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> Regarding the 'buy vs build' I think buying software is one of the most risky things that you can do. Since it cost money you cannot then say 'o well, i guess
by williamdclt 7y ago
> Regarding the 'buy vs build' I think buying software is one of the most risky things that you can do. Since it cost money you cannot then say 'o well, i guess it just did not pan out, let us just not use it'. Now you are kind of married to the software.
It is usually way more costly and risky to develop your own. It's many hours spent on what is a separate product to your actual product, and you're way more married to it: you've just spent money, time and energy developping a custom homegrown solution. What are the chances you'll go "o well, i guess it just did not pan out, let us just not use it"? Very, very low
So you end up spending more money and a significant amount of time/energy for a product that's probably subpar because there's no reason you'd do better than companies that are focused on this product.
I think buying software is one of the least risky things you can do, you know exactly how much money you have at risk and you usually know pretty well what you're buying. You don't know how much money/time/energy it will take to make your own solution, and you don't know what result you'll get.
- TruffleMuffin 7y agoRegarding your last point. You weigh buying software over building it when you know how much it costs to buy and maintain, and have a strong grasp on how much time money and energy it costs to build it yourself. That is how you make an informed judgement. Sure there is risk, but if your burning 15K a year on a build server and you can build it yourself for 5k and run it for 1k a year then math doesn't lie about what choice you should make.
- crystaldev 7y agoOften it's not you who's deciding on buy vs. build. The choice can be: Build, or be forced to use whatever trash some PHB was sold.