Topic: Software Development
Joshua Bixby connects web site speed and performance with return on investment, as measured by increases in the size of orders and the number of conversions. He reports that his company demonstrated a 6% increase in order size and a 9% increase in conversions with improvements in the performance of mobile web pages. He believes that the same type of data should be collected for mobile users to help developers make informed decisions when allocating limited resources.
Lean Startup movement concepts have entered the zeitgeist, says Eric Ries. His IT-sector "mid-term report card" shows an industry under pressure, but he says successful entrepreneurs have a superior process: the Lean Startup process. They Pivot through a Build-Measure-Learn feedback loop. Lean Startup techniques such as Innovation Through Experimentation, can be applied to any company, industry, or start-up. Startups grow through validated learning, through a series of Pivots.
Software glitches cost businesses a great deal of money. While some may seem mere inconveniences, others can cause major problems for both organizations and consumers. Jeff Papows discusses his new book, in which he talks about why glitches happen as well as how issues can be avoided in the future.
Mike Arrington and Tim O'Reilly engage in a spirited exchange. O'Reilly argues that companies competing against Google, Apple or Facebook should strike out into new territories. Quoting Sun Tzu, O'Reilly admires PayPal for carving out a new niche, while he gives Apple's iPhone group kudos for outflanking competitors. Arrington worries about a potential privacy disaster at Facebook.
Facebook is one of the largest websites in the world, and it takes a lot to keep it running. Tom Cook of Systems Engineering at Facebook discusses the scale of the hardware required, the software, the IT stack, and best practices.
Companies are working to develop apps software that take advantage of the growing number of hardware platforms. In addition to smartphones, browser developers are using the cloud to distribute programs. The group discusses these projects, as well as how new versions of browsers are coming that will be of even greater use with applications. They review how cross platform development is an important part of new software as well as Web 2.0 capabilities must also be included.
An open API for all government functions would be a transformative achievement, and Tim O'Reilly and Chris Vein have been working to make it a reality. In this free-flowing Q and A format, Chris Vein shares his experience as CIO for San Fransisco, building IT as a platform for the 21st century city. Vein and O'Reilly discuss their front line experiences in government data with an audience of location-based developers.
In this presentation, Leading Edge researcher Simon Wardley explores hypotheses about change, reflecting on cloud computing and organizational shape. Considering how companies deal with the consequences and emerging patterns of change, Wardley asserts that the cloud increases innovation and productivity which yields commodity. He describes how commoditization erodes value, therefore requiring more innovation.
Michael Feathers asks his audience whether clean code is good code. Looking at examples from business and academic research his talk seeks to address the problem of legacy code in software development. Taking some lessons from engineering he suggests some ways to make code better and cheaper.
Tim O'Reilly discusses the impact of the advancements made in Web technologies on the future. His speech highlights the impact of mobile devices on application requirements, the need for real time processing, and the essential role people play in Web applications. In describing the important function that Web operations play in future applications, he suggests opportunities for operational personnel to contribute to the Web community for the greater good of all.
