Definitely avoid Joomla if you can. I've been maintaining a Joomla site since 2009, and I can't update any of the core components because it would break too many plugins for which there are no newer, compatible versions.
I'm building a replacement for that site right now using Rails. If that's not an option, go with Wordpress.
As if this speaks for all start-ups. Look, if you don't value time away from business or if you ascribe significant meaning to the results of an A/B test, you should sit down and think very hard about the world around you.
With regard to this specific article: this guy needs to realize that there's many, many fascinating aspects of life outside of the data entry business.
MVC - MVVM : grudgingly, I agree. I did a bunch of Rails coding, so my MVC is the Rails MVC (not the real MVC). KnockoutJS basically ignores Models, so sets off my Spidey-sense, but...
I haven't done much GUI programming, so I'm not familiar with the classic definition of MVC. KnockoutJS's MVVM (really V-VM) is very clear and I love it.
KnockoutJS would benefit from the addition of Models (in order to make it a 'framework'), but I'm 90% more productive right now and am certain that KnockoutJS will evolve to include Models.
"Now, I’m going to throw something out there that might seem kind of crazy."
You managed to write a blog post that hypes up your proposed solution to "hacking" TV...then don't even have a solution? You suggested that we get rid of commercials. That's not a solution, that's an idea everyone's had at some point.
Advertising is a multi-billion dollar industry and is an inherent facet of capitalism that can't just be "hacked" out of TV, whatever that means.
No dude, think about what you're saying. The idea you've presented isn't a solution at all. Simply stating your desire to get rid of TV commercials without explaining how to do it is not a solution.
I have a lot of issues with what you just posted. Perhaps the biggest is enforcing a division between "best teachers" and "run-of-the-mill teachers" into a corporate project management of sorts. I'm not sure where you work, but just imagine if someone deemed you a "run-of-the-mill" employee and relegated you to watching people interact with tablets all day.
Some areas of life require a delicate moderation of technology, and education is one of them. Anyone who drools over education as a "start-up opportunity" likely hasn't done their research.
>Some areas of life require a delicate moderation of technology, and education is one of them.
Care to explain why? The GP had some valid points and your rebuttal is that he or she 'hasn't done their research,' without making a single valid point. The metaphor about 'watching people interact with tablets' is not at all what GP mentioned. He suggested that teachers design what interactions take place, and take a proactive role in ensuring that their interactions are effective, while still injecting 'human' aspects of teaching.
> "He suggested that teachers design what interactions take place..."
This is exactly my point. Those who work with software/tech/etc often trivialize the relationship between software and people who hold completely different societal roles. No matter how intuitive you make an application, no matter how effective you seem to think your application enhances learning, there will always be a vast number of people (in this case, teachers) who have not the time, nor the desire, to "design" a set of "interactions" for their student.
Are there effective teaching aids available for tablets? Yes. Does that translate to a need for technology-guided learning in more aspects of education? Absolutely not.
The OP talks about "a complete reset on education with technology at its core." I stand by my point; this is a dangerous idea. And you don't have to believe me, most any teacher will tell you this is a bad idea. Teacher flexibility and intuition is (usually) right; software isn't going to magically determine a child's academic strengths and weaknesses.
Education is not some cookie-cutter problem you can fix with a well-designed app.
The publication date was August 4, 1993. Not to say it's irrelevant, but alot has changed since then.
We are all going to disagree about how much tech is too much in education. On the other hand, very few disagree that tech has no place in hospitals, the enterprise, supply chain management, etc. That alone illustrates to me how ridiculous it is to treat education as a space needing a "reset."
When you say "IT in higher ed", are you referring to personal experience? That's a pretty specific domain, just wanted to know if you have any specific anecdotes.
Seconded. The university I'm attending uses PeopleSoft (acquired by Oracle) as their ERP system, and it's horrendous. Not a week goes by where I don't hear students and faculty members openly complain about it.
I've got a live PeopleSoft installation running on a server in my apartment that I'm outfitting with code to do exactly what you mentioned - split out the back-end from the front-end. So far it's going brilliantly - for some sadistic reason, I enjoy trying to reduce the complexities of these applications.
You know, I wanted to do something very similar with my university's installation of PeopleSoft - but my intent was more focus on improving the UI and frontend than backend. But I have to ask: how did you get a copy of PeopleSoft?
Actually, what I'm working on involves both front-end and back-end. I've got a UI that trades data back and forth with a web service endpoint called Integration Broker within PeopleSoft. I'm focused on enrollment right now, and currently I've got a system that allows me to enroll in classes using the new UI on a live PeopleSoft install - all without touching/modifying the business logic in the delivered vanilla PeopleSoft implementation.
Re. the PeopleSoft copy - Oracle provides all of their software (and master license codes) for download for evaluation purposes through a portal called eDelivery. I had to read a few hundred pages of documentation, but after a month I was able to get all the components to talk together. I'm trying to convince Oracle to give me a non-support license so I can cover myself legally, but I'm getting the silent treatment since it's just me and I don't have the budget of a CTO lol.
Then how in the world do you ever expect to launch it in the first place? This kind of attitude always perplexes me - if your solution to a problem is excellent, there will be little incentive for others to copy it.
The only person who knows enough info to make this decision is you; as a university student myself, I understand your dilemma.
I will say that the fact that you're only making $9/hour at a company that's supposedly about to go big is a huge red flag. If you've made as many contributions as you say you have, then there's something very wrong. Either you have failed to negotiate fair compensation for yourself, or the company is banking that you will continue to break your back for the chance to go big.
The last time I made $9/hour was hauling bags of salt at a retail warehouse selling pools. If I were you, I'd go back to school. $9/hour is not only unsustainable, but a serious red flag regarding how the company views their relationship with you.
You bring up good points, but allow me to clarify:
I originally came aboard as an intern for such mentioned 20-year-old company. The owner of that, my boss, is also an owner of this startup, and so all of our efforts have gone towards the startup. My wage was negotiated months ago long before anyone had an idea this would be where we're at right now, and I'm confident once there is some revenue coming in I will get more pay. One equity-holding position of the startup actually started out as an intern like me a few years ago.
The point still stands. Why is a 20-year-old engineering company paying you $9/hour? The coffee shop in town here pays new counter staff $14/hour. Generally speaking, one does not pay someone who is as important to the business as you claim to be so little, intern or not. Realistically, I see two possibilities:
a) You're wildly over-estimating your value to the company.
b) Your boss is exploiting you.
Think carefully about which it is. Be honest with yourself. If (a) go get the coffee like a good intern, then go back to school. If (b) ask for a more reasonable wage and/or equity (if that's your preference), in the form of a signed contract. "We'll take care of you" is worthless, no matter how trustworthy the person saying it. If they actually mean it, there will be no problem with getting a deal signed on paper.
I definitely am not absolutely critical to the success of this company, and I realize this, but losing me would still hurt them. It's really the experience and knowledge I have with them that's valuable to them, and that would be hard to reproduce with someone else quickly, especially at such a critical time like right now.
Am I stepping up my game and responsibilities as much as possible? Absolutely.
Ok, then you need to ask for a raise. $9/hour is a wage you pay someone who is completely replaceable; and even then only if you're a greedy bastard who doesn't care about your employees.
A raise could come in the form of a much higher wage, or a combination of a higher wage and equity, if you really believe in the company. You should be getting a significantly higher wage either way, though.
So that other "equity holding position" started out as an intern, has been around for years, and the company is still merely on the verge of going big?
The engineering company wasn't ever really going to get 'big.' This employee went to work for them as an intern just as I did.
The startup is less than a year old, and it has the potential to get big. ALL of our efforts have migrated to this startup because of this, and the employee (former intern) holds some equity in it, not the old company.
"If society tells you to go kill somebody and you do, you can't be a sociopath."
...what? I'm at a loss for words on this one. Just because society - a large, faceless group prone to rallying around propaganda and emotional bandwagons - embraces a cause, doesn't mean it's acceptable by default to kill in the name of that cause.
And it certainly doesn't mean you're not a sociopath.
I'm building a replacement for that site right now using Rails. If that's not an option, go with Wordpress.