The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

[Steve Wood]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

Tell you what. I will spend a week in early January to revamp things. I will run it past you guys, and then put it in place. I will read all of the comments here, plus the private emails I got on the subject. I think I can come up with a more inclusive and more international program, more options to participate and benefit. The two main objectives in my mind are 1) to grow the number of business opportunities for ALL Alpha Five worldwide and 2) help the same developers increase their skill, knowledge and professionalism. Come to think about it, those are two of the primary goals I proposed for the Developer Symposium.

EDIT: If any of you want to participate in this, send me a private email. We can discuss ideas in a couple conference calls. I would especially like a non-USA partner to help with the Internationalization part.

[mronck]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

That sounds like an OK idea to me Steve. I can agree with those two goals you mentioned as well. Sounds like a wrap-up.

[Ted Giles]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

@ Dave. I'll ping you an email in few days regarding collaboration with apps.

@ Marcel. The people I approached had enough work on at the time. A couple have added comments in this thread.

[ssmoore1]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

Hi All,

This is a very interesting discussion...I have read through some of the posts (but not all) so forgive me if I am touching on a topic not already covered!

Its my own personal hobby horse but I think the real future of Alpha lies in offering your application as a Software as a Service (SaaS). Because there is no download or anything like that customers have no idea (nor do they care) what the the platform is. Other then very large companies that would research the back-end, most companies will simply evaluate if the online product meets there needs and assume that whatever the back-end is that it works.

Of course not all applications would meet the criteria for a SaaS, but I would guess there is not one product category out there right now that doesn't have a SaaS version.

I bet there is not a single SaaS out there right now that developer's of Steve Wood's caliber working as team couldn't duplicate in a few months of work using Alpha.

90 percent of the software I purchase and use right now comes from the web (accounting, Mail Server, advertising, business email etc.)

Scott

[DaveM]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

I bet there is not a single SaaS out there right now that developer's of Steve Wood's caliber working as team couldn't duplicate in a few months of work using Alpha.

Even when you make the best saas, you still have to get the traffic to it or it will just lay there and go stale on you. That equates to money spent for nothing. That is what most of this thread has gone to. The programmers are trying to figure out ways to get clients/customers to their business/product the best and least expensive way. Many(I will include myself) need the help of ideas and methods that work the best for all.

NOTE** There are some web apps out there that can NOT be done with alpha due to the incoming numbers of users at one time. There are a few desktop apps out there that would stretch alpha to it's limits and not sure alpha could handle also due to the numbers of users and needed speed. Most of the RAD applications out there(all as far as I know) can't handle it either.

Alpha to me is still number one.

I primarily work in the auto industry and one of the apps I am working on cannot be done in alpha because 3000+ hits a minute and as many as 15000 working on the site at a time would be just way too much for the was server. I make what is considered "Off the shelf" desktop software that people download and install. I don't make web apps with alpha for users so far, but may someday.

[mronck]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

Software as a Service, in my opinion, is as much "the future" of Alpha as anything else connected to developing software. Be it for the desktop, the web pur sang or in a SaaS model, or for any mobile device: nothing is without possibilities neither without its dangers or problems.
SaaS is in many cases a valid option, but like all software solutions, is not the Holy Grale either. Often praised for its simplicity and easy of use (you own the data and the rest is all on the plate of the vendor) one may soon find out that it has problems and challenges of its very own that can pretty soon take all the feeling of simplicity and ease of use away.
When one is objective about it, it remains just a Solution that has its own merits, its own function and time and place. It's the analyst who can best decide what fits where.

Alpha Five is a software development platform that allows swift programming without (often) too much coding involved. This however does not mean anybody can develop optimal solutions or that you don't need to have professional skills to do it for external customers. That is a huge mistake.

As far as Saas is concerned, what we see after some years of implementing it, is that the integration with other information systems seems to be often the bottleneck that takes a lot of designing and effort. Unlike the past, computer programs are not stand alone problem solvers anymore, but parts of often complex information systems that actually are organic parts of the business process. Hence, it must not only fit into the process in terms of function, but should also fit into the process in terms of secure and logic connection in its data and decision flow. That altogether has proven to be not too easy in many cases.

We have seen, that the role a vendor plays in the integration of information systems using Saas is huge. And the question is whether your vendor is going to take up that challenge in the first place, and secondly, whether he is actually able to deliver what you need. Having something in the cloud that does not exactly fit into your business process can be a real pain in the butt. One of the issues I personally have seen popping-up is the reluctance of system owners to share their business logic and technology with the vendor, which is rather key to success. This often points towards development of Saas projects in-house, rather then outsourcing it to turnkey-solution providers. Which then again brings a whole truckload of problems completely new to many ICT Departments.

I have been involved as a professional manager with very large SaaS-based information systems that involved very complex infrastructure and virtualization on a large scale. I can tell you, that's no sinecure and involves huge investments.

SaaS may seem great on first glance, but after some studying it will prove that it has its own habitat. Designers and developers would do good to respect the native habitat of information systems if they value their customers.

[Marcel Kollenaar]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

Marcel,

Thank you for your kind words in the opening text. I'm still in the business but more in a "retired" state, under the radar, just for leisure and more on electronics.

[Rich Hartnett]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

I don't have anything to add to this thread other than to say that it has been an interesting read, and it's always nice to see how the software is used (or not as in Marcel's case) in other countries.

I'm just a small one-man developer myself, mostly creating police and fire department applications, but the knowledge I have gained from other more experienced developers on this board has been invaluable. Despite my still limited knowledge of developement, and my very small and very narrowly-focused business, I get regular calls from other agencies asking me to develop applications for them, and they never ask me what brand of software I'm using or what development tools make up my databases. I only mention this because I do NO marketing whatsoever. All of my customers come to me from word-of-mouth, and I would like to think that if you (Marcel) could build an application for a customer that works well, and there are other companies that have a need for a similar application, the product should literally sell itself. In my case it was a police records management program, but it really doesn't make any difference what the customer's business model is, as long as they have a need for a reliable database application that can be built at a reasonable price, and you are the one to build it. Then let your customer(s) be your best source of advertisement.

I'm a career police officer so I don't rely on my small DB business to provide all my income, but I was shocked at how quickly word spread about my first application, and how business came to me, rather than me going to it. For myself, this is a nice side job and an enjoyable hobby, but for someone as experienced as yourself, you could do so much more.

Just my two cents.

P.S. - Hi Tom Peterson. Nice to see another Alpha Five developer in Maryland!

[mronck]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

Hi Rich,

Nice to see that you are still around in Alpha Land !

Yes, I can see how that could work for you. And luckily it does. The quality of your work based on your vast police experience will doubtlessly have something to do with that.
However, in several countries things work differently. Police and Fire departments over here are nowadays nationally managed (they even are working towards 1 national police force now) and everything done nationally (federal) gets way complicated. There is no question about it that what works in your case could never work here. Would you be able to provide a solution for the police here, you needed to take part in a tender and having to meet countless requirements and bureaucracy.
However, I do think similar. There are sections of business that are still almost not automated at all, and there is still market for off shelve products. In the case of off-shelve products virtually nobody will ask you how and with what it is made.

My comments were however not directed as much towards the off-shelve software area of programming, but more towards the professional software industry who work in assignments for medium to large companies on projects of all sorts. That is also the area where recruitment is taking place. There is no recruitment for Alpha Five programmers. There are no vacancies. Personally I have only once seen a vacancy for an experienced Alpha Five programmer in The Netherlands, and that's the one I filled pretty much instantly. Since then, I have not seen any other, and that is a pity as I see it. I also think with some additions this could easily become a tool in the professionals' permitted tool case.
Would (just as an example) for instance A5 be enhanced with a method for teamwork management, multi stage releasing system and release policies, my best guess is that the professional industry would not mind inspecting A5 to become a serious tool in their business. For now, they won't even consider it and see it in general as "childsplay". Unfortunately.

[Ray in Capetown]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

Rich, well done, though as a sideline you may be not charging (read earning) as much as your software could cost.
Would you make enough to live on without the day job?
That also gave you the "in" and the knowledge of the department/s and the luxury of time to develop the software.

One really needs a hook, either from an inside track or from special knowledge, obtained by landing your first job (in a specialist application) - perhaps at less than cost.
Very often that gets made up later with re-usability of all these elements.
Like any business, if you are small, you cant go head on against the established giants but you look for the gaps that are not being catered for adequately.

[DoronF]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

Hi Marcel,

The strategy is to find the clients that need solutions. Most of these clients are not looking for some specific technologies they would like to have business solutions for their problem.

First step is to have a web site to let the world know about your services. You basically would like to provide Custom Software Development or Application Development or Android Application Development. What I am mentioning in here, are key words that clients will use to find my web site.

I also use the Alpha Five key words to attract clients that use Alpha Five and need help or maybe need a new A5 application. In addition, I mention Alpha Five as Rapid Application Development so potential clients will get the idea that we are efficient.

Do you have a LinkedIn profile where you let the world know about your services? At least have that.
Without any marketing you will go nowhere. Before the internet existed I used to advertise in small ads in the New York Times computer section.

Even when you have a web site you will need to always add fresh material so Google can take you seriously.
Look, marketing is the key these days!

Regards,

Doron
The Farber Consulting Group, Inc.

Web site: http://www.dFarber.com
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[Peter.Greulich]

Re: The Business End of Alpha Software for independent developers

Hi Doron,

You probably noticed that this thread is quite old. Also, Marcel has been "banned".