Software Version Control

In software engineering, version control tracks the changes made to the software. Version control tells Who, What and When any modification was made to the software.

Alas, it doesn’t say much on Why it was made. Did the modification come from a client request? Or was it made because it was easy to implement and inexpensive?

Any inexpensive but unrequested product feature generates expenses for promoting, selling and supporting the software.

Code Vs. Software

People use either “Code” or “Software” as if they were synonyms. Sales-engineers often use “code“. Sales-non-engineers always use “software“.

The distinction between Code and Software is subtle. Programmers write codes, the list of statements that give instructions to computers. The software is the end product: what the users perceive.

When demoing the software, the above difference can be significant. It’s software what our customer is buying.

Only 5 Inches Tall

Niche markets are hot.

Apart from the top five (Dassault, Ansys, MSC, Siemens PLM and LMS), Computer Aided Engineering company average size is as small as $5 Millions. Because big players don’t pursue such small markets before they eventually grow, niche software live a limited competitive pressure, i.e. bigger profits and growth.

Quoting Seth Godin “because everyone in Hollywood is trying to be George Clooney, there are a lot more opportunities for the few Danny DeVito willing to show up.” My advice then is to invest (your time) in niche software companies.

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