The article "Estimation is Evil" discusses the difficulty of accurately costing software projects---a subject of interest to anyone involved in contract software development. However what struck me most in the article was a discussion of problems with an early, high profile agile project---Chrysler’s C3 payroll project. The author argues that this project failed because it attempted to develop a … [Read more...]
Getting apps done
Not one, but two, interesting posts from the blog Jury.me this week. One is about focusing on the user. Too many apps are developed from a technical perspective---the latest frameworks, user interface widgets, etc. Great products come from standing in your users' shoes---trying to understand their goals. Why do they need this product? Often it's the product no-one notices that is doing the best … [Read more...]
Budget Playground released
Budget Playground, an iPad app that allows New York State school districts to create multi-year budget scenarios is now available on the App Store. According to an assistant commissioner at the New York State Education Department, Budget Playground is like magic…It’s a terrific app on an iPad…I love the little charts on the side and the sliders to change scenarios are a very handy way to modify … [Read more...]
Decision Mechanics develop iPhone app for personal data management startup
Decision Mechanics recently developed a location-monitoring iPhone app for InMotion—a personal data management startup. InMotion intends to provide services for individuals to take control of their personal data—sending it to a secure repository and allowing controlled access to third-parties who offer useful derivative services or financial incentives. The iPhone app allows … [Read more...]
BetMachine updated with iPhone 5 support
BetMachine has been updated to support the taller screen of the iPhone 5. … [Read more...]