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tkiley
Biggest Mistakes You've Made?
vlad
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience comes from practice. Practice entails making bad decisions. ;-)I've always been hesitant to make decisions when I didn't have all the information. My current approach is to gather a reasonable amount of information, throw my energy into a particular course of action, and be willing to turn on a dime if contraindications present themselves.To sum up: My biggest mistake has been my fear of mistakes.
null
2
3
2007-08-07 17:37:08 UTC
40,141
40,097
henning
Dot Bomb 2.0 is coming
run4yourlives
Be suspicious of graphs that don't have units or precise labels.
null
9
13
2007-08-07 17:41:12 UTC
40,146
40,121
iamyoohoo
Biggest Mistakes You've Made?
vlad
1. Having a go at it alone. 2. Taking too long to launch - fail early, fail often, iterate. 3. In-efficient outsourcing.
null
1
3
2007-08-07 17:50:04 UTC
40,149
39,983
tocomment
Marketing Your Startup. Any comments?
pepeto
Here's a counter-example to this idea. I made justoneclubcard.com a few years ago. I think it's a clever idea and useful to a lot of people. I even get emails all the time from people telling me how great they think it is.But it is rare that people spread the word to other people i.e., very little traffic comes from email websites, small blogs, or directly typing in the URL. Instead almost all of the traffic comes from lifehack type websites discovering it and linking to it.So in my case I don't see the specific p2p type word of mouth he talks about. I think that only applies to certain products where you actually want your friends to use the same product as you e.g., "dude, you've got to get a myspace account".What do you guys think?
null
0
11
2007-08-07 17:53:10 UTC
40,152
40,121
sabhishek
Biggest Mistakes You've Made?
vlad
Moonlighting for so long, the sin of sins.
null
3
3
2007-08-07 17:55:53 UTC
40,156
40,097
tx
Dot Bomb 2.0 is coming
run4yourlives
Well... I'd be very skeptical to listen to a guy with such a cheesy blog title. He is "Building leadership...". Often most of these folks usually don't bother with even a basic logic in their "predictions" and "explanations".Quote: Facebook and mySpace are only as valuable as the next big thing. In other words: they are fads. Now, fads can be successful if they are managed right, but they all share one thing in common - they will not be be around tomorrow. If you need proof, look no further than Frendster.I don't see much logic in that.
null
8
13
2007-08-07 18:10:36 UTC
40,160
39,822
horatio05
Coding Horror: Yes, But What Have You *Done*?
horatio05
Damn, this makes me want to code right now... but I will read some YC posts first :-). It's good to get a good inspirational kick in the rump now and then though.
null
0
8
2007-08-07 18:21:16 UTC
40,171
40,097
bilbo0s
Dot Bomb 2.0 is coming
run4yourlives
This guy must have hit a nerve to generate so much vitriol. I think many of the comments here hit on some good points. I think the blog post we are discussing hits on some good points. It is possible that we are all right.We need to be honest here and admit, however, that the vast majority of the free to use consumer startups that we are seeing will be challenged generate US$1 Billion in revenue a year. Or for that matter, even US$100 Million. That is why there is little talk about taking the majority of them public, because other than as a delivery vector for advertisements, there is scarce value in this crop of startups. To be perfectly frank, these are less than ideal platforms for ad delivery as well.What can be done? We can try other models, and I'm sure many will. There are a boatload of virtual worlds, virtual world platforms, and MMOs coming on line this fall. ALL of them plan on using ads, microtransactions, and subscriptions. They are in the good position of being able to use all three of these at the same time, and all of them will. I predict though that by December all of these companies will have their models DESTROYED by two guys on their couch in boxer shorts developing a FREE virtual world on their laptops while watching SportsCenter and eating ramen. There will be 1000 college students "building portfolios" around the country that will make gigabytes of content for the new LINUX of virtual worlds. It will all be P2P or hosted on Amazon, and it will piss many a VC off. So the only thing these businesses will have left will be advertising.This is the situation web 2.0 is in. People keep investing in the hope that some little twist will be the magic one that brings in the most ad bucks. Charging for these things is not an option, there will be free alternatives if you wait 6 weeks. Even virtual worlds can be duplicated in 6 weeks these days! What can we do?It's easy to point out the holes in what is currently being done, it is much more difficult to offer a WORKABLE solution.
null
1
13
2007-08-07 18:46:02 UTC
40,173
40,161
brlewis
New York Times Sees Sense: Paywall Comes Crashing Down
horatio05
This is totally a great move for the NYT. Their ad revenue will go through the roof.
null
3
7
2007-08-07 18:50:55 UTC
40,182
40,005
brett
The Fuzzwich Cartoon Maker (yc summer 07)
dhouston
The more I play with it and think about it the more impressed I am. The level of user constraint is spot on. You are constrained enough that it's super simple to use but there's plenty to play with for a long time.
null
3
29
2007-08-07 19:12:38 UTC
40,183
40,072
adamdoupe
9 Lessons Learned From Founders At Work
drm237
I absolutely loved this book, it gave incredible insight into successful entrepreneurs. A recommended read for everyone on YC.news (Although I'm sure you knew that already).
Founders at Work is a great book for anyone working on a startup or thinking about doing so.
0
5
2007-08-07 19:12:51 UTC
40,187
40,121
bluishgreen
Biggest Mistakes You've Made?
vlad
Grad School :(
null
5
3
2007-08-07 19:21:05 UTC
40,188
40,017
omouse
Marcus Frind: What Would You Do With a $300K Monthly Budget For Hiring and Strategy?
staunch
His closest competitor is hotornot.com. Also, match.com has double the traffic. OKCupid is too slow to be a threat.
1
10
2007-08-07 19:27:13 UTC
40,196
40,093
jsjenkins168
Turns out Google may just be your garden-variety monopoly after all
puppetsock
I don't know how someone could consider Google's 4 demands as being designed only to benefit Google. Those 4 demands benefited USERS, is that not obvious? I thought it would have been but I guess the telco lobbyists did a good job of convincing certain people otherwise. This guy is basically preaching the exact same thing as the dissenting FCC commissioners. Perfect example of our wonderful govt ignoring citizen interests in favor of those of the lobbyists.This guy is beating a dead horse anyway, the ruling has already happened and is done. Its really just a matter who participates in the auction and who comes through in the clutch. I dont see GOOG shareholders being happy with them spending the amount of money that the telcos will be able to however.. especially if the carriers collude. This understanding could have been the reason why google tried to instate these rules to begin with.
null
1
6
2007-08-07 19:37:26 UTC
40,199
40,161
aswanson
New York Times Sees Sense: Paywall Comes Crashing Down
horatio05
On the same day as the pronouncement of Dot Bomb 2.0. Timing couldn't be worse, according to that guy.
null
2
7
2007-08-07 19:44:32 UTC
40,200
40,097
sabat
Dot Bomb 2.0 is coming
run4yourlives
I hereby predict that the fledgling blog at davidpiccione.com, created in May 2007 by Canadian David Piccione, will be forced to fold soon due to overvaluation and other market pressures.We expect that the blog will cease operations before the end of the calendar year.
null
11
13
2007-08-07 19:44:44 UTC
40,211
40,194
cperciva
There's no one programmer who does the work of ten other programmers
papersmith
I think there's some confusion about the definition of "work" here. Most programmers are rather like powerful sports cars stuck in six inches of snow -- the wheels are spinning very fast, but no useful progress is being made.Does a great programmer write ten times as many lines of code as an average programmer? Probably not.Does a great programmer solve ten times as many problems / create ten times as much functionality as an average programmer? Absolutely.
null
0
18
2007-08-07 20:00:36 UTC
40,213
40,097
jmzachary
Dot Bomb 2.0 is coming
run4yourlives
This "analysis" is nothing but opinion. There is nothing data- or fact-driven about the graph (labeled "hypothetical valuation during a general market correction") or assertions (e.g., "Even the most optimistic however, don't suggest that we are heading into anything but a bear market.").If you are going to form opinions and hypotheses, please back them up with fact-based analytical rigor before writing an article and posting it in public. The world doesn't need more opinion masquerading as analysis.
null
4
13
2007-08-07 20:10:08 UTC
40,217
40,161
ivankirigin
New York Times Sees Sense: Paywall Comes Crashing Down
horatio05
The value of an opinion is higher when more people hear it. They should have known this would fail from the beginning. The fact is that there are lots of smart people giving out free content online. If you put a barrier to reading the smart folks in the NYT, then more people will go to the bloggers and other pundits out there.
null
0
7
2007-08-07 20:16:03 UTC
40,221
40,107
ivankirigin
The World's Most Advanced Bionic Arm
donna
This is important research for robotics generally. You'll note something in common with most deployed robots: - Aibo is a toy that plays around. There is no function so there is no way it can fail. All robot toys are in this category. - For vacuuming robots the biggest interaction with the environment is bumping into things. But they are autonomous. - UAVs use GPS waypoint navigation and have nothing to interact with. There is usually no obstacle avoidance. - Bomb disposal robots are fully teleoperated. The hands are usually pincers.None of these robots have rich interaction with their environments. This is because the perception, planning, and mechanics of manipulation are much harder than locomotion tasks.Bionic hands will need tiny sensors that allow for input of texture, pressure, temperature, etc. They will probably have series elastic actuators that allow for compliance in grasping and higher reliability.This is important work.
null
0
4
2007-08-07 20:23:11 UTC
40,228
39,983
steve
Marketing Your Startup. Any comments?
pepeto
I disagree that traditional marketing is useless.Marketing is and always will be very real and very effective.
null
4
11
2007-08-07 20:49:58 UTC
40,229
40,222
zurla
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
RoR is great for making a prototype, but just wait until you try to find other good rails hackers. they're scarce.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
23
14
2007-08-07 20:51:33 UTC
40,231
40,222
adamdoupe
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
I'm currently researching Python with Django as the web framework. Coming from a decent size website in RoR, Django is looking quite promising. I'd love to hear what people's experiences are using Django.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
7
14
2007-08-07 20:54:22 UTC
40,236
40,222
nostrademons
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Python + JavaScript + Flash.The server-side choice between Python and Ruby is completely arbitrary; I suspect either one could do the job equally well. I was swayed by the somewhat greater availability of libraries for Python, plus I thought it'd be easier to get Python programmers if we got big enough to hire, plus it's somewhat more likely that an acquirer will use Python than Ruby.PHP or Perl could also have done the job equally well, but I figure that if I'm gonna code my ass off for a year or two, it might as well be in a language that I enjoy. I've written some decent-sized PHP projects before, I'm reasonably fluent in the language, and I just don't want to deal with its gotchas.On the client side, your choices are much more limited. Basically, if you want to do any sort of rich embeddable widget, it has to be Flash. That's the only technology available on nearly every browser that isn't blocked by 3rd party websites for security reasons. If you want to do rich interfaces on your own site that don't run in a box, it has to be JavaScript.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
0
14
2007-08-07 21:06:39 UTC
40,237
40,222
thingsilearned
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
We spent considerable time testing Django, Plone (not really a framework), PHP, and Cake PHP. We ended up going with django (Python). Really quick to learn. There's some documentation lacking once you get really deep and start doing some crazy stuff, but its more than made up for by a very helpful IRC community. We love it!
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
1
14
2007-08-07 21:06:46 UTC
40,238
40,098
inklesspen
Open is Not Better... Better is Better.
joshwa
Open _is_ better, because closed just sits there. You have to wait and hope that the Powers That Be will support what you want, and that they won't just decide to eat your lunch.Yeah, often Open is "some assembly required". But that's true of Closed as well. STFU and start hacking, people.
null
0
9
2007-08-07 21:08:05 UTC
40,239
40,222
epi0Bauqu
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Perl. Reason: I can build scalable things in it really quickly. For people deciding between different languages, I think the main selling points for Perl are a) most of the code is already written for you (see http://search.cpan.org/) and b) it scales really well (see http://perl.apache.org/).
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
5
14
2007-08-07 21:08:28 UTC
40,243
40,222
nickb
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Python (with Django) and RoR.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
22
14
2007-08-07 21:19:17 UTC
40,244
40,222
entelarust
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
php
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
33
14
2007-08-07 21:19:45 UTC
40,248
40,222
joshwa
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=10748
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
8
14
2007-08-07 21:37:58 UTC
40,250
40,208
rms
Startup Visas..?
bluishgreen
The Canadian Dollar is also going to pass the US Dollar any day now. One of the main advantages of doing your startup outside of the United States is that you get to base your worth in a currency that isn't facing impending doom.
I started a discussion here about how to get into proper visa status to start companies in the US. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3531After much research I have concluded that the situation in the US is too grim.For eg. It takes upto 8 years for certain nationals to get a residential visa. And in that time you are not supposed to change the big company job you are holding. If you do, the clock starts again. If you want a better idea follow this link: http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&#38...Anyway, the point of this post is that I wanted to point out that Canada is so much more welcoming. You get a residential visa without even having to hold a job in 1.5 years, and the process is deterministic. And once in Canada you can immediately incorporate. 3 years of staying in Canada will earn you a Canadian passport again by a deterministic process. Apart from nice health care, with the Canadian passport you can enter and exit US without having to apply for a visa.(This is important for me, since many of my friends are here.)This recent post here about Vancouver is very encouraging. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40054Silicon valley is the best as pg has pointed out in many of his essays. But it is hard for aliens to maintain visa status in the US. I might not be seeing potential problems with Canada. If you understand things better, please leave a comment here.Thanks, bluishgreen.
1
21
2007-08-07 21:48:24 UTC
40,251
40,222
adrianh
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Django and Python. Because they're just that good.But, really, use what you're good at. If you're working on a startup, do you really want to spend valuable time getting up to speed with a programming language that you don't know and are only learning because random people on the Internet told you they were using it?
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
2
14
2007-08-07 21:49:00 UTC
40,252
40,222
ivankirigin
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
python + django
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
28
14
2007-08-07 21:50:02 UTC
40,254
40,222
johnrob
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Rolled my own framework with mod_python. I am sick of reading docs to figure something out. Also, the bugs in my framework code are easy to fix compared to those found in the 'real' code. I don't think the cost of a home grown framework is high if you spend more than a few months on something.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
3
14
2007-08-07 22:01:51 UTC
40,257
40,222
niels
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
I used webpy for my last site, but recently changed development to django. Django is really easy to learn, and provides a full stack of components that integrates really well together. I used AJS javascript library, but has changed to JQuery this time. Mostly because of JQuery's numerous plugins.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
9
14
2007-08-07 22:08:43 UTC
40,258
40,256
rms
This basically blows the Google calculator away
rms
And it's a great example of the type of design YC prefers. The functionality of the site is clear at first glance.
null
3
21
2007-08-07 22:08:46 UTC
40,260
40,194
geebee
There's no one programmer who does the work of ten other programmers
papersmith
This comment redefines terms to make a point. Instead of doing ten times the work, a super hacker finds a way to shrink the amount of the work by 90%. It amounts to the same thing, but it's still a good perspective. In this sense you could say that people don't actually get more done when they switch from Struts and Hibernate to Ruby on Rails - they just don't have as much to do.
null
1
18
2007-08-07 22:11:53 UTC
40,264
40,208
alex_c
Startup Visas..?
bluishgreen
>I might not be seeing potential problems with Canada. If you understand things better, please leave a comment here.Well, just my two cents as a Canadian citizen:- the major cities have a fair share of high-tech companies and workforce. Finding good talent is hard everywhere, but it should be easier in Canada than in SF - a lot of good people are probably dying of boredom at a financial institution or just finished university and are looking south for interesting jobs, rather than starting their own.- cost of living is lower than in SF, but in the major cities it's not MUCH lower- there is a start-up scene, you might just have to look a bit harder- from what I'm told, investors are more cautious, money doesn't get thrown at you- health care!- you don't get to enjoy the perfect temperatures in the Bay Area- all cities are different. Vancouver != Toronto != Montreal, just like San Francisco != Boston != New York. Do your research.
I started a discussion here about how to get into proper visa status to start companies in the US. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3531After much research I have concluded that the situation in the US is too grim.For eg. It takes upto 8 years for certain nationals to get a residential visa. And in that time you are not supposed to change the big company job you are holding. If you do, the clock starts again. If you want a better idea follow this link: http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&#38...Anyway, the point of this post is that I wanted to point out that Canada is so much more welcoming. You get a residential visa without even having to hold a job in 1.5 years, and the process is deterministic. And once in Canada you can immediately incorporate. 3 years of staying in Canada will earn you a Canadian passport again by a deterministic process. Apart from nice health care, with the Canadian passport you can enter and exit US without having to apply for a visa.(This is important for me, since many of my friends are here.)This recent post here about Vancouver is very encouraging. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40054Silicon valley is the best as pg has pointed out in many of his essays. But it is hard for aliens to maintain visa status in the US. I might not be seeing potential problems with Canada. If you understand things better, please leave a comment here.Thanks, bluishgreen.
0
21
2007-08-07 22:22:50 UTC
40,265
40,222
rzwitserloot
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
No question. PHP. However, this doesn't mean you should follow suit. In particular, PHP works best as a vanilla choice, something to get set up with quickly. The moment you start using e.g. Cake, the point of PHP is no longer and you should look elsewhere.There's no useful answer in any case, just hints and use cases. It depends entirely on what you're building.Heavy single-purpose web app like gmail? No question - GWT.Light multi-purpose web app with lots of pages but where some ajax here and there wouldn't go amiss: rails looks good.etcetera.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
10
14
2007-08-07 22:25:48 UTC
40,268
40,208
nickb
Startup Visas..?
bluishgreen
Easier time finding great talent is a big plus. Probably the biggest of all of the things mentioned here. Silicon Valley's full of great companies and you'll be competing with some heavy-weights to gain attention of great candidates. Also, you will most certainly ovepay. Canada does not have such a big problem with finding great talent.
I started a discussion here about how to get into proper visa status to start companies in the US. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3531After much research I have concluded that the situation in the US is too grim.For eg. It takes upto 8 years for certain nationals to get a residential visa. And in that time you are not supposed to change the big company job you are holding. If you do, the clock starts again. If you want a better idea follow this link: http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&#38...Anyway, the point of this post is that I wanted to point out that Canada is so much more welcoming. You get a residential visa without even having to hold a job in 1.5 years, and the process is deterministic. And once in Canada you can immediately incorporate. 3 years of staying in Canada will earn you a Canadian passport again by a deterministic process. Apart from nice health care, with the Canadian passport you can enter and exit US without having to apply for a visa.(This is important for me, since many of my friends are here.)This recent post here about Vancouver is very encouraging. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40054Silicon valley is the best as pg has pointed out in many of his essays. But it is hard for aliens to maintain visa status in the US. I might not be seeing potential problems with Canada. If you understand things better, please leave a comment here.Thanks, bluishgreen.
2
21
2007-08-07 22:34:11 UTC
40,272
40,097
dood
Dot Bomb 2.0 is coming
run4yourlives
A good question to pose would be: assuming a significant economic downturn is likely, how would this affect typical 'web 2.0' businesses?The answer may well be 'badly'. A great deal of these sites presume a healthy, wealthy economy: they hope to generate income from ads, or subscriptions, or hope for investment and/or buyout. All of these routes will be significantly impacted by a liquidity crunch.Many sites with small margins, or hoping for investment, or looking for a big sale, or counting on getting big fast may then have real problems.I am not denying that there are many opportunities on the web, or saying that it is necessarily a bad time to be in the internet business. I am suggesting that anything less than a solid business may prove extremely vulnerable to a small-medium recession.
null
7
13
2007-08-07 22:39:19 UTC
40,275
40,256
chadboyda
This basically blows the Google calculator away
rms
Great site. Very self explanatory. I like that it removes all the hassles of creating, saving, and distributing spread sheets. Definately bookmarking this one.
null
5
21
2007-08-07 22:41:28 UTC
40,278
40,161
dood
New York Times Sees Sense: Paywall Comes Crashing Down
horatio05
A smart move, long overdue. The web news business will probably evolve and mutate significantly in the next few years, and NYT was already well positioned for that. Dropping the wall puts them in an even stronger position.
null
1
7
2007-08-07 22:48:33 UTC
40,283
40,161
daniel-cussen
New York Times Sees Sense: Paywall Comes Crashing Down
horatio05
As a consumer, it is nice to see market shrinkage.
null
4
7
2007-08-07 23:06:48 UTC
40,285
40,284
rms
Are we ready for an off-topic site yet?
rms
PG, you've got the code ready, let's get a general link discussion site going. Do you have any ideas for the domain? Maybe the community here can help you think of one.I saw this article and though it would be great for the kind of sociology discussion this community seems to like, when it ventures off-topic.
null
0
8
2007-08-07 23:12:03 UTC
40,287
40,281
iamyoohoo
Intense Debate - A Disqus Competitor?
blader
yes - looks like it.
Also see TechCrunch coverage: http://www.techcrunch.com/2007/08/07/intense-debate-soups-up...
0
1
2007-08-07 23:26:44 UTC
40,288
40,222
german
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
We speak Spanish and English. Also Python/Turbogears and Javascript.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
4
14
2007-08-07 23:28:10 UTC
40,291
40,253
semigeek
Some hope for immigrant startuppers
abstractbill
They reopened the 2007 numbers - they had closed it for a few weeks, but I think a lawsuit got them to reopen. I'm hoping to get mine in the next month or two.
Just wanted to let any other hopeful Green Card applicants here know that after four years, and despite several snafus, political in-fighting and feet-dragging by various parties, I got my Green Card last week.Note in particular that this means uscis is still processing applications despite the recent indications that they were not.Good luck to everyone else!
1
13
2007-08-07 23:34:47 UTC
40,292
40,222
theremora
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
I am not a developer but here is what Tabblo's founder has to say about Django. Tabblo was acquired by HP 9 months after launch.http://theonda.org/articles/2007/07/02/now-with-django-power...
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
15
14
2007-08-07 23:42:18 UTC
40,293
40,222
temporary
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
The language that best solves the problem and that scales.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
20
14
2007-08-07 23:47:49 UTC
40,295
40,208
mtarifi
Startup Visas..?
bluishgreen
You can go read a lot of economical studies trying to answer this one question: why can not Canadians achieve the same level of entrepreneurial productivity as the US.Canada is welcoming as a direct result of limited demand. The good news is that US is changing the requirements.
I started a discussion here about how to get into proper visa status to start companies in the US. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=3531After much research I have concluded that the situation in the US is too grim.For eg. It takes upto 8 years for certain nationals to get a residential visa. And in that time you are not supposed to change the big company job you are holding. If you do, the clock starts again. If you want a better idea follow this link: http://immigrationvoice.org/index.php?option=com_content&#38...Anyway, the point of this post is that I wanted to point out that Canada is so much more welcoming. You get a residential visa without even having to hold a job in 1.5 years, and the process is deterministic. And once in Canada you can immediately incorporate. 3 years of staying in Canada will earn you a Canadian passport again by a deterministic process. Apart from nice health care, with the Canadian passport you can enter and exit US without having to apply for a visa.(This is important for me, since many of my friends are here.)This recent post here about Vancouver is very encouraging. http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=40054Silicon valley is the best as pg has pointed out in many of his essays. But it is hard for aliens to maintain visa status in the US. I might not be seeing potential problems with Canada. If you understand things better, please leave a comment here.Thanks, bluishgreen.
4
21
2007-08-07 23:52:58 UTC
40,301
40,222
jayded
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
See Red vs. Blue if you're deciding on Ruby/Rails vs. Python/Djangohttp://jng.imagine27.com/articles/2007/07/12/red-vs-blue
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
17
14
2007-08-08 00:24:22 UTC
40,309
40,222
arhar
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
We use Ruby on Rails with a lot of JavaScript for Ajax-y thingies. So far there's only 2 of us, but looks like here in NYC there's more than a few RoR devs.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
25
14
2007-08-08 00:48:27 UTC
40,310
40,256
arhar
This basically blows the Google calculator away
rms
PFFT!!!This silly thing couldn't even calculate this, something that Google calc does perfectly:http://www.google.com/search?q=the+answer+to+life%2C+the+uni...
null
1
21
2007-08-08 00:50:28 UTC
40,314
40,256
vlad
This basically blows the Google calculator away
rms
Awesome! I think there's a bug--can anyone else confirm that the bar chart doesn't seem to work in shared spreadsheets: http://my.instacalc.com/calc/1c58eb08760043bfb67924cb5fa1684...
null
7
21
2007-08-08 00:54:25 UTC
40,319
40,253
motivi
Some hope for immigrant startuppers
abstractbill
congratulations! waiting for mine, it is an insane journey!!I dont understand the green card system, if you run a company, you want the best to stay, and not make their life hard. the existing process makes it harder for those better performers for the USA company.
Just wanted to let any other hopeful Green Card applicants here know that after four years, and despite several snafus, political in-fighting and feet-dragging by various parties, I got my Green Card last week.Note in particular that this means uscis is still processing applications despite the recent indications that they were not.Good luck to everyone else!
0
13
2007-08-08 01:00:10 UTC
40,320
40,256
gojomo
This basically blows the Google calculator away
rms
Nice site, though it doesn't work on some of the bandwidth calculations I often do via Google calculator. (eg: "(1TB / 100Mbps) in days")For the curious, there's a GPL project, 'qalculate', which could be used as the basis for similar calculator services.
null
11
21
2007-08-08 01:03:34 UTC
40,323
40,222
wensing
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Python (pylons) + JavaScript + Flash, and loving it!I used to use PHP, but once I tasted Python I couldn't go back.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
26
14
2007-08-08 01:11:32 UTC
40,325
40,222
rami
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
CakePHP + Scriptaculous. CakePHP was easy to learn, however the documentation is not complete, you'll have to read the code for advanced features.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
21
14
2007-08-08 01:17:42 UTC
40,327
40,222
staunch
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Perl with Catalyst, DBIx::Class, and Template Toolkit. All the actual every-day code is really simple because all three are designed for extensibility. I just write little plugins that abstract away the repetitive stuff. I also write lots of long-lived systems daemons. They do all the asynchronous tasks in a super efficient way. Not enough people use this technique in my experience.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
14
14
2007-08-08 01:22:57 UTC
40,328
40,222
samson
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Can someone please tell me why everyone is so anti-php these days. I'm been working on my web project this summer in php, and it seems like every self proclaimed web 2.0 site is choosing either python or ruby.I feel like I'm on the wrong side of the road, and php is web 1.0. I wonder though, do users care what language the site is made in? And has usuability and quality of a site become determined by programming language?
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
13
14
2007-08-08 01:30:05 UTC
40,329
40,284
vlad
Are we ready for an off-topic site yet?
rms
>Are we ready for an off-topic site yet?As if we don't kill enough time here?
null
1
8
2007-08-08 01:34:18 UTC
40,334
40,097
mechanical_fish
Dot Bomb 2.0 is coming
run4yourlives
The Bubble Bubble continues to expand. The argument this time seems to be that the entire industry will crash once it becomes clear that a large site like Facebook can't hold on to its ad revenue for more than a few years, because the fickle users can (and supposedly will) migrate to other sites.I don't understand. If Facebook's users all left the site tomorrow, it would obviously be bad for Facebook, but the rest of the industry would break out the champagne. Users who leave Facebook don't abandon the Web and join the Amish - they go someplace else online, and the ad revenue goes right along with them. Friendster's collapse was a bad omen for Friendster shareholders, but it doesn't seem to have had any terrible effect on the rest of the social networking industry, which grew even faster once it absorbed all of Friendster's former users.Even if it turns out that individual sites like Facebook are fads, lasting for a few years before burning out, there's no reason the industry can't adapt. Clothing styles turn over just as quickly as Web fads, but fashion designers still manage to stay in business for decades. You just have to operate at a higher level. The Facebook or YouTube of the future could be a company with half a dozen brands, rolling out (or buying out) a new brand every few years to please the latest group of teenagers. Like a TV network, or Procter and Gamble, or the Pepsi Corporation (which owns Pizza Hut and Taco Bell and a substantial piece of your local high school cafeteria.)The real limit to the growth of ad-based sites is the number of users and their available attention - you can only show so many ads to someone in their lifetime. One could argue that the industry is funding, or is about to fund, many more ad-based companies than the ecosystem can support at the moment. But even that would not constitute a "bubble". It's just the business cycle. These companies aren't fantasies or fakes - they're just competitors, getting ready to fight for a share of some very real ad dollars.
null
2
13
2007-08-08 01:50:55 UTC
40,340
40,222
Zak
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Common Lisp, but my project is a poor representation of "the majority of startups" because it's not a web app or a social networking tool. It also doesn't qualify as a startup yet, but that's the goal.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
11
14
2007-08-08 02:02:07 UTC
40,341
40,256
kalid
This basically blows the Google calculator away
rms
Hey guys, this is Kalid from instacalc. Thanks for the link -- please send any feedback/bug reports to [email protected] and have fun playing around with it.I'm actually in YC this summer on another project with some friends, we'll let you know when it's launched :)
null
0
21
2007-08-08 02:05:26 UTC
40,346
40,222
dshah
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
We're using C#/ASP.NET (which though rare across startups, has worked out well for us so far).
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
16
14
2007-08-08 02:19:11 UTC
40,350
40,256
henning
This basically blows the Google calculator away
rms
I was able to spook it, but we do tons of back of the envelope calculations at my office all the time and I plan on making this my homepage at work.
null
6
21
2007-08-08 02:37:21 UTC
40,351
40,222
henning
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Here is what I have learned from 2 years of questing for the One True Language:there is no one true language and you should focus on accomplishing specific goals and getting stuff shipped instead.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
6
14
2007-08-08 02:40:43 UTC
40,354
40,222
brlewis
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
http://brl.codesimply.net/Reason: I'm doing a database-driven web application, and I designed this language exactly for that purpose.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
24
14
2007-08-08 03:12:52 UTC
40,355
40,253
pepeto
Some hope for immigrant startuppers
abstractbill
Here is an important question. Did you apply for the green card lottery or did you get on some other premises, and what were those?
Just wanted to let any other hopeful Green Card applicants here know that after four years, and despite several snafus, political in-fighting and feet-dragging by various parties, I got my Green Card last week.Note in particular that this means uscis is still processing applications despite the recent indications that they were not.Good luck to everyone else!
2
13
2007-08-08 03:12:53 UTC
40,378
40,097
parker
Dot Bomb 2.0 is coming
run4yourlives
One important thing to remember is that company valuations in technology are not set by any current metric (discounted cashflow, multiples of revenue), but perceived future value. Facebook may only be taking in 8 figures in revenue each year, but certainly has future potential on the order of billions of dollars. I think we are seeing another period of web standards being set (Ebay, Amazon, etc were the standards of the previous boom). Wasn't Bezos big in the 'get big fast' strategy? That will work, but only for a very select few.I agree with some of his premise, in that relying solely on advertising dollars is a huge risk to any potential revenue model, but it does not mean that there won't be winners in that race. After some experience, I'm pretty confidant in saying that advertising-only models are VERY hard work and require a massive amount of network effects.The lack of defensibility in Web 2.0 is also quite troubling to me, as it seems like if you create something worthwhile, you may be stuck in the no-man's land of free AND not enough page views to support the ads-only model. Perhaps that's when we'll see a permanent change in nomenclature from 'web products' to 'web services'?
null
5
13
2007-08-08 04:09:04 UTC
40,379
40,023
parker
Fleeing free
terpua
37signals is in the enviable position of creating fantastic products that require almost zero network effects to realize its efficacy. I think this is a fantastic model to emulate, and allows them to comfortably 'flee free'. But you do need to innovate an order of magnitude to be able to charge for things :)...
null
1
17
2007-08-08 04:15:31 UTC
40,386
40,367
iamyoohoo
Spock.com out of private beta
aristus
Here's what I get when i click on anyone's profile ...Status: 500 Internal Server ErrorNot a good start I must say !!
(disclaimer) I'm a webdev at Spock, but it's cool and we're open for business.
0
2
2007-08-08 04:32:54 UTC
40,387
40,385
pg
Half of Auctomatic, at work in Ireland
pg
It's very encouraging to see people working enthusiastically on their own projects in nice places, instead of commuting every day to a cube farm.
null
0
5
2007-08-08 04:34:24 UTC
40,392
40,054
parker
A detailed look at Vancouver's startup scene
heri
And hey, starting up in Vancity now may leave you with JUST enough time to exit in order to afford the hockey tickets for the 2010 Winter Olympics ;)...
null
1
16
2007-08-08 04:40:12 UTC
40,397
40,256
eusman
This basically blows the Google calculator away
rms
i tried: R7: 384 kbit/sec in GB/month then using the result from R7: R7/1mb the calculation will not use the quantity type of R7 which is GB, but only the number. trying to use: R7 in GB will again not use the right quantity for my result..
null
10
21
2007-08-08 05:01:40 UTC
40,408
40,088
rms
Does anyone have experience with mynewcompany.com?
jkush
Those are obscenely cheap prices.The Nolo books are available on p2p networks, if anyone else would prefer to do it in the cheaper but illegal way.
This looks like an attractive deal .There's a huge price difference between this and hiring a lawyer - so what are the drawbacks of using a service like this?
1
2
2007-08-08 06:01:45 UTC
40,414
40,412
cperciva
We went ahead with it anyway.
blored
Can you say you ended up getting funding from? I'm sure there are other YC rejectees who would like to know where to turn next...
We got rejected the first time around with Ycombinator and have now been offered funding. Thanks for your support everyone, this forum rocks.
2
25
2007-08-08 06:38:26 UTC
40,418
40,412
jsjenkins168
We went ahead with it anyway.
blored
There are many on this forum who are in the same boat as you. Please continue to share your experiences and good luck.
We got rejected the first time around with Ycombinator and have now been offered funding. Thanks for your support everyone, this forum rocks.
4
25
2007-08-08 06:48:48 UTC
40,420
40,402
keven
Dabble Do: social to-do list Facebook app from the makers of Dabble DB
avibryant
Most productive facebook app to get things done. Pass todos to friends and 'crack the whip' until they're done.
null
1
11
2007-08-08 07:11:09 UTC
40,424
40,412
vlad
We went ahead with it anyway.
blored
Congrats! You made it to the interview last time, though--did Paul offer any ideas that you used to re-apply and make it this time around? Did you have to go through another interview, or just e-mail them a better demo of what you've done so far, and they remembered you from last time?
We got rejected the first time around with Ycombinator and have now been offered funding. Thanks for your support everyone, this forum rocks.
0
25
2007-08-08 07:18:47 UTC
40,427
40,412
prakash
We went ahead with it anyway.
blored
Mind Hack: If you are rejected by YC, assume you went to them for advice and not for money.
We got rejected the first time around with Ycombinator and have now been offered funding. Thanks for your support everyone, this forum rocks.
3
25
2007-08-08 07:37:17 UTC
40,428
40,222
damir
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Does it really matter? Use whatever makes YOU most productive, because at the end of the day the only thing that matter is a simple answer, yes or no. The question is always the same: Is it done?
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
18
14
2007-08-08 07:41:33 UTC
40,432
40,222
davidw
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
English. It's pretty popular even in Europe, because it bridges borders.In terms of programming languages, Ruby all the way, with some Java (j2me) and Hecl thrown in.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
12
14
2007-08-08 07:54:38 UTC
40,442
40,005
uuilly
The Fuzzwich Cartoon Maker (yc summer 07)
dhouston
http://fuzzwich.com/minivid/minivid.php?vid=662You are my new favorite website for when I'm too tired to code yet too wired to sleep...Thank you!
null
5
29
2007-08-08 08:11:52 UTC
40,443
40,222
tim
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
Python and Django for web stuff, C++ for desktop stuff (games, 3D applications)
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
27
14
2007-08-08 08:15:48 UTC
40,445
40,421
michelson01
Scrybe Closes Series A
vlad
in other news, so did Twytter and yLike
null
0
2
2007-08-08 08:23:43 UTC
40,454
40,402
davidw
Dabble Do: social to-do list Facebook app from the makers of Dabble DB
avibryant
Stuff To Do has drag/drop sharing of tasks, as well as the ability to look at how other people in your group have spent their time:http://stufftodo.dedasys.com
null
2
11
2007-08-08 08:42:59 UTC
40,460
40,304
jamongkad
jQuery in 15 minutes
nickb
Love Jquery and I can't get enough of it!
null
0
5
2007-08-08 08:52:09 UTC
40,464
40,222
cosmok
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
LAMP bundle.
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
30
14
2007-08-08 09:17:18 UTC
40,465
40,098
davemc500hats
Open is Not Better... Better is Better.
joshwa
>>"Open _is_ better, because closed just sits there.."um, and wtf is that supposed to mean? better perhaps in the eyes of some geek elite, but not in the eyes of your mainstream users. they have no fucking clue what 'open' means.i believe it was paul graham himself who said "make something people want"... he didn't say "make standards-compliant features, as determined by a few self-professed open standards committees & bloggers".seriously.
null
1
9
2007-08-08 09:36:05 UTC
40,466
40,438
jamongkad
Ubuntu Dells not alone: Novell Lenovo Linux Laptops Later This Year
vlad
Darn it I just placed an order with Dell for mine.
null
0
1
2007-08-08 09:40:48 UTC
40,469
40,402
antirez
Dabble Do: social to-do list Facebook app from the makers of Dabble DB
avibryant
Another work in progress tool to work together: a shared todo list + calendar application at http://tudulist.comIt is not really a startup or something like this, some week ago I finished to write the Ruby framework we are using in our company to develop web apps and I needed to test it a bit so I started writing this application that ended being good enough to be put online.I'm continuing the development because at this point we are using it as a tool in my company and other companies of our friends are using this too. Feel free to try it and give suggestion now that it's the initial stage of development and there is a lot of room to change things.
null
0
11
2007-08-08 11:20:43 UTC
40,473
40,222
vikram
What language is the majority of startups using today?
rob
lisp + javascript
Based on what I can see, it looks like more and more people are switching to Python and Ruby from PHP.What's your startup using and your reason for choosing said language?
29
14
2007-08-08 11:52:39 UTC
40,476
40,412
rokhayakebe
We went ahead with it anyway.
blored
Never Ever Give Up.
We got rejected the first time around with Ycombinator and have now been offered funding. Thanks for your support everyone, this forum rocks.
6
25
2007-08-08 12:16:20 UTC
40,478
40,093
ph0rque
Turns out Google may just be your garden-variety monopoly after all
puppetsock
> If they [existing telecoms] pay billions for spectrum, shouldn't they be entitled to use it as they see fit? What are we, communists? Didn't you get the memo, Mr. Schlender? Communists are so last century. The bad guys of this centry are terrorists, not communists.
null
2
6
2007-08-08 12:18:29 UTC
40,490
40,480
tuukkah
Nah Seriously! For geeks only. Name 3 things you can't live w/out ?
rokhayakebe
oxygen, water, sleepsun, gravity, 3 dimensionsNow, my life would be very different without the Internet, soy protein, and the free software community.
Internet ready laptop/ Cellphone/Coffee. I can do anything with these 3 guys. I am D'Artagnan and they are my 3 Mousquetaires.
0
1
2007-08-08 13:56:22 UTC
40,495
40,412
mikesabat
We went ahead with it anyway.
blored
Cheers man!I don't think there is any business (or success story) in the world that had all the doors open at the right time. You always have to keep pushing forward.
We got rejected the first time around with Ycombinator and have now been offered funding. Thanks for your support everyone, this forum rocks.
1
25
2007-08-08 14:19:27 UTC
40,501
40,472
mynameishere
Age and the entrepreneur, part 1: Some data
terpua
I remember a Forbes article on a new small airplane business, featuring profiles of the 5 founders. The youngest, if I remember correctly, was in his 40s, and he was an accountant. The engineers were all old. There is very, very little innovation to be had in the airplane business (the US military is, remember, still flying planes designed in the 70s) and success is dependent upon age--which brings a tendency to 1) Not make fool mistakes 2) Understand horrendously complicated, but mature, technology, 3) Have critical contacts, 4) Have personal wealth to risk.Something like...say...Twitter. What 50-year-old would even consider doing something like that? And if a kid does it, and botches it, no one gets hurt. Clearly the trade-offs between enthusiasm and experience are at work.Dr. Simonton points out that the periods of Beethoven's career that had the most hits also had the most missesI can't find that in the article. If by "hits" he means contemporary hits, perhaps. But Beethoven's late stage was both sparse, and choked with his greatest works. Compare that to rock music...the rolling stones' past 30 years can't compare with any 3 consecutive months in the 1960s.
null
4
40
2007-08-08 14:34:30 UTC
40,504
40,462
pg
21 Critical Life Lessons You Didn't Learn in School
vlad
This is surprisingly good. Partly because he used another technique you don't get taught in school: editing.You're usually trying to make school papers longer. As soon as it's the prescribed length, you're done. But in good writing you do the opposite.
null
0
19
2007-08-08 14:43:11 UTC