Month: October 2023

Desks (Oct 28)

Everything is now moved into our new location. Desks and file cabinets are in their long-term homes. It’ll take a few more days to unpack boxes, then TurtleSoft will be back in business. Progress reports on our new accounting software will be coming soon.

I personally work at two desks, and often swivel between them. On top are four monitors and about 10 desktop machines: two Windows and the rest Mac Minis. Some of it is because of old software that needs older machines. It’s the only way to run Adobe apps on the desktop. Some is so we can test the new software in any recent OS. The setup also makes it easy to do something else during downloads, compiles or other lengthy operations.

When it came time to start restocking desk drawers, I realized something. At least 90% of the stuff sat there untouched since the last move. It’s currently in boxes with labels linked to a spreadsheet, and they might as well stay there. Maybe all the clutter on top of the desks can go into the empty slots, now. That makes room for new and improved clutter!

Dennis Kolva
Programming Director
TurtleSoft.com

 

Programming Seasons (Oct 9)

Our first estimating/accounting software began in Winter 1985/6, during a slow spell with only a couple indoor construction projects lined up. It finally seemed time to computerize and make the business more professional.

The original plan was MS/DOS and Lotus 1-2-3, but the Mac Plus changed that. It just seemed a better business machine, especially thanks to Microsoft Excel. With printer, hard drive and software, the whole package cost over $20K in current dollars. Luckily, the investment paid for itself within a year or two.

TurtleSoft started to sell home-grown Excel templates in 1987. By ’89, more money came in from software sales than from construction work. From then on, we were a real software company, focused on developing apps for accounting and other business needs.

Except, well, sometimes we weren’t. Programming is creative work. It doesn’t fit well into a 40 hr/52 week routine. Our staff took plenty of breaks for spring planting, travel, fall harvest, etc. Productivity was best during the gray winter months. Almost as good during sweltering summers. Often neglected in between.

Right now is one of those seasonal breaks. Still moving stuff into the new house and organizing the new office. It should taper off by the end of October.

Dennis Kolva
Programming Director
TurtleSoft.com