October 3, 2012 at 5:04 am
Things would probably be better is the software vendors big or not so big (this is true for MS too), would care for correcting every known bug in a version of their product before releasing the next version.
As an example, I'm an intensive user of MS Access. With the .NET languages (C# and VB), it's my usual development tool (I don't use it for storing data, just for building front-ends). In Access there are well documented bugs that were already present in the version 2.0 of the product (1993) and that are still there in the 2007 and 2010 versions. Every new release introduces new bugs while no one bothers to fix the existing ones.
And yes, as 90% of the programs we build are for internal use, we have to eat our dog food if it's what we cooked.
October 3, 2012 at 5:29 am
We write several products and don't use any of them for our own purposes (one is a payroll product and my understanding is you shouldn't use your own software in some instances - creates a conflict of interest). But for our flagship product, in the medical records field, we test it as best we can then go through a beta period and deploy it into the field for select clients so they can test usability on a large scale. There's only so much internal testing that can be done but by getting participation from users and clients you can get feedback from the folks that use it most thus put out a product that tries to take into account what the majority of users want (or how they wanteed something to work). As long as we're meeting regulatory requirements everything else is gravy - and that gravy only gets made with help from others (and we'll never please everyone).
Keep it up guys - you'll never please everyone all of the time.
October 3, 2012 at 5:54 am
I work for a medium sized engineering company which only has a couple of applications that are used outside of the company. And both of those were actually developed in-company first and then marketed outside the company so we definitely do eat our own 'dog food'. This is both good and bad, as our internal users are very conversant with the backing theory used by the software but our external users fall into two categories: 1)users that know MUCH more than our average internal user (an 'industry expert') or 2)'casual' users that just want to know enough to use the software for their limited purposes. We get very good feedback from internal users and external 'industry expert' users but the real gold is from the 'casual' users because these users show us where we've assumed knowledge on the part of the user just because that knowledge is common internally. It's important that the feedback from these 'casual' users is not treated lightly by thinking 'oh, that's stupid, everyone knows that'. So, while it's very useful to have the internal use and I firmly believe that companies should use their own products, don't ignore the feedback from the 'real world' either as they tend more to think outside the internal user's 'box'.
October 3, 2012 at 7:41 am
I have a few applications now and I dog food some of them and others its not really possible.
I think when specing out a system I'll try if at all possible to have a go at working through some of the work of the clients to get a feel of what they are needing in a try someone else's dog food scenario. I think this is important to do rather than a pure tell me what you want meeting.
Frequently they have no understanding of the table structure of their existing systems and it can be extremely useful to sit over the shoulder of an in house super user and just let them take you through their daily work and let them describe their frustrations and the points they consider good.
But generally I would be a massive fan of dog fooding
I would say that it is a massive advantage to be a developer and user of software. If you really believe your software gives you an advantage in your day to day business then using your own software should be a given.
October 3, 2012 at 8:11 am
As usual, you are looking at it again from the wrong angle. It should be "Eating your own caviar". I don't know about everyone else but I don't produce "dog food" class software. Do you really know what's in that stuff? It's not what they tell you in the commercials, believe me. 😀
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
October 3, 2012 at 8:21 am
Travis makes a good point.
Most of us are here because we wanted a deeper understanding of how things work that often results in us making some of our own tools often because we think we can do a better of job than what is available. I have several applications now that I caviar and they are my prize possessions. I like using them and I like other people using them.
I am never scared of any questions about them and can generally answer questions about them without hesitation. My knowledge of them is in depth and complete. I also know when they are not suitable for a job (as important as knowing when they are good)
This is a massive advantage if you happen to be encouraging others to both use them or sell the product.
A cold lager your caviar anyone?
October 3, 2012 at 9:35 am
Years back there was a commercial on TV here in the states where an automotive repair company said that "We stand behind our brake jobs!" They took a lot of flack because they would not stand in front of their break jobs. If memory serves me right the got thousands of calls and emails.
If you cannot use your product or you do not trust it enough to depend on it, how can you justifiably try and market it?
"Please buy our product, we do not trust it enough to use it ourselves, but we are certain it will work for you." Now that is a great marketing strategy!
Not all gray hairs are Dinosaurs!
October 3, 2012 at 10:50 am
TravisDBA (10/3/2012)
It should be "Eating your own caviar". I don't know about everyone else but I don't produce "dog food" class software.
+1
October 3, 2012 at 1:37 pm
I once worked in IT for a retail company that would all but require us to shop at our own stores, but would turn a deaf ear at any complaints or suggestions we would make about our shopping experiences at our stores.
There is an advantage to working for a software company that doesn't create software for the average user, but for a specific user group.
Tony
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Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
October 3, 2012 at 2:46 pm
tabinsc (10/3/2012)
I once worked in IT for a retail company that would all but require us to shop at our own stores, but would turn a deaf ear at any complaints or suggestions we would make about our shopping experiences at our stores.There is an advantage to working for a software company that doesn't create software for the average user, but for a specific user group.
How can any company require you to shop at their store? They can suggest it sure, but they can't require it. They suggest that we support United Way here with regular donations, but many don't, and I am one of them. 😀
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
October 4, 2012 at 7:01 am
TravisDBA (10/3/2012)
tabinsc (10/3/2012)
I once worked in IT for a retail company that would all but require us to shop at our own stores, but would turn a deaf ear at any complaints or suggestions we would make about our shopping experiences at our stores.There is an advantage to working for a software company that doesn't create software for the average user, but for a specific user group.
How can any company require you to shop at their store? They can suggest it sure, but they can't require it. They suggest that we support United Way here with regular donations, but many don't, and I am one of them. 😀
It wasn't a written requirement, but we would certainly be frowned upon if we were spotted shopping at a competitor. Some areas of retail are very cut-throat, fighting for every penny. I am glad to be out of that environment!
Tony
------------------------------------
Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
October 4, 2012 at 7:21 am
tabinsc (10/4/2012)
TravisDBA (10/3/2012)
tabinsc (10/3/2012)
I once worked in IT for a retail company that would all but require us to shop at our own stores, but would turn a deaf ear at any complaints or suggestions we would make about our shopping experiences at our stores.There is an advantage to working for a software company that doesn't create software for the average user, but for a specific user group.
How can any company require you to shop at their store? They can suggest it sure, but they can't require it. They suggest that we support United Way here with regular donations, but many don't, and I am one of them. 😀
It wasn't a written requirement, but we would certainly be frowned upon if we were spotted shopping at a competitor. Some areas of retail are very cut-throat, fighting for every penny. I am glad to be out of that environment!
"Frowned upon"? 😛 If i had a nickel for every time i was "frowned upon" in my life i would be a millionare. It wouldn't have bothered me in the least. The last time i checked we live in a free country and i can spend my money where i please. If the retail industry is that petty, I would not work for them in the first place.:-D
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
October 4, 2012 at 7:55 am
TravisDBA (10/4/2012)
tabinsc (10/4/2012)
TravisDBA (10/3/2012)
tabinsc (10/3/2012)
I once worked in IT for a retail company that would all but require us to shop at our own stores, but would turn a deaf ear at any complaints or suggestions we would make about our shopping experiences at our stores.There is an advantage to working for a software company that doesn't create software for the average user, but for a specific user group.
How can any company require you to shop at their store? They can suggest it sure, but they can't require it. They suggest that we support United Way here with regular donations, but many don't, and I am one of them. 😀
It wasn't a written requirement, but we would certainly be frowned upon if we were spotted shopping at a competitor. Some areas of retail are very cut-throat, fighting for every penny. I am glad to be out of that environment!
"Frowned upon"? 😛 If i had a nickel for every time i was "frowned upon" in my life i would be a millionare. It wouldn't have bothered me in the least. The last time i checked we live in a free country and i can spend my money where i please. If the retail industry is that petty, I would not work for them in the first place.:-D
I fully agree with you. But this particular company operated in some ways that may have been legal, but certainly not ethical.
Tony
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Are you suggesting coconuts migrate?
October 8, 2012 at 3:01 pm
I once held a job where I was *forbidden* from using my employer's services: a Native-American casino. (They didn't have a problem with me gambling elsewhere.)
Jay Bienvenu | http://bienv.com | http://twitter.com/jbnv
October 16, 2012 at 11:28 am
jbnv (10/8/2012)
I once held a job where I was *forbidden* from using my employer's services: a Native-American casino. (They didn't have a problem with me gambling elsewhere.)
Employees working and gambling at their casinos are a different story. If you run up a large debt or lose an a lot of money at a casino where you work then you are more susceptible to possibly resort to using inside information you may have access to and thus commiting illegal acts at that casino that you work at. Makes sense. Casinos also don't typically hire people who very bad credit for basically the same reason. It's a temptation factor. At least that is the way most casinos see it anyway.:-D
"Technology is a weird thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ...:-D"
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