Category Archives: Tips

Three Videos Of A Cat On A Roomba?

I remember times when data storage was extremely limited. Not only was it expensive, but it took up a lot of physical space. There were days where data was stored on audio cassettes. I was quite young then. By the time I was actually doing anything meaningful with computers, we had had 5 1/4″ diskettes.Continue reading “Three Videos Of A Cat On A Roomba?”

Be A Karen

When dealing with retailers, service providers, government offices and corporates I often feel small. They have plenty of manpower, automated systems, lawyers and seemingly unlimited resources. So it’s easy for me to give up when they take my money where they shouldn’t, or refuse service. Forget about that £5 over-charge. Say goodbye to the £10Continue reading “Be A Karen”

Get Off The Script

I just called a broker about a mortgage. The person on the other side of the line was extremely nice. We had a pleasant conversation, and I really felt I was getting a personal service. This was great. And then, half way through the process, she started reading the marketing spiel off her script. AboutContinue reading “Get Off The Script”

Help Me Help You

There are services we all use. Services such as Amazon, Netflix, Spotify and so forth. All of these services spend tremendous efforts into giving us a personally tailored experience. An experience that would match our personal preferences. Unfortunately, nothing comes for free. If we want an experience that is really a good fit for us,Continue reading “Help Me Help You”

Clean Android

As an Android developer, I spend a lot of my time worrying about app architecture. Android has a long history of attempts at a convention. We’ve had Activity god classes. We then had fragment god classes. Along came MVP (Model-View-Presenter) with its presenters, which really improved things, but often led to god presenter classes. MoreContinue reading “Clean Android”

Tightly Packed

I like efficiency. Sometimes life feels like a puzzle. Solving the puzzle means achieving the ultimate efficiency. How do I fit as many dishes as possible into the dishwasher? How do I pack everything I need in this small suitcase? Interestingly, I found there are different solutions to those similar problems. Just like when solvingContinue reading “Tightly Packed”

Not Good Enough

I’m a perfectionist. I know a lot of people testify this about themselves. But I truly am. Nowadays, there seems to be a trend of “good enough”. It stems from a sensible idea that the final 20% of the work will add marginal value (not to be confused with the 80/20 rule). I get that.Continue reading “Not Good Enough”

Do One Thing Well

I’m an Android user. I’m also a Windows user. I tried the iPhone, and I’ve used a MacBook for a few years. The latter two didn’t grow on me. Different operating systems offer different experiences. Which works best for you is an individual preference. Once you get used to one, though, it’s hard to switch.Continue reading “Do One Thing Well”

Together, Nothing Can Stop Us

I have owned and managed several companies in my life. I ran none of them alone. Choosing the right partner is a challenge. My intuition led me to seek people who were like-minded. Choosing someone who is also a friend kept me in my comfort zone. It took me many years and an insight fromContinue reading “Together, Nothing Can Stop Us”