WCDFW Speaker Spotlight: Nick Batik

Topic: Rapid Application Development with the PODS Framework

Nick Batik Chief Technical Officer, Senior WordPress Back-end Developer & Information Architect Nick Batik co-founded Pleiades Publishing Services in 1992, has been building websites since 1994 and has been a WordPress consultant and developer since 2007. A WordPress Evangelist, and a Co-organizer of the Austin WordPress Meetup, he has presented technical WordPress classes at numerous meetups, PodCamps and WordCamps. Nick specializes in the system design and implementation of custom, often complex WordPress-based solutions that address client data management issues. As the back-end developer, he creates the core computational logic of the website or information system to implement the customized functionality. Nick has dedicated his professional career to information architecture and information design.

How did you get involved in WordPress?

I had been creating static HTML websites since 1994 and was frustrated with the whole process. Around 2007 I was going to give up web development, but an associate of mine, Chris Sherrod, suggested I try WordPress. I had already learned dozens of programs and I wasn’t sure I wanted to learn another one, I tried it and liked it. It’s been one of my primary tools ever since.

What do you do with WordPress?

Uh… make websites?

I’m sure there’s an answer here that’s a little more specific: I design themes, write plugins, manage databases.

What has your experience with the WordPress community been like?

When I started I didn’t know that there was a community. Because I am a programmer, I looked at WordPress, especially the includes directory, and modified it to make my website look the way I wanted. Everything was fine until I installed the first update, then all my changes got overwritten. In frustration, I looked around for some help and found the Austin WordPress Meetup and Pat Ramsey. His support was invaluable, as was his insistence on an ethos of giving back.

Why did you want to speak at WordCamp DFW?

I like Scott, Carrie, and Mark and want to support them in any way I can.

Why did you decide to speak on your topic?

I wanted a topic that was advanced enough to be interesting, but not so abstract the people wouldn’t know how to use it.

What do you hope the audience gets from your talk?

One of the growing challenges in web development today is the growing pressure to do more with them.

This adds to the complexity and the time to complete, with the very real risk that any misunderstanding at the beginning of a project can have expensive and devastating consequences if the final product misses the mark.

I want to give the audience something that gives them a better chance of success – a way to make working, visual prototypes that clarify what the client will get, and that highlights development areas will be technically challenging.

Tickets are now on sale for this year’s WordCamp DFW held on Nov. 10-11. There are also plenty of opportunities to sponsor the event or help run it. We hope to see you there!

WordCamp Dallas / Fort Worth is over. Check out the next edition!