CompiledMonkey.com

So I noticed Google released a service today for programmers to host their projects.  I setup a quick project called “compiledmonkey” just to see what is offered, etc.  It’s nice because the source control management is based on subversion and you even get some issue tracking going on.  Of course with subversion they’ve included HTTP(S) access to the code and even a web based viewer.  Great stuff even though it’s basically SourceForge.  Personally, I’d use Google’s offering anyway, just because it’s Google.

Check it out!

For geeks, the online community is everything.  When challenged with a new task, the first thing most programmers and other technical people do is head to Google.  We often find community forums, blogs, or mailing lists with useful information.  And of course, we use it and forget about it.  Later, when you discover something cool and want to let the world know, you can’t because it would violate some workplace rule.  No problem taking from the community but you don’t want to release trade secrets.  Kinda sucks, eh?

It sounds so simple but it’s so very true and a real problem for many people. I can’t imagine how many dollars are wasted in corporate America each year from a lack of employee motivation. It’s obvious that people don’t work as hard or as creatively when they’re not motivated. Most would say that motivation comes from more money. I think the lack of motivation for many, especially “information workers”, is due to the same old routine day after day. Sounds reasonable doesn’t it? I can’t tell you how motivated I can get by an interesting problem or new technology. Screw money, I want to love what I do for 40 hours each week. I’ve found, the hard way unfortunately, that more money only turns into more bills. Thankfully I’ve learned but that’s another topic altogether.

I get the impression that a lot of people jump from job to job after a few years and repeat this process until they see the retirement off into the distance. At that point they get a little more serious about what they should have been since their early 20s; that 401k. That sucks. I mean, you live in a shelter of innocence as a child and wish away your childhood to be “grown”. Then one day you wake up, you’ve finished college, and you’re working 8 hours a day with no change in sight until you’re too old to enjoy it. But I digress…

So when these people leave the employer takes a huge hit; knowledge. It’s no secret that the employees are the companies’ greatest asset. All too often you find that important information is kept in the brains of employees. So when that person leaves they take all of that working knowledge with them and those left behind must rediscover what was once internal knowledge.

So what can be done about this?? I wish I knew! For the employee, it’s hard to reinvent and find new ways to remain into your job. With repetition comes boredom and with boredom comes lower morale. At that point you’re looking for new and exciting work. After which your employer loses that working knowledge you so easily carry in your mind. And in the end the people who really suffer are us, only twice as much because not only are we the consumers but we’re also the producers. Such a vicious cycle. You’d think we, as a society, could come up with a more effective way to run our economy and simply live easier. Everything changes over time. What was once a suitable solution may not be any longer, how has our economic system come to be excluded from that?

I’m hearing the term “New Media” a lot these days to describe the small and agile firms online. When I think of New Media I think of podcasting or even better; video podcasting. How awesome it would be to get involved in that. I see the consumer benefits everyday and really think there is a HUGE market for this. I personally listen to half a dozen podcasts every week and would be happy to pay for these subscriptions on a monthly basis. Thankfully today they’re all free but I get enough out of them to pay small monthly fees.

Garageband, which comes on your new OS X system, gives you the tools needed to record, edit, and publish podcasts. If only I had the radio personality to do such a thing… I’d join the “New Media” revolution myself.  Maybe there are groups in Richmond trying to do similar.  Anyone, anyone?

It’s quite exciting to see where this technology will go and how it will change the media delivery of tomorrow. No longer are you bound to your television for quality entertainment on a weekly basis. I’m downloading the latest episode of my favorite podcast right now through iTunes which I’ll listen to tomorrow at work on my iPod.  Good stuff.

In your opinion, what sucks about the Internet?  I find myself getting really bored with the Internet lately and I can’t figure out what would fill that void.  Online communities used to do it for me but not so much anymore.  These days I’m just not sure what I find interesting online anymore, except tech news of course.  I frequent Digg, Slashdot, and News.com many many many times a day.  In fact, if it wasn’t for those sites I don’t know what I’d do.
So, leave me a little note and tell me why you think the Internet sucks.  What could be better?  What kind of website would you frequent everyday?  Go!

I sat down and started a very long and detailed review of my Apple experience. Over many days I wrote about the actual purchase from Apple.com, the system itself, and Mac OS X; among other things. While I have a pretty good entry drafted up I just can’t publish it. Why? Well, as I have been writing the entry I’ve continuously read it and don’t think it fully describes the experience of making the switch. Put simply; the article doesn’t do the Mac justice.

Mac OS X is nearly perfect, Apple hardware in it’s Intel form is amazing, and making the switch was easier than I would have ever expected. That’s about all I can say. To really understand you have to make the move yourself. Don’t be put off by the typical Apple haters. Don’t think you’re going to fall off into the land of “no software” because you join the Apple crowd. Nothing is further from the truth actually. Do yourself a favor, free yourself from Microsoft. Do your part in sparking innovation and competition; buy an Apple. You won’t regret it.