Web Development

I guess web development, or more broadly mobile development, seem to be what people think of when recalling what programming means. It makes sense. That’s how people mostly hear of a certain computer service… through networks and mobile devices. That's also how it is most effective socially.

To me, programming is a way to have an empowered “conversation” with a computer. This means:

• Maximum power (a desktop)
• Native / cross-platform (Eclipse / Java)
• A joyous language (Clojure)
• Maximum re-usability (open source) 

Everything else, for me, stems from there. I would not enjoy web development if I did not have the above core setup and “conversation”. I might enjoy it at first; I might even be excited to earn some badges about it. But it’ll feel like "developing for something" not developing for its own sake and with no support or reward for the development process itself.

That’s important to me. It is like I’m alive because I am. I do everything else as a function of that to increase the quality of that, not for what I do. It is like tying everything back to a relationship to the now. I never let what I’m doing be ever more important than the now and the joy I can cultivate in it.

Similarly, I enjoy the said “conversations” I have with a computer. If it is so dumb that I have to repeat everything over and over again and I seem to not grown from the process, then it is just as bad as merely working for one’s wages and agreeing to “checkout” 8 hours a day of your life for mere pennies.

This clarity is giving me renewed interest and focus on my project and my usual distractions of "things to be" are less potent these days. I’m very grateful for that.

Native Mobile Cross-platforms

This is nice: one, two, and three. It is like Eclipse’s SWT but for the “mobile stuff” out there; or like Java across desktop operating systems. Maybe by the time I’ll get to it, I could just focus on one cross-platform and still be effective. But today I’m still enjoying good old fashioned desktop development in the form of an IDE. It is very enjoyable.

Things To Build

Today I asked myself, if I don't have to work for money and I have the technical skills I require, what would I do with my life. My answer was very illuminating. I said I'd like to build 4 things.

A system involved in law automation. An alternative currency system. A collaborative dating system. Some sort of a commercial system that comes with an entrepreneurial experience. And finally, what I'm working on now, a unique and very satisfying and highly customisable and (eventually) collaborative development environment.

One false system, that I think would still be cool, came up: an office suite scripting setup for business processes. But that's just what I do now using MS Office for work. I'm just wishing it to be different, but it would not be relevant to the intent or work that way, hence it is false but cool nonetheless and could still work somehow but I'm not committed to it.

It was fun to realize the above 4 things. Although part of me thinks the commercial system might just be a thought of intrigue that if I were stronger I would not be seduced by it. But I'll leave it there... for it could be how I would not need to work for money.

Eclipse Plug-in in Clojure

I found this. I think the references are interesting for later.

The feel for myself is to continue on this path from features, to plug-in, to RCP, to OSGi compliance, to changing Eclipse in clojure without needing to make Eclipse into an RCP that is no longer Eclipse. Although eveything is an option once I arrive closer to it. It might not make sense to allow regular Eclipse plug-ins to freely operate in the end product. Although that is essnetially what I want when I eye things like a GUI builder, SVN clinet... etc.

So, I don't know. This is a distant bone that my mind wants to chew on now when I'm not coding but still want to code "virtually" in my head. I'd like to direct it to more immediate bones, which it is accepting... or just calm down as a practice.

Eat What You Kill

Although I disagree with the sentiment of this article, I agree with the characterization of "going into the wild" and "never coming back" and the "pencil factory" and being "spoon fed".

For my new year, I am starting a 3 to 6 year journey towards that way of life, one step at a time... just like how I achieved the transformation of my new place over time and maintaining the joy of the whole inside the various parts; not by anticipation but by doing every part for itself.

Also, on the side, I'd like to open the door for a romantic intake or chance... once a month.

What I'm leaving behind, symbolically speaking, in 2011 is: self-doubt or worthlessness or "I'm not good enough" or the like.

What I became good at last year is noticing the many forms that takes in my life, the triggers, knowing that I can replace that old structure with confidence as a choice with no cause, and realizing that it takes practice to keep it there and improve it.

I'm much happier this year.