Watch out! The semantic web is on the way, a thought that many (and not just the marketeers) may find daunting . Why? Because system and web app developers that want to take advantage of the semantic web will need to learn a lot of new standards and change the way they work.

I have been studying and working with web standards (XHTML, RDF, ATOM, RSS) for well over 4 years now, something I am glad of,  because recently something struck me. Conventions are arising, for example DOAP, SKOS and others, that are built on top of the Resource Description Framework otherwise known as RDF, if they aren’t, they are usually built on something very similar or related. (more…)

Nope. Just like our man Elvis, we don’t. We’re going to Soho instead*. This week our homepage got a much needed facelift, and with it comes a new address. We now have a base of operations in Soho, London to compliment our Dublin location.

Our new office can be found at 19 Greek Street (W1D 4DT), which currently houses a few other startups (Hmmm….wondering should it be renamed Geek Street?)  - all thanks to Irish entrepreneur Paul Walsh. But some space in an office does not a company branch make. So, we’re delighted to welcome to echolibre Helgi Þormar Þorbjörnsson.

Helgi comes with the right amount of PHP kickassness that we expect at echolibre; Helgi wirtes for PHP | architect magazine, and being a member of the PHP PEAR Group also rocks. Helgi will be heading up R&D and working with our UK clients, so we’re excited to see what happens in the next few months. We are also looking forward to connecting with the vibrant PHP and Open Source communities in London.

Today, myself and David are off to London for a bunch of meetings, and to meet the rest of the dudes at 19 Greek St.

If you’re a UK based startup and you need a fresh injection of PHP talent to your web app or development team, get in touch on freedom@echolibre.com. If you want to contact me directly, you can skype me on eamon.leonard.

*Yes, any excuse to play some Elvis Costello.

One of the great things about the working in the web industry is the ease in which you can connect with industry peers and network with other web folk. It’s got to be one of the most, if not the most, open industries in the world. Sure, technology like IM, Skype, Twitter and email allows us to communicate in an easier manner, but I think it’s the mindset of the people doing the communicating that makes the difference. (more…)