Clint Hill

Nobody should care.

I was doing my usual reading this morning and I started to recognize a pattern. Not just this morning, but a pattern that has been occurring over the last year or more.

It goes like this:

• Developer finds a new web framework
• Framework espouses really quick development time
• Developer creates a really stupid application based on a stupid idea
• Developer submits a link to their new stupid app to [Reddit,Digg,Hacker News]
• Developer says “Look at me, I did this in 5 hours”

I understand why this happens. I have done it myself. Developers do this because there are websites out there that have been made in just hours or days that turned out to be hugely profitable. The allure is tremendous.

Here is the part that gets me: There are so many bigger problems out there. Money can be made solving these bigger problems too and society would benefit. Why waste the energy on a 5 hour site that scrapes twitter for people who type “oops”? I’ll admit to a little bit of weird people-watching interest, but seriously aren’t there better things to work on?

Take for example healthcare and education.

In healthcare there are still hospitals and clinics using paper medical records. Some still schedule your visit using Excel spreadsheets. I know first hand that there are 5 to 10 problems that are just unanswered from the software industry. There are standards galore. There are vendors, all of which sell the one-solution-to-fix-them-all products. Here’s the catch, they are all expensive and don’t do what they are advertising. And if you do buy the product you have to change the way you do business to fit the way the software works. If you ever want to know why healthcare gets expensive - start looking at the way the hospitals and clinics have to do business (not just health care). It’s interesting to say the least.

Education has it’s own set of problems. Take for example that in the United States some schools and state agencies have yet to fully analyze data for grades and attendance because they don’t have software to do so. Even though there is legislation that requires them to collect this data in order to evaluate performance which will in turn determine funding for schools. Some agencies can’t even properly coordinate data sharing because the schools are all doing different things with their information. There are tons of school information systems out there and standards as well - yet the problem still exists. Ever wonder why the U.S. doesn’t do better with education at lower levels? Start looking at how schools analyze their performance based on grades and attendance.

And these examples are tips to titanic icebergs (yep - ship sinkers). Meanwhile really smart developers are spending hours or days watching people on twitter type “oops” or building fart noise makers for the iPhone. And at the same time some feel they have the justification to wax poetic about the ails of the world. So why is it really that you aren’t working on these bigger problems? Scared? This indeed is me challenging you.

I just wonder what it would be like to see links submitted at the same rate these stupid apps are submitted that solve these bigger problems. Or at least see people saying they are trying. I can think of one argument that may stop some is that it doesn’t sound fun. Those industries aren’t exotic or even interesting. Well I would contend that if you love software, writing code and solving problems you have no argument. Your interest is in the code not the industry. Your pride is in the solving. Right?

Say what you will about me and my grandpa moment here - just don’t overlook the real problems out there.

Madi is getting a guitar. Nola is getting a cupcake maker. Both of them are getting Leap Frog tag readers. Putting all of the gifts under the tree I had a thought. This doesn’t seem like that many gifts. It caught me off guard. Did I not put in enough effort this year for Christmas gifts?

Then I realized I was wrong. I had put in the effort. The difference is it just wasn’t for Christmas presents. It wasn’t the number of gifts under the tree. It was everything I had done this year to make wonderful memories for them to have for the rest of their life.

Losses and sacrifices were plenty this year. Dad and GG past away. I lost a job for the first time in my life (laid off) and humbled myself enough to apply for unemployment. I gave up on building my own software company (temporarily). I put aside a lot of emotion to make sure I attended to my family. I wanted to make sure the girls weren’t hurting the way I was. No regrets. I would do it again, over and over again.

I realize it’s not about providing a lot of presents at Christmas. My job as “daddy” is to provide a lifetime of memories for the girls. It’s my job to make sure that everyday they get what is important. Fun, encouragement, confidence, discipline, a safe home and education. Those are just a few of the things that I am supposed to provide.

My thought about the number of gifts under the tree is actually me trying to feel good about something. But that’s misdirected. I should feel good about all of the things I did this year for them. We bought a boat and started many traditions. Cruising under the London Bridge each trip out on the water. Ice cream sandwiches at the Hampton. There were things we did at home too. We made pigs out of coffee cans. Pool parties at Billy’s house. Carved jack-o-lanterns on halloween. Football Sunday. Roasted marshmallows in the fire pit. Hung out in the garage waxing the boat. And twice this year I took the girls out to eat by myself.

Those are the things that are important. Gifts are good, but memories are more important. And for Christmas it’s important to make memories the girls will cherish. I think we’re doing a good job. I’m proud of all that.

I know Dad would be too.

Going to the game today with my wife, sister, brother-in-law and cousin. Kimberly hasn’t been to an NFL game yet and this will be my second trip to the “toaster in the desert”.

Should be a lot of fun.