Hacker News Reader

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (July 2018)

Conduit | Software engineer (JS/Python) | Boston/Cambridge, MA (Harvard Square) | Full time, ONSITE https://conduit.app

Conduit is AI chief of staff for busy individuals, connectors, and leaders. When people traditionally turn to CRMs, we want to reinvent the model. We provide insight and help answer questions like "what are the key events in my relationship with someone" or "who are the people I should talk to next".

We've built a complex model, the Conduit Personal Graph, to support syncing, processing, and analyzing data in a secure and privacy-conscious way. We're bringing our software to web and mobile.

No legacy engineering: we work with modern technologies:

- Front-end: JavaScript (ES6), React, Node.js/Express, GraphQL, Apollo, Babel, Webpack.

- Back-end/data: Python 3, PostgreSQL, Flask, Redis, Pandas/Numpy, SpaCy.

- Across our stack: Docker, Kubernetes.

brddon Why falling demand hasn't brought down college sticker prices

I only read the article (and not the podcast, if it's different) but I think their argument misrepresents how the economics of higher education work.

> "Economics 101 suggests that declining demand results in lower prices."

This isn't true for college sticker prices because colleges have perfect price discrimination. Most students don't pay the sticker price; they pay exactly what they "can".

In no other industry do we have such perfect incentives aligned on the provider side to increase prices--

- People who can't afford the higher prices can pay less, through financial aid and scholarship programs.

- To determine what is the "maximum" price you can pay, the student/parent voluntarily provides literally every data point possible. Every tax record, every loan, etc.

- Because of this perfect price discrimination, an upward trend in college costs (that outpaces inflation) is not only reasonable but expected. It's in the interest of the institution to maximize its surplus/profit to the student's upper limit.

brddon Cloud SQL for PostgreSQL now generally available

We've been running a production workload on Postgres/Google Cloud SQL for about half a year now.

While things are good for the most part, a couple of serious problems related to connectivity have us completely boggled. We're connecting from Google Kubernetes Engine, which seems like it should be a standard combination, but run into constant problems that we've dumped many many hours into debugging.

We still haven't figured this problem out. I've found the docs to be very weak on Google's part. A lot of the troubleshooting tips are not very helpful (and can consist of unhelpful broad strokes like "be sure to use indexes!"). Because Google Cloud is not as popular than AWS, there is less community guidance from others. And what guidance does exist is often in forum threads that feel less than reputable. There's a big push to try to get you to talk to sales rep that are not technically knowledgeable and just try to upsell.

Very frustrating. Unclear if moving back to AWS, or hosting our own Postgres, would help.

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (April 2018)

Conduit | Software engineer (Python) | Boston, MA (Harvard Square) | Full time, ONSITE https://conduithq.com/

Conduit is AI chief of staff for busy individuals, connectors, and leaders. When people traditionally turn to CRMs, we want to reinvent the model. We provide insight and help answer questions like "what are the key events in my relationship with someone" or "who are the people I should talk to next".

We've built a complex model, the Conduit Personal Graph, to support syncing, processing, and analyzing data in a secure and privacy-conscious way. We're bringing our software to web and mobile.

No legacy engineering: we work with modern technologies:

- Front-end: JavaScript (ES6), React, Node.js/Express, GraphQL, Apollo, Babel, Webpack.

- Back-end/data: Python 3, PostgreSQL, Flask, Redis, Pandas/Numpy, SpaCy.

- Across our stack: Docker, Kubernetes.

--

For the position: - We're hiring engineers #3 and #4 on a tight-knit, VC-backed team in our Harvard Square office. - Strong compensation package (actual equity, not options!), weekly team lunches, and more. - More details: https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs

Email me (CEO) to apply, mention HN: brandon@conduithq.com. Please, no re mote, no recent bootcamp graduates, no recruiters.

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (February 2018)

Conduit | Software engineer (JS or Python) | Cambridge, MA / Boston, MA | Full time, ONSITE

https://conduithq.com/

In a nutshell, we're building personal network management software for professional networkers, business leaders, and anyone who wants to organize the relationships and interactions in their lives.

Driving all of Conduit is the Conduit Personal Graph, a powerful graph model of a person's relationships and activity-- automatically synced, organized, and managed. It's the first-- and most comprehensive-- graph of its kind. Through the Personal Graph, we ingest, process, and surface tens of millions of data points. That information provides new insight for people looking to understand their own lives. And we think that's a special thing :)

No legacy: we work with modern technologies.

Our core:

- Front-end: JavaScript (ES6/Babel) React/Redux, Node.js/Express, GraphQL, Apollo, Babel, Webpack.

- Back-end/data: Python 3, PostgreSQL, Flask, Redis, Pandas/Numpy, Jupyter.

- Across our stack: Docker, Kubernetes.

--

For the position: - We're hiring engineers #3 and #4 on a tight-knit, VC-backed team in beautiful Harvard Square office. - Strong compensation package (actual equity, not options!), weekly team lunches, and more. - More details: https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs

Email me (CEO) to apply, mention HN: brandon@conduithq.com. Please, no re mote, no recent bootcamp graduates, no recruiters.

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (January 2018)

Conduit | Software engineer (JS or Python) | Cambridge, MA / Boston, MA | Full time, ONSITE https://conduithq.com/next

In a nutshell, we're building personal network management software for professional networkers, business leaders, and anyone who wants to organize the relationships and interactions in their lives.

Driving all of Conduit is the Conduit Personal Graph, a powerful graph model of a person's relationships and activity-- automatically synced, organized, and managed. It's the first-- and most comprehensive-- graph of its kind. Through the Personal Graph, we ingest, process, and surface tens of millions of data points. That information provides new insight for people looking to understand their own lives. And we think that's a special thing :)

No legacy: we work with modern technologies.

Our core:

- Front-end: JavaScript (ES6/Babel) React/Redux, Node.js/Express, GraphQL, Apollo, Babel, Webpack.

- Back-end/data: Python 3, PostgreSQL, Flask, Redis, Pandas/Numpy, Jupyter.

- Across our stack: Docker, Kubernetes.

--

For the position: - We're hiring engineers #3 and #4 on a tight-knit, VC-backed team in beautiful Harvard Square office. - Strong compensation package (actual equity, not options!), weekly team lunches, and more. - More details: https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs

Email me (CEO) to apply, mention HN: brandon@conduithq.com. Please, no re mote, no recent bootcamp graduates, no recruiters.

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (November 2017)

Conduit | Software engineer (JS or Python) | Cambridge, MA / Boston, MA | Full time, ONSITE

https://conduithq.com

In a nutshell, we're building personal network management software for professional networkers, small business leaders, and anyone who wants to organize the people, relationships, and interactions in their lives.

Driving all of Conduit is the Conduit Personal Graph, a powerful graph model of a person's relationships and activity-- automatically synced, organized, and managed. It's the first-- and most comprehensive-- graph of its kind. Through the Personal Graph, we ingest, process, and surface tens of millions of data points. That information provides new insight for people looking to understand their own lives. And we think that's a special thing :)

No legacy: we work with modern technologies.

Our core:

- Front-end: JavaScript (ES6/Babel) React/Redux, Node.js/Express, GraphQL, Apollo, Babel, Webpack.

- Back-end/data: Python 3, PostgreSQL, Flask, Redis, Pandas/Numpy, Jupyter.

- Across our stack: Docker, Kubernetes.

--

For the position: - We're hiring engineers #3 and #4 on a tight-knit, VC-backed team in beautiful Harvard Square office. - Strong compensation package (actual equity, not options!), weekly team lunches, and more. - More details: https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs

Email me (CEO) to apply, mention HN: brandon@conduithq.com. Please, no re mote, no recent bootcamp graduates, no recruiters.

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (October 2017)

Conduit | Software engineer (JS or Python) | Cambridge, MA / Boston, MA | Full time, ONSITE

https://conduithq.com

In a nutshell, we're building personal relationship management software for professional networkers, small business leaders, and anyone who wants to organize the people, relationships, and interactions in their lives.

Driving all of Conduit is the Conduit Personal Graph, a powerful graph model of a person's relationships and activity-- automatically synced, organized, and managed. It's the first-- and most comprehensive-- graph of its kind. Through the Personal Graph, we ingest, process, and surface tens of millions of data points. That information provides new insight for people looking to understand their own lives. And we think that's a special thing :)

No legacy: we work with modern technologies.

Our core:

- Front-end: JavaScript (ES6/Babel) React/Redux, Node.js/Express, GraphQL, Apollo, Babel, Webpack.

- Back-end/data: Python 3, PostgreSQL, Flask, Redis, Pandas/Numpy, Jupyter.

- Across our stack: Docker, Kubernetes.

--

For the position: - We're hiring engineers #3 and #4 on a tight-knit, VC-backed team. - Strong compensation package (actual equity, not options!), flexible vacation policy, technology budget, weekly team lunches, and more.

More details: https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs

Email me (CEO) to apply, mention HN: brandon@conduithq.com. Please, no re mote, no recent bootcamp graduates, no recruiters.

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (September 2017)

Conduit | Software engineer (JS or Python) | Cambridge, MA / Boston, MA | Full time, ONSITE

https://conduithq.com

In a nutshell, we're building personal relationship management software for professional networkers, small business leaders, and anyone who wants to organize the people, relationships, and interactions in their lives.

Driving all of Conduit is the Conduit Personal Graph, a powerful graph model of a person's relationships and activity-- automatically synced, organized, and managed. It's the first-- and most comprehensive-- graph of its kind. Through the Personal Graph, we ingest, process, and surface tens of millions of data points. That information provides new insight for people looking to understand their own lives. And we think that's a special thing :)

No legacy: we work with modern technologies.

Our core:

- Front-end: JavaScript (ES6/Babel) React/Redux, Node.js/Express, GraphQL, Apollo, Babel, Webpack.

- Back-end/data: Python 3, PostgreSQL, Flask, Redis, Pandas/Numpy, Jupyter.

- Across our stack: Docker, Kubernetes.

--

For the position: - This is hire #5 on a tight-knit, VC-backed team. - Strong compensation package (actual equity, not options!), flexible vacation policy, technology budget, occasional team lunches, and more.

More details: https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs

Email me (CEO) to apply, mention HN: brandon@conduithq.com. Please, no remote, no recent bootcamp graduates, no recruiters.

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (August 2017)

Conduit | Back-end software engineer (Python) | Cambridge, MA / Boston, MA | Full time, ONSITE

https://conduithq.com

In a nutshell, we're building personal relationship management software for professional networkers, small business leaders, and anyone who wants to organize the people, relationships, and interactions in their lives.

Driving all of Conduit is the Conduit Personal Graph, a powerful graph model of a person's relationships and activity-- automatically synced, organized, and managed. It's the first-- and most comprehensive-- graph of its kind. Through the Personal Graph, we ingest, process, and surface tens of millions of data points. That information provides new insight for people looking to understand their own lives. And we think that's a special thing :)

No legacy: we work with modern technologies. Our core: - Front-end: JavaScript (ES6/Babel) React/Redux, Node.js/Express, GraphQL, Apollo, Babel, Webpack. - Back-end/data: Python 3, PostgreSQL, Flask, Redis, Pandas/Numpy, Jupyter. - Across our stack: Docker, Kubernetes.

For the position: - This is hire #5 on a tight-knit, VC-backed team. - You'll work directly with Python 3 and PostgreSQL. - Strong compensation package (actual equity, not options!), flexible vacation policy, technology budget, occasional team lunches, and more.

More details: https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs/210118-back-end-developer-py...

Email me (CEO) to apply, mention HN: brandon@conduithq.com. Please, no remote, no recent bootcamp graduates, no recruiters.

brddon Apollo Server 1.0 – GraphQL Server for Node.js Frameworks

@tylerbainbridge and I work at Conduit (https://conduithq.com), where we are using GraphQL, join-monster, and PostgreSQL in production.

What you describe isn't a limitation at all-- some of our queries run 10 levels deep and work just fine. In fact, this method is so powerful that most of our queries start from the `user` object and just JOIN off of it.

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (July 2017)

Conduit | Back-end software engineer (Python) | Cambridge, MA / Boston, MA | Full time, ONSITE

https://conduithq.com

In a nutshell, we're building personal relationship management software for professional networkers, small business leaders, and anyone who wants to organize the people, relationships, and interactions in their lives.

Driving all of Conduit is the Conduit Personal Graph, a powerful graph model of a person's relationships and activity-- automatically synced, organized, and managed. It's the first-- and most comprehensive-- graph of its kind. Through the Personal Graph, we ingest, process, and surface tens of millions of data points. That information provides new insight for people looking to understand their own lives. And we think that's a special thing :)

No legacy: we work with modern technologies. Our core: - Front-end: JavaScript (ES6/Babel) React/Redux, Node.js/Express, GraphQL, Apollo, Babel, Webpack. - Back-end/data: Python 3, PostgreSQL, Flask, Redis, Pandas/Numpy, Jupyter. - Across our stack: Docker, Kubernetes.

For the position: - This is hire #5 on a tight-knit, VC-backed team. - You'll work directly with Python 3 and PostgreSQL. - Strong compensation package (actual equity, not options!), flexible vacation policy, technology budget, occasional team lunches, and more.

More details: https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs/210118-back-end-developer-py...

Email me (CEO) to apply, mention HN: brandon@conduithq.com. Please, no remote, no recent bootcamp graduates, no recruiters.

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (June 2017)

Conduit | Software engineer (Full stack, front-end, back-end) | Boston/Cambridge | FULL-TIME | https://cond.co

====

Conduit is a small venture-backed startup based out of Cambridge. We’re building personal relationship management software to help track, maintain, and grow relationships. People have a hard time staying in touch with others-- let's change that.

We're continuing to grow our team. If you're a top engineer with any background, we want you: someone who can hold their own and be comfortable taking charge of large projects at an early-stage company. You'll build out our infrastructure from the ground up, make and defend impactful technical decisions, and have the opportunity to grow into future leadership positions. We value smarts over skill-- experience, versatility, and intuition are crucial. Sound like a good fit? Let's get in touch.

DETAILS

Front-end engineer (JS/React, Node/Express, GraphQL): https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs/210117

Back-end engineer (Python, DBs and APIs, Node): https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs/210118

BENEFITS AND PERKS

- Be an early-stage employee and work with a fun, world-class team. - Receive significant equity at a fast-growing and valuable company. - Little to no legacy: don't deal with old codebases; we're clean and modern. - Flexible vacation policy: take the time you need. - Bring your own laptop. We'll provide everything else you need to be productive. - Team lunches twice a week and occasional team outings. - Unlimited snacks, plus all the coffee, tea, beer, and fruit water you can drink.

=====

No remote, please. TO APPLY: Email us resume/work experience/some projects of yours to careers@cond.co

=====

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (May 2017)

Conduit | Software engineer (Full stack, front-end, back-end) | Boston/Cambridge | FULL-TIME | https://cond.co

====

Conduit is a small venture-backed startup based out of Cambridge. We’re building personal relationship management software to help track, maintain, and grow relationships. People have a hard time staying in touch with others-- let's change that.

We're continuing to grow our team. If you're a top engineer with any background, we want you: someone who can hold their own and be comfortable taking charge of large projects at an early-stage company. You'll build out our infrastructure from the ground up, make and defend impactful technical decisions, and have the opportunity to grow into future leadership positions. We value smarts over skill-- experience, versatility, and intuition are crucial. Sound like a good fit? Let's get in touch.

DETAILS

Front-end engineer (JS/React, GraphQL, Node): https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs/210117

Back-end engineer (Python, Node, GraphQL, APIs, DBs): https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs/210118

BENEFITS AND PERKS

- Be an early-stage employee and work with a fun, world-class team. - Receive significant equity at a fast-growing and valuable company. - Ownership and autonomy over large projects; the independence to succeed. - Little to no legacy: don't deal with old codebases; we're clean and modern. - Open vacation policy (no set number of days per year): take the time you need. - We'll provide the technology you need to be productive. - Lunches catered or reimbursed twice a week, plus unlimited snacks and drinks.

=====

No remote, please. TO APPLY: Email us resume/work experience/some projects of yours to careers@cond.co

=====

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (April 2017)

Conduit | Software engineer (Full stack, front-end, back-end) | Boston/Cambridge | FULL-TIME

https://cond.co

====

Conduit is a small venture-backed startup based out of Cambridge. We’re building personal relationship management software to help track, maintain, and grow relationships. People have a hard time staying in touch with others-- let's change that.

We're hiring early-stage engineers, those who can hold their own and be comfortable taking charge of large projects at an early-stage company. You'll build out our infrastructure from the ground up, make and defend impactful technical decisions, and have the opportunity to grow into future leadership positions. We value smarts over skill-- experience, versatility, and intuition are crucial. Sound like a good fit? Let's get in touch.

DETAILS

(FOCUS) Back-end engineer (Python, Node, GraphQL, APIs, DBs): https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs/210118

Front-end engineer (JS/React, GraphQL, Python, Node): https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs/210117

BENEFITS AND PERKS

- Be an early-stage employee and work with a fun, world-class team. - Receive significant equity at a fast-growing and valuable company. - Ownership and autonomy over large projects; the independence to succeed. - Little to no legacy: don't deal with old codebases; we're clean and modern. - Open vacation policy (no set number of days per year): take the time you need. - We'll provide the technology you need to be productive. - Lunches catered or reimbursed every day, plus unlimited snacks and drinks.

=====

No remote, please. TO APPLY: Email us resume/work experience/some projects of yours to careers@cond.co

=====

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (March 2017)

Conduit | Software engineer (Full stack, front-end, back-end) | Boston/Cambridge | FULL-TIME

https://cond.co

====

Conduit is a small venture-backed startup based out of Cambridge. We’re building personal relationship management software to help track, maintain, and grow relationships. People have a hard time staying in touch with others-- let's change that.

We're making our first hires now. If you're a top engineer with any background, we want you: someone who can hold their own and be comfortable taking charge of large projects at an early-stage company. You'll build out our infrastructure from the ground up, make and defend impactful technical decisions, and have the opportunity to grow into future leadership positions. We value smarts over skill-- experience, versatility, and intuition are crucial. Sound like a good fit? Let's get in touch.

DETAILS

Front-end engineer (JS/React, GraphQL, Python, Node): https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs/210117

Back-end engineer (Python, Node, GraphQL, APIs, DBs): https://angel.co/goconduit/jobs/210118

BENEFITS AND PERKS

- Be an early-stage employee and work with a fun, world-class team. - Receive significant equity at a fast-growing and valuable company. - Ownership and autonomy over large projects; the independence to succeed. - Little to no legacy: don't deal with old codebases; we're clean and modern. - Open vacation policy (no set number of days per year): take the time you need. - We'll provide the technology you need to be productive. - Lunches catered or reimbursed every day, plus unlimited snacks and drinks.

=====

No remote, please. TO APPLY: Email us resume/work experience/some projects of yours to careers@cond.co

=====

brddon Ask HN: Who is hiring? (February 2017)

Conduit | https://conduit.to | Boston, MA (Cambridge, MA) (Harvard Square) | ONSITE, REMOTE, INTERNS accepted

Conduit is a small, funded startup based out of beautiful Harvard Square. We build a personal CRM software to help people reconnect with others and develop genuine relationships. It's meaningful work for today's world.

BENEFITS include: - strong salary and significant equity in a fast-growing company; - incredible location (it's so hard to get offices in Harvard Square but we did it); - technology budget and flexible hours; and - responsibility and ownership over large projects.

STACK: Full-stack, front-end (ES6/React/Python), back-end (Python/Django and/or Node/Express), data operations (Python), mobile (React Native/Swift/Java)

WE'RE HIRING full-time engineers (see below) as well as particularly strong part-time engineers and interns. You should be able to hold your own and have previous experience. If you're looking for an opportunity to do great and impactful work, eventually lead your own team, and be an early member of an incredible company, get in touch with me, Brandon: bw [at] conduit.to

brddon End Geoblocking

Wait-- not that I necessarily disagree with your entire point, but I have moved several times in my life and every single U.S. library system I have been part of (Houston, Boston, etc) has required some form of confirmation that I live in their taxation/service region. Some of them are nicer--we'll mail you a postcard to confirm you get mail!--but the verification is there.

So I think there is some warrant to restricting access to those who have contributed.

brddon Ask HN: Laptops for programming (that aren't Apple laptops)?

"(and I won't even mention MS-Windows, what a joke)."

Just in defense of Windows, which I happily use as both a developer and designer -- the latest versions (Windows 7 or 8) are pretty good at doing the two things you've described. If anything I have had many more problems diagnosing the Internet connections of friends' Macbooks.

And with managing external monitors, Windows has a keyboard shortcut to easily switch, plus it remembers screen configurations. Example: I have external monitors at home and at work. At home my monitor is to the top-left of my laptop screen. At work it's directly to the right. Whenever I hook up the HDMI or Mini Displayport it remembers which is which and automatically switches for me.

I would agree that Macbook Airs are great hardware, but the Windows ecosystem is catching up pretty fast too. Some of the new ultrabooks are really nice -- give them a shot at least.

brddon Why Isn't the Fourth Amendment Classified as Top Secret?

"One has to give credit to the US govt.'s efforts though: not a single case of terrorism on US soil after 9/11. That's pretty impressive."

Wait -- that's definitely not true; the Boston marathon bombings and Newtown come to mind. I think you implied in your second paragraph that "dealing with domestic terrorism" is a separate issue -- in truth, I don't think we can properly separate domestic from international. Terrorism is terrorism.

That being said, I'm not convinced we live in a different enough time to warrant the infringement of basic rights, either. While the article might be suggesting that we can't draw a line at all, that's not what I'm suggesting either. I just think we need to carefully balance the issue of safety vs. freedom.