FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Just click on any of the questions below to read my answers.

What's this site all about?

This is a personal website, my personal website in fact. Personal websites are often gratuitous displays of fatuous self-indulgence, and in some ways this site is no exception. What does make it exceptional however, is that I also write software, which you can download free of charge. Writing software isn't in itself exceptional, but magnificent programs such as the Salary Timer and Hobo Boxing certainly are. May they bring you joy.

Who is MrCeri?

MrCeri is me, Ceri Williams. People often think Ceri's a girl's name, and sometimes it is. In my case though, it is not. Hence "Mr" Ceri, to avoid any awkward embarrassment should I ever become president, or a super-hero, and everyone expects a tall leggy blonde (which I am not). Learn more about me here.

Is all your software really free?

Yes, it is. I have a day job which pays pretty well, and let's be honest, fun and useful though my software may be, it's not going to make me the next DotCom Millionaire (oh to be a DotCom millionaire...) So yes, everything on my site is free. You'll notice I have adverts on my site - I make next to nothing from these ads, they're just there to cover the hosting costs.

Ah, I get it - you give your software away for free because it's riddled with spyware and viruses! Rumbled!

Sigh... No, my software doesn't have any spyware or viruses. This is just a hobby, there's no dark ulterior motive (except world domination).

If you don't make any money from the site, why bother?

First and foremost, it's a hobby. I actually enjoy writing software and designing websites in my free time (I never said I was cool). However, it also serves as a pretty useful self-promotion tool, and I've made a few bob in the past from small freelance projects that have come about purely because of this site.

Additionally the site is a useful test bed for experimenting with things I'm working on at the time, new programming technologies, etc.

So does that mean I can get MrCeri to write some software for me?

Absolutely, for a price ;o) Please get in touch if you have a project in mind, you want me to build you an application, design your website, etc. Alternatively, if you think you've got a good idea for a computer program, let me know - I can't promise to agree with you, but your idea might be so amazing I'll simply have to build it for free, 'cause it'll be so useful to the world and bring me great fame and good vibes, and so on.

I really like the Salary Timer / Hobo Boxing, etc. - can I pay you to build me a version which incorporates my company logo?

Indeed you can. I recently built a customised version of the Salary Timer for a client, with their logo on the main window, a link to their website, etc. I assume they'll use it for a viral marketing campaign, which it's ideally suited for. Please get in touch to talk about costs.

What's with all the crappy robot drawings?

Hey! I drew those! The robot pics are scans of doodles I made while working at really boring jobs (I've had a few). The first few versions of this site were very text heavy - I figured a few pictures would brighten things up :o)

I contacted you months ago suggesting you add "New Whizz-bang Feature" to the Salary Timer, and you said you would incorporate it in the next version. Here we are 6 months later, and still no new version - what gives, you lazy &*%$!!!???

I work on this site in my spare time, which I don't seem to have much of these days, with a hungry wife and two screaming children to fend for. When I do get a chance to tinker at the keyboard (stop sniggering at the back), I work on whatever I'm in the mood for at that particular moment. So don't expect the next version of <insert your favourite MrCeri software here> to appear anytime soon...

Are you the same Ceri Williams I went to school with / worked with / served in 'Nam with?

I might be. Depends who's asking. Drop me a line, you never know. Though I often seem to get mistaken for someone else.