November 2009 - skunkworks - Skunkworks Site

web developer needed
by Gichingiri Kuria 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

kindly circulate* The Company* Sokoletu is a company involved in design for web and print. We build and develop great websites; also involved in graphic design for print-work including logo design, branding, book layout, etc (see our website for more info www.sokoletu.co.ke) *Position* *Assistant Web Developer* *Duties* - Coding functionality into a provided website draft - Applying content to layout on website - Testing of website for compatibility on various browsers - Updating of content on existing websites *Requirements* - A passion for the web - A preference for Mozilla Firefox over IE - Desire and potential to learn - Understanding of XHTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL - know how to use applications used for: 1. bitmap editing (e.g. Photoshop) 2. vector editing (e.g. Illustrator) 3. WYSIWYG editing (e.g. Dreamweaver) *Experience* Some form of experience is necessary, on the minimum through formal education or apprenticeship. *Apply* - send an email of introduction to info(a)sokoletu.co.ke before 13th December 2009 - attach CV as Word document or PDF, no longer than 2 pages - attach samples of your work in .jpg or PDF, no bigger than 2MB if sending a sample website, ZIP it - (if available) send links to an online CV or to works you've done --------------------------------- Gichingiri Kuria, Design, Sokoletu. www.sokoletu.co.ke

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Re: [Skunkworks] Kebs targets makers of software with quality rules
by Steve Obbayi 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

To all those who are against reinventing the wheel, i will give you a simple illustration: Take these two apps: for those who have been around since the early days of mysql, remember "mysql front". this App was the main interface to the mysql database but thank God for Indians. they went ahead and developed "mysqlyog". years later mysql front couldn't compete simply coz these indian fellows reinvented the wheel and gave us mysqlyog. These two applications did exactly the same thing but mysqlyog capitalized on mysql fronts weaknesses. They turn to development on win32 api an produced a lighter and faster front end to mysql. eventually almost everyone stopped using mysql front and turned to mysqlyog. i dont thinks its in production any more @Peter I am afraid I still have to agree with Aki on this one... 1. you say Kenya produces software for intl market? eg isys and verviant. don't these guys have offices in Denmark/USA or rather they seem to be like local partners for these foreign companies? That to me isn't local software. 2. Even though code reuse is inevitable eg like in c++ I would use the STL which comes as part of the core language is one argument to that. I write an algorithm that does task X then when I need task X i would get that algorithm and use it. Is a better form of code reuse Code reuse however doesn't mean downloading an entire app and choosing your favorite theme and pluggins and using them. That is simply using software, period!!! don't need to be a genius to do that. code reuse simply means bundling code into classes or reusable objects and not entire applications. 3. One thing you should note is that the international software market isn't hard to penetrate coz what the international software market want to see is demo software or sample code. But the thing is Kenyan Software developers don't have original apps to even use as demos and that why Kenyan developers are having problems. You cant use a borrowed App as a demo. Then I have had the privilege of spending a lot of my time jumping between USA and today and with time you tend to notice differences. I noticed in USA (not just IT industry but all) the people want the government to stay out of the way. while in Kenya we want the government to do things for us. 4. How does one have the nerve to call themselves a software developer and yet they cannot develop anything from scratch? How can you be a developer when you cant even optimize your own code. When google adopted the code for mysql they modified it, fixed bugs, patched up the code and contributed part of it back to main code base. How many developers here fr example those that use Joomla or drupal a lot. how many of these have rooted out bugs or improved the code and sent the modifications back to the source. If any developer who uses those apps does that let us know. I will start with myself. many years ago I used to use phpcollab and found very many bugs. I went in fixed them and sent the changes back to the developers. Kenyan developers need to step up the plate to earn the 100% Kenyan made mark. SKYPE: sobbayi US: +1 202 297 6831 +1 202 470 0525 KE: +254 722 627 691 http://blog.sobbayi.com http://sobbayi.blogspot.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Karunyu" <pkarunyu(a)gmail.com> To: "Skunkworks Forum" <skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 3:33:26 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] Kebs targets makers of software with quality rules My point: concluding that Kenya does not produce software for the local or international market simply because of the prevalent use of FREEWARE, is, for lack of a more polite word, a fallacy. Aki, you are making one large assumption: That the reason Kenya does not produce software for the local or international market is because of code reuse. Here are my thoughts; 1. Kenya does produce software for the local and international market, two outfits come to mind, iSys and Vervient 2. Code reuse is inevitable, unless you want to start by writing your own BIOS, device drivers, OS, compiler, web server etc. Assuming you drive a toyota camry, can not the same argument you are making be applied to it? (they tend to reuse the same powertrains) 3. Finally, the fact that Kenya does not produce software for the international market can be attributed to several variables, not just FREEWARE, for example: a. The local software market is still relatively 'virgin' such that the few companies that do produce software for it are satisfied b. The international software market is relatively hard to penetrate such that local companies find it easier to stick to the local c. Kenyans have peculiar coding habits d. "Tunaomba serikali itusaidie" e. FREEWARE f. etc _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks ------------ Skunkworks Rules http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 ------------ Other services @ http://my.co.ke Other lists ------------- Announce: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general

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MOA Compliant Accident at rout 111.
by Lawrence Kago 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

Anyone using route 111? I have a problem with MOA compliant,they've only operated the route for 2-3Yrs now.We thought they were a good idea since they'd go to the city center(Licensed) but we now have mixed reactions. I don't know if its the buses(Poor maintenance) or the drivers who are reckless.Jana another bad accident happened at a place called Juanco/VET n enough have happened before involving buses from the same company. I tried to compare them with another company which has been plying the rout for the last 6 or so years(at least since i came to know them) and i think MOA Compliant need some sound advice. Is there anybody in the forum who can contact the management.

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Ericsson PB 250 VMU Cards
by benson maina 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

Morning Where can I get this cards & at how much? Best regards

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Re: [Skunkworks] Power of Innovation: TED Talks
by S. U. Mawiyoo 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

Speaking of TED.com.. Is there a Local chapter of this.. ? Anyone interested in organising a local chapter via TEDx<http://www.ted.com/tedx> <http://www.ted.com/tedx>A local chapter in Tanzania just got Legit recently. (tweets @TEDxDAR <http://twitter.com/TEDxDar>) ___________________ S.U. Mawiyoo +27 78 747 0240 (SA) 15196704-2007 International Office (RW Wilcocks South, Victoria Street, Stellenbosch 7600.) (Private Bag X1, 7602 Matieland) South Africa ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Confidentiality Notice: This message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. __________________________________________________________ http://sm1810.blogspot.com/ Updates, ~ Spasmodic ~ 2009/11/22 David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd <kianiadee(a)gmail.com> > I have just watched one of the most amazing technology presentations > at TED Check this out. > > http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsens… > > All I can say is woow! > > Rgds > > Kiania > -- > > [Asentric Consulting Ltd] > > If a man has in himself the soul of a slave will he not become one no > matter what his birth .... > > -Richest Man in Babylon > _______________________________________________ > Skunkworks mailing list > Skunkworks(a)lists.my.co.ke > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks > ------------ > Skunkworks Rules > http://my.co.ke/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=94 > ------------ > Other services @ http://my.co.ke > Other lists > ------------- > Announce: > http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks-announce > Science: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/science > kazi: http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/admin/kazi/general >

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A thought to all phone programmers/developers.
by Lawrence Kago 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

May be my phone is old/doesn't support the feature if they exist. A phone has a storage capacity of upto 500 contacts,clients sometimes save numbers under name X and eventually forget who the person is.Most people end up saving numbers as...X-Fundi,John-Driver,Joel-(person who connected you to him),for easy reference so that you don't end up deleting important contacts. Is there a phone that has ability to save contacts and maybe create/show mutual frnd.or at least how the contact ended up in your phone ie.the way access shows tables relationship.Is it possible to develop something of the sort so that one can create contacts relationship on the phone.... Just a thought.

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Java Store - Hijakced from: Kebs targets makers of software with quality rules
by Steve Obbayi 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

This is a spin-off of the thread "Kebs targets makers of software with quality rules" just didnt want to hijack it entirely, I picked off from the conversation between @AKi and @Murigi about developers pulling off solo moves instead of working together. Anyway, for those who might not know that Sun has been trying out Apple's model of distributing Apps and now Java developers have got an avenue of distributing desktop apps, games etc using the Java Store. I remember @Wesley floated a similar store to distribute Kenyan Apps on some past thread and I am not sure what happened to that idea. So Sun has done exactly what Wesley was thinking about. Here is the catch for now it is only available to USA residents to buy and sell their Apps (so for those that cant access it, I have attached a screen shot of my page to this email). Sun has gone further and now opened it to other selected countries who can put only free apps for the time being, but will soon be allowed to put up apps for a fee. I tried to set up a second account as a Kenyan developer but unfortunately they wont allow me to do it until the demand for developers wishing to develop for the Java Store goes up... plus other things. I am encouraging developers from Kenya to sign up so as to build that demand and have them include Kenya in the next list of countries that can create Apps for the store. Thats what @Aki said in the previous thread that Kenyan developers must work 10 times harder to keep up with developers in other countries. Its not so much the lack of developers but lack of innovation within the developers. I am not sure if the link is accessible from Kenya but here's the link: http://java.sun.com/warehouse/index.jsp If you can access the link please go ahead and register. Steve Obbayi SKYPE: sobbayi US: +1 202 297 6831 +1 202 470 0525 KE: +254 722 627 691 http://sobbayi.com http://blog.sobbayi.com

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Ubuntu Developers Agree to Help with Chrome OS
by aki 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

By Brian Heater - PC Magazine - Fri Nov 20 Google has an important ally in its newly revealed Chrome OS<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/zd/tc_zd/storytext/246248/34159120/SIG=128…>. Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu--one of the more user-friendly versions of Linux around--has agreed to contribute engineering to the project, under contract. "In the interest of transparency, we should declare that Canonical is contributing engineering to Google under contract," Chris Kenyon, vice president of OEM Services at Canonical, wrote in a blog post<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/zd/tc_zd/storytext/246248/34159120/SIG=112…>. "In our discussions, Sundar Pichai and Linus Upson made it clear that they want,wherever feasible, to build on existing components and tools from the open source community without unnecessary re-invention. This clear focus should benefit a wide variety of existing projects and we welcome it." While there are certainly some similarities between the two Linux-based operating systems, Ubuntu and Chrome are sufficiently different, Kenyon wrote. "Ubuntu will continue to be a general purpose OS running both web and native applications such as OpenOffice and will not require specialized hardware."

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New Malware Affects Jailbroken iPhones
by aki 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

By Mike Keller - 3:49PM EST Late last week, an Australian hacker dubbed *ikee* deployed the Rickrolling<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/newmalwareaff…>worm– a harmless and humorous worm that installs a picture of 80’s one hit wonder Rick Astley<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/newmalwareaff…>to affected users’ home screens. *Rickrolling* serves not so much as malware but as a warning to jailbreak users who have installed SSH in order to gain root access to their iPhone’s file system from the internet but have neglected to change the default password, even though not doing so is clearly warned against in the installation documentation. To the few users yet to heed the warning presented by *ikee*, it might be a good time to go ahead Intego<http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/pcworld/tc_pcworld/storytext/newmalwareaff…>reported the discovery of a much more harmful piece of malware that affects jailbroken iPhones and permeates in the same fashion as the *Rickrolling*worm. Once again exploiting the fact that many users who install SSH on their iPhones fail to change the default password, the *iPhone/Privacy.A *worm quietly copies personal information from an afflicted device and spreads itself to other unsecured iPhones on the same network. Unlike *Rickrolling, *which announces itself by changing the wallpaper, this worm gives no indication when a device has been infected. Since an unchanged SSH password grants root file system access, *iPhone/Privacy.A* has the potential to access any file stored on an affected iPhone- including, but not limited to e-mails, text messages, photos, music, videos and calendars. This news shouldn’t be read as a chastisement of jailbreaking but rather a reminder to use common sense. Especially when it comes to installing hackish software, know what you’re getting yourself into, and always read the docs.

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Power of Innovation: Sixth Sense
by David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd 23 Nov '09

23 Nov '09

I have just watched one of the most amazing technology presentations at TED Check this out. http://www.ted.com/talks/pranav_mistry_the_thrilling_potential_of_sixthsens… All I can say is woow! Rgds Kiania -- [Asentric Consulting Ltd] If a man has in himself the soul of a slave will he not become one no matter what his birth .... -Richest Man in Babylon

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