I've decided that I am not a software architect, or at least, while I have the requisite skills to perform that job function and often do, I prefer, in the comfort of my own home, not to think about new ways of building a data access layer or laying out PowerPoint slide decks which clearly show that MY application actually has FOUR (!) logical layers and why that is oh so much better that the usual THREE.

I like to think that technology is a tool that can drive the human species forward, doing the mundane so that individuals can achieve great things. Because of that vision I can often be found scribbling away on a piece of paper trying to map out some concept which came to me while I was in a bit of a dream state. Am I mad? Possibly. Am I alone? Hell no.

There are people out there today, they probably sit one cubicle over from you, who in their spare time are concocting great new things using their skills. These Software Inventors live their life leaving a trail of half completed diagrams which are the result of their continual context switching. But if there are so many Software Inventors out there - why don't we see the fruits of their labour.

Well - it comes down to economics. Many of these people have families, they want their families to be well feed and catered for - that means building the same application over and over again.

As an individual they would probably be happy sleeping on a mattress under their desk retreating to it when they need inspiration or when they just can't code any more, but what they really want is that new challenge. They want to write that piece of software that is going to make things better, not worse - they want a chance to execute on their dream induced designs.

Sigh. Anyway - back to my data access layer.