Not just about programming

A lot of people think building software is only about programming. We,programmers,only need to sit in front of a computer and spend all of our time to code. Then the software can be built.
Actually, I spent at least of 30% to have meetings. I need to understand what kind of features are actually useful for our clients. Unless, the final product is only useable for myself. Another 20% I need to spend with our team. The building software is a kind of teamwork.
We are just coding, we talked a lot too

We have to have our own code

There are open source or some off-the-shelf software components. We can glued them together a product. Maybe, only with a few custom codes. However, we may not know enough those components. We have to have our own codes. We need to understand every line of source code. So that, we can change them to adapt into fitting those requirements. Moreover, if we have our codes, we have advantages against with our competitors.

Can we develop app in iPad Pro?

iPad pro got a 12" screen and keyboard. Some people suggested apple should build xcode in iOS.
I think that is so wrong. I used storyboard in xcode to build UI. I need a big screen, I am using a 15" mac book pro. That is still too small. Moreover, we are developing mobile app for living. We used keyboard for around 7 hours per day. We need a super comfortable keyboard. iPad pro keyboard is too small.We just need a "big" computer to code!

Rebuild the software, rather than upgarde

I am writing a new version of my client's website. There are some contents and a new layout. However, that is not a upgrade. I am re-writing the whole system. Actually, that is a common practice. The system is about 3 years ago. In some companies, they will rebuild systems every few years. That is because a lot of times, programmers put the patches to fix the bugs. In the most times, those patches are not the best way to implement functions. When the system rebuild those fixes can be cleanup. Also, that is the chance to upgrade the system libraries. In my client's websites, that is using MVC2. Now, I am using MVC5. That is a major upgrade. Rebuilding the whole website can be do this kind of libraries cleaner.

I still like to write desktop applications

Nowadays, every one likes to talk about Mobile App and Cloud technologies.  A lot of developers are keen to learn iOS and Android programming. Well, I build iOS and Android apps too. However, I still like to build desktop applications.  I like to build somethings in a bigger screen. In a bigger screen,  I can add more components and more complex user interactions in the screen. Moreover, the desktop application can be more standalone, without any cloud resources. I believe in some situations which are better to keep your data and application logic in your local desktop, such as your tax and financial information.  They are the reasons to make myself, still building desktop applications.

Replacing pc

A lot of clients asked me when they need to replace their pc. Should they get a new one when old pc cannot work anymore?
I will ask how long they can work without a new pc. If they can work without a pc for a week, I will just recommend backup data and wait pc die. If they always need a pc, I will recommend they even need some backup pc sitting aside. When pc get old and even it can work well, I still will recommend they should replace them.

Testing cannot be done by programmers only

If a programmer tells me, he/she tested their codes, I would consider that is not completely tested. I am a programmer too, I found we will test the codes following our own logic. It won't find the bugs we have not considered all. So, the codes need to be tested by another team. Also, that is good to test by some general users, they test the programs completely out of technical context. This way can find some very very uncommon bugs.

Multi-webhosting providers

We are managing a number of websites, most of them owned by us and there are a few of them we managed for our clients.  We put them into a number of different datacenters and the hosts are provided by a various providers too. We are worried about the single point of  failure. Moreover,  any things related with our core business or clients' business, we will put them in a web hosting has phone support.
Today, one of our travel blogs web host are down. That is because the provider has some hardware issues. This travel blog is not our core business. The other websites are affected because they are in a different providers.  That is good to use multi-webhosting providers

Websites need to be maintained!

 A lot of people expected after a website released,they need to spend anytime on that. Actually, especially, you have a content management system, you really need some one to maintain your website.  A content management system is a piece software, it has bugs or security holes. That is really to need someone to keep it updated.
If you have not time or skills to do, I suggest you should some cloud websites. The cloud service providers look after that for you!

Busy with building Mobile app

After Android released 4.0, that is a brand new world for us. We need to rebuild all UI. This week, finally, we released our first android 4.x app, AdvGen Notes. Moreover, I got a lot of feedback to improve our UI and features request. I am so happy about that, now, we are working on the next version now!

Setup your work email in your personal mobile

I setup work email in their personal mobile for my friends, family members, workmate and even clients. They found this is very convenient. They can do their work outside of office. But the downside is you cannot get away from work. Even you are dinner with your family, you will have temptation to check your work emails.  Your work life is mixed with your personal and family life. Well, whether the technologies can help us or bring more pains to us?

IT support service is essential for you

A lot of people don't feel your IT infrastructure is essential for your job. That is not worth to spend on IT support service. They may say the business was running as usual in the time without computers.
However, imagine one day, your computer is out of order. You cannot use words and email. Maybe, your financial data is lost. Yes, you may get all important data from your paper based archive. You can use typewriters for writing letters to your clients. You can call your clients via phone lines instead of emails. You can go back to use paper and pen for tasks which used to be done by computers.
Well, in this scenario, you need to spend months for converting everything back paper based system. In addition, the paper based system is running less efficiency than computerized system.  This can cost hundreds times more than IT support service!

Lower Cost Option can cost you more

A lot of people believe the cheapest option is always able to delivery the best value.  This option can always save money! I cannot agree with them. The vendors can mark their price tags higher with grounds! They costed more, because they can delivery some extra values.
For example, I used a low cost internet provider before, the service is not very reliable. It could be out of services for a few hours. To end up, I need to find a 4G modem as a backup connection. Moreover, during the period of "internet back out", I cannot work from home. I went to an internet cafe for checking and replying emails. I wasted at least 3 man hours for that each times. That is not fun.
I believe lower cost options did not cost you money in their price tags, however, you need to pay the cost in other ways!

Tablet is a helpful tool for salesperson

Recently, I did some sales work for my company. I found Tablet is very useful. It is very handy. I can easily bring it to my client's office without a large carry bag. Although it has a keyboard, I cannot show some complex operations to my client, that is enough to show some website layouts and presentations to my client. I think nowadays tablet is a essential tool for a salesperson.

Alliance of technology partners

Some one asked myself whether we can provide computer hardware. Yes, we can. However, that is not our core business. We will get the hardware from our trustworthy partners.
We are not big enough to have everything. We prefer to put our efforts on the areas we already are serving in. On other hand,
We have other technologies partners are very good at those areas.  Moreover we have some long term relationship with them. We can still ensure the quality.  Finally we have a win win solution. They can get the business from us and we can get the services or products.

We still cannot get away from Search Engines

"Social Media" has became a hot topic during these recent years. A lot of people believe that is the way for online market. I believe that is very useful too. However, search engines is still the most helpful way to search for the information. We need to submit the websites to the search engines

Corporate Culture

Recently, I met some graduates. I had some discussions with them about their first job. I found they are very focus on profession training, salary and the size of companies. I think they should think about Corporate Culture. They should think about whether they can fit in the team and whether their work style is similar with the company they are going to apply. I really wish them can enjoy their first job!

Social Network is not very helpful for internet marketing

We, AdvGen, are managing a lot of local and IT news portals. I found the most of traffic are coming from the search engines, the traditional way. Yes, the segment of Social Network traffic is getting more comparing 3 years ago. That is not as powerful as some internet marketing said. They said the social network can get your website to be well known.
If you ask me, whether that is a good idea to use Social Networks for internet marketing. I must say "Yes". That is a good tool to bring some traffic and get other people to know your website. But you need to do SEO. You cannot only rely on Social Networks.

Going Social

During these recent years, a lot of companies paid a lot of attentions at social media. They setup twitter account, facebook pages and google+ page. Recently, some companies, even some of them are small business, are making some video clips to youtube. They are building their own video channels to promote their own products and services.  That is impressive!

Brisbane Software Development Company have to go Globally

Recently, my Company,AdvanGeneration, setup an online store to sell our software, moreover, we have our account in Google Player to sell our paid app long time ago. The reason to setup them is we wish to go Globally. Brisbane is not big enough, that is too small! We have to sell our software to everyone, not just about Brisbane!