The value of creativity

No doubt there are advantages to staying the course and continuing to look at the world the way everyone else does.  It’s predictable, and most businesses LOVE predictability.  Makes sense, right?  Now, I am not a classically-trained developer (I’m not a...

Wisdom vs. Knowledge

I am not what you might call a classically-trained developer.  I’ve never taken any kind of computer class, save for watching some tutorials online when I need a general understanding of a new technology.  My passion for technology arose out of my former life as...

Nurturing an idea

Not all good ideas are a lightning strike of brilliance.  Sometimes they need a great deal of nurturing before they can be truly viable.  Sometimes that nurturing requires complete rethinking of the idea and other times it’s just a matter of “lining up the...

Raspberry Pi and Arduino hacking

Recently I had a client ask about integrating software into a prototype mechanical device used in an industrial environment.  The idea was fairly simple: replace the analog gauges, springs, etc with digital sensors and servo motors for the sake of full automation....

How good is your bad-client-detector?

It’s unfortunate, but all business owners deal with them.  Dishonest, disorganized or lazy clients.  I always try to partner in the success of my clients via the projects they hire me to build, but once in a while I deal with people who simply shouldn’t be...