joshuago’s inspiration Bookmarks

The group writes software this good because that's how good it has to be. Every time it fires up the shuttle, their software is controlling a $4 billion piece of equipment, the lives of a half-dozen astronauts, and the dreams of the nation.

How do you know what ideas will work? How can people try a lot of ideas without bankrupting themselves or running themselves ragged?

The principles, with their references to "privileged interests" and the protection of Russian citizens, would probably seem rather obvious to Russian leaders of the 19th Century. They would seem rather mild to Stalin and his successors, who saw the Soviet Union extending communism across the globe.

The pattern: Company gets bought out. Users rejoice. Company lies fallow for months. Users grow impatient. Company's employees get farmed out to other Google projects. Company lies fallow for more months. Users get even more impatient.

Run upstairs. A startup is like a mosquito. For potential acquirers, the most powerful motivator is the prospect that one of their competitors will buy you. The second biggest is the worry that, if they don't buy you now, you'll continue to grow rapidly and will cost more to acquire later, or even become a competitor. Users are the only real proof that you've created wealth. Wealth is what people want.