Joel on Software

01

Clay Shirky, brilliant as usual: “Now, when I say these are three things you have to accept, I mean you have to accept them. Because if you don't accept them upfront, they'll happen to you anyway. And then you'll end up writing one of those documents that says ‘Oh, we launched this and we tried it, and then the users came along and did all these weird things. And now we're documenting it so future ages won't make this mistake.’ Even though you didn't read the thing that was written in 1978.”

Echo

Since it's so easy to create all kinds of XML feeds with CityDesk, I thought I'd create an experimental Echo feed, in hopes of officially being the first publisher on earth to use the new format, along with all the celebrity and fanfare that should entail. The feed is here. It is generated with off-the-shelf CityDesk (well, the 2.0 beta).

Please be aware that the Echo syntax itself is still changing rapidly and while I will attempt to keep up with those changes, I may not always be able to do so.

Please email me to suggest corrections to the format or if you notice something that doesn't match the rapidly-evolving spec.

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You’re reading Joel on Software, stuffed with years and years of completely raving mad articles about software development, managing software teams, designing user interfaces, running successful software companies, and rubber duckies.

About the author.

I’m Joel Spolsky, founder of Fog Creek Software, a New York company that proves that you can treat programmers well and still be highly profitable. Programmers get private offices, free lunch, and work 40 hours a week. Customers only pay for software if they’re delighted. We make FogBugz, an enlightened project management system designed to help great teams develop brilliant software, and Fog Creek Copilot, which makes remote desktop access easy.