The IT industry thrives as one overall organism, but it is no secret that a few companies stand far above the others in terms of size and notoriety. In an article for Business 2 Community, Barbara McKinney examines what behaviors distinguish businesses like Google, Microsoft, and Oracle from the others. Putting aside obvious factors like great management, she shares six actions these top businesses take:
Showing posts with label IT Software company. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IT Software company. Show all posts
Monday, April 3, 2017
Mobile App Ecosystem
Said my friend as he described why his company stopped building native apps. It’s easier to build a business on the web. How could that be? The browser-based web app ecosystem has existed for more than 20 years while the app ecosystem has existed for only 6. One thing is for sure, it’s not because there are fewer websites than apps.
Friday, March 31, 2017
Amazing Technology That Allows Blind People To See Again
Thursday, March 30, 2017
This Way you Make Your Windows Computer Faster and Perform Better Now
Simple tasks like startup or opening new programs taking forever? Here are 7 quick ways to make your computer run a little faster…
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
How Network Congestion Management Affects Your Internet
Comcast is committed to providing the best online experience possible for all our customers, using reasonable network management practices that are consistent with industry standards. The following is intended to help clarify what we mean by network management.
Are you worried for slow computer ? Top Tips for Computer Maintenance
Overview:
Over time, you might notice your computer or laptop’s performance slowing down. But there are several easy steps you can take to help your computer run smoothly. By regularly performing these small tasks, you can avoid larger problems down the road and get the most from your machine.
This way you can optimize Your Internet Speed
General Speed Tips
Your XFINITY Internet equipment (wireless gateway, modem or router) and connected devices (computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc.) can all affect the Internet speed you experience.
Interesting Computer Facts
Best Free Data Recovery Software
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Tips to create awesome mobile app designs
- The Rules of Interaction Design Always Apply
Just because you have less screen space doesn’t mean the rules of good interaction design don’t apply.
Information technology
New Zealand's tech sector is diverse and advanced. It’s a breeding ground for innovation and competes successfully on the world stage.
World’s Email Encryption Software
After this article appeared, Werner Koch informed us that last week he was awarded a one-time grant of $60,000 from Linux Foundation's Core Infrastructure Initiative.
software engineer with online degree
Choosing an Online Program
When it comes to earning a software engineering online degree, students have several choices:
- An online program that delivers all software engineering courses online
- A traditional university that provides an all-online curriculum
- A college program that presents a combination of online and classroom software engineering course work
Schools like Colorado Technical University (CTU) focus on distance learning and have built a strong reputation for their wide range of degree programs available exclusively in online formats. At CTU, students can choose from a number of software engineering online degrees, including bachelor's and master's degree programs in information technology specialties and computer science.
In comparison, more traditional institutions like Texas Tech University (TTU) have created software engineering online degree programs out of their standard curriculum, including an online master's program, to meet the growing demand among today's students. Traditional universities and all online schools may require some face-to-face time now and then, such as for an introductory meeting or weekend class at the beginning of the initial term.
Online Certification Programs
By default, software engineering jobs demand that you keep your knowledge of technology up to date. A good way to show employers that you have kept your skills current is to get certified in a technical specialty. Like software engineering online degrees, many online colleges offer professional certifications in specific areas of software engineering. Some examples include database development, network security, web design, Microsoft operating systems and Oracle database administration.
Professional certification not only demonstrates your expertise in software engineering, but it can increase your job opportunities and salary potential. In the end, if you see yourself playing a leadership role in your company in the future, software engineering online certification programs can help you get a firm footing on that path.
Online Programs Make Sense for Today's Students
If you have the personality and self-discipline to thrive in an online learning environment, then best way for you to get a software engineering degree may be through an online program. Learn more about software engineering degrees and colleges. Then search our comprehensive directory of schools, and request more information from the software engineering online degree programs that interest you most.
Useful IT Information for New Students
At this time, IT information is most need things for everyone. For new students it is compulasary to know about IT.
Computer Accounts
Each student is given automatically two computer accounts, namely EdUHK network & Google email account. He/She can use the same login name and password for all the EdUHK network services and Google Webmail System.
All EdUHK computer accounts will be terminated when one ceases to be a student, and all associated data will be deleted. However, students could continue to use the Google account after graduation.
Student Card
The student card (EdU Card) is issued to all students for the purpose of identification and physical access to University's facilities such as the Library, sports facilities, swimming pools, hostels, and etc. The Registry (REG) is responsible for student card issuance, return and replacement while OCIO is responsible for card printing service.
Connecting Your Computer to the Campus Network
On Campus:
Users can connect to the campus network through wireless connection. The EdUHK wireless network is now available almost everywhere in the Tai Po Campus and Tseung Kwan O Study Centre.
At Home:
If users have subscribed service from an Internet Service Provider (ISP), they can connect their mobile or home computers to the campus network through VPN. It enables users to use some IT services outside campus as secure as in the office. These services include using Microsoft Outlook, using SPSS outside campus, making connecting to some central network servers using FTP/SFTP client software, etc.
eLearning
To support blended and distance learning, the University has been using Learning Management System (LMS) for eLearning since 2000. Currently we are using Moodle as our LMS. The Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology (LTTC) is responsible for the front-line support and training of Moodle while OCIO is responsible for the support of the eLearning infrastructure.
Central Computing Facilities
OCIO manages a number of computer rooms in Tai Po Campus and the Tseung Kwan O Study Centre to support teaching and learning. The computer room C-LP-21 at Tai Po Campus is a 24-hour open access computer room for students to do their homework after class.
Besides, a number of network printers are installed in the central computer rooms and some Print-N-Go stations are setup in the Learning Commons and the Library to facilitate printing. To facilitate students to get started at the beginning of the school year, each student is given a free print quota of HK$120 per annum. If needed, they can purchase additional print quota using the Octopus Payment Machines on the campus. We recommend students to print only when necessary to protect the environment.
Computing Policies & Regulations
Students should use the computing, network infrastructure and voice communications services of the University in a responsible, ethical and legal manner. They are to observe all relevant regulations, guidelines and legislations on the use of such services. Please visit Policies and Guidelines for more information.
Computer Accounts
Each student is given automatically two computer accounts, namely EdUHK network & Google email account. He/She can use the same login name and password for all the EdUHK network services and Google Webmail System.
All EdUHK computer accounts will be terminated when one ceases to be a student, and all associated data will be deleted. However, students could continue to use the Google account after graduation.
Student Card
The student card (EdU Card) is issued to all students for the purpose of identification and physical access to University's facilities such as the Library, sports facilities, swimming pools, hostels, and etc. The Registry (REG) is responsible for student card issuance, return and replacement while OCIO is responsible for card printing service.
Connecting Your Computer to the Campus Network
On Campus:
Users can connect to the campus network through wireless connection. The EdUHK wireless network is now available almost everywhere in the Tai Po Campus and Tseung Kwan O Study Centre.
At Home:
If users have subscribed service from an Internet Service Provider (ISP), they can connect their mobile or home computers to the campus network through VPN. It enables users to use some IT services outside campus as secure as in the office. These services include using Microsoft Outlook, using SPSS outside campus, making connecting to some central network servers using FTP/SFTP client software, etc.
eLearning
To support blended and distance learning, the University has been using Learning Management System (LMS) for eLearning since 2000. Currently we are using Moodle as our LMS. The Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology (LTTC) is responsible for the front-line support and training of Moodle while OCIO is responsible for the support of the eLearning infrastructure.
Central Computing Facilities
OCIO manages a number of computer rooms in Tai Po Campus and the Tseung Kwan O Study Centre to support teaching and learning. The computer room C-LP-21 at Tai Po Campus is a 24-hour open access computer room for students to do their homework after class.
Besides, a number of network printers are installed in the central computer rooms and some Print-N-Go stations are setup in the Learning Commons and the Library to facilitate printing. To facilitate students to get started at the beginning of the school year, each student is given a free print quota of HK$120 per annum. If needed, they can purchase additional print quota using the Octopus Payment Machines on the campus. We recommend students to print only when necessary to protect the environment.
Computing Policies & Regulations
Students should use the computing, network infrastructure and voice communications services of the University in a responsible, ethical and legal manner. They are to observe all relevant regulations, guidelines and legislations on the use of such services. Please visit Policies and Guidelines for more information.
5 Top Most Important Things to Learn About Computer Science
At the start of discuss about most important things to learn about computer science, i shared one story. Leslie Stevens-Huffman is a business and careers writer based in Southern California. She has more than 20 years’ experience in the staffing industry and has been writing blog posts, sample resumes and providing sage career advice to the IT professionals in our Dice Community since 2006. Leslie has a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism from the University of Southern California.
Computer science degrees come with a common misconception, which often discourages students from pursuing a degree: They’ll turn you into an isolated code cruncher. That’s not really the case.
Graduating Computer science graduates qualify for a wide range of positions and careers. However, to ensure you have the right mix of skills and hands-on experience to get one, do your homework and decide on a career path before selecting a technical specialty or program.
What tips for success can you give to those seeking a degree in computer science? Let us know in the comments below.
“The gap between the classroom and the workplace has been a problem,” acknowledges Dr. H.E. Dunsmore, associate professor of Computer Science and chair of the College of Science Undergraduate Education Policy and Curriculum Committee at Purdue University.
Purdue’s Computer Science department has taken steps to make more students aware of the versatility of CS degrees. His undergraduates have the opportunity to explore various careers and select an educational track that suits their preferences.
“Computer science majors take a course during their freshman year that explains the various career options and what they’ll actually do all day,” explains Dunsmore. “They also have the opportunity to mix with our corporate partners, hear about different job opportunities and then select from a broad array of educational tracks in everything from graphics to security, which may require less math or programming.”
If you’re interested in CS, consider these five things:
a) Know Yourself:
Do you like working solo or on a team? Do you want to work with cutting-edge technology or support a business unit in a private sector company? The reality is you can be a DBA, business analyst, software engineer, researcher or computer systems analyst. However, you need to choose a career and curriculum that leverages your academic strengths. Currently, less than 40 percent of U.S. undergradscomplete science, technology, engineering and math programs and graduate with a degree.“If you want to pursue a career in software engineering, then you’ll have to complete rigorous coursework in math and programming,” says Dr. Larry Davis, professor at the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies and chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of Maryland.
b) Select a Sustainable Career:
Employment in all computer occupations is expected to increase by 22 percent through 2020, but some IT fields will fare better than others, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics biennial update of employment projections. Tech support and programming are still being sent offshore, so select carefully. “Don’t wait until you’re a junior or senior to attend campus job fairs,” suggests Davis. “Go when you’re a freshman so you can meet employers and hear about their future openings.
c) Acquire Marketable Skills:
It might be better to major in Business Administration and minor in Computer Science if you want to work in the private sector because the cloud is transforming IT and creating hybrid roles across the enterprise, according to Gartner. Most computer science students spend time building their own applications and systems but businesses don’t necessarily need that type of expertise. Hot skills include systems integration, business intelligence, cloud computing SQL, .Net, C, mobile languages and Java.
d) Get Hands-On Experience:
You can’t learn teamwork or business fundamentals by reading a text book. Participate in student projects, volunteer work, campus committees and internships so you can acquire hands-on technical experience, business acumen, leadership and communication skills.
e) Persevere: It takes most CS students six years to earn a degree since many initially drop out of math and programming classes, yet manage to succeed the second time around.
Computer science degrees come with a common misconception, which often discourages students from pursuing a degree: They’ll turn you into an isolated code cruncher. That’s not really the case.
Graduating Computer science graduates qualify for a wide range of positions and careers. However, to ensure you have the right mix of skills and hands-on experience to get one, do your homework and decide on a career path before selecting a technical specialty or program.
What tips for success can you give to those seeking a degree in computer science? Let us know in the comments below.
“The gap between the classroom and the workplace has been a problem,” acknowledges Dr. H.E. Dunsmore, associate professor of Computer Science and chair of the College of Science Undergraduate Education Policy and Curriculum Committee at Purdue University.
Purdue’s Computer Science department has taken steps to make more students aware of the versatility of CS degrees. His undergraduates have the opportunity to explore various careers and select an educational track that suits their preferences.
“Computer science majors take a course during their freshman year that explains the various career options and what they’ll actually do all day,” explains Dunsmore. “They also have the opportunity to mix with our corporate partners, hear about different job opportunities and then select from a broad array of educational tracks in everything from graphics to security, which may require less math or programming.”
If you’re interested in CS, consider these five things:
a) Know Yourself:
Do you like working solo or on a team? Do you want to work with cutting-edge technology or support a business unit in a private sector company? The reality is you can be a DBA, business analyst, software engineer, researcher or computer systems analyst. However, you need to choose a career and curriculum that leverages your academic strengths. Currently, less than 40 percent of U.S. undergradscomplete science, technology, engineering and math programs and graduate with a degree.“If you want to pursue a career in software engineering, then you’ll have to complete rigorous coursework in math and programming,” says Dr. Larry Davis, professor at the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies and chair of the Computer Science Department at the University of Maryland.
b) Select a Sustainable Career:
Employment in all computer occupations is expected to increase by 22 percent through 2020, but some IT fields will fare better than others, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics biennial update of employment projections. Tech support and programming are still being sent offshore, so select carefully. “Don’t wait until you’re a junior or senior to attend campus job fairs,” suggests Davis. “Go when you’re a freshman so you can meet employers and hear about their future openings.
c) Acquire Marketable Skills:
It might be better to major in Business Administration and minor in Computer Science if you want to work in the private sector because the cloud is transforming IT and creating hybrid roles across the enterprise, according to Gartner. Most computer science students spend time building their own applications and systems but businesses don’t necessarily need that type of expertise. Hot skills include systems integration, business intelligence, cloud computing SQL, .Net, C, mobile languages and Java.
d) Get Hands-On Experience:
You can’t learn teamwork or business fundamentals by reading a text book. Participate in student projects, volunteer work, campus committees and internships so you can acquire hands-on technical experience, business acumen, leadership and communication skills.
e) Persevere: It takes most CS students six years to earn a degree since many initially drop out of math and programming classes, yet manage to succeed the second time around.
Most popular DJ Software in the Market
What is the best DJ software? That's up to you! If you done your job with your passion then obviously its gone viral.
What is the best DJ software? Which DJ software is best for me? The answers to these questions rely on a few factors, one being your budget and next your level of understanding DJ software and controllers as a whole. Nowadays, the standard DJ mixer and “two turntables and a microphone” traditional setup isn’t the most popular thing you’ll see in a DJ’s booth. Having a digital-based setup is basically the norm now as you’ll notice at most festivals and shows. Although this makes us feel a bit old being that only 10 years ago or so I was playing around with some used Stanton tables and my dad’s old James Brown records, in this day and age of technology we all, especially us musicians, need to keep up to date with the latest trends. Today that trend is digital setups for DJ’s, which you need both equipment and most importantly software to get you properly rolling. We highlight the canvas of it all, as we go through the best DJ software in the market today.
If you already have an idea of what DJ software is, go ahead and continue reading on. However, for those who are looking to read more into what it specifically does, it is basically a computer program that emulates the traditional mixer, turntables and effects processing a DJ usually uses when scratching or mixing and matching songs. More specifically, for playing (aka ‘presenting’) media to an audience during performances or recording DJ mixes onto a track, whether it be a giant mix tape or merely a portion of the song dedicated to some scratching or beat matching.
The DJ software and controller diagram
The standard setup of DJ controllers and software nowadays
Sometimes all a DJ does is play a playlist on iTunes (even some popular artists have been accused of this at shows and festivals, but we won’t get into that drama right now — since you’re not doing that, obviously), so software for those may not be too demanding as far as extra features go. Although this can be justified for those DJ’s who usually play at weddings or smaller party’s and what not, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing — their main job is to please the crowd and keep a steady flow going (and perhaps take requests here and there).
How to choose your DJ software
Some are free, some aren’t. We provide the trials so this helps you see if a specific software you’re looking at is worth dropping some money on. Most have gear specifically made for them, and some you don’t even need a piece of equipment for with only using your mouse. Which one you’d like is up to you really, but we’d recommend going with a more popular software that is supported with communities and gear.
The top two DJ software we list (Serato and Traktor Pro) are pretty stingy when it comes to compatible gear. That has both pros and cons, one giving you some security knowing that if you purchase the software as well as some gear that’s stated to be ‘compatible’ then you’re good to go and feeling warm and fuzzy inside. However, if you already have a DJ controller or want more of a broad-based DJ controller you should go with a different software such as VirtualDJ or Ableton. Although you are sacrificing some extra features with this option, so pick your poison.
Our picks for the best DJ software
The following is our top picks for the best DJ software (we went with 5 of them). The first few are what we recommend going with depending on your needs, but the others may pertain to you as well. We provide a link to their free trials, full versions, community, as well as some other resources helping explain what exactly they are (videos and what not). Let us know which one you go with!
Serato DJ
This is one our top picks for the best DJ software. How could we not? There was a close tie between this and Traktor Pro, but we’ll explain the few differences between each other. We’ve basically gone with Serato DJ because it is the standard among most of the top DJ’s we’ve spoken to. But we’ll be honest, it’s not easy choosing to list this first. The hottest debate nowadays is Serto vs. Traktor? Which program is better? Both have their pluses.
Serato DJ is most famous for their scratch emulation software which allows us to literally scratch any sound file we have on the computer. You can transform an mp3 file into a real record (you’ll need a controller to do it by hand). This makes traditional DJ’s mad. What happened to digging in the crates? Finding a rare record nobody has so only you can scratch it? Well, things are completely different now.
Serato also gives us numerous other features. These include vinyl and CD-J control, easy library management for switching between songs and matching beats, cues and loops to trigger and order, easy programming, add FX to songs and tracks, trigger some samples during tracks, cut, cue, loop, and more. The most impressive part of Serato is probably the interface as it is very aesthetically pleasing and organizes a lot of features into an easy package.
What’s nice is that Serato isn’t just limited to professionals only. It’s great for beginners (although it will definitely take some learning) and once you get the jist of it, you can use it pretty fresh out of the box. The more fancy features will take some familiarity, so it’ll be an investment once you’re ready to keep going.
What I found a bit disappointing was their vinyl scratching emulation software is sold separate. For more information on that you can buy Serato Scratch Live for a decent price.
There’s also a ton of compatible controllers to go along with Serato. But be careful with this; some are listed specifically to be for Serato while others are universal. The made-for-Serato gear works relatively seamlessly while other more broad DJ controllers can be a bit iffy. Some Serato controllers we’ve reviewed include the Akai AMX and Akai AFX controllers, but these are just to name a few. There are mixers, controllers, faders, and even more, so shop around for those if you plan on going big.
Native Instruments Traktor Pro
Native Instruments is a huge player in the innovation game with music equipment in general, and their Traktor Pro 2 DJ software is the other heavy hitter in the market. To us it’s like PC vs. Mac — everybody has their preference as they both work intended and offer us more features than we can count. What would separate the two is basically your budget; Traktor Pro runs a bit more expensive since it is only truly compatible with gear made specifically by Native Instruments, although some equipment will work decently. The universal gear isn’t as easy to use as it is with Serato. Native Instruments does this so you buy only their or brand’s they’ve approved. So not only will you have to spend money on the software itself, but the N.I. gear along with it to properly control it – gear you already have probably won’t work. They have quite a lot of gear available, too, so if your budget is up there you can get pretty crazy with it.
The main features of Traktor Pro 2 include 4-deck control, looping and cues, over 30 built-in effects, on-the-fly remixing and re-editing of tracks, and easy browsing of your sounds and tracks. These are pretty close to Serato so when it comes to differences there aren’t much besides a few dollars in price and ready-made controllers for each.
NI’s scratch emulation software is also sold separately, which is where they get you in terms of price. Traktor Pro 2 is around $100 retail, but their scratch software is sold separately which starts at five bills. Check their Traktor Scratch Pro 2 pricing for more details and reviews (comes with an audio interface too).
VirtualDJ Pro
Here’s another popular DJ software in the market, albeit not as widespread as Traktor or Serato. This is recommended for those who want more of a broad software that will work pretty well with most standard USB or MIDI DJ controllers. It’s not as monopoly-based when it comes to gear and software integration which is why we sometimes like this over the expensive Serato and Traktor choices.
Here are some standout features of VirtualDJ: Compatible with Mac and PC, song mixing, FX application, play two or more tracks at the same time, change speed, cross-fade, cues and more. Standard features here but it’s very solid and compatible with most DJ equipment. This is also recommended for beginners who will be doing less daunting shows and want simplicity. Here’s a short video explaining it.
Deckadance
This is made the same company as Fruity Loops as we saw their program make an appearance in our best digital audio workstation article. Image-Line is very reliable when it comes to gear and software so we’re confident when using this knowing it’s reliable and fully functional, it just isn’t a common software you’ll see talked about in the online DJ community.
Deckadance gives us some decent features here: Up to four deck control, VST compatible, MIDI control, smart knobs (link interface targets to one particular knob), FX chaining, low/mid/high band control and customize the interface. What’s most impressive is the fact that it can be either a standalone program and can be linked as a VSTi in your DAW of choice. You can also combine it with any digital vinyl software, such as Serato or VirtualDJ. It’s pretty cheap as compared to other DJ software out there as well.
Mixxx
This one is for you if you’re looking for the best free DJ software. Mixxx is open-source, so we’ve got some creative minds collaborating together to work on improvements and additional features. The lack of price gives us a “why not?” mind-state, so if you have the time, give it a go to see if it’s right for you. Here are some core features of Mixxx: Crossfading with auto DJ, most sound format compatible, waveform displays and summaries, Mac and PC compatible, BPM detection, vinyl emulation, loops and cues, adjustable EQ, and a lot more. Mixxx is something to take a look at it not only because it’s free but due to the power it holds in terms of overall features. This is definitely a sleep in the “best dj mixer” talk.
What is the best DJ software? Which DJ software is best for me? The answers to these questions rely on a few factors, one being your budget and next your level of understanding DJ software and controllers as a whole. Nowadays, the standard DJ mixer and “two turntables and a microphone” traditional setup isn’t the most popular thing you’ll see in a DJ’s booth. Having a digital-based setup is basically the norm now as you’ll notice at most festivals and shows. Although this makes us feel a bit old being that only 10 years ago or so I was playing around with some used Stanton tables and my dad’s old James Brown records, in this day and age of technology we all, especially us musicians, need to keep up to date with the latest trends. Today that trend is digital setups for DJ’s, which you need both equipment and most importantly software to get you properly rolling. We highlight the canvas of it all, as we go through the best DJ software in the market today.
If you already have an idea of what DJ software is, go ahead and continue reading on. However, for those who are looking to read more into what it specifically does, it is basically a computer program that emulates the traditional mixer, turntables and effects processing a DJ usually uses when scratching or mixing and matching songs. More specifically, for playing (aka ‘presenting’) media to an audience during performances or recording DJ mixes onto a track, whether it be a giant mix tape or merely a portion of the song dedicated to some scratching or beat matching.
The DJ software and controller diagram
The standard setup of DJ controllers and software nowadays
Sometimes all a DJ does is play a playlist on iTunes (even some popular artists have been accused of this at shows and festivals, but we won’t get into that drama right now — since you’re not doing that, obviously), so software for those may not be too demanding as far as extra features go. Although this can be justified for those DJ’s who usually play at weddings or smaller party’s and what not, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing — their main job is to please the crowd and keep a steady flow going (and perhaps take requests here and there).
How to choose your DJ software
Some are free, some aren’t. We provide the trials so this helps you see if a specific software you’re looking at is worth dropping some money on. Most have gear specifically made for them, and some you don’t even need a piece of equipment for with only using your mouse. Which one you’d like is up to you really, but we’d recommend going with a more popular software that is supported with communities and gear.
The top two DJ software we list (Serato and Traktor Pro) are pretty stingy when it comes to compatible gear. That has both pros and cons, one giving you some security knowing that if you purchase the software as well as some gear that’s stated to be ‘compatible’ then you’re good to go and feeling warm and fuzzy inside. However, if you already have a DJ controller or want more of a broad-based DJ controller you should go with a different software such as VirtualDJ or Ableton. Although you are sacrificing some extra features with this option, so pick your poison.
Our picks for the best DJ software
The following is our top picks for the best DJ software (we went with 5 of them). The first few are what we recommend going with depending on your needs, but the others may pertain to you as well. We provide a link to their free trials, full versions, community, as well as some other resources helping explain what exactly they are (videos and what not). Let us know which one you go with!
Serato DJ
This is one our top picks for the best DJ software. How could we not? There was a close tie between this and Traktor Pro, but we’ll explain the few differences between each other. We’ve basically gone with Serato DJ because it is the standard among most of the top DJ’s we’ve spoken to. But we’ll be honest, it’s not easy choosing to list this first. The hottest debate nowadays is Serto vs. Traktor? Which program is better? Both have their pluses.
Serato DJ is most famous for their scratch emulation software which allows us to literally scratch any sound file we have on the computer. You can transform an mp3 file into a real record (you’ll need a controller to do it by hand). This makes traditional DJ’s mad. What happened to digging in the crates? Finding a rare record nobody has so only you can scratch it? Well, things are completely different now.
Serato also gives us numerous other features. These include vinyl and CD-J control, easy library management for switching between songs and matching beats, cues and loops to trigger and order, easy programming, add FX to songs and tracks, trigger some samples during tracks, cut, cue, loop, and more. The most impressive part of Serato is probably the interface as it is very aesthetically pleasing and organizes a lot of features into an easy package.
What’s nice is that Serato isn’t just limited to professionals only. It’s great for beginners (although it will definitely take some learning) and once you get the jist of it, you can use it pretty fresh out of the box. The more fancy features will take some familiarity, so it’ll be an investment once you’re ready to keep going.
What I found a bit disappointing was their vinyl scratching emulation software is sold separate. For more information on that you can buy Serato Scratch Live for a decent price.
There’s also a ton of compatible controllers to go along with Serato. But be careful with this; some are listed specifically to be for Serato while others are universal. The made-for-Serato gear works relatively seamlessly while other more broad DJ controllers can be a bit iffy. Some Serato controllers we’ve reviewed include the Akai AMX and Akai AFX controllers, but these are just to name a few. There are mixers, controllers, faders, and even more, so shop around for those if you plan on going big.
Native Instruments Traktor Pro
Native Instruments is a huge player in the innovation game with music equipment in general, and their Traktor Pro 2 DJ software is the other heavy hitter in the market. To us it’s like PC vs. Mac — everybody has their preference as they both work intended and offer us more features than we can count. What would separate the two is basically your budget; Traktor Pro runs a bit more expensive since it is only truly compatible with gear made specifically by Native Instruments, although some equipment will work decently. The universal gear isn’t as easy to use as it is with Serato. Native Instruments does this so you buy only their or brand’s they’ve approved. So not only will you have to spend money on the software itself, but the N.I. gear along with it to properly control it – gear you already have probably won’t work. They have quite a lot of gear available, too, so if your budget is up there you can get pretty crazy with it.
The main features of Traktor Pro 2 include 4-deck control, looping and cues, over 30 built-in effects, on-the-fly remixing and re-editing of tracks, and easy browsing of your sounds and tracks. These are pretty close to Serato so when it comes to differences there aren’t much besides a few dollars in price and ready-made controllers for each.
NI’s scratch emulation software is also sold separately, which is where they get you in terms of price. Traktor Pro 2 is around $100 retail, but their scratch software is sold separately which starts at five bills. Check their Traktor Scratch Pro 2 pricing for more details and reviews (comes with an audio interface too).
VirtualDJ Pro
Here’s another popular DJ software in the market, albeit not as widespread as Traktor or Serato. This is recommended for those who want more of a broad software that will work pretty well with most standard USB or MIDI DJ controllers. It’s not as monopoly-based when it comes to gear and software integration which is why we sometimes like this over the expensive Serato and Traktor choices.
Here are some standout features of VirtualDJ: Compatible with Mac and PC, song mixing, FX application, play two or more tracks at the same time, change speed, cross-fade, cues and more. Standard features here but it’s very solid and compatible with most DJ equipment. This is also recommended for beginners who will be doing less daunting shows and want simplicity. Here’s a short video explaining it.
Deckadance
This is made the same company as Fruity Loops as we saw their program make an appearance in our best digital audio workstation article. Image-Line is very reliable when it comes to gear and software so we’re confident when using this knowing it’s reliable and fully functional, it just isn’t a common software you’ll see talked about in the online DJ community.
Deckadance gives us some decent features here: Up to four deck control, VST compatible, MIDI control, smart knobs (link interface targets to one particular knob), FX chaining, low/mid/high band control and customize the interface. What’s most impressive is the fact that it can be either a standalone program and can be linked as a VSTi in your DAW of choice. You can also combine it with any digital vinyl software, such as Serato or VirtualDJ. It’s pretty cheap as compared to other DJ software out there as well.
Mixxx
This one is for you if you’re looking for the best free DJ software. Mixxx is open-source, so we’ve got some creative minds collaborating together to work on improvements and additional features. The lack of price gives us a “why not?” mind-state, so if you have the time, give it a go to see if it’s right for you. Here are some core features of Mixxx: Crossfading with auto DJ, most sound format compatible, waveform displays and summaries, Mac and PC compatible, BPM detection, vinyl emulation, loops and cues, adjustable EQ, and a lot more. Mixxx is something to take a look at it not only because it’s free but due to the power it holds in terms of overall features. This is definitely a sleep in the “best dj mixer” talk.
List of Commonly Used Business Software
Types of Information Systems in an Organization
Although technology keeps advancing, businesses still have the same basic needs from their software. While the software's functionality has evolved, the delivery platform has gone through a quantum change. Applications that used to be delivered as standard applications run on on desktop and notebook computers are now frequently delivered through the web browser or run on non-traditional computing devices such as tablets and smartphones.
Try Zendesk For Free
Build Customer Relationships That Are More Meaningful & Productive.www.zendesk.com/
Web Browsers
In a business setting, Web browsers do more than just allow you to surf the Internet. More and more business applications are being delivered from cloud servers through the web browser. While these can include business-specific information and tools such as intranets, browsers can also serve as a gateway to software applications like spreadsheets and word processors.
Office Suites
Office suites like Microsoft Office, Apple iWork, WordPerfect Office, Google Docs or Apache OpenOffice combine multiple business software programs into a single package. At a minimum, most include a word processor, a spreadsheet and a presentation program. Some suites add additional programs such as drawing software, email clients and databases. They cover the basic productivity needs of most office workers.
Communication Software
Software to facilitate communication is also crucial. Many communication applications, such as many online meeting services and web-based email services, run through the browser. Other programs, like Qualcomm's Eudora or Microsoft's Outlook, are traditional applications that run on the computer and provide an interface allowing their users to connect to email servers.
Business Intelligence and Enterprise Software
Many businesses also use special software packages to help manage their accounting and operations. Some use entry-level programs such as Quickbooks or Sage Peachtree that perform basic accounting functions. More powerful enterprise resource planning and business intelligence packages offer a comprehensive view of your business. While buying a license can be expensive, cloud-based versions of these programs are affordable for many small businesses.
Free UML Diagram Tool
Extensive shape & connector library
to create efficient UML diagrams.
www.lucidchart.com
Edraw Diagram Software
Cross-Platform Diagram Software,
Visio Alternative, Free Download
www.edrawsoft.com
Inventory and Billing POS
Easy to use Inventory + Billing
Software. Download HDPOS trial now
www.hdpos.in/Stock.aspx
PL/SQL Developer
Download PL/SQL Developer
lots of features, plug-ins & more
www.allroundautomations.com
Although technology keeps advancing, businesses still have the same basic needs from their software. While the software's functionality has evolved, the delivery platform has gone through a quantum change. Applications that used to be delivered as standard applications run on on desktop and notebook computers are now frequently delivered through the web browser or run on non-traditional computing devices such as tablets and smartphones.
Try Zendesk For Free
Build Customer Relationships That Are More Meaningful & Productive.www.zendesk.com/
Web Browsers
In a business setting, Web browsers do more than just allow you to surf the Internet. More and more business applications are being delivered from cloud servers through the web browser. While these can include business-specific information and tools such as intranets, browsers can also serve as a gateway to software applications like spreadsheets and word processors.
Office Suites
Office suites like Microsoft Office, Apple iWork, WordPerfect Office, Google Docs or Apache OpenOffice combine multiple business software programs into a single package. At a minimum, most include a word processor, a spreadsheet and a presentation program. Some suites add additional programs such as drawing software, email clients and databases. They cover the basic productivity needs of most office workers.
Communication Software
Software to facilitate communication is also crucial. Many communication applications, such as many online meeting services and web-based email services, run through the browser. Other programs, like Qualcomm's Eudora or Microsoft's Outlook, are traditional applications that run on the computer and provide an interface allowing their users to connect to email servers.
Business Intelligence and Enterprise Software
Many businesses also use special software packages to help manage their accounting and operations. Some use entry-level programs such as Quickbooks or Sage Peachtree that perform basic accounting functions. More powerful enterprise resource planning and business intelligence packages offer a comprehensive view of your business. While buying a license can be expensive, cloud-based versions of these programs are affordable for many small businesses.
Free UML Diagram Tool
Extensive shape & connector library
to create efficient UML diagrams.
www.lucidchart.com
Edraw Diagram Software
Cross-Platform Diagram Software,
Visio Alternative, Free Download
www.edrawsoft.com
Inventory and Billing POS
Easy to use Inventory + Billing
Software. Download HDPOS trial now
www.hdpos.in/Stock.aspx
PL/SQL Developer
Download PL/SQL Developer
lots of features, plug-ins & more
www.allroundautomations.com
Monday, March 27, 2017
The Best Web Design Company in the World
What does the title "best web design company" entail? How does a company become known as the "best web design company in the world"? And what criteria is used to determine the title?
WebpageFX has the trophy case to prove that were one of the best in the business.
But before we figure out how we (or anyone else) can be considered as the best web design company, or even just one of the best web design companies out there, we had to first figure out how the "best web design company" was actually defined. Read on to learn more! First, we'll show you some companies that we believe are some of the best in the business.
10 of the Best Web Design Agencies
Here is our list of the top design companies:
1. RAZORFISH
header of Razorfish website
URL: https://www.razorfish.com/
Country: USA
Reason: With a mezmerizing homepage, Razorfish offers to "crack the creative code" with its work from 34 offices on five continenets. With clients like Mercedes-Benz, Walmart, Southwest Airlines, and Audi, this company is one of our favorites.
2. PUBLICIS. SAPIENT
header of Publicis. Sapient website
URL: http://publicis.sapient.com/en-us.html
Country: USA
Reason: A company that works with every industry from healthcare and travel, to automotive and retail banking, Sapient has you covered. They promise to reinvent key business activities and offer unmatched expertise, which is why we love them.
3. NORTH KINGDOM
header of North Kingdom website
URL: http://www.northkingdom.com
Country: Sweden
Reason: North Kingdom found a place on our best web design company list mainly due to their work on Vodafone's website and the “Got Milk” promotional website. In terms of their overall quality, we believe they have some of the top web designers in the world. North Kingdom clients have a more international flair, including Coke, Toyota, and Victoria's Secret.
4. 22SQUARED
header of 22 Squared website
URL: http://www.22squared.com/
Country: USA
Reason: Noted as the fourth largest independent advertising agency in the US, 22squared has some impressive clients, including Baskin-Robbins, GNC, HanesBrands and The Home Depot. Offering everything from creative content development to ROI analysis, this company offers it all.
5. 360I
header of 360i website
URL: https://360i.com/
Country: USA
Reason: Working with companies like Ben & Jerry's, Canon and Coca-Cola, 360i has certainly made a name for itself. It offers planning, strategy, social, technology and more--making it easy to understand why it landed a spot on the list. They've also landed a spot on other lists, boasting over ten awards.
6. GREY GLOBAL GROUP
header of Grey Global website
URL: http://grey.com/global
Country: USA
Reason: Located on Fifth Avenue in New York City, Grey Global Group serves the NFL, Soundcloud and Volvo--providing it with an impressive portfolio. Grey serves one-fifth of the Fortune 500 list which makes it one of the most successful companies on the list. They offer everything from digital technology, to media and advertising.
7. CRAMER-KRASSELT
header of Cramer-Krasselt website
URL: http://c-k.com/
Country: USA
Reason: Cramer-Krasselt believes that "the brand with the most friends wins," and insists that creativity, media, and strategy work as one. They offer digital services, analytics, public relations, and more, and works for companies like Nikon, Corona and Panera Bread.
8. TOMBRAS GROUP
header of Tombras Group website
URL: http://tombras.com
Country: USA
Reason: Tombras is a family-owned agency that was founded back in 1946. They were named the National Small Agency of the Year by Ad Age, and that doesn't even cover their extensive list of impressive clients. Serving businesses like Michelin, MoonPie, and McDonalds, this company gets a definite spot on our list.
9. AKQA
header of AKQA website
URL: https://www.akqa.com/
Country: England
Reason: Offering social media, data science, and design, AKQA has done work for Nike Football, Google, and Warner Brothers Entertainment. They have also collaboarated with Usher and won four awards at The Clios. With a resume like that, AKQA was sure to make our list.
10. CONVERSANT
header of Conversant website
URL: http://www.conversantmedia.com/
Country: USA
Reason: Conversant allows its customers to reach millions of mobile users with targeted advertising, video, and CRM. They also offer everything from engineering to marketing and human resources. Their partners are pretty impressive too--they serve companies like Green Plum, AdChoices and Double Verify.
WebpageFX has the trophy case to prove that were one of the best in the business.
But before we figure out how we (or anyone else) can be considered as the best web design company, or even just one of the best web design companies out there, we had to first figure out how the "best web design company" was actually defined. Read on to learn more! First, we'll show you some companies that we believe are some of the best in the business.
10 of the Best Web Design Agencies
Here is our list of the top design companies:
1. RAZORFISH
header of Razorfish website
URL: https://www.razorfish.com/
Country: USA
Reason: With a mezmerizing homepage, Razorfish offers to "crack the creative code" with its work from 34 offices on five continenets. With clients like Mercedes-Benz, Walmart, Southwest Airlines, and Audi, this company is one of our favorites.
2. PUBLICIS. SAPIENT
header of Publicis. Sapient website
URL: http://publicis.sapient.com/en-us.html
Country: USA
Reason: A company that works with every industry from healthcare and travel, to automotive and retail banking, Sapient has you covered. They promise to reinvent key business activities and offer unmatched expertise, which is why we love them.
3. NORTH KINGDOM
header of North Kingdom website
URL: http://www.northkingdom.com
Country: Sweden
Reason: North Kingdom found a place on our best web design company list mainly due to their work on Vodafone's website and the “Got Milk” promotional website. In terms of their overall quality, we believe they have some of the top web designers in the world. North Kingdom clients have a more international flair, including Coke, Toyota, and Victoria's Secret.
4. 22SQUARED
header of 22 Squared website
URL: http://www.22squared.com/
Country: USA
Reason: Noted as the fourth largest independent advertising agency in the US, 22squared has some impressive clients, including Baskin-Robbins, GNC, HanesBrands and The Home Depot. Offering everything from creative content development to ROI analysis, this company offers it all.
5. 360I
header of 360i website
URL: https://360i.com/
Country: USA
Reason: Working with companies like Ben & Jerry's, Canon and Coca-Cola, 360i has certainly made a name for itself. It offers planning, strategy, social, technology and more--making it easy to understand why it landed a spot on the list. They've also landed a spot on other lists, boasting over ten awards.
6. GREY GLOBAL GROUP
header of Grey Global website
URL: http://grey.com/global
Country: USA
Reason: Located on Fifth Avenue in New York City, Grey Global Group serves the NFL, Soundcloud and Volvo--providing it with an impressive portfolio. Grey serves one-fifth of the Fortune 500 list which makes it one of the most successful companies on the list. They offer everything from digital technology, to media and advertising.
7. CRAMER-KRASSELT
header of Cramer-Krasselt website
URL: http://c-k.com/
Country: USA
Reason: Cramer-Krasselt believes that "the brand with the most friends wins," and insists that creativity, media, and strategy work as one. They offer digital services, analytics, public relations, and more, and works for companies like Nikon, Corona and Panera Bread.
8. TOMBRAS GROUP
header of Tombras Group website
URL: http://tombras.com
Country: USA
Reason: Tombras is a family-owned agency that was founded back in 1946. They were named the National Small Agency of the Year by Ad Age, and that doesn't even cover their extensive list of impressive clients. Serving businesses like Michelin, MoonPie, and McDonalds, this company gets a definite spot on our list.
9. AKQA
header of AKQA website
URL: https://www.akqa.com/
Country: England
Reason: Offering social media, data science, and design, AKQA has done work for Nike Football, Google, and Warner Brothers Entertainment. They have also collaboarated with Usher and won four awards at The Clios. With a resume like that, AKQA was sure to make our list.
10. CONVERSANT
header of Conversant website
URL: http://www.conversantmedia.com/
Country: USA
Reason: Conversant allows its customers to reach millions of mobile users with targeted advertising, video, and CRM. They also offer everything from engineering to marketing and human resources. Their partners are pretty impressive too--they serve companies like Green Plum, AdChoices and Double Verify.
Maximize every asset and advantage with world-class tools and training
Team up with the Agile Management experts.
Only CA has the people, products and experience to make Agile Management truly transform your business. From consulting and coaching to cutting-edge solutions, we’ll give you the tools and techniques you need to drive innovation and maximize investment at every turn—all while creating a culture of collaboration that increases value and quality.
Agility is the new reality.
Harnessing the power of disruption requires new mindsets and methods. That’s where Agile Management comes in. Agile Management is a proven approach that shatters the barriers separating and frustrating your teams—all while transforming delivery from an end result into an ever-present part of your development lifecycle. With Agile Management solutions from CA, you’ll do more than adapt to change, you’ll make it your advantage.
Centered on your success.
CA Agile Central is everything you need to perfect your agility ability. You get an enterprise-scale agile platform, along with industry-leading training and best-of-breed software solutions. And you get it all in one comprehensive, coordinated offering. So much for “Too good to be true.”
Manage projects, maximize your portfolio.
Make sure everything’s aligned right down the line. CA Project & Portfolio Management helps you map execution to strategy, so the right people are always working on the right projects. And you can always see where every dollar is going. No wonder CA Project & Portfolio Management is the recognized market leader, trusted by more than 1,500 organizations worldwide.
Go with the Flow.
With CA Flowdock, your teams can communicate with context and plan with precision. CA Flowdock works just like any other email or corporate chat program. But it also links into all your developers’ favorite tools, so teams can work faster together—whether they’re coding new APIs, doing pre-launch Q&A, or simply planning out the next product sprints. It’s the project manager that acts like an instant messenger.
Only CA has the people, products and experience to make Agile Management truly transform your business. From consulting and coaching to cutting-edge solutions, we’ll give you the tools and techniques you need to drive innovation and maximize investment at every turn—all while creating a culture of collaboration that increases value and quality.
Agility is the new reality.
Harnessing the power of disruption requires new mindsets and methods. That’s where Agile Management comes in. Agile Management is a proven approach that shatters the barriers separating and frustrating your teams—all while transforming delivery from an end result into an ever-present part of your development lifecycle. With Agile Management solutions from CA, you’ll do more than adapt to change, you’ll make it your advantage.
Centered on your success.
CA Agile Central is everything you need to perfect your agility ability. You get an enterprise-scale agile platform, along with industry-leading training and best-of-breed software solutions. And you get it all in one comprehensive, coordinated offering. So much for “Too good to be true.”
Manage projects, maximize your portfolio.
Make sure everything’s aligned right down the line. CA Project & Portfolio Management helps you map execution to strategy, so the right people are always working on the right projects. And you can always see where every dollar is going. No wonder CA Project & Portfolio Management is the recognized market leader, trusted by more than 1,500 organizations worldwide.
Go with the Flow.
With CA Flowdock, your teams can communicate with context and plan with precision. CA Flowdock works just like any other email or corporate chat program. But it also links into all your developers’ favorite tools, so teams can work faster together—whether they’re coding new APIs, doing pre-launch Q&A, or simply planning out the next product sprints. It’s the project manager that acts like an instant messenger.
If Software Is Eating The World, Why Don't Coders Get Any Respect?
Software, as Marc Andreesen said in his famous editorial, is becoming a larger and larger part of our daily lives. Given how important software is, then, you'd expect computer programmer - the task of developing and maintaining software - to be one of the highest-paid, most-wanted jobs. It isn't. Why not?
"Hold on", you say, "isn't programming a high-paying job"? Sure, next to the average American worker. But the average American worker is a college dropout. What if you compare programming to jobs for other highly skilled professionals?
Consider a 35-year-old, senior Google engineer. He probably makes about $150,000, which is enough to buy a good house and raise a family. But Google wouldn't hire a random guy to fill that job - this engineer probably has an Ivy League or other elite degree, fifteen years of work experience, a very high IQ, strong drive, and numerous other skills (anyone who's been through the Google hiring process can tell you how hard it is to get in).
As a doctor, however, someone like this - a top professional at the peak of their career - would probably make about $400,000. Partners at big law firms commonly net a million a year. Investment bankers are making several million (post-crash!). Top management consultants easily clear $500,000. Even a top accountant - probably a partner at a big 4 firm - would make two, three, or four times as much.
Of course, life isn't all about money. Is programming a top job from a social perspective? Again, no. Congress includes not a single programmer, and to my knowledge, it never has. Almost all big companies are run by MBAs. Even Microsoft, arguably the canonical software company, is run by a non-programmer from Stanford Business School.
Are programmers top government advisors? Are they national heroes? Do doctors and lawyers and policemen tell their children that, if they work hard and practice, one day they can grow up to be a programmer? No. Obviously not.
When the government wants to bring in more workers from overseas - which obviously lowers salaries, and reduces job security - who do they bring in? Computer programmers. Every single one of the top ten H1-B visa users is a technology company. Politicians justify this by talking about a "shortage" of programmers, but would there really be a "shortage" if programmers were paid $500K, as much as doctors or management consultants? Of course not. Saying there's a "shortage" is economically the same as saying that "we don't want to pay you guys enough to meet the demand for labor".
Now, to wrap off, since this is a startup site, doubtless someone is saying "but programmers can make millions in startups!". This, on the face of it, is true. However, as I'm sure any founder here can tell you, you can't make a successful startup just by being a good programmer. You have to, to quote Paul Graham, also "answer support calls, administer the servers, design the web site, cold-call customers, find the company office space, and go out and get everyone lunch."
Now, if you're willing to do all that, and work the eighty-hour weeks a business requires, why do you need to be a programmer to make it rich? You don't. There are millions of ordinary small businesses - ditch diggers, electrical companies, contractors, roofers, construction firms, and on and on - that, if run well, will make you millions without a single line of code. (For more on these sorts of business, check out, eg., the book The Millionaire Next Door.) What "programmers can get rich in startups" really means is "entrepreneurs can get rich in startups", whether they're programmers or bricklayers.
So, why is this the case, given how important software is to the world? I think the answer is hidden in the rest of my post. Notice how I've been arguing for more pay, job security, etc. for programmers. A majority of the people here are probably programmers. Yet, my tone is pretty argumentative; I expect people to disagree with me, and am trying to answer their objections.
Why is that? On the face of it, it's very strange. If you went to a welder's union, and argued that welding wasn't respected enough and should be better paid, you'd expect to see loud cries of agreement. If you talked about better wages for teachers or policemen or nurses - all of whom make more than the American average - who would dispute it?
But for some reason, unlike just about every other profession, programmers seem to have an aversion to asking for more pay and more respectability. It would seem selfish, somehow - a programmer making $80,000 feels he shouldn't ask for more, since he's already making double the US average of $40,000. (Even though, when a teacher making $80,000 (as many of them do) asks for more, no one disagrees.) And you could argue that this is selfish, even though it's the sort of selfishness America usually endorses. After all, when the miner's union strikes for better working conditions, aren't they being selfish? They're acting in their own self-interest, trying to benefit themselves.
So, if you don't like being selfish, is there a reason to make programming one of America's top jobs? I think there is. For the last ten years, the people running the US have been other, non-technical top professionals - lawyers, management consultants, investment bankers, MBAs. And it hasn't worked. The economy is in the toilet, the budget isn't balanced, the government can't get anything done, we're in two wars we can't get out of, and some days it feels like the country is falling apart at the seams.
By contrast, when you look at Silicon Valley, where a lot of the top programmers live and run the local industry, everyone is doing great. Profits are up, unemployment is down, companies are getting started, and user growth is through the roof. Might this be a coincidence? I think it isn't. And for proof, look no further than China. All of China's top leaders are engineers, not lawyers or financiers or consultants. And China's been doing great. They've had steady, 10% annual economic growth - triple the US's, even in good times - for the last thirty years. Sure, they have problems with pollution and corruption, but so did the US when we were industrializing. Overall, though, they're on the right track, and the US is not (according to 85% of Americans anyway).
Of course, that isn't to say that most non-programmers are stupid or immoral, or that we shouldn't have any lawyers in government. Any well-run society has a mix of people at the top, because of specialization of labor. But is the optimal number of programmers in Congress really zero? Is it good for the country that Silicon Valley, arguably the best-performing sector of the economy, has next to no influence in politics, so that laws like the DMCA get passed even when the whole hacker community is violently opposed? I think it isn't. I think the country would be better off if MIT computer science students, like their neighbors at Harvard Law School, could dream of growing up to be President. And I think we'd all be better of if computer science wasn't just seen as a major for socially awkward nerds.
(Original WSJ editorial I'm referencing at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903480904576512250915629460.html.
"Hold on", you say, "isn't programming a high-paying job"? Sure, next to the average American worker. But the average American worker is a college dropout. What if you compare programming to jobs for other highly skilled professionals?
Consider a 35-year-old, senior Google engineer. He probably makes about $150,000, which is enough to buy a good house and raise a family. But Google wouldn't hire a random guy to fill that job - this engineer probably has an Ivy League or other elite degree, fifteen years of work experience, a very high IQ, strong drive, and numerous other skills (anyone who's been through the Google hiring process can tell you how hard it is to get in).
As a doctor, however, someone like this - a top professional at the peak of their career - would probably make about $400,000. Partners at big law firms commonly net a million a year. Investment bankers are making several million (post-crash!). Top management consultants easily clear $500,000. Even a top accountant - probably a partner at a big 4 firm - would make two, three, or four times as much.
Of course, life isn't all about money. Is programming a top job from a social perspective? Again, no. Congress includes not a single programmer, and to my knowledge, it never has. Almost all big companies are run by MBAs. Even Microsoft, arguably the canonical software company, is run by a non-programmer from Stanford Business School.
Are programmers top government advisors? Are they national heroes? Do doctors and lawyers and policemen tell their children that, if they work hard and practice, one day they can grow up to be a programmer? No. Obviously not.
When the government wants to bring in more workers from overseas - which obviously lowers salaries, and reduces job security - who do they bring in? Computer programmers. Every single one of the top ten H1-B visa users is a technology company. Politicians justify this by talking about a "shortage" of programmers, but would there really be a "shortage" if programmers were paid $500K, as much as doctors or management consultants? Of course not. Saying there's a "shortage" is economically the same as saying that "we don't want to pay you guys enough to meet the demand for labor".
Now, to wrap off, since this is a startup site, doubtless someone is saying "but programmers can make millions in startups!". This, on the face of it, is true. However, as I'm sure any founder here can tell you, you can't make a successful startup just by being a good programmer. You have to, to quote Paul Graham, also "answer support calls, administer the servers, design the web site, cold-call customers, find the company office space, and go out and get everyone lunch."
Now, if you're willing to do all that, and work the eighty-hour weeks a business requires, why do you need to be a programmer to make it rich? You don't. There are millions of ordinary small businesses - ditch diggers, electrical companies, contractors, roofers, construction firms, and on and on - that, if run well, will make you millions without a single line of code. (For more on these sorts of business, check out, eg., the book The Millionaire Next Door.) What "programmers can get rich in startups" really means is "entrepreneurs can get rich in startups", whether they're programmers or bricklayers.
So, why is this the case, given how important software is to the world? I think the answer is hidden in the rest of my post. Notice how I've been arguing for more pay, job security, etc. for programmers. A majority of the people here are probably programmers. Yet, my tone is pretty argumentative; I expect people to disagree with me, and am trying to answer their objections.
Why is that? On the face of it, it's very strange. If you went to a welder's union, and argued that welding wasn't respected enough and should be better paid, you'd expect to see loud cries of agreement. If you talked about better wages for teachers or policemen or nurses - all of whom make more than the American average - who would dispute it?
But for some reason, unlike just about every other profession, programmers seem to have an aversion to asking for more pay and more respectability. It would seem selfish, somehow - a programmer making $80,000 feels he shouldn't ask for more, since he's already making double the US average of $40,000. (Even though, when a teacher making $80,000 (as many of them do) asks for more, no one disagrees.) And you could argue that this is selfish, even though it's the sort of selfishness America usually endorses. After all, when the miner's union strikes for better working conditions, aren't they being selfish? They're acting in their own self-interest, trying to benefit themselves.
So, if you don't like being selfish, is there a reason to make programming one of America's top jobs? I think there is. For the last ten years, the people running the US have been other, non-technical top professionals - lawyers, management consultants, investment bankers, MBAs. And it hasn't worked. The economy is in the toilet, the budget isn't balanced, the government can't get anything done, we're in two wars we can't get out of, and some days it feels like the country is falling apart at the seams.
By contrast, when you look at Silicon Valley, where a lot of the top programmers live and run the local industry, everyone is doing great. Profits are up, unemployment is down, companies are getting started, and user growth is through the roof. Might this be a coincidence? I think it isn't. And for proof, look no further than China. All of China's top leaders are engineers, not lawyers or financiers or consultants. And China's been doing great. They've had steady, 10% annual economic growth - triple the US's, even in good times - for the last thirty years. Sure, they have problems with pollution and corruption, but so did the US when we were industrializing. Overall, though, they're on the right track, and the US is not (according to 85% of Americans anyway).
Of course, that isn't to say that most non-programmers are stupid or immoral, or that we shouldn't have any lawyers in government. Any well-run society has a mix of people at the top, because of specialization of labor. But is the optimal number of programmers in Congress really zero? Is it good for the country that Silicon Valley, arguably the best-performing sector of the economy, has next to no influence in politics, so that laws like the DMCA get passed even when the whole hacker community is violently opposed? I think it isn't. I think the country would be better off if MIT computer science students, like their neighbors at Harvard Law School, could dream of growing up to be President. And I think we'd all be better of if computer science wasn't just seen as a major for socially awkward nerds.
(Original WSJ editorial I'm referencing at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903480904576512250915629460.html.
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