Sunday, September 13, 2009

Joel Spolsky's Talk on Being Number One (Business of Software)

Can be viewed here. Some main points I captured from the presentation:
  • Make people happy.
    • Put the user in control.
    • Positive feedback.
  • Obsess over aesthetics.
    • Skins are not the answer.
    • Modernist architecture is not the answer (decadence is still important in the software industry).
    • Not the same as being pretty; capture and convey some message or theme.
  • Observe the culture code.
    • If necessary, define one and develop it.
    • Care about it, embrace it.