next
babble is rabble.ca's discussion board but it's much more than that: it's an online community for folks who just won't shut up. It's a place to tell each other — and the world — what's up with our work and campaigns.
Software Development Projects?
Software Development Projects?
Comments
Submitted by Michael Moriarity on September 20, 2016 - 12:48pm.
I've never been much of an activist, mainly because of a very introverted personality. It's the same reason I've spent the last 40 years or so as a software developer. I just find interacting with computers easier and less stressful than interacting with people other than close friends and family. Plus I love the work itself.
I'm now mostly retired (69 year old software devs can only get work if they are already famous) and I find I have some time I'd like to contribute to a worthwhile cause, if I can find one that can use my help. So, I'm asking other babblers if your organization, or any other one you know of, could use some custom software. If there are already software projects in development, I'd be happy to join and make a contribution to one of them. If not, I'd be happy to start something from scratch.
It could be a database to make information more useful, communication and coordination tools, automation of repetitive tasks, freeing up time for real work, or anything else you can imagine that computing devices and the internet could be used for. Also, I'm strongly inclined to make any work I might do open source (GPL v3) so that as many people as possible can benefit from it.
I can write software for any major platform, including Windows, Android, iOS, Mac OS, and Linux. And of course, web apps, which will work on any device with a web browser.
I'd be happy to discuss ideas here, or if you'd rather talk off list, you can email me at datasmith@gmail.com.
Thanks for all suggestions.
Submitted by ikosmos on September 20, 2016 - 1:06pm.
Jesus, with all that experience and skills and you can only get work if you're already famous? Is software development like music now, in which many expect to get it for free?
Sorry, that's a total non sequitur. I just was curious.
Submitted by Michael Moriarity on September 20, 2016 - 1:21pm.
It's mostly about ageism, which is particularly pronounced in the tech industry. Also, the trend to send work to India or other low-wage places doesn't help.
Submitted by Mr. Magoo on September 20, 2016 - 5:56pm.
Well, babble runs on of drupal, yes? Some sick customizations might not go unapppreciated.
Which ones, specifically? I think I've hogged the mic for long enough.
Submitted by Michael Moriarity on September 20, 2016 - 7:06pm.
If I were invited by Rabble management to do that, I might give it a try, although I find working with php a painful experience.
Submitted by radiorahim on September 21, 2016 - 8:11pm.
There are all kinds of software projects that need work.
Software for political organizing and community building is desperately needed. There's a proprietary platform called "Nation Builder" that's sewn up just about every political party in the English speaking world, along with various NGO's and activist groups.
Microsoftizing this kind of thing I see as inherently dangerous.
Perhaps building some new political/community organizing add-ons for Civicrm could be interesting.
Submitted by Michael Moriarity on September 21, 2016 - 8:49pm.
radiorahim wrote:
There are all kinds of software projects that need work.
Software for political organizing and community building is desperately needed. There's a proprietary platform called "Nation Builder" that's sewn up just about every political party in the English speaking world, along with various NGO's and activist groups.
Microsoftizing this kind of thing I see as inherently dangerous.
Perhaps building some new political/community organizing add-ons for Civicrm could be interesting.
Well, the only way I really feel comfortable developing is with an end user that has an immediate use for the particular software, and works with me in listing use cases and defining functionality. Spending months and years developing a system on my own that no one may ever want or use has no appeal to me at all.
Comments
Do
Don't