Businessware is what we call our in-house "enterprise" software system in Amici Water Systems. I'm still actually planning to change the name as the name seems pretty common. However, it's been running since the 3rd quarter of 2003. Like all living software, it has gone through constant overhauls and changes, lots of refactoring and feature bloats, and a to-do list that's getting longer than shorter.
At the start of our software production run, I think our company was composed of just 5 persons -- our manager, me, a sales assistant, and 2 service technicians. I was the IT guy managing the hardware and software of one computer, developing our database and software system, and encoding our records.
Businessware was developed using Delphi for the front end, with MySQL as the database server. Cross platform was a major concern during early development, but that was partially mitigated due to success using WINE under Linux to run the software. (I am still hoping to make the system PostgreSQL compatible.)
Fast forward to now, our company now has over 30 employees, more than half of which use our system concurrently. Our software system is now in use in over 20 different locations around the Philippines, by our group of companies in particular, but also by friends' businesses.
One major challenge I had with development is the customization I had to do to satisfy varied work flows and requirements of different trading companies. We're all still running on one source tree to simplify updates and share development costs. I've been somewhat successful generalizing program features so that they can be adapted to different company policies. This entailed a lot of switches and features that are not applicable to all companies.
Another challenge was our company migration to Linux. While I still develop using a Windows machine, our group of companies' major platform is now Linux. Furthermore, some of my friends are now using Vista and Windows 7. The different platforms available complicated software testing and distribution. (It doesn't help that I don't have a Vista or Windows 7 OS to test on.) Testing might be simplified a little through the use of virtual machines. Part of the distribution problem was solved through a fairly new auto-updating system.
The biggest challenge however is revenue. I mentioned that friends are using the software. That's not really a good source of revenue. I haven't actually commercialized the system, or try to sell it outside. But I realize the need for revenue to support the software. Software with lots of users require constant support. Development, documentation needs manpower and more licenses.
After almost 7 years of production run, I'm still the only programmer of our system. In fact, I am the whole IT team of a company now with more than 20 computers in an office, managing the hardware and our network, managing our databases, websites, fax, email, IM, VPN and other services. That doesn't bode well for redundancy and resiliency. I guess it's high time to manage estates. Revenues and businesses have never been my forte. But it comes to that, sooner or later.
20100428
20100321
Worldbex 2010
This afternoon, I was at Worldbex 2010. I think it's the most popular among a number of construction exhibits here in the Philippines. I wasn't looking for anything in particular, as I've gone to the previous worldbex already. A lot of the exhibitors are the same as last year's, and last last year's, etc. However a company advertising CAD software did make me pause and ask questions. I usually don't ask questions but we use CAD in our office, and am looking for alternatives to an aging Windows+Inventor workstation already. They were selling ZWCAD. Haven't heard of it before, so I asked my most important question, "which OS does it support?"
"Any", says the lady, "but we recommend Windows XP or 7."
"How about Linux", I asked.
Pause. It doesn't seem a lot of people ask that question. So she passed me to a techie looking guy.
"Ah, no..." and that was the end of it.
"Any", says the lady, "but we recommend Windows XP or 7."
"How about Linux", I asked.
Pause. It doesn't seem a lot of people ask that question. So she passed me to a techie looking guy.
"Ah, no..." and that was the end of it.
20100310
Graphics File Formats for Advertising in the Philippines
From 2005 to 2007, I used to do a lot of not-so-good graphics design for our company -- making logos, t-shirts, tarps, posters, sign boards, calling cards, ID cards, brochures and our company catalog. I've used different open source software for most of those designs: Inkscape, OpenOffice.org, GIMP, Scribus, Blender. Since then, I've more or less passed the torch to a more gifted graphics designer. Nevertheless, the problems I've encountered from the start are still the problems after all this years. Rampant software piracy.
The graphics and publishing companies around town only know Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop. Rampant piracy has made it so inexpensive to own these high-priced, proprietary software that they've become everywhere. Schools and universities teach these software. Churches have them. And they expect students to communicate with them using the expensive file formats of these software. Freelancing graphic artists have their PCs loaded with whole suites of Corel and Adobe software. To have business with the small or big print shops who will not afford these professional software, you need to send them PSDs, CDRs and AI files. When I forward my graphic files to these shops, usually in PDF, JPG or PNG formats, I thus only get suboptimal outputs.
I await the days when XCF, SVG, PDF are the norms. That will come not when GIMP, Inkscape, OpenOffice.org and Linux have better color management. I think we'll have to wait for the success of BSA, the RIAA of software, to eradicate software piracy. Unfortunately, I don't think BSA is looking forward to too much success either.
The graphics and publishing companies around town only know Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop. Rampant piracy has made it so inexpensive to own these high-priced, proprietary software that they've become everywhere. Schools and universities teach these software. Churches have them. And they expect students to communicate with them using the expensive file formats of these software. Freelancing graphic artists have their PCs loaded with whole suites of Corel and Adobe software. To have business with the small or big print shops who will not afford these professional software, you need to send them PSDs, CDRs and AI files. When I forward my graphic files to these shops, usually in PDF, JPG or PNG formats, I thus only get suboptimal outputs.
I await the days when XCF, SVG, PDF are the norms. That will come not when GIMP, Inkscape, OpenOffice.org and Linux have better color management. I think we'll have to wait for the success of BSA, the RIAA of software, to eradicate software piracy. Unfortunately, I don't think BSA is looking forward to too much success either.
20091224
Bayantel DSL
We've been using Bayantel's DSL for perhaps four years already. We've been paying 3136 + 899Php for a 1mbps + phone for ages.
But from time to time, I would want to know what are the current packages they and competitors offer. I should be able to upgrade to better packages when they come, right? I mean, PLDT and Globe's DSL advertised speeds in their websites seem much faster at cheaper rates than what we got from Bayantel for the past year.
So I've been wondering for some time now why BayanDSL's website advertising their internet packages haven't been upgraded for ages. It seems really strange. They're selling internet, and they can't even update their website. Perhaps they're just not trying to compete with PLDT and Globe. Contacting them by their contact form or email do not help. They just don't seem to respond and care for their too loyal DSL customers.
Well, luckily, we needed a new internet connection for our Bicol office, and I finally had the chance to review their new packages. I've found out they respond pretty well when you're thought a new source of revenue.
Their cheapest package is unconvincing. It's now php3,199 for a 1mbps connection. Their 2mbps package at php5,599 was more interesting, so I called their sales for a possible upgrade. I would have liked to stay with the same provider, even though Globe advertises better speed. But I was sorely disappointed when they told me I cannot upgrade to a different package unless I have my current connection disconnected and I apply for a new connection, paying along a new php5,000 installation fee. (Incidentally, I received two different emails about Bayantel packages, and the installation prices between the two are way off. One costs php5,000 and the other costs php1,999 (or 499 for existing Bayantel customers). Is it just me, or are they really discouraging new business customers to their DSL services?
But from time to time, I would want to know what are the current packages they and competitors offer. I should be able to upgrade to better packages when they come, right? I mean, PLDT and Globe's DSL advertised speeds in their websites seem much faster at cheaper rates than what we got from Bayantel for the past year.
So I've been wondering for some time now why BayanDSL's website advertising their internet packages haven't been upgraded for ages. It seems really strange. They're selling internet, and they can't even update their website. Perhaps they're just not trying to compete with PLDT and Globe. Contacting them by their contact form or email do not help. They just don't seem to respond and care for their too loyal DSL customers.
Well, luckily, we needed a new internet connection for our Bicol office, and I finally had the chance to review their new packages. I've found out they respond pretty well when you're thought a new source of revenue.
Their cheapest package is unconvincing. It's now php3,199 for a 1mbps connection. Their 2mbps package at php5,599 was more interesting, so I called their sales for a possible upgrade. I would have liked to stay with the same provider, even though Globe advertises better speed. But I was sorely disappointed when they told me I cannot upgrade to a different package unless I have my current connection disconnected and I apply for a new connection, paying along a new php5,000 installation fee. (Incidentally, I received two different emails about Bayantel packages, and the installation prices between the two are way off. One costs php5,000 and the other costs php1,999 (or 499 for existing Bayantel customers). Is it just me, or are they really discouraging new business customers to their DSL services?
20091202
FreeNX and OpenVPN
For the past few years, we've been using OpenVPN as our VPN solution for an Amici Businessware, our inhouse client/server based enterprise system. We use VPN to connect telecommuters to our servers in Manila, Laguna and Cebu. We also use it to view and approve transactions in satellite branches to our servers in Manila and Cebu.
However, starting with our fairly new Davao office, and now also implemented in our Manila office, we're trying out an alternative solution: FreeNX .
We're trying out an alternative to a full fledge VPN connection due to performance issues. XDMCP is unworkable with our OpenVPN configuration. VNC over OpenVPN is more livable. But our database transactions take too much time. Perhaps, it's some configuration issue. The fragment=1400 and mssfix=1400 helped a lot with our sanity -- before we just lose connection too easily. The data transferred through the VPN connection is just too much. A year's worth of data to be transferred back and forth can put a lot of strain to our ADSL's upload bandwidth. I haven't tried IPSEC VPN's performance. But with budget only for consumer-level DSL services, NX seems more sensible right now. (Perhaps until I learn a bit more on VPN; I haven't had the time to even think about client-side caching in our enterprise system.)
FreeNX, to put it simply, is like a fast and secure XDMCP. With FreeNX, you log into your linux account remotely, and the data transfered between client and server are only the display screen and input devices. I would imagine how much less data we have to transfer through a secure connection using NX rather than VPN.
We got into some hiccups trying the connections from a hotel in Guangzhou to Manila. For some reason, we kept on losing connections. But within the Philippines, so far, I haven't encountered much issues yet. We'll see how this goes over the coming months. I'll have to work at file sharing and printing through NX first.
However, starting with our fairly new Davao office, and now also implemented in our Manila office, we're trying out an alternative solution: FreeNX .
We're trying out an alternative to a full fledge VPN connection due to performance issues. XDMCP is unworkable with our OpenVPN configuration. VNC over OpenVPN is more livable. But our database transactions take too much time. Perhaps, it's some configuration issue. The fragment=1400 and mssfix=1400 helped a lot with our sanity -- before we just lose connection too easily. The data transferred through the VPN connection is just too much. A year's worth of data to be transferred back and forth can put a lot of strain to our ADSL's upload bandwidth. I haven't tried IPSEC VPN's performance. But with budget only for consumer-level DSL services, NX seems more sensible right now. (Perhaps until I learn a bit more on VPN; I haven't had the time to even think about client-side caching in our enterprise system.)
FreeNX, to put it simply, is like a fast and secure XDMCP. With FreeNX, you log into your linux account remotely, and the data transfered between client and server are only the display screen and input devices. I would imagine how much less data we have to transfer through a secure connection using NX rather than VPN.
We got into some hiccups trying the connections from a hotel in Guangzhou to Manila. For some reason, we kept on losing connections. But within the Philippines, so far, I haven't encountered much issues yet. We'll see how this goes over the coming months. I'll have to work at file sharing and printing through NX first.
Software Piracy and Christianity
Actually, I don't know the stand of Christian groups with regards to piracy. Maybe I can be enlightened someday. But still, I've always been curious.
In 2005, I got some ideas regarding a few Christians' thoughts on copyright. It's a very misinformed It's Only Bad If You Sell Those DVDs, or music CDs, or whatever.
I tried to glean a better idea in a CCF retreat I joined in 2006. In one of those parts where you share your experiences, I talked about my actions then of recent years towards respecting intellectual properties: purchasing copies of the ubiquitous MS Windows XP for each of our computers; investing a scary amount for an Autodesk Inventor license; and standardizing on open source software (such as OpenOffice.org, PDF Creator, 7-zip, Inkscape, and GIMP) for our company use, etc. My premise: piracy seems all too easy, but I want to do the right thing. The response I got from the facilitator was that he understood my challenges even though he doesn't have the same weakness. Here must be another guy. Maybe I'm being too doubtful after all. Not much data gathered.
In 2007, still a bit active in CCF, I got the chance to ask about it in what I hoped is a circumspect way. I received an email with Excel attachments regarding preparations for a seminar series. I took the bait and requested a PDF version, as I don't have MS Excel to read it. (I omitted telling them that I already used OpenOffice to see the attachment, nor that Microsoft has their own free Excel viewer.) Except for an echo of my request, it got nowhere. I guess they were expecting everyone to read it just fine. Which I'm pretty sure everyone can.
I do have a good friend who's very active in CCF who, spurred to be as Christ, went all the way to purchase his very own MS Windows XP and MS Office for his home use. But I have this feeling he's more the exception.
I also know another CCF member to whom I wrote business software for company use, who has not a plan to legalize on their software use, expensive as they are. Since she's a friend, I'm unfortunately willing to discount my services for consultation, assistance, and software development. But the way she asks for discounts tells me she doesn't see much monetary value in software. It's hard to imagine how a company like hers can feel too poor to have to license software properly. I guess for a lot of businesses, no matter what the Bible says, bottom line is money. Actually I don't know what the Bible says. But if it's illegal, it must be bad. (Especially now that there are alternatives.)
I hear a lot of good things about Bill Gates from CCF folks. His foundation has done so much good for humanity. I hope they do him more good too. By respecting what brought him to wealth and altruism, respect for intellectual property.
As for me, it's not due to any religion or relationship that I would see value in intellectual property, but because it's my profession. As a programmer, it's the golden rule.
In 2005, I got some ideas regarding a few Christians' thoughts on copyright. It's a very misinformed It's Only Bad If You Sell Those DVDs, or music CDs, or whatever.
I tried to glean a better idea in a CCF retreat I joined in 2006. In one of those parts where you share your experiences, I talked about my actions then of recent years towards respecting intellectual properties: purchasing copies of the ubiquitous MS Windows XP for each of our computers; investing a scary amount for an Autodesk Inventor license; and standardizing on open source software (such as OpenOffice.org, PDF Creator, 7-zip, Inkscape, and GIMP) for our company use, etc. My premise: piracy seems all too easy, but I want to do the right thing. The response I got from the facilitator was that he understood my challenges even though he doesn't have the same weakness. Here must be another guy. Maybe I'm being too doubtful after all. Not much data gathered.
In 2007, still a bit active in CCF, I got the chance to ask about it in what I hoped is a circumspect way. I received an email with Excel attachments regarding preparations for a seminar series. I took the bait and requested a PDF version, as I don't have MS Excel to read it. (I omitted telling them that I already used OpenOffice to see the attachment, nor that Microsoft has their own free Excel viewer.) Except for an echo of my request, it got nowhere. I guess they were expecting everyone to read it just fine. Which I'm pretty sure everyone can.
I do have a good friend who's very active in CCF who, spurred to be as Christ, went all the way to purchase his very own MS Windows XP and MS Office for his home use. But I have this feeling he's more the exception.
I also know another CCF member to whom I wrote business software for company use, who has not a plan to legalize on their software use, expensive as they are. Since she's a friend, I'm unfortunately willing to discount my services for consultation, assistance, and software development. But the way she asks for discounts tells me she doesn't see much monetary value in software. It's hard to imagine how a company like hers can feel too poor to have to license software properly. I guess for a lot of businesses, no matter what the Bible says, bottom line is money. Actually I don't know what the Bible says. But if it's illegal, it must be bad. (Especially now that there are alternatives.)
I hear a lot of good things about Bill Gates from CCF folks. His foundation has done so much good for humanity. I hope they do him more good too. By respecting what brought him to wealth and altruism, respect for intellectual property.
As for me, it's not due to any religion or relationship that I would see value in intellectual property, but because it's my profession. As a programmer, it's the golden rule.
20091129
Asking for Windows
For a small distribution company not dealing with computers (our products are water related -- usually quite unfriendly to electronic stuff), I think we have a rather high ratio of computers to employees. We have 20 or so computers, and 30 or so people, 10 or so of which will never have to touch computers.
Every now and then, we get to welcome new people to our company. Every now and then, we get to surprise them with our computing system. We only have 3 computers left running Windows XP -- the two inescapably must, and the last one just waiting to die and be reborn to Linux. Yes, the rest aren't Vista or Windows 7, or OSX, but all running Linux (Ubuntu distribution).
Every now and then, however, we still get hopeful requests for Windows in some employees' computers. This, even though they have been using Linux for more than a year already. It's not because Windows is inherently easier to use -- I have had a hard time using Vista (and harder time still to use Mac). More because of familiarity.
People here in the Philippines have been accustomed to using Windows (and Office) forever. Schools use them. Students use pirated versions of them at home. Where people work, it's more than 90% Windows (licensed or not). It's sometimes difficult to explain to them why we use Linux.
And so today (and last week), I got another request, that perhaps I can put Windows in an employee's laptop. The reason? The latest wireless broadband from Smart, Globe, or Sun do not support Linux.
I've researched some that Sun's wireless broadband is easy enough to configure under the latest Linux releases, but unfortunately, Sun's coverage leaves much to desire. Globe Tattoo and Smartbro however are a bit different. I'll have to do actual testing, based on successful reports by other ubuntu users here. But if I can't make them work, it wouldn't be Windows getting installed. It would be one or two less wireless broadband service to get.
Every now and then, we get to welcome new people to our company. Every now and then, we get to surprise them with our computing system. We only have 3 computers left running Windows XP -- the two inescapably must, and the last one just waiting to die and be reborn to Linux. Yes, the rest aren't Vista or Windows 7, or OSX, but all running Linux (Ubuntu distribution).
Every now and then, however, we still get hopeful requests for Windows in some employees' computers. This, even though they have been using Linux for more than a year already. It's not because Windows is inherently easier to use -- I have had a hard time using Vista (and harder time still to use Mac). More because of familiarity.
People here in the Philippines have been accustomed to using Windows (and Office) forever. Schools use them. Students use pirated versions of them at home. Where people work, it's more than 90% Windows (licensed or not). It's sometimes difficult to explain to them why we use Linux.
And so today (and last week), I got another request, that perhaps I can put Windows in an employee's laptop. The reason? The latest wireless broadband from Smart, Globe, or Sun do not support Linux.
I've researched some that Sun's wireless broadband is easy enough to configure under the latest Linux releases, but unfortunately, Sun's coverage leaves much to desire. Globe Tattoo and Smartbro however are a bit different. I'll have to do actual testing, based on successful reports by other ubuntu users here. But if I can't make them work, it wouldn't be Windows getting installed. It would be one or two less wireless broadband service to get.
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