Ralf Nolden

Date: 19th May 2006

A Short Intro

• Located in: Dueren, Germany
• Occupation: Student of Electrical Engineering at the RWTH Technical University of Aachen
• Claim to Fame: KDevelop developer
• Fav. KDE applications: KDevelop, Konqueror
• Hardware: PIII/600, 512 megs RAM and an IBM Thinkpad T21

The Interview

What is your role within KDE?

I'm currently the maintainer of KDevelop now that Sandy Meier has so little time, otherwise I'm trying to help within KDE wherever I can such as KDE shows on expos, organizing things where needed and the like. Adding "the social component" to KDE is one of the big goals for me.

How and when did you get involved in KDE?

That was in 1998. I had to look for an exercise in C++ programming and I didn't like to do it on Windows - but on Linux there were no IDE's available at that time to do the "routine" things for me. As I knew KDE was written in C++ and my favorite desktop ever since, I wanted to do one with KDE for KDE. Eventually during that week KDevelop 0.1 was released and I immediately joined the team. Since then it turned out I'm a KDE addict - I admit it :-)

How much time do you spend on KDE?

It's well over 6 hours a day sometimes. Things don't always turn out into real code as communication is a big part of what I'm doing.

What is your favorite tool? (for developers; what is your favorite editor?)

KDevelop of course :-)

Is there a process you follow when you design/write code/translate/write documentation?

As we're using KDevelop itself to program the code for it, ideas sometimes appear while programming another thing. It starts with one tiny change I want to do and eventually it turns out that there are other places that need additions, too, so I'm doing them on the same run and then *hoops* the day is over ;-)

What was your first computer?

Well, all computers I used before my first 486/ 120MHz five years ago were my dad's programming computers for automating industry machines like the Siemens PG 675 with PC/M for example.

Which program would you say every KDE user should have?

I'd like to turn all users into developers of course, so I'd say it's KDevelop :-)

If you could add one personal feature to KDE what would that be?

Hell, KDE still can't brew coffee!! :-) Otherwise, I'd like to see something in the user interface like you see in movies sometimes. I remember that 3d filemanager in Jurassic Park for example, also the user interfaces in "The Net" and one Stallone movie were just too cool.

What application/game would you like to see ported to KDE?

Command & Conquer. That is the one and only game series I liked while I used Windows.

What is the worst thing you ever had to do for KDE?

Sleeping in the Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas last year. There was this couple next door yelling at each other from 5am 'till 9am and as I went to bed at 2.30am before, it didn't give me much sleep that night...

Where do you see yourself and KDE 2 years from now?

Myself - being finished with my studies and having a KDE job of course.

KDE2 will be replaced by KDE 3 or 4 by that time considering the pace of development today and it will have much much more capabilities than we can even imagine today. KDE/Linux has konquerored the Windows user's desktop not as an alternative but as the first choice.

Are you being paid to work for KDE and if yes by who?

No, currently not. I'm offering my services for holding tutorials and courses on KDevelop for companies though, as well as earning some money with writing articles about KDevelop for computer magazines.

Personal Questions

Where and when were you born?

January, 30th 1973 in Mayen, Germany.

Which University/School did you go to?

After school in my hometown Mendig I went to the Gymnasium in Andernach to get my degree for studying, then I did my army duty and made an apprenticeship as an electrician. Since then I'm studying electrical engineering at the RWTH Technical University in Aachen.

What's your status, are you single and up for adoption?

Currently single and up for adoption :-)

If married/girlfriend/partner(m/f), how does he/she cope living with a KDE addict?

Well, my former girlfriends had to suffer a bit under my addiction but they had to live with it. Understanding a KDE addiction is not the solution, it's supporting it :-) While KDE still can't make coffee and dinner my girlfriends were condemned to take that part while I was coding; now being single I'm thinking about implementing this somehow into KDE :-)))

Seriously, as much as I am to consider a "macho" sometimes, I think it's the joined forces which brings a couple forward in life. I know I have to go my own way anyway, so I'm looking for a partner who's more supportive than standing in the way most of the time.

Do you have children?

No, not yet. I certainly want to have three kids once.

What are the biggest turning points/events in your life?

Too many to tell all of them. Sometimes life changes miraculously into directions you didn't even dream about before. KDE is surely one of these turning points.

What is the nicest thing anyone ever did for you?

Hmm...the #1 thing was my dad simply telling me he loves me just the way I am and that he doesn't want me any different. The other thing was my former girlfriend Petra preparing a big red sign with "I Love You" out of Ferrero Rocher chocolate bowls.

If your house is on fire what would be the first thing you would grab to take with you?

Currently, it would be my thinkpad, then the little collection of antiques and old books I built up over the years.

What are the elements for a perfect vacation?

Simply a good friend to share it with. But I also like traveling all by myself like my last year's trip to Scotland. You can make good friends on the way :-) Wherever you are, having the freedom to decide what to do next is the most important to me.

What are the things you want to have done before you die?

#1 is surely meeting and having a partner for life that *really* understands me, if that is possible.
#2 is, in case I have kids sometimes, raising them as good humans and making them find their "mission" in life.

What do you (and your s.o) like to do in your spare time?

Watching TV sometimes, going to the movies and out to a pub. On the weekends it's Formula 1 during the season and going out with old friends in the area of my hometown.

What was the last movie you have seen?

"What Women Want" with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. ( I admit I'm an admirerer of Helen Hunt since the "Mad about you" series with Paul Reiser :-)

What was the last fiction book that your have read?

It's Pride and Predjudice from Jane Austen. She's got a really good style and I had to laugh very often about the scenery.

What song brings back a favorite memory? And why?

Hm...I don't have a song that would bring back a favorite memory. When listening to music, I use it as a way to reflect myself, so the choice of what I listen is very much dependent on the mood I'm in. It can be Metallica or Iron Maiden as well as Beatles as well as Trisha Yearwood or John Denver, it really depends.

If you could be invisible for 2 hours where would you go and what would you do?

There isn't any special thing I'd like to do that would require me to be invisible.

You having some friends over for a party and you're allowed to invite 3 famous people who would you invite and why?

Haha, I'm famous enough and I don't like other famous people stealing the show on my own party; they're giving their own parties to reproduce themselves :-)) Seriously, I don't care about famous people. They are mortal humans after all and I could think of people that are much more important to me than any famous person, living or dead.

Did you meet your best friend (not family) virtually or in person?

In person.

Did you ever met a fellow KDE'r in person, when and where?

Yes, I'm meeting them on shows during the year and on meetings. Last year's trip to Las Vegas was the first time I met Waldo and Kurt also, which was a pleasure as well. The one I didn't meet just yet and who I really would like to meet is Lauri Watts and John Birch one day.

Name your favorite quote/saying.

Et haett noch immer joht jange (slang in the Rhineland area for "It's always turned out well in the end").