Ask HN: Best business advice for software developers
Since this is an audience of passionate technologists, here's the top piece of advice I have:<p><i>Do not be seduced by the technology!</i><p>I killed one of my startups this way. I've seen many many die this way.<p>It can hurt your pride as a passionate technologist to choose non-cool but mature and easy-to-hire-for tools. But it's those tools that are the most economical.<p>Remember, your customers care 0% about the backend technologies you're using as long as they are getting the value you promised them.<p>"Be regular and orderly in your life, so that you may be violent and original in your work." Gustave Flaubert<p>You're running a business, not a technological showcase for other engineers (who are not even your customers!).<p>Remember that the most economical tool for the job is often not the coolest or trendiest - but is some old boring workhorse that other engineers will scoff at.<p>Build your business for your customers, not for your technological pride or to demonstrate your technical prowess to friends.<p>Don't get me wrong though! There's certainly a time and a place to play with all the coolest and trendiest stuff, but if you're optimizing for growing a business, that is the time for choosing low-risk, simple, mature tools.