martin_e

I am investigating options for the development of industrial control software that will have to run on a ruggedized network-connected tablet PC. None of this requires hard real-time control. It isn't a machine controller. It's a scheduler for a specific set of applications. It has access to sensors and can issue commands to cause equipment to activate or change states. Also, this isn't a situation where people could get hurt if the software fails. However, it could cause business losses or production halts.

Developing on Windows is easy for a range of reasons. Customers have people who can work with Windows, which means supporting them can be easier. My greatest concern with Windows are unwanted automatic updates. I think Windows IoT edition might bring this under control. Not sure. Also, I need to call a sales rep to understand their pricing/licensing model.

The fear isn't reboots. That's not a problem. It's the potential for an update causing our application to stop working correctly.

The alternatives are, of course, Linux and Android.

At that point we have to consider a multi-platform approach to development.

The one requirement is that it has to be a compiled language. The application-specific source cannot be open for a range of reasons, one of them being potential exposure to liability if source is modified and something goes horribly wrong. That leaves out frameworks that are web-centric JS/Python based.

The options I have considered include:

Qt: I am not comfortable with their licensing models and very slimy process. I watched a video presentation where the presenter broke down the license terms and highlighted deceitful language designed to make you believe you have to pay them money. Not for me.

Uno Platform: C# is fine. I's prefer C++, but that's just me. Being able to use .Net UI components sounds like a potential plus. Don't need much, buttons, sliders, menus, graphs, etc.

.Net MAUI does not support Linux. Other than that, possibly interesting. It does support Android.

Xamarin: No Linux but it does do Android. C# & .Net

Kotlin. Interesting. Java. No.

Wondering if anyone who may have walked this path might have something to share. Thanks.

Invites are supposed to go out today.

We applied to S2020 with a COVID-19 hardware startup a while back.

Our videos show zero incremental views since our application was submitted. Just wondering if this indicates some sort of automated or manual filtering based on the text portion of the application or if you are not done and we can expect to be given a look in the next few days because you are running behind (due to, sadly enough, COVID-19 issues).

We have been working non-stop on our project, self funding all of it. We are prepared to continue even without YC support. We have formed manufacturing partnerships and have contacted hundreds of potential customers.

Just wondering about the YC process.

Thanks.

EDIT: Just to add to the story...

We are moving forward on our own and haven't been waiting for investors at all. Our project is likely to end-up in the news by the end of May (hopefully because we booked orders). We were also asked by the White House to submit technology details. So...we are moving forward, which is good.

Don't ask me what we are doing. We are going to remain stealth for as long as possible. Of course, if YC knocks on the door and we accept that will change to the degree necessary.

Continuing to look for ideas on what to advise my university-bound kid (going for CS) to focus on learning over the summer. The idea is to provide him with a way to have access to work above minimum wage by investing the summer coding.

In the context of a young person starting out, which of the various full stack technologies would provide the most opportunities and earning potential (part time/gig type work)?

I use Python/Django but not sure this would be the best given the stated goals. From a CS perspective it would probably be best for him to get really good at Python. Maybe that's reason enough to take that path?

Is there a nice (and reasonably lucrative) Wordpress-centric work ecosystem out there? Would that be a good thing to focus on rather than traditional full stack development? Or is WP development dominated by offshore programmers?

My kid got accepted to both Worcester Polytechnic Institute and University of Massachusetts Amherst. His interest lies in AI, Machine Learning, Data Science and Robotics.

I'd appreciate opinion on which of the two might make a better choice for these fields and why.

Thanks.

Looking at ideas for my college-bound kid who's going for a CS degree.

The idea is for him to invest the summer on something that will give him access to a higher earning potential for part time or freelance work.

The extent of his experience is having done the MIT "Computational Problem Solving with Python" course on EDx. He applied some of it to minor problems, including doing some Euler Project and his FRC robotics team. No real web dev experience. Some playing around with HTML, etc., nothing serious. No Linux experience.

Yes, I know, not the best starting point. Not the worst either.

What to do over the summer?

One thought was to send him to a good coding bootcamp and have him invest three months at high intensity learning full stack development.

The other option is to have him dive into a bunch of Udemy and EDx courses under my guidance and supervision.

I don't have the option of tutoring him full time. My plate is full with business responsibilities. What I can do is provide support, guidance and be available for questions, etc.

I don't mind spending the money on a bootcamp if it fulfills the stated goal of allowing him to have access to higher paying part-time or freelance gigs. The theory being that he will be able to earn more in less time and, therefore, focus on his CS studies. Without this kind of a push forward I can't see him earning anything more than minimum wage at essentially entry level clerical or service jobs.

I also considered the idea of him not going to university immediately. Go to a bootcamp, get a job in web development, live at home, put away a bunch of money, learn a ton and go to school in a year. In this regard, I wonder how schools like Stanford or MIT would view such a decision and the experience accumulated during that year.

I'd appreciate any input on this. Thanks.