4 ms·

Reminds me of what got me to this site many years ago. I was reading a lisp programming book that had a footnote that somehow got me to HN. As a teenager I got

Reminds me of what got me to this site many years ago. I was reading a lisp programming book that had a footnote that somehow got me to HN. As a teenager I got enamoured by the idea of the future of the tech being driven by small fast-moving hacker friendly companies rather than big corp, as portrayed in PG's writings and this site. I remember how I increasingly became disillusioned as I gradually realized that many (most?) startups were optimizing for the acquisition by the same big corp (investors gotta cash out, right?) instead of building long-term sustainable businesses. This seems to have attracted the kind of personality that just wants to play the game, cash out and get rich.

shopkins 9y ago
Agreed. Working for a company that optimizes for cashing out loses luster really quickly. As someone who's been on that hamster wheel for too long, have to say it'd definitely be more interesting to work for a company that builds for long-term sustainability.
dlwdlw 9y ago
I like the Hollywood model of bespoke teams for projects. A stable salary could be created via long term "royalties" that each project creates. (or may not be require if each project is big enough.) This model requires projects that have long term stability upon creation but also a recognized lifespan due to attention attrition. Like movies. A lot of bad code nowadays exists because of pressure from "creators" that don't actually create. They are middlenmanagers appeasing their boss who is appeasing their boss and so on. There is nothing tying it to reality so all sense of quality is lost. The main things that prevent this now IMO is the friction of setting up these groups for value capture and the maintenance of the subsequent results. To me, the most exciting part of block chains is that they can create a non-human central authority that can theoretically embody any set of rules including group structure and value capture. New photo sharing apps can end up capturing value like new superhero movies. Winner take all dynamics still exist but enduring monopolies do not. The contracting model will also solve another huge issue which is the shitty interview process. (mostly self imposed) After spending some time at well known large companies what I've realized is that they aren't the best of the beverythey are simply places to hide, specialize, or grow. They are like oasis' that survive due to captured value streams or large value stores or deep moats. Inside people can become specialists in service of this "city" but lack the well roundedness grittiness of a desert wanderer. But unlike a city which is neutral provided you can generate value/pay rent, companies are like cults in the the entrances are guarded and the HOA rules are super strict and apply to everyone. So while they can generate highly specialized "trebuchets" that wanders cannot the citizens can be far from happy. The Hollywood model would greatly benefit the group of people who may currently feel too tied down.

shopkins 9y ago

Agreed. Working for a company that optimizes for cashing out loses luster really quickly. As someone who's been on that hamster wheel for too long, have to say it'd definitely be more interesting to work for a company that builds for long-term sustainability.

dlwdlw 9y ago

I like the Hollywood model of bespoke teams for projects. A stable salary could be created via long term "royalties" that each project creates. (or may not be require if each project is big enough.) This model requires projects that have long term stability upon creation but also a recognized lifespan due to attention attrition. Like movies. A lot of bad code nowadays exists because of pressure from "creators" that don't actually create. They are middlenmanagers appeasing their boss who is appeasing their boss and so on. There is nothing tying it to reality so all sense of quality is lost. The main things that prevent this now IMO is the friction of setting up these groups for value capture and the maintenance of the subsequent results. To me, the most exciting part of block chains is that they can create a non-human central authority that can theoretically embody any set of rules including group structure and value capture. New photo sharing apps can end up capturing value like new superhero movies. Winner take all dynamics still exist but enduring monopolies do not. The contracting model will also solve another huge issue which is the shitty interview process. (mostly self imposed) After spending some time at well known large companies what I've realized is that they aren't the best of the beverythey are simply places to hide, specialize, or grow. They are like oasis' that survive due to captured value streams or large value stores or deep moats. Inside people can become specialists in service of this "city" but lack the well roundedness grittiness of a desert wanderer. But unlike a city which is neutral provided you can generate value/pay rent, companies are like cults in the the entrances are guarded and the HOA rules are super strict and apply to everyone. So while they can generate highly specialized "trebuchets" that wanders cannot the citizens can be far from happy. The Hollywood model would greatly benefit the group of people who may currently feel too tied down.