Interview - Kevin Yank of SitePoint.com

Kevin Yank is author, editor, programmer, and artist in one. He's a Canadian ex-pat battling the lack of Twizzlers in Melbourne, Australia, and has big plans for his future with SitePoint.com

I recently sat down with Kevin in an effort to find out a little more about the man...

SP: Hey Kevin. Thanks for taking the time to do this interview. I guess it's no surprise to you that many people see you as a "god" in many ways. You've written the hit book "Build Your Own Database Driven Website Using PHP & MySQL", which has caused ripples across the SitePoint globe. I want to get into some detail about that book a little later on, but first, can you tell us how you got involved with SitePoint?

I actually owe my presence at SitePoint to another Webmaster community! In 1998, when I took on my first "real" Web design job (an intranet site for Alcan Aluminium), the choice of HTML editor came down to the brand new (at the time) HotDog Professional 5.0 from Sausage Software, or Allaire's Homesite 4.0.

Back then, Homesite was fairly buggy and HotDog was shiny and new, so that's where I put my money. Sausage Software had a great online forum system for their product support (which has since grown into quite a lively community), and I joined in with my usual zeal. Within a year, I had become a moderator on the forums and was writing my first articles on Web development.

When a few members of the staff at Sausage Software broke away to launch a new site called SitePoint with the help of Matt Mickiewicz, I was on the list of people they wanted aboard this new venture.

It's a long-standing cliché in the business world, but getting a job really is about who you know. Participating in a peer forum like the SitePoint Community (and maybe even publishing an article or two) is a great way to get noticed.

SP: Do you have any early experiences that you can point to that really "indoctrinated" you into the SitePoint culture?

I remember, on my second visit to the SitePoint offices, Jason had just set up a Perl-based MP3 Jukebox in the office. As soon as the novelty wore off, the jukebox became the subject of a hack-off between Jules and Jase, where each of them tried to outdo the other's attempts at secretly making the server play only his favourite selections!

SP: As Mecca is to Muslims, and Jerusalem to the Jews, Melbourne, Australia is to Web developers. You recently made that pilgrimage to the shining city in the south and I'd like to know how you're adapting?

Having lived for three years in Newcastle, New South Wales (near Sydney), the culture shock hasn't been as severe as it might have been. I'm happy to report that I'm well into the process of selecting an Aussie Rules team to support (I suspect Mark might give me a pay raise if I chose the Western Bulldogs...).

The very best part of living in Melbourne is that whenever you miss a deadline you can say, "Oh, I thought you meant American Eastern Standard Time!"

SP: Is the SitePoint staff putting you through Rookie initiation rites?

Hey, I'm hardly considered a rookie! Don't you go giving them any ideas, now...

SP: Have you had Vegemite or Tim Tams yet, and if so, can you describe the experience?

Tim Tams are the greatest! I have a tray of the new chewy caramel ones waiting for me in my refrigerator when I get home. Mmm! But, good as they are, they're no substitute for Strawberry Twizzlers. Why can't I get red liquorice in Australia? Is there a trade embargo or something?!

As for Vegemite, I've steered well clear of that stuff. I mean c'mon! Did Australians really need another yeast-based beverage (warning: obnoxious music on this page)?

On Technology

SP: We've seen you write some incredibly diverse articles for the SitePoint Network on languages other than PHP, including ASP.NET and JSP. When speaking of programming languages, where do you feel your strengths lie?

One of my favourite subjects in university was a course called "Programming Languages and Paradigms". Although the course used Scheme and Java as programming languages, the focus was on the root concepts that lie at the core of all programming lages.

My point is that the better you understand programming languages in general, the easier it is to learn new ones. I'd say that's where my real strength lies.

SP: In a similar vein, when you work on projects, do you tend toward one language, and if so, why?

To a developer like myself, programming languages are like tools. Asking a developer whether he tends towards one language is like asking a carpenter whether he tends towards one of his tools.

I suppose I currently enjoy working in Java the most, but I try to keep my choice of language for any given project based only on the suitability of that language for the task.