February 16, 2010, at 10:23 AM
Logbook /

20100216

We understand that writing a book or an article is worth what people will pay for it, and it very much depends upon what you write and who you ask to buy your writing. We understand that people value a drawing for the emotion it evokes or the information that it conveys. But there seems to be an implicit assumption on the part of a number of software engineers that software development is an intrinsically valuable activity in and of itself. I don't think it's any different than the ability to write or draw: it depends on how people will make use of it. And figuring that out unfortunately requires customer development not more software development.
-- Sean Murphy here

It is a very interesting read about customer development for the software kind. The last paragraph stroke a chord. There is no mention of selling by artists. I happen to have 3 artists in my family and believe me it is very much part of their everyday concerns. It may not influence their work to the same extent than a programmer but it is nevertheless there. Walking the fine line between selling and selling out is tricky and difficult I guess.

Reminds me of the many discussions (should I say arguments) I have had with my father in the past about value. I guess my position was that there is a lot more to value than money i.e. customers and he seemed to me to be a strong proponent of the "without money there is no value" position. I still find it difficult to weigh the pleasure of doing against the financial value of the product/service delivered.

I think COlivri is valuable if only for its unachieved purpose and the experience of giving it life. From a financial perspective it is just another failure though :P

Maybe related, I have been thinking about loss aversion lately. What is the value of a Sector 9 Skateboard sitting unused in our little house ... less clutter in my life.

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