GHAPACK: A Library for the Generalized Hebbian Algorithm

February 8, 2009 – 10:34 pm
I recently joined a new open source project called GHAPACK. The project currently provides the functionality and the means to use the Generalized Hebbian Algorithm. I came across this project after banging my head against some of the practical limitations of Singular Value Decomposition (SVD). GHA is a Hebbian-based neural network-like algorithm that approximates SVD's ability to perform eigen decomposition. Its added bonus is that it allows for incremental training so you can refine your model with new data without having to recompute using the entire dataset. Your Trusty SVD Tool SVD is one of those tools that every machine learning practitioner and computational geek will pull out at some time or another. It's a powerful matrix factorization technique that allows you to get at the matrix's eigenvectors and eigenvalues. One of reason it tends to be used so often is the fact that it can be used on those pesky M ...

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Agile Scapegoating and People over Process

November 19, 2008 – 2:28 am
Last week James Shore posted an article The Decline and Fall of Agile that generated quite a bit of discussion. He points out many of atrocities and failures in software development and software project management done under guise of "Agile" or "Scrum" are often not true implementations. You have these teams who say they are doing Scrum, but the only things that actually get adopted are sprints and scrums. So many of these failed groups ignore the important and difficult aspects of Scrum like self-organization, shippable product goals, and self-reflection & improvement. As Jason says, they are "having their dessert every night and skipping their vegetables." Ken Schwaber replied to Jason's article: When Scrum is mis-used, the results are iterative, incrementa​l death marches. This is simply waterfall done more often without any of the risk mitigation techniques or people and engineerin​g practices needed to make Scrum work. The article also sparked Bob Martin to write an essay "Dirty Rotten ScrumDrels" in ...

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Protosprout : Promoting Entrepreneurship & Start-Up Culture in North Carolina

November 18, 2008 – 3:32 am
A couple of weeks ago I emerged from my development trance and decided to venture back out into the wilds of the Triangle entrepreneurial scene. The timing worked out so that I could trek out to Raleigh earlier this month to attend the inaugural Protosprout Community Program Meeting. Protosprout ( http://protosprout.com ) is a NC-based company founded by Justis Peters that is looking to bring local entrepreneurs together and foster an energized, start-up community. I think it was a successful first meeting. Justis pulled folks together and lead some interesting and informal discussions including how the community could work together to provide support and value to one another. Ideas included things like skill and service bartering, community forums, general networking, official Protosprout mentorship and startup programs. A local skill bartering system would be great for a lot of startups ( ala programmer meets designer ) as would a tighter knit community ...

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