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The Graphing Calculator Story

The power of skunkworks – how an unofficial team of developers got a
really cool application together.
http://www.pacifict.com/Story/

My skunkworks project was beginning to look real with help from these professionals as well as others in graphic design, documentation, programming, mathematics, and user interface. The secret to programming is not intelligence, though of course that helps. It is not hard work or experience, though they help, too. The secret to programming is having smart friends.

I view the events as an experiment in subverting power structures. I had none of the traditional power over others that is inherent to the structure of corporations and bureaucracies. I had neither budget nor headcount. I answered to no one, and no one had to do anything I asked. Dozens of people collaborated spontaneously, motivated by loyalty, friendship, or the love of craftsmanship. We were hackers, creating something for the sheer joy of making it work.

Short URL: http://sachachua.com/blog/p/2514

On This Day...

  • 2012: Experience report: Naming my company! — Ten months after incorporation, I’ve finally come up with a name for my company. I wanted to combine the different [...]
  • 2011: Comparing Plan B Organic Farms with Cooper’s Farm CSA — After two seasons with Plan B Organic Farms, we’ve discovered a range of new recipes and learned that we can [...]
  • 2010: More reflections on code and consulting — I catch myself talking and writing about consulting as if that’s the way for me to help organizations be more [...]
  • 2009: Moments of truth — What are your moments of truth? What are the crucial moments when you make the most important differences? Get It Done [...]
  • 2008: Weekly review: week ending Dec 21 — Last week: Dealt with lots of little bugs for the Drupal-based project we’re working on. Solved an IE7 problem blind. Automated the [...]
  • 2007: A day in a life with Org — I spend most of my day working on or near a computer: writing, replying to e-mail, making phone calls, and so [...]
  • 2005: It’s so good to be home! — Home home home home. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! =)
  • 2004: On the cult of personality — Following a link from plug-org, I came across Linus Torvalds’ answers to the following questions in http://news.com.com/Torvalds+A+Solaris+skeptic/2008-1082_3-5498799.html : - What Linux myths or misconceptions [...]
  • 2003: Vaio parts — http://www.impactcomputers.com/pcg-u1-parts.html I just don’t know how to open the computer up to install it…
  • 2003: Setting up arch — - Set up ID - Set up branch of emacs-wiki - Cache revision - Add files - Commit - Set up local mirror for repository - [...]