http://www.samonsoftware.com Software Development and Business Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:45:08 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've been very optimistic about the future of China for at least the last ten years. Optimistic not just about it's economic growth and the commensurate standard-of-living improvement but also optimistic that freedom and democracy will strengthen. The reason I've been so bullish is because of the words of the Chinese ... http://www.samonsoftware.com/?p=502 It's absolutely amazing that Google has created a virtuous information arms race in which experts are competing with each other for web traffic by giving away their most interesting information. Interesting content means links which means organic web search traffic which means more clients. How amazing is it that businesses have been ... http://www.samonsoftware.com/?p=496 You used to be a toolmaker.  You used to be all about organising information.  What happened ? Forget competing with Facebook and go make some amazing new tools. Creating a successful social networking site is like starting a successful new nightclub, it isn't about solving problems it's about being cool, and being ... http://www.samonsoftware.com/?p=489 No doubt the observation below is well known to customer support veterans but for new MISVs taking customer support emails for the first time it's worth knowing, meaning I wish someone had told me :) Often (but not always) the first email I receive from a customer with a problem ... http://www.samonsoftware.com/?p=479 Ryan: i've tried to get them into a mode of experimentation and measurement, but maybe these ideas you can only become comfortable with by reading slashdot and hacker news for 10 years me: yes.. slavish addiction to programmer based social bookmarking sites...  its the new mba Ryan: actually, i ... http://www.samonsoftware.com/?p=472 Left Wing The fundamental belief of the left is that the greatest problem in the world, the problem that causes the most suffering, are the actions of evil selfish people who hoard resources and deliberately make others suffer. We must stop evil people. Right Wing The fundamental belief of the right is ... http://www.samonsoftware.com/?p=460 In a democracy voters with a greater vested interest in a policy area will, due to it's increased significance in determining their vote, have an increased influence on the political treatment of that policy area. A small increase in significance can produce a large increase in influence. ... http://www.samonsoftware.com/?p=455 I've been suprised at how you can notice the effect of pushing content out there. I spend a week creating articles, tutorials and other content, and a month later I can see the effect. Admittedly there is a lot of work for a small reward but I guess the theory is that ... http://www.samonsoftware.com/?p=450 Ok it's lame but I don't care :) Real programmers often end up explaining stuff to the person who started off explaining it to them Real programmers have written programs for imaginary hardware Real programmers think that maybe one day the web will take off Real programmers regard databases as 'cheating' Real programmers make their ... http://www.samonsoftware.com/?p=159 - Infographics can be very viral.  People love infographics, I know I do. -Post frequency / schedule matters a lot.  Posting every day can be very powerful. http://www.samonsoftware.com/?p=438