"Software is eating the world"
– Marc Andreessen, co-author of Mosaic, the first widely used web browser with a graphical user interface; co-founder of Netscape; and co-founder and general partner of Silicon Valley venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz

In today's world, tech is ubiquitous, and software is the engine that powers it. From streamlining operations to enhancing user experiences, software is a non-negotiable for non-profits. However, the question of whether to build or buy software is a critical one. This article explores the pros and cons of both approaches and offers a hybrid solution that can help non-profits thrive.

How does one accurately measure software development productivity? A study at Microsoft took a stab at surfacing insights from self-reported measures.

CTO positions can seem confusing in different organisations. Here are four general models observed based on Tom Berray’s 2002 framework;

Some of the decisions algorithms make about our lives are fairly benign, such as those irresistible ‘Suggestions for you’ on Netflix. But it gets far murkier when artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are used by businesses and governments for decision-making that affects our lives without us ever knowing about it. And worse, without us being able to appeal those decisions.

A university student from Kenya recently reached out to me on e-mail to ask for advice on his final year project so I’ve decided to publish the response incase it can help others;

Getting Citizens to the Polling Booth Informed and Ready

This is summary of a lightning talk I gave at Media Party Africa. Check out the #MediaPartyAfrica tweets here. And awesome recap by Kainaz Amaria here.

“Never stop learning.” Something we all know we’re supposed to be doing.. but are we really? We get comfortable with what we are good at and we try to build on that. Don’t get me wrong, that is important but to really grow, we need to get uncomfortable.

Health scares are something that keep millions of Africans awake at night, terrified that they might be unable to keep their loved ones safe. Possible solutions using digital tools were therefore a big focus at the continent’s first #AfricaOpenData conference in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) this week.

If you're interested in creating accessible, interactive maps using Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG), you might already be familiar with the remarkable tool, Kartograph. This article aims to shed light on a common installation hurdle faced while setting up an essential component for Kartograph: the Geospatial Data Abstraction Library (GDAL).