I’m working on a planning desktop app loosely based on Steve Pavlina’s The Meaning Of Life: From Purpose To Action associated with a calendar.
The app is developed in Java so it will be cross-platform and I plan to release it as donationware (eg it will be free but I will ask you to consider making a donation).
I will be using an agile development process, with many small iterations (one month long). I started yesterday on development and the first iteration should be done in exactly one month.
Not only the app will be donationware – which means fully free to use even though users are asked to consider making a donation to ensure I can put resources into further enhancements to the app – but also open source. This is an experiment with the donationware model as a possible long term solution for open source developers (we need to eat too 
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After reading Stephen’s post Why I love programming!, I got inspired to write down my own reasons for loving programming.
Firstly, I will quote Stephen here, because he said it very well: “[...] a desire to create! To keep learning! It’s fun, To make the world a better place!”
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My next Google Android app will be a RSS Reader and naturally, I have to brush up on my XML knowledge so I have picked up the excellent Java and XML
(aff.) book and I have to say, this convinces me that XML is the way to go for what will be my first desktop app.
OK, I have to admit here, I am planning a desktop Java app and I thought a few weeks ago that I would use xml for the data. This is partially why I was keen to experiment with programming a RSS Reader for Google Android, as my first foray into xml parsing. The other reason for the RSS Reader is that I have come to rely on mine (I use Google Reader) and I prefer using it on my work computer, which has a bigger screen. This got me wondering: how to create a user-friendly RSS Reader interface for a small screen? This was all the challenge I needed to get me started
So far, I have only read up on SAX and I have started playing around with it – it does what I imagined it should do, so I’m pretty pleased about it. I’m thoroughly enjoying working with XML but as I’m only starting out, I’m sure some more advanced programmers will be quick to damper my enthusiasm.
So, for you, does XML live up to its potential? Or is it just another data format you have to contend with?
Over the least couple of years, the rise of Google in the field of programming and web development tools has been quite spectacular.
Google Android is gaining ground in the smart mobile phone market, Google App Engine and Google Web Toolkit are helping Java and Python programmers develop web apps, Google has established its annual conference Google I/O as the conference all programmers should attend (sadly, I cannot but I would dearly like to), not to mention the success of its Google Maps API and many other tools available for programmers.
Like many other programmers, I am very excited about their tools but I can’t help asking myself: do we rely too much on Google? Only the future will tell but I fear that despite all of Google’s official good intentions, its real aim is to create a market monopoly that Microsoft can only dream of – and then, it will be able to bleed all programmers and users dry.
Every few weeks, I come across a programming article/blog post/project/forum debate etc that gets me excited about another programming language. I maintain a list of languages I’d like to learn, a list of applications I’d like to do, a list of skills I’d like to develop.
Every so often, I ask myself if I should start learning a new programming language, and which one to pick (so many to choose from!).
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In August 2009, I started work on my first Google Android app. By mid-August, the app was finished and published on the Google Android market. This was the appeal of Google Android to me. No waiting for somebody to approve my app but let the market decide. No new programming language to learn (you use Java to program a Google Android app). Barely a price entry barrier to speak of (it costs only $25 to register as a Google Android developer).
Six months on and I’m still programming apps for Google Android, working on my 3rd paid app at the moment. I’ve got 4 free apps published (supported with ads) and 2 paid apps.
So… can you make a living programming apps for Google Android?
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