Show HN: It took me 6 months to write my iOS word game app..am I still a hacker? | Hacker News Reader

Show HN: It took me 6 months to write my iOS word game app..am I still a hacker?

quotiac.com

11 pointsbeeeph4 comments

I get so embarrassed when I see a "Show HN: My Weekend iOS App" because of how long it took me to build this simple word game, but it really is pretty full-featured app, and it has a multiplayer mode with a back-end tournament server, so it really was a lot of work. Still, I can't claim it only took me a weekend, it took me full-time six months to build! Anyhow, it's all done for now, I'd love your feedback. Here's a direct link to iTunes as well.

http://itunes.com/apps/quotiac

Never, ever be embarrassed with how long a work of creativity takes you. Most of these weekend projects you see on HN are simply minor derivatives of existing ideas or twists on web API usage. The implementors usually work with the involved technologies on a daily basis and have built up a decent body of knowledge before attempting a "weekend" project.

The old adage of the artist/locksmith/doctor/plumber/whatever that can create a new work or fix your problem in 15 minutes stands up. It didn't take them "just 15 minutes". It took them N years and 15 minutes.

Edit:

Let me add that you made a product. You didn't just throw a project out there for other hackers to gawk at. You made something to sell. Something that requires the polish and preparation that creating a consumer product demands. This is more work than can reasonably be done in a weekend, a week, or even a month.

Bravo.

There's always someone more capable or skilled than all of us. It's good to appreciate that, but know your own abilities and be confident in them. Your customers will have no idea whether an app took you a day to build or two years. They'll know if it works and if they like it. That's all that matters, IMHO.

Also, I admire humility, so thanks for posting this question.

Once a hacker, always a hacker. -Kenny Powers

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