Live data from Hacker News

I have a great idea for a webapp, but hardly any programming knowledge. What should i do?

news.ycombinator.com

51–60 of 104 posts

Re: I have a great idea for a webapp, but hardly any programming knowledge. What should i do?

#51
post #21

I don't know how you can find a good hacker, because there is no way for you to judge one. That aside, your best bet is to offer a lot of equity in the startup. More than half of the company. Your biggest selling point is that you will take care of all the stuff that annoys hackers - designing UI screens, marketing, face time with real users. If your idea is good, you offer more than 50% equity, and take care of the…

I think this is a bit unfair to the OP. Yes hackers are important but sometimes we tend to make ourselves want to feel too important. There's nothing stopping this kid from at least making a mockup. If he's going to hackers with just an idea that's his major problem. Show the hacker something tangible and he's more likely to get a partner.

Re: I have a great idea for a webapp, but hardly any programming knowledge. What should i do?

#52

The fact that you don't know programming is no big deal. Being a programmer for over 12 years and looking forward to my next startup, what I can tell you is that ideas do matter. Consider this.The same amount of time that Google spend building a billion dollar startup is what a two bit outfit spends generating a million dollars. Or another that goes belly up. In other words ideas and execution equally matter. Maybe e…

Do you by chance have a link to the Forbes study in question?

Re: I have a great idea for a webapp, but hardly any programming knowledge. What should i do?

#53
post #50
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

for sufficiently vague definitions of "idea".

true :) ok, ideas are easy. Ideas that could potentially make a lot of money aren't too hard to come up with. Ideas that could be the next big thing, are also within most peoples grasp. Still think coming up with the idea is maybe 5% of the work. It's almost as bad as people who register what they think is a great domain name and think that's their website pretty much done now.

"people who register what they think is a great domain name and think that's their website pretty much done now."

Another painfully true observation.

There is a spectrum between being a complete retard and a coding ninja, though. There are plenty of sweet spots for entrepreneurs between the two ends of that spectrum.

Re: I have a great idea for a webapp, but hardly any programming knowledge. What should i do?

#54
post #49
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

for sufficiently vague definitions of "idea".

[for sufficiently vague definitions of "idea"] Upmodded. That is brilliant. As an entrepreneur, I have very specific thoughts on what constitutes a "good idea for a business." To me, it suggests that you have four things: 1. a keen insight into what a group of people (with money) want 2. you have a means of delivering a solution to those needy people 3. you have a way of targeting those needy people to let them know…

I keep thinking: "7 minute abs, man!"

Re: I have a great idea for a webapp, but hardly any programming knowledge. What should i do?

#56
post #27

It might turn out it's not such a great idea at the current time after all because as a non-programmer you think too vaguely and declaratively. This isn't anything personal about you, it's just human nature. Writing code forces you to think precisely and consider practicalities that are otherwise hidden from you as a user.

>because as a non-programmer you think too vaguely and declaratively.

Youch. That's a painful trap of circular logic to fall into. Keep in mind that most businesses have been started by non-programmers.

Re: I have a great idea for a webapp, but hardly any programming knowledge. What should i do?

#58
post #12

Get an NDA with anyone you work with. "Ideas are easy, execution is hard" is a cop-out excuse by people who don't have any patentable worthwhile ideas of their own!

ideas aren't patentable

"ideas aren't patentable"

That's true, but business methods and certain software implementations of novel ideas are patentable...at least in the US. I've found that truly good ideas are easily translated into one or both of these. The problem is, most people have "me too" ideas.

All philosophical arguments aside, the patent system can be an entrepreneur's best friend. Yes, the system is heavily abused. I personally don't believe in software patents. But I damn sure use them. Color me hypocritical.

Re: I have a great idea for a webapp, but hardly any programming knowledge. What should i do?

#60

The fact that you don't know programming is no big deal. Being a programmer for over 12 years and looking forward to my next startup, what I can tell you is that ideas do matter. Consider this.The same amount of time that Google spend building a billion dollar startup is what a two bit outfit spends generating a million dollars. Or another that goes belly up. In other words ideas and execution equally matter. Maybe e…

That's complete bullsh!t.

It is execution that matters. Ideas are a dime a dozen. What google did was excellent execution of an non-original idea (there were lots of search engines at that time).

Look at the UConnect vs. Facebook. vs. that other dude that that the same idea. Facebook was able to execute much faster and better and got traction, while Uconnect is just crap, and they have to resort to lawsuits.

Sure, if your idea is dumb to begin with, then no matter how good the execution is, you wont get anything out of it.

But you still can change ideas and business plans around, and from a loser make a winner offering. (many startups end up changing their ideas business models at some point, including the company I am working for). If your execution team still sucks, your products will show it, and the next guy that likes idea, will copy it, and make a much better version of what you are offering. (just like Friendster got hosed by poor execution).

But it is a common trait from "Business" people that think ideas matter more. It is more of a whishful thinking. Honestly being good at business is nothing more that having a good common sense and street smarts, and knowing how to B.S. a little. Things that no school teaches you.

So my advice, learn how to build websites (as a programmer I'd like to concetrate on the harder stuff), do everything you can help the whole team, (from marketing, getting graphics, building mock-ups or prototypes) etc.. While you don't have to program, you better have some good technical skills, and really understand what's going on and how hard or easy is to do some stuff.

One thing that is very annoying, is how non-technical people think it is sooooo easy to just have an ajax drop down, or that little thing here, that little thing there, without having the slightly idea how much work it really takes.

Post reply on HN