You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else? • Hacker News Board

Re: You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

#41

Post by bfrs » Sun, Nov 06, 2011, 6:53 PM UTC

Homunculiheaded wrote: post #32

Try an experiment, grab a piece of paper and write out the top ten programmers that first come to your mind. Now next to their names write out which company they work for. There was a time when I was tossing around the idea of starting my own business, something just wasn't clicking for me. Then I did this experiment, and I realized that most the programmers who inspired me to be a programmer worked for someone else…

...but business I really just don't get excited about.

Neither do I. But, I'm willing to put up with it if other alternatives piss me off real bad.

Re: You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

#42

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Nov 06, 2011, 6:53 PM UTC

jroseattle wrote: post #40

dangrover wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is only true if you're 100% unwilling/unable to do anything except code. This is not true of all "developers." Being able to code does not disqualify you from being an intelligent, versatile human being capable of all sorts of things. And, failing that, it certainly does not prevent you from taking a holistic look at your business and outsourcing the things you can't handle. The funny thing you realize is how ma…

Who has this popular belief? On the contrary, most people I know assume competency in one discipline automatically grants them competency in others.

[deleted]

Re: You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

#43

Post by bry » Sun, Nov 06, 2011, 6:59 PM UTC

I wrote and submitted this article to HN about a year ago. I've since moved it from a self-hosted Wordpress site to Posterous, which is probably why the dupe-checker didn't catch it (slightly different URL). A lot has happened since then. I'm still working toward my goal of doing my own thing (ironically, still working for someone else myself). When you're trying to create and market a bootstrapped business, its pretty easy to get distracted unless you have the ability to go full-time.

When I wrote the article, it was essentially me expressing my thoughts about how anyone if they want to (because not everyone does) CAN build something and start their own business, even without substantial capital. The barrier to entry is so low (comparatively speaking) that if you want to go out on your own as a developer, it is entirely possible. The post was meant to be encouragement to those who are interested, not sensational (although I did make some generalizations) :)

I actually built the original thing I discussed in the article (a service to manage Boy Scouts), and it got some great reviews and initial interest, but then the Boy Scouts wanted me to pay huge fees to license the term "Boy Scout" or use anything even resembling any of their trademarks. I decided to let that go and build something that does not piggyback on any other organization. That's what I'm working on now.

A year "lost" is a long time, but I haven't given up. I haven't lost anything other than time, since I was bootstrapping it and building it on my own time in the evenings. I won't be happy until I am doing my own thing. I'll post a follow-up with what I've learned and what has happened over the past year to anyone who is interested.

Re: You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

#44

Post by VonLipwig » Sun, Nov 06, 2011, 7:02 PM UTC

This guy finds 20 hours week. This means he is spending 60 hours a week working. Its not healthy.

He names 5 tech companies. How many developers are there in the world? So what hundreds of thousands of developers have the potential to make a Google? I think not.

In reality you will probably be happier sticking to employment and working on and launching a side project as and when inspiration strikes. Burning 20 hours a week of your free time will likely lead to - in this guys case - divorce and for other people burnout.

Re: You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

#45

Post by jamii » Sun, Nov 06, 2011, 7:03 PM UTC

gatlin wrote: post #19

I'm going to plug worker cooperatives here. Small agile companies fit the model perfectly. If anyone does reply to this with questions, I'll answer.

I have nothing but vague questions :)

I've been thinking for a while now that I would be able to find much more work by teaming up with some web/frontend devs.

Re: You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

#46

Post by dotcoma » Sun, Nov 06, 2011, 7:11 PM UTC

You're not good enough, that's why ;-)

Re: You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

#47

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Nov 06, 2011, 7:12 PM UTC

bfrs wrote: post #41

Homunculiheaded wrote: post #32

Try an experiment, grab a piece of paper and write out the top ten programmers that first come to your mind. Now next to their names write out which company they work for. There was a time when I was tossing around the idea of starting my own business, something just wasn't clicking for me. Then I did this experiment, and I realized that most the programmers who inspired me to be a programmer worked for someone else…

...but business I really just don't get excited about. Neither do I. But, I'm willing to put up with it if other alternatives piss me off real bad.

[deleted]

Re: You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

#48

Post by naner » Sun, Nov 06, 2011, 7:14 PM UTC

I'm getting tired of this crap.

You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

Some people would much rather take a paycheck then try to run a business for obvious reasons.

Think about the biggest websites you visit or use on a regular basis: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Foursquare, or even Google for that matter -- all of them were created by developers who created something from little more than an idea in their head.

All companies with massive groups of highly-skilled developers who work for someone else.

Also the vast majority of web/mobile things these one- or two-person developer teams create are completely unimportant, uninteresting, trivial, superficial crap that I can't believe anyone would want to spend a significant amount of time creating and maintaining. It is obvious in 5 years time they will be gone and forgotten. Hardly much different from working on some back-office CRUD app only you get to use trendy languages and tools and pretend you're an 'entrepreneur'. Well you're not. Henry Ford is an entrepreneur, you just created a new way for rich people to distract themselves from their empty lives.

(Sorry, got a little venomous at the end. This wasn't directed at anyone in particular.)

Re: You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

#49

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Nov 06, 2011, 7:15 PM UTC

learc83 wrote: post #36

I can't believe that the top comments in a thread on hacker news boil down to: most developers should probably just stick to working 40 hours a week, because most developers don't have the other skills required to run a company. Yes it's true running a business takes more than just tech skills, and not every developer is capable of running a multi million dollar company. However, I think that most developers are capa…

[deleted]

Re: You're a developer, so why do you work for someone else?

#50

Post by billpatrianakos » Sun, Nov 06, 2011, 7:17 PM UTC

keiferski wrote: post #34

Homunculiheaded wrote: post #32

Try an experiment, grab a piece of paper and write out the top ten programmers that first come to your mind. Now next to their names write out which company they work for. There was a time when I was tossing around the idea of starting my own business, something just wasn't clicking for me. Then I did this experiment, and I realized that most the programmers who inspired me to be a programmer worked for someone else…

Very true, but there's no need to assign developers as "inspiring experts" and entrepreneurs as "wealthy people." 10/10 of the wealthiest people are not successful because they wanted to be rich, they're successful because they enjoy business and entrepreneurship. These people aren't any different than you; they just have different interests. It ultimately comes down to your personal interests. Like business? Be an e…

I agree completely about money. We all want money but the system is rigged and wealth is something most of us won't get. I'm still very young but I believe it's enough to have enough money to live comfortably, get married, raise some kids, and all that first and foremost. I aspire to be really wealthy but I'm not deluding myself into thinking this is an achievement that anyone can get. It feels like the best we can do is strive for wealth with a healthy respect and understanding of the odds of achieving it and being satisfied with regular step-wise progress over large leaps from poor house to rich.

I've also found that doing anything for the money is a sure path to unhappiness regardless of whether you get it or not. I strongly believe that if you do what youre passionate about the money will come. It won't come magically but it's kind of like that book, "The Secret" except with a realistic attitude because wishful thinking and envisioning where you want to be isn't enough, actions trump thoughts any day.