If you’ve read my past posts before, you’re already aware of the fact that I’m really keen on Pluralsight (http://pluralsight.com/training). The quality and breadth of on-line courses offered by them is currently unmatched. They’ve very active in terms of acquisitions - in last few months they’ve managed to snatch (pardon the word…):
- PeepCode (https://peepcode.com/) - nice tutorials for OSS - http://blog.pluralsight.com/2013/07/24/pluralsight-expands-into-open-source-with-acquisition-of-peepcode/
- TrainSignal (http://www.trainsignal.com/blog/) - courses for ITPros - http://blog.pluralsight.com/2013/08/05/pluralsight-acquires-trainsignal/
But the best was to come … The news hit on last Wednesday - Pluralsight has just acquired Rob Conery’s Tekpub! (http://tekpub.com/): http://wekeroad.com/2013/10/30/tekpub/expanding ; http://blog.pluralsight.com/2013/10/30/pluralsight-acquires-tekpub/
Tekpub is (was) known as the second best source for tech-related on-line video courses on the web. It doesn’t contain that much content, but great line of authors guarantee the top notch quality of materials provided:
- Scott Hanselman
- Rob Conery
- Jon Skeet
- Udi Dahan
- Ayende Rahien
- Sam Saffron
- … and many more
Now, you don’t have to choose any more - due to one, single Pluralsight subscription you’ll have the access to clearly and undoubtedly best library of tech on-line courses.
There’s a tiny, disturbing feeling about the market being monopolized by a serious vendor - and some people don’t like Pluralsight’s business model already (you have to buy a subscription and you have a full access to whole library as long as you’re paying - works the same way Spotify does):
- you can’t choose the content for yourself - you’re paying for everything, so you can’t pay less for picking less
- you can’t buy an “eternal” access to particular course(s): when your subscription expires, you have nothing (except of what you’ve already learned & memorized)
There’s always a threat that now, after the acquisitions, Pluralsight will mess with the prices (to compensate the expenditures) - giving up on paying them is more painful now, when there’s no sensible alternative.
Anyway, for now - if you don’t have a Pluralsight subscription, I advice you to get one. If your employer doesn’t want to cover the cost - go for it by yourself: this is the investment you shouldn’t regret a penny on.