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Ask HN: Any self-made software developers?

31 points by mastrsushi ↗ HN
I graduated College 3 years ago, and am absolutely sick of being a developer in the work force.

I've thought about just going on my own, but I'm stumped on ideas.

Not enough people really downloads apps anymore, and I've started to dread app development (idk about entirely). It always feels like everything has already been done and I have no choice but to rejoin the work force.

Have any of you been able to develop profitable software on your own? And if so, what steps did you take?

20 comments

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nirv
Since you are asking, you are always welcome to develop/recreate some high quality desktop Linux applications. Half-joking.
asaddhamani
I don’t know many Linux applications that people pay for
mastrsushi
I've thought of making a DE apps for mobile linux entirely with something like electron. But like asaddhamani said, Linux doesn't really pay. I'm not 20 anymore, I don't really fantasize about Red Hat finding my "brilliant" projects and taking me under their wing.
nirv
> I've thought of making a DE apps for mobile linux entirely with something like electron.

Oh, please don't. /s

> Linux doesn't really pay.

It depends. Professional DAWs come to mind first: Reaper, Bitwig, Renoise. Professional video editor DaVinci Resolve Studio. Full-featured suite is certainly well beyond the capabilities of a single developer, but I'm sure there's a lot of specific pain points in these professional niches which you could cover. Also, Sublime Text/Merge are massively popular, while being freemium.

You mentioned Electron, so I suppose you're more inclined to web stack: there's a rapidly[1] growing[2] number[3] of WASM-based[4] apps[5]. They're web-native, multiplatform by nature, easily implemented as SaaS'es, and may be packaged as "native" applications.

[1] https://www.figma.com/blog/webassembly-cut-figmas-load-time-...

[2] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26323966

[3] https://modfy.video/

[4] https://fileconverter.digital/

[5] https://video2gif.vercel.app/

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borplk
Linux users have a "I could totally do that with bash better in a weekend" attitude. They don't pay and they will also shame the author with "how dare you evil monster not make this libre free open source ... this is worth like $3 max". Worst group to make paid software for (yes I say that as a linux user, I know the group I'm talking about).
diavelguru
Hi you sound upset about having skills that allow you to participate in a profitable business as an employee. Working on ones own project is very rewarding though not necessarily profitable in $$. It’s best to follow your heart though and do what you are passionate about. If it’s not coding, try and think long and hard what it is. Look to your hobbies. I’ve been doing this coding thing and app development for over 2 decades and I still love it. It’s my first love that I tell my woman that coding is first and she is second! Some women can’t take that but others do. In the end we are here for a short time; make it the best time you can.
mastrsushi
I definitely love coding, I just find working for companies, dealing (yes that word) with coworkers/superiors, and developing on their admittedly unkempt desktop application code bases to be soul sucking.
kulikalov
I have similar problem. I'm a freelancer, charging $200/hr but it still doesn't feel good enough. As soon as I stop "running", funds are burning down fast. I'm spending about half of my time building side projects (eg nutritionanalyzer.app), but none of them generate any significant money.

Thinking about selling niche enterprise solutions, but this is boring as hell.

YouTube is thriving, maybe I'll focus on it next year.

atat7024
Charge more, if you haven't had anyone balk yet.
mapster
Solid looking app. Curious what you think of purchase app vs subscription for this.
jasonkester
Software as a Service was how I did it. It nicely handles the "whenever I stop working, people stop sending me money" issue, and you get to sell it to businesses, who actually pay for things.

I've written a bunch about the process of going from salaried developer to software mogul thousandaire. Here's a bit of an overview:

https://www.expatsoftware.com/Articles/guy-on-the-beach-with...

GianFabien
Thanks for inspiring peek into your life. The essential point for me is that you have lots of interests (rock climbing, surfing, sailing, playing with the kids, etc).

To mangle a well known phrase: You program to live, not live to program. I like your style. Cheers!

xupybd
I love the approach. Lower your cost of living so you have the time to keep building things until one starts paying the bills.

I need to get building.

cuthanh
I think the main reason your app doesn't have users is that you don't have much connection to the users that have problem. You need talk to them very much, and it is your first users. If it still doesn't work, I think your idea problem/solution is something that no one want. But it still a great lesson
cuthanh
I just realize it when learn on StartupSchool. Try it out, it will help you learn lots of thing you don't know. My app https://refiapp.io/ got same problem like you do so I need to talk more with users
cosmodisk
At any give time,there are millions of businesses out there with unsolved problems and no software solutions to them. Some are niche, so not really commercially viable to pursue,while some are big enough to have really nice revenues.

My advice is stop looking at the app stores, where 20 more calculator apps being added every day. Instead,talk to people outside software industry, ideally with those as far as possible from the tech sector. They will flood you with their problems. Listen carefully,then you'll have some good ideas to work on.

the__alchemist
Yep. Learned Python in my late 20s. Have been down many rabbit holes since. Most popular project is a scheduling and training webapp used by a handful of fighter squadrons. Most active project now is selling sensors etc - it involves a mix of web-programming for the site, embedded programming for the firmware, and PC programming for software that interfaces when it's plugged into one.
bcrl
It is true that being a developer is not for everyone. That said, it is important to note that the environment you're in has a massive impact on job satisfaction. Personally, I've worked at small, medium and large companies, as well as those which have transitioned. Large companies do have the benefit of having more access to resources, but it takes a certain kind of person to fit into the kind of small box that they tend to put people into, as the corporate need to minimize risk tends to limit the amount of change any individual can effect. Small and medium size companies are the ones where an individual can make a difference in the code / product that is being worked on. Figure out what you want to get out of your career. If you're not happy with what you're doing, try something else. Being 3 years out of college means you've got plenty of time to find out what kind of work environment works for you.