Tanzania yetu na fani ya Software Engineering

[HT]

jamani nikiwa kama developer wa muda mrefu ningependa tujadili vitu kadhaa hapa. Hivi ninavyoviweka ni baadhi tu kwa kuanzia lakini sio limit. Ongeza na punguza upendavyo. Ni nini muelekeo wa fani hii na inawezekanaje mtu akaanzisha kampuni itakayokuja kuwa tishio kama M$ au kama iEverything au google? Ni nini SWOT zetu hapa TZ ukilinganisha na fani yenyewe?
Karibuni sana
HT

 

[Mtazamaji]

Software engineering kama zilivyo engiireing profession nyingine kwa watanznaia kuna chellenge nyingi. Tena bora engeneering profession nyingine kama construction, Automation, Telecommunication ambazo u can touch and see the end product.

Kwa mtazamo wangu in some cases badala ya development of new software inabidi kuwe na iniitiaves za kussuport na kufinance software amabzo ziko customised kwa mazingira ya Kitanzania na watanzania.

Chukulia mfano CMS za Joomla, Wordppress, drupal. Serikali ingewekeza kuwawezesha developer skiilzs zao zitumike kuwa na swahili pack ya CMS hizi.

Vile vile ili fani ya Software ili iwe active na kupata solution from within tanzania na endelevu kulitakiwa kuna na contest kila mwaka ya best software project idea ili ifanyiwe kazi kwa kupewa fund. Inashangaza kuna mambo kaa bongo star search lakini hakuna Best sofware project Idea search.

Vile vile Makampni na taaisis mbali mbali yangekuwa yanatumia freelance Ideas ili kupata prototype ya Product zinazowafaa. Mfano Nikiangalia Tovuti ya TBC nasikia hasira. Wangewenza kuanzisha shindano la indiividual watoe design nzuri. Design tu sio software then deign ya freelancer itayoshinda muhusika anapewa kaisi fulani alafu TBC wanatafuta kampuni kwa tender itakayotengeneza ile design. Kwa style hiyo vipaji vya watu vingekuwa active kutumika na kuwa rewarded na hapo hapo TBC ingekuwa na best website.

Weakness
Nadhani kwa nchi yetu amabyo iko nyuma sana kwenye IT ina maana kuna a lot of opportunities sema tu weakenss iliypo hakuna Infastructure ya kuibua, kufadhili na kuchakachua zilizopo. Hiyo ni wekaness from management na leadership point of view

Lakini kwa individual wataalamu wengi hawapendi mambo ya documentation. hili nimeliona Na bila kufuta documantion na standard na prpoer methodology ni sawa na project failure.

Pamoja na ujuzi tulionao bado wengi tumekariri ili kufanikisha jambo lazima tuwe kwenye convetional ofifce. hatujatumia opprtunity ya Internet kutuwezesha mtazamaji wa dar na mtu wa UK na mwingine wa USA wafanye software project moja. Ukiangalia developer wa CMS kama za joomla na worpress wako nchi mbali mbali. So weakness ni kuwa hatujaweza kutumia teknolojia ya internet kutuunganisha na kutatua matatizo.

Weakness na threat ya nyingine kwa softwaredevelope ni kuwa muda kutafisir kila kitu interms of cash. Profit tunyotanzama sana ni hard money so kuna mambo tunshindwa kufanya sababu hatuoni mbali.

Nawasilisha

 

[Kang]

Strength zinanipiga chenga right now ngoja ntafikiria zaidi ila weaknesses ziko nyingi.

Hakuna skill base ya kutosha, akina M$ na Google wanarecruit straight from the best Universities in the world hasa kwenye IT, Stanford, MIT etc. Mara ya mwisho nilivyocheki Mlimani nadhani walikuwa wanafundisha PASCAL lugha ambayo haitumiki kujenga systems mpya na mtu yoyote, sijui kama wameupgrade syllabus yao.

Labor sio cheap bongo, hii inamaanisha hatuwezi kushindana na India, Vietnam etc kwenye outsourcing ya software.

Umeme wa kubahatisha, hauwezi kuendesha datacentres kama haujui umeme utakuwepo lini na utapotea lini.

Infrastructure sio nzuri, low speed internet kwa high price.

Rushwa iliyokithiri, sio rahisi kufanya biashara ya maana bila kuwa na watu wa serikali mfukoni mwako.

Local consumer market is almost non existent, wengi hawana uwezo wa kununu kompyuta wala software na wale wenye uwezo wako humu JF wanatafuta keys za kuchakachua.

In short sina hope kubwa sana ya Bongo kushindana na anyone anytime soon.

 

[kadwame]

Strength zinanipiga chenga right now ngoja ntafikiria zaidi ila weaknesses ziko nyingi.<br />
<br />
Hakuna skill base ya kutosha, akina M$ na Google wanarecruit straight from the best Universities in the world hasa kwenye IT, Stanford, MIT etc. Mara ya mwisho nilivyocheki Mlimani nadhani walikuwa wanafundisha PASCAL lugha ambayo haitumiki kujenga systems mpya na mtu yoyote, sijui kama wameupgrade syllabus yao.<br />
<br />
Labor sio cheap bongo, hii inamaanisha hatuwezi kushindana na India, Vietnam etc kwenye outsourcing ya software.<br />
<br /> kweli ulicho sema hakuna kitu
Umeme wa kubahatisha, hauwezi kuendesha datacentres kama haujui umeme utakuwepo lini na utapotea lini.<br />
<br />
Infrastructure sio nzuri, low speed internet kwa high price.<br />
<br />
Rushwa iliyokithiri, sio rahisi kufanya biashara ya maana bila kuwa na watu wa serikali mfukoni mwako.<br />
<br />
Local consumer market is almost non existent, wengi hawana uwezo wa kununu kompyuta wala software na wale wenye uwezo wako humu JF wanatafuta keys za kuchakachua.<br />
<br />
In short sina hope kubwa sana ya Bongo kushindana na anyone anytime soon.

<br />
<br />

 

[kotinkarwak]

Local consumer market is almost non existent, wengi hawana uwezo wa kununu kompyuta wala software na wale wenye uwezo wako humu JF wanatafuta keys za kuchakachua.

In short sina hope kubwa sana ya Bongo kushindana na anyone anytime soon.

Consumer base has to be created. Market ya computing Tanzania hivi sasa itakuwa upande wa hardware,kwani bado hatujajua jinsi ya kuchakachua. Software world ni extended market of western/foreign companies who develop the software. The issue is on whether there are solutions specific to our region that needs to developed as a step to create that consumer base.
Should we be inviting foreign companies to write our software? Should there be a forum to showcase the talent (word loosely used here) that is available locally? Beyond website development, what is the IT topic being discussed in the forums? Are we showing that there is capacity locally, beyond kuchakachua!!!!

A positive note though is the cost of IT especially for the enterprises. The cloud computing arena is showing us the way, our region can't afford to setup the data centers, we don't have the associated infrastructure to support such resources but at a minimal cost, we can host our solutions out in the cloudsphere where the servers will be managed on our behalf. Since this is where the west is heading as well, the ICT fraternity in Tanzania should start exploring this for their customer solutions and "invest their time and money as needed" to show us what solutions can be achieved for the business community.

What solutions are needed?
Kenya is going ahead with the dual citizenship proposal and that means, there will definitely be a need to reach the many millions in the Diaspora. This effort itself can take years to be completed, post doing the initial announcements; there will be a need to gather data of these people. Link that collected data with various government databases (Again, used loosely) and formulate business processes that will manage this whole exercise. Many organizations will need to consult on this and the eventual system might involve several organizations within the country and outside the country as well. Now ICT can smooth this effort, there is no off the shelf solution for this hence will definitely be a write-up from scratch. Several professions in the ICT world will be involved hence not a one man show... I am guessing, the authorities will tender this out and the likes of Indian IT development companies will crammer to get the deal because there may not be local capacity to develop such a mammoth application. Again, that's my pessimistic view but I hope there are folks in Kirereshwa cracking code as we speak.....

Tanzania is also thinking of the same, hence this is the high time, ICT chaps to start sharpening their pencils and get some demos out...

 

[HT]

great contribution. Google have their successful summer code GSOC and there are user Groups like Bangalore Java User Group or security conferences like Defcon et al. Should we start one? Will anyone be interested?
Also what can we do to manage our weaknesses and come out as Tanzanias iEverything or M$ or google?
last thing, what are chances to succeed if someone starts a SE school and launch code project show and start user groups?
Just adding on top of th first post!

 

[HT]

thanks all for such profitable contribution

 

[kotinkarwak]

The mentioned companies invest heavily in R&D work that brings forth new technologies and products to the market not mentioning them cannibalizing other companies through mergers and acquisitions. To build capacity requires funding, heavy funding to put in place the "environment" in which the proposed ict community can utilize to learn/play and explore their knowledge/talent/ideas. This is the hurdle because anything short of a free flow of funding to such an endeavor will not achieve a desired result. A school provided that it has a separate source of income can work. Why separate? The resources to the community should be available at all times, new hardware, new technologies/programs etc that will not rely on a fee being paid by the students else, ndio ile issue ya kuwa na strict course structure that is time limited and just spitting "graduates" at the end of the line.
I believe UDOM had such an idea, something for the enterprising youngsters to have access to the internet, computers and the like, lakini nasikia hiyo ishakuwa "biashara ya mtu" defeating the initial intent of the project.

How can this be tackled?
Involve the industry. A progressive industry is one that embraces new technologies by "teaching" itself on what is out there. The community can put together talks, demonstrations to these businesses on how such and such a technology can be used to better their services. These can be at paid back in sponsorship by the participating companies to cover the costs of providing access to the technologies that are out there to the community. I believe such an approach can grow the ICT understanding and eventually the market since the decision makers will be exposed to "solutions" to their ever increasing problems.

Now about that killer application/solution/technology: That will come, just expose the community to the technologies and their gray matter can conjure up new solutions that will solve our millions of issues...

 

[CottonEyeJoe]

Biggest problem or problem(s) with the local software development industry; is somewhat similar to the problems that having been facing and continue to face the local music industry in TZ. the only difference is that the Local music industry has woken up and realized the importance of Coming together to stand up for common goals and their rights, to advocate for better intellectual property and reward structures for their work... Fight piracy, etc...

Is there even a recognised board of Software engineering in this country like there is for Engineers, Architects etc.... In the US and India most companies are own by indigenous young talented individuals who are driven by the passion and success that it has managed to provide them.... How organised are Software engineers in Tanzania, do they understand each other in the market to enable them to easily network and put up project teams easily and quickly to ensure they make use of projects that may come up and that can be lucrative? is there a medium for independent knowledge sharing?

At present most Software engineers in the country (or at least those who are qualified in the field) are busy pulling network tables in a bank or mobile company reception area somewhere... in other ways they are in IT support!!!!! busy rebooting computers and solving IP address conflicts..... WHY?

Simple! No one from Our Bongo Flava loving president to those sitting at Costech gives a damm let alone are passionate nor want to change the industry... JK is more worried about getting Ali Kiba on the Airtel Song or Aunty Ezikiel on Africa Magic... regardless of the fact he gets audience with people like Google and Bill Gates whenever he wants to..... So at a Top Leadership level; we are screwed!!!!!!

Secondly, As a buddying Software Engineering company of young abled pros... try going to bid for a Job at any company; you will hear... hizi kazi za wahindi mbona mnaingilia fani.... those are actual words that i have heard come out from a fellow tanzanian who is the IT manager of a very well to do company and the decision-maker on a project that we had been shortlisted for... I was told we didnt get the job by insiders because we are just not as generous!!!!! So if you are not handy with Passing Envelopes under the table; you are screwed!!!!

What was most sad though is that my fellow TZnian didn't see the importance to promote the local Software development industry and because of that it shall continue to be dominated, exploited and taken advantage of by the Asian owned comapnies and so called software houses... although we do know that they are all being developed in Bangalore and Nairobi!!!!!!

 

[Given Edward]

In the case of google groups, the is one formed by UDSM. It's quite active but mostly based on UDSM only. It's best we start ours.

 

[PakavuNateleza]

The biggest problem of we software engineers in bongo we dont have anything to sell at first place.google,microsoft,sap you name it they had a product first before aproaching consumers.See the problem,develop solution that no one has and market your solution.Vinginevyo tutalalamika but it wont help

 

[HT]

The biggest problem of we software engineers in bongo we dont have anything to sell at first place.google,microsoft,sap you name it they had a product first before aproaching consumers.See the problem,develop solution that no one has and market your solution.Vinginevyo tutalalamika but it wont help

can you example(s) of problems here that might need a solution?

 

[Tangawizi]

Pamoja na ukweli kuwa kuna opportunities nyingi sana upande huo sababu sio kila kitu kinataka tutumie SAP, Pastel au software za aina hiyo, bado tunasuasua sana! Kiasi kikubwa scientist tunachangia kwa hilo kwa kutokuwa wabunifu

 

[PakavuNateleza]

Tugive you ideas,think about rent manegement system inayoweza kutumika kama kariakoo,machinga complex etc,portal for TFF for spot fans to get info about players profiles,team history etc.area ziko nyingi sana ila we ourselves we need to come up with solutions thawe can sell and not otherwiset

 

[PakavuNateleza]

To give you ideas,think about rent manegement system inayoweza kutumika kama kariakoo,machinga complex etc,portal for TFF for spot fans to get info about players profiles,team history etc.area ziko nyingi sana ila we ourselves we need to come up with solutions thawe can sell and not otherwise

 

[Tangawizi]

The problem is not the challenges that we face! The problems are luck of ingenuity/creativity on our side. General principle in life is that when challenges stand on one side, opportunities lie plent on the other. It all depends on which side we want to give the insight.

 

[Kang]

Tugive you ideas,think about rent manegement system inayoweza kutumika kama kariakoo,machinga complex etc,portal for TFF for spot fans to get info about players profiles,team history etc.area ziko nyingi sana ila we ourselves we need to come up with solutions thawe can sell and not otherwiset

Swali ni je ukienda na hizo ideas TFF kuna mtu wa kukusikiliza bila kumtangulizia bahasha kwanza? Na akikusikiliza yuko teyari kukulipa reasonable fee?
No doubt kuna opportunity za hapa na pale kwenye software Bongo lakini kwenye level ya kuendesha industry ya Software Engineering sidhani, naamini hela ipo zaidi kwenye consulting/implementation ya software za nje na "IT".

 

[kotinkarwak]

Kupata wa kukusikiliza ndio inawezekana, lakini je? huyo anayesikiliza ana upeo kiasi gani kwenye forum ya IT. That's why a suggestion of "flooding" the potential market will sample solutions on how problem X can be resolved utilizing resources Y, and technologies Z is required. In the field of IT any number of possible avenues can be explored to tackle a given requirement na kuwa na ICT business sector needs this varied technical knowhows to be present ndio kuongeza ushindani na kuboresha the sector.

Je bado business processes zinatumia excel spreadsheets ku'manage critical application data? Je Benki za Tanzania wametatua ishu ya kutokuwa na unique key to identify a given client since nchi haina formal system of citizens ID's, ukifungua account Arusha na nyingine in Dar using a simple switching of your names ujue kuwa you are two unique people to them.... na je tukifika kwenye majina popular si ni issue kubwa!!!...
HESLB, TCU Mungu wangu sijui tuanzie wapi!!!

Amazed!Read an article a while back (ippmedia) where the chap from the ministry of education said they were having difficulty in identifying students who are applying for a student loan but have been registered/accepted at multiple universities. The question I would ask that chap in person, is whether he deems it right for him to get up in the morning, partake in increasing the early traffic jam on the pretext that he is heading to work for I don't see how he should be working behind a desk... simple administration like this if they can't handle I wonder, how they can manage the loans portfolio.

Suggestion/Request/Recommendation
Je hakuna huduma ambayo ICT inaweza kuiboresha kwa kuwa ni "self service". Application process ambayo HSELB ilianzisha was meant to offer such a service, lakini imetokea kuwa a very basic data gathering exercise. The extent ambayo such a system ingetengenezwa (in my opinion) ni kuwa, full application inafanyika pale kwenye hiyo site. Naweza ku'login na kuangalia application yangu imefikia stage gani... na kuwa na dashboard ambayo inaonyesha processes zote na kiasi gani hawa waheshimiwa wako busy, sio tu kuhakiki my details, kuchukua hako kamchango kangu, lakini mimi bado inanibidi kufukuzana na waheshimiwa wa serikali za mitaa na vijiji...
​

 

[Ndahani]

We have to become drivers of the issues pertaining to application of science and engineering. I believe after designing tailor-made solutions, we can have science and engineering innovation expo where all the issuses discovered would be exhibited. We have to start somewhere if we really want to make an impact

 

[PakavuNateleza]

Watu wengi hapa mnafikiria vikwazo na kujustify kwamba mambo hayawezekani.Ila from my experience opportunity zipo nyingi tuu bongo and as a freelance software developer nimefanya application nyingi tuu ambazo zinatumika kwenye serious business na mimi inshallah mambo yanaenda.so dont ever ever giveup