Ask HN: What do you call someone who has 20 apps released but can't code?

#1

Post by WesleyThurner » Thu, Jan 30, 2014, 1:36 AM UTC

I wrote my first 3 Android apps and they sucked plus took a long time. So I switched gears to mockups, photoshop and outsourcing code. I have about 20 apps now, but I am not sure what yo call myself.

Is this a marketable skill within a company? What further training/degrees/etc. should I pursue?

Re: Ask HN: What do you call someone who has 20 apps released but can't code?

#2

Post by kitcar » Thu, Jan 30, 2014, 1:44 AM UTC

Mockups w/photoshop = information architecture / user interface designer

Managing workers and segmenting tasks = project management

both are available as fields of study and are defined roles in most businesses -

Re: Ask HN: What do you call someone who has 20 apps released but can't code?

#3

Post by msteigerwalt » Thu, Jan 30, 2014, 1:50 AM UTC

Seems like you're playing a few roles, but the chief ones would probably be:

Product Manager: You take business goals and turn them into technical requirements, then ensure the product gets built.

Project Manager: You take technical requirements and ensure that your team delivers on those requirements.

User Experience Designer: You create mockups for products which can be implemented by the technical team.

I'd put together a portfolio of your work and send it off to a few companies, as that might be good enough to land you a job.

Re: Ask HN: What do you call someone who has 20 apps released but can't code?

#4

Post by thatthatis » Thu, Jan 30, 2014, 4:11 AM UTC

Product guy.

Re: Ask HN: What do you call someone who has 20 apps released but can't code?

#5

Post by dear » Thu, Jan 30, 2014, 3:27 PM UTC

Entrepreneur. ;)

Re: Ask HN: What do you call someone who has 20 apps released but can't code?

#6

Post by hectoroftroy » Fri, Jan 31, 2014, 6:57 AM UTC

Where do you outsource typically? How hard was it to go from idea/mockups to app and what was the typical cost?

Re: Ask HN: What do you call someone who has 20 apps released but can't code?

#7

Post by jbl » Fri, Jan 31, 2014, 1:29 PM UTC

msteigerwalt wrote: post #3

Seems like you're playing a few roles, but the chief ones would probably be: Product Manager: You take business goals and turn them into technical requirements, then ensure the product gets built. Project Manager: You take technical requirements and ensure that your team delivers on those requirements. User Experience Designer: You create mockups for products which can be implemented by the technical team. I'd put to…

While "product manager" has different meanings at various companies, I'd expand the description of PM to include all the wrangling of sales, marketing, and customer service that goes into shipping a product as well.

Re: Ask HN: What do you call someone who has 20 apps released but can't code?

#8

Post by WesleyThurner » Fri, Jan 31, 2014, 10:48 PM UTC

hectoroftroy wrote: post #6

Where do you outsource typically? How hard was it to go from idea/mockups to app and what was the typical cost?

I typically outsource through oDesk, It was very hard the first time but each time gets easier. The hard part is keeping decent developers. Even the good ones, you become a side project after the first one, despite increased budgets. Typically, they don't turn down work and you suffer instead of them telling you to wait a month and risk losing you. I have had a simple crappy app made for $75 all they way up to a few grand. Typical release ready non-game app can be had around $750. Games apps can be all over the place as far as development costs.