Juixe Techknow » Rant

Software as a Pegboard Set

TechKnow — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:35:21 +0000

Software is not like traditional engineering disciplines. Unlike a bridge whose requirements are essentially set in stone, software requirements consistently change and evolve with the needs of the business. The requirements, of say civil engineering, are more firm and concrete than that of software engineering because the artifacts that are being constructed are usually large physical objects like a road or bridge. In the other hand, software is malleable and it often refactored easier than business constraints, that is why product managers often prefer to wedge a round peg (software) into a square hole (requirements) as business constraints evolve. But unlike a kid’s shape sorter or pegboard set, the peg and the hole are consistently changing and not always into the same shape.

Shape Sorter Toy

Local Family Tech Support

TechKnow — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 16:01:24 +0000

It is hard to explain to family members that even though I “work with computers” as a software engineer I can’t always fix their computer problems. I tried to explain it to my grandma that I am more like a “race car driver than a mechanic when it comes to computers. I know how to use a computer but not how to fix the weird noise your computer makes.”. To which she responded, “oh that is fantastic, I can’t get this printer to work… It complains that I need a driver.”

The Big Rewrite

TechKnow — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:01:39 +0000

When working with legacy code, there is a big difference between a developer trying to add or fix a feature and getting it to work and another developer trying and giving up only to recommend a complete rewrite. From my experience, the one main reason why any person suggest a complete rewrite of an existing application or feature that works for a large install base is only because they don’t understand it. I would be suspicious of any engineer or developer if he or she recommends to rewrite any large portion of a existing appellation just because because they don’t understand it.

Pinterest Pins All Copyright Violations On Its Users

TechKnow — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 04:34:32 +0000

There is an interesting story about a Pintrest users that deleted her account after the social blogging platform changed it’s Terms of Service. Essentially, as stated in the article, Pinterest users are legally responsible for what the pin (post) and repine (re-post). Only under a limited number of circumstances can someone use copyrighted material without express written permission from the copyright holder…

Copyrighted work can only be used without permission when someone is criticizing it, commenting on it, reporting on it, teaching about it, or conducting research.

Fair use of copyrighted material, as described above, seemed reasonable in a physical world. But in a digital world where people first express themselves in social networking sites, I believe fair use of copyrighted material should include retweeting, liking, plus one-ing, rebloging, and sharing as these imply some level of commenting on the work by the the original poster and her network of friends and followers.

The good news for Pinterest is that most users don’t read, understand, or care about the Terms of Service.

I Accept, Terms of Service, deleteyourself.com

Retweet February 2012

TechKnow — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:01:05 +0000

From time to time I just blast tweets about software development, project planning, team dynamics, or whatever else comes to mind. Here is a synopsis of recent tweets and rants. If you want to follow the conversation follow me at techknow and/or juixe.

Software Development

Kids lunch snacks sound like Java interfaces, Uncrustables and Lunchables.
99% of software is hardcoded defaults.
Software will shape the future.
I don’t count lines of code.
Code less, debug even less.
Every few years JavaScript goes through a renewed renaissance.
Sometimes life does not compute. #dividebyzeroerror

Team Leadership

Success is a dish best served with champagne.
Don’t let circumstance beyond your control control you.
Just because it’s widely accepted that Steve Jobs was difficult to work with and a genius doesnt mean you have to be difficult to work with.
Negativity is like cholesterol, to much of it can kill you.
Most important lesson in my life: Learn to appreciate what you have and do not agonize about what you don’t.
Corporate titles mean nothing, that is why I put Chief Creative Business Developer Principal Program Scientist on my business card.
The biggest lesson one can learn is to listen.
The universe doesn’t hate you, it doesn’t even know you exist.
Try harder. Do better. Go further. Think Bigger.
Forget stopping to smell the flowers, I stop to reach for the stars.

Product Placement

I’m going to start a search engine for ego searches and call it egoogle.
Google is a giant keyword router in the cloud.
Android uses food related codenames for its different versions, such as ice cream sandwhich. I hear next release will be named leftovers.
Why is Gingerbread still the most popular/common version of Android In new phones? It’s like two releases behind latest version.
I think it is safe to say that G+ is a successful flop. I would compare it more to MySpace than Facebook.
Missing Feature: I wouldn’t be surprised if the Kindle reader would allow you to tweet a quote right from an eBook.
If Apple would design single family homes it would cost over $1 million and only be 800 sq/ft but I would want one really bad.
iPhone or iMole: whatever data or contact or image you have on your iPhone some hacker, service, API, law enforcement, or app will access.
In today’s day and age, no person should be executed for tweeting and no person should have to go to jail for downloading a song.
Blue Ivy Carter sounds more like a brand name of vodka or energy drink put out by Jay-Z than the name of his kid.

Cash Angels

Who needs $3 million to run a WordPress-powered tech blog? At these valuations my blog is definitely worth $10 million.
Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are modern day alchemists turning virtual goods into real cold hard cash, IPOs into billions.
A frothy market is a tasty market.
The future is in crowd financing.
It’s raining stock options in Silicon Valley. #makeitrain
All the people of Palo Alto rejoice at news of Facebook IPO, in a few months their rents will go up 30%.
To much Facebook IPO analysis on my feed. If you aren’t a preferred investor you ain’t making money.
1. _________. 2. $#%#%$*(&. 3. ?????? 4. Profit.

Question

Can software refactor the world?
How can people wave their constitutional rights be agreeing to a terms of service they didn’t read or understand?
Breyer’s or Dreyer’s?
Who will be the Bill Gates and Steve Jobs of 3D printing?
Forget “where’s the beef,” where’s the 100 Mbps broadband?
Who is Waldo?
If corporations are people does it mean a man can marry a corporation?

Equations

Principles > Politics
Generous > Gorgeous
Cheddar > Chatter
Worrier < Warrior
Sex On Fire > Heart On Fire

It’s Always Your Problem

TechKnow — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 16:01:48 +0000

As a business, if any client has any sort of problem using your software then it’s your problem. Non technical users will have trouble using your software because of an array of issues, such as permissions, settings, configurations, other software, and external devices. No matter what, you have to make the effort to get them started using with your software or not. I’ve seen issues at different client sites because one software application required one version of Java and another required a newer version. Typically you can have multiple version of Java on a computer, but these two applications demanded that only over version exist and that it be the one they require. I’ve seen issues where end users print from an application and complain because they don’t see the document printed in their laser jet, it was printing in another printer in another floor and they didn’t know how to configure it correctly.

As a development lead, if any programmer has any sort of problem with your architecture then it’s your problem. If someone doesn’t understand an design and they have to work with it, they will make changes that can cost you in the long run. If you make a system overly complex, there will be a time that you will have to delegate that to someone else and they will not understand it as deeply as you and will make changes to fix the bug of the day, but cause another problem to be discovered later.

Whether an end user doesn’t know how to change the printer or a new developer doesn’t know how to implement your design, it’s your problem and it should be addressed with something other than blaming the confused.

Sometimes it’s because you took on the wrong client, or hired someone without the technical background, but it is still your problem. Often times, the problem is basic communication and availability of training material. Always, examine these situations and see how you can improve the process, training, and communication of your team.

Retweet January 2012

TechKnow — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:41:20 +0000

Software Development

Even I’m surprised to know how many people use code that I wrote and tested on a train ride to my work.
What will be the preferred web development platform in 2012?
The default should always be opt-in.
legislation != innovation
Data to the people.
Technology is democratizing idiocy.

Team Leadership

If knowledge is power, than data is the source of power.
If you think your business model is finished, you are finished.
Doers gonna do.
Most managers have 20% time, the time spent not looking ignorant about some aspect of technology.
Better than picking your battle, pick the time of the battle, better still pick the your combatant, even better still put it on pay-per-view
In space no one can hear you scream, in the interwebs no one will let you forget it.
I had a dream that I had woken up at 10am and that I was late for work, I panicked and woke up from the dream and it was only 5am.
I absolutely hate absolutism of any kind!
If you want to have your cake and eat it too it is best to bake it yourself.
So-so is the enemy of awesome.

Product Placement

I wish there was a entrepreneur version of television show Deal or No Deal.
Green Burrito is the worst name for a fast food fastaurant.
It’s clear that @Google has Facebook envy, especially with their new privacy policy.
I’ll never use a social networking site if it requires a government ID for me to log in.
How can Google claim that G+ supports pseudonyms if they may review and require government ID for you to prove that is your real pseudonym.
People forget that Google’s “Don’t be evil” motto is an abbreviated form of “Don’t get caught being evil.”
Would William Shakespeare publish his works on the Apple iBooks platform?

Question

What is worse than bullshit or bullballs?
Why do bills arrive faster than cash?
How do you become the thought leader on thought leadership?
In what food group are gummy bears in?
Is it really made in the USA if it’s made of Italian leather from Spanish cows?

Randumb

Old hippies never die, they just cut their hair, take a shower, and become The Man.
If it was up to the movie/music industry, all Americans would have to pay a Copyright tax off 5% across the board.
Only one of the infinite parallel universes will end on 2012. Which universe are you in?
Many people on Hoarders are not true die hard hoarders, they are lazy and messy.
Complaining about the use of the #FirstWorldProblems hashtag is a #FirstWorldProblem.
I like cats but dislike cat people.
Just like haters gonna hate, cheaters gonna cheat.
The key of love is to know when to let go.
Fame made me do it.
Haters love me.
The future has no past.
Each day you die a little.
I like watching the future in reverse.
At the Hispanic section in a Chinese store.
If time flies, it must have lost its luggage.

iOS Missing Feature: Multiple Device App Management

TechKnow — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 16:01:48 +0000

I have over 100 iOS apps in three different devices, an iPod running running iOS 4.2, and an iPhone and iPad on iOS 5. As much as possible, I always sync all devices to my laptop so that they all have the latest updates. I know that since iOS 5, apps and songs purchased from iTunes on one device will automatically sync to other devices. That said I still find that I have sync for other reasons, to transfer photos to iPhoto and sync a large number of podcasts I listen to. And perhaps, most importantly, I’ve sync to charge my device. One issue, definitely first world problem, I have with having multiple iOS devices is managing all the apps in the different devices. If I delete on app from the iPad, it doesn’t delete it from the iPhone. If I delete it from the iTunes on my laptop and I sync with a device that contains that app, it will copy it back to iTunes.

Another big issue is that you have to configure your app pages and folders on each device. If you spend an hour organizing your apps into folders and pages in one device you have to re-do it all over again on the second device. What ends up happening is that you’ll have two devices with the same apps in different pages and folders.

What I am missing from my mobile experience is the ability to sync, not only the apps and content of apps, but the meta-data about how I organize apps between iOS devices. I want to have the choice to clone how one iOS device organizes and layouts the apps to other devices. I would also like the ability to have different app layout settings, such as have the iOS device automatically put applications into folders based on the app category or my usage of the app. And of course, I would like to have a way to delete an app from one device and have it disappear from all other devices.

Year In Review 2011

TechKnow — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:01:18 +0000

It is that time of year where we reflect on the accomplishments of the passing year and look forward to the one to come. Here is a window into the past year in technology through this year’s popular posts on TechKnow Juixe.

Code and Design

Reviews and Rants

Retweet 2011

Year in Review

Retweet December 2011

TechKnow — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:44:04 +0000

Software Development

Being into computers today is not the same as it was in my day when you had to solder chips into boards, now it means you are on Facebook.
I don’t know why you would fake such a thing but there are a lot of fake self described geeks.
This holiday season remember to backup if don’t already have a backup system in place.

Thought Leadership

Life has a funny way to keep you humble.
Focus on simplicity, complexity is overrated.
Whether I see the glass half full or half empty largely depends on what is in the glass to begin with.
To much of a good thing is a bad thing. Not enough of a good thing is also a bad thing.
No brain, no gain.
There is no such thing as cheap thrills, only cheap tricks.

Product Placement

I just realized that I have five phone numbers connected to my iPhone.
Not feeling the new Twitter app. It feels like it requires too many clicks to do anything.
Every parking lot should be covered with an array of solar panels. Some parking lots take more area than the base of the building.
I hate when sites and apps require Facebook Connect to sign up. #pinterest
I bet that Taco Bell taco shells are made in China.
Like a true politician, Go Daddy flip flopped on the issue and now claims it does not support SOPA. #WhoDroppedTheSOPA
Google Grinch: No Ice Cream Sandwich for Galaxy S, first Galaxy Tab, or original Nexus.
The one feature that had been overlooked in Android is the ability to take a screenshot of your Android device.

Quote

I’m putting you on the do not kill list. – Bender Bending RodrÌguez
The truth is often stupid. – Bender Bending RodrÌguez
Follow the fucking money. When a VC tells you what’s good for you, check your wallet, then count your fingers. – jwz
Let’s go and invent tomorrow. – Steve Jobs

Question

Who moved my cheese and then cut said cheese?
Who is doing some last minute shopping?
How many domains do you own?
Church’s or Popeyes?
Ancient Aliens or Modern Morons?
If you could go back in time and would be stuck in prehistoric time, what skill would you need most to survive?
If Mr Grinch is so mean what do you think Mrs Grinch is like?
If the world is flat why aren’t international phone rates flat themselves?
A touch device is a complicated device with many components, what are the chances that the Galaxy Tab would look identical to the iPad?

Randumb

Looking forward to the future!
Old Internet memes don’t die, they go remixed, go viral, and trend.
It’s rumored that the same maker that built a weight scale with a built it twitter client that tweets your weight is working on a toilet.
Money can’t buy you love but it can sure buy some lap dances.
When it comes to teenage love, forever doesn’t last long.
The surprise is the prize.
Empty space is the enemy of clutter.
You are the chaos/cause of you.
You are the cause of you because you.
It is what it will be and it will be what has been.
Happy whatever the fuck you celebrate tonight.
The Internet was invented for the sharing of funny cat videos and pictures.
Make a right at the 3rd dimension and you are here.
The best part of nothing is everything.
Negative ideas manifest into real feelings
Gift wrapping ain’t going so merry.
If there is a way to hurt yourself with a tape dispenser I’ve done it… Why is my lip bleeding!?
I think that The Terminator is the beginning of a long war against the machines that culminates with The Matrix.

Overheard

OH: Annoying people are really annoying.
OH: I would love to enjoy my own depression if I only I didn’t have to deal with other people’s depression.
OH: I wish my life was an 80′s movie.
OH: To be honest, I’m not being honest.