About UsAbout JwSoftworks
Last Updated on Wednesday, 03 August 2011 14:39
Who or What is JwSoftworks?
It’s nothing more than a made-up name to use as an identifier to group several freeware programs for Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Background, Experience
During the 10 year period before retiring in 1997, my secular work was that of a full time self employed contract programmer specializing in developing software systems designed for medium to large Novell multi-user computer networks. The work included a variety of businesses: a children’s clothing distributer, a commercial heavy truck scale repair service, a CATV installation company, a maintenance department within a large state medical center, a debt collection agency, a cemetery, a large jet aircraft maintenance shop, and several unpleasant contracts that won’t be discussed!
During this period various tasks in the congregation were assigned to me – territory servant, literature servant, talk coordinator, and secretary. Software was developed to assist each of these activities. None of it was ever promoted or shared due to the high cost of the necessary DOS database software runtime product. In the late 90’s, Microsoft Windows was gaining popularity and DOS quickly “fell out of fashion”. Also, the skill set required for contract programmers was rapidly expanding. I was 62 yrs old and tired of trying to keep up with the fast moving technology … it was a good time to retire!!
In 2002, the brother who was assigned to keep computer records for the local RBC moved away and I was recruited to take over the work. I continued providing the same basic data flow to the RBC members for several years. Later, a circuit wide elder’s name & address system was requested by our CO. Microsoft Access was used for these applications and found to be quite capable. Health problems caused me to discontinue supporting the RBC and the circuit.
After being fully retired for over six years, I felt my mind was getting “dull” and began to feel the need to sharpen it up a bit. A music playing and sound recording computerized system was developed for our Kingdom Hall. This awakened an urge to write software. So a database product that would allow low cost software distribution to the brotherhood was searched for.
Microsoft’s timely announcement to release Access 2007’s runtime product at no cost meant that all software programs originated could be distributed to the brotherhood free! This got my full attention. So, in March, 2007 the design of The Scheduler was started followed by The Secretary in October 2007, followed by The Overseer and then The Assigner.