I have discovered that I'm working on two spelling programs. The spelling B will be released for kids on a separate website after completion of this spell checking program I'm working on. I've got a bunch of different names in mind for what it will be called but really don't have the right one yet. I realized this as I was experimenting with the functionality and I realized just how much I wanted a ubiquitous spell checker and the bee looked childish. I need a spell checker and well I suspect others also need it. I'm sick of opening up word at the last minute and stuffing my blog or comment in there to find out how much my grade school failed me. ;) J/K Palmer Lake
The following link is to a real gem of a micro ISV (micro as in one developer) independent software vendor. He makes the Bingo Card Creator. I find that to be fascinating. What is great is he provides transparency into his business thinking and sales results as the months go by. Of course even better is that he is successful within a relative short period of time and used a method that appears repeatable. Who would have thought bingo? There are now a number of micro ISVs providing transparency into their thinking and into their business model. When I started Quickgrowth llc. back in 2004 I read an article written by Eric Sink a founder of SourceGear that gave me some guidance on how to look at the shareware software industry.
I created Time Fencer, a time tracking tool that is simple and quick to use, setup and benefits areas where time tracking is used a lot (bill by the hour anyone?). I was an analyst at the time for Target Corporation and was fascinated with six sigma, value creation, processes and utilizing software to automate business problems away. I created Quickgrowth llc. in the hopes of designing and selling software that helped the small to medium sized company build value.
Prior to designing Time Fencer I wrote a sampler application for inventory acceptance for SBS technologies (now part of GE). I wrote that and was excited about the potential of small utilities and how they can transform business.
My blogging skill still needs help so sorry about going all over the place. I really wanted to talk about Time Fencer being in my eyes a failure. I had submitted it to a hundred shareware sites at the time and in the end I sold just 3 copies. But later I realized the real disaster was leaving the software out there without improving it. I was terrified of changing anything in fear of making something worse. Of course with the sales numbers I got clearly this is irrational.
So what are the lessons of Time Fencer?
1. Focus only on a few download sites as partners. My feel is download.com and tucows.com are really where to start. This way my time could be focused on improving the software or the shopping experience on the website and making it easier to manage new releases.
2. The shopping experience on my website needed work. Lots of it. I used regsoft for selling my software and the forms they had were just horrible. So prior to releasing my next software product my website will go through changes for a new shopping experience. One of the main reasons I went with regsoft is they had an affiliate program and I thought well I'm new to connecting with this customer base but someone who knows the customer base may pickup my software and sell it for the right commission. Now I realize that isn't true and other mISVs are describing similar results. I think this commission sales approach works once the software hits a certain popularity point then others would take it up. So my passion for the software is my responsibility for communicating its value and listening to what needs to be changed.
3. Iterate with small improvements that consistently occur.
4. Continue to take small financial risks and tweak the hell out of the software and purchasing experience until the sales begin to come.
Last I wanted to point to Steve Pavlina’s article on Sharewaer Amateurs vs. Shareware Professionals. It’s a recipe of success and it’s proven by Patrick’s for mentioned results.
Bottom line is I love to solve problems for businesses and have a real need to create the software. Of course I’m not quitting my day job but I will move from being the amateur shareware developer to the professional mISV. ;)
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Spelling B software Video 1st Glimpse
This is the spelling b program. Type into any application and it will check the spelling. This is a new application that I have written and am still working out the bugs.
Ok a bit boring watching me write the blog but wanted to show that I had a working version and why it would add value. A ubiquitous application covering your spelling needs. Watch the video for the first paragraph to make sense.
Ok a bit boring watching me write the blog but wanted to show that I had a working version and why it would add value. A ubiquitous application covering your spelling needs. Watch the video for the first paragraph to make sense.
Progress & Frustration
Spelling B now tracks words written in any application and checks the spelling.
A few issues though when I type faster it gets confused on identifying the words. Also as the list of words typed gets longer the updates to the words typed and resorted becomes obvious.
Now considering changing some of the controls from a list box to a grid control. The list box automaticly appends new items onto the bottom of the list. My thought was that the last typed word should show in the top of the list rather than be barried in the bottom. To achieve that I resort the list through an array but as the list gets long I can see the posting change.
Its possible that the spelling validation request as it goes out to the web to validate is slowing down the capture of keys.
Perhaps I have it check when someone isn't typing. I'll just capture the key strokes and identify the words as a test.
I'm now looking at both a web service of a few dictionaries and a dictionary web site I crawl. Still determining whats best to use. The free web service dictionaries are from 2003 or older but the website is uptodate (litteraly updated daily). The website doesn't have a robots.txt that explicityly forbids web crawls. So these various factors are coming into play to determine what to use for the final product.
A few issues though when I type faster it gets confused on identifying the words. Also as the list of words typed gets longer the updates to the words typed and resorted becomes obvious.
Now considering changing some of the controls from a list box to a grid control. The list box automaticly appends new items onto the bottom of the list. My thought was that the last typed word should show in the top of the list rather than be barried in the bottom. To achieve that I resort the list through an array but as the list gets long I can see the posting change.
Its possible that the spelling validation request as it goes out to the web to validate is slowing down the capture of keys.
Perhaps I have it check when someone isn't typing. I'll just capture the key strokes and identify the words as a test.
I'm now looking at both a web service of a few dictionaries and a dictionary web site I crawl. Still determining whats best to use. The free web service dictionaries are from 2003 or older but the website is uptodate (litteraly updated daily). The website doesn't have a robots.txt that explicityly forbids web crawls. So these various factors are coming into play to determine what to use for the final product.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
First Glimpse
Here is the first web image of the spelling b program I'm writing. The menu isn't added in yet and I just have a simple text box for input, a red colored button for executing the spelling and the result being displayed to the right.
My idea is to have the bee be the cener of selecting spelling. The other pieces will have to be removed and replaced. I don't think people would like to have it look at 1 spelling word at a time. Need to think through how that should be displayed. Also though you can see the desktop this API i'm using doesn't allow the click through in vista. On xp it would work though.
Though you can't see in the image the wings are flapping. Ok working on just the damn bee. Need to get back to the spelling functionality. :)
Working on Layout Spelling Software update
I'm working on making a customized form for the spelling software. Historically I could use a translucent form to make the image the form. This would allow a click through where the image was not at. The windows attributes API doesn’t work like that in Vista anymore. Well, so much for the customized skin being easy.
So I’m learning about region. There is a way to create a form on the fly. This is a real learning process. I’m not strong with graphics so definitely going out of my comfort zone. Takes a lot more math to calculate the edge of the image to create the form.
I look at the image I made and hope it isn’t hokey. It’s a bee that I took from an image from power point and tried to make look friendly. But the main function of the software is to spell check on the fly and I’m wondering am I getting to far away from the main functionality? A polished piece of software has a good look that is appealing and easy to use. That’s what I’m shooting for but this is taking a bit more time than I wanted to spend on it.
The next development step for the spelling software is removing the xml tags, coding to spell check for many words at a time, displaying a marker to show a misspelling for a word that is in a sentence or paragraph, graphic changes for moving the spelling bee near the mouse (something I’ll have to see if it adds value or detracts). I will need to create a menu for accessing spell checking functionality along with a display of spell checked words.
It should be an easy process but I see different possibilities for deciding which dictionary to use, opening a URL to dictionary and encyclopedia sites, and adding in some translate services.
I’ve also thought about adding in speech, spell quiz, and auto sub menuing other software to allow spell checking in other applications.
I think I’ll chunk these features into release sets. First release will be free.
So I’m learning about region. There is a way to create a form on the fly. This is a real learning process. I’m not strong with graphics so definitely going out of my comfort zone. Takes a lot more math to calculate the edge of the image to create the form.
I look at the image I made and hope it isn’t hokey. It’s a bee that I took from an image from power point and tried to make look friendly. But the main function of the software is to spell check on the fly and I’m wondering am I getting to far away from the main functionality? A polished piece of software has a good look that is appealing and easy to use. That’s what I’m shooting for but this is taking a bit more time than I wanted to spend on it.
The next development step for the spelling software is removing the xml tags, coding to spell check for many words at a time, displaying a marker to show a misspelling for a word that is in a sentence or paragraph, graphic changes for moving the spelling bee near the mouse (something I’ll have to see if it adds value or detracts). I will need to create a menu for accessing spell checking functionality along with a display of spell checked words.
It should be an easy process but I see different possibilities for deciding which dictionary to use, opening a URL to dictionary and encyclopedia sites, and adding in some translate services.
I’ve also thought about adding in speech, spell quiz, and auto sub menuing other software to allow spell checking in other applications.
I think I’ll chunk these features into release sets. First release will be free.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Coming Along
Last night had a break through and found a webservice that offers spell checking. I was able to utilize the service and check spelling on a local client. So the spelling software looks clunky right now and isn't how I envision it but its coming along.
Stay tuned and I'll be posting some images of where I'm going right now with the spell checking software along with the service I utilized.
The web crawling method worked as well but not having a lic with a site bothered me.
Stay tuned and I'll be posting some images of where I'm going right now with the spell checking software along with the service I utilized.
The web crawling method worked as well but not having a lic with a site bothered me.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Writing a spell checking software
OK so why am I writing code that checks spelling with it available in word and available in Gmail?
I frequently spell incorrectly and would love to be able to have a spell checker that is quick to use and doesn't slow me down. So I'm creating another one to speed up the access to spell checking tools. In truth I won't be writing the algorithm to suggest the spelling words others have mastered that way beyond my capability but instead I plan on web crawling a dictionary site that can quickly give suggestions to misspelled words.
I have already created a basic design of a bee it doesn’t yet have the means to access the spelling yet but it’s a concept that I have already worked out.
Where I see challenges at this point is the crawl through websites to identify the suggested spellings, identify that the word is misspelled and to get permission to utilize their information in this way.
I’m calling this project spelling b. I’ll keep the blog posted to progress.
I frequently spell incorrectly and would love to be able to have a spell checker that is quick to use and doesn't slow me down. So I'm creating another one to speed up the access to spell checking tools. In truth I won't be writing the algorithm to suggest the spelling words others have mastered that way beyond my capability but instead I plan on web crawling a dictionary site that can quickly give suggestions to misspelled words.
I have already created a basic design of a bee it doesn’t yet have the means to access the spelling yet but it’s a concept that I have already worked out.
Where I see challenges at this point is the crawl through websites to identify the suggested spellings, identify that the word is misspelled and to get permission to utilize their information in this way.
I’m calling this project spelling b. I’ll keep the blog posted to progress.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Discoverd Knol and some great SEO articles
A large list of SEO tools:
http://knol.google.com/k/moose/seo-knol-group/56p4t4e0ve75/2#
Aaron Wall's knol article. A wonderful explanation of what to think through in SEO.
http://knol.google.com/k/aaron-wall/seo-basics/38v8wakla8f98/2#
http://knol.google.com/k/moose/seo-knol-group/56p4t4e0ve75/2#
Aaron Wall's knol article. A wonderful explanation of what to think through in SEO.
http://knol.google.com/k/aaron-wall/seo-basics/38v8wakla8f98/2#
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Speeding Tickets; Government hidden tax
I just saw an article regarding speeding tickets and how thier inforcement increases as the revenue for a community from taxes goes down. I linked to a study by the Federal Reserve that strongly links this relationship.
It really distrubs me to know that our government allows for the incentive of enforcement of laws based on thier revenue streams. It smacks of corruption to me.
http://research.stlouisfed.org/wp/2006/2006-048.pdf
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/speeding-youll-pay-higher-taxes.aspx
It really distrubs me to know that our government allows for the incentive of enforcement of laws based on thier revenue streams. It smacks of corruption to me.
http://research.stlouisfed.org/wp/2006/2006-048.pdf
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Insurance/InsureYourCar/speeding-youll-pay-higher-taxes.aspx
Tiny URL
Ever recieve a long url that just doesn't copy over well? I changed this URL http://www.quickgrowth.com/order.asp to this http://tinyurl.com/b4kavm. Easy to send in emails and utilize on twitter. I noticed NPR and other news agencies using URLs that didn't match there sites on their twits.
To get to this blog http://iamtestingthisfornow.blogspot.com/ now can use http://tinyurl.com/b8hffx.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Rice Pudding Twitting and rambiling
Forgive me I'm going to be writting junk until I get my groove on. I just looked at my previous post and thought OMG how do the bloggers and writers do it. So I'm all over the place off message.. grrr don't have a message.. So expect the ramblings to appear in this blog for quite some time.
So I just got on twitter and am thinking about creating a tool to mine the site. Just a thought for now cause I see there are some apps out there now. But it does appear to be an interesting new way of messaging. Wierd that a one way IM would be so popular. Like I want to talk to you but don't say anything back. Guess we all just do want to hear our selves.
Rice pudding is something I have just been making for the last few days. I've been experimenting with this betty crocker reciepe. It works pretty well. The reciepe calls for cooked rice and then its backed in the oven. I've seen basicly two types of rice puddings out there one being over the stove and the other backed. I rember as a child my Dad making a quick over the stove version where he'd cook up some raisons in some water then add the rice and milk until simmered. Placed some sugar on that and here you go son. Hey it's ok but I do remeber the oven style and it being great but I only recall getting that version once. So tada I'm off experimenting with rice pudding.
So I just got on twitter and am thinking about creating a tool to mine the site. Just a thought for now cause I see there are some apps out there now. But it does appear to be an interesting new way of messaging. Wierd that a one way IM would be so popular. Like I want to talk to you but don't say anything back. Guess we all just do want to hear our selves.
Rice pudding is something I have just been making for the last few days. I've been experimenting with this betty crocker reciepe. It works pretty well. The reciepe calls for cooked rice and then its backed in the oven. I've seen basicly two types of rice puddings out there one being over the stove and the other backed. I rember as a child my Dad making a quick over the stove version where he'd cook up some raisons in some water then add the rice and milk until simmered. Placed some sugar on that and here you go son. Hey it's ok but I do remeber the oven style and it being great but I only recall getting that version once. So tada I'm off experimenting with rice pudding.
A little Background
I’m John and I thought I’d start blogging to the world. So I am currently calling this test though it is open to anybody just because I’m not sure what I should discuss. I have interest in software, finance and business. I’m a news junky and currently am a MBA student at Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.
I have a web site at www.quickgrowth.com where I am the sole owner of this LLC company. I started it as a hobby business to discover more about software development in the ISV world in 2003. I’m a IT business analyst by trade though I started at a broker firm in 1995 after getting an undergrad in Finance.
I’ve also done some social science working for a firm in Asset Protection. There wrote strategic documents for a fortune 500 company on the various probabilities of crime at given locations for that firm. Hello World. The first quick program to write to start to get a grip to how this works.
I have a web site at www.quickgrowth.com where I am the sole owner of this LLC company. I started it as a hobby business to discover more about software development in the ISV world in 2003. I’m a IT business analyst by trade though I started at a broker firm in 1995 after getting an undergrad in Finance.
I’ve also done some social science working for a firm in Asset Protection. There wrote strategic documents for a fortune 500 company on the various probabilities of crime at given locations for that firm. Hello World. The first quick program to write to start to get a grip to how this works.
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