My Second Year as a Solo Developer • Hacker News Board

Re: My Second Year as a Solo Developer

#331

Post by gred » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 1:45 AM UTC

qmmmur wrote: post #296

rickitan wrote: post #224

I see a lot of comments criticizing your path and progress. Making remarks like "why didn't you stay at Google". I applaud your decision, effort, and perseverance. I admire your risk taking and having skin in the game. Trying to make it out on your own. People forget the journey is not just about the money. It's about learning, growing and bringing your ideas to life. Being an artist, and expressing yourself through…

I don't think I've cringed more than 'expressing yourself through products'.

You haven't seen the Scott's Tots episode of The Office, have you?

Seriously though, I didn't have that reaction. We each bring our own individual expression to everything we do, that's not sad or cringey at all. The author is looking for a way to use his unique gifts in a way that is satisfying and valuable. The problem he solves and the way he solves it will be unique to him. Or in other words, "expressing himself through his products."

Re: My Second Year as a Solo Developer

#332

Post by WD-42 » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 2:16 AM UTC

jldugger wrote: post #329

WD-42 wrote: post #318

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the argument is that he already has enough money to retire, wouldn't his continuing to work at Google also be considered "playing around"? Most people probably wouldn't look at it that way, they'd consider him "productive" or "motivated". So why does it matter if he is working at Google or on solo pursuits? The argument would probably be that he's lucky to be in the position he's in. But presumably he earned the m…

> So why does it matter if he is working at Google or on solo pursuits? I don't think it does, but looked at purely through the lense of 'how to be a solo entrepreneur' maybe discount advise from folks who can afford to be wrong for years. I want to distance myself from the 'you should just work for google' folks. I totally respect the idea that using your savings to build the services you want from society. My posit…

I agree. His situation is certainly atypical and his end goal will be easier to reach than it would be for pretty much anyone else. Still respectable in my opinion. Perhaps the parents use of the word “playing” came off as overly dismissive to me. Thanks for the chat!

Re: My Second Year as a Solo Developer

#333

Post by wooolfgang » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 2:33 AM UTC

qmmmur wrote: post #319

spiffytech wrote: post #315

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The arts and crafts world is full of people expressing themselves through products. Independent software doesn't have to be different.

The arts is full of people expressing themselves for pay below the poverty line, often not expected or wanted as remuneration for their expression. Treating business as expression and calling it the same thing as actual art is quite oblivious to the reality.

Take a look at Jonathan Blow's products. You can see art and software coexisting.

Re: My Second Year as a Solo Developer

#334

Post by fonosip » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 2:36 AM UTC

mtlynch wrote: post #2

Author here. Happy to answer any questions or hear any feedback about this post. Discussion from my first annual update last year: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19054150

Interesting that as an ex-googler you dont use adwords ?

Re: My Second Year as a Solo Developer

#335

Post by ronyfadel » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 2:58 AM UTC

tempsy wrote: post #235

rs23296008n1 wrote: post #69

Good stuff. I've seen a bit of negativity about this being a waste of time since you're not making equivalent money to old job. For those people: This isn’t any different from spending time earning a degree by returning to full-time study. And your attempts are growing. The compound interest from these investments in time and effort will help you regardless. Even if you fail on every business at first you'll still ge…

OP isn't explicit about it but he's effectively F.I.R.E'd. These are projects to keep the mind fresh in what is early retirement. If that weren't the case building an actual business requires a lot more time, energy, resources even as a solo founder than what I'm getting from the blog post.

Or OP could be T.I.R.E.D. :) He’s doing his best to bootstrap his multiple products, but is prioritizing intellectual curiosity, building neat things while not burning out. At least, that’s my view of it.

Re: My Second Year as a Solo Developer

#336

Post by anonymoushn » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 3:10 AM UTC

tempsy wrote: post #277

Toast_25 wrote: post #259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Make $300K A year You make it sound easy! How do I do that outside of not just SF, but the US?

Move to Seattle?

ah yes, Seattle, the famous city in Taiwan

Re: My Second Year as a Solo Developer

#337

Post by dceddia » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 3:55 AM UTC

twic wrote: post #240

mtlynch wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for the suggestions! I think that's sound advice. The strategy I had in mind was courting industries that were physically close to me. I wasn't just calling the businesses, I was showing up at their offices to ask for meetings. My hypothesis was that there are probably plenty of profitable businesses nearby that are disconnected from the tech world, so other software companies aren't approaching them. To clari…

It's wild how you've done exactly what the priests of entrepreneurship preach, and it hasn't worked for you, and people cannot accept that . You must have done something else! You must have done something wrong!

This is a very valuable point.

I think [0] that a better approach, one that’s more likely to lead to a profitable business, is to flip the strategy around. Instead of “Do customer interviews, sniff out a problem, and build a solution”, it can be more effective to find the customers where they hang out (online is ideal), observe the problems they complain about, and crucially observe what they already pay for.

For one, it avoids the natural bias they’ll have while answering questions (they’ll very likely tell you what you want to hear to try to be “helpful”).

For another, it helps you create something they’ll actually want, and pay for, by fitting in with their existing habits and worldviews.

Going into a conversion with the idea of “I need a problem to build a SaaS for” is only one level better than “I need to validate that they want my idea”. The format of the solution is already pre-decided — which is no good if they don’t already pay for SaaS. That’s an uphill battle you definitely don’t want as a solo founder! “If I could just make them see how great this is...” is a rocky start for a business plan.

Choosing an audience you know and already understand is a big advantage. Picking one you aren’t part of is harder.

You don’t need to be new and unique to be profitable. You don’t need to invent a new kind of product or solve a problem that nobody else has solved. All of that just makes it harder :)

[0] I think this because of Amy Hoy and Alex Hillman and their 30x500 class that teaches this approach. Not my own invention :) I’ve had success with it though, and other have too, so I want to give credit where it’s due. They have a lot of great free material at https://stackingthebricks.com

Re: My Second Year as a Solo Developer

#338

Post by cycloptic » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 4:14 AM UTC

xwdv wrote: post #305

cycloptic wrote: post #171

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Do you think anyone would pick "soul-crushing maybe-kill-yourself poverty" over working at Google? I've done this before and I would do it again. I wish I had something profound to add but I don't. Working in a corporate environment is just incredibly grating.

Is being poor also not incredibly grating?

It is. But consider that if your poverty happens because an org shuffle at Google got you fired, the ultimate source of your woes is the same.

Also "being poor" is generally not the fault of the poor person. Accepting a job however, is the fault of the employed person.

Re: My Second Year as a Solo Developer

#339

Post by emodendroket » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 5:10 AM UTC

scarface74 wrote: post #292

disiplus wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

but how many of those are interesting to work on, i too have been freelancimg and know some of problems, but when i think about them i dont reality want to work on them more them i have to.

This is the problem I see with a lot of developers - not just those looking to be entrepreneurs. They want “interesting problems” instead of just trying to create products that someone is willing to pay for.

While it may not be reasonable as a business owner, I don't think wanting to enjoy your work is nuts. Seems totally reasonable to consider if you have enough options.

Re: My Second Year as a Solo Developer

#340

Post by emodendroket » Sat, Feb 01, 2020, 5:11 AM UTC

disiplus wrote: post #280

mediaman wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. If you have to be working on some exciting, disruptive project, doing solo development work that generates good income by working with run of the mill businesses with run of the mill problems is not going to be a good fit. Personally, I find boring to be quite exciting - but perhaps not if the only thing you're looking at is the technical solution. Building a small business involves figuring out how to solve…

To be honest i would not agree. While those challenges like all challenges can be exciting, in the end of the day it will still lack you full engagement because it's something that's boring to you or not interesting. i'm kinda in that situation now, and got to play all the roles, like how we increased our conversation ratio by 50% with me thinking like a sales person (hint, don't over-complicate your pricing page), a…

I think maybe owning your own business isn't for you then. Which is fine. Me neither.