Comments on: Do you want to be in the software business? http://rc3.org/2010/01/06/do-you-want-to-be-in-the-software-business/ Rafe Colburn on software development (and other topics) Wed, 23 May 2012 22:44:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: John http://rc3.org/2010/01/06/do-you-want-to-be-in-the-software-business/comment-page-1/#comment-7677 John Thu, 07 Jan 2010 17:08:16 +0000 http://rc3.org/?p=10574#comment-7677 <p>Good advice, but I agree with Aristotle that off-the-shelf software can have similar problems. Anything more than a trivially complex problem requires customization. We have several times pushed back against buying off-the-shelf solutions because although the product had many features (many which we did not need), the cost of buying AND customizing it to meet our needs would have been more than building our own solution from scratch. The long term costs were problematic as well - because the products all had their own "way to do things", we would have needed an internal person to learn the new model to apply changes/fixes or hire consultants from the other company to deal with them.</p> Good advice, but I agree with Aristotle that off-the-shelf software can have similar problems. Anything more than a trivially complex problem requires customization. We have several times pushed back against buying off-the-shelf solutions because although the product had many features (many which we did not need), the cost of buying AND customizing it to meet our needs would have been more than building our own solution from scratch. The long term costs were problematic as well – because the products all had their own “way to do things”, we would have needed an internal person to learn the new model to apply changes/fixes or hire consultants from the other company to deal with them.

]]> By: Joe Komenda http://rc3.org/2010/01/06/do-you-want-to-be-in-the-software-business/comment-page-1/#comment-7673 Joe Komenda Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:25:24 +0000 http://rc3.org/?p=10574#comment-7673 <p>Yes to this. When I was at a small WebDev shop last year, I kept suggesting WordPress for the small sites that wanted (but did not need) a CMS.</p> <p>It's also why I'm switching my current company from a large, custom-built CMS, to Drupal.</p> Yes to this. When I was at a small WebDev shop last year, I kept suggesting WordPress for the small sites that wanted (but did not need) a CMS.

It’s also why I’m switching my current company from a large, custom-built CMS, to Drupal.

]]> By: Rafe http://rc3.org/2010/01/06/do-you-want-to-be-in-the-software-business/comment-page-1/#comment-7672 Rafe Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:23:41 +0000 http://rc3.org/?p=10574#comment-7672 <p>I think that's exactly right -- you either have to shape the software to fit your business or fit your business to shape the software. I just think that the ease of shaping the software is overrated and the ease of shaping the business is underrated.</p> I think that’s exactly right — you either have to shape the software to fit your business or fit your business to shape the software. I just think that the ease of shaping the software is overrated and the ease of shaping the business is underrated.

]]> By: Aristotle Pagaltzis http://rc3.org/2010/01/06/do-you-want-to-be-in-the-software-business/comment-page-1/#comment-7670 Aristotle Pagaltzis Thu, 07 Jan 2010 06:51:59 +0000 http://rc3.org/?p=10574#comment-7670 <p>The thing I always see missing in those discussions, though, is, how precise a fit are off-the-shelf packages? Just as common as failed in-house projects are situations where management considers home-brew software a no-no, and buys “off the shelf” solutions that then have to be customised very extensively, and often cannot even easily be made to fit essential (or nearly so) requirements. In such cases, the cost and fit of in-house development would often compare highly favourably if only management weren't scaredy-cats.</p> <p>There is no free lunch. To make off-the-shelf software work, a big part of the picture is willingness to bend your organisation and your requirements where you would have to bend the software too much. <em>Something</em> has to give, after all – otherwise, failure ensues.</p> The thing I always see missing in those discussions, though, is, how precise a fit are off-the-shelf packages? Just as common as failed in-house projects are situations where management considers home-brew software a no-no, and buys “off the shelf” solutions that then have to be customised very extensively, and often cannot even easily be made to fit essential (or nearly so) requirements. In such cases, the cost and fit of in-house development would often compare highly favourably if only management weren’t scaredy-cats.

There is no free lunch. To make off-the-shelf software work, a big part of the picture is willingness to bend your organisation and your requirements where you would have to bend the software too much. Something has to give, after all – otherwise, failure ensues.

]]> By: Duff OMelia http://rc3.org/2010/01/06/do-you-want-to-be-in-the-software-business/comment-page-1/#comment-7666 Duff OMelia Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:47:04 +0000 http://rc3.org/?p=10574#comment-7666 <p>Fascinating post. Thanks for sharing it!</p> Fascinating post. Thanks for sharing it!

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