148 karma · joined September 19, 2008
You're right, it's a lot easier to filter out spam emails with the word "V1AGRA" than it is to filter out news posts. You'll want to take some time to train the filter properly before you unsubscribe from your junk feed.
Trial accounts limited to 3 feeds to help scale for the launch. Very soon we'll be releasing a way for users to earn more free feeds.
To be clear, the items you state here aren't _rights_. Rather, they're privileges that aren't guaranteed. If you work and do a great job, you're not entitled to a big house in the suburbs, but you're increasing the odds of being able to afford it.
The Constitution guarantees rights to life, liberty, and property, as well as several other rights in the Bill of Rights and other amendments. But nowhere there will you find a right to have a job or right to make x% interest in the stock market (or right to be bailed out if you get in over your head in the real estate market).
As a nation we have a real problem of mistaking opportunities for rights, and feeling entitled to things that we want.
That's why many Libertarians believe in a _Constitutional_ government. I.e. there is absolutely a standard for what size the US federal government should be (and what purposes it should serve). It's the US Constitution.
One ancillary benefit of TDD is that it increases your confidence for a release. Confidence allows you to release and promote your code without fear that you'll be up all night fixing bugs.
If all languages required you to manage memory as in C I'd wager we'd have many fewer entry-level script hackers. Sure, every program would be lickety-split fast, but the App Store certainly wouldn't have 10,000+ apps.
And if every app were written in Java everything would be very portable but also quite slow. It's all about trade-offs and picking the right tool for the right job.
But also remember, some of the best things about bootstrapping are also its biggest challenges. For instance, if you are paying employees in equity instead of salary realize that the long-term benefits of a successful startup may be precluded by more immediate revenue streams.
Additionally, we as bootstrappers tend to be less likely to ask for or buy help when it would truly help our business. We prefer to do things our way but many times we re-invent the wheel in the name of entrepreneurial spirit. Not a bad thing, but worth remembering.
Good luck to you! I've had a great time and learned a ton so far by bootstrapping.
Also I'd like an iphone to try my hand at iphone development, a nice 21-24" monitor, and a python book.
"Hey, we built this awesome piece of software that will help you do [x]. We love building software for our customers. Help us continue building great software by paying $[y]."
It's true no matter whether you work for a small company or large company--if you do something that's valuable to someone, you won't go hungry.
Background processes are a big win and would be a huge factor for me, but I'd need to see some improvement of handset design before I'm ready to switch.
The real question is when will we see a more polished Android phone?
(more about Gohmert's proposal: http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=953...)
http://www.justin.tv/hackertv/97862/DHH_Talk__Startup_School...
Frankly I often mentally reference PG's startup school talk: solving a problem for people whose hair is on fire. People who have a big problem that need any solution urgently.
http://www.justin.tv/hackertv/98110/Paul_Graham_Partner_Y_Co...
And of course, both of Hans Rosling's talks on global poverty trends from TED. The technology behind his presentations is fascinating, but the historical context he adds as a speaker pushes these two videos over the top for me.