschigg, director of online technology and new business development for Dr. Dobb's Journal.

Second Life is a fertile ground for software development, although the developers in SL aren't currently working on mainstream business applications such as accounting systems. Rather, they're working on gaming, cinema, interactive entertainment, fashion, music, and the plastic arts.

"You walk around this place and the jaw drops 10 times a day at the genius," Jainschigg said.

Jainschigg spoke at a launch event simultaneously at the SD West 2007 software developers conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, and at Dr. Dobb's Island in Second Life.

Both Dr. Dobb's and InformationWeek are published by CMP Technology.

Dr. Dobb's Life 2.0 will comprise a common center for Second Life and real life developers and communities, with resources for events, training, demonstrations, and expos. There will be regular events, simulcast and archived on the Web and in Second Life.

The island now includes a cathedral, and 50-seat multimedia theater, and will be expanded to include an in-world training center with a "petting zoo" of objects found and collected from all over Second Life, in self-documenting cages. The island will include tutorials for developers from beginner to expert, an employment center, and Dr. Dobb's is considering offering certification for Second Life developers. Dr. Dobb's also plans to set up a business resource and best practice center. "It is extremely difficult for people, even geniuses, to make money here. That needs to change," Jainschigg said.

Life 2.0 will also include a Web site, at http://www.life20.net, including forums, blogs, and a documentation repository, with realtime interconnects to events going on in Second Life.

The magazine will hold the Dr. Dobb's Life 2.0 Summit in Second Life April 28 to May 4, with developer classes and an evening program of tours and lectures.