People have often wondered why we are named “Mindfire”. It is not a word, although it is clearly a composite – but why exactly “Mindfire”?
For most human endeavor, almost anything worth doing, at least two things are necessary: intellect and energy. Boxing seems like a physical/energy sport, but the best boxers use their heads more than their hands. Research looks like mental/intellectual effort, but the best scientists are tireless in their pursuit.
In the field of software development, the balance of these two is especially critical.
It is true in all fields, but it is more true in software development, which requires perfect balance of both in ample amounts. It is not enough to be excellent in either – you have to be excellent in both intellect and energy. This is a rare combination, and it is what sets top software developers apart from the rest.
If you are only good in raw intelligence but lack energy, drive, spirit – you will keep thinking forever about the best algorithm to implement that would solve a problem – and not write any code at all.
And if you are only good in raw energy but lack intelligence, learning, a sharp mind – you will write five thousand lines of code with functions of five hundred lines each – that do not solve the problem.
When Mindfire started, I had observed all types of software developers in few years working as a tester/programmer – the needlessly brainy ones, the heedlessly hyperactive ones, the ones with neither, and the ones with both. Only the ones with both were truly successful. Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and common wisdom in software industry are all correct – one great programmer is worth twenty five average programmers, at least.
With this backdrop, and the desire to create an organization for the rockstars of software development – not your average or good developers but the great programmers, the rockstars – the name had to reflect what everyone in the organization would have.
Everyone in the organization would have incomparable intellect for software development – a great mind. And everyone in the organization would have unequaled energy for software development – a great fire.
Mind and fire. Great even when alone. Mind-blowingly outstandingly fucking awesome when together.
Mind and fire. Mindfire.