5 Tips Before you click "Apply Now"

Here are few tips to mind before you click on the "Send" button to apply to us (or anywhere else for the matter).

1. Are you sending to the right person?

Every company out there will have a different email address for job applicants, jobs@, career@; so its there for some reason. May be it goes to the HR, or an auto-filter software... sending the CV to ceo@, support@ will not get it any special attention.


2. Subject

Subject is your first chance to get attention, take time to type a meaningful subject. It must include position (or job reference code), experience, key skills.

Like: [CPP] C++/QT: 2.5+ yrs exp.

3. CV File Format

The CV should be attached in preferably PDF, or else DOC. One that requires a specific software or converter will never get opened.

4. Covering Letter

If you applying through email, the body of the email should be your cover letter, why attachment? Do you want to convey you are using the same cover letter for every company you are applying for?

5. Personal Attention

Take time to make the job application personalized for the company. Drop a line about why you want to work with us.? What seems interesting in our company, products? CCing the same email to a dozen companies' jobs email is ridiculous. Re-read your email, and spell check it.


Good luck. On a side note, we have opening for C++ programmers, if you have coded in any domain of C++ (VC++, Bada, QT, Symbian, Carbon, Borland-C++, Dev-C++, GCC/G++) other than Turbo-C++, apply to us at "jobs @ retinax.com".

SniperSpy Upgrade

We ran out of 600GB of space we had at our current server, and the database was hosting text about 5GB. The proud upgrade of server we did in May, 2009 was no longer enough.

The trouble was, we didn't want to torture our customers, among thousands, by asking them to upgrade their builds with new version. We wanted everything to work behind the scene, and yet utilize the new server, 2TB of drive space, and new database.

We did it!

Our server runs on Linux and web scripts are running in PHP. PHP comes with some powerful network programming capabilities, here are two that helped.

1. PHP FTP Functions

One can create a fully functional secure FTP client in PHP. This helps in making the scripts transfer logs to new server, while the requests come to old server.

2. PHP Socket/HTTP Functions

PHP supports writing socket programs, but what helped in our case was the HTTP functions. This helps in sending request to another web server, and taking their response to the scripts only. We can do both GET/POST requests thru it.

This helps in writing several web programs that communicates between old and new server. Like isNewFilesPresent.php returns if new files is ready for fetching, and display it on the welcome page.

Besides that, MySQL can be given remote access permission, hence a web program can make use of database hosted on another server.

So, everything happily worked out.

Get more information about SniperSpy Remote Spy Software here.

Starting a software export company - Part V

This is the final blog in the series in which I was talking about the paths followed while registering a *new* export company in Jaipur, India.

Part I
Part II
Part III
Part IV

So now our final step of Custom Bonding is complete, and hence the company can be operational to raise invoices and do the trade.

As a final blog in this topic, here is a quick look at the paperwork:

1. STPI registration process;
2. Legal Agreement with STPI;
3. Custom Bonding;

(Documents for Custom Bonding):

* Application for Custom Bonding.
* Copy of STPI Approval Letter
* Copy of Green Card issued by STPI
* List of proposed Plant & Machinery of Capital Goods attested by STPI.
* Agreement with STPI for Export Commitment.
* Process of Manufacture (Software Development Process).
* Supplementary Terms and Conditions, duly accepted by us on Rs. 100/- Stamp Paper to be notarise.
* Solvency Certificate.
* B – 17 Bond on Rs. 100/- Stamp Paper to be notarise.
* Affidavit on Rs. 100/- Stamp Paper to be notarise.
* Bank Guarantee.
* Declaration for Custom.
* Memorandum and Articles of Association.
* Lease Agreement of Premises or Ownership supporting details.
* Ground Plan of Premises.
* Copy of Importer Exporter Code No.
* Copy of Permanent Account No. (PAN No.).

Email me (zeeshan @ retinasoft.net) for any help/suggestions.

How We Do Software Project Management - Part I

Our projects life cycle is divided into following phases:

1. Initialization,
2. Planning,
3. Execution
4. Testing
5. Closure

1. Initialization,

Initialization starts with kick off meeting-I, the points discussed in KoM-I are:-

• Introductions
• Goals
• Provide History
• Roles, Structure, Contacts
• Standards, Guidelines
• Set up 'Functions' team
• (High level) Schedules, budget

Same meeting Product Scope (containing 'what' the project is all about) is provided.

Once the KoM-I is complete, the feasibility study of the project features are done, finally leading into Kick off meeting - II:

• Look at Requirements, Specs, SOW, CDRL
• Design standards
• Rules, Procedures
• Reporting
• Training requirements
• Problem areas
• Risks

2. Planning

Planning and design is most important part of a software project, and a lot of emphasis is given in to it.

The planning phase mainly consist of making the Project Scope, the documents which consist of at least the following:

1. System Architecture
2. Design Constraints
3. Functional Specification
4. Work Breakdown Schedule
5. Base Gantt Chart
6. UI design
7. Risk Matrix

The System Architecture consist of UMLs, with a bare minimum of the following:

1. Use case Diagram
2. Class Diagram
3. Sequence Diagram
4. State Chart Diagram
5. Component Diagram
6. Deployment Diagram

In the planning stage Test Plan is also created.

3. Execution

Execution is the phase, and always the longest, where coding take place. SVN repository is created for the project, and coders are assigned their accounts are privileges. Daily commits are required.

To keep communication open and active, weekly Progress Status Report meeting is done, in this meeting, the PSR report consisting of:

1. Work done in Last week,
2. Work planned to do in new week,
3. Current Gantt chart, comparison with baseline,

is submitted.

The Project Managers need also to watch for Change control, where he/she is required to monitor the work, if a fix in plan is required, the change in Scopes are done, along with changes in schedule and project scope. Same need to be reported to the management.

If everything is on track, the PM software, which is phpCollab in our case, is updated.

4. Testing

During the execution phase, Test cases are made. They are executed in this phase, with reporting to our bug database, the assigned developers fixes the bugs, and give feedback on the same system.


5. Project Closure

At this stage, acceptance testing is done, checking for grammers, signing of application, trial versions are made/tested, web site content are updated, PRs are made among other things.

The team need to submit a Project closure report and hold a PCR meeting with their team.

Initialization Phase:
Planning Phase:

Execution Phase:

Project Closure

So the above is a quick look at how we do the entire process, in coming days I will throw more light on each of the topics / phases.

App Markets give new edge to geekpreneurs

Back in 2002, when after coding Sys Detective I'd been trying to self-publish it, I found software marketing is no easy task. Website, Sell content, Press release, Order Processing, Shareware, Demo, Affiliates, Packaging, Updates, Advertising, SEO and many other aspects. The day you have your Setup.exe ready to distribute, another venture to a whole new scary world begins.

Things are better now for newbie geekpreneur - whether a college geek, or a day time worker looking to make side income from home, imitating the successful Apple's AppStore, all major Smartphone vendors have come up with their own marketing store.

Submitting and selling through such App stores is easy in comparison to the long process of Windows software marketing. With Apple, RIM and Android's open-source tools developing for such platform is fun, fast and cheap.

So if programming interest you and marketing scares you, this is the best time ever to sell your innovative software.

Info about specific AppStores from their vendors: iPhone, Windows Mobile, Nokia Ovi, Android Market, and BlackBerry.

And yes, SysDetective did reform to AceSpy and became a successful selling software for several years with the marketing efforts of James.

Starting a software export company - Part IV

After the presentation of the business plan in STPI, Jaipur on 13 November, 2009, we did the most difficult part, that is, waiting. So after a long wait of over a month, we have received now the "Approval Letter for STP Units", what it mainly does is approve the company as a member of STPI and extends all the benefits and facilities offered for STPI members to it.


So while it is time to cheer for the approval, the process is not yet complete. Next step is to sign up the "Legal Agreement" and deposit an advance fees for the transitions. And then focus should be on this line of the approval letter: "The unit should be custom bonded."

Retina-X Studios set to open new USA Office

Retina-X Studios, LLC is all set to open a new office in a major city of USA led by its co-founder James Johns. The new office will be responsible for handling product marketing, customer support and public relations. The company plans to hire several full time US employees in the same fields. We hope the new office will be operational by 15 of January'10.








More information about Retina-X Studios, LLC here.