Do we have a defined process?

A few days back, I was at a lunch with my team, discussing day to day activities at the company. My company is a products company involved in developing mobile banking applications.

Mobile applications development is an interesting and complex one, considering the variety of platforms (operating systems), form factors and companies involved. Optimizing user interface experience for the user is a critical factor deciding the success of the product.

Now we as developers we expecting a well defined set of process for certain things like security, user interface and blah blah… That started of an interesting discussion.

Since we are developing a new product, there is no benchmark for what we need to do and how we need to achieve it. The product keeps evolving; I myself know how much we have evolved in the past 1 year when we started off to where we are now. There is no defined path/process in a startup. Different people will come up with different ideas on different things. For some things like security, things will get clear, but for some other things like UI and various functionalities we as developers, have completely no control. Some things could be solved by consulting domain experts but ultimately the user will decide the things. The out come of this discussion was, don’t expect things to be defined. The development is a continuous process – a regenerative one. Probably the real development could actually start when the customer gets his hands on the product.

A recent article published by a mobile development expert stated that – “To develop a simple mobile application in 5 languages for 50 different phones, it would require around 7500 builds, averaging around $ 2500 per build”. A scary scenario indeed.

Speak Up!!!

“First they came for the Communists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Communist.
Then they came for the Social Democrats,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Social Democrat.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists,
and I didn’t speak up,
because I wasn’t a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up,
because I wasn't a Jew,
Then they came for me,
and by that time there was no one
left to speak up for me.”

Pastor Martin Neimoller's – on why we should speak up against injustice even when it don’t really affect us and on the importance of free speech. Neimoller was a Protestant German Christian who had supported Nazis initially but eventually ended up in one of their concentrations camps. He was fortunate enough to have been freed.

Pseudo Women Empowerment

"This is a victory for the principles which our Indian people uphold" – President Prathiba Patil.

I am a bit worried about what principles she is actually talking off. Now that she is the President, all we can hope is she keeps up the values that our outgoing President Dr APJ Kalam had brought to this office.

Political parties specially the UPA alliance has been talking about this as a victory for women’s right. I am indeed very happy to have a lady President. But if a lady President was selected on the basis of principles, contributions to the society, rather than loyalty to some person or family, I would have been happier.

All this apart two other incidents concerning women in India, happened this week

• Discovery of more than 30 female fetuses dumped in wells

• Kiran Bedi not being offered the post of Delhi’s commissioner

More than 30 female fetuses each packed in polythene bags were found in Orissa. A reminder of how female infanticide is still so persistent in India, even after having so many laws against the same. I am really shocked to write anything about this. Probably dowry is the single most import cause for this epidemic (if I can say so). Will we ever see an end to this horrific practice? I am certainly not prepared to read one more article by some council in UK about 20 million girl children being killed by Indian parents.

Kiran Bedi, India’s first IPS office, a person with impeccable character and background, recognized and honored internationally, an excellent reformer, was denied the post of the Commissioner of Delhi Police. Another example of male domination or just that other “babus” believed that they couldn’t handle her. Mrs Bedi was over looked though she was the senior most person for the post. Certain newspapers even reported statements by the people in the government stating that she was too radical and out spoken for the post.

On one side UPA talks of women empowerment by electing females to ceremonial posts and steps back when actual empowerment is considered. Female infanticide can lead to a lot of social problems; a skewed sex ratio will lead to a lot of social unrest and increase atrocities and crime against women. The issue of 33% reservation for women has also had a silent death.

Trek to Kalavara Betta

Its been a few weeks since I had been to this place. I am writing this so that if you happen to read it and plan to go there don’t make the mistake we did.

I had read a lot about this place. This place is so strategically placed that, if you reach the top, you will just be above the cloud level, and you get to see the clouds/fog form the top. I had seen wonderful pictures, and was expecting a similar experience. To my disappointment I didn’t get to see any of this. The blunder we made was, we started climbing late, at around 8:30 in the morning. Also this is was not the ideal time to visit this place. However you could still get a good experience if you start your trek the previous night and reach the top before sunrise.

As we were climbing, we meet a lot of people getting down. Probably a few would have been laughing at us for starting so late. A few of them whom we talked told us about the wonderful sunrise they had seen. Most of them had gone there the previous night itself and spent the night on the top. I am sure it would have been a great experience.

6 of us, packed into one car, left Bangalore at 7:00AM and reached there around 8:30 (we could have reached there much earlier if Mr Nag had handed the wheel to someone else). At around 8:40 we started climbing. The sun was kind on us. The first 20-25 minutes everyone where just trying to race each other. After that we climbed for 5 minutes and rested for 10 minutes. I will take around 1:45 to 2 hours to reach to the top.

The fort

As we reach the top we cross an old fort. One of my uncles (grandmother’s younger brother) latter told me that the construction of this fort was started by Hyder Ali and completed by Tipu Sultan. My uncle during his childhood days, it seams used to go grazing cattle all the way up to this fort when they had holidays. The fort is pretty impressive and strategically placed. The stone walls are quite impressive considering the height at which they are built.

The temple

At the top you will also find an old temple. It’s the temple of Lord Ganesh. Its very simple, with just a single room and the Lord placed at one end. You will find a Nandi opposite the temple. Interesting because, you generally find a Nandi in front of a Shiva Temple.

The scenery and the winds

At the top the winds are extremely powerful. If you jump, probably you could be pushed off a bit. On the southern side you get a wonderful view of the Nandi hills and the steep “Tipu drop”. On the eastern side you get to see the whole of Chikballapur town and National Highway 7. To the northern and western side we can see a lot of other hills and forests between them.

Mistake you shouldn’t make if you plan to visit this place

The best time of the year to go here would in the winter season between Nov to Feb. You will get a wonderful view of the fog/clouds from the top. It would be ideal to climb at night. A full moon night would be perfect but then expect a huge crowd – which actually is better considering security. Start your climb around 12:00 AM. You will need a lot of water and a few packets of snacks will certainly help you. You won’t find any of them once you start your climb. Carry lots of lighter/match sticks and collect a few dry wood as you trek. However I doubt how successful you will be in starting a bonfire considering the heavy winds. It could get a bit cold on the top, so you may want to carry a jersey.

Beer bottles

You will be appalled to see the number of empty beer bottles and plastics thrown around. Do take care not to add to this. It’s a wonderful place.

Other Details

Location:

Kalavara Betta, Chikballapur

How to get there:

Take NH7 from Bangalore and proceed towards Chikaballapur(58 Km from Hebbal). Once you reach the town, at the Sir M Vishveshvaraiah Cricle take a left. Proceed in this narrow lane leading you outside the town to reach the Omkareshwara Ashrama – around 6-7 KM from the town. You will have walk from this point on.

Best time to visit:

Nov to Feb