For those of you not keeping track, I wrote an editorial last April about finding a CF hosting company and promised more information the following month. As you may have noticed, it never came. Why? Because when I outlined Part 2, I realized I could easily write Part 3, Part 4, and so on, because it's such a large topic, with many different angles and countless points to consider.

So I'm proud to present this month's issue with a focus on ColdFusion hosting. Rather than have me rambling on for four months on the topic, we've collected material from the best and the brightest in the industry.

The articles are designed to guide you along the important decision-making journey. We start with how to make the decision to host or not to host, and follow all the way through to talking with hosting companies to see how they check code and solve user problems. Going from beginning to end, and then moving on to support - these are all considerations when deciding to host out-of-house. I think you'll be pleased with the results. Also, look for ongoing discussions on the CFDJ Forum and the CFDJList, both accessible from www.sys-con.com/coldfusion/.

DevCons Aplenty
My cat barely recognizes me these days, and my friends say 'Rob who?' when I call. That's because I've been traveling almost nonstop (it seems) for SYS-CON Media to a variety of developer conferences. Some of the conferences are presented by us, and you can find out more about them at www.sys-con.com; others, such as the Allaire Conference, aren't. The purpose of my being at these conferences (aside from my love of travel) is twofold. First is to cover the conferences for the magazine since they're a hotbed of product announcements, new releases, and demos of future products. Second is to present our world-class stable of technology publications to the few in the industry who aren't yet familiar with SYS-CON Media.

While in the process of alienating those closest to me, I've learned an important lesson regarding the importance of developer conferences. Of course you've got a fantastic lineup of technical sessions presented under a diverse list of program tracks so you can attend only what interests you, filling in the gaps of your expertise. And the packed exhibitor floors are always a great place to see the latest and greatest wares proffered. The most fruitful experiences I've had, however, are those that occur right outside the classrooms, or off to the side of the exhibit floor. It's the participation in small conversations with other developers and industry peers that have taught me the most. 'Networking' is one of those great wonders of the business world, and where better to do it than at a gathering of 5,000 likeminded individuals? So when the next conferences roll around that cover things you're working on, or might like to work on, I hope to see you there - we'll talk.