P Kishor wrote:
On 5/8/08, Schuyler Erle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
One important point that Fogel makes that I think is worth noting here
is that the number-one sine-qua-non of *any* potentially successful
software project is *shipping working code*.
Until a developer does that, the discussion of whether or not his/her
project needs or deserves institutional/organizational support to
succeed further is moot.
Steve Coast (OSM) echoed the same sentiment very elegantly -- "Real
artists ship. For everyone else, there is wanking."
After a short hesitation, I have really come to appreciate it. Yup,
unless there is working code, everything else -- sponsorships,
organization, standards, committees, mailing lists -- is pointless.
Always one to provide a contrarian view, I've always felt that it always
helps to start with a problem that's worth solving (speaking as an
engineer), or something interesting to explore (from a scientific point
of view). From there, funding, equipment, and a good team of people are
good next steps. With rare exception (there are geniuses among us),
it's pretty hard for one person to accomplish all that much, in a short
amount of time, in odd hours outside their day job. At least none of
the interesting projects I've been involved with required at least 6
months of full-time work show initial results - not a part-time
endeavor. Mind you, I'm a systems engineer and project manager by trade
- it's been a long time since I've been involved in a project that
didn't have at least a small team, working a hard problem, over an
extended amount of time.
Ok, you can shoot at me now :-)
Miles
--
Miles R. Fidelman, Director of Government Programs
Traverse Technologies
145 Tremont Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02111
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
617-395-8254
www.traversetechnologies.com
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