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Twitch lays off 500 staff

venturebeat.com

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Re: Twitch lays off 500 staff

#11

Post by trgn »

ToucanLoucan wrote: post #5

As I've said in several of these threads... over the coming years we're going to find out how much of the platform-boom Internet was built on the back of lighting fields of dump-trucks full of money on fire while vaguely waving your hands towards the future and something about monetizing user data because unheard-of low interest rates made money basically free, and that party has ended. Honestly, I'm excited. I want…

I understand, directionally I'd agree, but practically speaking, would you rather be a computer programmer in an era when VCs are dumping money in software, or in one when this is not case?

Re: Twitch lays off 500 staff

#12

Post by ToucanLoucan »

trgn wrote: post #11
ToucanLoucan wrote: post #5

As I've said in several of these threads... over the coming years we're going to find out how much of the platform-boom Internet was built on the back of lighting fields of dump-trucks full of money on fire while vaguely waving your hands towards the future and something about monetizing user data because unheard-of low interest rates made money basically free, and that party has ended. Honestly, I'm excited. I want…

I understand, directionally I'd agree, but practically speaking, would you rather be a computer programmer in an era when VCs are dumping money in software, or in one when this is not case?

I've never worked for a VC firm and wouldn't unless I had no other options. I don't like the business model, I don't like the pressure to grow ad-infinitum, I don't like the prospect of investors who don't understand the business they are in dictating the product.

I strictly work for privately owned companies. They're not always perfect but the sensible-to-utter-nonsense ratio from leadership is FAR, FAR better.

Re: Twitch lays off 500 staff

#13

Post by trgn »

ToucanLoucan wrote: post #12
trgn wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand, directionally I'd agree, but practically speaking, would you rather be a computer programmer in an era when VCs are dumping money in software, or in one when this is not case?

I've never worked for a VC firm and wouldn't unless I had no other options. I don't like the business model, I don't like the pressure to grow ad-infinitum, I don't like the prospect of investors who don't understand the business they are in dictating the product. I strictly work for privately owned companies. They're not always perfect but the sensible-to-utter-nonsense ratio from leadership is FAR, FAR better.

> I've never worked for a VC firm

I don't think it actually matters (?) All practitioners, in VC funded company or not, benefit from frothy demand for programmers, even if a lot of that demand is driven by "dumb" money. I mean, compare to the years after .com crash, or the current lean years. I don't know, I think we should prefer the fat years?

Re: Twitch lays off 500 staff

#14

Post by cqqxo4zV46cp »

trgn wrote: post #11
ToucanLoucan wrote: post #5

As I've said in several of these threads... over the coming years we're going to find out how much of the platform-boom Internet was built on the back of lighting fields of dump-trucks full of money on fire while vaguely waving your hands towards the future and something about monetizing user data because unheard-of low interest rates made money basically free, and that party has ended. Honestly, I'm excited. I want…

I understand, directionally I'd agree, but practically speaking, would you rather be a computer programmer in an era when VCs are dumping money in software, or in one when this is not case?

No. That is pretty typical HN bias. I’ve too never worked anywhere VC-funded. Any increase in remuneration I’ve received as a result of a tech bubble at the very least has to be weighed up against the indirect downsides. The dominant technologies of the last 10+ years have been influenced by a) nothing needing to be built to last, and b) lots of companies having insanely high head counts resulting in over-engineered solutions. Both of these things have made my job leas enjoyable and I’d at the very least consider taking a pay cut to be in a world where things went differently. I can think of plenty of other downsides.

Re: Twitch lays off 500 staff

#16

Post by dasil003 »

trgn wrote: post #11
ToucanLoucan wrote: post #5

As I've said in several of these threads... over the coming years we're going to find out how much of the platform-boom Internet was built on the back of lighting fields of dump-trucks full of money on fire while vaguely waving your hands towards the future and something about monetizing user data because unheard-of low interest rates made money basically free, and that party has ended. Honestly, I'm excited. I want…

I understand, directionally I'd agree, but practically speaking, would you rather be a computer programmer in an era when VCs are dumping money in software, or in one when this is not case?

Both! I started my professional career in the year 2000 where I learned how to be resourceful. In the 2010s this positioned me to “do more with less” while still cashing in on the overall prosperity and bigger budgets. Now that belts are tightening again, my experience sets me apart from anyone under 35 in tech who spent their entire career in an unprecedented bull market.

Change is good, otherwise power structures ossify and things get stagnant.

Re: Twitch lays off 500 staff

#20

Post by giancarlostoro »

kernal wrote: post #19

I’m surprised people actually believed Twitch was profitable.

I mean... did you not see how much some of the streamers make in pay outs from the leak a few years back? Some political comentators were pulling at least a million if I remember correctly. There's definitely some money being thrown around. Not sure if its all being thrown around incorrectly, but people definitely pay to watch streamers.

Just look up how much the highest paid streamers on Twitch make per month, and you'll see there's some value to it.

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