DerekAllard.com

New Challenges

Its with a sad heart that I write that I’m no longer part of the wonderful team at EllisLab.

When I joined the company in 2007, there were interesting challenges ahead. I got to be the only developer working full time to bring ExpressionEngine2 to market, and along the way got to envision, design and build some of the most interesting aspects of it - the configurable publish screen and the file manager, among others.

After ExpressionEngine2 made it to market, I had the opportunity to really dig into a new challenge, a new product, with no legacy and no expectations. It was a joy to bring MojoMotor to market. I spent my days dreaming about how it would work, how people would interact with it, and even fussed over little details like naming and icons. It was a lot of fun. MojoMotor has only been available for a short time now, but it is by all measures a success.

EllisLab has a strong core of products now, and a large, engaged community; and also a new management and a new direction. The type of challenges that excite me, that drive me, aren’t available anymore, and so while it appears sudden to some, my time at EllisLab has reached a natural conclusion.

I’m off now seeking new opportunities and the next challenge. I remain passionate about what I do, and what I’m good at - building fun, engaging software.

Comments

Jeremy Gimbel wrote on

Derek, you’ve made a real impact with your work on both ExpressionEngine and MojoMotor as well as CodeIgniter.

Your strong ties to the community will be greatly missed.

Looking forward to seeing what you dig into next. And I hope you’ll keep in touch with all of us.

Carl Crawley wrote on

Derek - your awe-inspiring work on MojoMotor and ExpressionEngine is a testament to your skill and the passion that you have for technology, I hope that we get to see you again on the tech scene, because I’m certainly I wont be the only one who would like to buy you a beer (or three!)

Mrs. Flinger wrote on

You have no idea how sad I am about this. Wait, yes you do. I tell you that all the time. :)

Always here to help spur on the great Allard idea. Or to listen to all the shitty ones. HEH.

You’re missed already. xo

Daniel Decker wrote on

God’s speed Derek.

You have been an inspiration to me, and many others I’m sure.

Best of luck in all your future endevours (using the “u” for you Canadians in Canadia).

Jônatan Fróes wrote on

Go ahead, Derek! and goog lucky with your news projects! And if one of your projecs is visit Brazil, please, email me :)

Jonathan Longnecker wrote on

Wow definitely didn’t see that coming! Both excited for you and sad at the same time :)

Thanks so much for all you’ve done for this community and for the products themselves. You’ll be greatly missed.

..Except don’t be missed, stay in touch :)

Christophe, Toopixel wrote on

Wow, for a surprise, this is one big! I admirate you at Ellislab, and even before when you was simply part of the CI community, let us know where we’ll be able to follow you from now on!

Btw, I felt also the change at Ellislab, that is like a “big company” now and I was more fan of the starting of the company when everything was so friendly on forums, now I feel they are not what they was, can it be the reason why you are leaving?

Tony Geer wrote on

Best of luck with whatever life throws your way next Derek!

Christy Collins wrote on

Best of luck, Derek.  I’m excited to see what you do next.

Jeremy Latham wrote on

Sad when I read this news this morning. But I’m excited for you to get working on whatever it is you’re dreaming up!

All the best going forward - keep us posted…

Sam Dark wrote on

Thanks for all your hard work made for CodeIgniter community and the framework itself. I wish you more challenges you’ll enjoy.

Leslie Camacho wrote on

DA,

I can’t even begin to express what an honor and pleasure its been working with you. The Community owes you a lot of beer and I personally owe you more than a few.

Go forth and conquer!

Kyle Cotter wrote on

:’( You will be missed. I hope the best for you and what you do. I love EllisLab, but this is kind of perplexing. Anyways, wish the best to you, and don’t forget us little people when you become a billionaire creating awesome software ;).

Abdullah Al Mamun wrote on

Wishing you all the best. Hope, you are on the way to some greater fun/code/software.

Boyink wrote on

Dude!

Paul Burdick wrote on

Dude!  Good luck on everything you try in the future, I know it will be brilliant.

Omkar wrote on

I’ve been mostly lurking on the forums but have been following your blog too.  Wish you all the best in your future endeavors!  And I’m looking forward to see/hear about the next project you take on.

Nick Yeoman wrote on

Your moving up in the world! I can’t wait to see what you do next. Keep doing this blog, it’s great.

Suresh kumar majhi wrote on

I don’t know what to say but, where ever u go plz be in touch with us in our CI community forum.

Wishing u all d best for all of u’r future projects & we really hope u’r journey of making of great product will never stop… :)

Michael Schlieper wrote on

For me the brand CodeIgniter has always been connected to the person Derek Allard!
You will definitely be missed…

Good luck and lots of success with all future projects!

Ryan Irelan wrote on

Go for it, Derek! :) We’ll definitely miss you in the EE community.

John Fuller wrote on

What took you so long?  I think you need to reboot every so often.  I don’t need to wish you luck because you have skillz!  So what’s next?  Working on BambooInvoice full time?  ;)

John Morton wrote on

Good for you! I love what you’ve done with the Ellis team on EE2. Can’t wait to see what comes for you next. Best of luck!

urbanbike wrote on

Noooonnnn…!
Pas lui, pas Derek…! Un coucou amical de l’autre côté de l’atlantique…!

Chris Ruzin wrote on

Thanks for all your hard work over the years. Best of luck in your future endeavors!

Jesse Schutt wrote on

Derek, thanks for all you have done for us!  It’s going to take some time to get used to MojoMotor without Allard!  Wish you the best and God Bless!

Oskar wrote on

Thanks for amazing software you’ve built. It’s changed lives! Good luck with your future projects.

Phil Brienesse wrote on

Egads! Very sorry to here this news.  We met at the ee roadshow early in my ee career and your passion for the cms is one of the things that really fueled my excitement about it.  I have followed your blog and goings ever since.  Although i am sad to hear you are leaving ellis labs I look forward to seeing what your new project will be.  Surely it will be exciting.  Best of luck in whatever your future holds for you.

Loic Sharma wrote on

Oh wow, talk about an unexpected twist! Well, I wish you the very best of luck!

P.S. Do you have any special plans for the future? :)

Justin Kuntz wrote on

Wow, sorry and yet happy that you are chasing new opportunities. Can’t wait to see what you are involved with next. Good luck with future ventures.

Adhi wrote on

i hope someday you make open source project like ExpressionEngine

Loran wrote on

Sad to read this.
Maybe you will made a codeigniter fork ?

Ray King wrote on

Very sorry to here that Derek! Best of luck on your new adventures, you will missed.

Ildar Samit wrote on

Best of luck in your new endeavors brother!

Haru wrote on

Please let me know how to use codeigniter and how to do coding in that…

I am a newbie to codeIgniter.
And i don’t get the class methods, but still i am trying to understand it.

Michael McRae wrote on

It’s been a while since I last checked in on Derek and his projects. He has always made things awesome and fun and I wish you the best in your future adventures!!!

cremaster wrote on

Shit… This really sucks…
Sorry to hear that news…
Furthermore, EllisLab would need your skills for resolving the pain ass and boring Date Bug on EE 2.1 !

Congrats for your entire work, and for the easter eagger in EE :-).

Best
Crem’

Adam Dorsey wrote on

Best of luck! I’m sure you will rock it out!

Morris wrote on

I’m sure wherever you go success will follow you.  I always envied the way you can tackle a situation and get the best from it.  Stay in touch.

John_Betong wrote on

Best of luck Derek and I wish you every success in your next step of “CONQUERING WORLDS OF WEB DEVELOPMENT”.

Johan wrote on

Good news! Maybe finally we will see BambooInvoice 0.9.0! Heh.