Dotmad.net

Arik asked few questions after my last post on the subject, so here are answers and additional comments.

1) We chose NHibernate over LINQ because while classic ORM is about seperating the user from the database structure, DLINQ is about creating an easy interface to the database inside the user’s code. I don’t want to write “Select” queries in code - I want to work with classes.
2) We used Picasa and not another storage service for our photos, since it was easier to implement. We chose it over Flickr because the larger storage offered for free. We may choose another service in the future.
3) Apparently using GoDaddy’s services for a web application involving reflection (used by NHibernate) is a mistake - we ended up moving to another host.
4) While we still use Youtube to store videos, the upload process requires the file to go through the site (meaning increased traffic, and traffic is limited by the host). This is due to the fact we need to log in to the service, and this can’t be done through the user’s browser for security reasons.

The site is up, but with very limited functionally. We are still working (in our spare time) to implement all missing features as soon as possible.

Current status:

Technologies used are ASP.NET, NHibernate, and MS Sql Server as a database. GoDaddy had been selected as hoster. (We also purchased a domain)

The user experience design is mostly done, the marketing are working on creating several (very entertaining) videos for viral propagation.

Architecture is set, but the development is still under work, with expectations for integration between the 3 layers later today, including running some tests of the site. We had some problems implementing NHibernate, but we solved them.

We are using Youtube and Picasa to host videos and photos externally.

After today we’ll continue working on the application in parallel to our day job, with some focus on social marketing.

The morning began with an Israeli breakfast (bread, cheese, vegetables), and than to a discussion about how/what to implement.

The chosen idea from yesterday (suggested by Maya Klug) is a time bank application (something like Timebank.org.uk), maybe combined with videos (each member creating a short video detailing what he/she is willing to contribute).

There are about 50 people here, and the group is about equally divided between technical people (developer and similiar) and bussiness people (bizdev, etc). Many people here are entrepreneurs themselves.

The main discussion so far was about creating a web site vs. a Facebook application, and the decision was to create a web site combined with a Facebook application.

From the developers perspective, we chose using ASP.NET (majority of the coders know it), SQL server (express) as a database, and creating a 3-layered (DAL, BL, pages renderer) application (web server).

We’ll try implementing the DAL using NHibernate, connecting to Facebook using the MS Facebook toolkit, and using Youtube API for the video management.

As from today there are other bloggers, you can read the comined blog at the project’s blog page, and there is also a Twitter page.

The story so far:

• 15 ideas had been selected
• 5 most popular ideas had been selected (by vote)
• Possible problems had been raised for each contestant
• 2 ideas had been selected (by vote)
• Each contestant answered questions
• The finalist had been selected (again, by vote)

First a clarification: Netwise is donating the office space, but is not the company organizing the evnet. The event is being organized by several private people who encountered the idea (no, it was not invented in Israel) and decided to organize it.

After some delays the event finally began. The founders started with an introduction, basically explaining “what” and “how” of the event, and than they introduced firms that helped with the creation of the event, among them Netwise, IBM (GTU group) and a small startup called “Sharp mind solutions” (developing games aimed to boost personal attributes).

And than people started giving short presentation of their ideas.

So far most of the ideas come from the area of web 2.0 and revolving around the word “share”, but I haven’t heard many unique idea so far, but there are few gems in the suggestions. The audience (the rest of the group) is participating with the idea owner with questions and suggestions.

I registered myself to this event few weeks ago, and today is the first day.

The idea: a group of IT professionals getting together for a weekend (2.5 days) to create a new startup company, based on a web product. This group is divided to sub-groups (backend, client, architects, business development, etc), each sub-group in charge of a specific section of the product. Each participant receives a certain number of “shares” based on his/her contribution (based on the number of days in attendance).

The event is hosted by Netwise, a company specializing in building web portals and selling products to build such products.

So far the event is still being organized, each participant receives upon registration few complimentary items (notebook, shirt, food), and now we are sitting around chatting among ourselves.

The first item on the agenda: Have a brainstorming and choose a product to develop.

Being a long time developer, I’m already guessing the second item: Selecting technology to use for creating this product. (Get ready for religion wars….)