Recommended Books 2001-2006

On my first blog/web site I had a section of recommended books, but when I went 100% Blogger the page didn't make the transition. Here's my official reinstatement.

You won't see a book on here I didn't think was really good for it's intended topic.

Programming

• Code Complete, Second Edition
• Agile Web Development with Rails
• Design Patterns Explained: A New Perspective on Object-Oriented Design
• Better, Faster, Lighter Java
• Expert One-on-One J2EE Development without EJB
• JavaServer Pages Developer's Handbook
• Learning Java, Second Edition
• Learning XML, Second Edition
• Mastering Coldfusion MX
• XML Schema

Software Project Management

• Professional Software Development: Shorter Schedules, Higher Quality Products, More Successful Projects, Enhanced Careers
• Facts and Fallacies of Software Engineering
• Real Web Project Management: Case Studies and Best Practices from the Trenches

Misc

• Designing With Web Standards
• User Interface Design for Programmers

Banking, Hosting

I was going to bank with my local credit union, Fairwinds, but Suntrust offers a free checking account. But before I opened an account with Suntrust, I needed to talk with their Merchant servicing department to find out their rates/fees/etc... Those discussions took longer than I expected, but I've finally opened a bank account, applied for a credit card, and submitted my application for a merchant account. Which will let me open an account with Authorize.net and setup all my credit card processing. I'm going to be paying a little more than I would have through the credit union's merchant program, but I like the overall feel of Suntrust over Fairwinds.

Once I've got my "corporate" credit card, I'm going to get my hosting setup at Textdrive. I like Textdrive's Accelerator Hosting option. We use the same technology at my day job and it's totally cool. It's like a dedicated machine, expect it's virtual and I'll have full access to the "zone".

My banker told me it would take 7 to 10 days to get a response regarding my credit card. I'm creeping up on the end of February, so it looks like I'll be able to open a private beta in the first week of March.

Seth Godin, small correction

I'd post this on Seth's web site, but he only allows trackbacks.

In his post, Starting over with customer service, credits Fog Creek Software's, FobBugz with "accidentally revolutionized a huge piece of management", in regards to the software's ability to only allow a single person to own a single issue (or bug).

Seth's got an awesome blog, and seems to be a really smart guy.

But, here's a small correction.

What piece of ticket/request/issue/bug tracking software allows more than 1 person to be assigned to anything?

The championing of "1 person assignment" with FogBugz probably comes from Joel seeing software projects managed with MS Project, where you can assign an infinite amount of people to any task. Unless FogBugz was the first ticket tracking app on the planet, I can't see how they "revolutionized" anything.

Business Topic Waves

I've been "in the real world" for about 5 years now. (I gradudated college at the end of '01.)

Now that I've been out a while, I'm starting to notice business topic waves. Last year I'd say it was "Design". Every magazine or blog post was about how awesome design is. Two months into this year I'm noticing "Customer Service". Everyone seems to be writing about it.

Are you noticing the same thing?

Classic Designer Problem

This happens to tech guys, but designers get hit with it a lot! Make a website for free since we are friends...

Credit Card Processing

I made this post over on the, "The Business of Software" forum. I've been talking with a rep at Cardservice international about charging credit cards. Here are the numbers we've been talking about:

Using Cardservice w/Authorize.net
Setup......................$99
Visa/Mc Discount Rate......1.99%
Transaction Fee............$0.25 + $0.10 to Authorize.net
Monthly Support/Statement..$10
Gateway Fee................$20
Monthly Minimum............$15

If I use their recommended gateway processor, Linkpoint, which also has an API like Authorize.net, and there would not be the additional 10 cent fee transaction fee. My "Transaction Fee" would only be 25 cents.

Honestly, it was a lot more than I was expecting, but no one on the forum seemed to point out that the fees were out of the ordinary.

Before I had the conversation with someone at my Credit Union I didn't realize how many companies are involved to charge a credit card and for you to get the money.

You need a bank account at your bank, a merchant account with a merchant servicer, and a payment processing gateway.

That's 3 companies!

Now, there is a large player named, First Data, which (I'm pretty sure) owns Cardservice International (merchant servicer) and LinkPoint International (payment processing gateway). But it's still 2 different entities.

I think I'm going to end up using Autorize.net. I've heard good things about their API, and I really need something that's easy to program against.

This Week, Bank Account, Feature Finish

I did 3 things over the weekend (and today).

1. Performed usability testing of Ataraxis Pudding. Test subject? The Wife.
2. Spoke to banker about business account.
3. Fixing usability flaws. ;)
   

I'm going to apply for a Tax ID tomorrow, so I can open up a business account and get my merchant stuff setup. Hopefully I'll have all that setup by the end of day Saturday. Once I've got the business account setup I'll be opening a hosting account so I can get ataraxissoftware.com and ataraxispudding.com live. Once the site(s) are live I'll be contacting friends and family to invite them as beta testers. If you're interested in being a beta tester, leave me a comment and I'll get in touch with you. (I'll be posting a proper beta-testing sign up form once the sites are live.)

I've got 1 more feature to add. It came from the testing I did with my wife. I need to add an "alert" option on some of the major events in the system. I.e. When you leave a comment on a "Piece", you should be able to click a checkbox and have it notify certain people.

The first thing she asked when we she did something was, "Will all the people know something changed?"

If that's the first thought that pop's into her head, then the software better do it!