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Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon

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Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon

#1

Post by theturtletalks »

A couple of years ago, I had an interesting idea. What if there was a marketplace where all the underlying tech was open-source? The order management system, the storefront, customer support, etc.

The marketplace would simply connect to the seller’s infra instead of locking them in. If, for some reason, the seller is removed from the marketplace, their software stays with them and they can continue accepting orders directly.

This model can be used to disrupt any marketplace from AirBNB to UberEats: building tech for home renters and restaurants and later, leveraging that to build a competing marketplace.

In 2019, I started building the first piece, Openship, an order management system that lets you source orders and fulfill them from anywhere. Now that that’s in stable release, next up is Openfront (an e-commerce platform for storefronts) and Opensupport (ticketing software for customer support). Together, they provide the staples for any modern business: sales, fulfillment, support.

Let me know what you guys think of the idea and if you see any potential pitfalls.

Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon
openship.org

Re: Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon

#2

Post by mtmail »

Quick note, the third submission was automatically blocked by the HN algorithms. Posting the same three times in 24h is too much.

> Show HN: I'm building an open-source order management system and marketplace API

> Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon

> Using open-source to disrupt marketplaces

Re: Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon

#3

Post by theturtletalks »

mtmail wrote: post #2

Quick note, the third submission was automatically blocked by the HN algorithms. Posting the same three times in 24h is too much. > Show HN: I'm building an open-source order management system and marketplace API > Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon > Using open-source to disrupt marketplaces

Yes I saw that. The last one was a blog post I made in 2019 describing the vision in detail.

Re: Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon

#4

Post by traceroute66 »

theturtletalks wrote: post #3
mtmail wrote: post #2

Quick note, the third submission was automatically blocked by the HN algorithms. Posting the same three times in 24h is too much. > Show HN: I'm building an open-source order management system and marketplace API > Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon > Using open-source to disrupt marketplaces

Yes I saw that. The last one was a blog post I made in 2019 describing the vision in detail.

> a blog post I made in 2019 describing the vision

Hence I think you have, regrettably, answered your own question.

Its all very well having a vision, but executing it is a different question.

The sort of thing you propose requires a lot of time and a lot of money to develop. Let alone maintain. Let alone market and sell.

Look, its like all those "Bloomberg killers" that come out of the woodwork as often as the seasons in the financial world. There is a reason why only Bloomberg and Reuters are at the top tier, why the second tier is so narrow and why everything else is junk. To replicate Bloomberg would take years in time and billions in cash.

I admire your ambition, but perhaps rein it in a little ?

Re: Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon

#7

Post by trinsic2 »

traceroute66 wrote: post #4
theturtletalks wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes I saw that. The last one was a blog post I made in 2019 describing the vision in detail.

> a blog post I made in 2019 describing the vision Hence I think you have, regrettably, answered your own question. Its all very well having a vision, but executing it is a different question. The sort of thing you propose requires a lot of time and a lot of money to develop. Let alone maintain. Let alone market and sell. Look, its like all those "Bloomberg killers" that come out of the woodwork as often as the seaso…

Execution starts with vision. I don't see a problem with thinking big, it inspires others that want to help become part of something great.

Re: Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon

#8

Post by craniumslows »

I think this is a good solution for businesses that are starting to outgrow their home garages. Here's my feedback:

When I read this post and looked at the site I thought you were offering a turnkey drop shipping solution service. I also had the impression that you offered warehousing and other logistical services.

I know this is not the case, but it took me several minutes to figure out what exactly was happening.

Re: Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon

#9

Post by mustache_kimono »

traceroute66 wrote: post #4
theturtletalks wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes I saw that. The last one was a blog post I made in 2019 describing the vision in detail.

> a blog post I made in 2019 describing the vision Hence I think you have, regrettably, answered your own question. Its all very well having a vision, but executing it is a different question. The sort of thing you propose requires a lot of time and a lot of money to develop. Let alone maintain. Let alone market and sell. Look, its like all those "Bloomberg killers" that come out of the woodwork as often as the seaso…

> I admire your ambition, but perhaps rein it in a little ?

As much as people may say they hate salesmen, we still want to be sold something. As a consumer, it's your job to be skeptical. It's their job to sell.

Engineers have this self regarding view of every other side of the tech business. That actually -- "Only the tech matters" while being incredulous as to why certain tech succeeds while others fail. It's because vision and sales and business acumen really matter.

Re: Show HN: I'm building an open-source Amazon

#10

Post by theturtletalks »

traceroute66 wrote: post #4
theturtletalks wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes I saw that. The last one was a blog post I made in 2019 describing the vision in detail.

> a blog post I made in 2019 describing the vision Hence I think you have, regrettably, answered your own question. Its all very well having a vision, but executing it is a different question. The sort of thing you propose requires a lot of time and a lot of money to develop. Let alone maintain. Let alone market and sell. Look, its like all those "Bloomberg killers" that come out of the woodwork as often as the seaso…

I think of it this way. Launching a marketplace today is very difficult, but what if we made the backend of a marketplace open-source and used that as leverage. One that could be your backend for all operations. You can choose to enable the integrated marketplace or not, but the system is yours. It’s about bringing power back to the sellers.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead

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