With thousands of active Community members and new ones joining every day, we’d like to use the Community blog to allow DNN users to get to know each other better. And as we approach the release of DNN Platform 7.4, who better to learn more about than our Community contributors? Thanks to Philipp Becker who submitted six pull requests that will be included in DNN Platform 7.4 and took the time to answer some questions for us!
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am running Peppertree Solutions, a DNN firm delivering business solutions to clients across the world.
I am in the DNN business since 2004 and have been an active contributor to the community ever since. In the past I have contributed various extensions to the DNN Platform, most noticeable were the pages administration module and the RadEditor provider and configuration module.
I am part of the dnnWerk association, a circle of DNN experts in the German speaking market. I am also co-founder of the German DNN user group, and I am actively supporting the European network of DNN professionals. In 2014 I created together with other DNN fellows the DNN-Connect association.
Tell us a little about Peppertree Solutions and the type of projects you take on.
Peppertree Solutions acts as a service agency for all sorts of DNN related projects. I mainly do development work these days, but we also used to do a lot of skinning oriented work and general consulting around the platform.
One of the great things about the DNN Community is that we have members all over the world. Where are you located?
I’m living with my wife and three little girls in an ancient farm house close to Giessen in central Germany.
What’s one thing most DNN Community members wouldn’t know about you?
If someone would offer us a job with excellent income in Australia, we would move over rather today than tomorrow.
Describe your professional (and/or personal) experience relating to DNN. How long have you been using DNN? How did you get started?
I got started with DNN in 2004 while I was spending two years in Australia and waiting for my working permit. Back then I started self-educating myself about programming and landed at DotNetNuke by accident. I then had helped a forum member with something I had just figured out myself and, believe it or not, that member is still one of my main clients today.
What resources were most helpful to you as you got started, or when you have questions?
Discussion forums on dotnetnuke.com (now dnnsoftware.com)
Are there any cool projects you are working on that you would like to share a little about?
DNN-Connect’s usermanagement vNext - very fast, very intuitive, very cool
In your opinion, what are some “must have” modules and themes (from the Forge, Store, etc.) that you would recommend for DNN sites?
Definitely anything you can find in the DNN-Connect repository at Github.
What advice would you give someone who is new to DNN?
Learn programming for DNN. It’s so cool what you can do with the framework.
You were recently a speaker at DNNCon and presented a session about Creating a Social Network Using DNN Platform. Can you tell us a little about your experience at DNN Community events? For anyone considering traveling to DNN Connect or a future DNNCon, what makes these events so special?
I love speaking at DNN events, and I love attending them. I've been to quite a few conferences in my life, and the DNN events really stand out. Our community is so welcoming that it has always been great fun to meet folks at DNN events.
Speaking of which, the next big event is just around the corner. DNN-Connect 2015 will be in Southern France and is the one must-attend event this year so far. With DNN vNext, the growing community involvement in the Platform, and the best meeting location ever, there is no excuse to not attend this meeting. Registration is only a couple of weeks away, so I would like to invite everyone to join our mailing list in order to not miss anything. Visit http://dnn-connect.org/2015 to get full details.
What is the best part about working with DNN? What is one enhancement you would add/one thing you would improve?
The best part is that once you know programming there is nothing you can’t do with DNN. The one thing I would improve most urgently is usability of DNN’s UI.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Yes. Please support DNN-Connect and become a member today! And, everyone live long and prosper, of course. And make flying cheaper.
Do you have any more questions for Philipp? Feel free to ask in the comments below.
Is there a particular Community member you’d like to learn more about – maybe someone who has helped you out in the Forums or Exchange, or created a Forge extension that you love? Email beth.firebaugh@dnnsofware.com and let us know if there is someone you’d like us to reach out to for an upcoming Community Member Profile!