Google courting Developers

Yes, I’m here Robert.

It’s exciting to see Google reaching out to developers. However, I’m not in any way connected to these efforts right now.

I’ve just returned from visiting Cambodia and Bangkok and will be traveling back to Geneva in about a week. I’m part of a team of volunteers trying to help humanitarian groups better detect and respond to disasters. This includes helping countries like Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, China and Cambodia prepare for Avian flu. It’s been quite a year for me – I’ve been able to spend time with people who have devoted their entire careers to public health (like Dr. Larry Brilliant, or David Heymann). I’ve been humbled by the dedication and passion of these people.

-Vic

It always amazes me how fast people respond when I write about them on my blog. Can’t wait to hear about your past year. I’d love to have you on the scobleshow.com (along with Brilliant and Heymann, if they are game). It does sound like you had an amazing year. Can’t wait to see what you do next.

Robert,

Microsoft sells a development platform. So, winning developers drives a whole ecosystem with Compiler Sales, Database Sales, Application Sales (Business Apps) and so forth.

Google sells services. Google could scale without supporting API’s at all.

My point being that they are grounded in two distinct paradigms for computing as a platform and microsoft is seeking to add a new paradigm without failing to maximize a return on the old.

This pattern was also experienced by others in paradigm shifts:

IBM when the world moved from mainframes to distribute computing (DEC) and then to Open Systems (SUN) and then to Desktop/Laptops (MS) and now to “the network is the computer” (Google).

idid – I think Google is more of a platform play than you think. But it’s a services platform. They want developers to use their services as API’s in applications. Every time they do Google makes money. Windows Live is attempting thet same thing. What’s interesting to me is that, while Google builds some nice client software, they’re more about SaaS whereas Microsoft is more about building Web-services hooks into all of their client/server software first and then offering “pure play” SaaS second.

“I think Google is more of a platform play than you think” Of course, I see that too. It’s just not making it’s money from selling you that platform and that’s in the crux of the paradigm shift.

“Windows Live” is not unlike IBM creating the Series One to combat DEC

or DEC creating a VAX Station to combat SUN

or SUN creating Java to combat MS

MS is building out a Live platform to combat Google.

When the dominant player plays “catch-up” on the paradigm changer it indicates a transition from high-growth company to Blue Chip stock.

Idid (5)- sort of. Microsoft is certainly playing catch up in terms of services but one could argue they have a big lead over Google in other areas – for example they actually have client and server and Web platforms in Windows Server, Vista and IIS/ASP.NET. They’ll play to their strengths – enhancing the experiences their customers have with those products with services AND offering their own “pure play” SaaS offerings. Google is forced to compete purely on services or, if they decide to, they can try to build their own platforms.

@5, “When the dominant player plays “catch-up” on the paradigm changer it indicates a transition from high-growth company to Blue Chip stock.”

Google is playing catch up with everything except search – online video, social networking, online office suites etc. Does that mean they are not a high growth company anymore?

Hi Robert,
(The link in this post is broken). Do you know if Google is looking at opening the Google Reader API anytime soon?
Cheers,
Edwin

hmm maybe they ought to fix things like webmaster tools not working propely in IE and ffs fix the dud ssl cetificates on the uk vesion of base/foogal.

Hey, Where’s Google down here? There ain’t no Google events here, and I guess in many parts of the world outside the US. Heck, Google is probably pretty developer averse, with the pulling of the SOAP api recently. Heck, the blogger API changed some 4 times, Google Reader has no API (I’d love to build a RSS Reader from which you can share your items on your Google Reader LinkBlog, no?).

They still aren’t at the “Developers, Developers, Developers” level, maybe because they needn’t be. Thinking about it, I think there’re more Microsoft Development Products than all of Google’s products, no?

Maybe I should write a longer post on this once my right hand heals…

Yuvi, I’m surprised Google doesn’t have a developer-day in India. How expensive would it be to travel to the one in China? Perhaps you could do something similar to how you bought your camera to finance a trip to the Google Developer Day?

I honestly think the news about Google’s vested/soon-to-be-vested millionaires is going to damage them severely here soon.

I like IT, but if I was sitting on top of several million dollars, I would drop out no matter how much fun I was having.

There is nothing like retiring young. I’m almost 40 years old and I would love nothing more than to quit the workforce entirely, volunteering my time helping people.

Working for a living is overrated.

“Does that mean they are not a high growth company anymore?”

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?t=5y&s=GOOG&l=on&z=m&q=l&c=MSFT

I don’t give investment advice but the numbers are quite clear on who’s the growth stock and who’s the blue chip.