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Show HN: I learned to code to launch my new startup

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Re: Show HN: I learned to code to launch my new startup

#111

Post by spencerfry »

soneca wrote: post #34
stfu wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Congrats for launching! Smart idea and certainly solves an existing problem. Would love to read more about your pathway towards the launch, e.g. how your coding came along, etc.

Me too! I am currently learning to code to (re)launch my startup! But I am on the struggle, "is this worthy", full of doubts stage. I hope I can learn a thing or two from you...

It gets better with time. I'd really recommend getting something out there as soon as possible, so you can breathe a sigh of relief.

Re: Show HN: I learned to code to launch my new startup

#112

Post by spencerfry »

beachstartup wrote: post #59
JoeKM wrote: post #53

My only concern with benefit programs like these is if I'm earning less income because the company is allocating money for benefits I may not need.

chances are that money wouldn't have been spent on your income, because of taxes (income tax, payroll tax). it would have been spent on something else that falls under the category of "nice things" but is tax-deductible.

We also only charge the employer for benefits the employees actually use.

Re: Show HN: I learned to code to launch my new startup

#113

Post by Serow225 »

fredsters_s wrote: post #72
spencerfry wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's good feedback. Definitely continuing to improve the message.

Since most people scan left-to-right you'd probably be better putting your main headline and signup box on the left and the 'reasons' on the right. Even better would be to make the headline and strapline standalone, because at the moment the hierarchy when the user scans implies they are just relevant to that signup box, not the whole site. Great idea.

Left to right would definitely help!

Re: Show HN: I learned to code to launch my new startup

#114

Post by rjzzleep »

the truth is, coding is just a tool. i tend to piss off people around me when I say that. and I will surely piss off a few here, but like you i earn my money with it. and it's great because I can go anywhere and solve these complex things while doing it.

but, the complex part is not the piece of code that someone else has already solved. The complex part is usually something unrelated.

Re: Show HN: I learned to code to launch my new startup

#115

Post by ereckers »

MatthewB wrote: post #10

Great job! Looking back, you'll see that learning to code was one of the best decisions you made. One minor thing - it took me about 7-10 seconds to understand what your product is. I should be able to understand within 2 seconds. You should put in big letters towards the top: "Employee Recognition Program" or something a little more sales-y.

I'd have to agree as well. The animation introducing "Reason #8" caught my eye (which is cool), but becoming accustomed to that messaging telling me what a company does, had me thinking this was a "learn to roll sushi" service. Took me a while to shake that as I started scanning through the rest.

Re: Show HN: I learned to code to launch my new startup

#116

Post by meigwilym »

rjzzleep wrote: post #114

the truth is, coding is just a tool. i tend to piss off people around me when I say that. and I will surely piss off a few here, but like you i earn my money with it. and it's great because I can go anywhere and solve these complex things while doing it. but, the complex part is not the piece of code that someone else has already solved. The complex part is usually something unrelated.

I must disagree.

As a coder, your tools are your computer, the compiler and user interface. It takes skill, knowledge and understanding to use these tools effectively.

I own saws, hammers and power tools, but I'm certainly not a carpenter.

Re: Show HN: I learned to code to launch my new startup

#118

Post by dbrian »

wmat wrote: post #89
spencerfry wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure. I wrote a little bit about it here http://spencerfry.com/why-and-when-to-learn-to-program and I'll write more about that on my blog in the near future. We're using Ruby on Rails as our backend code and mainly picked that because that's what most of my friends were good in and I knew that I could go to them with any questions.

Given the title of this HN post, you should really be linking to your blog post, not the product itself. I clicked around your site a bit searching for your "learning to code" story to no avail.

I did the same thing but it doesn't really matter. It's on the frontage which I'm sure was his goal. I'd say mission accomplished.

Re: Show HN: I learned to code to launch my new startup

#119

Post by spencerfry »

angryasian wrote: post #108
muster wrote: post #83

Spencer is my hero, really. I'm learning how to program, and I am doing so, so as to get into the business of starting a startup, and he started a startup, and coded to fit into it. Amazed. Well, Spencer, if you ever get to read this, please answer a few questions for me: When did you begin writing programs/web design? Like, when did you get from 0 to where you are now, programmably? What did you use to learn? What d…

he forgot to mention two years of under graduate computer science courses

Well, to be perfectly honest... I don't remember a single bit from any of those classes. Also, they were in C++.
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