This is yet another experiment of mine. Similar to what I did back in 2013, I am scratching an itch: I have an application idea in my head, and I am now building that application. Similarly, I thought it would be fun to blog about the process, so here we are.
By way of introduction, let me start by saying that I am not a developer, and that is one of the primary reasons why I am developing this application! I do have decades of experience as a software analyst, software designer, IT consultant, and so on. I’ve run Linux on my home computer for a decade, and I have dabbled in small-scale projects, both open-source and on my own, using SVN and git. Those were mostly built out of Windows and Linux command-line scripting, AutoHotkey, even a little Python – so the world of coding is not foreign to me. My largest contribution was a few thousand lines of code written in bash, but I have long wanted to properly use a programming language, as opposed to a scripting language.
The concept of this Tool Pool came to me when I was preparing to build a fence around my property:
I knew I needed to use very large nails, thousands of them, and hammering them all by hand would simply not be practical. I can rent nail guns that run on compressed air, but no tool rental in my entire country had one that could handle the dimension I needed. I found some large ones used on my local CraigsList, but they were hundreds of kilometers away and cost nearly the same as a new one. Evidently I had no choice but to buy a new one, just for this one use.
It was expensive and I don’t think I’ll ever need it again. That’s when the idea came to me that there could be a community platform where neighborhoods could share their tools. If I had known that someone in my area had that nail gun, I could have borrowed it and saved a lot of money.
I decided to build that community platform, and Tool Pool came into existence!
- I will offer my tools, at least those unusual ones that I think others might want to loan.
- I will offer my tools to my local neighborhood, and by doing so I will meet new people that likely share this DIY interest with me.
- I will decide on a case-by-case basis whether a borrower is trustworthy and will take proper care of the tool until I get it back.
- I will provide instructions and tips, and maybe accessories. If it’s a neighbor or someone I already know, I might even offer my help.
Perhaps that just addressed a concern you might have: “I don’t want to borrow my precious tools to strangers!” It’s your choice. You choose what to offer. You choose who to lend to. You choose the terms.
Right now, Tool Pool is far from complete, so all of the above is just theoretical. Hang around and see what comes of it! I am starting this blog now as a companion project, as a sort of public diary to document my thoughts and my progress. I invite you to participate, or to just grab some popcorn and watch me fail. That, too, is your choice.