The lightning talk "Developing Developers" by Mike Gehard at the Rocky Mountain Ruby 2011 event focuses on addressing the critical shortage of developers in the technology industry. Gehard begins with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi, urging his audience to take personal responsibility for enacting change in this area. He highlights the pressing need for developers, noting that current efforts are insufficient to meet the growing demands in technology.

Key Points Discussed:

• Importance of Action: Gehard questions the audience on what they intend to do about the shortage of developers, suggesting that the responsibility does not solely lie with schools and businesses.
• Formation of the "Growing Programmers" Group: He shares an initiative that originated from a discussion on diversity, emphasizing collaboration among developers to address the shortage.
• Mentorship Program: Gehard announces his plans to mentor a developer apprentice. This program is characterized by several requirements:
  • The apprentice must not currently be employed in software development.
  • They should take the initiative in their self-education and actively engage from provided resources.
  • Each mentee is expected to eventually mentor someone else as part of a pay-it-forward philosophy.
• Engaging Youth: He mentions the importance of introducing programming to children, citing Marty’s idea of mentoring students to spark their interest in technology, underlining that children are often quick learners with technology.

Conclusion:

Gehard challenges the audience to take proactive steps towards addressing the developer shortage and encourages them to engage with the "Growing Programmers" group for ideas and support.
He ends with an invitation for questions and a note about job opportunities at Living Social in Boulder. This succinct talk encourages a sense of community and personal accountability among developers, ultimately aiming to foster a new generation of programmers.