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So you want to be a Web African programmer?
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April 21, 2003 (8:00:00 AM)
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- Guido Sohne -
Accra, Ghana - Working as a software developer in Web Africa can be a trying experience. I remember the days when, less than two months into starting a new company, we had to endure the infamous "load-shedding" -- a practice of cutting off electricity to whole sections of the city in order to conserve power. Never mind that you need electricity to work and you need to work to eat. Nowadays things are much better -- they just cut off electricity without any warning whatsoever or the power fluctuates crazily and the electricity corporation thinks that is entirely normal. We just have to make saving every five minutes a habit as well as run journalled EXT3 filesystems that won't corrupt data even if the power browns out 5 times an hour...
Accra, Ghana - Working as a software developer in Web Africa can be a trying experience. I remember the days when, less than two months into starting a new company, we had to endure the infamous "load-shedding" -- a practice of cutting off electricity to whole sections of the city in order to conserve power. Never mind that you need electricity to work and you need to work to eat. Nowadays things are much better -- they just cut off electricity without any warning whatsoever or the power fluctuates crazily and the electricity corporation thinks that is entirely normal. We just have to make saving every five minutes a habit as well as run journalled EXT3 filesystems that won't corrupt data even if the power browns out 5 times an hour...
I can't believe the Californians complained about rolling blackouts!!
Some people have it good! There are so many things that are taken for granted in more developed countries that it is hard to imagine the environment that exists in Web Africa. Let's take labor supply for instance, if you are going to run a software company you basically have three choices:
-
Hunt around for really good programmers. Sell your mother to keep them because that is what
you will have to do if you want these prima-donnas to stay. Good luck!!! These guys are all
fantasizing about being Bill Gates and if you don't look like Bill and have a pocket like Bill...
Good luck!!! I'll be seeing you on the other side, where the
grass is greener.
-
Process literally tons of resumes. Each month a horde of new programmers, freshly trained out
of NIIT come with impressive looking syllabuses, certificates etc. claiming skills in Java, C++,
COM, Oracle, SQL, HTML and MS Office. The problem is that, though the syllabus looks good and
would be a good starting point for being a software developer in apprenticeship, the teachers
spend hardly any time with the students. They just churn students through the institution and
probably can't keep up with the demand for certificates.
Bottom line: These guys are less than half-baked and cannot do productive work. Not when you don't want to lose the client. And the government wants some Indian company to invest into this sort of thing to the tune of over $1,000,000? God help us all.
-
The last choice is probably the most ludicrous. You have to teach them how to code. I mean you
find smart people, hire them off the street and teach them how to write programs. What's wrong
with this? I mean, we are trying to make a profit developing software but we find ourselves
running a school where we pay our students... Good joke!! But seriously, this is what you have
to do if you want to make your business work. Ask S.O.F.T if you don't believe me. One approach
has been to divide the problem into a library that does the hard part, and code donkeys who do
the tedious part. It works, no doubt about it. But it results in poor applications. Very
inefficient designs. No innovation. The same way of doing things every time.
There's no substitute for a good programmer. And what choice do you have when you can't find many good programmers? This is not a vicious cycle. Far from it. It's a malicious environment. Survival of the fittest, survival being the operative word.
Ahh, the life in Web Africa ... we better head over to the beach before we explode in frustration or die from a stress-induced heart attack.
Well, you made it!!! You became a Web African programmer!!
Congratulations!!! Let's break out the champagne. You are now one of the few genuine programmers around. You know what you can do; you know you love computers; you know you love the life of a techie. Your only problem is that you really have to hunt for other techies. They are always behind their computers, or working somewhere obscure, happy being bathed in the cold glow of a CRT display.
So you hit upon a bright idea ... Let's find a job!! I mean, I have da skillz to pay da billz so why not work for someone who can bring in all the interesting problems and just focus on solving the problems?
[One year later]
After writing yet another program, you just get fed up. I mean, what happened to all those bonuses that you were promised? Why aren't you riding in a nice flashy car like all the managers? In fact, how come the managers have so many nice cars and you are so poor? I thought I was doing good work!!!
I don't plan to live my life earning less than $300 a month.
[You hear a little voice in your head ...]
Welcome to the real world, buddy!! Let me explain things to you, you simply have to understand. You're a big fish in a small pond. There's not enough water to go round, so sorry if you are feeling a little uncomfortable. After a few more years, your body will get used to it and you will become a small fish, much more comfortable you know ...
And don't forget buddy, there are only two ponds in town. If you get lucky a third pond will be opened next year. As they say, it is a buyers market -- where the buyer is the man who gives you your paycheck. A small industry means there are few players and fewer choices. The people who want software developed only know about the one or two big guys. Forget that you can also do it, have fewer overheads and it will be much cheaper. Forget that you also need to grow. Remember, it's a small pond and there are only two of them in town.
[Meanwhile, you come back to your senses...]
You think upon this for a while and quietly backup your email, sending them to a web archive. You're outta here, buddy. It was nice working here but life goes on. Maybe things will work out, but they sure aren't working out here.
So you want to start your own business, huh?Back in the streets, you decide to make a go of it on your own. Perhaps you can find other Web Africans who are on their way up this game of Snakes and Ladders. It would be good to help these young ones avoid the Snakes and find the Ladders.
Your only problem? How do you pay these guys? Where are the clients? How do you break into the corporate market?
The life of a Web African. Perhaps you should contribute towards the brain drain. I mean you could be earning $100,000 dollars a year but here you are, making less than $5000 dollars a year. Programmers are supposed to be smart, so how did you land yourself in this situation?
The Holy GrailOne day, one day, one day you will be able to work for clients overseas. It's a digital economy and software ships so easily. That's got to be the answer. Stay a Web African, but don't let it get the better of you...
The Moral Of The StoryIt's not easy being a Web African. Don't give up. The future of the Web African software industry lies in enabling the scattered bunches of individual hobbyist programmers. Those people who would be coding even if it didn't pay because that is what they like doing. People like that should be given a chance, should be given work to do, encouraged to stick it out. When there are enough programmers around and working as a programmer is a viable occupation that can buy a car and build a house, the industry will have grown up.
Until then, it is dog eat dog -- monkey go work, baboon go chop...
[ the curtain falls, audience applauds ]
Guido Sohne describes himself thusly: "A hired assassin contracted by unnamed conspirators, companies and people to 'solve software problems' in efficient ways. You gotta problem, I kill it." The above article was previously published, in a slightly different form, on Guido's site.Comments
on So you want to be a Web African programmer?Note: Comments are owned by the poster. We are not responsible for their content.
hi,
i wonder where you can get this days one hundred thousand dollars for coding... or for anything else related with information technology [*]
[*] being the c.e.o of a company that hires techies is not a valid answer. carrying out illegal activities is not a valid answer either.
regards,
from the united states
p.s.: everything is in lower caps and numbers are spelled out as it's the only way to pass the "lameness filter". please, someone check it, as it's very annoying. thank you.
i wonder where you can get this days one hundred thousand dollars for coding... or for anything else related with information technology [*]
[*] being the c.e.o of a company that hires techies is not a valid answer. carrying out illegal activities is not a valid answer either.
regards,
from the united states
p.s.: everything is in lower caps and numbers are spelled out as it's the only way to pass the "lameness filter". please, someone check it, as it's very annoying. thank you.
I actually just applied for an IT job that pays ~$120,000/year. Plus some other very nice bonuses (like free car/gas/maintenance, as it requires a lot of travel between buildings).
Companies that understand what their computer systems are worth pay the right amount. Those that don't understand, well, they'll end up going out of business sooner or later.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;-)
Companies that understand what their computer systems are worth pay the right amount. Those that don't understand, well, they'll end up going out of business sooner or later.<nobr> <wbr></nobr>;-)
Or they use contract labor... #$%^&*! I have no respect for those who can't respect their workers enough to take responsability for them, and hope their oh-so-sacred bottom lines all fall through the floor!
Maybe I'm a 'commy' or the equivalent Republican buzzword label, but I think employers have just as much of a resonsability to show their value to an employee as we do to them. Our responsability is well defined, but employers responsabilities have only been getting more and more eroded, and the contract labor *industry* has been a big part of that, in my possibly jaded opinion.
End rant...
Maybe I'm a 'commy' or the equivalent Republican buzzword label, but I think employers have just as much of a resonsability to show their value to an employee as we do to them. Our responsability is well defined, but employers responsabilities have only been getting more and more eroded, and the contract labor *industry* has been a big part of that, in my possibly jaded opinion.
End rant...
If you can't spell 'commie'(communist) then you probably are one...
"those big corprite basterds! there keeping the commen man down! power to the paeple!!"
see also:useful idiot
"those big corprite basterds! there keeping the commen man down! power to the paeple!!"
see also:useful idiot
Oh. You *APPLIED" for the job, eh?
Don't be suprised when (no, make that IF) the offer comes back for $80K... or $70K... or maybe $58K...
Times are tough for tech workers in America right now. Employers make ridiculously low offers and still are filling cubes. Never mind that the four cubes next to the one just filled are empty......
Don't be suprised when (no, make that IF) the offer comes back for $80K... or $70K... or maybe $58K...
Times are tough for tech workers in America right now. Employers make ridiculously low offers and still are filling cubes. Never mind that the four cubes next to the one just filled are empty......
And they get what they pay for.
I can not, will not, work for less than 100k/an.
And I most certainly shall produce more for my
employer than any two hacks who will take 50k/an.
your an ass, if your such hot shit why are you looking for a job
Some people need to learn to stfu. Who cares if you can't be a programmer in Africa? Herd goats or move to the States. Why is it people think that other people care about their stupid little problems? "Waaa, I can't get a lucrative job in my crap hole of a country, waaa!!" Jesus Christ, how much can a ticket to the US cost?
Lets see - then why doesn't the entire world move to the US? it would just cost them a ticket. - Then where would the rest of the world be? Maybe some people prefer staying where their families are, where they grew up, hoping to make their home country a better place to live, so they won't have these problems. I have to say I appreciate these people trying to stick it out and make it work. They show more guts and intellegence then your little "Boo Hoo" attitude ever will.
"They show more guts and intellegence then your little "Boo Hoo" attitude ever will."
Actually, no...they're too scared or stupid to look for better things in life.
99.99% of the people I know who stayed "where their families are, where they grew up, hoping to make their home country a better place to live" are living in abject poverty...the other<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.01% opened a bar.
If, however, you DO expand your horizons and look around, and find that where you live is better off than other places, then obviously the sane choice is to stay where you are.
We owe the expansion of science, freedom, EVERYTHING to people who went out of their caves and looked for opportunities.
But hey, if you want to stay where you are because "my daddy and his daddy b'fore" stayed there, go ahead...just don't expect me to ignore my eyes and believe it's paradise just 'cause you say so
Actually, no...they're too scared or stupid to look for better things in life.
99.99% of the people I know who stayed "where their families are, where they grew up, hoping to make their home country a better place to live" are living in abject poverty...the other<nobr> <wbr></nobr>.01% opened a bar.
If, however, you DO expand your horizons and look around, and find that where you live is better off than other places, then obviously the sane choice is to stay where you are.
We owe the expansion of science, freedom, EVERYTHING to people who went out of their caves and looked for opportunities.
But hey, if you want to stay where you are because "my daddy and his daddy b'fore" stayed there, go ahead...just don't expect me to ignore my eyes and believe it's paradise just 'cause you say so
What an unfortunately naive statement.
I don't disagree that one's options are much greater if you open them up to the larger world, but you can't wantonly devalue culture and tradition. These contribute to quality of life, just as a broader awareness of options and a better fiscal reality can.
In America, this is harder to be aware of, in part because pretty much everybody's family left somewhere to come here, and because Americans (arguably) don't have a well developed local culture.
In Ghana, there has been a way of life so different that many of your basic assumptions on how to live, and what is valuable cannot be taken for granted.
I don't disagree that one's options are much greater if you open them up to the larger world, but you can't wantonly devalue culture and tradition. These contribute to quality of life, just as a broader awareness of options and a better fiscal reality can.
In America, this is harder to be aware of, in part because pretty much everybody's family left somewhere to come here, and because Americans (arguably) don't have a well developed local culture.
In Ghana, there has been a way of life so different that many of your basic assumptions on how to live, and what is valuable cannot be taken for granted.
I enjoyed reading this article, so who are you to determine what is worthy of my time or not?
>Some people need to learn to stfu.
Exactly, so why don't you?
>Some people need to learn to stfu.
Exactly, so why don't you?
I enjoyed the article too.
Re: other posts: Contrary to popular belief in the U.S., there are a lot of good people the government does not let come here. My wife is from China, so I've seen some of what goes on here.
If you want to go to school in the U.S. you have to be accepted at a university *before* you can get even get a visa to come here and do it.
Since sometime in the Clinton administration, if you did not have enough "binding ties" to your country of origin, i.e., a house, a spouse, a bank account, the U.S. will not even issue you a tourist visa to *visit*, out of an unrealistic fear, imho, that you'll stay in the U.S. illegally.
So, "how much can a ticket to the US cost" is not an answer. The plane ticket is the smallest and easiest part of moving to the U.S...
How did the economy and work environment in the U.S. get to as good as it is (even these days...)? From people staying here and working! Africa will never get there if all the good programmers just leave. That is not to say that I'd blame them if they did...
- An American
Re: other posts: Contrary to popular belief in the U.S., there are a lot of good people the government does not let come here. My wife is from China, so I've seen some of what goes on here.
If you want to go to school in the U.S. you have to be accepted at a university *before* you can get even get a visa to come here and do it.
Since sometime in the Clinton administration, if you did not have enough "binding ties" to your country of origin, i.e., a house, a spouse, a bank account, the U.S. will not even issue you a tourist visa to *visit*, out of an unrealistic fear, imho, that you'll stay in the U.S. illegally.
So, "how much can a ticket to the US cost" is not an answer. The plane ticket is the smallest and easiest part of moving to the U.S...
How did the economy and work environment in the U.S. get to as good as it is (even these days...)? From people staying here and working! Africa will never get there if all the good programmers just leave. That is not to say that I'd blame them if they did...
- An American
Heh. Move to India. That's where all the IT jobs are going anyways...
Not everyone was born rich like you were. Some people actually have to work hard and EARN it. People who work hard have a right to complain.
Do you think the success of the USA is just dumb luck, or is it possible that perhaps the people there earned it? Wealth is not a right and it doesn't come by whining about people making more money than you. Are you, perhaps, an arrogant person that feels like you should be able to do as little as possible and still have the things that people that work hard have?
The parent post makes a valid point; you make your choices in life. You can either try to be a web developer in Ghana, stay with your family and have a lot of problems, or you can go to a less hostile environment, sacrifice time with your family, and enjoy wealth. You can't always have everything.
People who work hard don't bother to complain, because they understand the concept working hard to achieve goals instead of whining about hurdles.
I wouldn't say this article is a waste of time, however. It has a very important message to get across: "Don't bother trying to do web development in West Africa. It's not worth the trouble."
The parent post makes a valid point; you make your choices in life. You can either try to be a web developer in Ghana, stay with your family and have a lot of problems, or you can go to a less hostile environment, sacrifice time with your family, and enjoy wealth. You can't always have everything.
People who work hard don't bother to complain, because they understand the concept working hard to achieve goals instead of whining about hurdles.
I wouldn't say this article is a waste of time, however. It has a very important message to get across: "Don't bother trying to do web development in West Africa. It's not worth the trouble."
the parent post was not only condescending, but rude.
if you think that hard-working people don't bother to complain, then I'd say that you haven't met too many people.
arrogant is some who tells someone else to "shut the f*ck up" and move to the US.
I didn't see in the article that the guy was whining, just telling it like it is. whoever wrote the parent post has the luxury of sitting back and calling other people whiners.
your post implies that the people in Africa are whining about not making any money, and want to without working. that's not what i see the article about at all.
btw, I can give you the email addresses of many out of work developers here in the US, and they will tell you that the US isn't the greatest place to find a job as a developer, either.
if you think that hard-working people don't bother to complain, then I'd say that you haven't met too many people.
arrogant is some who tells someone else to "shut the f*ck up" and move to the US.
I didn't see in the article that the guy was whining, just telling it like it is. whoever wrote the parent post has the luxury of sitting back and calling other people whiners.
your post implies that the people in Africa are whining about not making any money, and want to without working. that's not what i see the article about at all.
btw, I can give you the email addresses of many out of work developers here in the US, and they will tell you that the US isn't the greatest place to find a job as a developer, either.
The success of the United States is built upon stolen assets. Stolen land and resources from the American Indians and stolen labor from the African slaves and immigrant workers who were prevented from effectively organizing themselves. That's the basis for the massive head start that the wealthy in this country enjoy--they didn't get there (99% of them) because they "earned" it from their "hard work".
Slavery is very economically inefficient. The biggest period of growth in the U.S was after the US abolished slavery during the Gilded Age (1890s) when race relations were quite good, as good as they had been until at least the early 80s. Slaves can't do anything but very basic work and cost a lot to maintain. The productivity of slaves is horrible too. When agricultural prices fall below a certain point as they did in the early 19th century with industrialization its just a big waste of money because a black person working doing skilled or semi-skilled labor earns far more wealth than if he was a slave. The south was certainly far poorer than the North for this reason and England, which was one of the first countries to abolish slavery, did extrordinarily well in the 19th century.
Sorry. You forget the question of perspective. Slavery is very economically efficient if you happen to be the slave owner. And so it goes.
Well, technically England abolished internal slavery in the 1400s. What happened in the 19th Century was external slavery being banned, laws banning other countries from their right to trade slaves, allowing the Royal Navy to intecept slave boats and free slaves, and later a low that freed slaves in external British colonies, even then, only very few conolies had slavery up to the abolishion in the 1830s, tyically very old ones where the climate was right for sugar cane.
You are brilliantly correct. This head start and lead and this disparaging of the brown masses in the USA has been the lead basically all of white america has heald and fought to keep over indiginous and foreign people.
We do it in other countries too via military might achieved by our colonization and raping of other countries resources. I know perfectly well why this country is on top and I still love all the other things that exsist in this country such as freedom and individual thought and education.
So don't any stupid redneck tell me to leave my country.
USA has many great things. And not all of them were bought with the blood of innocents and the warring of nations. I like the good things we have here that were developed from the diversity of the people and the freedoms we are suppose to have.
I however do not thing that this work hard and you will be rewarded attitude will last long as it's basically a lie. People get rewarded for their ingenuity and their connections and also their rank and heredity in the USA more than their hard work. If you work hard your just more likely to have more admirers and connections and people willing to give you a chance. You can still end up homeless.
I'd never teach my kids that everything is just fair and if you work hard enough you can have what ever you want. I'd teach them never to burn bridges to as to cultivate contacts, also to work hard and to help those around them because you never know where your big break might come from.
Thanks for your honesty though about the Wealth in this country it was so RIGHT that I had to reply!
--Free American--
We do it in other countries too via military might achieved by our colonization and raping of other countries resources. I know perfectly well why this country is on top and I still love all the other things that exsist in this country such as freedom and individual thought and education.
So don't any stupid redneck tell me to leave my country.
USA has many great things. And not all of them were bought with the blood of innocents and the warring of nations. I like the good things we have here that were developed from the diversity of the people and the freedoms we are suppose to have.
I however do not thing that this work hard and you will be rewarded attitude will last long as it's basically a lie. People get rewarded for their ingenuity and their connections and also their rank and heredity in the USA more than their hard work. If you work hard your just more likely to have more admirers and connections and people willing to give you a chance. You can still end up homeless.
I'd never teach my kids that everything is just fair and if you work hard enough you can have what ever you want. I'd teach them never to burn bridges to as to cultivate contacts, also to work hard and to help those around them because you never know where your big break might come from.
Thanks for your honesty though about the Wealth in this country it was so RIGHT that I had to reply!
--Free American--
Read a little history, any land American indians had they had because they killed or ran off the poor bastards who were there before them. (Other American indians). The only right they had on their side was might. When they committed genocide they didn't give the unlettered savages they ran off the land a reservation and a gambling monopoly.
Slavery is a good way to impoverish you society. It's not only the cause of the civil war, but also the reason the south lost it. They couldn't compete with the north economically because they saddled themselves with such an inefficient economic system.
America is wealthy because of the values of most of it's people. And your economic position in America is a direct result of your values and your parents values. Value education ? Don't do drugs ? Get married before having a child ? Take care of your children when you do have them ? The poor parts of the world don't do these things well. The wealthy parts of the world do.
As for America's wealth being built off of the labor of slaves ? The poorest parts of America are those that had the most invested in slavery. (Mississippi, Alabama and the rest of the deep south.) Get a clue. Read a boot for Christ's sake.
Slavery is a good way to impoverish you society. It's not only the cause of the civil war, but also the reason the south lost it. They couldn't compete with the north economically because they saddled themselves with such an inefficient economic system.
America is wealthy because of the values of most of it's people. And your economic position in America is a direct result of your values and your parents values. Value education ? Don't do drugs ? Get married before having a child ? Take care of your children when you do have them ? The poor parts of the world don't do these things well. The wealthy parts of the world do.
As for America's wealth being built off of the labor of slaves ? The poorest parts of America are those that had the most invested in slavery. (Mississippi, Alabama and the rest of the deep south.) Get a clue. Read a boot for Christ's sake.
remmember all those "foreign aid" packages that make US citizens feel so warm and fuzzy inside.
well they come with a nasty little barb - the trade agreements that come with them end up doing more harm than good, for example although maize is one of South Africa's biggest exports we are obligated to import a large quantity of maize from the states at whatever price the US chooses to set.
this is apparently common practise, but for some inexplicable reason our government chooses to accept anything and everything shoved down their throats
*sigh*
so thanks Thabo and thanks US for screwing our economy worse than ever
well they come with a nasty little barb - the trade agreements that come with them end up doing more harm than good, for example although maize is one of South Africa's biggest exports we are obligated to import a large quantity of maize from the states at whatever price the US chooses to set.
this is apparently common practise, but for some inexplicable reason our government chooses to accept anything and everything shoved down their throats
*sigh*
so thanks Thabo and thanks US for screwing our economy worse than ever
I heard something about genetically modified corn that was shipped to Zimbabwe as foreign aid, but with strings attached: the corn's genes where copyrighted, and if any was used to grow new crop, huge fines would have to be paid.
So Zimbabwe astonished the world by not accepting this foreign aid!!!
Do I remember correctly?
greets.
So Zimbabwe astonished the world by not accepting this foreign aid!!!
Do I remember correctly?
greets.
Eh? What complete b*llocks, so; you deserve it better because you were born in the U.S??? How on earth does that work, it's attitudes like this that give Americans a bad name, why the rest of the world assumes most Americans are like the ones on Jerry Springer and have the I.Q. of George Bush, who incidently must be really deserving as he's got the highest office, even though failing in most of his previous endeavours...
What a twit!
Do you have any ability to comprehend anything you read? I didn't say anything resembling your absurd summary. Your anti-Americanism is cute and demonstrative of your sheep tendencies, however.
I deserve everything I work for and nothing more, and the same goes for you and every other person on this planet. The wealth of a nation is only dependent on the hard work of the individuals who make up that nation -- nothing more. The US is a weathy because of hard work and wise business decisions, not because they just got lucky. West Africa can have the same if they want it bad enough and stop making decisions that make them dependent on other nations for support.
The rich make the decisions that keep them rich, and the poor make the decisions that keep them poor.
I deserve everything I work for and nothing more, and the same goes for you and every other person on this planet. The wealth of a nation is only dependent on the hard work of the individuals who make up that nation -- nothing more. The US is a weathy because of hard work and wise business decisions, not because they just got lucky. West Africa can have the same if they want it bad enough and stop making decisions that make them dependent on other nations for support.
The rich make the decisions that keep them rich, and the poor make the decisions that keep them poor.
"I deserve everything I work for and nothing more, and the same goes for you and every other person on this planet."
You forget that your wealth is not only the result of your hard work, but also of your surroundings. Will any amount of hard work allow a programmer to work efficiently when they have no reliable power source?
Or on a more basic level--one can't become a programmer if one never has access to a computer.
Someone with the world's best work ethic won't go anywhere without the opportunity to get there. There are baseline costs to getting ahead that you seem to be taking for granted.
Keep in mind that this is written by *one* programmer lamenting the lack of opportunities in his country. You cannot fault him for the current state of his government, any more than I can be faulted/take credit for the state of my country.
You forget that your wealth is not only the result of your hard work, but also of your surroundings. Will any amount of hard work allow a programmer to work efficiently when they have no reliable power source?
Or on a more basic level--one can't become a programmer if one never has access to a computer.
Someone with the world's best work ethic won't go anywhere without the opportunity to get there. There are baseline costs to getting ahead that you seem to be taking for granted.
Keep in mind that this is written by *one* programmer lamenting the lack of opportunities in his country. You cannot fault him for the current state of his government, any more than I can be faulted/take credit for the state of my country.
How naive and uninformed. Go google for some keywords such as "protectionism", "agricultural trade barriers", taxed imports etc. You are right that the rich make decisions that keep them rich, but if you believe those decisions are always fair and just then you are quite confused.
>"Don't bother trying to do web development in >West Africa. It's not worth the trouble."
Really? Have you ever been to Africa, have you ever tried to setup a web agency there or have you ever had a contract from one there? I don't think you ever did. I respect your opinion, but I don't understand your statement. Mind you, the web makes the world a "GLOBAL VILLAGE" and having a web company in Africa at the moment is perhaps more rewarding than having a web company in Europe or in the US (All the dotcoms are down at the moment). The nice thing about here (Africa) is that the field is just empty and has now began to grow as people have found out that there are tons of opportunities in here. This continent is one which is growing and even though it's gonna take a long time, people can make hell of lots of bucks here. By the way, have you heard anything form South Africa?
I also wanted to add this in reference to the "GLOBAL VILLAGE": you can be anywhere in the world and as far as you've got the right skills, you can make money!!!
Really? Have you ever been to Africa, have you ever tried to setup a web agency there or have you ever had a contract from one there? I don't think you ever did. I respect your opinion, but I don't understand your statement. Mind you, the web makes the world a "GLOBAL VILLAGE" and having a web company in Africa at the moment is perhaps more rewarding than having a web company in Europe or in the US (All the dotcoms are down at the moment). The nice thing about here (Africa) is that the field is just empty and has now began to grow as people have found out that there are tons of opportunities in here. This continent is one which is growing and even though it's gonna take a long time, people can make hell of lots of bucks here. By the way, have you heard anything form South Africa?
I also wanted to add this in reference to the "GLOBAL VILLAGE": you can be anywhere in the world and as far as you've got the right skills, you can make money!!!
"Don't bother trying to do web development in West Africa. It's not worth the trouble." is my summary of what this article says to me. Everything he says in this article contradicts everything you've said about web development being a rewarding experience in Africa as compared to the US or Europe.
Who in their right mind would want to live in the USA ? The person who wrote this thread has probably not even been outside the Continental United States like 70 % of the rest of Americans.
Many Americans have not left CONUS simply because it is so large. You can fly in a jet for HOURS... and still not leave the US. Add geographic isolation (we are buffered by two oceans) and there you go. The US has among the most diverse geography and population on earth. We have subtropical, desert, pararie, mountainous, coastal plain, arctic... about all we don't have is rain forest (and even some of that in Puerto Rico). More languages are spoken here than anywhere else. More religons are practiced here - and those practioners do not live in fear. Many how have not left CONUS have experienced more variety than lots of "world" travellers.
I also doubt your statistic - in my experience well over half of the population has travelled abroad - but I am relatively affulent.
By far the US is the best place to live hands down. It is the richest, free-est, and least disease ridden. Parts of the world will not catch up to the current US standard of living or democratic ideals (which are realities here) for decades.
I also doubt your statistic - in my experience well over half of the population has travelled abroad - but I am relatively affulent.
By far the US is the best place to live hands down. It is the richest, free-est, and least disease ridden. Parts of the world will not catch up to the current US standard of living or democratic ideals (which are realities here) for decades.
"By far the US is the best place to live hands down."
Sorry, buddy, but according to the BBC, you are incorrect. Check out <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2149799.stm" TITLE="bbc.co.uk">"Norway 'best place to live'"
</a bbc.co.uk>. Closer than Norway, perhaps you should consider Canada, which has long rated better than the US as the best place to live. <A HREF="http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/03/03/cities030303" TITLE="www.cbc.ca">Vancouver</a www.cbc.ca> is considered by at least some to be one of the best cities in the world to live.
I live in Canada, which is far larger than the USA. It takes hours and hours to cross this country by airplane, too, but it hasn't stopped me from visiting the US, or Mexico, or Britain or even Japan. The US is a fine place to travel to and visit, but there are many other places in the world that are just as or even more interesting.
Sorry, buddy, but according to the BBC, you are incorrect. Check out <A HREF="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2149799.stm" TITLE="bbc.co.uk">"Norway 'best place to live'"
</a bbc.co.uk>. Closer than Norway, perhaps you should consider Canada, which has long rated better than the US as the best place to live. <A HREF="http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2003/03/03/cities030303" TITLE="www.cbc.ca">Vancouver</a www.cbc.ca> is considered by at least some to be one of the best cities in the world to live.
I live in Canada, which is far larger than the USA. It takes hours and hours to cross this country by airplane, too, but it hasn't stopped me from visiting the US, or Mexico, or Britain or even Japan. The US is a fine place to travel to and visit, but there are many other places in the world that are just as or even more interesting.
You don't even need to visit the BBC to get good statistics on Americans never leaving the country. The state department indicates that less than 20% of Americans are ever issued a passport.
Holy crap, talk about uninformed/ignorant, where do you get your "info"? Africa has the most linguistic diversity (i.e. most languages spoken) of any continent on Earth, with over 2000 (!)different languages actively spoken. Nigeria has over 400 languages alone!
BTW, over 60% of people in the USA have never left the *state* they were born in, never mind been out of the country.
And I laughed out loud when you said that many Americans haven't left the continent because "it is so large". OMW.
BTW, over 60% of people in the USA have never left the *state* they were born in, never mind been out of the country.
And I laughed out loud when you said that many Americans haven't left the continent because "it is so large". OMW.
"More languages are spoken here than anywhere else"<nobr> <wbr></nobr>:) Utterly untrue. Africa has far more languages.
"More religions are practiced here" Again untrue. It's only true when you look at protestantism as a thousand religions and not as one. American religion is a much-splintered affair.
"Lease disease ridden" Again untrue. Scandinavia has a better level of health than the USA.
Americans travelling abroad. I also doubt the 70%, I suspect it is too low.
Basically most of your post is delusional and wrong.
"More religions are practiced here" Again untrue. It's only true when you look at protestantism as a thousand religions and not as one. American religion is a much-splintered affair.
"Lease disease ridden" Again untrue. Scandinavia has a better level of health than the USA.
Americans travelling abroad. I also doubt the 70%, I suspect it is too low.
Basically most of your post is delusional and wrong.
This is exactly why America is the great Satan. Soon the whore "Lady Liberty" will be burned alive by her own arrogance. I urinate on all your faces.
heheh
Whoohahahahahaha, then the secret plan too, oh... oops... sh!
Who the hell wants to live in the u.s.???
More people homicides per annum than killed during the peak of the vietnam war.
No social welfare, or very little. No one in the states has the right to medical treatment wihtout payment.
The richest country in the world and they can't even look after their own? Pathetic.
More people homicides per annum than killed during the peak of the vietnam war.
No social welfare, or very little. No one in the states has the right to medical treatment wihtout payment.
The richest country in the world and they can't even look after their own? Pathetic.
No one in the states has the right to medical treatment wihtout payment.
That's simply not true. Sorry, try again. If don't believe me, come to the US, break your foot (or some other favorite appendage) and call 911. They will take you to a hospital that will fix you up nicely and send you on your way. The county will get the bill (in most states).
That's simply not true. Sorry, try again. If don't believe me, come to the US, break your foot (or some other favorite appendage) and call 911. They will take you to a hospital that will fix you up nicely and send you on your way. The county will get the bill (in most states).
Uh...I'm not sure where you're getting your facts.
In my experience, you get the bill, and then you spend a few years paying it off.
In my experience, you get the bill, and then you spend a few years paying it off.
Obviously never traveled much, eh? I see these parochial attitudes expressed by Europeans a lot these days. Repeating some numbers you read somewhere instead of substituting personal experience.
People are lined up 6 deep at the borders to get in to the U.S. Go to any dirtbag country with no electricity and ask people where they'd want to go if they could leave. Their eyes light up as they exclaim, "America!" Marrying an American is a common escapist fantasy (which for some reason seems to recur in Indian literature).
Immigrants are also lined up 6 deep to get into Europe. Been to Paris lately? It's become a multiracial city, with loads of Africans and Arabs and many more trying to get in.
This was probably not posted by someone from the U.S., but by someone just trying to get everyone riled up. People seem to think it's fun to criticize the U.S. these days. No matter what the article is about, the posts degrade into criticism of the U.S. This is a linux site, remember?
If it was posted by someone in the U.S., it certainly doesn't represent everyone's opinion here. If you take garbage like that as representative of American values, you obviously have never been here. Yeah, there may be people like that here, but aren't there people like that where you live, too? People that speak without thinking, hate others out of fear of the unknown, etc. live everywhere, not just in the U.S. Do I assume you are an idiot just because your neighbor is?
Regarding the post,I find it troubling that someone could so blatantly dismiss the problems of others and other nations. The post is so over the top that I can't believe that someone really felt that way. It's an obvious attempt to stir up anti-American sentiment in a forum where it doesn't belong.
If it was posted by someone in the U.S., it certainly doesn't represent everyone's opinion here. If you take garbage like that as representative of American values, you obviously have never been here. Yeah, there may be people like that here, but aren't there people like that where you live, too? People that speak without thinking, hate others out of fear of the unknown, etc. live everywhere, not just in the U.S. Do I assume you are an idiot just because your neighbor is?
Regarding the post,I find it troubling that someone could so blatantly dismiss the problems of others and other nations. The post is so over the top that I can't believe that someone really felt that way. It's an obvious attempt to stir up anti-American sentiment in a forum where it doesn't belong.
Um... no where does he mention the United States. Purhaps he ment Europe, with some of the highest starting saleries or the Middle East where you can pull in $100,000US with no tax?
I'm talking about the person who posted the original Boohoo comment, not the author of the article.
Sorry, but I am from the US and that is fairly representative of attitudes around here. The middle class and the rich think that the poor deserve it, and the poor have no opportunities (and half of them think that they deserve it too). It's amazing the way people internalize the capitalist rhetoric.
I think the stfu poster is missing the point, that the article alludes to Africans taking control of their own, to be successful - or to be successful enough to improve things greatly.
I can think of a good number of our own states within the previous century or two with the same intentions, of many races and in many places (Northwest and Southern farmers, to New York factory workers, to name your local 'rurual getaway place' or 'urban setting' - for the 'Burbs' out there, and you'd likely find evidence of the same hard work, progress, and change). We've been and are hard workers, if also to some degree the products of inflation, credit and loans, and consumer frenzy and whim (to what degree and in how many facets of our lives is really the debate, not whether or not 'tis true...).
Chicken and Egg time: Increased enterprise feeds revenue for imporved utilities/infrastructure, or vice versa? These are questions that we've already answered with different answers at different times, when they were called for...
RANT and OPINION: And sorry, handing over the at times free U.S. of A. to the Enron's (representative examples where, mostly...), AOL Time Warner's, Microsoft's, and the Worldcoms's control over everything via what any resonable person would describe as a *void* in public services, deregulation, and worker rights, in the name of "less government, less taxes", and at the same time an increased emphesis on law enforcement, to keep those who don't get trickled on enough from getting in the way those with pants unzipped - is not and definitely should not be the answer, ever. Oh yeh, that reminds me... Has anyone seen "Escape from L.A"?
I can think of a good number of our own states within the previous century or two with the same intentions, of many races and in many places (Northwest and Southern farmers, to New York factory workers, to name your local 'rurual getaway place' or 'urban setting' - for the 'Burbs' out there, and you'd likely find evidence of the same hard work, progress, and change). We've been and are hard workers, if also to some degree the products of inflation, credit and loans, and consumer frenzy and whim (to what degree and in how many facets of our lives is really the debate, not whether or not 'tis true...).
Chicken and Egg time: Increased enterprise feeds revenue for imporved utilities/infrastructure, or vice versa? These are questions that we've already answered with different answers at different times, when they were called for...
RANT and OPINION: And sorry, handing over the at times free U.S. of A. to the Enron's (representative examples where, mostly...), AOL Time Warner's, Microsoft's, and the Worldcoms's control over everything via what any resonable person would describe as a *void* in public services, deregulation, and worker rights, in the name of "less government, less taxes", and at the same time an increased emphesis on law enforcement, to keep those who don't get trickled on enough from getting in the way those with pants unzipped - is not and definitely should not be the answer, ever. Oh yeh, that reminds me... Has anyone seen "Escape from L.A"?
(cough)troll(cough)
You know why? Because businesses in US are starting to outsource their IT projects to India, Eastern Europe and the like. Maybe it's the cost, or maybe it's the brilliant guys like you who drives them. Or maybe both; so don't jump to buy your US ticket yet, the airline can charge you extra if you'll try later to switch the destination for another country!
Why would someone want to move to the States when they like where they are?
You keep enjoying what you do, and please keep doing it. The rest of us can have some peace.
You keep enjoying what you do, and please keep doing it. The rest of us can have some peace.
Despite the fact that the Boo Hoo poster is clearly an ignorant twit and, given his "herd goats" comment, probably a racist, I'll answer his inflammatory questions with straight answers.
Many Ghanians would move to - or just visit - the States if they could, but they can't because they often can't get visas. It's not simply a question of airfare - many middle class Ghanians can afford the flight, which runs about $1200 from Accra to JFK most times of the year. But if you visit the American consulate in Accra, something I'm sure the "boo hoo" poster never has done ("what's a consulate?"), he'd see the long line of Ghanians queued up every day, hoping to be chosen for one of the few available visas.
Ghanah is a beautiful country with wonderful, friendly, generous people. Forest preserves, beaches, lakes... Its largest two cities, Kumasi and Accra, are clean, safe, and livable even for soft Americans like me.
That said, like most of the world, Ghana doesn't have dependable infrastructure, like electricity, tranport, and water, but it probably will. It's developed rapidly over the past decade and will probably continue to do so. Ghana can be challenging for those reasons and I'm sure travelling for a couple of hours in a tro-tro would reduce the "boo hoo" poster to tears.
Many Ghanians would move to - or just visit - the States if they could, but they can't because they often can't get visas. It's not simply a question of airfare - many middle class Ghanians can afford the flight, which runs about $1200 from Accra to JFK most times of the year. But if you visit the American consulate in Accra, something I'm sure the "boo hoo" poster never has done ("what's a consulate?"), he'd see the long line of Ghanians queued up every day, hoping to be chosen for one of the few available visas.
Ghanah is a beautiful country with wonderful, friendly, generous people. Forest preserves, beaches, lakes... Its largest two cities, Kumasi and Accra, are clean, safe, and livable even for soft Americans like me.
That said, like most of the world, Ghana doesn't have dependable infrastructure, like electricity, tranport, and water, but it probably will. It's developed rapidly over the past decade and will probably continue to do so. Ghana can be challenging for those reasons and I'm sure travelling for a couple of hours in a tro-tro would reduce the "boo hoo" poster to tears.
Not nearly enough.
Stay out - the US doesn't want yet another PhD cab driver who speaks poor English.
Stay out - the US doesn't want yet another PhD cab driver who speaks poor English.
right ?? keep the finnish out, right ?
you're all a bunch of idiots. grow up or paint your neck another color than red.
you're all a bunch of idiots. grow up or paint your neck another color than red.
Linus drives a cab? Cool!
Why would I want to move the the states just to earn more money? Sure I'll get fatter pockets but I'll have to live in a spine-less, arrogent, mislead, powerhappy country. There's a lot more to life than money; your learn that on your death bed.
Jason from Canada
Jason from Canada
VISA, green card, passport
A very good book about why some countries are first world while others are third world is "Guns, Germs and Steel" by Jared Diamond.
For once I think someone's really saying what's going on in the software industry of Africa for real. As a professional Nigerian web developer, I find this inspiring... "Never give up!"
A friend of mine would say "Let your work speak for you." I believe this. I believe if you can make your software appealing and functional, people would buy it.
And as you said, it's high time we gave these computer hobbyists work to do.
Thanks for a great article.
Tim Akinbo
Web Developer
<A HREF="http://www.eldoradocomm.com/?r=newsforge" TITLE="eldoradocomm.com">Eldorado Communications</a eldoradocomm.com>
A friend of mine would say "Let your work speak for you." I believe this. I believe if you can make your software appealing and functional, people would buy it.
And as you said, it's high time we gave these computer hobbyists work to do.
Thanks for a great article.
Tim Akinbo
Web Developer
<A HREF="http://www.eldoradocomm.com/?r=newsforge" TITLE="eldoradocomm.com">Eldorado Communications</a eldoradocomm.com>
> As a professional Nigerian web developer
Let me guess..... your a Prince and your trying to get your 55 Million dollars out or the country?
Let me guess..... your a Prince and your trying to get your 55 Million dollars out or the country?
Here, i like to think the is better than there in Ghana. I might be wrong though. Anyway, you have basically the same f***ing problems. But the programmers market is heavilly overwhelmed by the students or recent graduates, who are willing to work for practically nothing. They have no experience, they know a little about programming laguages (they are able to write a Hello World, but thats about it), but the companies are HIRING them. why? because they work for 150-200$ per month. I have 4 years of experience, i know stuff, i did a lot of stuff. But at interviews they say: " yup, u deserve 500-700$ per month, nut i can't pay you that much".
What can i say? What can i do? work for nothing? I have a familly to feed.
Uff, the times are really bad.
What can i say? What can i do? work for nothing? I have a familly to feed.
Uff, the times are really bad.
Stable power supply is a big problem in Ghana. I got problems in Osu with UPS, 30 seconds to pull down the server.
15 minutes to dial in with ncs. Connection speed like back in 1993. However the internet is very popular in Ghana and cheaper and more safe than other forms of communication. So there is no "digital divide" created by technology.
Everybody is so focussed on Microsoft, the main reason is the lack of books about professional programming. X education programs introduce you to the arts of MS Office, dbase(!!) and visual basic. So if you go to Africa, take some 3 years old books about linux with you and donate them to univerity. It is better than anything you get in the few bookstores.
15 minutes to dial in with ncs. Connection speed like back in 1993. However the internet is very popular in Ghana and cheaper and more safe than other forms of communication. So there is no "digital divide" created by technology.
Everybody is so focussed on Microsoft, the main reason is the lack of books about professional programming. X education programs introduce you to the arts of MS Office, dbase(!!) and visual basic. So if you go to Africa, take some 3 years old books about linux with you and donate them to univerity. It is better than anything you get in the few bookstores.
That is a good idea. I'm sure that there are many people who have Linux books that they have out grown. How about starting a project to dontate them to help out peoples in Africa?
Is there some sort of IT trade organization on that continent? I have plenty of Linux books that are only a year or two old that are nonetheless too old to keep. I would be willing to send them to a trade organization that maintains a publicly availabe library or to a university that has courses in Unix.
I am not willing to pay the expense of shipping them to an individual or a company and have only one person read them or, worse yet, resell them.
I am not willing to pay the expense of shipping them to an individual or a company and have only one person read them or, worse yet, resell them.
That's a great idea, I think. I have quite a few books on various technologies that are not even old but I have outgrown them. I could sell them at a flee market but if I knew people would not feel bad about it and would appreciate the books, I'd gladly send them over.
The easiest way is to ask diplomats to carry some books with them. Don't use postal services, they don't work. There are plenty of western foundations in Africa that also may help you like friedrich Ebert Foundation.
http://www.cpsr.org/
http://ghana.fes-international.de/pages/contact.h<nobr>t<wbr></nobr> ml
Or Friedrich Naumann foundation (promotes SME in Ghana)
ghana@africa.fnst.org
http://ghana.fes-international.de/pages/contact.h<nobr>t<wbr></nobr> ml
Or Friedrich Naumann foundation (promotes SME in Ghana)
ghana@africa.fnst.org
Greetings to Ghana! It was only 2 years ago that I spent a super month working in a hospital in Kenya. Great people, and I salute you!
The author here mentions an interesting point about paying to train/teach students. This gave me a thought. The first being that every job is, naturally, always training its employees in it's methods and ways from when they start work.
Now that wasn't wat the author meant, I know. But how about this: I'm just about (hopefully!) to finish medical school. I'll then enter a period called a residency where I'm being paid, but the learning experience is far from over. Most people believe that residents are still students, and I'd have to agree. It's the first time we actually get to treat people largely ourselves, with the watchful eye of our superiors, naturally.
Medicine dictates that. It needs to start paying these "students" because few if any could hold out any more without a paycheque. Perhaps that's the mentality the author needs in Ghana?
Find some people who really *want* to learn and have that drive. Maybe they never had the opportunities at this college. They will be the ones who stand to you.
Best wishes & greetings!
The author here mentions an interesting point about paying to train/teach students. This gave me a thought. The first being that every job is, naturally, always training its employees in it's methods and ways from when they start work.
Now that wasn't wat the author meant, I know. But how about this: I'm just about (hopefully!) to finish medical school. I'll then enter a period called a residency where I'm being paid, but the learning experience is far from over. Most people believe that residents are still students, and I'd have to agree. It's the first time we actually get to treat people largely ourselves, with the watchful eye of our superiors, naturally.
Medicine dictates that. It needs to start paying these "students" because few if any could hold out any more without a paycheque. Perhaps that's the mentality the author needs in Ghana?
Find some people who really *want* to learn and have that drive. Maybe they never had the opportunities at this college. They will be the ones who stand to you.
Best wishes & greetings!
You cannot compare Ghana to Kenya. And it ist far away, a different, very peaceful culture. And no tourist infrastructure.
All this crud about how America sucks, Ghana sucks... yadda yadda yadda...
Every country is where they are at because at some point they swindled, killed, conquered or simply took what they have. (They being a collective term for whatever country you happen to be from.)
In Africa, tribe killed tribe and sold the conquered to each other as slaves... then the Americans and Europeans came in a globalized it.
In Italy, please... did you hear of the Roman Empire?
In America... the Indians conquered whomever was there when they got there. They conquered each other. Europeans arrived and bought land for shells and beads... good trade. Then pass on a couple hundred years and those that lived had children who had children who had children and now wanted Europeans out of "their land."
In Australia, England dumped prisoners there and the natives have not been the same since.
Oh, yeah... the Turks... Ever hear of the Ottoman Empire... They conquered and settled much of the middle east... but wait, before them were the Egyptians.
So shut up about America this, America that... Africa this, Africa that...
Every person should have the right to expect quality of life wherever they happen to live. If I have electric power, it should be constant. However, much of the world is not as affluent as Europe, America, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Israel, or other places where you can depend on plumbing, electricity, sewage, and hopefully a job doing what you want to do.
Signed,
An American who is working a decent paying, non-tech job just to pay the bills and support his family. That's right, I can program and have my MCSE 2000. But, that is moot if I cannot find a job for it...
Every country is where they are at because at some point they swindled, killed, conquered or simply took what they have. (They being a collective term for whatever country you happen to be from.)
In Africa, tribe killed tribe and sold the conquered to each other as slaves... then the Americans and Europeans came in a globalized it.
In Italy, please... did you hear of the Roman Empire?
In America... the Indians conquered whomever was there when they got there. They conquered each other. Europeans arrived and bought land for shells and beads... good trade. Then pass on a couple hundred years and those that lived had children who had children who had children and now wanted Europeans out of "their land."
In Australia, England dumped prisoners there and the natives have not been the same since.
Oh, yeah... the Turks... Ever hear of the Ottoman Empire... They conquered and settled much of the middle east... but wait, before them were the Egyptians.
So shut up about America this, America that... Africa this, Africa that...
Every person should have the right to expect quality of life wherever they happen to live. If I have electric power, it should be constant. However, much of the world is not as affluent as Europe, America, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Israel, or other places where you can depend on plumbing, electricity, sewage, and hopefully a job doing what you want to do.
Signed,
An American who is working a decent paying, non-tech job just to pay the bills and support his family. That's right, I can program and have my MCSE 2000. But, that is moot if I cannot find a job for it...
MCSE? Ha ha ha ha
If you have to work a non-tech job then youre a lazy beginner wannabe programmer. As a MSCE, MCNE, CCNP/CCDP, CCIE written, SCNA, SCSA, SCJD, CISSP, BSEE(U of Arizona '95), with a masters in CS(Johns Hopkins '99), I work my freaking ass off to learn and grow every day. Get off your lazy ass and learn to program better. This is not a job, but a lifestyle. The bloke in ghana is living the life at all costs. You gave up for just a few extra dollars. Or maybe you just aren't cut out to be a geek.
These certifications make you nothing but a clown to the industry, if you really have wasted all your time with paper education.
What you need is real experience.
Your not cut out to be a geek if your going to become a cowboy in herding up your qualifications. I'm sure the industry loves little people like you who chase what it gives out. Look at the larger picture man, you being spoon fed shit and paying for it and then on top of that, being proud about it. I feel sick.
What you need is real experience.
Your not cut out to be a geek if your going to become a cowboy in herding up your qualifications. I'm sure the industry loves little people like you who chase what it gives out. Look at the larger picture man, you being spoon fed shit and paying for it and then on top of that, being proud about it. I feel sick.
which is "Every person should have the right to expect quality of life wherever they happen to live."
his point was not to try to impress you with his MCSE certification.
you have no idea of his programming skills, so get off your high horse and stop lecturing people because you have certifications. Mitnick didn't have a certification. neither does Alan Cox or Eric Raymond as far as I know.
so zip it with the condescension.
his point was not to try to impress you with his MCSE certification.
you have no idea of his programming skills, so get off your high horse and stop lecturing people because you have certifications. Mitnick didn't have a certification. neither does Alan Cox or Eric Raymond as far as I know.
so zip it with the condescension.
As an African programmer, I can identify with the situation mention in above report. However one must not just assume that this is the status quo for the rest of the African continent, and certinately not for South Africa.
Our main centers (cities) are served by modern well built highways, we have a telecommunications infrastucture which rivals any first world countrys. Our electricity supply is constant and reliable. We also have an a stable and accountable government and economy.
Of course some parts of South Africa don't even have a water supply, I realise this and development still has to take place in those areas. The point I'm trying to make is that in this country there are 1st world opertunituies available to programmers without having to move overseas.
Our main centers (cities) are served by modern well built highways, we have a telecommunications infrastucture which rivals any first world countrys. Our electricity supply is constant and reliable. We also have an a stable and accountable government and economy.
Of course some parts of South Africa don't even have a water supply, I realise this and development still has to take place in those areas. The point I'm trying to make is that in this country there are 1st world opertunituies available to programmers without having to move overseas.
In Africa you can easily make a living out of web development, even out of penpal donations. Ghana is very different, less violent then most parts of the wolrd. I don't say people are lazy over there. If you don't have a watch you enjoy life more. If work doesn't mean hard forced labour (temporarily slavery) but isn't much different to free time. And time goes more slowly like. People go to sleep at 10 o'clock because it is dark. You live like you did in your childhood.
I think Open Source is the path to re-africanize the IT business based on solidarity and joy. I don't want to be a exception web developer who earns 100 000 $ a year and I am sure no Ghanian (even not those highly motivated at university of Legon) wants to or can live under such working conditions. It's no racism, I think we shall better learn from you. Just take a look at the restaurants in Osu. Frankies or Steers cannot be run by a native Ghanian, that is a sad fact. By the way, I prefer Ghanian cuisine, red beans. hmmm (I don't understand why Ghanians are so proud of junk food cuisine) and the wonderful film industry from Nigeria an Ghana. The few things I disliked in Ghana was politician (they talk, talk, declare, talk), newspapers (crap), US-style Christian fundamentalism (they even curse their elders), taxi driver exploitation of passengers (sorry I white),
What I liked: Palmwine music (Rawlings destroyed public music by luxary tax, so musicians all went to churches) esp. from Koo Nimo, friendlyness, politeness, diplomacy, openness and all my friends. Ghana is the state where IT managers that suffer stress should go to run a business. Either they will die or they will be cured. Ghana is full of business ooportunities, I am not kidding you.
I talked to an American mining business manager in Osu. He told me his company employed 120 workers, in the States he needed 12 workers to complete the same job.
I think Open Source is the path to re-africanize the IT business based on solidarity and joy. I don't want to be a exception web developer who earns 100 000 $ a year and I am sure no Ghanian (even not those highly motivated at university of Legon) wants to or can live under such working conditions. It's no racism, I think we shall better learn from you. Just take a look at the restaurants in Osu. Frankies or Steers cannot be run by a native Ghanian, that is a sad fact. By the way, I prefer Ghanian cuisine, red beans. hmmm (I don't understand why Ghanians are so proud of junk food cuisine) and the wonderful film industry from Nigeria an Ghana. The few things I disliked in Ghana was politician (they talk, talk, declare, talk), newspapers (crap), US-style Christian fundamentalism (they even curse their elders), taxi driver exploitation of passengers (sorry I white),
What I liked: Palmwine music (Rawlings destroyed public music by luxary tax, so musicians all went to churches) esp. from Koo Nimo, friendlyness, politeness, diplomacy, openness and all my friends. Ghana is the state where IT managers that suffer stress should go to run a business. Either they will die or they will be cured. Ghana is full of business ooportunities, I am not kidding you.
I talked to an American mining business manager in Osu. He told me his company employed 120 workers, in the States he needed 12 workers to complete the same job.
> He told me his company employed 120 workers, in
> the States he needed 12 workers to complete the
> same job.
Why so many? Poor training? Job security? Low productivity?
Cheers,
Alex.
> the States he needed 12 workers to complete the
> same job.
Why so many? Poor training? Job security? Low productivity?
Cheers,
Alex.
Fix your own country's econimic problems instead of thinking that the solution is to steal business from other countries, like the US.
It's hard enough making little money doing a crap job without people calling me up every day from Singapore or India or Israel or Africa asking me if I don't mind replacing myself with them for half the money my company pays me.
It's hard enough making little money doing a crap job without people calling me up every day from Singapore or India or Israel or Africa asking me if I don't mind replacing myself with them for half the money my company pays me.
I enjoyed reading this article. Despite the unfortunate situation it relates, it is well written, funny and effectively expresses the point of view of a reasonable person in a far different land.
So you want to be a Web African programmer?
Posted by: Anonymous [ip: 83.252.122.136] on February 15, 2008 10:46 PM
whatt ??
Quite similar to some parts of Pakistan
Posted by: Anonymous Coward on April 21, 2003 05:28 PMAlthough things have improved a great deal in Quetta, and many people use a UPS + stabilizer to control it. Power companies have not caught up to the importance of electric power for most daily activity.
Ghazan Haider
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