Software, Software Development and other Atrocities

I learned to programme just by chance. I did my first degree in Industrial Engineering but always liked computers. At work I was in charge of the computer inventories and repairs. I also liked to install and uninstall software and to run computer workshops (also play tetris and the prince of persia). I was really enthusiastic. Seeing that, some of my colleagues suggested I should learn to programme and move to the analysis and development department. I always refused cos I wasn't a geek. I said I'd never do that.

Never say never, that's what they say.

One day I was forced to move to another department (and got a new NASTY boss (bitch!)). She decided I had to fix a library system and implement it in a few weeks. The system was implemented in DBASE (this was more than 10 years ago!). She had bought it for $***** and needed it to be operative ASAP to justify the bill. For that she didn't give a desk and computer, nor did she allow me to use a whiteboard.

I learned a bit of DBASE and read the code. I realised then that the library system was a fake. It was originally a system for a video rent store and the programmer had done a few changes so it looked like a library system (something like replacing the words "Video" with "Book" and replacing "Client" with "Student"). The system was supposed to run in a Novell Network but that application was a standalone. On top of that I never managed to run the application without crashing it.

I wrote a report noting all the flaws in the system and that I would not recommend to fix it but to write a new one from scratch. I gave the report to the tyrant... sorry my boss. She went nuts and raised her voice. Called me incompetent and other things. I felt so bad because I didn't understand her attitude at all. However as there was no one else willing to do fixing she let me start it again.

That is how I learned to programme. We chose to use Foxpro v 2.5 (like DBASE but much better) because it was the only thing we had available at that time. It had the language and the database in one place so it wasn't that hard to learn. I was assigned 2 apprentices who also didn't know Foxpro. So we learned it together.

My team and I decided that we needed to meet with the people from the library to see what they needed. Of course my boss didn't agree with that. (why should you talk to them? You must not waste your time. Time is expensive.) I met the libary director and make good friends with her. She welcomed me and my team and also gave us some computers and printers all connected to a Novell network. (don't ask me the version because I don't remember.) We also met all the library staff who were very nice and aproachable. To be honest, although I had been a user of the library I did not know much about how they did things in there. We sort of established a base camp in the library and visited them very often. We did learn a lot! (we borrowed books for unlimited periods of time, etc, etc.) (I guess what we did was a kind of ethnography1 because we spent several days there seeing students borrowing books and stuff, and sometimes helping the staff to sort out problems, ¡habla Beto!). It took us a few months (more than we thought) to finish the application and make the library staff actually use it (that was tough!). But it was worth it.

So why am I telling you this?
I guess because I hear so many stories about nasty managers and about not needing to meet your users/customers/clients whatever you call them. And I just wanted to share my own story.
But maybe the real reason is because I am bored and hopelessly stuck with my thesis (not stuck as in "stuck in the mud" but as in "lazy to think"). Distracting my mind for a while helps to keep my sanity intact.

(Saquen su línea.)

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1 Ethnography is a research method grounded in the interpretive paradigm. It demands first hand involvement with the subjects of study in the same social world where they interact. (Marshall and Rossman, 1989, p.106))

The other day I cut my left thumb when I was trying to open a fruit can. Ooouuch!! It did really hurt. Ooouuch!! Ooouuch!! Ooouuch!! I thought it wasn't a big deal, just wash my hands, suck my finger and that would do it. To my surprise I could not make it stop bleeding. I saw my finger and realised that it was a really nasty cut that went from one side of the finger to the other. I tried for 1 hr to make the bleeding stop in vain. I poured Pisco (42° alcohol spirit) over the cut to disinfect it and then put a piece of cotton and applied some pressure on it. It did not work. (A little piece of advice: I would recommend you to not waste your pisco in such things. Never never never NEVER. Use it wisely. DRINK IT!)

Well, after a while my husband and I decided to go to the NHS centre opposite our place. (It was a Saturday so we knew that my GP's was closed.) At the NHS centre a guy told us that we had to ring the call centre before they could do something. So we did that. Actually my husband did it because I was busy with blood in my finger. He talked to someone on the phone. Gave this person my details. This person then faxed my details to the lady (receptionist) who was in front of me. Absurd! No wonder why the NHS is in trouble...
The receptionist got my details printed on a paper and asked me:

Receptionist: so, what is your problem?
I: I cut my finger with a fruit can and I can't make it stop bleeding.
Receptionist: Ok, go to the waiting room and a doctor will see you in a sec.

After 10 minutes a doctor came and asked me to follow him. "Good!" I though. "After all the NHS is not that bad, this will be over soon."
I went into the doctor's office and sat on a chair. (See diagram). The interview went like this:

Doctor: What happend?
I: I cut my finger with a fruit can and I can't make it stop bleeding.
Doctor: When was that?
I: about an hour ago

I then showed him my finger which I had wrapped with cotton and band aid. I thought he was going to see it but instead he said:

Doctor: can you uncover your finger?
I: (shocked because he wouldn't touch my finger) Ok (I unwrapped all the stuff I had on my finger)
Doctor: hmmm
I: (Looking at him) How does it look doctor?
Doctor: I think you should go to the Hospital. We can't help you here. You may need stitches and we don't have the implements. Can you go there?
I: (shocked again because it was more serious than I thought) I guess so. I mean I have to. Haven't I?
Doctor: Yes. I am sorry we can't be of more help.
I: no worries. Thanks anyway.

My husband and I went home and called a cab. 20 mins later we were in the casualty department. We went to see the receptionist:

Receptionist: What is your name?
I: (I gave her my name)
Receptionist: (with a big question mark in her face) sorry?
I: (I spelled my name, then I spelled it again and then..., I spelled it again.)
Receptionist: your address?
I: (I gave her my address)
Receptionist: your telephone?
I: (I gave her my telephone number)
Receptionist: who is your GP?
I: Dr. XXXX
Receptionist: what is your problem?
I: I cut my finger with a fruit can and I can't make it stop bleeding.
Receptionist: Ok, go to the waiting room and someone will see you soon.

My husband and I went to the waiting room and sat next to a drunk guy who smelled like hell. We couldn't stand it so we moved, closer to the TV. They were showing the Portugal v Iran football match. The match finished and we were still waiting... Nothing interesting on TV, nothing interesting to read... boring! At that moment I realised that my finger had stopped bleeding and I wondered if I could go home. But then I remembered what the doctor said about needing stitches. So I stayed. (Good I stayed, because a while after my finger was bleeding again.)

2hrs 15mins later, a nurse called me. Her name was T'Pol (not real name of course) and told me that I could see a doctor if I did not want her to see me. I said I didn't think I needed a doctor so we went to her office.

T'Pol: How do I pronounce your name?
I: (I said it veeeeeery slowly)
TPol: Where are you from?
I: South America
T'Pol: you speak spanish, don't you? My husband is learning spanish. He wants to go to Spain on holiday to practice his spanish, but I want to go to Croacia instead.
I: Oh! (:/)
T'Pol: but I think you speak a different spanish from the spanish spanish, don't you?
I: not really, just different accents. (actually we speak better spanish than the spanish but I didn't want to go there)
T'Pol: the other day we met some mexican guys and they were teaching us some words.
I: oh (:/) (thinking: yeah, chilli con carne, tortillas, quesadillas and tequila)
T'Pol: well, lets start this, tell me what happened? (she grabbed a form and a pen and started writing)
I: I cut my finger with a fruit can and I can't make it stop bleeding.
T'Pol: when did that happpen?
I: 4-5 hours ago.
T'Pol: are you taking any medication?
I: No
T'Pol: are you alergic to any medicine?
I: No (thinking: only the NHS waiting room)
T'Pol: hmmm, show me your finger.

She put on rubber gloves and touched my finger!
(I guess nurses are allowed to touch fingers... hmmm, I don't know... )

My finger was all covered in blood but it had stoped bleeding. T'Pol examined the cut, made me move my finger and asked me if I could feel something when she touched it. I did what she said and said I could feel her finger. She then said that I didn't need stitches, in fact she wouldn't recommend stitches in any case as she thought that part of the finger had sensitve skin. T'Pol proceeded to clean the cut, then applied paper stitches and put a huge bandage on my finger. She said I had to keep it clean and dry for 5 days.

T'Pol: is that Ok?
I: Yes (moving my finger and seeing that the bandage wasn't uncomfortable)
T'Pol: you can go now
I: Thank you T'Pol, Bye (thinking: I'm freeeeeeeeee to do what I want any old time, yes, Yes, YES, YEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS)

I met my husband in the waiting room and we left.

Later that evening we met some friends and one of them asked me "what happened to your finger?" and I said: "I cut my finger with a fruit can and I couldn't make it stop bleeding....."










Last Update: My Finger 23 June

Despues de casi 4 años de estar haciendo este doctorado al fin veo la luz al final del tunel. Todavía esta muy chiquita pero al menos la veo. Hace 3 semanas que le entrege el borrador de mi tesis a mi supervisora, ver foto, y me sentí muy aliviada.






Mi supervisora me devolvió el borrador con las correcciones la semana pasada. Me dijo que en general estaba bien y que solo habian correcciones menores. -pucha en realidad me relleno la tesis de comentarios, ni una hoja se salvó - espero completarlas en 2 semanas más.

Algunos de los comentarios que me hicieron k... de risa:

• I'd be inclined to ban you from using the word "this" (or their or them)
• Need to note that your perception was common place (not just you being stupid!!)
• Another very long intense paragraph --> ¡¡no sabe lo que me costó!!!
• Relate is a rather weak word in this context --> (de repente si la pongo en bold mmm)
  

Si alguna vez se deciden a hacer un doctorado piensenlo MUY BIEN. Es una experiencia enriquecedora, aprendes un huevo, si lo haces en Inglaterra aprendes a escribir en ingles, puedes viajar por Europa, etc. PERO ¡¡dura mas de 3 años !!! ¡¡tu vida social se va al car... !!! los unicos amigos que conservas son los que pones al costado en tu ventana. Ellos no se van simplemente porque no pueden moverse. (Los pueden conseguir en las cajas de cereal).

De izquierda a derecha, fila de arriba, ahi tienen a Mojo jo-jo, mi des-estresador en forma de cerebro, Dee Dee, Buttercup, Grim, un puto oso que no se como se llama, fila 2, un oso de peluche, una serpiente, dos muñecas chinas, un pulpo en una barca, una estrella en una barca, un tigre, un caracol en una barca, un lagarto en su carro verde, un oso en su carro amarillo y Sponge Bob en una barca. (Tengo mas pero no entraron en la foto- cortesía de Coco Pops)


Otra cosa es que luego de tantos años de estar estudiando ahora me toca pensar en que voy a hacer despues. Yo quisiera buscar un trabajo de consultora de software. Pero estoy recontra-super-archi desactualizada. ¡¡Estoy estudiando desde el 2000!! (MBA y Doctorado). Y solo toco la computadora para escribir en Word, mandar correos-e en Outlook, hacer dibujitos en PowerPoint y Webbear en la internet con Firefox, ... ahhh y escuchar música. Así que creo que me tocará tomar algunos cursos de programacion para Dummies.


mmm, a ver.... pensando en voz alta.... las áreas de consultoría que me interesarían son desarrollo en Web definitivamente de software social. Me parece una área que tiene mucho potencial y mucha demanda. Si quieren saber algo de software social chequeen esta entrada mía de hace meses: http://clk0.blogspot.com/2005/05/social-software-in-business.html
(tienes que saber inglich, ahh, y no esperes el super artículo, solo unas gárgaras de Listerine con algunas ideas que se me ocurrieron).

Foros en línea, weblogs, wikis, MSN, Skype, etc., son software social. Tu groupware, tu workflow son también software social (aunque usados en ambientes organizacionales, relativamente pequeños en comparación con la totalidad de la web). Sitios como MySpace.com, Youtube.com, iFilm.com, Flickr, etc., también. Son estos últimos los tipos de sitios web que me están llamando la atención últimamente (no solo porque son un vacilón, sino por su naturaleza (en castellano, por lo que son detrás de todo el vacilón), no solo por las opciones-software que ofrecen, sino por las comunidades que se crean alrededor) . Hasta ahora me ha parecido que su exito es producto de la pura purita suerte. Alguien tiene una idea y la suelta en la internet. Si le va bien, pues que bien. Si no, la descarta y continúa con la siguiente. Quizas yo pueda hacer algo allí y tener algo de suerte.

Se aceptan sugerencias.