Europe's Software Problem • Hacker News Board

Re: Europe's Software Problem

#11

Post by samsquire » Tue, Jun 15, 2021, 12:58 PM UTC

thiago_fm wrote: post #4

This problem will never get fixed. The author forgot to mention in depth the main reason why EU isn't even in the game: culture. In order to be innovative and compete, we need very flexible working laws, people with a big growth mindset, a less relaxing lifestyle and AMBITIOUS people. A lot of third world countries are years ahead of the whole EU continent in that aspect. I say this because I live in Europe for the q…

Wow that's a lot to unpack... But I'll just leave this here.

> I see how kids and adults are spoiled here

I think what you're seeing is how people are meant to be treated.

Maybe the German software developers don't want to work for a startup sweat shop?

Re: Europe's Software Problem

#12

Post by selfhoster11 » Tue, Jun 15, 2021, 12:59 PM UTC

thiago_fm wrote: post #4

This problem will never get fixed. The author forgot to mention in depth the main reason why EU isn't even in the game: culture. In order to be innovative and compete, we need very flexible working laws, people with a big growth mindset, a less relaxing lifestyle and AMBITIOUS people. A lot of third world countries are years ahead of the whole EU continent in that aspect. I say this because I live in Europe for the q…

> In order to be innovative and compete, we need very flexible working laws, people with a big growth mindset, a less relaxing lifestyle and AMBITIOUS people.

The US has those things and it's turning into a "third world country with a Gucci belt" (as someone put it) for everyone except the 1% and the indispensable knowledge worker class that can't be automated away or juiced dry for all the productivity they are capable of.

"Flexible working laws" and "less relaxing lifestyle" to me translates as "light a fire under their ass until they are forced to innovate", while "big growth mindset" and "ambitious people" translate as "hustle culture", which I consider toxic in its very nature.

As a European, I can only hope that our culture doesn't degrade itself to that degree.

Re: Europe's Software Problem

#13

Post by slavoingilizov » Tue, Jun 15, 2021, 12:59 PM UTC

"Since all communication platforms are now free, the only way to get people to use competitive European software and services is to also offer these for free, and to make sure this technology is very good and compelling"

I have never seen a government or any regulation deliver anything "good and compelling", or take any other action to "make sure" someone else delivers it.

Re: Europe's Software Problem

#14

Post by selfhoster11 » Tue, Jun 15, 2021, 1:01 PM UTC

Jiejeing wrote: post #6

thiago_fm wrote: post #4

This problem will never get fixed. The author forgot to mention in depth the main reason why EU isn't even in the game: culture. In order to be innovative and compete, we need very flexible working laws, people with a big growth mindset, a less relaxing lifestyle and AMBITIOUS people. A lot of third world countries are years ahead of the whole EU continent in that aspect. I say this because I live in Europe for the q…

> In order to be innovative and compete, we need very flexible working laws, people with a big growth mindset, a less relaxing lifestyle and AMBITIOUS people. There needs to be a source for this.

Necessity is the mother of invention. But that doesn't need that the must humane way up induce invention is to purposefully create the necessity in the first place.

Re: Europe's Software Problem

#15

Post by ema » Tue, Jun 15, 2021, 1:02 PM UTC

I think a law that forbids blocking third party clients (either through terms&conditions or technical means) would level the playing field a bit. Though I see issues around balancing the need of platforms to update their APIs and an API update essentially blocking third party clients who don't keep pace.

Re: Europe's Software Problem

#16

Post by gabaix » Tue, Jun 15, 2021, 1:05 PM UTC

If Europe wants to have its citizens (and companies) rely significantly on European-operated software, it has no choice but to develop better software, and to also offer that for free.

I can’t help thinking of Qwant, the alternative privacy-aware European search engine. Their financial standing is so dire that this week they had to ask money from Huawei. [1]

[1] https://www.politico.eu/article/french-search-engine-qwant-h...

Re: Europe's Software Problem

#17

Post by Mary-Jane » Tue, Jun 15, 2021, 1:05 PM UTC

iamcurious wrote: post #2

United States' platforms on Chinese hardware sounds like everybody's problem. Except for China which has both. To be honest, it would be nice for Europe to handle the platforms and for the United States to go back to radical innovation. The times of emacs, vi, Bell labs, Xerox and pushing the computing medium to the edge.

All the FAANGs are American companies, and they've all been pushing the boundaries. What do you feel America has lost in this respect?

Re: Europe's Software Problem

#18

Post by wreath » Tue, Jun 15, 2021, 1:05 PM UTC

_pmf_ wrote: post #10

thiago_fm wrote: post #4

This problem will never get fixed. The author forgot to mention in depth the main reason why EU isn't even in the game: culture. In order to be innovative and compete, we need very flexible working laws, people with a big growth mindset, a less relaxing lifestyle and AMBITIOUS people. A lot of third world countries are years ahead of the whole EU continent in that aspect. I say this because I live in Europe for the q…

> I see how kids and adults are spoiled here Where do you live in Europe, and what do you mean exactly?

He already said where he lives in the comment.

Re: Europe's Software Problem

#19

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jun 15, 2021, 1:09 PM UTC

thiago_fm wrote: post #4

This problem will never get fixed. The author forgot to mention in depth the main reason why EU isn't even in the game: culture. In order to be innovative and compete, we need very flexible working laws, people with a big growth mindset, a less relaxing lifestyle and AMBITIOUS people. A lot of third world countries are years ahead of the whole EU continent in that aspect. I say this because I live in Europe for the q…

[deleted]

Re: Europe's Software Problem

#20

Post by wreath » Tue, Jun 15, 2021, 1:09 PM UTC

thiago_fm wrote: post #4

This problem will never get fixed. The author forgot to mention in depth the main reason why EU isn't even in the game: culture. In order to be innovative and compete, we need very flexible working laws, people with a big growth mindset, a less relaxing lifestyle and AMBITIOUS people. A lot of third world countries are years ahead of the whole EU continent in that aspect. I say this because I live in Europe for the q…

I have a similar perspective mostly (we live in the same city and both are foreigners so we are seeing from a similar lense,fwiw). What i disagree with is that people here are not ambitious. I think its more like the regulation and laws and red tape in general that makes starting a business a non attractive endeavor compared to being an employee considering all the benefits employees get in most of EU. In the US, i would imagine the difference in terms of risk of quitting your job to start a business is not as wide as in EU.