How to make an app?

[George Jackson]

OK I know this is cheeky as I still haven't sorted out membership (due to lack of funds/being a penniless student etc.), however I have recently had a brainwave for a stunning new app. that I believe has potentially fantastic commercial potential. Naturally I am keen to explore how to realise this concept. However I have no experience whatsoever in coding, or writing and designing apps, - and indeed no programming experience of any kind.

I know the 'makers culture' is that you should do it yourself as much as possible. However I have no idea where to even start. To this end I wonder if there is anyone in the makers community who may either be prepared to consider getting involved in a joint venture basis, or who might be able to give me some solid pointers/leads to anyone who could potentially help?

I know probably quite a lot of people who design apps probably think they have come up with a game changing idea, but I really do think this concept has legs, because it offers the potential to massively reduce employee costs for a very large number of companies, while simultaneously offering them an entirely new and untapped revenue stream.

Maybe not traditional makers fair stuff, as the makers community appears to largely be a hobbyist community, but hey what's wrong with someone having a great idea and then trying to make it a reality? Hopefully it can be done in the same spirit.

George

[Alistair MacDonald]

Hi George,

I kept on reading and waiting for the bug reveal, but it did not come.
In short there are a lot of people looking for mobile developers who
have money behind them so to tempt people in you will need a good
idea, but more importantly convince people that you are the person who
is going to take the idea forward and make it happen.

It is a little off topic but..... What is the idea and why should I be
interested in helping?

Alistair

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[Dan Nixon]

It depends on your target platforms, if you are happy with Android only then Google's getting started guides are fantastic and the ADK bundle is very easy to setup.

iOS I have never coded for.

If you want a cross platform app maybe look at Titanium, I think it is very HTML/CSS/general web stuff, personally I think is is a very roundabout way of making an app and always prefer the native tools.

Of course depending on what the app actually does then a mobile website may be functionally equivalent and considerably easier to develop.

Dan

[George Jackson]

Hi Alistair you have (makerspace email.) Not sure why my last message on the forum/list was deleted, but oh well that's not significant. I just want to remind everyone that this is an open invite. Surely a valid application of the 'maker ideology' is to potentially go beyond one's hobbies if they can and generate new ideas that can spur an industry?

I was talking to someone from Intel about exactly this idea at the Makers Fair a short time ago, and they were exactly in agreement with this.

George

[Glen]

hi George,

i don't know why you think your mail has been deleted.

i can still see it on the Google group

https://groups.google.com/forum/m/#!topic/north-east-makers/_GsnZpyVi4M

regards

Glen

[Jon Davies]

George,

Everyone is different.

This is how I liken the Maker Ideology:

People who like to go to the gym subscribe as a member.  In return they benefit from improving their physique and learning how to keep in shape.

(1) Some people who pay the membership and never show up.

(2) Most people who pay membership show up once or twice a week and keep their fitness topped up.

(3) Some people show up a lot and get a rather good physique and become good at gym work.

(4) One or two show up a lot and get a rather good physique and become good at gym work and intend to compete professionally.

The average Maker fits in with category (2) above.

Either than will make you understand, or just completely confuse you.  Hope it is the former!

:)

Jon.

On 6 May 2014 10:39, George Jackson <rai...@hotmail.com> wrote:

[Dan Nixon]

I think the main issue is that everyone has ideas, to get anyone on board with yours you need to explain exactly why your idea is worth someone's time over any other idea.

My perspective has always been that as time is finite you need to have a very good argument as to why I should be on board with what sounds to be a fairly big project.

Apologies if this sounds very critical, it's just my perspective on things like this.

That said, I would be OK with helping you get started with actual development or helping with any technical issues.

Dan

[George Jackson]

Can we have a chat Dan? I get I need a good argument and I believe I have one. But clearly I can't make that argument until I can convince anyone to listen. Catch 22 almost. But not quite, as hopefully this is only a small initial log-jam than can be easily and quickly overcome.

I am looking for 10 minutes of anyone's time who has suitable experience in mobile platform programming, maybe some experience in back end web server development and maybe some experience/capability to learn about QR code programming.

Can you email me directly please and we can see if we can at least get the ball rolling/set up a meeting, or if indeed you feel you can even be won over to lend a hand?

Jon, there is another category of maker. Say for example someone like myself who has been mostly broke for a while and who would like to be a much more active and fully participating member, but for whom paying the membership fee (particularly through direct debit) is currently problematical, but who nonetheless may be spurred on by need to an inventive resolution to their predicament. I don't think Intel were at the makers fair by accident. They were there to encourage, look for and foster hot new ideas.

In the old days they used to have gentlemen's clubs, where some of the sharpest minds in the country would go to exchange new ideas. As a result of this we had the industrial revolution. There is nothing wrong I suspect in attempting to recapture some of that old spirit.

Who knows, if we can get this thing off the ground and if it has legs, there may be other ways it could benefit the maker community in Newcastle. We will have to see.

[Iain Yarnall]

Hi George,

There's no problem with asking for help if you have a good idea. We do get asked quite often to make things for commercial projects and it's down to individuals as to whether they are interested separately from makerspace.

I'm afraid I won't be able to help you on this occasion as I know nothing about apps but I am intrigued to know what the project is. I appreciate you probably don't publish your idea on here though.

Cheers

Iain.

[Drew Watson]

I am a Java developer with Android experience, if you wan't any help just give me a shout and I will pitch in to the project. I would suggest setting up a private repo on bitbucket to host the code then you can invite people to join in. If you want I can send you an invite, the repositories for code are free.

[George Jackson]

Hi guys, thanks for your input. Could everyone who is at least sufficiently curious to know more please email me directly? The exact details are of course not something that can be talked about on an open public forum and there will be some requirement to meet IP standards etc. But please don't let this discourage you, as this really is just a standard legal requirement. If you don't do it you expose yourself to all kinds of potential difficulties further down the line.

I know in the interim this will require that you invest a little faith. But I don't see a problem with investing a little bit of faith now and then.  This is after all about fostering innovation.

Just get back to me with a short email telling me what kind of experience you have and why this might be useful and I'm sure we can chat.

There's no point too much posting on the list (although I may bump it once ir twice over the next week or so just to keep it alive) as there is clearly little that can be achieved here.

George

[Dan Nixon]

I second Drew's idea, it seems the easiest way to get anywhere with it.

If you did that it would be worth adding some documentation on there as to what the app does, it's features, etc. (in text or markdown, I can't stand people using binary files for documentation on a version control system).

From my standing I'm not looking to be "involved" in the project so the speak, I'm just about if you need any specific technical help.

I'm not that interested in what the app is actually for, but I would be willing to help if you have a problem implementing a specific part of it.

Dan

On Tuesday, 6 May 2014 13:03:53 UTC+1, Drew Watson wrote:

[George Jackson]

Thanks Dan. But I might need a little bit more input than a bit of background input. Also it clearly isn't sensible to print details of what a brand new innovative product does on a public forum in the absence of any form of IP protection, as clearly this would render the idea worthless from the get go. (Indeed it would do so legally also). I do have some experience with IP and various small projects of my own in this past.

I appreciate you may not wish to become directly involved. But it might be worth considering first what you may be turning down. If you materially have everything you could possibly wish for, then this is of course a wise decision.

The decision is yours and whomever else might be curious and hungry enough to help potentially make something rather new and exciting happen. As I said all I need is 10 minutes of your time (face to face preferably) and if you aren't won over by the end of this, then there's nothing lost and nothing gained.

George

On Monday, 5 May 2014 17:42:11 UTC+1, George Jackson wrote:

[George Jackson]

I'm afraid talk of development methodologies is a little alien to me. I messed about with Linux several years ago quite extensively and am familiar with the CVS repository system, but I quit on the basis that I needed a quicker and simpler way to do things. I can certainly learn - and also learn how to use what I presume is a repository type system, but a face to face chat first with any potentially interested parties would be a rather crucial initial requirement I think. As I said drop me a line and we can at least start a small private chat.

[George Jackson]

Does anyone know of a similar list to this in the North East devoted exclusively to developers, or those interested in software design? It would seem odd if there was no forum of this kind.

I think this is probably the hardest part of this task, which is finding a developer and persuading someone to listen. (You might think persuading people to listen would be easier particularly when there may be a great deal to gain, but evidently it isn't.) I don't imagine the rest will be plain sailing either, but I suspect if I can get over this hurdle it will be a great deal of fun.

[Alistair MacDonald]

Hi George (and everyone else),

I did receive your direct email but I generally if an email will take
more than a minute to read and reply to meaningfully it gets put on
the back burner until I have a moment spare. I hope to get a reply off
later today.

Alistair



On 6 May 2014 00:22, George Jackson <rai...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Can you please email me directly Alistair? Clearly this isn't something that
> can happen on a public forum, or without proper IP/Confidentiality contracts
> in place. But I'm certain I can tempt you if you have the right experience.
>
> ATM I'm not really even looking for money, but that will come at some point
> I am certain. I am more interested in anyone who is able to assess the
> proposal and work on putting a rough proof of concept together.
> Design/polish and money are hopefully something that can be worked on later.
>
> I can't tell you much about the idea ATM, but it was one of those 'fall off
> you seat' type moments. An idea born out of a common and a not well catered
> for necessity as it were. I believe you have my email address from previous
> contacts.As an update for you, or any other potentially interested party,
> you can reach me most easily at jebus...@gmail.com

>
>
> On Monday, 5 May 2014 17:42:11 UTC+1, George Jackson wrote:
>>

[TonyD]

>finding a developer and persuading someone to listen

Gordon, I wish you luck with your idea and hope you succeed with it but if I've some advice (hoping I'm not trying to tell my grandmother how to suck eggs) it would to first spend some time and preparation on how to communicate the idea.

I'm sure you already done something but spending some time on preparing and managing the idea process will pay dividends later

So, some things you might consider...

Illustrate your idea: Sketches, drawings, story boards, use stories, photos, mock-ups

Learning Objectives: What will be communicated?

Behavioural Objective(s): How will users be impacted in the long term?

How innovative is it?
In general:
- It's everywhere
- it's becoming popular
- It's been done a few times
- it's never been done before
For us?:
- We've done this before
- We've designed something similar
- We've planned something like this
- We've never done the likes before

Hurdles: Potential or foreseen issues

Effort Required
- Creative
- Technical
- Budget


hope this helps in some small way.

Tony

[George Jackson]

That's no problem Alistair. You seem like a good sort to potentially have on board. And Tony that is all excellent advice too. However we are at a very preliminary stage ATM and we are having a meeting next week (hooking up at the space first and then sloping off to hammer out some details as it were). This might be a good time to go over some of the points you raised.

It's frustrating I can't say what the idea entails. But I can at least hint that it has something to do with finance and credit - and a way to potentially allow employers to both save and make a great deal of money. It is I think a very big pie in other words. Hopefully this will become evident at our meeting.