Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

“He used to make his house out of whatever color [LEGO] brick he happened to grab. Can you imagine the sort of code someone like that would write?”— Daniel Underwood, “Microserfs”, 1995

Another thing that makes programming fascinating is the fact that it’s always evolving; there are always new languages to learn and new challenges to tackle. For many people, computer programming is the perfect blend of left-brain and right-brain activity, and it’s this balance that makes it so compelling. And whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been coding for years, there’s always something to discover. However, why is the idea of programming so seemingly exclusive to digital spaces? Or is programming, as a concept, beyond what we see on our screens?

Because, as we move towards a future where software and technology are involved in everything we do, the idea of “programming” seems less of an abstract concept, and more of a natural part of our reality, and the same principles can be found in the unlikeliest of places. But what is programming in the physical world? And why stuff like Lego is a great gateway to understanding and getting passionate about something as complex as programming?

Programming in physical spaces

“Have you ever noticed that Lego plays a far more important role in the lives of computer people than in the general population? To a one, computer technicians spent huge portions of their youth heavily steeped in Lego and its highly focused, solitude-promoting culture. Lego was their common denominator toy.” 

These words come directly from the 1995 novel Microserfs by Douglas Coupland, which portrays the lives and concerns of various Microsoft programmers in the early 90s, prior to the release of Windows 95. The novel has been pretty popular since its original publication because it’s a very thorough look at the nascent class of “software people” that was quickly growing during this decade. Simply put, much of the modern software development culture, when early startups like Microsoft made the jump to a corporate existence, started at this time, and many of the insights exposed in the novel still resonate today. 

For example, let’s see the main argument here, which comes from a character waxing poetic about these popular building toys. The core idea here is that Lego bricks are a binary system, where each of the studs in a brick is either connected to another or they are not, enabling anyone to build something concrete. In that sense, Lego bricks could be conceived as a programming language of sorts, with the resulting “application” being a tangible object, like a rocket ship, a house, or whatever you want. As the book explains:

“Lego is ontologically not unlike computers. This is to say that a computer by itself is, well… nothing. Computers only become something when given a specific application. […] To use an Excel spreadsheet or to build a race car, that’s why we have computers and Lego.”

That is not a far-fetched idea, mind you. More complex programs can involve hundreds or even thousands of lines of code, but they all operate on the same principle: single interconnected elements whose logic dictates the final result. And by providing a set of unambiguous instructions, programmers can get computers to perform virtually any task they can imagine. In that same sense, to build something with Legos, you need to have a clear understanding of how the individual pieces fit together; just as a programmer needs to have a strong understanding of syntax to write code, a Lego builder needs a strong understanding of how the pieces fit.

Of course, writing effective programs requires more than just a basic understanding of how to give instructions. It also requires an awareness of the many different ways that something can go wrong. A well-written program anticipates the needs of its users and anticipates the ways that the program might be misused. By anticipating these potential problems, programmers can write robust and user-friendly code. Some would argue that Lego is not a true programming language because it does not allow for abstraction or complex logic. However, there is no denying that Lego represents a powerful system for creating and manipulating physical objects. In many ways, it is similar to the way that code can be used to create and manipulate digital objects. As such, it is safe to say that Lego can indeed be considered a form of programming.

A world built on code

Now, when most people think of programming languages, they think of computer code like Java or Python. However, programming languages are not just limited to computers. Any system that uses a set of instructions can be said to use a programming language, and while computer languages may be the most common type of programming language, they are by no means the only kind.

Back in the day, for example, long before digital computers were a thing, people used analog machines for everything from navigation to weather forecasting. These machines were operated by physical variables like electrical current or fluid pressure, which could be used to represent, store, and process data. Analog computers were often used for agricultural applications, as they could predict things like sunrise and sunset times, moon phases, and tides. In some cases, they were even used to control irrigation systems. And while analog computers are no longer in widespread use, they did play an important role in the development of digital computing.

Analog computers were around for centuries, and although their use has declined in recent years, we can still learn a few tricks from them. For example, these computers are far better at handling continuous data than digital computers because they can represent it more directly, using physical quantities such as voltage or current. As a result, they are often used in scientific and engineering applications where continuous data is common. In addition, analog computers are usually much faster than digital computers when solving certain types of problems because they can perform many operations in parallel, whereas digital computers typically process information sequentially. 

What we are getting at is that we have always lived in a world built on code, where even the simplest expressions of it, like Lego bricks, can have an impact on the way we see and interact with our reality. Although the insight of Microserfs about Lego being analogous to programming might seem odd on first viewing, considering how the field of software development is growing by the day, and evolving just as quickly. Our love of programming probably has a simpler origin than we thought. 

“I think it is safe to say that Lego is a potent three-dimensional modeling tool and a language in itself. And prolonged exposure to any language, either visual or verbal, undoubtedly alters the way a child perceives the universe […] The charm and fun of Lego derives from reducing the organic to the modular: a zebra built of little cubes.”

And with the modern world increasingly reliant on computer code, from the websites we browse to the apps we use, there’s something special in seeing its magic present even in the simplest of things. To code, in simple terms, is human, becoming the main way we conceptualize our reality and build something on it. Be it a humble Lego brick or a complex chain of code, it’s difficult to overstate the presence of code in our modern lives. And as long as there are people who need to solve complex problems, programming will continue to cast its spell everywhere we look. In many ways, our future has always depended on it.

The Key Takeaways

• We always think of “programming” as something that only happens inside computers, but that might be far from the truth.
• If we look at the basic concept of programming, then it’s no surprise to see it everywhere else, and Lego is a great example of it.
• Lego can be conceptualized as a programming language, where each brick connects to build an application.
• That’s because programming goes beyond a computer, and our world has been built on analog machines that predate everything digital.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

Secondly, its ability to handle large amounts of data is significant, capable of easily managing huge spreadsheets, making it ideal for businesses that track lots of information. And perhaps more importantly, Excel is affordable, making it a great choice for users and organizations on a budget, being part of the basic Microsoft Office suite. So, with so much to offer, it’s no wonder that Excel is still a top choice for businesses around the world, seen as the go-to software for maintaining records and performing calculations. It’s hard to picture a modern workplace that doesn’t incorporate this application in some way, which begs the question: is this tool the right one for a company?

On one hand, this software is notoriously difficult to use, with many companies investing heavily in Excel training and support, making it difficult to switch to another platform. Even experienced users can find themselves frustrated by its complexity, and Excel doesn’t even offer a lot of flexibility compared with more specialized software applications, being difficult to customize to meet specific needs. And that’s without mentioning how Excel does not have the same level of security as more robust applications, which can be a serious problem if confidential data is being stored in Excel files, which everyone can open and manipulate on any computer. 

Then why do so many companies continue to rely on it? What happens when this piece of office software falls short of the needs and challenges of a company? And what alternatives exist to bridge this gap?

What actually is Microsoft Excel?

At its most basic, Microsoft Excel is a software application that allows users to create and format spreadsheets. It is part of the classic Microsoft Office suite of productivity tools, and it’s widely used by businesses and individuals for tasks such as financial modeling, data analysis, and tracking inventory levels. Among other things, Excel offers a user-friendly interface, and its powerful features make it a versatile tool for many different spreadsheet needs. That’s it.

However, there’s a more in-depth answer to what Excel actually is: one of the biggest culprits when it comes to software errors and inefficiencies within any organization. In simple terms, the main problem with using Excel for software management is that it wasn’t designed for that purpose; this application is great for tracking data and performing calculations, but for managing complex software projects, it’s lacking in features, if not downright counterproductive. And we are not alone in this belief.

“Excel is one of those tools that every company starts off with.  In the initial stages, it allows companies to organize and manage many of their operations effectively and efficiently. It may not be perfect, but it does the job”, says an article by tech developer Strappberry. “There is no doubt that it is a useful tool that helps in many administrative, accounting, and financial tasks. However, as business data grows, the limitations of this software begin to show.”

When it comes to software development in specific, the problem with using only Microsoft Excel is that it’s not designed for managing these kinds of complex projects. It doesn’t have the features or functionality that you need to effectively manage a development team. One of the biggest problems is that Excel doesn’t handle dependencies well; when you’re trying to track which tasks need to be completed in what order, Excel quickly becomes a tangled mess. The other big problem is that Excel doesn’t provide any way to visualize the project as a whole, which can make it difficult to spot potential problems or areas where the project is falling behind schedule. It doesn’t offer any real-time collaboration features, so if multiple people are working on the same project, they’ll need to constantly send updated versions of the spreadsheet back and forth, which can quickly become confusing and lead to errors.

Additionally, you could lose all of your data if something goes wrong with your Microsoft Excel file. So, while Microsoft Excel may be a good tool for some things, it’s not enough to effectively manage a software project, let alone an entire organization. The problem only compounds across companies and industries, resulting in an application that can quickly be overwhelmed in serious business environments. You need a more robust solution that was specifically designed for managing software development projects.

Taking matters into your own hands

No, Microsoft Excel is not enough to maintain a software organization, so having an alternative to manage any workflow of a company is going to become increasingly critical in today’s competitive market. And one of the best ways to do so is by having a strong internal toolkit. 

By developing its own tools and platforms, an organization can gain a significant edge, because it gives the organization better control over the development process. By creating tailor-made solutions for its own specific challenges, the organization can ensure that they are always ahead of the curve. In addition, these tools enable an organization to better control its destiny, allowing it to tap into the talents of its employees by designing systems and tools that take advantage of the talent inside the organization, instead of trying to slot them into learning applications such as Excel. 

However, above all of this, the most obvious benefit is that it can help to improve the efficiency of the company’s development process. By having access to tools and resources specifically designed for the company’s needs, developers can save a considerable amount of time and effort, as well as solve some of the most pressing security issues with Excel, by implementing applications that can be built from the ground up with the scalability and security that any organization needs. In addition, developing internal tools can also help to foster a greater sense of cooperation and collaboration within the company. When employees can work together more effectively, it can lead to better results overall. 

“Although Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool that can be used for a wide range of tasks, it does have its limits”, says Adolfo Cruz, PMO Director and Partner. “Excel is designed to work with small to medium-sized datasets, and the complexity of formulas that can be used is pretty limited. This can make it difficult to perform certain types of analysis, such as financial modeling, and it’s not well suited for collaborative work, which is important for a larger organization. Sure, you can share spreadsheets, but there is no built-in support for tracking changes or managing versions. In all, Excel is best suited for individual work, but for a larger organization, it’s better to have something more special.”

And what he means is that developing internal tools can also help to create a competitive advantage for the company. By having access to unique and innovative resources, a software development company can set itself apart from its rivals, and with something that’s entirely its own, developers can feel more connected to their organization. In short, developing internal applications that can’t get overwhelmed by the challenges of an organization is the best way for any software company to achieve true success. That way, we can leave behind a dependency on Excel that will only hurt in the long run.

The Key Takeaways

• Excel is a pretty popular tool with a legitimate application inside and outside the software industry, but it’s also limited.
• While capable of handling large amounts of data, being cheap and easy to access, if not to use, Excel cannot scale up properly with more complex projects, such as software development.
• Although it’s not the only tool with this problem, it’s a great example of this problem, which can lead to all kinds of security and workflow issues that can harm and hold back an organization.
• The best solution, then, is for a company to develop its own internal tools, making sure they are tailored to its unique problems and challenges.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!

Curated by: Sergio A. Martínez

After all, 2023 is shaping up to be a challenging year for the software industry, with several factors coming together to create a perfect storm of sorts. First, the overall economic picture is uncertain, with slowing growth in developed markets and an ongoing trade war making it difficult for companies to plan for the future. In addition, new emerging technologies, like AI and cloud streaming, are threatening to disrupt traditional business models, and the political environment is becoming increasingly challenging to navigate. As a result, 2023 is likely to be a year where companies will need to be agile and adaptable to survive and thrive.

With all that in mind, it’s never too early to start planning for success, and budgeting properly for your development expenses today will be a critical element of that. However, budgeting for your development expenses now can be easier said than done. When it comes to producing software, there are a lot of moving parts, which makes budgeting a bit of a challenge. For one thing, you have to account for the cost of the software itself, as well as the cost of any licenses or subscriptions that may be required, then there’s the cost of hardware, which can vary depending on the needs of the project, and don’t forget about the cost of training and support. Add it all up, and it’s no wonder budgeting a software development project can be so complicated. Of course, there are ways to simplify the process, but at the end of the day, it’s still important to have a clear understanding of all the costs involved. Otherwise, you might find yourself in over your head – and that’s never a good place to be.

Designing a software budget in 2023

Let’s talk about numbers first. According to this article from The Harvest Blog: “Your project team members won’t have the necessary resources they need if you can’t secure the right funding. And if you don’t have a set plan from the start, you run the risk of joining the 57% of companies who say they don’t typically complete their projects within the established budget.” And with the challenges that 2023 will bring to the industry, reaching these goals will be critical.

So, if you’re serious about achieving your development goals, budgeting is a step that you can’t afford to avoid. By starting to budget for your development expenses now, you’ll be in a much better position to succeed. And you may already have a couple of traditional approaches to doing so, like the “Envelope System”, which involves assigning specific amounts of money to different spending categories (like licensing fees, cloud-based storage, subscriptions of all kinds, etc.), or the “Zero-based budget” that requires you to account for every single penny you spend. Nevertheless, when it comes to software development, these might not be enough. 

The traditional approach to budgeting assumes that all projects can be planned and executed linearly, with predictable costs and results. But software development can be anything but predictable; it’s an iterative process, where changes and improvements are constantly being made based on feedback. This means that software development teams need to be able to adapt their plans on the fly, which can make it difficult to stay within a fixed budget. In addition, the rapid pace of change in the technology industry means that teams often have to scrap their plans and start from scratch if they want to stay ahead of the competition.

Whichever approach you decide to use, the important thing is that you start budgeting for your development expenses now; 2023 is around the corner, and with it comes a new year of projects and innovations to look for. As always, software organizations of all kinds will be looking to stay within their budget while delivering quality products, with some basic tips that can help you to do so:

• Use an agile development methodology. This will allow you to break the project down into smaller pieces and deliver them incrementally, which can help to control costs.
• Make use of open-source software. Many high-quality open-source options can save you money on licenses and support fees.
• Take advantage of cloud computing. Cloud-based solutions can be a cost-effective option for hosting and running your software.

But beyond these common-sense suggestions, the correct approach of an organization to budget for a software development project depends on a variety of unique challenges and goals. So, we’d like to present some budgeting techniques that can ensure that your software project stays on track, making a positive outcome more likely for any software enterprise. For example…

• Bottom-up estimating: This is a great way to avoid any surprises when it comes time for your team’s final budget. Essentially, it’s about working closely with the team and examining each step of the project to the most minute detail, to ensure that you have all the important information laid out to create an accurate roadmap. This process helps ensure no hurdles come up later down the road, which ultimately saves money by having fewer unexpected costs associated with these “known problems” during development. 

• Top-down estimating: Top-down estimating is a more efficient way to budget for large projects. By looking at the scope as an entire entity, you can identify which tasks will take up most of your time or resources without having any uncertainty between them. This allows us to estimate costs with greater accuracy than the “bottom-up” technique, allowing an organization to know exactly what work needs to be done first. The key difference between “Top-down” and “Bottom-Up” estimating lies in how much detail goes into each stage: With the top-down method, all elements must be defined upfront. However, some flexibility when deciding upon specific costs should remain.

• Analogous estimating: A great way to get an idea about how much your project will cost when you don’t have enough data for the upcoming task. This technique only works because it relies on previous projects as references, so keeping its accuracy depends largely upon what information there was available from those jobs. That’s why reports, notes, feedback, and the information collected in project management systems can be so valuable to implement, allowing tracking of internal costs and reviewing past work while informing future scope decisions all at once, making sure every penny counts.

Final words

It’s no secret that software projects can be costly. All too often, companies find themselves over budget and behind schedule, scrambling to contain the costs of their project. However, with a few strategies like the ones we just mentioned, costs can be kept under control. However, there’s no better strategy to plan your software development budget than managing expectations about the outcomes, clearly communicating the scope of the project and what will be delivered at each stage. 

This will help your organization to avoid scope creep and ensure that everyone is on the same page from the start. By following these simple strategies, companies can ensure that their software projects stay on budget coming 2023.

The Key Takeaways

• The software industry, alongside the rest of the technology sector, will have a challenging 2023, for a variety of reasons.
• One of the crucial elements of any company’s success is budgeting projects and operations sensibly, ensuring that an organization can meet all the goals it needs.
• However, software development can be somewhat finicky when it comes to planning, so traditional approaches to budgeting might not cut it out; rather, a holistic view of the whole process can be the right way to plan any expense.
• It’s important to keep in mind past approaches in order to understand where the biggest challenges might come when budgeting for the new year.

Scio is an established Nearshore software development company based in Mexico that specializes in providing high-quality, cost-effective technologies for pioneering tech companies. We have been building and mentoring teams of engineers since 2003 and our experience gives us access not only to the knowledge but also the expertise needed when tackling any project. Get started today by contacting us about your project needs – We have teams available to help you achieve your business goals. Get in contact today!