The AndPlus Software Development Blog

As if being ostracized by big-tech hosting and supporting services was not enough of a controversy for a large and rapidly growing social networking provider, allegations recently surfaced that the provider’s user data was leaked. Reports indicate that before Amazon removed the provider from its hosting service, an Austrian hacker claimed to have accessed users’ image and video files that were uploaded to the website, along with the associated metadata. Regardless of whether this information was obtained from publicly posted materials or from a hack, the issue reinforces the need to regard data security as a top application priority.

For most modern software applications, the developer doesn’t have to think much about hardware integration. Many hardware components the software comes in contact with—displays, pointing devices, keyboards, cameras, mobile device GPS receivers, etc.—have application programming interfaces (APIs) or are represented by standard interfaces built into the operating system.

“We need to build a mobile app!”

“Sure, boss. What exactly should this mobile app do?”

“Doesn’t matter! All our competitors have mobile apps, so we need one too!”

This is exactly the wrong way to launch a mobile app project.

Yes, you probably do need a mobile app because an increasing number of people do a majority of their computer activities on mobile devices. And yes, most or all your competitors have mobile apps available on app stores. These are necessary but not sufficient conditions for building a mobile app.

Have you ever thought about what happens to a package when you turn it over to a shipping carrier for transport? Do you have a sneaking suspicion that they don’t really pay attention to markings such as “Fragile,” “Handle With Care,” and “This End Up”?

In most cases, you have no way of knowing how your packages are handled in transit. The fact that mishaps sometimes do occur is the reason why most carriers offer some form of insurance against loss or damage.

A few years ago, a story made the rounds confirming what many people suspected: The vast majority of thermostats on the walls in commercial buildings don’t do anything.

The future ain’t what it used to be. -Tom Petty, Spike

Consider two speculative sci-fi films, Blade Runner (1982) and 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968). Blade Runner was set in 2019 and 2001: A Space Odyssey was…2001. In both films, artificial intelligence (AI) plays a key role, and not in a good way.