Agent technology - the next big thing?

Sean McGrath, ITworld.com

I have been thinking a lot about autonomous, software agents recently. I was somewhat startled when I concluded that we might be well on the way to creating a large number of these things, using nothing more complicated than Web technologies. Here is my (possibly) erroneous reasoning. ...continue reading 'Agent technology - the next big thing?'

Agent technology - the next big thing?

Sean McGrath, ITworld.com

I have been thinking a lot about autonomous, software agents recently. I was somewhat startled when I concluded that we might be well on the way to creating a large number of these things, using nothing more complicated than Web technologies. Here is my (possibly) erroneous reasoning. ...continue reading 'Agent technology - the next big thing?'

How to stop worrying and learn to love IT complexity

By Sean McGrath, ITworld.com

Ask yourself why you got in to IT in the first place. Was it to just turn up every day and monitor a stable-state system that works just fine all by itself? No. I didn't think so. Here is a weird factoid about IT folk who are good problem solvers: they are bored when there are no problems to solve. To avoid boredom (a heinous mental state!), they innovate. Innovation creates complexity. We tear our hair. We worry. But deep down, we really like it this way. ...continue reading 'How to stop worrying and learn to love IT complexity'

Andy Hunt: Secrets of a Rock Star Programmer

By Ed Burns

The two most important things developers do, says Pragmatic Programmers co-founder Andy Hunt, is communicate and learn. And he should know. Hunt's career arc has brought him through most of the roles one can have in the IT industry, from rank-and-file programmer at a Fortune 100 company, to senior architect, to independent consultant, to his current role as the co-founder of the Pragmatic Programmers LLC. He and fellow Pragmatic Programmers founder Dave Thomas are seen as true thought leaders in today's global programming community. ...continue reading 'Andy Hunt: Secrets of a Rock Star Programmer'