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

uncover.com

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

#81

Post by spencerfry »

princess3000 wrote: post #80

Would you mind going briefly into what "I learned to code" entailed? Did you identify the languages/technologies you needed to learn at first? How did you go about learning them, etc.? There's a ton of info about learning languages out there but a lot of it tends to be abstract, I'd be very interested in hearing how you learned within the context of actually launching a product.

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.

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

#83

Post by muster »

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 documentation/videos/resources?

Where now? Now that you've designed this, do you feel a sense of accomplishment? Do you feel you have SO MUCH MORE to learn or did it fit the purpose you needed it for?

Thanks, congratulations, and good luck!@#

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

#84

Post by devgutt »

I think "the reason thing" changing pictures all the time is an inconvenient/annoying distraction. Cool effect but it doesn't help to explain your service at all (neither sells it). Besides I don't need a zillion random reasons, I need ONE good reason to use the product. To find this one good reason, you need to put a lot of effort thinking and iterating, maybe with the aid of A/B Test. But I like the concept and the product, congrats for your launch.

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

#85

Post by spencerfry »

octernion wrote: post #79

Love the idea. Only suggestion: on the How it works page ( https://www.uncover.com/how-it-works ), the tooltips for the details cover up the other buttons - maybe have the tooltips for the icons on the top row show above, while the tooltips for the lower icons show below?

Fair point. You think hovering over them blocks you from seeing what's there? We also wanted to make them wiggle slightly when you first load the page so you know that there's a hover on rollover.

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

#86

Post by spencerfry »

devgutt wrote: post #84

I think "the reason thing" changing pictures all the time is an inconvenient/annoying distraction. Cool effect but it doesn't help to explain your service at all (neither sells it). Besides I don't need a zillion random reasons, I need ONE good reason to use the product. To find this one good reason, you need to put a lot of effort thinking and iterating, maybe with the aid of A/B Test. But I like the concept and the…

Thank you. Why we chose to rotate reasons was to project the fact that Uncover can be used for many different things and that you can customize it for your company. You can't really get that across to the user by just displaying one example. That's just our thinking anyway.

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

#87

Post by spencerfry »

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…

Thank you, muster!

Happy to answer your questions.

1. I've dabbled in web design for a longtime, although I did not design Uncover's marketing site. jakeprzespo.com did that. I did work with my partner Mike to design the internal pages of the site.

2. I started learning to program in February, 2012 and have gotten progressively better since then. I launched the original version of Uncover completely on my own at the end of last year.

3. I wrote a blog post on what I used to learn to program: http://spencerfry.com/programming-resources

4. Definitely feel a sense of accomplishment. I couldn't have done it without the other two folks I've been working on Uncover with: Mike and Jason. We've all worked very well together and done awesome work to get Uncover out in such a short period of time. None of us believe in waiting for that "perfect moment".

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

#88

Post by thibaut_barrere »

jacktim wrote: post #66
spencerfry wrote: post #52

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hah. You bring up a good point. We'll definitely do some A/B testing as we begin to have more visitors to our website. As we only went live an hour ago, we didn't accumulate enough homepage data to begin testing our assumptions.

you've just went live and already have testimonials?

The OP probably referred to the site presenting the app, rather than the app itself.

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

#89

Post by wmat »

spencerfry wrote: post #81
princess3000 wrote: post #80

Would you mind going briefly into what "I learned to code" entailed? Did you identify the languages/technologies you needed to learn at first? How did you go about learning them, etc.? There's a ton of info about learning languages out there but a lot of it tends to be abstract, I'd be very interested in hearing how you learned within the context of actually launching a product.

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.

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

#90

Post by spencerfry »

biot wrote: post #69

How does the company name relate to the service itself? Do you help uncover "hidden gem" employees? Or does a client need to do that themselves, but you only help in arranging the reward? If you don't help to identify those who go above and beyond, the name is a little distracting as it's the kind of name that makes it seem like there ought to be this functionality. That might be a good direction to consider going in…

What's behind the company name is the idea of uncovering your company/employees potential. We are working toward helping you do just that, but you have to start somewhere and we have a lot still to learn.

I love your idea of creating an API to integrate into their existing systems.

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