my Blog

ZFExchange Beta

Published on Mar 5, 2010

It's been a long time coming since my last blog post, but rest assured, I am still alive. A lot of things have been keeping me busy, of which I'd like to blog more about once it's all ready. One of those things is ZFExchange, a resource site for Zend Framework projects that I've been developing on and off for a little while.

Magento on PHP 5.3

Published on Feb 4, 2010

Yesterday, I got the rare opportunity to work from home -- which is an entire blog post in itself. Through the tribulations that I had to work through yesterday, the largest was Magento. Who would have thought; Magento being a source of frustration. Haaa, I kid, I kid... sort of. My development environment at home is substantially different than what we use here at work. Namely, I run Zend Server CE 5.3 as opposed to a custom PHP 5.2.x build like on our iMacs at work.

Reviewing WordPress 2.8 Theme Design

Published on Dec 24, 2009

As a followup to my review on Zend Framework 1.8 Web Application Development, Packt Publishing has asked me to do another for the book WordPress 2.8 Theme Design by Tessa Blakeley Silver.

Book Review: Zend Framework 1.8 Web Application Development

Published on Dec 15, 2009

As I previously mentioned, Packt Publishing contacted me to do a review of Keith Pope's Zend Framework 1.8 Web Application Development.

Modern Warfare 2

Published on Nov 11, 2009

Yesterday, to the the glee of gamers worldwide (except for PC gamers), Modern Warfare 2 was released. I don't have a lot to say about this [ed: blatant lie] but I thought I'd write a quick blog about it prior to my excitement of the game dwindling into just another thing.

Are we critical? Are they lazy?

Published on Nov 6, 2009

It's not uncommon for us to pass around web designer / studio web sites at PRPL. Someone tweets out a blog post, sends in a job application, we see something on a CSS gallery--however these sites reach our computers the result can typically end the same way: we start playing [for a lack of a better on-the-spot name] the 10-second game.

ZendCon 2009

Published on Oct 28, 2009

My fearless leader (Matthew Weier O'Phinney) readying himself for a framework shootout.

Last week, I had the privilege of being sent by Purple, Rock, Scissors to ZendCon 2009 in San Jose, CA. Just now, I'm getting to writing about it. Between work chaos, frustrating flight cancellations and the flu being generously given to me during the trip--I've simply been wiped out.

Reviewing: Zend Framework 1.8 Web Application Development

Published on Oct 14, 2009

I was contacted yesterday by Packt Publishing to review the book, Zend Framework 1.8 Web Application Development by Keith Pope.

Internationalizing Your ZF Application

Published on Sep 15, 2009

Today has another pretty interesting blog post lined up. Coincidentally enough, it goes perfectly with my blog post from about two months ago on Internationalizing websites. While that was a more topical post and not so much on actual implementation, I thought I'd make one with specifics regarding Zend Framework. I managed to catch a glimpse of some chat in #zftalk today regarding how to get a URL like http://example.com/en/module/controller/action/params to work.

Modular Movement

Published on Sep 14, 2009

It has been very exciting for me the past couple months in the Zend Framework world. This buzz about modular development with ZF is cool--people are really starting to see the need for reusable modules. Adam Jensen offered up a reusable content module prototype in June and today Pádraic Brady made a great post about self-contained, reusable modules. Exciting times, indeed: I'm sure I can speak for any developer that has tried to sell a client or upper-management on the idea of rolling custom is an uphill battle; even with a library like Zend Framework behind you, it's just plain expensive--especially when they know very flexible solutions like Drupal exist.

rob Zienert

I was blessed with being born into a tech-savvy family: my dad being a vehicle engineer at Ford and my mom a database programmer — it only made sense that I put my genetic inheritance to good use, so here I am. Whether it be application architecture, code reviews, or any flavor of voodoo-techno-whizbang; its my job to make sure your application or web site functions technically.

Outside of the office, I have the pleasure of serving on the Program Advisory Committee for Full Sail University’s Web Design and Development Bachelor Program. But alas, not all I do is work, oh-no. I’m super passionate about fast, sexy cars (and bikes), painting, coffee, watching the History channel, and playing paintball. I also play a lot of Modern Warfare 2 on XBox (Gamertag: Pievendor).

Oh! How could I forget: My nickname around town is RZA, like the rapper, because I’m so convincingly street.