Living in the Tech Avalanche Generation

So is 2010 the year when WPF finally starts to make the big-time? Having spent some time now working with the new desktop framework, I find it unlikely that I will find a compelling enough reason to choose Windows Forms for a desktop UI technology choice again.

So what’s holding it (WPF) back? I have read and listened to a lot of stuff online suggesting it’s so complex that it’s turning people off the idea. So what about the issue of so called complexity? Of all the ‘W’ technology stacks to come out from Microsoft, I count WCF as the most complex and there certainly hasn’t been any overwhelming discussion about how that complexity has raised the barrier of entry, to the point where it’s slowed adoption. There seems to be an consistent message coming from the scribes, with constant reference to a new division of labour, shared by the trusty old developer and the so called ‘turtle necks’ (designers), a term that seems to be sticking and one I’m sure designers find amusing a pejorative one. And lets not forget the newest addition to the vernacular, the ‘Devigner’! There seems to be a lot of opinion and chatter that holds the opinion that UI design is no longer within our grasp as developers, unless we have enough right brain activity going on that we might be precluded from committing outrageous sins of the desktop.

So here’s my take – I have written a few UI’s now in XAML based technology (SL and WPF) and I do not count myself as a designer or devigner. Perhaps I have some artistic flair (yeah I’m an arty type) in a general sense, but when it comes to graphics, I am pure stick figures all the way. I have been known to classify myself in the past as the patron saint of the graphically challenged! And yet I have now developed a couple of XAML User Interfaces where the User’s and my peers considered them to be ‘attractive’, self describing, efficient, simple to use, etc. Oh, and I still managed to do this all with my trusty old supervising controller in tow.

So why didn’t I cower in corner somewhere at the prospect of building a XAML UI? Well it’s not in my nature for starters, but secondly I wasn’t prepared to believe the hype. Sure I did quite a bit of prototyping and experimentation but in the wash up, learning is doing and each time I do it I get better at it – sound familiar? By the way, I don’t think I was doing anything graphically amazing per`se, but some nice simple animations will go a long way even from the king of the stick men.

Here is what I advise: don’t be afraid of the technology. If you ever developed desktop applications in the past and considered yourself capable in designing a good user experience, then don’t buy into the scare mongering and be prepared to jump off the cliff.

I don’t doubt that there will be some small percentage of software teams that will bring on a dedicated designer(s) but I would hate to think that the small development teams out there will be put off venturing out into the brave new world. Yes there is a lot of complexity (particularly in WPF) and the learning curve is certainly not shallow by any means, but nothing good in life is easy.

Due to a rescheduling of this course there are now 3 seats available. If you missed out last time, registrations have now reopened for this limited number of seats. Please follow this link to register. The new date for the course is January 18th – 22nd 2010.

Recently K. Scott Allen posted on the inspirational effect of books on software developers and so I mentality sifted through my memory in an attempt to find one that I could say really had that effect on me. My first problem was finding a definition for ‘Inspiration’. I am going to take some artistic license here and avoid any accepted dictionary definitions and lean on my own personal experiences to assign a meaning and value to ‘Inspiration’.

In the past when I have been inspired it has always had a cause and effect relationship, I get inspired to *act* for a given cause or outcome. Sometimes this is a private affair and other times it’s a shared experience, nonetheless it’s always rooted in action, the effects of which are distinguished by a *reaction* (hopefully positive) from myself and other people with whom I interact.

There have been a few people along the way during my career in software development that have inspired me, some whom I have had the pleasure to meet and others whose teachings and ideas I have followed. In each case I have indeed been inspired to learn and grow. I have also had the privilege of working in groups where the individuals within were able to inspire each other through sharing a common goal. The latter of these types of experience I have found anecdotally to be increasing in frequency with respect to software development. It goes without saying that when I had a career in music this was far more commonplace.

K. Scott remarked in his post that:

“An inspirational book, in my mind, transcends any specific technology and makes you think differently about how you approach your job.”

a statement that for me rings true for any form of inspiration, whether it comes from books or other sources. I remember in my days as a music recording engineer / producer, I worked with artists and drew on the teachings Constantin Stanislavski (the father of method acting) to provide inspiration for character portrayal in live performance.

So what about you? Who inspires you? BTW, that’s a rhetorical question unless you see fit to share your answer.