All work and play...

Finally I am sitting in my office and trying to work to the best of my ability. I really enjoy rights such as "the right to write the best code" (XP Developer rights). I don't have the "managers", "quality" word documents, "corporate policies". My main aim is to write well-tested working software.

There is a lot of initial setting-up work to be done. Everything from finding a good place to rent for our office to getting telephone and ISP connections to finding a good maid is a lot of work. Personally I hate to run around for such things but this time the thrill of doing something on my own and the freedom that comes with it makes it a lot more interesting. Even after spending 8 hours in the office by evening I am still fresh and happier. A wonderful experience. Now that I have some energy left I would like to do some more oil paintings and practice guitar, etc., after "office hours".

I am sure there are many developers and managers whose only aim is to do good work but the heavy weight processes and the hierarchy just would not let them. Instead of addressing these problems companies conduct training sessions to "teach" such people how to cope with "challenges" of the corporate world. Many will eventually believe that they have a flaw or shortcoming. Some try to find an outlet by participating in other projects like open source. Atleast thats how I started contributing to Open source :)

Now that I have tasted blood, I am not sure if I can ever go back to a "process oriented" services company and still remain sane.


How long will I be able to sustain this... only time will tell.

System.exit(0);

These are some of my last days in Mindteck. I am going on to start my own software consulting firm with some of my old friends.



Mindteck has come a long way since I joined the company almost 3 years back. It was a great experience to be together during the boom, the bust and the new boom. The company has grown manifold.

I still like a small agile company that genuinely tries to provide value to the customer. I hope to try out some of my (some say idealistic) ideas of how a company should be. I like to believe that software is closer to art than engineering or mass manufacturing and I could make a difference in that field. I hope that it is still competancy and smart work that drives development. The success of my new company would be an example for all the software engineers (eventhough few) who are willing to learn, work and come out with creative and useful solutions. This would prove that they can actually let go all the pseudo-quality-processes and do *real* work - working, useful software.