Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup

#1

Post by kschults » Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 12:02 AM UTC

Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup
blog.wepay.com

Re: Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup

#2

Post by robobenjie » Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 12:31 AM UTC

"Don’t pretend to be more technical than you are. Especially in the Bay Area. First of all, it’s incredibly transparent (even to non-technical people), and you will lose all credibility. It also pisses off engineers. "

Seriously. Please don't condescendingly explain something technical, incorrectly, to someone who already understands it. AHHHHRGG!

Re: Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup

#3

Post by vibhavs » Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 12:34 AM UTC

Related: What's A Non-Programmer To Do? by Spencer Fry

http://spencerfry.com/whats-a-non-programmer-to-do

Re: Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup

#4

Post by strlen » Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 12:37 AM UTC

There's a corollary to the 90/10 rule: if solving a whole problem seems infeasible, try solving 80% of it instead.

Re: Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup

#5

Post by ams6110 » Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 12:52 AM UTC

7) Don't call people engineers when the appropriate term is "developer" or "programmer"

Re: Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup

#6

Post by veemjeem » Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 12:58 AM UTC

ams6110 wrote: post #5

7) Don't call people engineers when the appropriate term is "developer" or "programmer"

Personally I think engineer is a better term than "programmer".

Re: Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup

#7

Post by aberman » Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 12:59 AM UTC

ams6110 wrote: post #5

7) Don't call people engineers when the appropriate term is "developer" or "programmer"

good point and duly noted (though i find your style of offering feedback somewhat abrasive).

Re: Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup

#8

Post by jim_dot » Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 12:59 AM UTC

ams6110 wrote: post #5

7) Don't call people engineers when the appropriate term is "developer" or "programmer"

Our friends with the iron ring (if Canadian) are very sensitive and misusing the term engineer will elicit tears.

Re: Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup

#9

Post by billclerico » Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 1:09 AM UTC

ams6110 wrote: post #5

7) Don't call people engineers when the appropriate term is "developer" or "programmer"

i feel like many people prefer "programmer" to "engineer"

Re: Things a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup

#10

Post by rokhayakebe » Wed, Apr 28, 2010, 1:21 AM UTC

1 thing a Non-Engineer Should Know Before Founding a Web Startup.

Learn How to Code. Simple as that.