Gentlemen, Ladies : We are now a point where we should be looking ahead ( most new year resolutions don't make it, the subject line one should not be one of them ) to what we plan for next year. As is so evident from the server contributions thread that a common cause and unity can overcome many things. Moving on, 2 very important events for the calendar next year : BarCamp & DevCon. I've already set aside a personal contribution of Kshs 10,000/- for BarCamp and this amount will be available as soon as BarCamp organizers are good to go. However the above events are not even close enough to what we should be achieving and we are cheating ourselves if we think so. I suggest we also do these : a) Creation of Development community mailing list on new skunks server b) Create budgets ( idea contributed by Murigi ) to allow the events to happen. c) Creation of a prize for Top Developer of the Year ( financial prize of say eg Ksh 100,000 . We will have to find a way for this ) d) Liase more with KICTB or any other agencies who are willing and share the same targets. e) Work done by Strathmore should also be added to the Devs list above I'm going to ensure that the Dev Community idea takes off or if there is one already, will try my level best to support it. ( I've already shelved 3 projects that were due, they can wait. The bigger picture is much worse... ) I've been very critical of local Devs and this was to ascertain where we are at and what happened with the Nokia results hardened my resolve. So don't take it personally, without criticism we think we are perfect? Well SA kicked our a..ses outright on things that would have been done quite easily here. This is unacceptable and a lame excuse for not doing enough. Support each project and please add your thots, way forward, ideas. Combined we can make many things happen through the list :-) Rgds. -- ( the rise of Yoda! Ready are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi... )
Noble idea, I am willing to participate Calvin On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM, aki <aki275@googlemail.com> wrote:
Gentlemen, Ladies :
We are now a point where we should be looking ahead ( most new year resolutions don't make it, the subject line one should not be one of them ) to what we plan for next year. As is so evident from the server contributions thread that a common cause and unity can overcome many things.
Moving on, 2 very important events for the calendar next year : BarCamp & DevCon. I've already set aside a personal contribution of Kshs 10,000/- for BarCamp and this amount will be available as soon as BarCamp organizers are good to go.
However the above events are not even close enough to what we should be achieving and we are cheating ourselves if we think so.
I suggest we also do these :
a) Creation of Development community mailing list on new skunks server b) Create budgets ( idea contributed by Murigi ) to allow the events to happen. c) Creation of a prize for Top Developer of the Year ( financial prize of say eg Ksh 100,000 . We will have to find a way for this ) d) Liase more with KICTB or any other agencies who are willing and share the same targets. e) Work done by Strathmore should also be added to the Devs list above
I'm going to ensure that the Dev Community idea takes off or if there is one already, will try my level best to support it. ( I've already shelved 3 projects that were due, they can wait. The bigger picture is much worse... )
I've been very critical of local Devs and this was to ascertain where we are at and what happened with the Nokia results hardened my resolve. So don't take it personally, without criticism we think we are perfect? Well SA kicked our a..ses outright on things that would have been done quite easily here. This is unacceptable and a lame excuse for not doing enough.
Support each project and please add your thots, way forward, ideas. Combined we can make many things happen through the list :-)
Rgds. -- ( the rise of Yoda! Ready are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi... )
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On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 10:30 AM, aki <aki275@googlemail.com> wrote:
I'm going to ensure that the Dev Community idea takes off or if there is one already, will try my level best to support it. ( I've already shelved 3 projects that were due, they can wait. The bigger picture is much worse... )
Please work with students / interns as far as is possible with short time lines in mind (3-12 months). Most working developers have their employers / clients on their throat most of the time and since they never developed proper networking skills early in the careers they are doomed to continue solo moving for a long long time. They really suffer on projects because they cannot get other developers (who are also solo moving) to help them finish them on time.
@Aki I really like the spirit, well i totally feel you and in wateva way big or small, i will see to it that this happens. @Muraya This lone ranger attitude is what we need to bring to an end, it doesn't take u far.. and if it does it won't sustain you for long or if you defy all odds and it does sustain you, you will not remain relevant for long. In short teamwork is the way .. and we all know it, but i think we are just mean even with ideas... -- Regards Njoroge
Noble Idea. I am in and ready to help. On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 2:13 AM, Paul Mathu <mails.mathu@gmail.com> wrote:
@Aki I really like the spirit, well i totally feel you and in wateva way big or small, i will see to it that this happens.
@Muraya This lone ranger attitude is what we need to bring to an end, it doesn't take u far.. and if it does it won't sustain you for long or if you defy all odds and it does sustain you, you will not remain relevant for long. In short teamwork is the way .. and we all know it, but i think we are just mean even with ideas...
-- Regards
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-- Timothy Njue THEO.
Gentlemen, asante sana. I can assure you from my side that it is nearly impossible to stop my resolve... :-) I think the first important thing is to get the Kenyan Dev Community mailing list going. I hope as soon as the server purchase issue is resolved, the skunks admin can created the list. Once this list is operational, we will have a platform to start the discussions and we can also see how to spread the word around. The Kenyan Dev list will be open to all programmers/programming languages and will aim to be part of skunks platform and also offer advice to those in the programming fields who are in problems. We all need to start communicating on a common platform. Pls correct as necessary. Cheers.
A Clarification please! The Kenyan Dev Community mailing list be be open to all types of programmers/languages and not limited to just mobile or other applications. 2010 : Kenyan Developers Year is for all developers too. If you are a Kenyan Developer, whether employed or freelance, the list will be open to all. And I'll propose not to be the moderator of the mailing list. My goal is to ensure we try our level best to have this list and work with it from there. Your opinions are valuable. :-)
How about creating a community for each language? Maybe let the users of that language self regulate? My reasoning is; my interests lie in PHP and thus wading thru a list talking about Java, C#, Ruby and a whole list of others would be boring. Those language specific lists could be hosted on the same server On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 4:21 PM, aki <aki275@googlemail.com> wrote:
A Clarification please! The Kenyan Dev Community mailing list be be open to all types of programmers/languages and not limited to just mobile or other applications.
2010 : Kenyan Developers Year is for all developers too.
If you are a Kenyan Developer, whether employed or freelance, the list will be open to all.
And I'll propose not to be the moderator of the mailing list. My goal is to ensure we try our level best to have this list and work with it from there.
Your opinions are valuable. :-)
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( Kenyan Developers Community ) : Innovation and future potential already knocks on this door, even before the lists go online. Most listers already know about the DTV launch. Have you considered this : Electronic Programme Guide? How will stations provide this as each station cannot tie down its hardware to a specific Set Top Box Vendor while the boxes may have different firmware versions etc? As the dev community should come up with a workable solution. Here's my idea very briefly, and we can add to Dev Calendar for 2010 if you feel it is worth it. Infact, I believe this will be the most innovative and paying project for the year! ( assuming no one else is already working on it ) - Since most stations will use common streams, can we not create a single platform system for the TV stations that can stream on? Example : say channel 100 is allocated as a programme guide for all stations. We can create a system that will display the collected data from each TV station and provide end users with a display of such. We need to look at the streams and how they will work. The EPG streamed data will be loaded into memory and refreshed every hours or when channel eg 100 is selected. I don't know is anyone on this list has used Teletext services but the concept is similar. My thots.
* For those of you interested in EPG development you'd be interested to *>* know one of the interface providers is Opera, yes the browser. They *>* have done tonnes of work in this arena and I think even have a SDK for *>* the same. *>* *>* I do believe Desktop or Client/Server apps will take a backseat as *>* people venture into mobile and TV app development. Again we can *>* minimize the idea generation and let's do something ... *>* *>* @Aki thanks for the heads up. *>* *>* Kiania D.
( Kenyan Developers Community ) : Further to earlier email, @David has added this : On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 8:22 PM, David Kiania | Asentric Consulting Ltd < kianiadee at gmail.com<http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/skunkworks>> wrote: * --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ** * *
( Kenyan Developers Community ) : I'd like to invite David Kiania to be our project tester and also who has plenty of insight into the DTV enviroment. Others are welcome too. What do we need to start creation of the DTV EPG project? ( Whether full time or part time ) Structure: - Project Marketer - Project Tester - Project Manager - Programmers Tasks: - Program flow, specifics can be discussed. - Program tasks can be split between different people - Program Start date - Program Completion Deployment date ? Gents, Ladies : Can we please start communicating so that we can go into this in January ? I think there can be big support for this project. Please do let me know if am moving too fast or stepping on toes, I'll back off. Asante sana.
Can check out http://www.topcoder.com/ for more ideas as well. 2009/12/10 aki <aki275@googlemail.com>
( Kenyan Developers Community ) : I'd like to invite David Kiania to be our project tester and also who has plenty of insight into the DTV enviroment. Others are welcome too.
What do we need to start creation of the DTV EPG project? ( Whether full time or part time )
Structure: - Project Marketer - Project Tester - Project Manager - Programmers
Tasks: - Program flow, specifics can be discussed. - Program tasks can be split between different people - Program Start date - Program Completion
Deployment date ?
Gents, Ladies : Can we please start communicating so that we can go into this in January ? I think there can be big support for this project.
Please do let me know if am moving too fast or stepping on toes, I'll back off.
Asante sana.
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*( Kenyan Developers Community ) : What will be Kenyan or african demand for mobile apps? Are we thinking about the right Apps for the market?* Various sources on the net. Mobile app trends for 2010 - *2010 - year of the handset*: If this year was all about apps, next year is all about handsets. Spurred on by the success of the iPhone, other manufacturers are focusing on features, design and the “cool factor”. 2010smartphones are going to be really revolutionary in every respect – and we’re likely to see a much more competitive and level playing field - *Social, dating and casual gaming apps will surge in popularity:* The appsthat will generate the biggest consumer demand next year will be social, dating, casual gaming apps - running across different platforms and devices. The single platform approach can undoubtedly generate revenues but as more and more consumers jump on the app bandwagon those apps that operate on a variety of different platforms will be the ones that succeed - *Mobile apps bigger than the internet?* Earlier this year, Laurs was quoted as saying that “mobile apps will be bigger than the internet”. The internet, as it is today, on the desktop will be eclipsed by the mobile web – this is most likely to take place by 2020. In 10 years the time consumers spend on apps vs desktop will be way bigger in terms of mindshare, time, money spent, etc. It is just getting started now and will evolve. Already, over half of GetJar users spend more time on the mobile web than via their desktop PC and this is a growing trend.
Interesting ideas coming through. Now what would be the role of the Project Marketer or rather what roles are attached to each title? If we decipher that, then am sure the rest of the things will fall in place. Regards; James Muendo Leerick Office & Tech Supplies P.O Box 28016 - 00200 Nairobi,Kenya. Phone: + 254 725 567 508 gtalk: timrick Skype: tim.rick From: skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke [mailto:skunkworks-bounces@lists.my.co.ke] On Behalf Of aki Sent: 10 December 2009 21:06 To: Skunkworks Forum Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] 2010 : Kenyan Developers Year ( Kenyan Developers Community ) : I'd like to invite David Kiania to be our project tester and also who has plenty of insight into the DTV enviroment. Others are welcome too. What do we need to start creation of the DTV EPG project? ( Whether full time or part time ) Structure: - Project Marketer - Project Tester - Project Manager - Programmers Tasks: - Program flow, specifics can be discussed. - Program tasks can be split between different people - Program Start date - Program Completion Deployment date ? Gents, Ladies : Can we please start communicating so that we can go into this in January ? I think there can be big support for this project. Please do let me know if am moving too fast or stepping on toes, I'll back off. Asante sana.
On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 11:04 AM, James Muendo <timrick@gmail.com> wrote:
Interesting ideas coming through.
@James, Kenyan Developers thinking 12 months ahead, are now sitting on the biggest boom ever seen in the ICT sector. Their skills. DTB shortage or not, it is an eventuality that supplies will fill the shops so its a question of when not if etc. And the shortage or lack of has its advantages, gives time to developers to match delivery times. 3 serious things that I see long term, I share : - EPG ( the biggest development project ever ). There is an chance for developers to work with agencies and others to standardize on the EPG format. If developers and the project get this right, there can be a mutual agreement on a single EPG channel carrying data, a cost saving system for TV channels. That;s where a marketter comes in. Are the stations interested or will they buy from vendors out there? - A dedicated shopping channel ( An inter-active TV channel that will allow people to shop via TV. ) - A dedicated Entertainment channel ( That content will need menu driven functions, reply via sms etc ) I'm not sure whether to focus on 2010 Developer year or start work on this DTV project with others. Chat sometime next week and see if any progress made on the threads. :-)
@aki, good work there! however am losing you on these threads, maybe we should have a last tuesday meetup of skunks to iron these out. Then if possible could you please document these ideas and plans and attach them so that the rest of us who check mail twice a day can keep up?please. lastly i have just seen the EPG story and boy am i glad! Am clearing campus and my project is "Converged and Interactive Telecom Grade IPTV service enabled on the IMS network"(the guy who was asking bout codecs and video signals). this project has an area that deals with EPG optimization. maybe i can chip in and also learn one or two things from the rest. thanks and God bless y'all!! On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 5:46 PM, aki <aki275@googlemail.com> wrote:
On Fri, Dec 11, 2009 at 11:04 AM, James Muendo <timrick@gmail.com> wrote:
Interesting ideas coming through.
@James, Kenyan Developers thinking 12 months ahead, are now sitting on the biggest boom ever seen in the ICT sector. Their skills. DTB shortage or not, it is an eventuality that supplies will fill the shops so its a question of when not if etc. And the shortage or lack of has its advantages, gives time to developers to match delivery times.
3 serious things that I see long term, I share :
- EPG ( the biggest development project ever ). There is an chance for developers to work with agencies and others to standardize on the EPG format. If developers and the project get this right, there can be a mutual agreement on a single EPG channel carrying data, a cost saving system for TV channels. That;s where a marketter comes in. Are the stations interested or will they buy from vendors out there?
- A dedicated shopping channel ( An inter-active TV channel that will allow people to shop via TV. )
- A dedicated Entertainment channel ( That content will need menu driven functions, reply via sms etc )
I'm not sure whether to focus on 2010 Developer year or start work on this DTV project with others. Chat sometime next week and see if any progress made on the threads. :-)
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-- People should know when they are conquered.
Thread and project idea initiative withdrawn from myside. The ideas on this thread are public property, anyone who feels they want to continue, good luck. :-)
On Thu, Dec 10, 2009 at 6:33 PM, Peter Karunyu <pkarunyu@gmail.com> wrote:
How about creating a community for each language? Maybe let the users of that language self regulate? My reasoning is; my interests lie in PHP and thus wading thru a list talking about Java, C#, Ruby and a whole list of others would be boring.
Those language specific lists could be hosted on the same server
Hi @Peter, will it not become too difficult to subscribe to many mailing lists? I suggest that we have one for now and work within it. This mailing list can help students/newbees easy access to the Kenyan Developer Community Forum while developers can keep intouch and upto date too. For me, I start in January to look for sponsers , with the help of all , for the Top Developer of the Year award prize. I think Kshs 100,000/- is a good start and the ceremony can be at strathmore. Judges will be from this list, who themselves are developers. Is Jessica Colaco is this list? The Devs list would request her active involvement. Are there others who are involved in Kenyan Developers Programmers, can they please also support this KE Developers Mailing list initiative? Not to be too spammy, will respond in a few days time. Asante sana.:-)
participants (9)
-
aki -
Calvin Omari -
James Muendo -
kenoti maembe -
Murigi Muraya -
nyarotho kennedy -
Paul Mathu -
Peter Karunyu -
timothy njue