Welcome to Ashvil.Net, a place where I have documented a small subset of my ongoing odyssey (15 years and counting) in the software world. I have been fortunate to enjoy a variety of different roles from Developer, Architect, Consultant, Program Manager, Engineering Manager and Entrepreneur.

The Entrepreneur role was the most challenging one and I learnt what it meant to run your own Software start-up. So, why did I do it – I had an idea that would make a difference in people lives.

The idea was context based communication. Every communication takes place within a context. Take for example, a bug tracking system. When Joe, a Program Manager sees a bug that he wants more information on, he emails Amy, the developer. However, the email thread is not recorded with the context (in this case, the bug). If Amy and Joe leave the company, this information is forever lost. i3Connect tried to create a platform for applications like Bug Trackers, etc. to record context but still use communication tools like Email and IM to send information.

The learning’s from this venture go beyond just Entrepreneur experience. It gave me insights into different aspects of the software industry – from transforming vision into execution, differences between a Manager and a Leader, viral marketing and creating products that customers evangelize.

Some presentations and articles you may find useful … 

• If you are a student looking towards Computer Science as your major, you will find my Next Step presentation to a group of final year CS students useful.
• You can find my ideas on HTMLX, the next generation HTML that I presented in the future of HTML W3C conference in 1998. The ideas described in HTMLX are finally implemented in Avalon or Windows Presentation Foundation. It is unfortunate the W3C never pursued the ideas in HTMLX and the current recommendations of HTML/DHTML/AJAX provide a lousy UX platform.
• Past Present and Future of Instant Messaging was presented to the ET-SIG of SDForum in 2003.
• If you are starting a Software Development center, then you will find my presentations on Outsourcing Software Product Development and Opening an Offshore Software Development Center in India very useful. These presentations are based on my experiences of co-founding and managing i3Connect.

If you have any questions, please contact me.