Some Villagers` judgement

Villagers have something to admire, but when they try to comment on things that they pretend to understand, it simply must go wrong. Judging art is difficult, yes. But calling a piece of art "Schrott" (Junk)- as some of the (non-cosmopolitan) villagers have done - goes to far. This piece of art (IMHO) is currently exhibited in "my" part of the city of Hürth, within a roundabout. I like it very much. What do you think?

Servant

No waiting without servants
a lot vanishes without hesitation
change is like a spiral
in the maelstrom of adaption
I walk through so many archways
without any names

Across the bridge
I do not cherish a dream
alongside the river without a face
following the day of becoming
there is being adrift from understanding
with chasms in between

Hundred steps to the uncertain
and one word alone
falls like clay to the ground of henceforth
pierces the varnish of quicksilver
and tosses me into the world
that was supposed to be a long time ago

(c) David Boventer

The art of software

In a social network "closeby" in the web a lengthy discussion is waging as whether the developer will be replaced because of the ability of any user to construct simple applications. The question is: "What is the future for software developers if basic users can create applications without any effort? (Discussion in Linkedin-Group)". Many highly sophisticated and intelligent comments are made and speak for themselves.

But if we look back into the history of philosophical thinking concerning the creation of art, or even the reality of creating pieces of art, music ...or software, we find that some thoughts were actually made on that issue. They concern the "ingenuity" and the "originality" of a human design, maybe sometimes accentuated by reflecting on nature`s beauty and variety. There is a trait, a distinct difference that seperates a Picasso from one of his followers, from an amateur painter even more. Is it only the perfection? What perfection? Maybe it is the strength and consequent "elaboration" of possible but seldomly realized options that are mirrored through the individual personality of its creator? Arete and techne (as discussed in Plato's dialogue "Protagoras" )fuse. So there is always a future for software developers. The European Software Conference acknowleges this by giving the Epsilon Award to a "combination of Excellency, craftsmanship and visionary ability" which are "characteristics of an outstanding programmer and a piece of true software art."

MicroISVs: Not fearing slowdown

Small and medium sized software companies have an advantage that counts a lot nowadays: Their ability to adapt to difficult times and circumstances is much stronger, their willingsness to innovate a natural part of their fitness for survival. In these days billions of Euros and Dollars are invested to stabilize banks and companies that simply messed it up. We "small" software developers stand aside and watch their slowdown and dispair. Interestingly enough hardly anyone wonders why MicroISVs can cope without a check from the government. Just ask us at the European Software Conference 2009!