Despite the absence of cash-earning – I think we sort of expect companies to form in the US, so we leave them to it – there’s plenty of innovation in the European software industry. I pointed you to Exoftware, an Irish company – there’s a great page of links on their Web site, and they are leading the “Agile Alliance” in Europe, worth a browse. Similarly I used to participate in an OO conference (OT) that was totally freeform, great stuff. Much was theorising, which was a downside, but on the positive, some of software’s best thinkers are European (Jacobsen, Fowler). You should also take a closer look at the patterns community – very active, very communicative, very SOA and very European!

Fascinatingly to me, and I’m trying to work out why, this very active community is not too heavily into blogging. I think it might be that the communities formed before blogging, and therefore they’re sticking to older mechanisms for a variety of reasons. Blogging favours individuals, perhaps nobody’s in favour of sticking their heads above the parapets (apart from Grady Booch of course, but that’s an IBM thing!) There’s country differences as well – I did a presentation in Germany yesterday, and when I asked the audience, they all said they read blogs. In the UK financial industry version today in London, nobody did. Very interesting. Perhaps, also, you’re not reading the blogs in French, German, Spanish and therefore not hooked into what’s going on at a local level?

Anyway, all good food for thought.

Ian raised an important point, of course… its called a fact. but its not one that undercuts the entire argument. part of the problem i am talking about is confusing the ability to come up with a smart putdown with the ability to build something. Brits often seem to prefer the former to the latter.

and yes of course you’re right - but its not just Yanks that call out our whining is it? Don’t Aussies and Kiwis love to call us whingeing poms?

being labelled “Whining” though is a major insult in america, unlike here, for all reasons above. Its used to kill debate - “whining democrats”, say.

We’ve posted some info about the next Beers & Innovation on 30th March. Being only a lowly editor I’m struggling to see the link format for your comments (tried bog standard html coding which works in other blogs but no joy!) so Google it in the meantime and i’ll mail ya.

We’ve an open call for speakers too (2 speakers max to give the assembled plenty of time for input, as is best) so let me know soon if you’ve any suggestions as it’ll all be sorted before I go off to SXSW!

Hope some of you guys - yes I was at Future Of Web Apps too so I know - (and quiet gal readers!) will come along, have few drinks and chew the fat…

Deirdre

ps. Damn those Irish names, so hard to spell..

It’s really interesting you make some of these points. I think to some extent it is valid, but I am not sure I agree the reasons. In my experience the American booms start in the energy charged, innovate or die enivronments surrounding such places as Silicon valley. British IT tends to be more financial institutions and stiff upper lips.

I was also at that summit and I really believe that someone needs to give the English some gusto to get them going. All the best stuff selling out the states doesn’t help. Cal is obviously (utterly utterly unmistakalby) British, and he’s not the only bright spark I know that is stateside. If all our inspirational talent needs to leave as you suggested to succeed, then the other 90% will never get pulled up by their bootlaces.

That said, I applied for a job in the valley no less than a week ago. I guess I’m a traitor too.

Thanks,

Christopher

Maybe Britain is post capitalist. The British started it, so they ran out of steam first.

Ian - is Carson a UK company? My mistake. that is very interesting. As i said on my blog at the time Ryan really won me round, he did a great job and i have a great deal of respect for his open and transparent approach. He is of course American- which makes his UK contribution all the more valuable. Cheers Ryan. And thanks to Ian for pointing it out. Big Up Ryan and Gillian!
http://www.carsonsystems.com/about.html

Dierdre - you get a You Got The Funk Award.

ric - nice one! its a post-Commonwealth hangover?

cheers christoper. i send you a long private email in response but it bounced?

Back to all the Canadians in the house. Like i say great standup comedians tend to be debunker people. Canada generates a lot of great standups per capita. Hollywood loves Canadians.

California is still the global starmaker. That is true in a lot of industries and i suppose starting a company up is no different, in some ways, than becoming a movie star. you have to go where the money is. That is California. There is more money splashing around there than anywhere. hollywood and high tech - but Star and production systems defining the world’s mores and economy. Not bad for one state, eh? Imagine how well it could do it it left the union? Just kidding folks. Sorry- i am trying to keep politics of the blog.

One thing I will say about the Vancouver tech start up scene is we have an abundance of tech/r&d talent but we lack tech marketing and biz dev people!

And I don’t think you Brits have a stranglehold on the entitlement culture either - plenty of it Down Under as well!