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"All his Stack Overflow work is unpaid, done purely to help millions of people around the world he will never meet." Atwood did an amazing job gamifying Stack

by baus 11y ago

"All his Stack Overflow work is unpaid, done purely to help millions of people around the world he will never meet." Atwood did an amazing job gamifying Stack Overflow, but I think it is worth considering that while the contributors gain little from the site financially, that was not the case for the founders.

inglor 11y ago
Jon Published a book, I know at least 3 people (me included) who have purchased the book because of interacting with him through the site. It's not fair to say he didn't benefit from StackOverflow and his revenue is linked to his contribution and the success of the site. Note that there are at least 100 people with over 100K reputation in StackOverflow. Also note, it's completely fine to do something as a hobby without looking for profit - and it's fine to grow side profit through it. I got lots of employment offers through StackOverflow for example.
- dominotw 11y ago
  >Jon Published a book, I know at least 3 people (me included) who have purchased the book because of interacting with him through the site. Its hard to imagine he is making a killing via books sales.
- baus 11y ago
  I understand the benefits of contributing to the site, but I think it is fair to note that the financial benefits are not skewed in favor of major contributors.
- coldtea 11y ago
  Books usually lose you money. Programming books doubly so, especially if your hour rate is that of a Google programmer, it's hardly worth spending half a year or even a year for the measly returns.
  - dionidium 11y ago
    That book is doing a lot more for Jon Skeet than putting royalties in his pocket
    - coldtea 11y ago
      Well, it's haven't "upgraded" his job -- he still works the same job at Google. The fame from being "Chuck Norris" of SO is more than enough, and more impressive that having written a programming book anyway (with tons of people have done).
      - dionidium 11y ago
        Tons of people have written a programming book, but Skeet wrote a good one.

by baus 11y ago

inglor 11y ago

Jon Published a book, I know at least 3 people (me included) who have purchased the book because of interacting with him through the site. It's not fair to say he didn't benefit from StackOverflow and his revenue is linked to his contribution and the success of the site. Note that there are at least 100 people with over 100K reputation in StackOverflow. Also note, it's completely fine to do something as a hobby without looking for profit - and it's fine to grow side profit through it. I got lots of employment offers through StackOverflow for example.

dominotw 11y ago
>Jon Published a book, I know at least 3 people (me included) who have purchased the book because of interacting with him through the site. Its hard to imagine he is making a killing via books sales.
baus 11y ago
I understand the benefits of contributing to the site, but I think it is fair to note that the financial benefits are not skewed in favor of major contributors.
coldtea 11y ago
Books usually lose you money. Programming books doubly so, especially if your hour rate is that of a Google programmer, it's hardly worth spending half a year or even a year for the measly returns.
- dionidium 11y ago
  That book is doing a lot more for Jon Skeet than putting royalties in his pocket
  - coldtea 11y ago
    Well, it's haven't "upgraded" his job -- he still works the same job at Google. The fame from being "Chuck Norris" of SO is more than enough, and more impressive that having written a programming book anyway (with tons of people have done).
    - dionidium 11y ago
      Tons of people have written a programming book, but Skeet wrote a good one.