Still going

Some setbacks with my Facebook app means it's still not ready ... but it's very close. I was having drama's on the live web server. Most of the issues are because I'm using Java and Struts2. I could have taken the easy way out and run the whole app in an iFrame, but if in future I want an FBML app then I'd need to go through this pain, so I may as well do it now. Besides, using FBML allows me to leverage the Facebook look and feel, which makes the app look that much more professional and a part of the platform.

I'm thinking I have a day or two to go with this app, then I'll turn my attention back to MLTA to finish off a couple of bits and get it deployed for Beta. I also have to do a website for SCV and a few other bits and pieces associated with that. When those are out of the way, I might write an eBook on Facebook apps using Java, Struts2, Spring and Hibernate. Maybe.

Facebook-a-gogo!!

I've written my first Facebook app tonight, and after I worked out the kinks, it's all running pretty smoothly. I should be able to learn a lot from this, and so the next app I write will be a lot easier and quicker (though writing an app in one night isn't bad :). Of course, when I say app it's really a kind of simple portlet, with a component for the user, and then some text displayed on the profile page.

The Facebook api has been out a little while, though I've only recently got involved. I read on TechCrunch that a Facebook app recently sold for US$3m ... not bad!! I can see why though; if you write a useful app that gets a few million users, thats some valuable eyeballs to someone out there.

My app still needs a bit of polish, plus it needs to go on the live server, all of which I will do tomorrow night. I will probably also stick some Google ads down the bottom of the user page .. just in case ;)

Opposites

Starting up a tech business is my "night job". My real job is as a Solutions Architect for a software company, and the 2 roles couldn't be more different. Real job is slow moving, steady, and very large in scope, whereas being an entrepreneur is the complete opposite: you need to be very agile, small scale and fast to implement. The steady income is with RealJob, but there is way more upside with being an entrepreneur, even if a big payout never comes.

Starting up various ventures gives many personal rewards above and beyond anything RealJob could offer. There's the excitement factor, the feeling of being involved in a new frontier (Web 2.0) as opposed to "just another software system". There's also the immense feeling of satisfaction and gratification in seeing an idea make it all the way onto the web. Above all though, being an entrepreneur is about constantly challenging yourself, then rising up to meet it, rather than just plodding along doing the same things that were done 10 years ago.

What's in a name

Just a quick post ... we've been trying to come up with a name for our new umbrella company, and it's almost impossible!! The problem isn't cool names, it's uniqueness, which again goes back to the web domain name problem as well as a legal one I guess. Oh well, maybe my 2 year old daughter will utter something that will catch on ...

Company structure

We've decided on a company structure. A hybrid trust owning all the assets of MLTA, with us owning equal units in the trust. This way, we can sell off MLTA and not pay the usual company tax of 30%, but rather get taxed at our marginal rates. The reason for following this path is that the intent is to sell MLTA, not to earn an income from it. The most likely outcome (for any new web venture really) is that we generate a fair amount of traffic then get bought out by a large media company that can really leverage the advertising dollars. There's no point slogging away making a few bucks; the focus needs to be on quickly and cheaply building traffic and selling. The trust will also help us start any other businesses (I have loads of ideas :) and easily sell them too, without having to go through the hassle of setting up a company for each idea. This is especially cool because it reduces the cost of failure.

A subscriber!!

I've had my blog listed with Feedburner for a few weeks and have always come up with a big fat Zero for subscribers. However, Blogger has recently added some functionality to redirect every feed through Feedburner if the blogger so desires, which I have done. And guess what? I have a subscriber!! One, single subscriber. So. of course I am wondering which one of my friends you are ... so please leave a comment and say 'Hi' ;)

In other news, MLTA is pretty much ready for Beta. The idea is to target two very small areas in Brisbane, and see how things go. Once we've studied the numbers and feedback, we'll either be able to roll out on our own, or at least know how much we will need to raise in VC funds (or similar) to get penetration. Or, of course, we'll know if we've got a flop on our hands; but at least we'll know before we've invested tons of money we don't have.

Remember the ...

Ideas have been popping into my brain thick and fast these days, so much so that it's a struggle to keep going with MLTA. I am staying focussed however, devoting 100% of my at home work time.

I have started using Remember The Milk. It's a cool kind of ToDo list, all ajaxed up. I particularly like it because I can list my ideas down as tasks, and even add a little note, so that I can get back to them whenever. Two big plusses: All my ideas are in the one place (instead of onvarious bits of paper around the house and at RealJob) and I can access it from my mobile. This will let me jot in simple ideas, usually a domain name which reminds me of the idea. Brilliant, and of course it's all free.

I have also finished another Seth Godin book called "The Dip" which is as always excellent. It has really made me rethink not only my short term strategies for things, but also to take a slightly longer view. I'm debating the wisdom of staying in Australia; everything seems to be happening in the US. y wife and I would like to settle in Canada one day, so maybe a few years in Silicon Valley may be just what the doctor ordered. If MLTA is a flop, I'll probably push on to the US and try and get a RealJob over there before starting any new ideas, if it's a mild success we will probably use the money to move to the US and continue down the path on startups, and if it goes huge we'll move to Vancouver :)