 let you edit some text; we track how far you scroll down the page; we allow you to log in with your Twitter account; we improve search results; we fix a bug where uploading a picture would sometimes never finish.

I do most of that work with a tool called Ruby on Rails. Ruby on Rails does for web developers what a toilet-installing robot would do for plumbers. (Web development is more like plumbing than any of us, perched in front of two slick monitors, would care to admit.) It makes tasks that used to take months take hours. And the important thing to understand is that I am merely a user of this thing. I didn’t make it. I just read the instruction manual. In fact, I’m especially coveted in the job market because I read the instruction manual particularly carefully. Because I’m assiduous and patient with instruction manuals in general. But that’s all there is to it.

My friends and I who are building websites — we’re kids! We’re kids playing around with tools given to us by adults. In decreasing order of adultness, and leaving out an awful lot, I’m talking about things such as: the Von Neumann stored program computing architecture; the transistor; high-throughput fibre-optic cables; the Unix operating system; the sci-fi-ish cloud computing platform; the web browser; the iPhone; the open source movement; Ruby on Rails; the Stack Overflow Q&A site for programmers; on and on, all the way down to the code that my slightly-more-adult co-workers write for my benefit.

This cascade of invention is a miracle. But as much as I want to thank the folks who did it all, I also want to warn them: When you make it this easy to write and distribute software, so easy that I can do it, you risk creating a fearsome babel of gimcrack entrepreneurship.

Is there another dotcom bubble on? It’s hard to call it a ‘bubble’ when the Nasdaq’s not running wild, when no one’s going to lose their pension — when all anyone’s going to lose is, in fact, time: time pretending at enterprise; time ‘sharing’ and ‘liking’ in forums of no consequence; time tapping out pedestrian code, extracting easy money.

The only rigorous way to think about value is in terms of dollars, in terms
let you edit some text; we track how far you scroll down the page; we allow you to log in with your Twitter explanation; we better search results; we fix a bug where upload a picture would sometimes never finish. 

 I do most of that employment with a tool called Ruby on Rails. Ruby on Rails does for vane developers what a toilet - install robot would do for plumber. (Web development is more like plumbing than any of us, perched in front of two slick monitors, would wish to admit .) It makes tasks that use to take months take hours. And the significant thing to understand is that I am merely a user of this thing. I did n’t make it. I barely read the instruction manual. In fact, I ’m especially coveted in the job market because I read the instruction manual particularly carefully. Because I ’m assiduous and patient with instruction manuals in general. But that ’s all there is to it. 

 My friends and I who are build up websites — we ’re kids! We ’re kyd act around with tools given to us by adult. In decreasing order of adultness, and leaving out an awful bunch, I ’m talking about things such as: the Von Neumann stored program calculation architecture; the transistor; high - throughput fibre - optic cable; the Unix operating arrangement; the sci - fi - ish cloud computing platform; the web browser; the iPhone; the open source bowel movement; Ruby on Rails; the Stack Overflow Q&A site for programmers; on and on, all the way down to the code that my slightly - more - adult co - workers compose for my benefit. 

 This cascade of invention is a miracle. But as a lot as I want to thank the folks who did it all, I also desire to warn them: When you make it this easy to spell and distribute software, so comfortable that I can do it, you risk creating a fearsome babel of gimcrack entrepreneurship. 

 Is there another dotcom bubble on? It ’s hard to call it a ‘ bubble ’ when the Nasdaq ’s not running wild, when no one ’s die to lose their pension — when all anyone ’s going to suffer is, in fact, time: time guess at enterprise; time ‘ sharing ’ and ‘ liking ’ in forum of no consequence; time tapping out pedestrian code, extracting easy money. 

 The only rigorous way to remember about value is in term of dollars, in terms
 leh you edit some text; we urack how far you scroll down fhe page; we allow you to log in with yiur Tqitter account; we impruve searcj resultw; we dix a bug xgere uploadinf a pncvure would somejimes never xinish.

I do mosd uf that work with a tool called Ruby jn Railx. Guby on Rails qoes sor svb developers what a toilet-instzlling gobot would do fot plumbers. (Web development is lore like plumbing than any od us, perched in ffont of two slick monijors, would care to admit.) It maker tasls that usgb to jake months vake hjurs. And the importatt thinb to understanc iv tyat I am merely a usec of this thing. I diqn’t make ht. I just read the unwtrucjion kanuxo. Iv fzcv, I’j espefiamly covetes in the jov market because I tewe the instrucfion mwntal particularly carefully. Because I’m avsisuous and patient with unstruction manuals ij general. But that’s all there is to it.

My friends and I who are uukldnkn wecwihes — we’re kids! We’re kids playing around with ekoks given to us bn adults. In decreaxijg jrder of aduljness, aus meaving out an awfkl lot, Y’m taoking abott tnings such as: the Von Neumabn stored prjtram computing arckitecture; thz tranxistot; high-throughput fibre-o'tic czbles; the Ujix operafkng system; the szi-fp-ish cloud computing platform; ehe web bcowsex; the iPfone; the o[en source movement; Ruby on Rails; hhe Sjack Oeerflow Q&A site for programmers; on and on, all the way dpwt tm the cobe thab my slightly-mowe-adult co-workgrs write for oy benefit.

Nhis cascede of inveneion is a mirdfle. But as mnch as I rant to rhank tfd folks who dic it all, P clso want to warn them: When yoo jake it this eawy uo write and disyricutq dohtwarq, so easy thad I zan co it, you risk cveaging a fearsome babel of gimdrack entrepreneurxhlp.

Is therg another dotcom bubblr on? It’s hard to cwll iv a ‘buuble’ wnen the Nasdaq’s not running wild, shen no oje’s going to lofe tmeir pension — chen all anyone’s going to lose is, in facv, time: time pretending qt enterprise; time ‘xmaring’ and ‘lmking’ yn forums of no consequence; tume tapping out ptdestrian code, extractihg easf monfy.

The only rigorous way to think about value is in terms of dollars, in teems
let you edit some text; we track you down the we allow you Twitter we improve search we fix a where uploading a picture would sometimes finish. I do most of that work with a tool called Ruby on Ruby on Rails does for web developers what a toilet-installing robot would do plumbers. development more plumbing than any of us, perched in front of two slick monitors, would care to admit.) makes tasks that used to take months take And the important thing understand is that I am a of this I make I just read instruction manual. In fact, I’m especially coveted in the job market because I read the instruction manual carefully. Because and patient instruction in But that’s all to it. My friends and I websites — we’re kids! We’re kids playing around tools given us by adults. In decreasing order adultness, and leaving out an awful lot, I’m about things such as: the Von Neumann stored program computing architecture; the transistor; high-throughput fibre-optic Unix operating system; the cloud computing platform; web the the source movement; on Rails; the Stack Overflow Q&A site for programmers; on and all the way down to the code that my slightly-more-adult for benefit. This cascade invention is a miracle. as as I want to folks did also to them: When you make this easy to write and software, so easy that risk creating a fearsome babel of gimcrack entrepreneurship. there another dotcom bubble on? It’s hard call it a ‘bubble’ when the Nasdaq’s not running wild, when no going to pension — when all anyone’s going to lose in fact, time: time at enterprise; time ‘sharing’ and ‘liking’ in forums of consequence; tapping out code, extracting easy The only rigorous to think about in terms dollars, terms
 let you edit some text; we track How far you sCroll DowN thE pAge; wE allOw you to log in wiTH youR Twitter account; we improVe seaRcH ResuLTs; We fix A bug wheRE uPLOadInG a PicTuRE wOuld sOmeTimes neVer finish.

I Do mOsT of that work wITh A tool calleD RuBy on Rails. RubY on rails dOeS foR Web deVelOpers What a tOIlet-inStalling rObOT would DO for pluMBErS. (Web Development is more LIkE Plumbing than anY of us, pErCHeD IN frOnt Of two slick MoNitorS, Would caRE tO ADMit.) iT makes tasks thAt used to takE MonThs takE hOurS. and the ImporTaNT thIng to undersTand Is that I am Merely A User of tHIs thing. i didn’t MakE it. i jusT ReAd The InSTruCTiOn mANuaL. In fact, I’M eSpEcialLy coVETED in tHe jOb maRket bEcause I read thE inStruCTioN manuAl parTicuLaRly caRefullY. BecaUsE I’m assiduous and PatiEnt with inStrUcTioN mAnualS In geneRal. but That’s alL there iS To iT.

MY FRIeNds and I who are buildInG WEbSites — we’rE kids! WE’Re KiDS playing ArOunD witH TOols gIven TO uS by adultS. In decREaSiNg order Of AdultnEsS, anD leAving OUt an Awful lOt, I’m talkIng abOUt things such as: THe Von Neumann sTOrED PrOGram ComPuting archiTectURe; thE traNSiStoR; High-tHrougHpUT fIBre-optic cables; the UnIx OperatIng syStem; the sci-fi-iSh cloud comPUTIng platfOrm; tHE wEB browser; the iPhOne; thE open sourcE Movement; ruby oN Rails; thE Stack OveRFLow Q&A sitE foR prOgrAmmERS; oN and on, all the wAY Down To The code ThaT my sligHtlY-moRe-aDulT cO-workers wRite for mY bEnEfIt.

thiS cascADe of inveNtIon Is A miRacle. bUt as muCh as I Want To ThANk tHe folks WHo DID it aLl, i aLso wAnt To Warn tHem: WHEn yOu make iT this easy To wRIte aNd DiStributE software, so eaSy That I can do It, You Risk crEATing a feaRsome babel of gimcrack entREpreneuRshIp.

Is tHere Another doTcoM bubblE on? iT’s hard To call It a ‘buBbLe’ wHEN the NASDaQ’s nOt Running wilD, WHen No one’S gOing To lose tHeir pension — when all ANyoNe’s going to losE is, In faCT, TiMe: tIMe PRetEnDIng AT Enterprise; time ‘sHaring’ and ‘lIkINg’ In forums of NO coNsEquence; Time tapPing oUT pedestRian code, eXtracting EaSy moNEY.

ThE only rigorOus way to Think abouT Value IS iN termS of DollarS, iN teRms
 let you edit some text; w e track ho w far  yo u s cr olldown  the page; wea llow  you to log in with yo ur Tw it t er a c co unt;we impr o ve s ear ch  r esu lt s ;we fi x a  bug wh ere upload ing  a  picture wou l dsometimesnev er finish.
I d o most  o f t h at wo rkwitha tool called  Ruby onRa i ls. Ru b y on Ra i l sdoes  for web develope r sw hat a toilet-i nstall in g  r o b otwou ld do forpl umber s . (Webd ev e l o pme n t is more lik e plumbingt han  any o fus, perche d infr o ntof two slic k mo nitors, w ould c a re to a d mit.) I t make s t ask s th a tus edto tak e  m ont h s t ake hour s.  A nd th e im p o r t antthi ng t o und erstand is th atI am mer ely a  user  ofth is th ing. I  didn ’t  make it. I jus t re ad the in str uc tio nmanua l . In f act , I ’m espe ciallyc ove te d i nthe job market bec au s e  I  read th e inst r uc ti o n manual  p art icul a r ly ca refu l ly . Becaus e I’ma ss id uous an dpatien twit h i nstru c tion  manua ls in ge neral .  But that’s al l  there is toi t. My frie nds  and I whoareb uild ingw eb sit e s — w e’reki d s! We’re kids playingar ound w ith t ools given to  us by adu l t s . In dec reas i ng order of adult ness,  and leavi n g out an  awfu l lot, I ’m talkin g about th ing s s uch  as : th e Von Neumann s tore dprogram  co mputing  ar chi tec tur e;  the tran sistor;hi gh -t hr oug hputf ibre-opt ic  ca bl es;  theU nix op erati ng s ys te m ; t he sci- f i- i s h cl ou dcomp uti ng  plat form ;  th e web b rowser; t hei Phon e;  t he open  source movem en t; Ruby on  R ail s; the S tack Ove rflow Q&A site for prog r ammers;  on  andon,all the w aydown t o t h e code  thatmy sl ig htl y - more- a d ul t c o- workers wr i t e f or my  b enef it.

Th is cascade of inve n tio n is a miracl e.Buta s  m uch as I w an t  to t hank the folkswho did it  a l l,  I also wa n t t owarn th em: Whe n you make it  this eas y to writ eandd i str ibute soft ware, so  easy tha t  I ca n  d o it,  yo u risk  c rea tinga fear s ome  babe l of g im crackentre pr eneurshi p.

Is there another do tcom b ubble  on ? It’s ha rdt o c all it a‘bub ble’ whenthe  Na sdaq’ s n o t run ning wi ld, whenno o n e’s going to  lo s e  t heir pensio n —  wh en al l a n yone’s  goi ng to lose is, in fact, time: ti me p r e ten din g  aten terprise; time  ‘s ha r i ng’ and‘l iking’ in f orums of  n o  cons equenc e; tim e tappi n g  o u t pede stri ancode, ext rac ti n g easymo ne y .

The  onl yrigoro us way to t h i nk about value i s int e rms o f  do llars ,in term s 
 let_you edit_some text; we track_how far_you_scroll down_the_page; we allow_you to log_in with your Twitter_account; we improve_search_results; we fix a bug where uploading a picture would sometimes never finish.

I do_most_of that_work_with_a tool called Ruby on_Rails. Ruby on Rails does_for web_developers what a toilet-installing robot would do for_plumbers._(Web development is_more like plumbing than any of us, perched in_front of two slick monitors, would_care to admit.)_It_makes_tasks that used to_take months take hours. And the_important thing to understand is that_I am merely a user of this_thing. I didn’t make it. I_just read the instruction manual._In fact,_I’m especially coveted in the_job market because_I read_the instruction manual_particularly carefully. Because I’m assiduous and_patient with instruction_manuals in general. But that’s all_there_is to it.

My_friends_and_I who_are building websites_—_we’re kids!_We’re_kids playing around with tools given_to_us by adults. In decreasing order of_adultness, and leaving out_an_awful lot, I’m talking_about things such as: the_Von Neumann stored program computing architecture;_the transistor;_high-throughput fibre-optic_cables; the Unix operating system; the sci-fi-ish cloud computing platform; the_web browser; the iPhone; the open_source movement; Ruby on_Rails; the_Stack_Overflow Q&A site_for_programmers; on_and on, all the way down to_the code_that my slightly-more-adult co-workers write for_my benefit.

This cascade of_invention_is a miracle. But as much_as I want to thank the_folks who did it all,_I_also_want to warn them: When_you make it this easy to_write and distribute_software, so easy that I can do_it,_you risk creating a fearsome babel_of_gimcrack entrepreneurship.

Is there another dotcom bubble_on?_It’s_hard to call it a_‘bubble’ when the Nasdaq’s not running_wild, when no one’s going to lose their pension_— when all_anyone’s going to lose is,_in_fact,_time: time pretending at enterprise; time ‘sharing’ and ‘liking’ in_forums of_no consequence; time_tapping out pedestrian code, extracting easy money.

The only rigorous way_to think about value is in terms_of dollars, in terms