Seeking AJAX Aficionados

Yip, it’s true – the burgeoning Yoickpire is seeking Ajaxians. Now we could’ve written a position description, but in the spirit of openness and web 2.0 collaboration we purloined this from another Silicon Valley company – let hear from ya!

If you have the passion to develop revolutionary web software, the skills to do it, and the desire to get in on the ground floor of a start-up with an outrageously bold ambition, then jump on board as we strive to change the way consumers use the internet to get informed, stay informed, and communicate about topics of interest. Founders are experienced execs who’ve worked in the industry and will now change it.

But we need you – super-bright, super-passionate, and super-motivated AJAX aficionados.

To handle the task at hand, you must have:
- Delusions of grandeur
- Untouchable, unspeakable, unthinkable programming skills
- Expert understanding of Javascript and other AJAX-related technologies
- Strong background in traditional CGI/DHTML development (Python experience is desirable but not required)
- Extensive experience developing large consumer-facing web applications in a start-up environment
- Strong bias towards multi-tasking, shipping product, and iterating quickly
- Desire to build and share code that others can use
- Confidence and intestinal fortitude to persevere as one of the first engineers on board a rapidly moving boat.

Some type of code portfolio (e.g. live products, small or big) that demonstrates your potential and interests would be helpful, but frankly, we’ll know brilliant when we see it.

Think you’ve got what it takes? So dump your stale gig and join us for the ride.

Why Web 2.0?

You may well ask me wire I’m fired up by all the goings on in and around Web 2.0.

Having pioneered the wilds of Web 1.0, this line from Ed Caggiani sums up why I’m back in the saddle:

The Wild West was fun, but it got better when they invented plumbing.”

Whither Vertical Search: A Google Threat?

What’s up with vertical search? There has been a plethora of activity in this space in the past 12 months, but has anyone really found the VSE killer app? Is VSE a threat to Google?

Alex Iskold has blogged a post headed: Watch Out Google, Vertical Search Is Ramping Up! in which he gives a clear overview of some vertical search areas and the players in them. However, none of these plays individually or as a group look like being anything more than a mosquito bite on an elephant’s rear.

I agree with Alex that there is a place for both generic and vertical search engines, but disagree that VSE is ready for prime time and will materially affect revenues at the GYM (Google, Yahoo, Microsoft).

My take is that the winner in VSE will be the company that can create a tightly integrated, infinitely vertically scalable suite of VSEs that fit hand in glove with a range of horizontal apps.

Common Protocols needed for Attention Platform

The Web 2.0 Journal has an article outlining the architecture for an attention platform.

Here is the crux of Alex Iskold’s piece:

This platform is designed to bring together attention capturing services, attention storage and attention applications that deliver end user value. The key aspects of the platform is decoupling between the services allowing various vendors deliver different implementations, yet communicate via common protocols.

A common set of protocols aka an IEEE-like standard (think 802.11 a-z) would certainly expedite the creation of an open attention platform and lead to more rapid growth of the Attention Economy.

I am aware of some very interesting work being done in this area. I’m sworn to secrecy right now, but will bring you ‘breaking news’ as soon as I can.