While working at a past employer, I developed a few websites using the Adobe CQ5 content management system. This was self-taught and a new experience for all of us in the team, and we found quirks and established methods that led us to complete the projects. I've been wanting to make some notes on these areas for a while as I discovered my own methods and made more sense of the application. I hope to be working on CQ5 as well, as this was the plan before I accepted another position, so I thought that I'd dig up a few of my notes from the past and try to remember as much.
Overall, I enjoyed working with CQ5 as it allowed me to use some of my skills in Java as well as my skills in front-end development. I was diverted from this due to being head-hunted for a different position, which I accepted after much thought as I was considering contracting, but I felt that the company was wrong for me and the role I was sold never materialised. I took the risk, as I did have some reservations; I had a 50% chance of it working out and becoming the perfect role and perfect company. I did enjoy the role and provided a large amount of ground-work for the company to take what I've achieved to the next phase: research, user personas, user journeys, wireframes, visual designs, detailed features, site-maps, documentation, CSS, HTML templates based on the HTML5 Boilerplate, and responsive tablet/desktop framework. However, I feel that I am destined to do greater things.
I am really looking forward to "getting my hands dirty" again and working with other like-minded individuals who are passionate about technology, visual design, best standards/practices, and quality. I am really looking forward to using CQ5 again.
Over the next few days, I will be posting some information and tutorials related to CQ5 development. I've just formed my own company, so I intend to be contracting for a while. I feel that this is the right path for me, but we will see once I get a contract. Exciting times are ahead. (If you do need someone with my skills, please get in touch with me.)
I'm wondering if my visitors are contractors/freelancers or permanent staff? I'd like to know your thoughts. Do you have any advice? What do you enjoy the most? Do you miss being a permanent employee?
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