Reliable Systems - Software Development Blog

No, you don't have to be on top of every news that comes into your RSS reader every day.

You don't have to be proficient in all new technologies that appear daily.

But you can at least try, and I think you should try.

Not to know it “all” but at least know the advantages and disadvantages of each solution, e.g. using Object-Relational Mapping as an alternative to Stored Procedures in MS SQL which return DataSets.

To know the difference between various coding techniques - will you want to develop each “page” of your application by copying the code from the previous ones, or will you embrace the Custom Controls mechanism built in into ASP.Net? Will you mix HTML with PHP code, or maybe you'll invest your time in learning how to properly use template engines?

All these things might seem like a hassle and a waste of time - because you already know HOW to do something. And that fact itself - “know how” - if not taken lightly - might badly damage your attitude towards learning new skills and technologies.

You might be good at “doing websites”, but if you won't be interested in “the greener grass on the other side” you'll always be doing just that - what you “know how”.

Sorry guys, but the technology world now runs as crazy, before I managed to use Ruby on Rails for my first project we already have the second version of the framework ready, and some companies are springing up which specialize solely in that technology! Awesome!

And scary, at the same time.

So, what will you start learning Today?

I was wondering Today, whether the MicroISV model of developing software is a good thing for the Software market sector, or the contrary - after all, when solving A Problem can take one person few months, and they can charge Little Money for it - that means, that other people/companies lose the opportunity to solve the same problem in a similar way - and charge more.
I think this might result in a canibalisation of the sector to some extent.

While it's obviously a perfect business model for independent specialists, the bigger picture of software industry might suffer from little, but disruptive startups aiming to solve small problems accurately. The microISV can agree to smaller revenue stream (and that leads to smaller prices) than a “proper” company, so that could mean a shift from office-based collaboration to online-placed collaboration.

What I'm not sure about is:
Is there a constant set of problems for software to solve?

Or maybe the requirements for software evolve every other day, and new problems and needs of people in the market are created?

I hope that's the latter.

Anyway, keep your eyes open for the software industrialisation trend and small, but disruptive competitors from the microISV field.

I’ve found Today this website/blog http://softwareindustrialization.com/.

While this doesn’t answer “how to make software as defined as other engineering disciplines” it gives a good insight into the issue.

The good thing is:

We don’t have to worry about being replaced by software-writing robots anytime soon

I was wondering Today - when will we refer to “websites” as to the “thing” you can “buy”, which is ready and waiting for you somewhere.

Even Today, we can buy website templates, we have Open Source CMS engines - so what exactly is missing here, to be able to change the minds of the masses?

Not that I want to do this, it's obviously much more lucrative to develop custom-made applications and systems (and websites/designs) than be equalled by the market with other players.

What happened with Microsoft as the main supplier of Operating Systems was a nicely defined contract with hardware suppliers, what resulted in an initial market share on a market which was growing explosively - is the same thing possible in terms of Webdesign / Web development services?

I have to confess, I'm not sure - what do YOU think?

Is there any missing link, or is it just a matter of time? After all, my blog at Wordpress is completely free…

Funny thing - I started my career in the age of Internet, my first language I leadned was Turbo Pascal, and then I did some simple programs in C++, but my first professional assignment was completely “online”, and my first programming language I got to know was PHP.

Then, after few years of getting to know it better and improving my skills (especially Don’t Repeat Yourself principle) I jumped to PHP5 which featured a “proper” Object Oriented infrastructure and immediately felt there as in paradise - and Martin Fowler’s books came as a revelation.

Then I moved to C# in Asp.Net 1.1 and currently 2.0 - so to be honest, I’m not a “programmer” as such, I only did “some websites and systems in the Internet”.

But the funny thing is - it doesn’t bother me anymore.

It gave me a kick start into the Internet and the world of World Wide Web, I did my first website back in 1998, and by the time I write this I’m quite fluent in the “Internet” thing.

While for the last few years I wanted to go back to learn C++ just to be able to develop some Windows applications - I don’t bother anymore, because most of the interesting stuff in the world now moves to the Internet as a platform.

And besides - do you think anyone needs the 8 types of “char” type in Windows’ API?

But the reason I write this is - sometimes your perceived weakness (like mine - lack of the experience in development of desktop software) may become your greatest strength (complete focus on the Internet/HTTP applications).

A nice gift, isn’t it?