To Re-Invent the wheel? Why is it important for us to keep re-inventing, re-evolving. I also give you a project..
Many companies, investors do not think about the re-invention issue. Most VCs, Seeds, goodwill or angel investors or even partnerships will consider the impact of your work/product/solution. Does it have to be ground breaking? It has to be different.... *As a example of re-inventing the wheel is this:* -OLD WHEEL : Fascinating facts about the invention of the Wheel by Mesopotamian's in c3500 BC. http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/wheel.htm - NEW WHEEL : The brand OZ Racing is developed and manufactured in Italy. Pure OZ Racing Style, pure Italian Style. http://www.ozracing.com/car_wheels_brands/OZ%20Racing.aspx So with that simple example in mind, I'd like to have your attention for the words below. I list this project and is the property of the Skunks KE community. *Lets begin with what you are: * - 90% of us are all just end users of systems. Whether Developers or not, you are just that. So you know how to write scripts on linux, windows or mac? So what, so can millions of other people. - You know how to write C#, C++, CSS or HTML or JAVA? So what, you are no different from 90% of the end user market. - You know to configure Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris? Yeah, ok whatever. - You know how to create graphics or logos on photoshop? Yeah, good work but no one cares. - You know how to setup, configure, plesk, cpanel, asterisk etc? Again, so what. So does the rest of the world who taught you to configure these. - I know how to confirgure Cisco, Nortel, Juniper, Rad, Extreme Networks? Right, tell the world something new! While we all are at the mercy of what happens elsewhere it becomes our zone to improve, re-evolve and re-invent as much as possible. *The Project Idea:* We all know that the Mobile market is exploding with many demands and better handsets. We also know that Smartphones is just but a tiny market. What is needed is really a USSD type of application that is not handset dependent, thus allowing access that is not even internet dependent. *The Wheel:* Ohh, do I hear everyone running to Kannel? Or providers like clickatel? I bet you 90% of all SMS gateways are running kannel and so you know how to setup and configure? Great, your are just another user statistic in the picture of technology development. How many kenyan providers use this product? Ohh, am a kannel developer and I know how to do wonderful things on kannel. Rubbish statement, you are just driver of a nissan matatu that is an LHD model. The Kannel Wheel evolved for Kenyan and African Markets, developed and open for re-investment to any investors like eg Nokia, VCs, Seeders, Telcos, Partnerships : Let me not even fill in the details here..... *So what is it that am saying?* Gentlemen, Ladies. Mind not the language but I hope it brings out the point. There is so much to be done, we need to build and invite investments. Am still a hobbyist dev so I have enough time to kill study and time on various projects, so far there are 17 lined up enough to keep me busy for many many months. Are you still trying to be an end user in the name of not re-inventing or re-evolving? My plea to you in one. Please wake up from that end user sleep and do something. Each day that goes is a loss for this country in terms of investments, recognition. and technology development You are also letting opportunities go by as you stand and watch others from countries come up with simple and silly ways, yet they are getting somewhere. I can only wish you success with your projects. :-) Me thots and corrections welcome. Rgds.
...... *The Project Idea:* ..... What is needed is really a USSD type of application that is not handset dependent, thus allowing access that is not even internet dependent. .... Bwana aki. U just left out the interesting bit. What USSD application exactly do you have in mind?? You have also said alot of things here about VCs and competitions and other stuff which are not quite clear to me. You could be talking from a point of ignorance or you could really have a point. I just want to understand. What exactly is your point! because it becoming hard for me to follow. On 3 November 2010 21:28, aki <aki275@gmail.com> wrote:
Many companies, investors do not think about the re-invention issue. Most VCs, Seeds, goodwill or angel investors or even partnerships will consider the impact of your work/product/solution. Does it have to be ground breaking? It has to be different....
*As a example of re-inventing the wheel is this:*
-OLD WHEEL : Fascinating facts about the invention of the Wheel by Mesopotamian's in c3500 BC. http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/wheel.htm
- NEW WHEEL : The brand OZ Racing is developed and manufactured in Italy. Pure OZ Racing Style, pure Italian Style. http://www.ozracing.com/car_wheels_brands/OZ%20Racing.aspx
So with that simple example in mind, I'd like to have your attention for the words below. I list this project and is the property of the Skunks KE community.
*Lets begin with what you are: *
- 90% of us are all just end users of systems. Whether Developers or not, you are just that. So you know how to write scripts on linux, windows or mac? So what, so can millions of other people.
- You know how to write C#, C++, CSS or HTML or JAVA? So what, you are no different from 90% of the end user market.
- You know to configure Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris? Yeah, ok whatever.
- You know how to create graphics or logos on photoshop? Yeah, good work but no one cares.
- You know how to setup, configure, plesk, cpanel, asterisk etc? Again, so what. So does the rest of the world who taught you to configure these.
- I know how to confirgure Cisco, Nortel, Juniper, Rad, Extreme Networks? Right, tell the world something new!
While we all are at the mercy of what happens elsewhere it becomes our zone to improve, re-evolve and re-invent as much as possible.
*The Project Idea:*
We all know that the Mobile market is exploding with many demands and better handsets. We also know that Smartphones is just but a tiny market. What is needed is really a USSD type of application that is not handset dependent, thus allowing access that is not even internet dependent.
*The Wheel:*
Ohh, do I hear everyone running to Kannel? Or providers like clickatel?
I bet you 90% of all SMS gateways are running kannel and so you know how to setup and configure? Great, your are just another user statistic in the picture of technology development. How many kenyan providers use this product? Ohh, am a kannel developer and I know how to do wonderful things on kannel. Rubbish statement, you are just driver of a nissan matatu that is an LHD model.
The Kannel Wheel evolved for Kenyan and African Markets, developed and open for re-investment to any investors like eg Nokia, VCs, Seeders, Telcos, Partnerships :
Let me not even fill in the details here.....
*So what is it that am saying?*
Gentlemen, Ladies. Mind not the language but I hope it brings out the point. There is so much to be done, we need to build and invite investments. Am still a hobbyist dev so I have enough time to kill study and time on various projects, so far there are 17 lined up enough to keep me busy for many many months. Are you still trying to be an end user in the name of not re-inventing or re-evolving?
My plea to you in one. Please wake up from that end user sleep and do something. Each day that goes is a loss for this country in terms of investments, recognition. and technology development You are also letting opportunities go by as you stand and watch others from countries come up with simple and silly ways, yet they are getting somewhere.
I can only wish you success with your projects. :-)
Me thots and corrections welcome.
Rgds.
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-- Mimano G. Muthondu, Software Developer skype : gmimano Mobile : +254 723 615 206
Hi Geoffrey, Assume that writing from a point of ignorance, Let me put this manner and I hope it makes some sense. The Project idea is about USSD application. The Solution is not a USSD application ( which others will build upon ) but an SMS gateway. If you are in the industry, please list the SMS gateways being used in Kenya. Rgds. On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 9:10 AM, Geoffrey Mimano <soyfactor@gmail.com> wrote:
......
*The Project Idea:*
..... What is needed is really a USSD type of application that is not handset dependent, thus allowing access that is not even internet dependent. ....
Bwana aki. U just left out the interesting bit. What USSD application exactly do you have in mind?? You have also said alot of things here about VCs and competitions and other stuff which are not quite clear to me. You could be talking from a point of ignorance or you could really have a point. I just want to understand. What exactly is your point! because it becoming hard for me to follow.
@Aki, (am having some nigga moment right now) thats very true and obvious, i hope to get somewhere with my funky projects too Regards, Erastus Gichuhi +254733725373 @gisho Nairobi Kenya On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 9:46 AM, aki <aki275@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Geoffrey,
Assume that writing from a point of ignorance, Let me put this manner and I hope it makes some sense.
The Project idea is about USSD application.
The Solution is not a USSD application ( which others will build upon ) but an SMS gateway.
If you are in the industry, please list the SMS gateways being used in Kenya.
Rgds.
On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 9:10 AM, Geoffrey Mimano <soyfactor@gmail.com> wrote:
...... The Project Idea:
..... What is needed is really a USSD type of application that is not handset dependent, thus allowing access that is not even internet dependent. .... Bwana aki. U just left out the interesting bit. What USSD application exactly do you have in mind?? You have also said alot of things here about VCs and competitions and other stuff which are not quite clear to me. You could be talking from a point of ignorance or you could really have a point. I just want to understand. What exactly is your point! because it becoming hard for me to follow.
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Let me ask again, What are you hoping to achieve with your gateway that has not been done before: When Google re-invented Email, they - increased storage from 10 mb to 1GB - introduced AJAX - Introduced threaded email.
Hi @Dennis, I intentionally left the "Kannel Wheel" portion empty... :-) Lets get those thinking juices flowing and a fire in our bellies boil to a point where you cannot take it anymore. Some of us live on this fire daily. Please focus on the Kannel Wheel, leave things like gmail etc out for now. Does KE need a better mail system or a better developed Kannel Wheel with APIs' for various vendors within Africa to integrate and deploy on a same day? Let those who have used Kannel or other gateways bring in their thoughts into the discussion. At the same time, low level developers should also be following this discussion and tell KE that we are useless end users in dev enviroments? Me thots. On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 10:33 AM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
Let me ask again, What are you hoping to achieve with your gateway that has not been done before:
When Google re-invented Email, they
- increased storage from 10 mb to 1GB - introduced AJAX - Introduced threaded email.
@Aki, am still waiting for a list of what you want to implement in your SMS gateway. Since Kannel is opensource, why not add those features to Kannel?
@Dennis, :-) You are doing the same thing that I wrote about yesterday, which is "tell me what to develop?". I cannot give you any specs. Assuming you are the developer and the creator of a system that needs adpating to kenyan and african markets. - a) start with R & D of the market. - b) the platform gateway itself and its limitations. - c) you would need it to be different and adapted. - d) you create it and test test test - e) deploy and make it work - f) market it - g) find partners to invest and move the project forward. Rgds. On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 11:02 AM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
@Aki, am still waiting for a list of what you want to implement in your SMS gateway.
Since Kannel is opensource, why not add those features to Kannel?
@aki sorry to throw in what could be a dirty oil stained spanner but what has never changed is ..... necessity is the mother of innovation. I dont think this has changed or the converse holds true. You might be doing some cart before horse thing here. On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 11:02 AM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
@Aki, am still waiting for a list of what you want to implement in your SMS gateway.
Since Kannel is opensource, why not add those features to Kannel?
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that is to say, other than a feeling of national pride, is there a reason to have these non SOS software developed? On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 11:23 AM, [ Brainiac ] <arebacollins@gmail.com>wrote:
@aki sorry to throw in what could be a dirty oil stained spanner but what has never changed is .....
necessity is the mother of innovation. I dont think this has changed or the converse holds true. You might be doing some cart before horse thing here.
On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 11:02 AM, Dennis Kioko <dmbuvi@gmail.com> wrote:
@Aki, am still waiting for a list of what you want to implement in your SMS gateway.
Since Kannel is opensource, why not add those features to Kannel?
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@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
Also remember that new software comes with bugs which have to be discovered, patched and exploited. Building on a software that has already been patched is better
You wanna know why some of us find it necessary to reinvent the wheel? well its because some of us are not satisfied with the status. Just coz something works doesn't mean its okay for me. I am heavy involved in 3D graphics Software development and from what I have been able to learn from the industry is that a lot of these animation studios build their own renderers from scratch in house... an later end up being licensed outside the companies when interest builds. Am sure you enjoy and marvel at Pixars movies... guess what they use a tool called renderman to render their movies. It was built from scratch even though the studio spends a fortune on Maya and other software which could have done the same job. But why is pixar on top? Because they needed to achieve some effects that puts them ahead of the competition and the Maya renderer or any other was not acceptable acceptable. It was Steve Jobs (one of my mentors by the way) who said "Never Settle (He was referring to jobs or projects you are working on), keep looking, keep searching and keep working at your dream". The same thing happened with Weta Workshop (guys of Lord of the rings etc) They built their software (Massive) from scratch because what existed was not good enough. Look at the results. They are now the most sought after studio when it come to special effects coz they reinvented the wheel. If steve Jobs didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no Pixar today. If apple didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no iphone. Same case with google and Android. Now Nokia has to reinvent the wheel to stay relevant. Microsoft thought reinventing the wheel was nonsense look whats happening to them. New technology is based on reinventing the wheel which is necessary when you find that the existing tools are not there yet. Nasa's core business is reinventing the wheel.. am sure you thought it was just flying to space. When Google was started there were no less that six search engines on the internet and every body thought another one was not needed. Look where google is now. Where are the other six? when Gmail was started there were already enough email services out there. You think Google cares? No way. Google has made a Career of reinventing the wheel. Christopher Colombus dared to reinvent the wheel (route to India) where all the sailors of his time dreaded sailing off into the Atlantic. What happened, He discovered America. Hat if he thought like KE devs and decided to use the existing route? The point is if you want to be stuck in the status quo that the idea I have already exists so i shouldnt run with it is just messed up. Personally I am not interested in free skunk mails but what if the idea is run with and who knows in three years it evolves into the next big thing...who knows? I think what Aki is saying is that Ke devs fear treading into new territory and come up with all sorts of excuses why the wheel cannot be invented. Forget about the crowd and follow you dreams and ideas. No one said it will be easy. Its gonna be hell on earth following and implementing your idea. Bugs are part of software development. If you are a Dev and you fear Bugs then you are in the wrong profession. Steve Obbayi Software Developer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Kioko" <dmbuvi@gmail.com> To: "Skunkworks Mailing List" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2010 4:27:52 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] To Re-Invent the wheel? Why is it important for us to keep re-inventing, re-evolving. I also give you a project.. Also remember that new software comes with bugs which have to be discovered, patched and exploited. Building on a software that has already been patched is better _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@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
Reinvention is natural >>>> Evolution, unless you believe in otherwise On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 2:33 PM, Steve Obbayi <steve@sobbayi.com> wrote:
You wanna know why some of us find it necessary to reinvent the wheel? well its because some of us are not satisfied with the status. Just coz something works doesn't mean its okay for me.
I am heavy involved in 3D graphics Software development and from what I have been able to learn from the industry is that a lot of these animation studios build their own renderers from scratch in house... an later end up being licensed outside the companies when interest builds.
Am sure you enjoy and marvel at Pixars movies... guess what they use a tool called renderman to render their movies. It was built from scratch even though the studio spends a fortune on Maya and other software which could have done the same job.
But why is pixar on top? Because they needed to achieve some effects that puts them ahead of the competition and the Maya renderer or any other was not acceptable acceptable. It was Steve Jobs (one of my mentors by the way) who said "Never Settle (He was referring to jobs or projects you are working on), keep looking, keep searching and keep working at your dream".
The same thing happened with Weta Workshop (guys of Lord of the rings etc) They built their software (Massive) from scratch because what existed was not good enough. Look at the results. They are now the most sought after studio when it come to special effects coz they reinvented the wheel.
If steve Jobs didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no Pixar today. If apple didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no iphone. Same case with google and Android.
Now Nokia has to reinvent the wheel to stay relevant. Microsoft thought reinventing the wheel was nonsense look whats happening to them.
New technology is based on reinventing the wheel which is necessary when you find that the existing tools are not there yet.
Nasa's core business is reinventing the wheel.. am sure you thought it was just flying to space.
When Google was started there were no less that six search engines on the internet and every body thought another one was not needed. Look where google is now. Where are the other six? when Gmail was started there were already enough email services out there. You think Google cares? No way.
Google has made a Career of reinventing the wheel.
Christopher Colombus dared to reinvent the wheel (route to India) where all the sailors of his time dreaded sailing off into the Atlantic. What happened, He discovered America. Hat if he thought like KE devs and decided to use the existing route?
The point is if you want to be stuck in the status quo that the idea I have already exists so i shouldnt run with it is just messed up.
Personally I am not interested in free skunk mails but what if the idea is run with and who knows in three years it evolves into the next big thing...who knows?
I think what Aki is saying is that Ke devs fear treading into new territory and come up with all sorts of excuses why the wheel cannot be invented.
Forget about the crowd and follow you dreams and ideas. No one said it will be easy. Its gonna be hell on earth following and implementing your idea. Bugs are part of software development. If you are a Dev and you fear Bugs then you are in the wrong profession.
Steve Obbayi Software Developer
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Kioko" <dmbuvi@gmail.com> To: "Skunkworks Mailing List" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2010 4:27:52 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] To Re-Invent the wheel? Why is it important for us to keep re-inventing, re-evolving. I also give you a project..
Also remember that new software comes with bugs which have to be discovered, patched and exploited. Building on a software that has already been patched is better _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@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 _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@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
Steve, Wow! Well put. Great examples. "Forget about the crowd and follow you dreams and ideas." sums it up for me. -----Original Message----- From: Steve Obbayi <steve@sobbayi.com> Reply-to: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> To: Skunkworks Mailing List <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] To Re-Invent the wheel? Why is it important for us to keep re-inventing, re-evolving. I also give you a project.. Date: Thu, 4 Nov 2010 07:33:48 -0400 (EDT) You wanna know why some of us find it necessary to reinvent the wheel? well its because some of us are not satisfied with the status. Just coz something works doesn't mean its okay for me. I am heavy involved in 3D graphics Software development and from what I have been able to learn from the industry is that a lot of these animation studios build their own renderers from scratch in house... an later end up being licensed outside the companies when interest builds. Am sure you enjoy and marvel at Pixars movies... guess what they use a tool called renderman to render their movies. It was built from scratch even though the studio spends a fortune on Maya and other software which could have done the same job. But why is pixar on top? Because they needed to achieve some effects that puts them ahead of the competition and the Maya renderer or any other was not acceptable acceptable. It was Steve Jobs (one of my mentors by the way) who said "Never Settle (He was referring to jobs or projects you are working on), keep looking, keep searching and keep working at your dream". The same thing happened with Weta Workshop (guys of Lord of the rings etc) They built their software (Massive) from scratch because what existed was not good enough. Look at the results. They are now the most sought after studio when it come to special effects coz they reinvented the wheel. If steve Jobs didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no Pixar today. If apple didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no iphone. Same case with google and Android. Now Nokia has to reinvent the wheel to stay relevant. Microsoft thought reinventing the wheel was nonsense look whats happening to them. New technology is based on reinventing the wheel which is necessary when you find that the existing tools are not there yet. Nasa's core business is reinventing the wheel.. am sure you thought it was just flying to space. When Google was started there were no less that six search engines on the internet and every body thought another one was not needed. Look where google is now. Where are the other six? when Gmail was started there were already enough email services out there. You think Google cares? No way. Google has made a Career of reinventing the wheel. Christopher Colombus dared to reinvent the wheel (route to India) where all the sailors of his time dreaded sailing off into the Atlantic. What happened, He discovered America. Hat if he thought like KE devs and decided to use the existing route? The point is if you want to be stuck in the status quo that the idea I have already exists so i shouldnt run with it is just messed up. Personally I am not interested in free skunk mails but what if the idea is run with and who knows in three years it evolves into the next big thing...who knows? I think what Aki is saying is that Ke devs fear treading into new territory and come up with all sorts of excuses why the wheel cannot be invented. Forget about the crowd and follow you dreams and ideas. No one said it will be easy. Its gonna be hell on earth following and implementing your idea. Bugs are part of software development. If you are a Dev and you fear Bugs then you are in the wrong profession. Steve Obbayi Software Developer ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Kioko" <dmbuvi@gmail.com> To: "Skunkworks Mailing List" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2010 4:27:52 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] To Re-Invent the wheel? Why is it important for us to keep re-inventing, re-evolving. I also give you a project.. Also remember that new software comes with bugs which have to be discovered, patched and exploited. Building on a software that has already been patched is better _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@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 _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@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 -- Regards, Joe Murithi Njeru Linux User: #361092 SIP: joe.njeru@ekiga.net Twitter: http://twitter.com/joenjeru Blog: http://www.joenjeru.com
Well said! Although small correction. It was not Colombus that discovered America. On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 2:33 PM, Steve Obbayi <steve@sobbayi.com> wrote:
You wanna know why some of us find it necessary to reinvent the wheel? well its because some of us are not satisfied with the status. Just coz something works doesn't mean its okay for me.
I am heavy involved in 3D graphics Software development and from what I have been able to learn from the industry is that a lot of these animation studios build their own renderers from scratch in house... an later end up being licensed outside the companies when interest builds.
Am sure you enjoy and marvel at Pixars movies... guess what they use a tool called renderman to render their movies. It was built from scratch even though the studio spends a fortune on Maya and other software which could have done the same job.
But why is pixar on top? Because they needed to achieve some effects that puts them ahead of the competition and the Maya renderer or any other was not acceptable acceptable. It was Steve Jobs (one of my mentors by the way) who said "Never Settle (He was referring to jobs or projects you are working on), keep looking, keep searching and keep working at your dream".
The same thing happened with Weta Workshop (guys of Lord of the rings etc) They built their software (Massive) from scratch because what existed was not good enough. Look at the results. They are now the most sought after studio when it come to special effects coz they reinvented the wheel.
If steve Jobs didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no Pixar today. If apple didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no iphone. Same case with google and Android.
Now Nokia has to reinvent the wheel to stay relevant. Microsoft thought reinventing the wheel was nonsense look whats happening to them.
New technology is based on reinventing the wheel which is necessary when you find that the existing tools are not there yet.
Nasa's core business is reinventing the wheel.. am sure you thought it was just flying to space.
When Google was started there were no less that six search engines on the internet and every body thought another one was not needed. Look where google is now. Where are the other six? when Gmail was started there were already enough email services out there. You think Google cares? No way.
Google has made a Career of reinventing the wheel.
Christopher Colombus dared to reinvent the wheel (route to India) where all the sailors of his time dreaded sailing off into the Atlantic. What happened, He discovered America. Hat if he thought like KE devs and decided to use the existing route?
The point is if you want to be stuck in the status quo that the idea I have already exists so i shouldnt run with it is just messed up.
Personally I am not interested in free skunk mails but what if the idea is run with and who knows in three years it evolves into the next big thing...who knows?
I think what Aki is saying is that Ke devs fear treading into new territory and come up with all sorts of excuses why the wheel cannot be invented.
Forget about the crowd and follow you dreams and ideas. No one said it will be easy. Its gonna be hell on earth following and implementing your idea. Bugs are part of software development. If you are a Dev and you fear Bugs then you are in the wrong profession.
Steve Obbayi Software Developer
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Kioko" <dmbuvi@gmail.com> To: "Skunkworks Mailing List" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2010 4:27:52 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] To Re-Invent the wheel? Why is it important for us to keep re-inventing, re-evolving. I also give you a project..
Also remember that new software comes with bugs which have to be discovered, patched and exploited. Building on a software that has already been patched is better _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@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
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Prologue Howard Charney, Cisco Vice President, spoke at the Kenya ICT Board grant dinner. He talked about his career life and how they founded and sold 3com. After that he and some other guys founded another company but were not sure what the company would do. That company later came up with a much faster and more affordable ethernet switching. They were later acquired by Cisco. Dear Aki and others like minded, It is clear that this project has no solid direction yet and is driven highly by passion. I am interested in being a part of it. I would like to be involved in the user interface as thats my strong point. The cool thing with being driven by passion is that one can go over more obstacles to get it done. If we dont get there, we will have learnt a lot and be wiser for other projects ahead, either way, we benefit. Let me take this opportunity to mention some of my unsuccessful web projects: I tried mapping matatu routes and when that didn't work, I gave up the domain www.matatu.co.ke. I recently left aside www.buyanzi.com that provided invites and info for couples preparing to get married. 2010/11/4 Rad! <conradakunga@gmail.com>
Well said!
Although small correction. It was not Colombus that discovered America.
On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 2:33 PM, Steve Obbayi <steve@sobbayi.com> wrote:
You wanna know why some of us find it necessary to reinvent the wheel? well its because some of us are not satisfied with the status. Just coz something works doesn't mean its okay for me.
I am heavy involved in 3D graphics Software development and from what I have been able to learn from the industry is that a lot of these animation studios build their own renderers from scratch in house... an later end up being licensed outside the companies when interest builds.
Am sure you enjoy and marvel at Pixars movies... guess what they use a tool called renderman to render their movies. It was built from scratch even though the studio spends a fortune on Maya and other software which could have done the same job.
But why is pixar on top? Because they needed to achieve some effects that puts them ahead of the competition and the Maya renderer or any other was not acceptable acceptable. It was Steve Jobs (one of my mentors by the way) who said "Never Settle (He was referring to jobs or projects you are working on), keep looking, keep searching and keep working at your dream".
The same thing happened with Weta Workshop (guys of Lord of the rings etc) They built their software (Massive) from scratch because what existed was not good enough. Look at the results. They are now the most sought after studio when it come to special effects coz they reinvented the wheel.
If steve Jobs didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no Pixar today. If apple didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no iphone. Same case with google and Android.
Now Nokia has to reinvent the wheel to stay relevant. Microsoft thought reinventing the wheel was nonsense look whats happening to them.
New technology is based on reinventing the wheel which is necessary when you find that the existing tools are not there yet.
Nasa's core business is reinventing the wheel.. am sure you thought it was just flying to space.
When Google was started there were no less that six search engines on the internet and every body thought another one was not needed. Look where google is now. Where are the other six? when Gmail was started there were already enough email services out there. You think Google cares? No way.
Google has made a Career of reinventing the wheel.
Christopher Colombus dared to reinvent the wheel (route to India) where all the sailors of his time dreaded sailing off into the Atlantic. What happened, He discovered America. Hat if he thought like KE devs and decided to use the existing route?
The point is if you want to be stuck in the status quo that the idea I have already exists so i shouldnt run with it is just messed up.
Personally I am not interested in free skunk mails but what if the idea is run with and who knows in three years it evolves into the next big thing...who knows?
I think what Aki is saying is that Ke devs fear treading into new territory and come up with all sorts of excuses why the wheel cannot be invented.
Forget about the crowd and follow you dreams and ideas. No one said it will be easy. Its gonna be hell on earth following and implementing your idea. Bugs are part of software development. If you are a Dev and you fear Bugs then you are in the wrong profession.
Steve Obbayi Software Developer
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Kioko" <dmbuvi@gmail.com> To: "Skunkworks Mailing List" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2010 4:27:52 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] To Re-Invent the wheel? Why is it important for us to keep re-inventing, re-evolving. I also give you a project..
Also remember that new software comes with bugs which have to be discovered, patched and exploited. Building on a software that has already been patched is better _______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@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
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-- Gichingiri Kuria _________________________________________ www.website.co.ke / www.sokoletu.co.ke
Dear @Kuria, The main reason I put the idea forth was to give all like minded devs something that Devs can work towards. Those who understand that we need to do this, whether at spare time or otherwise. It is a viable project that has long term benefits not only towards our market but outside. I believe the SMS market is growing and is not going to stop. The spread uses of the SMS are going to increase. I'm not an open source dev so that puts me at a serious handicap on such a project, however I can share as much thoughts as possible or even my vision of such a project. Nice of you to share your stalled projects, the attempts always teach us more. I can tell you these about mine ( of the 17 lined up ) : - Project 16 : Back to my passion for Video. I started this almost 4 years ago ( not as a dev but a useless end user and a lot has changed now. ) - Project 17 - The final and for me the top project that encapsulates all the pain and gain of over 3-5 years of study. The attempt to have a a wireless model model car remotely controlled by kenyans using the web. The journey may cover 500Kms and about 20 Kms per day. There will be an online ticketing system that KE users can logon and actally drive the wireless model car. There are too many factors involved but hopefully when I get this going, Safcom 3g or clean Edge will be available along the route. What is the point? Create more and more awareness of the KE net and that the net is just not for websites alone. I'll need all the help with this one and will float the project as it nears. Will see, time will decide. Rgds. On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 3:38 PM, Gichingiri Kuria <gmail@gichingiri.com>wrote:
Dear Aki and others like minded, It is clear that this project has no solid direction yet and is driven highly by passion. I am interested in being a part of it. I would like to be involved in the user interface as thats my strong point.
The cool thing with being driven by passion is that one can go over more obstacles to get it done. If we dont get there, we will have learnt a lot and be wiser for other projects ahead, either way, we benefit.
ha! talking of inventions, my lineup is filling pretty quick, but one, whose appplicability may be inspired both by al shabaab and the chinese is below: problem: too much human collateral in dangerous situations like fighting terrorists. Solution: a cheap, fiber glass made UAV Helicopter running on batteries enough to run 24 hrs and carrying just an AK47 and ammo, mass produceable and deployable in vast numbers. payload about 25kgs. Features: head to "home coordinates" on loss of signal. Mesh topology in comm so that each deployment is self extending. Solar powered. IP based. ............... :-) On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 4:39 PM, aki <aki275@gmail.com> wrote:
Dear @Kuria,
The main reason I put the idea forth was to give all like minded devs something that Devs can work towards.
Those who understand that we need to do this, whether at spare time or otherwise. It is a viable project that has long term benefits not only towards our market but outside. I believe the SMS market is growing and is not going to stop. The spread uses of the SMS are going to increase.
I'm not an open source dev so that puts me at a serious handicap on such a project, however I can share as much thoughts as possible or even my vision of such a project.
Nice of you to share your stalled projects, the attempts always teach us more. I can tell you these about mine ( of the 17 lined up ) :
- Project 16 : Back to my passion for Video. I started this almost 4 years ago ( not as a dev but a useless end user and a lot has changed now. )
- Project 17 - The final and for me the top project that encapsulates all the pain and gain of over 3-5 years of study. The attempt to have a a wireless model model car remotely controlled by kenyans using the web. The journey may cover 500Kms and about 20 Kms per day. There will be an online ticketing system that KE users can logon and actally drive the wireless model car. There are too many factors involved but hopefully when I get this going, Safcom 3g or clean Edge will be available along the route. What is the point? Create more and more awareness of the KE net and that the net is just not for websites alone. I'll need all the help with this one and will float the project as it nears. Will see, time will decide.
Rgds.
On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 3:38 PM, Gichingiri Kuria <gmail@gichingiri.com>wrote:
Dear Aki and others like minded, It is clear that this project has no solid direction yet and is driven highly by passion. I am interested in being a part of it. I would like to be involved in the user interface as thats my strong point.
The cool thing with being driven by passion is that one can go over more obstacles to get it done. If we dont get there, we will have learnt a lot and be wiser for other projects ahead, either way, we benefit.
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I think the phrase re-inventing the wheel is being misused here. Back to aki:s example: What the PZ guys are doing is not re-inventing the wheel. They take an existing invention and add a new invention to it. But if someone would come up to me and say I got this really good idea - let's create a round object and use it to ease transportation - it would be mean not to show the person an existing wheel. And to the IT world: DukaPress is an excellent example of taking something existing and adding something new to it. Creating a webmail service and not adding any new function to it but just host it in Kenya ... re-inventing the wheel. Sometimes building on existing solutions is not enough if you want to increase performance radically or (again) add something truly unique to something existing as in the case of 3D software. If the hours and the cash is there why not. But one has to be realistic; it would take far too much time and money to even recreate the main feature of GMail: the Google search built into it. It is rare that it is this easy to say that something doesn't make sense so we will continue trying and sometimes succeed and sometimes fail. If I share an idea with someone (maybe on a mailing list) to see if it would work I would be very disappointed if someone did not tell me that this is re-inventing the wheel if it was. Another (complete!) project "re-inventing the wheel": The .kenya domain ... 2012 top level domains will be available to the public. How would it be different from the existing .ke? 1. Pricing would have to be closer to .com. When telling a client that a .co.ke domain would be 150% more expensive the client's choice is usually .com 2. Fully automated system for registration. Tucows would probably be able to handle this via http://www.opensrs.com/ 3. Easier to say than .co.ke or .or.ke. It is sad that Kenya has adopted the UK domain structure..ke would have been more than enough. Am not even sure it would be possible legally to obtain a country name tld and the initial investment is high but it is an idea. Free! Don't re-invent the wheel - add something new to the wheel instead :) On 11/04/2010 03:17 PM, Rad! wrote:
Well said!
Although small correction. It was not Colombus that discovered America.
On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 2:33 PM, Steve Obbayi <steve@sobbayi.com <mailto:steve@sobbayi.com>> wrote:
You wanna know why some of us find it necessary to reinvent the wheel? well its because some of us are not satisfied with the status. Just coz something works doesn't mean its okay for me.
I am heavy involved in 3D graphics Software development and from what I have been able to learn from the industry is that a lot of these animation studios build their own renderers from scratch in house... an later end up being licensed outside the companies when interest builds.
Am sure you enjoy and marvel at Pixars movies... guess what they use a tool called renderman to render their movies. It was built from scratch even though the studio spends a fortune on Maya and other software which could have done the same job.
But why is pixar on top? Because they needed to achieve some effects that puts them ahead of the competition and the Maya renderer or any other was not acceptable acceptable. It was Steve Jobs (one of my mentors by the way) who said "Never Settle (He was referring to jobs or projects you are working on), keep looking, keep searching and keep working at your dream".
The same thing happened with Weta Workshop (guys of Lord of the rings etc) They built their software (Massive) from scratch because what existed was not good enough. Look at the results. They are now the most sought after studio when it come to special effects coz they reinvented the wheel.
If steve Jobs didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no Pixar today. If apple didnt reinvent the wheel they would be no iphone. Same case with google and Android.
Now Nokia has to reinvent the wheel to stay relevant. Microsoft thought reinventing the wheel was nonsense look whats happening to them.
New technology is based on reinventing the wheel which is necessary when you find that the existing tools are not there yet.
Nasa's core business is reinventing the wheel.. am sure you thought it was just flying to space.
When Google was started there were no less that six search engines on the internet and every body thought another one was not needed. Look where google is now. Where are the other six? when Gmail was started there were already enough email services out there. You think Google cares? No way.
Google has made a Career of reinventing the wheel.
Christopher Colombus dared to reinvent the wheel (route to India) where all the sailors of his time dreaded sailing off into the Atlantic. What happened, He discovered America. Hat if he thought like KE devs and decided to use the existing route?
The point is if you want to be stuck in the status quo that the idea I have already exists so i shouldnt run with it is just messed up.
Personally I am not interested in free skunk mails but what if the idea is run with and who knows in three years it evolves into the next big thing...who knows?
I think what Aki is saying is that Ke devs fear treading into new territory and come up with all sorts of excuses why the wheel cannot be invented.
Forget about the crowd and follow you dreams and ideas. No one said it will be easy. Its gonna be hell on earth following and implementing your idea. Bugs are part of software development. If you are a Dev and you fear Bugs then you are in the wrong profession.
Steve Obbayi Software Developer
----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Kioko" <dmbuvi@gmail.com <mailto:dmbuvi@gmail.com>> To: "Skunkworks Mailing List" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke <mailto:skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke>> Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2010 4:27:52 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] To Re-Invent the wheel? Why is it important for us to keep re-inventing, re-evolving. I also give you a project..
Also remember that new software comes with bugs which have to be discovered, patched and exploited. Building on a software that has already been patched is better
@Jonas, glad you mention about the domains and its an idea :-) I have a question though, have you created a CMS system that will automate the payments of domain purchases, DNS and IP Acllocation with Zones? Rgds. On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 4:01 PM, Jonas | Lamu Software < jonas@lamusoftware.com> wrote:
Another (complete!) project "re-inventing the wheel":
The .kenya domain ... 2012 top level domains will be available to the public.
How would it be different from the existing .ke?
1. Pricing would have to be closer to .com. When telling a client that a . co.ke domain would be 150% more expensive the client's choice is usually .com
2. Fully automated system for registration. Tucows would probably be able to handle this via http://www.opensrs.com/
3. Easier to say than .co.ke or .or.ke. It is sad that Kenya has adopted the UK domain structure..ke would have been more than enough.
Am not even sure it would be possible legally to obtain a country name tld and the initial investment is high but it is an idea. Free!
Don't re-invent the wheel - add something new to the wheel instead :)
I would not do this - too much time. There will most likely be a number of companies who already have the application offering this service once the tld:s are released. Tucows and their OpenSRS as mentioned for example. On 11/04/2010 05:43 PM, aki wrote:
@Jonas, glad you mention about the domains and its an idea :-) I have a question though, have you created a CMS system that will automate the payments of domain purchases, DNS and IP Acllocation with Zones? Rgds.
On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 4:01 PM, Jonas | Lamu Software <jonas@lamusoftware.com <mailto:jonas@lamusoftware.com>> wrote:
Another (complete!) project "re-inventing the wheel":
The .kenya domain ... 2012 top level domains will be available to the public.
How would it be different from the existing .ke?
1. Pricing would have to be closer to .com. When telling a client that a .co.ke <http://co.ke/> domain would be 150% more expensive the client's choice is usually .com
2. Fully automated system for registration. Tucows would probably be able to handle this via http://www.opensrs.com/
3. Easier to say than .co.ke <http://co.ke/> or .or.ke <http://or.ke/>. It is sad that Kenya has adopted the UK domain structure..ke would have been more than enough.
Am not even sure it would be possible legally to obtain a country name tld and the initial investment is high but it is an idea. Free!
Don't re-invent the wheel - add something new to the wheel instead :)
Just a general comment. I believe the whole point of this thread is lost. No one wants to create a local CMS system to automate payment, ip address and dns zones allocation upon domain registrations. No one wants to create SMS gateways. Maybe we just cannot do it so it is easier to use the plug and play concepts. Whatever the reasons, I believe some of us who have many years in the the tech industry on various systems, platforms, solutions will strive towards localization and eventualy create the systems and services that are applicable from a localized perspective. It may or may not be a profit making affair but it needs to be done. Unfortunately for the open source community, closed source people like us who are L-devs on such platforms may just provide the real answers in the long term. Catchup later on other threads. Cheers. :-) On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 6:02 PM, Jonas | Lamu Software < jonas@lamusoftware.com> wrote:
I would not do this - too much time. There will most likely be a number of companies who already have the application offering this service once the tld:s are released.
Tucows and their OpenSRS as mentioned for example.
LOl Rad, I know where you are going with this Steve Obbayi Software Development ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rad!" <conradakunga@gmail.com> To: "Skunkworks Mailing List" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Thursday, November 4, 2010 8:17:36 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] To Re-Invent the wheel? Why is it important for us to keep re-inventing, re-evolving. I also give you a project.. Well said! Although small correction. It was not Colombus that discovered America.
Ok, am starting to see the thread digress into something else, so will not contribute on this thread anymore. I leave it to you to decide what works and what does not. Your call. End of thread.
Guys, guys! you give up too soon or you are too used to freeware of the open source world. Or maybe you guys are too used to the Free nature of the internet and free sites and free db servers therefore to create anything else outside this is too much! :-) On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 11:25 AM, [ Brainiac ] <arebacollins@gmail.com>wrote:
that is to say, other than a feeling of national pride, is there a reason to have these non SOS software developed?
aki that brings me back to the fundamental question. WHY? why re invent? On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 11:31 AM, aki <aki275@gmail.com> wrote:
Guys, guys! you give up too soon or you are too used to freeware of the open source world. Or maybe you guys are too used to the Free nature of the internet and free sites and free db servers therefore to create anything else outside this is too much! :-)
On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 11:25 AM, [ Brainiac ] <arebacollins@gmail.com>wrote:
that is to say, other than a feeling of national pride, is there a reason to have these non SOS software developed?
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@Collins, because not matter what the invention, it will always have limitations to what it can do. Since you are into the power sector, I have a question for you. Have you ever generated your own AC power using 12 or 24Volt? The engine is the invertor, right? I have and and I can tell you I build invertors from scratch including the tranformers. Not I did not buy a kit and assemble it! I actually had to calculate the drain currents on the power mosfets, create the oscillator circuits with timer chips to generate the almost square waves and also wind the transformer. This was many years ago when a 1KA invertor cost around 90-100Ksh. I used to power my basic needs when KPLC was the parafin lamp company during the drought years. There are many other projects I've done ( not as hobbies but invested money, time and efforts into. Made some and lost some too ). Most of the Apps are really just a necessity, question is can you build and make it work for you and others? This Dev industry is sooo easy in terms on investments. You can grow from no where to some where without having spent more than 100K on your laptop, if you really wanted to. Try all the other industries/careers, without large investments, you can do nothing. Ask the RHL admins on this list if they have a commercial server at home for development enviroments.... Guys give me a break and let me do my other stuff. Catch up later. Rgds. On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 11:33 AM, [ Brainiac ] <arebacollins@gmail.com>wrote:
aki that brings me back to the fundamental question. WHY? why re invent?
On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 11:53 AM, aki <aki275@gmail.com> wrote:
@Collins, because not matter what the invention, it will always have limitations to what it can do.
EXACTLY! which means innovation in this respect would be working with what is there, not creating from scratch. Mkahawa guys have provided a solution to a problem, a linux cuber cafe timer, they did not go start from scratch, they picked the best the open source world could give them and refined. Same as those many guys utilizing drupal, or ubuntu, or openbravo, or sugar CRM and inevitably contributing man hours into this. Are we forgetting the likes of Kasina & eric who are contributing to the open source world? (or are they not Kenyan enough?)
Since you are into the power sector, I have a question for you. Have you ever generated your own AC power using 12 or 24Volt? The engine is the invertor, right? I have and and I can tell you I build invertors from scratch including the tranformers. Not I did not buy a kit and assemble it! I actually had to calculate the drain currents on the power mosfets, create the oscillator circuits with timer chips to generate the almost square waves and also wind the transformer. This was many years ago when a 1KA invertor cost around 90-100Ksh. I used to power my basic needs when KPLC was the parafin lamp company during the drought years.
Nice, hobbyst at best. Unless you can tell me how these self wired applications can meet anything but a personal sense of fullfillment, they have no real world applicability, cant compete in the face of chinese competition. at least not an approach like that. My beliefs in the energy sector are very public, we need cheap energy, period. all the other concerns (global warming, environmental effects of this ...e.t.c pale in comparison.
There are many other projects I've done ( not as hobbies but invested money, time and efforts into. Made some and lost some too ).
Most of the Apps are really just a necessity, question is can you build and make it work for you and others? This Dev industry is sooo easy in terms on investments. You can grow from no where to some where without having spent more than 100K on your laptop, if you really wanted to. Try all the other industries/careers, without large investments, you can do nothing.
Ask the RHL admins on this list if they have a commercial server at home for development enviroments....
Guys give me a break and let me do my other stuff. Catch up later.
Rgds.
On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 11:33 AM, [ Brainiac ] <arebacollins@gmail.com>wrote:
aki that brings me back to the fundamental question. WHY? why re invent?
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@Brianiac, hmmm, I see your mind is made up on not even trying because logically when the chinese grey market copied the iphone , Apple should have closed shop? I tell you what, give the subject suggestion a try when and if you have time to spare and if it does not work for you, well at least you tried. No harm done, maybe learnt more in the process.
What I really think is, USSD type of applications will need some sort of APIs, that is placed on the Ntwk Operator systems, and not on the mobile handsets. This is largely due to the exponential growth of mobile hardware (which serve different markets, users and needs with regards to affordability, apps and solution that the end user requires) These I beleive is done in 3 ways 1. USSD type request from each provider e.g the airtime requests *133# 2. Short codes (in sms gateways) for PRSP's 3. Extra functionality programmed into SIM card. MPESA, ZAP, and Provider specific subscriber services For an API to be standard across all mobile handsets, I think such a project to develop a cross platform USSD wouldn't survive a lifetime it would have expected. This is because there is not standard way to integrate mobile phone OS (from Nokia has Symbian, Google had Android, Apple have iOS) .........to use a standard API. Some things like this are possibly, but only that they r not practical from a realistic point of view. The means don't justify the end!! On Thu, Nov 4, 2010 at 9:10 AM, Geoffrey Mimano <soyfactor@gmail.com> wrote:
......
*The Project Idea:*
..... What is needed is really a USSD type of application that is not handset dependent, thus allowing access that is not even internet dependent. ....
Bwana aki. U just left out the interesting bit. What USSD application exactly do you have in mind?? You have also said alot of things here about VCs and competitions and other stuff which are not quite clear to me. You could be talking from a point of ignorance or you could really have a point. I just want to understand. What exactly is your point! because it becoming hard for me to follow.
On 3 November 2010 21:28, aki <aki275@gmail.com> wrote:
Many companies, investors do not think about the re-invention issue. Most VCs, Seeds, goodwill or angel investors or even partnerships will consider the impact of your work/product/solution. Does it have to be ground breaking? It has to be different....
*As a example of re-inventing the wheel is this:*
-OLD WHEEL : Fascinating facts about the invention of the Wheel by Mesopotamian's in c3500 BC. http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/wheel.htm
- NEW WHEEL : The brand OZ Racing is developed and manufactured in Italy. Pure OZ Racing Style, pure Italian Style. http://www.ozracing.com/car_wheels_brands/OZ%20Racing.aspx
So with that simple example in mind, I'd like to have your attention for the words below. I list this project and is the property of the Skunks KE community.
*Lets begin with what you are: *
- 90% of us are all just end users of systems. Whether Developers or not, you are just that. So you know how to write scripts on linux, windows or mac? So what, so can millions of other people.
- You know how to write C#, C++, CSS or HTML or JAVA? So what, you are no different from 90% of the end user market.
- You know to configure Linux, FreeBSD, Solaris? Yeah, ok whatever.
- You know how to create graphics or logos on photoshop? Yeah, good work but no one cares.
- You know how to setup, configure, plesk, cpanel, asterisk etc? Again, so what. So does the rest of the world who taught you to configure these.
- I know how to confirgure Cisco, Nortel, Juniper, Rad, Extreme Networks? Right, tell the world something new!
While we all are at the mercy of what happens elsewhere it becomes our zone to improve, re-evolve and re-invent as much as possible.
*The Project Idea:*
We all know that the Mobile market is exploding with many demands and better handsets. We also know that Smartphones is just but a tiny market. What is needed is really a USSD type of application that is not handset dependent, thus allowing access that is not even internet dependent.
*The Wheel:*
Ohh, do I hear everyone running to Kannel? Or providers like clickatel?
I bet you 90% of all SMS gateways are running kannel and so you know how to setup and configure? Great, your are just another user statistic in the picture of technology development. How many kenyan providers use this product? Ohh, am a kannel developer and I know how to do wonderful things on kannel. Rubbish statement, you are just driver of a nissan matatu that is an LHD model.
The Kannel Wheel evolved for Kenyan and African Markets, developed and open for re-investment to any investors like eg Nokia, VCs, Seeders, Telcos, Partnerships :
Let me not even fill in the details here.....
*So what is it that am saying?*
Gentlemen, Ladies. Mind not the language but I hope it brings out the point. There is so much to be done, we need to build and invite investments. Am still a hobbyist dev so I have enough time to kill study and time on various projects, so far there are 17 lined up enough to keep me busy for many many months. Are you still trying to be an end user in the name of not re-inventing or re-evolving?
My plea to you in one. Please wake up from that end user sleep and do something. Each day that goes is a loss for this country in terms of investments, recognition. and technology development You are also letting opportunities go by as you stand and watch others from countries come up with simple and silly ways, yet they are getting somewhere.
I can only wish you success with your projects. :-)
Me thots and corrections welcome.
Rgds.
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-- Mimano G. Muthondu, Software Developer skype : gmimano Mobile : +254 723 615 206
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-- Regards, Greg -------- Life is not a rehearsal, you only live once!
@Gregory, forget all that I wrote or suggested. What would you suggest as a localized version of an SMS gateway with all the bells and whistles? Or even better, what would you suggested as an automated domain registration system for kenya? On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 1:02 PM, Gregory Okoth <gregory.okoth@gmail.com>wrote:
Some things like this are possibly, but only that they r not practical from a realistic point of view. The means don't justify the end!!
@Aki, Its been a while since I checked into Skunkmail.... Moving on, am not really an authority in SMS gateways and its stuff, but my sentiments is that our mobile operators are stifling development by not availing SMS gateway n others APIs that they own, hence only those coders who work for them have the knowledge. On the other hand, there lacks some sort of synergy among developers to overcome this obstacle, which may still go back to pointing fingers at the Operators (mayb they fear competition), the industry (he who has money has the final say) and maybe the regulator (CCK or InfoComm ministry) to allow techies access such on grounds of knowledge transfer and the spirit of openness (open source?!!!) For the automated domain reg system, I can really say. But *.co.ke* is like the standard which is used all over for us and other countries. Do we really have to change it to *.kenya* just for the sake of re-inventing the wheel?? On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 1:36 PM, aki <aki275@gmail.com> wrote:
@Gregory, forget all that I wrote or suggested. What would you suggest as a localized version of an SMS gateway with all the bells and whistles? Or even better, what would you suggested as an automated domain registration system for kenya?
On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 1:02 PM, Gregory Okoth <gregory.okoth@gmail.com>wrote:
Some things like this are possibly, but only that they r not practical from a realistic point of view. The means don't justify the end!!
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@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
-- Regards, Greg -------- Life is not a rehearsal, you only live once!
Did u mean registering domains within the Kenyan internet community? Like those for corporate/company specific domains? That would be a gud idea! But again, wouldn't it fall in the domain of the regulator - CCK? On Tue, Nov 9, 2010 at 11:46 AM, Gregory Okoth <gregory.okoth@gmail.com>wrote:
@Aki, Its been a while since I checked into Skunkmail.... Moving on, am not really an authority in SMS gateways and its stuff, but my sentiments is that our mobile operators are stifling development by not availing SMS gateway n others APIs that they own, hence only those coders who work for them have the knowledge. On the other hand, there lacks some sort of synergy among developers to overcome this obstacle, which may still go back to pointing fingers at the Operators (mayb they fear competition), the industry (he who has money has the final say) and maybe the regulator (CCK or InfoComm ministry) to allow techies access such on grounds of knowledge transfer and the spirit of openness (open source?!!!)
For the automated domain reg system, I can really say. But *.co.ke* is like the standard which is used all over for us and other countries. Do we really have to change it to *.kenya* just for the sake of re-inventing the wheel??
On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 1:36 PM, aki <aki275@gmail.com> wrote:
@Gregory, forget all that I wrote or suggested. What would you suggest as a localized version of an SMS gateway with all the bells and whistles? Or even better, what would you suggested as an automated domain registration system for kenya?
On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 1:02 PM, Gregory Okoth <gregory.okoth@gmail.com>wrote:
Some things like this are possibly, but only that they r not practical from a realistic point of view. The means don't justify the end!!
_______________________________________________ Skunkworks mailing list Skunkworks@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
-- Regards, Greg -------- Life is not a rehearsal, you only live once!
-- Regards, Greg -------- Life is not a rehearsal, you only live once!
Hi @Greg, that's what I mean, similar to when you go online and buy domains. You pay by card etc, you get your logon and domain details with all the relevant info. I'm not sure but I think in KE there is some shortcut going on i.e Domain Registrars who also provide hosting do not purchase subnets which get registered into KENIC/AFRINIC etc. But not sure on this, it needs more research. On Tue, Nov 9, 2010 at 12:06 PM, Gregory Okoth <gregory.okoth@gmail.com>wrote:
Did u mean registering domains within the Kenyan internet community? Like those for corporate/company specific domains? That would be a gud idea! But again, wouldn't it fall in the domain of the regulator - CCK?
participants (11)
-
[ Brainiac ] -
aki -
Dennis Kioko -
Geoffrey Mimano -
Gichingiri Kuria -
gisho -
Gregory Okoth -
Joe Murithi Njeru -
Jonas | Lamu Software -
Rad! -
Steve Obbayi