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 Ludas
02/05/2005 Interview with Tyler Faux Reason: Lead Developer, LudusTech


Tell us a bit about LudusTech- how did it start, how many people are involved etc.?
Ludus Technologies was started in November 2003, when I was nearly 14 years old (I’m now 15). My basic idea was to provide useful utilities to the general Palm user community that would greatly benefit their interaction with the OS. With a slew of free utilities and Desk Accessories, in addition to our mainstream line of applications like SharkSwipe, we’re definitely well on our way to that original goal. I run the company by myself with lots of feedback and ideas from the 1src community (at 1src.com). In addition, I’ve done a few projects involving tools and ARMlets from legendary Palm OS programmers like CliePet and Igor (aibohack.com and palmoid.com, respectively). I have to balance programming and the marketing/selling aspects of running LudusTech with my schoolwork… so I keep busy ;-)
 
 
What’s been your most successful product to date and which one are you most proud of?
Financially my most successful product has been SharkSwipe, and I’m very proud of that for the basic way it’s impacted how users interact with their Palm. Just the notion that you can rapidly launch 50+ programs from small gestures in the status bar is mind-boggling; it was even for me as I wrote SS. In addition to SS, though, I’m very proud of the insane number of small, free utilities I’ve written for 1src members that make them much happier with the way their Palm works. It’s the most wonderful feeling to commit some time and effort to write up a program and then see the feedback and thanks you receive in the form of replies on a thread or comments on a blog post. Isn’t that the reason freeware programmers do what we do in the first place?
What’s the best book you have read and the best song you have heard? 

For anyone out there looking to start programming their Palm, the Palm OS Programming Bible 2nd Edition by Lonnon R. Foster is a must-have, as well as any of the millions of Getting Started with C/C++-type books.

Fiction-wise, it’s very hard to decide on any one in particular. I’ve just finished The Count of Monte Cristo and it’s a very good read, with a complex plot and well-developed characters (the only classic that I’ve found to be a page-turner so far).

As far as music goes, my tastes are pretty broad; but I seem to enjoy every Beatles song I hear so I’ll have to go with them..

What PDA device do you use and why? 
I have a collection of Palms that I use for development purposes but I find that I rarely go anywhere without either my T3 or my TH. I don’t know, though… from what I’m hearing this TX could be a T3/TH-killer!
 
Ever tempted by Windows Mobile? 
I own an hp6315; but I absolutely love Palm and won’t switch to the “dark side” until there’s no other alternative!
Do you have any plans for new products and are you able to tell us what they are?
Yes and yes! This summer I intend to do a rewrite of SharkSwipe and see if I can’t speed it up and stabilize the algorithms some more. Also look for a SharkSwipe version for Zodiacs and possibly Treos/Zires.

In addition, I always have something to do for 1src and I’m getting a few suggestions via email (but feel free to send us some more:
sales@ludustech.com).

What’s your favorite Palm application and game by another developer?
-All the stuff by CliePet (aibohack.com/clie/) -Games by Toyspring (toyspring.com) -Due Yesterday/FileZ (nosleep.net)
 
Has the company been as successful as you expected?
Yes, and way beyond my expectations. The fact that I’m doing an interview that’s going to be put on Palm24/7 is testament to that!
Seriously though, I can’t wait to continue what I’m doing and develop more useful Palm utilities and apps.

Where do you see the future of PDAs going?
Personally, I just can’t see people bringing around Palm-sized Windows boxes. There has to be a distinction between what goes in your pocket and stays on your desk. That much I know. Whether or not Palm will prevail over PPC and Symbian is a different matter. I know that they can… it’s just whether they’ll pull it together and do it. I certainly hope they will!
 
Anything you would like to add?
Thanks very much to everyone at PDA247 for this opportunity! You’re doing a great job with this site… keep up the excellent work!

Also thanks very much to the 1src.com Forums for their continual support of my development efforts and to CliePet, Igor, and all the other palm developers who keep POS at the top by bringing out the best and most applications of any handheld OS.

Thanks to Tyler for taking time out to answer our quesions. If you want to know more about Ludus Tech you can check them out here.