Bill SerGio, The Infomercial King
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
Nicely put. I'm guessing there are people here who have not liked some of your comments on articles that may have appeared a little harsh, and so have held it against you. Did I say a little harsh? Quite often you gave them a good spanking, but then I laughed. Saying that, I've not seen you have a go at anyone in ages, and find it hard that people hold a grudge so long.
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
It would be easier to listen to and respect you if you didn't shout at us all the time (use words for emphasis, not uppercase) and stopped making patently untrue claims (1gig in 0seconds through a tin-can or something.) Other than that, we appreciate the entertainment. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Ian Darling wrote: "and our loonies usually end up doing things like Monty Python." Crikey! ain't life grand?
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It would be easier to listen to and respect you if you didn't shout at us all the time (use words for emphasis, not uppercase) and stopped making patently untrue claims (1gig in 0seconds through a tin-can or something.) Other than that, we appreciate the entertainment. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Ian Darling wrote: "and our loonies usually end up doing things like Monty Python." Crikey! ain't life grand?
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Hey Bill, I'm guessing the reason some don't like you is because you can come across as a little arrogant and a little defensive when it comes to criticism. So saying I have to agree with you that many developers forget that if you are in the software industry to pay the rent then someone, somewhere needs to market your product. How that is done is up to individual's tastes, though, and loud, brash, instrusive marketing rubs many people the wrong way and has been shown to provide diminishing returns. The adage 'less is more' does seem to be making a comeback. cheers, Chris Maunder
Chris Maunder wrote: The adage 'less is more' does seem to be making a comeback. You should really read the article linked to in JoS today: http://www.softwareceo.com/index.php[^]
Since Spolsky founded Fog Creek Software in 2000, revenues have more than doubled every year. Fog Creek is entirely self-funded, with no investors and no debt. He won't reveal his total sales or installed base, so as not to encourage any more copy-cat startups—it's happened before. But he says his accountant calls the eight-person company "ridiculously profitable." On a typical day, up to 50 people download a trial copy of his company's bug-tracking software, FogBUGZ. But whenever he posts a new article online, that number jumps close to 500—all from people who come to his site, notice the link to Fog Creek at the bottom of every page, and click to check it out. Pretty good so far, eh? And here's the most amazing part: Fog Creek has accomplished all this while spending next to no hard dollars on marketing. Repeat: The company's marketing budget for this year is $0. Zip. Zilch. Nada.So much for marketing ;P
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
I think Chris and Paul covered all that needs saying on the negative. Focussing on marketing however - a good article on that certainly would be appreciated! It's the area most geeks seem to fail in. It certainly seems to be my biggest downfall in photography :sigh:
Look at the world about you and trust to your own convictions. - Ansel Adams
Meg's World - Blog Photography -
Hey Bill, I'm guessing the reason some don't like you is because you can come across as a little arrogant and a little defensive when it comes to criticism. So saying I have to agree with you that many developers forget that if you are in the software industry to pay the rent then someone, somewhere needs to market your product. How that is done is up to individual's tastes, though, and loud, brash, instrusive marketing rubs many people the wrong way and has been shown to provide diminishing returns. The adage 'less is more' does seem to be making a comeback. cheers, Chris Maunder
It is true that my comments can, on occassion, be brash and irritating--sometimes unintentionally and sometimes intentionally. In reality, I am a very down to earth person who doesn't really think he is any better or smarter than anyone else--I am justy family man earning a living and what I emjoy most is my family! Your subtle undertones in the way you talk about "marketing" and software tells me that you really donb't think much about marketing at all. Here is my point... when I first got into marketing I thought I had all the answers and I soon learned that I was WRONG! Then I started to do focus groups and quickly learned that most people do NOT think as I do--what people like and respond to is very different than what you might think they do--a focus group is one way to get REAL information about people and software. In some of the focus groups I did on software I was amzed that people used criteria to evaluate software that has NOTHING to do with coding or how well a program works or is written--they might decide to download a program becvause it is green instead of gray--and this is what I believe a programmer must address MORE than the coding! If you know that a red colored background will mean nobody will use your software then you must select the most popular color and not the color you like! In designing "give-away" programs for clients, I have read all of the studies on why people use one program over another and it amazes me that most programmers look down their noses at you when you talk about this! :eek: Bill SerGio
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Chris Maunder wrote: The adage 'less is more' does seem to be making a comeback. You should really read the article linked to in JoS today: http://www.softwareceo.com/index.php[^]
Since Spolsky founded Fog Creek Software in 2000, revenues have more than doubled every year. Fog Creek is entirely self-funded, with no investors and no debt. He won't reveal his total sales or installed base, so as not to encourage any more copy-cat startups—it's happened before. But he says his accountant calls the eight-person company "ridiculously profitable." On a typical day, up to 50 people download a trial copy of his company's bug-tracking software, FogBUGZ. But whenever he posts a new article online, that number jumps close to 500—all from people who come to his site, notice the link to Fog Creek at the bottom of every page, and click to check it out. Pretty good so far, eh? And here's the most amazing part: Fog Creek has accomplished all this while spending next to no hard dollars on marketing. Repeat: The company's marketing budget for this year is $0. Zip. Zilch. Nada.So much for marketing ;P
Hey, wo do have as well as 50 daily trial downloads of our Windows based content management system (CMS). The bigger question is about how much of the trial downloaders actually BUY the software. That can be a totally diffferent number! -- - Free Windows-based CMS: www.zeta-software.de/enu/producer/freeware/download.html - See me: www.magerquark.de - MSN Messenger: uwe_keim@hotmail.com
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
Bill SerGio, The Infomercial King wrote: I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. Thats an interesting development model. My first stage is to find out what the user wants and then work out what they actually need. Of course, I'm more of a custom-software shop rather than a shrink-wrap product model. I prefer to concentrate on the actual business need and not try to add un-necessary bells and whistles just to help sell the solution. The first thing I design is the workflow and business logic which then dictates the user interface. I find the use of the word illusion interesting. I'd rather produce something that is actually easy to use rather than just giving the illusion. Michael CP Blog [^]
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It is true that my comments can, on occassion, be brash and irritating--sometimes unintentionally and sometimes intentionally. In reality, I am a very down to earth person who doesn't really think he is any better or smarter than anyone else--I am justy family man earning a living and what I emjoy most is my family! Your subtle undertones in the way you talk about "marketing" and software tells me that you really donb't think much about marketing at all. Here is my point... when I first got into marketing I thought I had all the answers and I soon learned that I was WRONG! Then I started to do focus groups and quickly learned that most people do NOT think as I do--what people like and respond to is very different than what you might think they do--a focus group is one way to get REAL information about people and software. In some of the focus groups I did on software I was amzed that people used criteria to evaluate software that has NOTHING to do with coding or how well a program works or is written--they might decide to download a program becvause it is green instead of gray--and this is what I believe a programmer must address MORE than the coding! If you know that a red colored background will mean nobody will use your software then you must select the most popular color and not the color you like! In designing "give-away" programs for clients, I have read all of the studies on why people use one program over another and it amazes me that most programmers look down their noses at you when you talk about this! :eek: Bill SerGio
Bill SerGio, The Infomercial King wrote: Your subtle undertones in the way you talk about "marketing" and software tells me that you really donb't think much about marketing at all. No - I have the utmost respect for marketers and am constantly amazed at the way we poor humans can be manipulated. Have you read "Influence: Science and Practice" by Robert Cialdini? Amazing stuff. Marketing plays an extremely important role in letting those who have a need find the product or service they want (pretty much any electronics gadget catalogue in my case ;)). Marketing can also be evil in manipulating people to believe they need something when they don't through devices such as fear and longing (look at the cosmetics industry). Marketing simply means making those who may want your product or service aware of it's existance and benefits, and this is Good. The manner in which this is done can be either good or evil. cheers, Chris Maunder
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Chris Maunder wrote: The adage 'less is more' does seem to be making a comeback. You should really read the article linked to in JoS today: http://www.softwareceo.com/index.php[^]
Since Spolsky founded Fog Creek Software in 2000, revenues have more than doubled every year. Fog Creek is entirely self-funded, with no investors and no debt. He won't reveal his total sales or installed base, so as not to encourage any more copy-cat startups—it's happened before. But he says his accountant calls the eight-person company "ridiculously profitable." On a typical day, up to 50 people download a trial copy of his company's bug-tracking software, FogBUGZ. But whenever he posts a new article online, that number jumps close to 500—all from people who come to his site, notice the link to Fog Creek at the bottom of every page, and click to check it out. Pretty good so far, eh? And here's the most amazing part: Fog Creek has accomplished all this while spending next to no hard dollars on marketing. Repeat: The company's marketing budget for this year is $0. Zip. Zilch. Nada.So much for marketing ;P
That's a rare example. Spolsky has an audience with his outspoken nature and many a folk go to his blog to read about his views on the software development process. Oh ya, and while you're reading about all of these good software development rules, I have this product over here to help you do it "right". This is marketing, plain and simple. He's very fortunate that it costs him nothing. The rest of us slouches gotta pay da man to do our sales and marketing. :(( Custom Software, Custom Solutions. Yye Software. http://www.yyesoftware.com
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
Forgive me for stepping in, since I rarely post, and mostly look at your articles to see what flame wars pop up. That said, as a Corporate programmer, the approach you described is one that is the bane of most of us, and may well explain the animosity "I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would." I have to support my lifestyle, too. However, programming is what I LOVE to do. "I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God..." This seems really backwards. Start up a demand for something that doesn't exist, by creating an empty demand ( buying "GREED") then try to meet that imaginary demand... Most guys in Marketing write up some kind of AD without first examining what the customer needs, what the current product supports, how things work, or any of the above, then sell that "NEED" to the customer, and leave the "details" to the programmer. MANY times, the "NEED" is completely incompatible with the existing system but that is apparently the programmer's fault, for "NOT having any VISION". "Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! " That's just WRONG on so many levels. I am not writing illusions. THe application SHOULD be easy, great, and have lots of benefits. These should come first. It's what we call use cases and functional specs. Once we know what we want and how to do it, then we write code. "The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work." I agree that the code should be written last, but not for that reason. Buttons are there to make the code work, not vice versa. THis sounds like backwards thinking. "I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job." This works both ways. Without the programmer, you are just standing on a street corner, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. "It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated." True, but you have to factor in need first, not creating a need where none exists. Create an answe where NEED exists, and answers aren't available yet. " When you sit down to write a programmer," freudia
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
Your first post that deserved a 5 from me :) Yes, even I am blogging now!
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It would be easier to listen to and respect you if you didn't shout at us all the time (use words for emphasis, not uppercase) and stopped making patently untrue claims (1gig in 0seconds through a tin-can or something.) Other than that, we appreciate the entertainment. regards, Paul Watson Bluegrass South Africa Ian Darling wrote: "and our loonies usually end up doing things like Monty Python." Crikey! ain't life grand?
> patently untrue claims You hit the nail right on the head. It's claims like Bill's that make me lose all respect for marketing people. I do realize that poor marketing can kill a good product. However, the opposite is also true: even with excellent marketing, you won't sell a shoddy product for very long. Bill's approach as he describes it (create the ad first), to me, is nothing more than relying on smoke and mirrors and attempting to take advantage and profit from people's stupidity--that's plain dishonest. Sell an illusion, create a fake need, and then deliver some shoddy piece of crap that barely fits the bill (no pun intended...ah, hell, yeah, it was intentional). That's like putting up an ad for a time travel machine. Only, I haven't yet invented the flux capacitor.
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
Bill, You are abrasive, a liar, full of yourself, and mentally off. What's not to like?
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
First let me say, this is the first post I have seen by you so I have no pre existing bias towards you. I find your observation of consumers and your analysis of Marketing Software as it pertains to those observations very interesting. Have you considered Marketing them? :cool:
"No matter where you go, there your are." - Buckaroo Banzai
-pete
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I think Chris and Paul covered all that needs saying on the negative. Focussing on marketing however - a good article on that certainly would be appreciated! It's the area most geeks seem to fail in. It certainly seems to be my biggest downfall in photography :sigh:
Look at the world about you and trust to your own convictions. - Ansel Adams
Meg's World - Blog Photographyhttp://software.ericsink.com/[^] He's the guy behind Sourcegear, who do Vault and SourceOffSite.
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It is true that my comments can, on occassion, be brash and irritating--sometimes unintentionally and sometimes intentionally. In reality, I am a very down to earth person who doesn't really think he is any better or smarter than anyone else--I am justy family man earning a living and what I emjoy most is my family! Your subtle undertones in the way you talk about "marketing" and software tells me that you really donb't think much about marketing at all. Here is my point... when I first got into marketing I thought I had all the answers and I soon learned that I was WRONG! Then I started to do focus groups and quickly learned that most people do NOT think as I do--what people like and respond to is very different than what you might think they do--a focus group is one way to get REAL information about people and software. In some of the focus groups I did on software I was amzed that people used criteria to evaluate software that has NOTHING to do with coding or how well a program works or is written--they might decide to download a program becvause it is green instead of gray--and this is what I believe a programmer must address MORE than the coding! If you know that a red colored background will mean nobody will use your software then you must select the most popular color and not the color you like! In designing "give-away" programs for clients, I have read all of the studies on why people use one program over another and it amazes me that most programmers look down their noses at you when you talk about this! :eek: Bill SerGio
Bill SerGio, The Infomercial King wrote: they might decide to download a program becvause it is green instead of gray-- Good point. I've seen plenty of users who wanted Office 2003 because it's blue instead of gray, and most of these users can't even say which features Office 2003 has over Office XP. Yes, even I am blogging now!
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
Subject: 3. What is a troll? There are four basic types of Troll. ------------------------------ Subject: 3.1 The old definition The old definition of a Troll is one who posts to generate the maximum number of follow ups. These are a very minor irritation, and can be considered to be advantageous to newsgroups. ------------------------------ Subject: 3.2 The Irritating Troll Some merely post drivel, or tirades against netnannies and netcops, often at a BI of over 20. In general they cause little real damage to newsgroups. ------------------------------ Subject: 3.3 The destructive Troll In about the year 1999 a new breed of Troll appeared who have the declared intention of destroying a specific Target newsgroup. This is done by a variety of posts, (see Section 4) intended to drive normal posters away from the specific newsgroup. When the percentage of Troll posts, including followups exceeds about 75% of the total posts, most readers seem to just give up and unsubscribe. Usenet, and particularly the uk.local.* hierarchy is for most users a hobby and if that hobby ceases to be enjoyable, the obvious answer is just to find another hobby. Once a specific Target newsgroup has been laid waste as was uk.local.birmingham it becomes a Old Target newsgroup, This happened in about February 2000 it is being maintained a wasteground by crossposts from the current Target ng. Alt.astrology.metapsych at the time of writing is totally destroyed by destructive trolls. This is repported at: http://www.astroconsulting.com/FAQs/abusive\_ISPs\_list.htm Subject: 3.4 The nasty Troll If anyone does anything which will interfere with the troll's ability to cause mayhem, they can become very nasty, posting from obviously incorrect variations of the name etc. insults, call them netcops, netnannies, homosexuals. Various off usenet methods are also used to force the victim to stop posting: Subscribing the victim to hundreds of unwanted pornographic email newsletters, and sites. Complaining to employers about non existent misdemeanours. Sending garbage emails without indication of sender. Telephone calls at dead of night. Harassing the close relatives of victims. ------------------------------ Subject: 3.5 The evil and illegal Troll If anyone does anything which will interfere with the troll's ability to cause mayhem, they also forge posts in that persons name and internet address and libel them on usenet. Both these are illegal. It is sim
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
:confused: I don't know, I suppose you are earning lots of money following your rules and so on... but in my case I...
1. must make things easy:
the users of my programs are operators of the machines that my company make; and usually they have not seen one computer in all they whole life.2. must make things reliable:
If one of the machines that we make fail (the software hangs or something like that) I can kill somebody, or break the machine that usually is something very expensive (120000€ more or less in mid range machines).If one of those previous points are not working I will get:
1. Continuous calls from my customers saying me that they won't pay the final part of the payment until it will be solved.
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Possibly a lawyer trying to make me pay lots of money if any operator/machine has been damaged.
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I won't sell another machine to that customer.
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I won't sell any machine to anybody that that customer knows.
NOTE: I know that no ad will change any of the 4 points above if one of the two rules that I must follow are not accomplished. -
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This is a comment from Bill SerGio. It seems that a few of the programmers who frequent this website simply do not like me, and I wanted to say a few things about that. But I do share some things in common with those who seem to dislike me so much. All of us love programming and we derive a sense of accomplishment from writing code that works. Most of you work for some company and a few, like me, own their own businesses. It takes a very different mentality and view of life to be your own boss--it doesn't make you smarter or better--it is just different. I look at programming as a way to make money. I don't approach programming in the same way that programmers who work for a company would. I write an AD for a program first. An ad that would sell the benefits of that program--what will it do for the user... and I focus on what I know people really buy like Greed, Vanity, Houses, and Fear of God... Then I design the user interface--stricly from the point of view of giving the user the illusion that the program is easy, great and will give them a lot of benefits. This has NOTHING to do with writing code! The code is that LAST thing I write, and it is just to make the buttons work. My approach is what works for me in my business and is no better or worse than anyone else's approach that works for them in what they do. I would point out that, without MARKETING, few programmers would have a job. It seems to me that the marketing of software is AS important as the writing of it and really can't be separated. When you sit down to write a programmer, it seems only logical that you have FIRST developed the marketing plan for it and that you coce th eprogram to fit that marketing plan. I have gotten many emails from people who frequent this site and have enjoyed the articles I have posted. The others, well, empty barrels make the most noise! .:cool: Bill SerGio
I don't think you should care that people don't like your tone or something. I think its great that you're taking the time to write articles to help out others (and possibly show off, but what of it?). Feel better. :) "One of the Georges," said Psmith, "I forget which, once said that a certain number of hours' sleep a day--I cannot recall for the moment how many--made a man something, which for the time being has slipped my memory."