Comment by EGreg
Comment by EGreg 4 days ago
[flagged]
Comment by EGreg 4 days ago
[flagged]
I don't think it's similar at all, unless you have some sort of directors/investors telling you what to do (based on your comments, you don't)
I (and OP) was talking about people who have power over the product (software engineers, managers, designers) not caring.
In your case, people with power over product (you) clearly care very much, it's just the product is not interesting to others. (Which kinda makes sense? It's yet another PHP framework with AI and Crypto, and there is plenty of them...)
I just took a look at your project - you really need to simplify the README. I read the whole thing but it’s still not clear to me what you app actually does.
I have no idea what a “Social Operating System” is supposed to be. Seems like it’s a web/mobile app framework, but it’s completely unclear why I would want to use it. You need an “elevator pitch”.
There are hundreds of frameworks, if you want developers to use yours, maybe show some example code? No one is going to spend a bunch of effort trying to build with your framework if they can’t see an advantage.
Not trying to be a hater, I care and want you to succeed
Edit: just read some of the links in the readme - so it also has something to do with crypto and micropayments? Why would I want to use your “QBUX”? Would a developer only be able to get paid in your crypto? If so, why should they trust that you won’t rugpull? If you want people to care about your project, you need to think about what they care about (pro tip: nobody cares about making you rich via support contracts or shitcoin schemes. Sorry.)
I am not sure what you read that said any of the things you asserted in the "Edit" section. None of that is true. The token doesn't even exist yet. There is no "rugpull" possible in any event.
But I think this illustrates perfectly what I said originally. Context matters. The context on HN is "I see a word that triggers me (token / web3) somewhere and I immediately assume all these things I haven't seen or read, and forget about anything you actually did."
That's why it is very important how you present things. The original Facebook was just a bunch of profiles in php. And yet people used it like mad and investors camped out Zuck's dorm room. It's not so much about what you build but how you present it.
You are focusing on technical details too much, I don't think any of the initial Facebook users cared if it was php or not, they cared about what they saw on the screen.
While presentation definitely matters, the product itself has to be actually interesting (especially on HN). For example, current HN's top post is about Anthropic - and I don't even know what their stack looks like!
On the other side, if the product's is Yet Another PHP Framework then your target audience is (1) PHP developers who are (2) unsatisfied with existing frameworks they know and (3) willing to spend hours to try the unknown thing. This is a pretty narrow category.
I'm not triggered by crypto/web3 - I think there are a lot of good use-cases. I'm trying to explain to you that the README and website introducing your product/framework/platform (whichever it is, I'm still not sure):
1) Doesn't explain to the target market (developers) why they should use your product
2) Throws up a bunch of red flags to developers who actually bother to read it all, namely that your business model seems to be either/both of selling devleoper support (is that why there aren't any good developer docs?), or locking developers into a token with no published tokenomics or even a contract address (as you noted, the token doesn't exist!). Anyone with any experience in crypto knows that there is risk adopting an ERC20 token, you *need* to address the risk points (eg the potential for rugpull, available liquidity) if you want anyone to take you seriously.
My point is, this is why you are getting no traction from developers. People aren't ignoring your completely free awesome code because of apathy, it's because you're not doing a good job showing them any benefits to using your product. Your marketing needs work.
Also, you should really consider if you actually have a product that fits your market. It sucks to spend a lot of time developing a product that the market doesn't want, but you might be in that position. If so, no amount of marketing will help you.
Ironically, I went to the effort to parse through all your docs because I wanted to help you understand why your Show HN failed, but now I kind of feel like I wasted my time, making it harder for me to care in the same way for the next person in a similar position.
Anyhow, take the critique or not -- I wish you luck either way!
See also: Zombocom problem [0]
Downvoted because this is off topic and should be on a proper Show HN, not in a random thread.
I think it's on topic as it shows exactly what OP was talking about (Instead they get negative feedback) is not confined to workplaces, but is prevalent right here, too. "No one cares" is almost correct. Some people will care, but most will downvote you and criticize you.
Oh by the way ... I tried doing a "Show HN" with it. It just got buried after getting 1 like. If you post something that people take a while to engage with, then they don't come back to HN to upvote it fast enough. So it gets eclipsed by stuff that's memey and fun. Result: no one cares.
Most people don't care about about most things, that's normal. But people should be caring about their jobs, and that's OP's (and mine) point.
Thousands of rock bands released new songs today. I don't care, and that's OK. But if a rock magazine editor does not care about them, it would be bad.
Latest Microsoft C# has new lock type. I absolutely don't care, and that's OK. But if someone working with high-performance C# does not care, they are doing a bad job.
At my work, I've just released a new version of internal tool I've worked hard on. Majority of the company do not care at all, and that's fine. But those users who use daily? I expect them to read the announcement and take notice.
My local park has a burned-out streetlight. Most people don't care. But I'd expect my town's public works department to care, or they are doing a bad job.
I've submitted a very interesting link to HN. Most people did not care (as evidenced by a very small number of upvotes). But I'd expect ... nah, I don't actually expect anyone to care. There is not a single person on this earth whose job is to care about things I post on HN.
you did a Show HN and it sounds like it didn’t work out. that sucks to hear pal.
it might be worth taking some time to reflect on what your part in that was and what you might do differently next time.
I feel like there's "nobody cares about what I do" and "nobody cares about how they affect other people" which are related but subtly different and imo. GP was more about the first and TFA more the second.
OP is talking about folks caring about making their environment a bit better, care about their craft or care about making an effort to make the world a better place. It's not really the same thing as your work not resonating with people.