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Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

news.ycombinator.com

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31–40 of 58 posts

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

#31

Post by umjames »

Are you looking for one person to do the Mac, PC, and Linux desktop clients? That would explain why you haven't found anyone yet. People tend to become good at developing for only one of those platforms.

I can (and do) both web and Mac programming, but don't live near Seattle. Of the 2, I prefer Mac programming.

I can't speak for Windows or Linux client development, but most of the Mac developers I know are running (or want to start running) their own indie Mac software shops. So you might want to find some quality Mac software contractors (I know a few).

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

#32

Post by jcromartie »

I currently work on a project that has some similar technical goals to RescueTime. The OS-level work is what sucks. I don't mind working on GUIs, especially when it means applying the polish that really makes an app shine for users. That sort of stuff I can get into...

As a matter of fact, I fixed the Status Item icons for RescueTime (to match the standard icon style) just the other day because the ones that came with it bugged me!

Here you go!

http://djork.net/rescue/RescueTimeMenu_off.png

http://djork.net/rescue/RescueTimeMenu_on.png

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

#33

Post by maxklein »

Personally, I love client stuff way more than web stuff. Web stuff is just so limited in what can be done, and client stuff totally gives you freedom...

But that's not the truth. I've been doing desktop stuff for years so it comes naturally to me, whereas web stuff is new. The people you are meeting here grew up with web stuff, not with desktop stuff.

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

#34

Post by rodmaz »

I think client software is seeing a revival with mobile platforms like the iPhone OSX and Android. Right now the best experience in those devices is delivered by native client apps. Script languages like Flash and a browser with a larger screen enables rich web applications and thus reduces the need to write a native app for platforms like Windows.

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

#35

Post by maxklein »

kingkongrevenge wrote: post #30

If you want to write to MFC, which I'm sure would make the most sense, then that's probably your problem.

You actually have something against MFC? You realise that MFC is a pretty thin wrapper around the Windows API, right?

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

#36

Post by sjs382 »

rcoder wrote: post #22

The problem with finding really great hackers who want to do client-side coding is that a huge percentage of the work required to implement such apps is boring crap: compatibility testing, look-and-feel review, installer authoring, and collection of client configurations from issue reports. You can implement more features in less time when you deliver thin-client solutions. Also, the knowledge required to deploy apps…

@op: Have you considered hiring someone who develops AIR applications for the client software? I'd imagine AIR developers are more in the YC-Hacker-mold because the boring things mentioned above are abstracted by the runtime.

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

#37

Post by 131072 »

I'd rather code web-apps than Win-API apps. I'd rather code OSX apps than web apps. But mostly, I'd rather live in a tent than become a multi platform installer/GUI porting expert. There are enough more interesting (or less painful) jobs around for the people who are good enough to do a good job of that. But you might be able to pick up a former banking coder now, and those guys are mostly pre-demoralized :)

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

#38

Post by zhyder »

sjs382 wrote: post #36
rcoder wrote: post #22

The problem with finding really great hackers who want to do client-side coding is that a huge percentage of the work required to implement such apps is boring crap: compatibility testing, look-and-feel review, installer authoring, and collection of client configurations from issue reports. You can implement more features in less time when you deliver thin-client solutions. Also, the knowledge required to deploy apps…

@op: Have you considered hiring someone who develops AIR applications for the client software? I'd imagine AIR developers are more in the YC-Hacker-mold because the boring things mentioned above are abstracted by the runtime.

All except the look-and-feel bit. Mac users want apps to have the Mac look-and-feel, though perhaps Windows and Linux users aren't as adamant about it, so maybe a Mac-ish look-and-feel can be the common denominator. Also many users wouldn't want to install the AIR runtime.

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

#39

Post by vlad »

I've written a shareware app with a good GUI. I am not interested in working on it or any desktop app. Xobni is the only YC company I've heard of where the primary product or solution is a desktop app, so I think YCombinator also prefers web based apps.

By the way, I've always wondered--is there a feature in your product that monitors how often you mention RescueTime on news.YC and elsewhere? If there's not, or if it's not automated, you should add it. That way at the end of the day, you could see how often you've namedropped your product (as a measure of success). I'm only half-kidding. :)

Re: Ask HN: Does anyone WANT to build client software anymore?

#40

Post by shimi »

I'll try throw something in the mix, there is a matter of fashion. Back in the 90's C++ win32/MFC development was the highly regraded, I guess I should note that VB6.0 was very in demand as well, The technology and the market trends have changes so also the developers.

I for one don't like to write web applications (mainly because the technology fragmentation), and I prefer to use client application whenever I can.

Having say that I can't see myself writing Win32 API as a day job in the near future, for all the reasons mentioned above.

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