How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month • Hacker News Board

Re: How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month

#21

Post by diziet » Fri, Nov 11, 2016, 3:12 AM UTC

We love and use Sidekiq at our org. We even released a gem for it that enables concurrency throttling : https://github.com/sensortower/sidekiq-throttled

There is a bit of a feeling that the community version is somewhat 'nerfed', but it's really Mike's freedom to release the pro/enterprise version.

Though stuff like this: https://github.com/mperham/sidekiq/blob/master/lib/sidekiq/l... scares me~ :)

Re: How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month

#22

Post by dasil003 » Fri, Nov 11, 2016, 3:33 AM UTC

siliconc0w wrote: post #15

I'm a fan of sidkiq but holding out using a different more atomic redis command for 'pro' is pretty lame - it's closer to 'intentional gimping' than 'open-core'.

Obviously choices have to be made, I don't understand how you can begrudge the guy his living. It's certainly better than random hot developer tool startup that takes VC funding, grows like crazy, then either implodes, gets purchased, or changes their policies so you get screwed by depending on them. With Sidekiq I feel pretty good about relying on it compared to a lot of stuff out there.

Re: How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month

#23

Post by mathgenius » Fri, Nov 11, 2016, 4:08 AM UTC

dasil003 wrote: post #5

I'm really fascinated by this career path. As I approach 40 I'm really feeling the pain of the whole developer vs manager dichotomy. The fact is, I've always been comfortable on both sides as a generalist and a team lead, but as my career progresses I'm increasingly feeling the pressure to specialize either by going full-time or specializing in some area that can command a hire salary than the reams of bootcamp dev g…

> I ought to be able to bootstrap a comfortable solo lifestyle business, but what?

I can't help thinking that his blogging & communications was integral not only the success of the product, but the inception aswell. Something magic happens when you build a flow: more stuff appears from nowhere.

Re: How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month

#24

Post by lacampbell » Fri, Nov 11, 2016, 4:10 AM UTC

Great article. I feel like "exciting" applications that made it big get far too much of our attention. There's real value you can create by doing something "boring" like a background job framework.

Most business solve boring business needs. Find something you find interesting and exciting, that most people regard as a boring chore - and solve the problem in a tidy, approachable way. Is this a more reliable way to actually make a living on your own?

Re: How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month

#25

Post by newsat13 » Fri, Nov 11, 2016, 4:27 AM UTC

What's the opensource alternative to sidekiq? I am impressed he gets this much money out of developer tools...

Re: How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month

#26

Post by jwcooper » Fri, Nov 11, 2016, 4:50 AM UTC

newsat13 wrote: post #25

What's the opensource alternative to sidekiq? I am impressed he gets this much money out of developer tools...

Sidekiq is open source (LGPL). There is a free version that is pretty powerful: https://github.com/mperham/sidekiq

Re: How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month

#27

Post by sudhirj » Fri, Nov 11, 2016, 6:12 AM UTC

diziet wrote: post #21

We love and use Sidekiq at our org. We even released a gem for it that enables concurrency throttling : https://github.com/sensortower/sidekiq-throttled There is a bit of a feeling that the community version is somewhat 'nerfed', but it's really Mike's freedom to release the pro/enterprise version. Though stuff like this: https://github.com/mperham/sidekiq/blob/master/lib/sidekiq/l... scares me~ :)

I suppose we'll have to get used to stuff like this. With UTF8 it's really no different from regular words. Even the Go tour has an example of writing go in Chinese, I think.

Re: How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month

#28

Post by sudhirj » Fri, Nov 11, 2016, 6:22 AM UTC

siliconc0w wrote: post #15

I'm a fan of sidkiq but holding out using a different more atomic redis command for 'pro' is pretty lame - it's closer to 'intentional gimping' than 'open-core'.

It's called running a business. And because it's open source, anyone is free to fork Sidekiq and make a version that uses the atomic Redis commands. What people are choosing to pay for is Mike.

Re: How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month

#29

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Nov 11, 2016, 6:32 AM UTC

bdcravens wrote: post #18

eganist wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. What specific things did you observe which led you to that conclusion?

Mike is a very laid back guy - I would have thought he was making more like $8000 a month, not $80,000, based on his general demeanor.

[deleted]

Re: How Sidekiq makes $80,000 a month

#30

Post by toasterlovin » Fri, Nov 11, 2016, 6:32 AM UTC

bdcravens wrote: post #18

eganist wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. What specific things did you observe which led you to that conclusion?

Mike is a very laid back guy - I would have thought he was making more like $8000 a month, not $80,000, based on his general demeanor.

I can second this. Mike is incredibly down to earth. In talking with him (briefly) about Sidekiq as a business, he seemed intent on making sure it remained compatible with his current lifestyle.