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On the other hand, it might be a good time to launch/fund a product that competes. Without its developer ecosystem, Twitter is practically an unusable product.
by bobz 16y ago
On the other hand, it might be a good time to launch/fund a product that competes. Without its developer ecosystem, Twitter is practically an unusable product. Sure, they have their network, but so did Myspace, Digg.
Twitter can't reasonably act like Apple and get away with it. It's a very low cost-to-switch environment. If this trend continues, if they make things too hard for devs, the devs will leave, and won't be in a hurry to come back. Might be a perfect time for a lean, developer friendly startup with the right innovation to come in and claim a piece of that market.
- jkarp 16y agoI don't agree that Twitter is a very low cost-to-switch environment. Its value only comes with scale - I think it would be difficult for non HN users of Twitter to see enough value to make a switch, at least, not without something new or quite compelling...
- bobz 16y agoI suppose what I meant is that, unlike Apple, there's no cost for a user to start using a competitor. But I suppose switch isn't even really the right word here; there's no reason they even have to stop using Twitter. Basically, if something else did gain momentum, it could happen pretty fast. As opposed to an iPhone competitor, which Apple can see coming and make strategic moves to plug leaks.