AppErgo marks my return to an old passion: computer programming. I first discovered this field on my own nearly 25 years ago, especially with Delphi 6 and the Pascal language, then through a few experiments in C and Java. About ten years later, on the web side, I had explored HTML, CSS, PHP and MySQL, with a little JavaScript.
At the time, I had started several ideas and experiments, but I did not always bring those projects to completion. This time, I decided to take things more seriously, starting by building my own website.
A first project to get back on solid ground
AppErgo is my first real computer project, carried out with the intention of seeing it through: creating a clean space to publish, test, document and improve my tools. The site is still in development, but it already lays the foundations: articles, download pages, version tracking, bug reports and technical information.
AppErgo is also a custom-built website. It does not rely on a well-known CMS such as WordPress, Joomla or Drupal, but on a homemade foundation that I am gradually building according to my needs. This choice requires more work, but it allows me to keep control over how the site works, how it is organized, its security and its evolution.
At the time of writing this article, the site is in version 0.4: there is still work to do before reaching a version 1 that feels truly satisfying at every level.
Articles to support the project
In parallel, I will publish articles related to AppErgo, current projects or upcoming software, as well as more general content to explain certain technical or practical topics. While waiting for the first software releases in alpha or beta versions, these articles will help the site gradually find its place on the web with concrete, useful and publicly accessible content.
Starting with small utilities
I do not want to immediately start with an overly ambitious project. It seems more reasonable to begin by developing small utilities, simple and focused, which I hope will answer practical needs.
Developing this site has already reminded me of that: even a project that looks simple on the surface can become fairly complex, especially with a PHP admin interface responsible for generating the public pages. So, at the beginning, it is better not to set the bar too high and to move forward gradually.
As a user, I have tried many kinds of software over the years. Some are very powerful, but they can also become frustrating: unintuitive ergonomics, features that are hard to find, unexpected behavior or annoying bugs. This is therefore not without reason that I chose to name my site AppErgo: by developing my own tools, I want to offer solutions that are more direct, clearer and adapted to specific uses.
Returning to a compiled language
Very soon, I therefore want to return to a compiled language to develop my applications. I have already chosen that language: C++, for its speed, maturity and strong portability.
My goal will be to use tools and libraries that may eventually allow me to create software not only for Windows, but also for Linux and macOS. I am not there yet, but this is the direction I want to take: moving forward step by step, building things properly, learning and gradually improving what takes shape.
And after that?
Later, when I am more comfortable with C++, the chosen libraries and the whole development process, I would like to start one or more larger projects. And of course, while I already have a few ideas for future small utilities, I also have a few in mind for more ambitious projects.