Web Architecture

We had an event last Friday with a meeting of minds of all software architects in my company. There was a panel discussion on Agile Architecture where some seemingly innocuous but deep questions were posed and discussed. A sample includes

What is Architecture ?
Who is an architect ?
Does an architect code ?
Is s/he part of a scrum team ?

These questions came back when I saw this in my front yard yesterday while plucking flowers.

You probably would have to zoom in to spot the spider and its creation - the web. Some of the same questions came back

Is the spider an architect ?
If so, it was spinning the web itself too. So is it playing multiple roles ?
If not, then who is ? God ? Nature ?
Wasn't it agile - built just in time when it needed it ?

Not sure about the spider species but have been curious to find out ever since I had seen it a few years ago. There is semblance of an architecture - the web was very resilient to the breeze, shaking of the bushes when I plucked flowers and many other scenarios.

The legendary persistence  of the spider was visible as well. A number of incomplete, shattered webs were visible around this web.

One web. Not a very social insect. A number of questions.

Windows 10

Windows upgrade is doing the rounds. My laptop got a notification and I added my computer to the queue of systems lined up for a "free" upgrade from Windows 7 to 10.  

Not sure I would bite the upgrade though.  

Recent feedback I got from a colleague who updated his phone OS from Windows 8.1 to 10 and lost all wireless connectivity makes me really wary.

However, another kind of windows upgrade was overdue at home.

 

The shutters on the first floor rooms had started rotting. Exhibit A above. As the group photo shows, over a decade of weather exposure had taken its toll.

 Last month, during an unusually severe thunderstorm, one of the windows broke off and fell down. Broken glass,  piece of roof tile were the result. Luckily no one was standing below and hence no human impact. 

That was the trigger for lazy me to act. 

My wife and father-in-law got a quote of about Rs. 26,000 for the 10 window shutters from a local carpenter. The carpenter was not very clear on what kind of wood he would use and did not sound very convincing. A competitive quote from a carpenter who had done some work before at our home came up to Rs. 60,000.

We went with the higher quote as the carpenter recommended using Honne wood which was more expensive than the Red Sal that the current set had. He challenged me to procure the wood and he would handle the fitting to bring down the costs. I did not take up the challenge. On hindsight, I should have.

About a week after the work started, the upgrade is over. Windows have been replaced and painted. Have paid Rs. 52,000 so far. The cost of wood is still under contention - the carpenter claims to have paid for 12.15 cft (cubic feet) of wood at the rate of Rs. 2100 per cft while my calculations based on the window dimensions come up to half of that. Here is the break-up of the costs.

Wood (around 7cft) -  Rs. 14000

Planing charges       -  Rs. 5000

Fitting Charges        -  Rs. 15000 

Glass                        -  Rs. 3200

Beading                    -  Rs. 2000 (200 ft. @ Rs. 10/ft

Painting [labour]      -  Rs. 2400 (6 days @ Rs. 400/day)

Paint material           -  Rs. 2500

Even though he calls himself a carpenter, he is actually a contractor who co-ordinates carpentry work. He has a number of workers including painters who do the work while he goes about finding customers and collecting money. Business development some would say. A good portion of the costs can be brought down by directly buying the wood, getting the frames built and fitted via carpenters. Fitting charges are around Rs. 160 per square feet.

A good learning in upgrading windows. Not a very pleasant experience though. Sounds like what is in store for the other Windows upgrade as well.