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2511on Ask HN: Is it worth building a non-AI software company?

but that's the thing. Its not novel. As in, I am inventing something. I see a gap and opportunity and began to execute.

I am worried about AI because it has reduced the entry barriers. Much easier now to write code or atleast build MVP and get traction. and that makes me question whether all this effort is futile if the only things giving me an edge os the early start.

2511on Ask HN: Is it worth building a non-AI software company?

You/we pick AI as a threat because we understand it, but a good sales person is just as much of a threat to your idea.

this is a great insight. never thought of it that way. thanks so much

2511on How Kerala got rich

I am not from Kerala but I have spent the last 25 years there. I have family in Kerala. Kerala got rich because of emigration. Sometime during the 80s, Keralites began migrating to gulf in very large numbers. The foreign remittance is the biggest reason why the state is rich. It can be said the proximity to sea and a history of trade with gulf countries enabled Keralites to migrate. And of course, the will and courage of the early emigrants to migrate to a different country.

If we look beyond the foreign remittance, there are quite a few issues in the state. Unemployment is much higher than national average[1] Kerala youth are struggling with the drugs problem, in high numbers.[2] Very little industrial investment because its a state with communist government and not industry friendly. There are towns where every household has someone abroad. Only the elderly are living in those big houses.

[1]https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/education/news/kerala-am... [2] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/india/kerala-is-in...

2511on How Kerala got rich

you are correct. Padmanabhan temple apparently has gold worth 22 billion dollars. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padmanabhaswamy_Temple_treas...

2511on Ask HN: What does an ML Engineer do?

And then there are many companies where there are still silos, almost no automation, systems engineers are more focused on machines than the product and the company advertises SRE role- simply because its the trend.

2511on One hour of slow breathing changed my life

If you don't mind- could you please elaborate on "taught her how to breathe properly"

2511on German author Guenter Grass dies

Read 'The tin drum' about 10 years ago. Didn't get a lot of it but I remember getting very fascinated with it. Kind of like Murakami but I found Murakami easier to read. Time to read 'The tin drum' again.

R.I.P Mr grass.

2511on Ask HN: Examples of profitable little free web tools?

Google easily answers a lot of these questions. for ex: When will the sun rise today in city X. it works even for a small village in India

2511on Show HN: Projects from “Stupid Shit No One Needs and Terrible Ideas” Hackathon

Please note:This is NSFW

2511on Indian E-Commerce Firm Flipkart Raises Eye-Popping $1B

Well..its India..too may practical issues that can dig into your profit

2511on Indian E-Commerce Firm Flipkart Raises Eye-Popping $1B

Also:

5) They implemented cash on delivery. A very brave and novel approach. This basically instilled confidence in the indian online buyer

6) Fast delivery. I will go ahead and say probably as good as Amazon or even better in big cities. They built warehouses in the big cities and stocked fast moving items in a lot of places

7) almost guaranteed savings on all things. I have rarely seen anything that is more expensive on FP compared to a store.

8) Good online experience. Little things like checking delivery using your pincode. Responsive site. Product suggestions.

2511on Indian E-Commerce Firm Flipkart Raises Eye-Popping $1B

I like that the Indian start up scene is getting serious now. Entrepreneurs are brave enough to compete with the big players unlike a few years ago when most start ups were basically simple web apps or a tech consultancy kind of thing. As an Indian this gives me hope that a soon the brain drain will stop and a lot of talented Indians abroad (with connections and some money to invest) will come back to India to either start up or work for one.

2511on Indian E-Commerce Giant Flipkart Raises Massive $1B Round

I like that the Indian start up scene is getting serious now. Entrepreneurs are brave enough to compete with the big players unlike a few years ago when most start ups were basically simple web apps or a tech consultancy kind of thing. As an Indian this gives me hope that a soon the brain drain will stop and a lot of talented Indians abroad (with connections and some money to invest) will come back to India to either start up or work for one.

2511on Ask HN: Idea Sunday

I always wonder. How do you get people to use these kind of apps? How do you cold start this? For people to use this, you need content. For content, you need people. Chicken and egg.

2511on Ask HN: Idea Sunday

like this idea. Though it looks like Ustream is already doing it. Also the challenges with the app: How to ensure that the video was actually shot on that particular location. What if the "cammer" turns off location settings?