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…

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 centr…

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 answer…

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 con…

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 quest…

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 …

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 @st…

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_JamesKi…

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. …

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 com…

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 Th…

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…

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 F…

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 programmi…

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 conversa…

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…

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 qu…

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 loo…

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 answ…

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 h…

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 an…

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…

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 wel…

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…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome guest Britt Yenser, AV Manager at Northampton Community College, to discuss her AV journey and her quest for learning and growing as an AV programmer. We discuss what goes into successful programming and what qualities and skills contribute to an effective programmer. Britt Yenser can be reached on LinkedIn (…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back George Chacko and Rich Miller from Pace University and Next LVL Learning to share the details of the upcoming AV Talent Summit on November 20 and 21, 2024. The two-day event will encompass a student day discussing AV careers, experiences, and opportunities and a professional day with networking and learn…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back George Chacko and Rich Miller from Pace University to share the details of their recently founded non-profit, Next Level Learning Inc., which aims to get young people excited about the experiences and opportunities in the AV industry starting as early as K-12. George Chacko and Rich Miller previously app…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Total Tech Summit panelists: Brittany DiCesare, Director of Sales and Operations Control Concepts; Alex Fortin, President NDS Integration; Jarrod Hillman, President Hillman Audio Video; and Shawn Hansson, CEO and Founder Logic Integration, to discuss the importance of being a business-minded organization…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome Total Tech Summit panelists: Brittany DiCesare, Director of Sales and Operations Control Concepts; Alex Fortin, President NDS Integration; Jarrod Hillman, President Hillman Audio Video; and Shawn Hansson, CEO and Founder Logic Integration, to discuss business frameworks and why they are valuable for all membe…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor, Commercial and Security with Emerald, to discuss his question about the importance of skilled programmers in a time of increased network reliance. Dan Ferrisi can be reached at @danferrisiedit on Twitter, LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-ferrisi-55675a7/, and at CommercialIn…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor, Commercial and Security with Emerald, to discuss his question about ways that manufacturers can make programming easier. Dan Ferrisi can be reached at @danferrisiedit on Twitter, LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-ferrisi-55675a7/, and at CommercialIntegrator.com and Securitys…

In this special episode, James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor, Commercial and Security with Emerald, to discuss the importance of business-focused events in the AV industry, particularly the Total Tech Summit. To learn more about the Total Tech Summit and to apply to attend, visit https://totaltechsummit.com. Also, foll…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Hope Roth, Q-SYS Ecosystem Communities Platform Manager, to discuss her new role and its value to AV programmers and Q-SYS. Check out Hope in her previous appearances in episodes 164, 165, and 179. Hope Roth can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-roth-0a44b8a/ and on the Q-SYS Communi…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Hope Roth, Q-SYS Wizard, to discuss the importance, value, and different approaches to mentorship including the newly launched WAVIT Mentorship Program. Check out Hope in her previous appearances in episodes 164 and 165. Hope Roth can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-roth-0a44b8a/ a…

Steve Greenblatt interviews co-host James King about his AV journey, the impact of programming, and how he developed his passion for AV. James can be found on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/james-king-nj. 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 …

James King interviews co-host Steve Greenblatt as he shares his AV journey, the influence of programming, and his visionary ideas and experiences. Connect with Steve on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/stevegreenblatt or Control Concepts at controlconcepts.net To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future episode, join the Ask The Pro…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back guest Aaron Baker, Classroom Support Technician, Stephen F. Austin State University, to discuss the difference between working with internal and external programming resources and how to successfully leverage both options. Aaron Baker can be reached on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bakeraarond/ an…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome guest Aaron Baker, Classroom Support Technician, Stephen F. Austin State University, to discuss his AV journey and how he went from being a student worker to an AV Tech to program AV systems using his background in computer science. Aaron also shares ideas for getting more students interested in AV. Aaron Bak…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor, Commercial and Security with Emerald, to discuss his question about what strategies programmers use for handling projects with tight deadlines and limited budgets. Dan Ferrisi can be reached at @danferrisiedit on Twitter, LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-ferrisi-55675a7/, an…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome Dan Ferrisi, Group Editor, Commercial and Security with Emerald, to discuss his question about how out-of-date drawings, equipment lists, and system documentation impact project implementation and upkeep. Dan Ferrisi can be reached at @danferrisiedit on Twitter, LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-ferris…

James King and Steve Greenblatt ask ChatGPT about the percentage of an AV programmer's time spent on programming vs. other activities and discuss their reactions to the response. What percentage of an AV programmer's time is spent on programming vs other activities? 1. Programming and Coding (30-40%) 2. System Design and Planning (20-30%) 3. Troubl…

James King and Steve Greenblatt ask ChatGPT about the top misconceptions about AV programming and discuss their reactions to the list. What are some of the misconceptions about AV programming and the role of the programmer? 1. AV Programming is Just Like IT Programming 2. It's All About Writing Code 3. AV Systems are Plug-and-Play 4. Any Programmer…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Craig Underwood, Director of AV Engineering at Moravian University, to discuss his experience working with, learning, implementing, and supporting multiple control platforms within his campus. Craig Underwood can be found on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/caunderwood/ or as an instructor at Lebanon…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome Guest Craig Underwood, Director of AV Engineering at Moravian University, to discuss his AV journey, the expanse of his role at Moravian, and strategies for working effectively and efficiently while wearing many hats and balancing responsibilities. Craig Underwood can be found on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin…

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss why communities exist, the value they provide, how their members benefit, and what having a community of AV programmers could mean for programmers throughout the industry. One of the core missions of Ask The Programmer is to build a community of AV programmers. If you would like to be part of the Ask The Prog…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome Jeff Hopkins, Technical Director, Crestron Services Providers, to discuss why programmers tend to be risk averse, the impact it has on them and the industry, and the benefit of expanding outside one's comfort zone. Jeff Hopkins can be reached at [email protected]. Crestron can be reached at crestron.com. T…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome Jeff Hopkins, Technical Director, Crestron Services Providers, to discuss his AV journey, opportunities for programmers and CSPs, and the value of trade shows to expand perspective and new ideas. Jeff Hopkins can be reached at [email protected]. Crestron can be reached at crestron.com. To join the conversa…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome back Hope Roth, Professional Services Engineer and UCI Specialist at Q-SYS, to discuss her work with WAVIT building opportunities and support for women in AV and programming. Hope Roth can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-roth-0a44b8a/ and on the Q-SYS Communities: https://developers.qsc…

James King and Steve Greenblatt welcome Hope Roth, Professional Services Engineer and UCI Specialist at Q-SYS, to share her AV journey and discuss details of her automated dollhouse project and involvement with the Girl Scouts and STEMfest. Hope Roth can be found on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hope-roth-0a44b8a/ and on the Q-SYS Communiti…

James King and Steve Greenblatt discuss the current and future impact of AI in AV including the positive and negative effects of making products and systems smarter, leveraging efficiencies in projects and coding, and how AI can add value to AV professionals and organizations. To join the conversation or have your question answered on a future epis…