XXaXX SoftWare

IndieAuctions.Com Recently I took the plunge and started work on auction software. The software is coming along fine. In spite of the never ending array of "wish I could add this" type of features the software is sufficiently ready for "field testing". To this aim I've selected a couple dozen websites from the many who have requested to help test.

These "guinea pig" webmasters were selected based upon several criteria.

Willingness to be a guinea pig.
An understanding of what it means to be a field tester.
- If something can go wrong it probably will.
- If something goes wrong it usually goes wrong in the worst possible way.
- Never put all your eggs in an experimental basket.
A definite degree of going with the flow. When software is being "field-tested" things can and will go wacky from time to time.
Willingness to sign and abide by a NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement).
A driving self-initiated interest in their own website.
- Turns out it's impossible to work with an individual in testing who isn't active. The more a testing partner is interested in making his or her site work and flourish the better the testing partner.
- If someone isn't trying to do anything in particular it's hard to notice when it's not happening according to plan.
The ability to play and work well with others.

So far we have been lucky enough to assemble a great bunch of guys and gals. Which is nice. Since one of the rules that I must insist upon for "field-testing" purposes is: "If someone gets to be a headache they is bumped from the team." That means software is returned and the bumped he or she goes about his or her business.

Since the software is being provided free of charge during this "field-test" phase, and since I'm spending many hours a week doing support and spending hours in communication with the various "field-testers" it's only fair that when the cost of allowing a particular person on the team is higher than any benefit his or her participation can generate out the door they go. They gets the ol' boot as it were. If this seems way too unfair then this "field-testing" thing may not be your cup of tea. Just let the cup pass. Move along, nothing to see here, move along.

Am I arbitrary and capricious? You bet. But since it's my software and I really want to develop it into something quite grand I feel I'm allowed to be a bit arbitray -- and even capricious.

By the way, in case you are wondering, all of the "field-testers" are given a free site license for the software after this development phase is over. I figure that will be in about a year.

For me this is a kind of hunt for the Holy Grail. I'm looking for an auction software package which any normal standard non-super-geekoid regular kind of guy or gal can run.

Let's face it most of us still think a hard-drive is a road with lots of pot-holes and a processor is the guy that gives you a court summons.

As a special favor to some of my "field-testers" who have put their websites up for sale, I've allowed as they can pass the auction software on to the purchaser of the domain name -- just as long as the purchaser is willing to abide by the basic "field-tester" rules. Hence the purchaser will need to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement and not be some flaming a.... unpleasant type person.

So far it seems like everyone I've met on this little adventure has been great. If all goes according to pattern any domain purchaser should be just as decent a sort. All in all everything is moving along great.

By the way, the SBO (Sudden Bid Overtime) feature and the FBW (First Bid Wins) feature have been introduced. These should dramatically help the growth of niche auctions.

For a good sample of the software check out IndieAuctions.Com -- the first auction site a boy builds always holds a special place in the heart.