3 ms·

So, computers, phones, internet, electricity? I agree to an extent, but there comes a time rolling your own is nonsensical.

notafraudster 7y ago
Sure, but when you start building your business you'll probably do some kind of risk analysis and the risk that electricity is no longer available is catastrophic but unlikely, while the risk that Microsoft discontinues a struggling in-app ads system they built as part of their largely failed UWP initiative that they've been signalling backing away from for the last four or five years is both catastrophic and obviously going to happen. Ditto all the Facebook game companies that got eaten when that platform collapsed. I know not every dev can afford a PM but every dev can afford to take a few minutes to do a risk document and check in with it every month or two. It seems to me there really was not a good business case for investing in Microsoft's ad platform to begin with.
- krajzeg 7y ago
  A risk existing is not a reason to not start a business - nobody would start one if that was the case. The risks taken by this solitaire company seem to have worked out. They got to earn solid revenue for several years and even with MS backing away from their ad platform, they are evidently not without other options.
fauigerzigerk 7y ago
I think there are three types of services/markets we depend on: a) Well functioning markets (cars, phones, email, web hosting, computers, delivery services) b) Well regulated markets or public services (electricity or telecom in Europe, well entrenched public data such as SEC filings, open banking in the UK) c) Broken markets ruled by all-powerful oligopolists (app stores, online marketplaces like Amazon/eBay, game consoles, search advertising, social networks) In terms of dependency risk it's clearly c > b > a.

3 ms·

So, computers, phones, internet, electricity? I agree to an extent, but there comes a time rolling your own is nonsensical.

by overcast 7y ago

notafraudster 7y ago
Sure, but when you start building your business you'll probably do some kind of risk analysis and the risk that electricity is no longer available is catastrophic but unlikely, while the risk that Microsoft discontinues a struggling in-app ads system they built as part of their largely failed UWP initiative that they've been signalling backing away from for the last four or five years is both catastrophic and obviously going to happen. Ditto all the Facebook game companies that got eaten when that platform collapsed. I know not every dev can afford a PM but every dev can afford to take a few minutes to do a risk document and check in with it every month or two. It seems to me there really was not a good business case for investing in Microsoft's ad platform to begin with.
- krajzeg 7y ago
  A risk existing is not a reason to not start a business - nobody would start one if that was the case. The risks taken by this solitaire company seem to have worked out. They got to earn solid revenue for several years and even with MS backing away from their ad platform, they are evidently not without other options.
fauigerzigerk 7y ago
I think there are three types of services/markets we depend on: a) Well functioning markets (cars, phones, email, web hosting, computers, delivery services) b) Well regulated markets or public services (electricity or telecom in Europe, well entrenched public data such as SEC filings, open banking in the UK) c) Broken markets ruled by all-powerful oligopolists (app stores, online marketplaces like Amazon/eBay, game consoles, search advertising, social networks) In terms of dependency risk it's clearly c > b > a.