DeanOnSoftware.com

Several of my younger colleagues nick named me “Old Man” or OM many moons ago. I’m always wondering when the time will come that I can’t do the Software Engineering thing any more. So far “Saved in time, thank God my music’s still alive……”.

I’m always pleased to see OM’s all over the planet doing amazing things. It makes me feel good. This one really caught my eye.

I emailed this link to my good friend and colleague Michael Montgomery. In the past I mentored Michael and now he teaches me things. That turned out to be a great investment. He eloquently commented after reading the story on Avraham Trahtman. I wish I could express myself like this:

“I don’t believe that crap about the creative juices die after 30. I think it’s more a matter of life becoming too complicated. Don’t most people start families around that time? 

Your life has effectually become somewhat simpler. Now you just need to generate the passion and drive. (Easier said than done,right?) I also believe, for the most part, people do not understand the complexities of the creative process. Psychology still has no clue how it works. (The same for music, actually.)  

There’s great book out there by a psychologist, Rolo May, who seems to have spent a great deal of time studying ‘creative’ people. He found a few common themes in the lives of all his subjects. The most significant common element was intellectual ‘down time’ or better ‘diversion time’. It wasn’t that they needed to sleep or veg out, but occupy their minds with an activity of a different flavor.  They all had another hobby or pastime somewhat diametrically opposed to their primary calling. When they’d hit wall on a problem or vision, they’d set it down and go do this ‘something else’. Then, of course, they’d have that eureka moment, basically out of nowhere. Rolo believes, which I can personally attest to, a creative person’s mind is always working on the problem. However, when they divert their conscious activity, the mind works on the problem subconsciously. Beautiful. The dream state is a similar mechanism, but not as nearly as productive. 

So basically, you get thinking time for free!…”

 So I would argue that it’s perceived that young minds do greater work not due to their age, but simply because their lives are simpler and they still pursue what would be considered ‘unproductive’ pastimes, which allow their minds to do the necessary unconscious work. As you age your mind becomes a cacophony of domestic demands, stress, pressures, fears, etc. All of which eventually require you to give up those very pastimes that allow creativity. 

So start painting, learn to play a musical instrument, do wood working, something diametrically opposed to logic & you’ll be surprised what your crazy mind will dream up…

I’m a long time Windows Software Engineer. I’ve programmed tons of C 3.1 SDK code all the way up to C# today. Throw in a boat load of VB. I’ve also done Java and generic C++.

Recently, my son Jake, got a MAC. I have not had a MAC in 15 years(?), a MAC SE. The release of the iPhone SDK really got my attention. I was already suggesting to all my friend that they get their kids MACs. Frankly I was getting tired of broken PC’s, viruses, etc. So I was all for Jake getting a MAC. Why not. I didn’t have to fix it.

So the bottom line was I didn’t have a Mac. And I could not play with the iPhone SDK. Jake is huge Eagles fan. He wanted an Asante Samuel’s  Jersey. Right after the huge signing by the Eagles.  Since he had a MAC I told him I would buy him the jersey if he could get a modified version of  “Hello World” program. To show each other love we often throw some derogatory terms at each other. This program would potentially show that “love”. Ok, to make a long story short - he didn’t take the challenge.

So being the guy I am. I still had to do it. So I did.

My first impression is that it takes a significant amount of code to put up this simple program. Objective C already is not my favorite programming language. An ugly syntax. It reminds me of doing early Windows SDK programming.  The Xcode tools have a long way to go to catch up to Visual Studio and .NET. That being said, Microsoft does not have an iPhone like platform. So take the good with the bad.

 I’m not loving the MAC interface. But that could change with time. It does compile C++, but the mixing of the two languages is tedious. So the jury is out. I’m not sure I would suggest a big investment if Apple is not going to step up to the plate and treat everyone equally. Add to that the huge learning curve. But it is COOL…

More saga for the iPhone SDK.  

The little guy is getting “initially” rejected from the $99 program that lets one download actual code to the phone and actually run it. How many will be deterred or just plain turned off by this move. Think of it this way. You might not make it and if you spend the time and money developing something…well. You see my point.

I’m a Windows programmer. Although our companies skills can move into other platforms. It has not yet killed my interest. But I have not received my rejection or wait letter. What will I do?

Ah! That is is how it is done…

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/next/archives/2008/03/apples_design_p.html

Ok, I know it has been a while.  Let’s say I’ve been uninspired lately. What really could bring me out of my long hibernation. Many things actually. Let’s start with this one. I’m not a huge Steve Jobs fan. Or Bill Gates. But I’ve been interested in mobile computing. As witnessed by my purchase and “checkout” of the OpenMoko device.

 Job’s keynote on the iPhone SDK really got my attention:

http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/rtp20e92/event/index.html?internal=fj2l3s9dm

The revenue model is the only negative I can see. Maybe its’ not so bad. Who of us can market software really anyway.  Otherwise I was stunned at what they did here. The demos from some large companies really hit the ball out of the park. They looked great.  The whole enterprise thing with Exchange will be good for them and the development system has a nice looking simulator. I guess its time to stop suggesting everyone else buy a Mac and slip one into the mix here.

I promise I’ll not stay away so long….

 DJK

My son Jake and M. Knight Shyamalan on the set of “The Happening”. They use some very cool tech in these shoots. The camera on a sled, etc. It is a ton of work and money just to get 10 seconds of action footage.

Marc Andreessen  is a very very smart guy. Not only that he is a fantastic writer. I caught his recent blog about career planning. I’ll post it here for my son Jake to read. Hopefully he will. One thing did strike me he said at the end of the piece. “You’re going to screw up — frequently …..It can’t faze you — you have to be able to just get right back up and keep on going.”

Well Autotestcon 2007 is over and I must say being my first one I was impressed. Very nice people these Mil-Aero folks. My talk went well - albeit it was pretty early (8am). I can’t say the other SI talks were that impressive except for Wade Loudermilk’s. They seem to have the DSP end if SI going well at BAE.

Last night they rented out the National Aquarium (Baltimore) for their gala.  Pretty nice event with Dolphin show and fireworks. My thanks to John W. Sheppard, PhD at  Johns Hopkins University for organizing all the talks and putting up with us.

“Unlike a nuclear weapon, the bomb doesn’t hurt the environment, he added…..”

 But it might ruin your day.

I will be giving a talk on Synthetic Instruments at Autotestcon 2007 with Chris Nadovich (now a Professor at Lafayette College) on the morning session of September 19th.

Hope to see you there…