3 ms·

> In some ways, things are better than ever for folks like you. Starting and running a one-person business making software is feasible now but would've been muc

> In some ways, things are better than ever for folks like you. Starting and running a one-person business making software is feasible now but would've been much harder in decades past. Yes, you are absolutely right. Unfortunately, I have been trying that and failing. I don't blame anyone for that either. > Unfortunately, industry has problems that are big enough that they're not easily solved with one person. So tools that work to bring about a team's success will be valuable. As will individuals who work well in teams. You are absolutely correct. And yes, that is why people shouldn't hire me. Nevertheless, I think there are some problems that one person can solve. I want to make the next-gen version control system. I think that may be small enough for one person. Other infrastructure software can be like that too.

wyldfire 2y ago
IMO Open Source software communities are where folks like you can really thrive. They're much closer at something like a meritocracy than traditional workplaces. > I want to make the next-gen version control system While you certainly could invent one yourself, you could consider contributing to popular ones like git/mercurial. It'd help teach you both the positive and the negative aspects of their design choices. Also you could consider learning from newer approaches like Jujutsu [1] or Pijul [2] on your way to designing the next-gen system. Good luck! [1] https://github.com/martinvonz/jj https://github.com/martinvonz/jj [2] https://pijul.org/ https://pijul.org/
- deleted 2y ago
  [deleted]
skulk 2y ago
I've seen your monorepo and it's definitely impressive. How are you going about acquiring clients though? It's not like I have any advice but I'm curious what you've tried.
- gavinhoward 2y ago
  Thank you for your compliment! Blog post marketing, mostly. I am about to start a podcast for marketing as well. I would do conferences, but people have advised against that.
  - intended 2y ago
    Just checking - have you considered switching projects, with your next project being social engineering your sales? (Cold turkey switch, not "let me get these features added, before I switch projects" etc.) Its quite possible you have thought of this, but I cant be sure. If you have thought or acted on it, how long were you able to sustain it? Being able to switch your obsession is something we are able to do, but it does require time and thinking.
    - gavinhoward 2y ago
      I have considered, but I won't. I actually can't switch my obsessions. Not intentionally. I have tried. It has taken me 7 years of marriage to go from uncanny valley social skills to appearing normal at first glance. Social engineering skills would probably take me another 100 years. And on that point (and this is purely my belief, not objective truth), unlike most people, I want clients to choose my software because it actually is the best for them, not because I manipulated, er, socially engineered, them into thinking so. If people make uninformed decisions in my favor, then on some level, I am slightly scamming them. I don't want that.
      - intended 2y ago
        Hmmm. I respect your position. I am going to push against a few errors made on my part. Social engineering was used incorrectly by me. I should have said marketing and sales. You cannot switch to something you find uninteresting, much less something you feel is in opposition to your values.

wyldfire 2y ago

IMO Open Source software communities are where folks like you can really thrive. They're much closer at something like a meritocracy than traditional workplaces. > I want to make the next-gen version control system While you certainly could invent one yourself, you could consider contributing to popular ones like git/mercurial. It'd help teach you both the positive and the negative aspects of their design choices. Also you could consider learning from newer approaches like Jujutsu [1] or Pijul [2] on your way to designing the next-gen system. Good luck! [1] https://github.com/martinvonz/jj https://github.com/martinvonz/jj [2] https://pijul.org/ https://pijul.org/

deleted 2y ago
[deleted]

skulk 2y ago

I've seen your monorepo and it's definitely impressive. How are you going about acquiring clients though? It's not like I have any advice but I'm curious what you've tried.

gavinhoward 2y ago
Thank you for your compliment! Blog post marketing, mostly. I am about to start a podcast for marketing as well. I would do conferences, but people have advised against that.
- intended 2y ago
  Just checking - have you considered switching projects, with your next project being social engineering your sales? (Cold turkey switch, not "let me get these features added, before I switch projects" etc.) Its quite possible you have thought of this, but I cant be sure. If you have thought or acted on it, how long were you able to sustain it? Being able to switch your obsession is something we are able to do, but it does require time and thinking.
  - gavinhoward 2y ago
    I have considered, but I won't. I actually can't switch my obsessions. Not intentionally. I have tried. It has taken me 7 years of marriage to go from uncanny valley social skills to appearing normal at first glance. Social engineering skills would probably take me another 100 years. And on that point (and this is purely my belief, not objective truth), unlike most people, I want clients to choose my software because it actually is the best for them, not because I manipulated, er, socially engineered, them into thinking so. If people make uninformed decisions in my favor, then on some level, I am slightly scamming them. I don't want that.
    - intended 2y ago
      Hmmm. I respect your position. I am going to push against a few errors made on my part. Social engineering was used incorrectly by me. I should have said marketing and sales. You cannot switch to something you find uninteresting, much less something you feel is in opposition to your values.