Re: Bye-bye Ada ?

[Richard Riehle <richard@adaworks.com>]

Marin David Condic wrote:

> Sure. You get a few guys together that want to address some specific market
> and you can get smart enough about it to have something superior to what is
> available "Off The Shelf". There's lots of accounting software - but is it
> tailored to, say, barber shops? You just need a potential market out there
> and a little research into what they want/need and what would help make them
> more efficient and then you've really got something. You might make the
> product "Open Source" in some sense of the word in order to attract
> business, but the ultimate goal needs to be to make a profit - thus
> demonstrating that Ada can do the job better.

More important, demonstrating that you can build the product your
way and make it successful, regardless of the language you choose.
It Ada works for you, you might want to keep it a secret.  I know
at least one company that refuses to let anyone know it is using
Ada, even though they are happy with it and it is contributing to
their success.

> Ideas abound, but there needs to be a willingness to get involved in
> executing one to completion. Ada would be promoted only in so far as people
> believe it will help them build the products they sell better than other
> languages.

Correct.

> Well, you've either got to go find some venture capitalist who can dump a
> few million in your lap in order to get the development going, or you've got
> to do some kind of "Garage Operation". Either way, you've got to have a
> well-formulated idea, some market research and a business plan. It takes a
> desire to see it come about and a willingness to commit to doing it - and
> you're right about the people in the defense industry having a tendancy to
> lack the mindset needed to make it happen. Yes, there are exceptions, but
> too often we who program in Ada tend to have come along in a world where we
> think about "Cool Technology" instead of making a profit. And we're used to
> someone else handling all the responsibilities of finding a way to pay the
> salaries.

Wrong.  The last thing you want is outside money.   Stay away from Venture
Capitalists.  They will destroy your product, your will, your self-esteem,
and everything you loved about what you were doing.

Software has the benefit of being a low resource product.  One or two
people can build a product in a short time.   This is one place where some
of the Agile Development ideas can benefit a couple of people with a
great idea.   If you have a corporate sponsor who will let you share in
the harvest, good.  But find a sponsor who has the same vision you have
of the final product.

A good model to emulate is that of the founder's of Quicken products.  Check
out how they built their company.   Even Bill Gates story includes some
positive lessons, if one overlooks  the devious methods he sometimes
employs to get results.

> Its not unique to DoD types. Most folks don't have the entrepeneurial
> spirit. Its not a crime. It just means they aren't likely to head in the
> direction that will lead them to building a successful business. The trick
> is to find a few who *do* have the right attitude and are willing to persue
> an idea through to completion.

Correct.  Entrepreneurial means willingness to take risks.  We take those
risks with our own money, our own time, and our own psychological
energy.   It means a willingness to accept failure or success.  If one is
afraid of failure,  and pursues a business opportunity out of fear, there
is little likelihood of success.   Each failure simply leads to the next
adventure, and the potential for success.  Resilience of spirit is the
key.

Some of the most successful enterpreneurs I have known were people
who lacked the formal education to realize that they could not succeed.
Sometimes, we let our own knowledge get in the way of being what
we could be.

Sorry for the platitudes.

Richard Riehle

                        "For much wisdom is much grief,
                          And he that increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow"
                                                        Ecclesiastes.