BOSS logic

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a FAQ?

You’re looking at it.

What is this site?

This site is my personal weblog. I started it so that I could jot down ideas, share some thoughts and have a convenient place to develop various book concepts. You’ll also find a lot of more or less ranting and tidbits of technology that I stumble across.

What is BOSS logic?

BOSS logic is a domain with a lot of personal history. I was a co-founder of the company back in the early 1990’s just as NEXTSTEP was about to be released. During BOSS’s original four year lifespan I moved to California, ran my first truly large scale development project, met my wife and watched as an idea turned into Netscape and the web was invented.

These days, I have about a fifty percent interest in the company. It provides a home for many of my personal endeavors (such as this weblog and some open source projects). It is also the parent company of System Technology Institute, an excellent technology training company.

Why “BOSS?”

Well, I think the slightly older generation might remember “boss” in the context of slang… “Cool man, that’s boss!”

And what’s NEXTSTEP?

After Steve Jobs left Apple, back in the 1980’s, he founded NEXT Computer (yes, later he went back to Apple and pretty well saved the company). NEXT Computer made some impressive Unix-based hardware and software (the operating system was called NEXTSTEP). Sometime later, NEXT Computer was essentially acquired by Apple, and OS/X was born (the NEXT hardware went the way of the Dodo).

NEXTSTEP was essentially seen as an effective way for enterprises to develop leading edge Unix-based systems without having to purchase Unix-based mainframes. Linux didn’t exist yet, so those were realistically the two options of the day. There was some talk of NEXTSTEP overthrowing Microsoft Windows (remember, Microsoft was much smaller then). While an entertaining idea, the only people that really believed in it tended to be the “build it and they will come” types.

You seem to like the Mac. Why?

I am professionally agnostic when it comes to operating systems. Different operating systems fulfill different purposes, and I’m equally at home in all of them.

Personally, I use a Mac because it’s a powerful Unix-based operating system that I’m at home in, and I feel it makes me more productive. This is important to me as the whole point of using a computer is getting things done on it, not letting the computer use you to keep it running.

You actually do all your work on a Mac?

No. My personal workspace is on a Mac (which uses OS/X 10.5, an operating system derived from BSD Unix and not unlike Linux). My development work can be on OS/X, or Linux, Unix or Windows. I’ve done a bit of work on mainframe systems too (IBM OS/390 for instance) and seem to spend a lot of time in Oracle (some people think that Oracle is becoming an operating system unto itself; I’m not sure I disagree).

Where are you?

I live near Los Angeles, California, but far enough away from the bright lights and big city that we can enjoy life and raise our kids in peace. I tend to travel wherever work takes me.

Why a weblog?

Largely because I like to write, and putting my thoughts into a blog is a good, quick way to jot down ideas. Often many of the ideas I write in the blog are developed further and end up in a book I’m writing. Sometimes having a weblog helps me stay motivated about my other writing projects, too.

What is the book you are writing?

It’s work related, naturally. Essentially a technology project management survival guide, although it’s an evolving work and could end up covering too many topics to put into a single, cohesive manuscript. The working title (still subject to change, of course) is Navigating the Methodology Maze: a roadmap to successfully adopting process in your organization.

I’ve published a few other works, largely white papers and software manuals. There are a few patents out there with my name on them, too. I’m also the author of several instructional courses.

Why WordPress?

I started out using blojsom because it comes bundled with OS/X Server, but soon outgrew it. After that I tried Moveable Type, which was fine for a while but had some limitations that were annoying to work with. WordPress was (and still is) one of the leading weblog packages available. It installed fairly easily, and it let me customize the interface to my liking.

It also works pretty well with ecto, a weblog editing application that I like.

Aren’t you the guy that was at…?

I’ve been in the technology industry since the late 1980’s, and my name does show up all over the internet. Usually that’s simply because I was around before the internet became popular (after the web was invented).

Early in my career I founded a company that built word processing and reactive spelling correction (“check as you type”) software on Windows. Then I moved into NEXTSTEP development and government-related work. After the relatively slow pace became tiring, I moved into the corporate sector again just as the web was emerging. I’ve also been involved in a fairly significant number of web sites, e-commerce projects, and start up companies over the years.

So, you’re available to help us on a project?

Absolutely. You can reach me through my employer, System Technology Institute or just email me directly (zbeckman at my “bosslogic.com” domain). I have spam deterrent running, so it might be best if you call me at 805-504-3733.

Can I see your references, resume or c.v.?

I’d be happy to provide you with any background you want, but lets talk first. You can start by checking out the condensed C.V. I have here. If you happen to use LinkedIn, though, feel free to drop by my profile there.

Do you have a disclaimer?

Yes. What I write, and the views I express, do not reflect that of my past, present, or future employers. What I post is my opinion. This is, after all, my web site.