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Adam Smith Builds an App

Adam Smith Builds an App

A presentation given at UberConf 2012 in Broomfield, Colorado, USA.

Further game theory resources an be found at https://gist.github.com/matthewmccullough/2721876 and http://ambientideas.com/blog/index.php/2011/04/game-theory-and-softwaredev/

Matthew McCullough

July 13, 2012
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  1. The person whose whole life is spent in performing a

    few simple operations, of which the effects are perhaps always the same, or very nearly the same, has no occasion to exert his understanding or to exercise his invention in finding out expedients for removing difficulties which never occur. “
  2. AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP Eco Bank of Benin Plc 96

    Recette Principal,Cotonou,Benin. African Development Bank (Eco Bank Plc) Email-contact: [email protected] http://www.ecobank.com ======================================================== Attention; The Eco Bank Plc kindly write to inform you that the African Development Bank Group (ADBG) in conjunction with African Union (AU) has bought over all the foreign debts within the African region in what is called DEBT-BUY-BACK AGREEMENT. Under this circumstance we have recall all payment file within African Continent only. It was possibly due to the pressure from the International Community, American Government, World Bank and the IMF. Coupled with the Crisis in African countries had prompted our contact to you in this first quarter of the year 2012. The Eco Bank Plc (http://www.ecobank.com) and (ADBG) are only working on the files approved by Solomon smith Banner as we have no trust on files submitted by local banks in Africa. All your data has been verified by SOLOMON SMITH BANNER.
  3. The Eco Bank Plc (http://www.ecobank.com) and (ADBG) are only working

    on the files approved by Solomon smith Banner as we have no trust on files submitted by local banks in Africa. All your data has been verified by SOLOMON SMITH BANNER. Please note that this information's must be kept secret to avoid hackers entering into our data base and steal information of beneficiaries. All payment process must be done in the bank; Back door transaction will not be accepted. No rigorous system involved. Payment should be on Bank to bank transaction, E-payment system. Please reconfirm your following information for verification of beneficiary's details (Your Full Names, Mailing address, Telephone number, fund amount, date of Birth and occupation), No bank details required at this stage. Get your information‚s forwarded to us via mail [email protected] Thanks for your co-operation. Contract Payment Department
  4. The Eco Bank Plc (http://www.ecobank.com) and (ADBG) are only working

    on the files approved by Solomon smith Banner as we have no trust on files submitted by local banks in Africa. All your data has been verified by SOLOMON SMITH BANNER. Please note that this information's must be kept secret to avoid hackers entering into our data base and steal information of beneficiaries. All payment process must be done in the bank; Back door transaction will not be accepted. No rigorous system involved. Payment should be on Bank to bank transaction, E-payment system. Please reconfirm your following information for verification of beneficiary's details (Your Full Names, Mailing address, Telephone number, fund amount, date of Birth and occupation), No bank details required at this stage. Get your information‚s forwarded to us via mail [email protected] Thanks for your co-operation. Contract Payment Department
  5. It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the

    brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own self-interest. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages. “ —Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature & Causes of the Wealth of Nations
  6. Discovery #1 Price some top-shelf items high so as to

    sell others beneath them. Don’t price everything at the point at which it would sell well.
  7. If you decry reality for not following your model, then

    you're no longer practicing science, you're an economist. “ —Every scientist that ever looked even sideways at economics
  8. but then the obvious question to ask is what are

    the alternatives and do they work better? You want to think broadly about that, rethink a lot of the institutions; but you still have to think about what are the possible alternatives. If there are no possible alternative that's better then I think we are stuck with the not-so-good alternative we have; “ —Dr. Russ Roberts, George Mason University with Debra Satz on EconTalk, August 2011 Episode
  9. but then the obvious question to ask is what are

    the alternatives and do they work better? You want to think broadly about that, rethink a lot of the institutions; but you still have to think about what are the possible alternatives. If there are no possible alternative that's better then I think we are stuck with the not-so-good alternative we have; “ —Dr. Russ Roberts, George Mason University with Debra Satz on EconTalk, August 2011 Episode
  10. I also share your value of choice and enabling a

    wide range of choices. I do worry about if you make some choices available to people that are actually really harmful, you'll wind up in situations where sometimes people feel more compelled to make those choices. “ —Dr. Russ Roberts, George Mason University with Debra Satz on EconTalk, August 2011 Episode
  11. I also share your value of choice and enabling a

    wide range of choices. I do worry about if you make some choices available to people that are actually really harmful, you'll wind up in situations where sometimes people feel more compelled to make those choices. “ —Dr. Russ Roberts, George Mason University with Debra Satz on EconTalk, August 2011 Episode
  12. I also share your value of choice and enabling a

    wide range of choices. I do worry about if you make some choices available to people that are actually really harmful, you'll wind up in situations where sometimes people feel more compelled to make those choices. “ —Dr. Russ Roberts, George Mason University with Debra Satz on EconTalk, August 2011 Episode
  13. O S X i s f o r b u

    i l d i n g websites, Linux is for running them, Windows is for testing Internet Explorer. “
  14. The figures... are based on the assumptions that both sides

    are able to translate all relevant values into a “common denominator” “utility”. To act “rationally” according to this criterion means simply to choose from among the available courses of action the one which promises to maximize expected value... over the long run. “ —Glenn Snyder Deterrence and Power, 1960
  15. The figures... are based on the assumptions that both sides

    are able to translate all relevant values into a “common denominator” “utility”. To act “rationally” according to this criterion means simply to choose from among the available courses of action the one which promises to maximize expected value... over the long run. “ —Glenn Snyder Deterrence and Power, 1960
  16. Discovery #3 Very few actions are pure currency transactions Make

    choices based on weighing both utils and currency
  17. Discovery #4 Some technical decisions are made by stakeholders More

    technical decisions are made by steak-eaters
  18. It is naturally to be expected, therefore, that some one

    or other of those who are employed in each particular branch of labour should soon find out easier and readier methods of performing their own particular work wherever the nature of it admits of such improvement. “ —Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature & Causes of the Wealth of Nations
  19. Discovery #3 Very few actions are pure currency transactions Make

    choices based on weighing both utils and currency
  20. It is naturally to be expected, therefore, that some one

    or other of those who are employed in each particular branch of labour should soon find out easier and readier methods of performing their own particular work wherever the nature of it admits of such improvement. “ —Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature & Causes of the Wealth of Nations
  21. Only hire someone who is constantly improving their skills and

    seems like they would be great at running the company... Because they essentially are. “ —Chris Wanstrath GitHub Tech Talk
  22. Discovery #5 One developer is not ever fully comparable to

    another Choose co-workers carefully. Some actually cost you utils.
  23. Discovery #6 A weekly one hour spike on a technology

    generates informed hot or not positions
  24. Discovery #6 A weekly one hour spike on a technology

    generates informed hot or not positions Spikes indicate whether or not to invest more time.
  25. Hi Matthew, I have a couple of openings in the

    tech center for junior java developers with 3 - 5 years of java development experience. Do you know anyone you could recommend? If you refer someone and we hire them, you are eligible for a referral fee. Thank you in advance! From: "Kendra Alvarado" <[email protected]> Subject: do you know any junior java developers Date: March 2, 2012 12:17:48 PM CST To: "Matthew McCullough" <[email protected]>
  26. Discovery #7 Hot skills can flame out unexpectedly but can

    pay very well in the short run. Have a modestly diversified portfolio of skills.
  27. Even a brief nap may help boost learning, memory, and

    creative problem solving. “ —Harvey B. Simon, M.D., Harvard Medical School
  28. Discovery #8 Our primary job functions are learning and invention.

    Sleep aids skill acquisition, retention & creativity. Sleep more.