I don't think there is a standard. Its not up to the government to come up with the standards and rules of writing software. each application comes with their license agreement. if you don't like the license then don't install it. As far as programming languages they too have their standards and its the work of the compiler to adhere to those standards. Its not Kenya's responsibility to decide what the language can do or cannot do because programming languages have no borders. The other type of standards to follow are not really standards but are basically "best practices". these practices are important when working as a team simply so that fellow developers can figure out your code more easily. That leaves me to the 3rd possibility for KEBS to satisfy, which could also be tricky such like... 1. Does financial software conform to KRA regulations? KEBS could cross check against these regulations and this simply leaves it at a basic feature set for an accounting package. This would mean KEBS would need to define what minimum features of every possible software or game or whatever should have. That's a tall order for KEBS to do considering the innumerable applications software can be used for. 2. Another thing is, would KEBS be putting their mark on a bug riddled piece of software? Or would KEBS now be responsible for bug tracking of software? If so what would happen when they find MySoftware Version 1.0.0 has no bugs and put a mark on it. My client updates his software online and it becomes MySOftware Version 2.0.0 which has introduced a bug. will KEBS want to bug track version 2 again. which means as you continue to work on your application, at the end of every code, debug, compile cycle you have to mail a copy to KEBS? 3. How about this. what if as a client I dont want the KEBS mark cluttering my website? Just because the development house that i chose is KEBS certified? 4. How about Developer A has the KEBS mark while Developer B doesn't have it yet they both use the same versions of LAMP for hosting. Or better yet, does KEBS have the capacity to audit the mysql codebase and put their mark on it? I think KEBS is getting too excited here and my suggestion is they stick to a general set of features. eg testing against different industry requiremnts and sticking to that. 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: "Rad!" <conradakunga@gmail.com> To: "Skunkworks Forum" <skunkworks@lists.my.co.ke> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2009 5:57:43 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [Skunkworks] Kebs targets makers of software with quality rules @Evans I am certainly interested. I've written to KEBS already and not received a response. Anyone in the industry is well advised to make sure to get on this particular committee. I'm very intrigued -- has any other country attempted anything like this? On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 1:44 PM, Evans Ikua < ikua.evans@gmail.com > wrote: I am aware that KEBS formed a committee about a month ago to look into the issue of Software deverlopment standards. They also need resources on that committee. In case anyone on this list is interested, I can hook you up with the KEBS people. They actually need your input on these matters. Anyone interested? Ikua On Fri, Nov 20, 2009 at 1:22 PM, aki < aki275@googlemail.com > wrote: @Rad, @Billy. Thanks for sharing your insights too. Client is king and I can now understand how difficult it would be for many to build from scratch given the limited options. So the entire problem is driven by clients and not programmers. I can also understand that clients may not have the budgets to pay for a full scale paid script and solution. We share the same experiences in the network world too. Correction on my part was definately in order, thanks to those who have straightened the record else I'd under the impression that coders are not doing what they can. Freeware is off the hook from me... :-) As a final clarification, what would be model programming standards in kenya? - Be practical, re-use code and tools to save on time and costs. - Be innovation, provide a one stop gui/graphics/programming/development solution. These items do not have to be inhouse, can be sourced externally. I think now the immediate issues are what Kebs/KICTB come up with. Rgds. _______________________________________________ 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 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 _______________________________________________ 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 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 _______________________________________________ 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 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