No feedback, no one to bounce ideas off, no “nice job” at the end of the day.
The freedom is great, but it gets weirdly quiet.
Anyone else relate?
Ask HN: I underestimated how lonely building solo can be
1–10 of 45 posts
Re: Ask HN: I underestimated how lonely building solo can be
#2I would rather hear that from a paying customer than my cofounder. If you do that, you might endup drinking the cool-aid.
Re: Ask HN: I underestimated how lonely building solo can be
#3don't work (too much) from home. find your crowd at a coworking space imho.
Re: Ask HN: I underestimated how lonely building solo can be
#4I ask myself what am I going to do to compensate once I am done building the current project.
And when am I going to be finished, or at least hit a worthwhile milestone?
There really should be some celebration due, and it most likely is going to be with people who have no understanding of what you are doing so often on your own.
It's not the manstream but it is actually normal if you're an individual craftsman.
At one time some of the most high-tech were called "watchmakers" :)
Re: Ask HN: I underestimated how lonely building solo can be
#5There's another option other than solo or co-founder.
It's called "solo, together"
Spend time around others who are also building solo and develop meaningful relationships with them.
Re: Ask HN: I underestimated how lonely building solo can be
#6don't work (too much) from home. find your crowd at a coworking space imho.
Coworking spaces can be great if you find the right vibe. The energy of being around other builders or creatives really helps with momentum - though it’s easy to end up socializing more than working if you’re not careful. Balance is key.
Re: Ask HN: I underestimated how lonely building solo can be
#7I would rather hear that from a paying customer than my cofounder. If you do that, you might endup drinking the cool-aid.
Fair point - feedback from actual customers keeps you grounded in reality. Cofounders can motivate you, but customers validate you. The “cool-aid” risk is real when everyone around you shares the same bias.
Re: Ask HN: I underestimated how lonely building solo can be
#8There's another option other than solo or co-founder. It's called "solo, together" Spend time around others who are also building solo and develop meaningful relationships with them.
“Solo, together” - I really like that framing. It captures the best of both worlds: independence without isolation. It’s almost like the modern-day version of guilds — individual creators building side by side.
Re: Ask HN: I underestimated how lonely building solo can be
#9I ask myself what am I going to do to compensate once I am done building the current project. And when am I going to be finished, or at least hit a worthwhile milestone? There really should be some celebration due, and it most likely is going to be with people who have no understanding of what you are doing so often on your own. It's not the manstream but it is actually normal if you're an individual craftsman. At on…
That’s a great reflection. Celebrating milestones solo can feel hollow, but it’s part of the craftsperson’s journey. The watchmaker analogy fits perfectly - building intricate, meaningful things that most people never fully see or understand.
Re: Ask HN: I underestimated how lonely building solo can be
#10There's another option other than solo or co-founder. It's called "solo, together" Spend time around others who are also building solo and develop meaningful relationships with them.
“Solo, together” - I really like that framing. It captures the best of both worlds: independence without isolation. It’s almost like the modern-day version of guilds — individual creators building side by side.
Is this a real question and you are using AI just for the comments or even the post was AI-generated? Are you a bot or someone that used AI to "proofread"?
If you are feeling lonely, using AI in place of genuinely engaging with people won't help.