The graveyard of good ideas
Solutions that were tried, and what stopped them.
Patents that were rejected or abandoned, products that shut down, projects that went quiet. Borrow the idea, avoid the dead end.
796 solutions
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: What are you using as an issue tracker in 2018?
I went through two startups and decided to use Redmine for both. Tried GitHub once and later migrated over, due to data ownership concerns and bad usability for project management. Tried self-hosted GitLab for a small group but abandoned it later due to inconsistency with internal workflow. Redmine also has its own shortcomings. As a Xoogler occasionally I really miss the ease of use of Google's internal bug tracker. I've also heard people using Phabricator if they were in FB. But I never had the chance to give it a try.
Why it failed: I went through two startups and decided to use Redmine for both. Tried GitHub once and later migrated over, due to data ownership concerns and bad usability for project management. Tried self-hosted GitLab for a small group but abandoned it later due to inconsistency with interna
xjia
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: Which dev laptop to buy?
I was planning on switching my work laptop sometime around next year, which could change a bit the landscape(macbook pro keyboard...), but I have an opportunity to get one right now from the US which makes things much cheaper for me, so I wanted some input. Currently I own a 15" Dell (don't remember the version). I really like the 15" display, seems much better for my work (I usually don't use a external monitor) than 13", it has a decent keyboard (I love that it has a numpad) a decent trackpad and display. The display is touchscreen which makes it gather much more dust than usually and I have never used it. I have had trouble getting linux to work well with it's trackpad sometimes and shutting down, hibernation, suspension has also been troublesome. This is the only laptop I have used for heavy development duty. I was considering getting a mac this time aro
Why it failed: I was planning on switching my work laptop sometime around next year, which could change a bit the landscape(macbook pro keyboard...), but I have an opportunity to get one right now from the US which makes things much cheaper for me, so I wanted some input. Currently I own a 15&q
hcoura
- startupShut down2018
How to permanently leave Facebook
I despise facebook, i don't want to be any part of it. I do not use it for anything other than messenger. Yet it is like a physical reflex... everytime i open up my phone or browser i end up going to the site. Anybody have any interesting way they blocked out this addiction from their life?
Why it failed: I despise facebook, i don't want to be any part of it. I do not use it for anything other than messenger. Yet it is like a physical reflex... everytime i open up my phone or browser i end up going to the site. Anybody have any interesting way they blocked out this addiction
akabaka777
- startupShut down2018
Ask: How do you apply “programmer’s” efficiency in everyday life things?
I notice myself towards fellow human beings that I try to optimize simple everyday tasks. “They” mainly try to optimize certain events, by using Google Maps for the shortest route. But I try to do this with numerous things, from filling up the dishwasher, to taking out the thrash, to (quite often to irritation to my SO), postponing things: to add things up and then to everything in one-efficient go. Some of these moundaine tasks are “repeated” items with a reminder of a todo-app. Or by paying all bills every 2 weeks, instead of when they come in. My wife (2 kids) cleans the house basically constantly. While when I’m alone, I just do it at the end of the day, cause it doesn’t matter to clean up multiple times the toys. I buy things that don’t expire (like toothpaste) in bulk. While she buys them by one. Do you guys/girls have similar instincts and events happening? It’s really not ab
Why it failed: I notice myself towards fellow human beings that I try to optimize simple everyday tasks. “They” mainly try to optimize certain events, by using Google Maps for the shortest route. But I try to do this with numerous things, from filling up the dishwasher, to taking out the thrash
5_minutes
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: Not feeling it from the CEO. What can I do? (equity split)
I joined a startup as CTO that is 9 months old (5 months with me) and has VC funding. I now have equal equity to the CEO. Now that I know how much I will continue to contribute that is core to my expertise & experience, I think I should have more like 3:2 or 2:1 (CTO:CEO), and that the CEO is really CMO/COO material. Is there something like an Equity-Split Consultancy I can use for help? The startup is complex VR software that I have 19 years experience in. I'm formerly a tenured academic leading a research group in this area. I've also worked on big-name projects as a SWEng in this area. I have won awards for my work and know the tech & product very well. I've also iterated similar "products" with customers. I have taught project management, founded a successful online business, a PhD in exactly what we are doing, and 10 years of building toward bre
Why it failed: I joined a startup as CTO that is 9 months old (5 months with me) and has VC funding. I now have equal equity to the CEO. Now that I know how much I will continue to contribute that is core to my expertise & experience, I think I should have more like 3:2 or 2:1 (CTO:CEO), an
njens
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: Client won't pay me my invoice and disputed Paypal payment 3 months ago
I have been working with a client now for 6 months. He has paid me around 3k each month. While my invoices were well above the prescribed amount. He chose to do that saying that we would add it to equity later. Sweat equity. Just a week ago, we had a falling out and closing up my work, I sent him an invoice for 17k. After which things got worse. He has attacked me, my family and called me names. He is trying to intimidate me. He also took the stance that he doesn't want to speak to me anymore. After which, I did threaten to share the details of this with his client base and all his buyers. He wasn't happy with that. I did not do so, but now he is unwilling to talk. After him shutting down communication, I reached out to his investors, which got him talking again. He has since said he is only willing to pay me $3500 on my invoice. Second, he disputed 3k he paid me in March, so I
Why it failed: I have been working with a client now for 6 months. He has paid me around 3k each month. While my invoices were well above the prescribed amount. He chose to do that saying that we would add it to equity later. Sweat equity. Just a week ago, we had a falling out and closing up my
spoiledtechie
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: How do you manage all your interests, hopes, dreams?
I am interested in so many things, and feel a sickening dread that I won't have the time to explore them all. I'm actively resentful of my job for taking me away from the things I want to learn and get good at. When I get home, I'm overwhelmed with possibility, so I always question whether I'm spending time on the right thing. I often don't end up doing anything due to this analysis paralysis. If you're like me, what do you do? Do you try to whittle down your interests and commit only to a few, accepting that one cannot do everything they want to in life? Do you try to cram them all in somehow? Do you focus on one at a time and trust that, eventually, you will be able to get to them all? Do you quit your job and take a sabbatical year to do a deep dive on all these things, provided you have the means (I don't, necessarily, but could eventually). This ha
Why it failed: I am interested in so many things, and feel a sickening dread that I won't have the time to explore them all. I'm actively resentful of my job for taking me away from the things I want to learn and get good at. When I get home, I'm overwhelmed with possibility, so
ambivalents
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: In a bad spot right now in life, need advice
I am in a pretty bad spot right now, and I do not know simply what do with my life. I am from Spain, 19, and M. I graduated from HS 1 year ago and went to a what is considered a 2nd-tier Uni here in Spain to study CS, because my grades in HS and the SAT were bad. I had never actually “coded” or had done anything remotely CS related before I went to Uni. I chose CS mainly because I’ve always been interested in tech but just let’s just say in the “consumer-oriented” aspect of it, never really having acquired a useful skill throughout all the years I’ve spent in front of a PC being an introvert in HS, other than I guess ENG. And so, during my 1st semester I failed all of my finals. I also don’t know how to study or actually learn things by the way. I failed all of my finals because of a combination of reasons, but I’d say the biggest one by far is my own laziness and lack of will to actuall
Why it failed: I am in a pretty bad spot right now, and I do not know simply what do with my life. I am from Spain, 19, and M. I graduated from HS 1 year ago and went to a what is considered a 2nd-tier Uni here in Spain to study CS, because my grades in HS and the SAT were bad. I had never actu
SpanishConf
- startupShut down2018
Reverse Job Search: I will pay to work at your company
I am a coding bootcamp graduate who is having a hard time finding my first dev job. PROBLEM: Most internships want students who are in college (I'm not) and most junior positions want people with at least 2 years of experience. I'm looking for my first front-end development job. ABOUT ME: - I changed careers from the medical field. - I'm African-American. - I live in NYC. - I graduated from a good coding bootcamp, so I know basic HTML, CSS, and JS. - I briefly helped a friend with a React / Redux app, so I know the fundamentals of React. Because I've had a hard time finding my first job, I was thinking about going back to take more web development classes to build up my portfolio. The school I was looking into is about $10K and it lasts 7 months. So instead of that, I wanted to see if there are any companies out there that I can pay who is willing to let me learn
Why it failed: I am a coding bootcamp graduate who is having a hard time finding my first dev job. PROBLEM: Most internships want students who are in college (I'm not) and most junior positions want people with at least 2 years of experience. I'm looking for my first front-end develop
NYC-dev
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: My country is getting worse. Where to go?
I am 20 y.o, I live in Indonesia. I don't know what's going on with my country, but it looks like everything is getting worse. I don't see a bright future here, so I am looking for a better country. I am willing to move abroad. The problems are, I don't know where to go, and how much does it cost. Right now, I have around $1,000 in my bank account. It's all the money that I save from my job. Unfortunately, I don't have any degree. I am a high school graduate. But I'm good at design and good enough at front-end dev. I am also into fitness, I workout alot, mostly calisthenics. I'm thinking about to move to Canada or Japan. But I don't think I have the money. Probably some of you can help me. I just want to get out. Where to go? Thank you!
Why it failed: I am 20 y.o, I live in Indonesia. I don't know what's going on with my country, but it looks like everything is getting worse. I don't see a bright future here, so I am looking for a better country. I am willing to move abroad. The problems are, I don't know w
richsaunders
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: Laid off after 2 months. What exactly should I be doing?
I'm a guy with very little experience, CS degree, currently living in Texas, and was laid off by another company before this. I found a job after a long job search. I cancelled my other job offer, spent all my savings ($2k on rent, flight, AirBnB, etc), and moved across the country to work here in a sort of suburban city with no way to get around. I was planning on saving up money and building up my life here. After 2 months, I was laid off. I have no car, no insurance, practically no money, etc. It costs $50 round trip just to Uber into downtown, so I end up holed in my apartment. Not to mention the cost to go to meetups and on-site interviews (yeah, no one has once offered to pay). I've been searching for about 4 months. I've made it to several on-sites, but never got an offer and don't know exactly what I'm doing wrong. Like one company would say I passed, the
Why it failed: I'm a guy with very little experience, CS degree, currently living in Texas, and was laid off by another company before this. I found a job after a long job search. I cancelled my other job offer, spent all my savings ($2k on rent, flight, AirBnB, etc), and moved across the
throawawy3242
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: My startup has basically failed. What now?
I've been working on a startup for ~9 months (as the technical cofounder) in the event tech space (B2B tradeshows) and I'm pretty sure we've failed to do anything productive (find product/market fit, find a problem/solution fit, learn anything valuable, etc.). We still have ~100k left but the main investors/advisors (from the 220k friends/family/fools round) pretty much feel like it's time to pull the plug. My personal opinion is that that's the most responsible thing to do (return money pro-rata) but there are simultaneous voices (paradoxically same investors) pushing to keep going (continue running pilots, building out the team [we just finally found a bd cofounder], crafting a pitch for a seed round). I don't know what to do since in my understanding we've failed at the most important thing: finding product/market fit. o
Why it failed: I've been working on a startup for ~9 months (as the technical cofounder) in the event tech space (B2B tradeshows) and I'm pretty sure we've failed to do anything productive (find product/market fit, find a problem/solution fit, learn anything valuable, e
mlevental
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: What abandoned OSS project would you like to see revived?
I've been writing code forever but took a break to pursue some other interests. Now I'm ready to come back. I'm looking for an open-source project to busy myself with while I resume networking and freelancing. Ideally, I'd like to revive an practical OSS project that's been abandoned. Something useful but left untended for whatever reason. What are some candidates? What project is broadly useful but seems to have lost its maintainer or their interest? What do you wish somebody was actively working on so that you didn't have to? I've chosen not to offer constraints so that this can be more of a wishlist for the community than an answer just for me. I know there's some other people out there that would be eager to do the same thing I am. Thanks, all!
Why it failed: I've been writing code forever but took a break to pursue some other interests. Now I'm ready to come back. I'm looking for an open-source project to busy myself with while I resume networking and freelancing. Ideally, I'd like to revive an practical OSS proje
swatcoder
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: Should I abandon a functioning SaaS with no paying users?
I'm the creator of Ekko - https://ekko.site/ - "Create your business website in seconds, using your Facebook page". Me: I'm a full-time software consultant (https://benhowdle.im/), Ekko was intended as a side-project to generate passive income, not to be a fully fledged startup from day 1. My aim was/is to make it incredibly simple for small businesses to create and keep their business website online and updated. The user connects their Facebook Page to my service, picks a theme and their new site is online. Every time they update their FB Page, the website (on my service) is instantly updated. This part is free, as you have a subdomain URL. To add a custom domain, it's a monthly fee. I launched the SaaS in early 2017 and spent 3 months promoting/pushing it out to my networks online. This led to a lot of positive feedback,
Why it failed: I'm the creator of Ekko - https://ekko.site/ - "Create your business website in seconds, using your Facebook page". Me: I'm a full-time software consultant (https://benhowdle.im/), Ekko was intended as a side-project to generate p
benhowdle
- startupShut down2018
Launch HN: Nutrigene (YC W18) – Tailor-made liquid supplements using health data
I'm Van Duesterberg, and my cofounder is Min FitzGerald. We're the founders of Nutrigene ( http://www.mynutrigene.com ). We ship tailor-made liquid supplements based on your body composition and scientific research. I'm a biophysicist and epigeneticist who spent more than 10 years studying how environmental factors influence the expression of our genes, focusing on the mechanism of metabolites (including vitamins) in both plants and humans. Min has spent more than 10 years as a personal trainer, health coach and behavioral scientist working in the food and consumer product goods space. This all started because I wanted to be healthier and was frustrated with a lack of answers from our healthcare system, which only sees our data through a “survival” lens (oh you don’t need to be in urgent care or surgery now). I wanted to live beyond just surviving to truly thrive
Why it failed: I'm Van Duesterberg, and my cofounder is Min FitzGerald. We're the founders of Nutrigene ( http://www.mynutrigene.com ). We ship tailor-made liquid supplements based on your body composition and scientific research. I'm a biophysicist and epigeneticist wh
vancanwin
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: My startup is going remote-only. Is this a giant red flag?
My startup company, located in a major city, is going remote-only. Meaning, we are currently in a shared office space, but some time in the coming months, we will no longer have that space and will be a remote-only org. A variety of reasons were given for this decision, including the fact that we already have a bunch of remote workers. Has your startup successfully transitioned to be remote-only or is this a flag I should start looking for other jobs?
Why it failed: My startup company, located in a major city, is going remote-only. Meaning, we are currently in a shared office space, but some time in the coming months, we will no longer have that space and will be a remote-only org. A variety of reasons were given for this decision, including
inlinefun
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: Is it legal for a company to restrict an internship to certain races?
I'm a person of color working for a large tech company in San Francisco. I was disgusted to find out that we have a paid internship program that is explicitly only limited to people of certain races. 1) Description on website: "...is a paid 12-week summer internship program designed for second-year students interested in gaining hands-on and real-life experience in the tech industry." "Eligibility: Full-time student identifying as black, Latinx, and/or Native American completing your undergraduate study in 2021 at a university or college." 2) Is this legal? I am familiar with affirmative action, but all examples I have seen describe it as stuff like: "language on job advertisements urging minorities to apply, or a policy that favors African-Americans when all other qualifications among job applicants are equal.". I've never seen a company expl
Why it failed: I'm a person of color working for a large tech company in San Francisco. I was disgusted to find out that we have a paid internship program that is explicitly only limited to people of certain races. 1) Description on website: "...is a paid 12-week summer internship pro
workquest7
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: How will it go for Raspberry Pi in the coming years?
In the consumer and the small business markets, we are having computing power being more and more shifted from desktops or laptops to tablets and smartphones, we are even seeing full computing watches these days. In your opinion, what about DIY, IoT, small robotics, etc. and the generalist barebone computers they use, like Arduino, Raspberry, etc.? Will they become more and more powerful for a new race to bigger, maybe embedded systems or will they stay small, open, very cheap and marginally energy-hungry?
Why it failed: In the consumer and the small business markets, we are having computing power being more and more shifted from desktops or laptops to tablets and smartphones, we are even seeing full computing watches these days. In your opinion, what about DIY, IoT, small robotics, etc. and the
DrNuke
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: What would your ideal programming language be like?
I'm a language designer. I know I love writing compilers and interpreters, but I always had this constant problem of fitting the languages I create into a niche. I always aim for the ultimate swiss-knife kind of language or I always end up doing that. However, many people have told me, I'm wasting my time creating general-purpose languages, instead I should focus on a niche. Now I'm looking for the niche. So I'm directing this question to you coders, old and young. What do you think a new programming language should have and not be considered a waste of time? What features or environment do expect from a new programming language? Why do you think current languages cannot have those features? In short, what areas do you think current languages suck in and would be a good starting point for a new programming language? Or should I just give up on language design and comp
Why it failed: I'm a language designer. I know I love writing compilers and interpreters, but I always had this constant problem of fitting the languages I create into a niche. I always aim for the ultimate swiss-knife kind of language or I always end up doing that. However, many people ha
appcypher
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: How can I avoid just making rich people richer?
I've been a professional software developer for 3 years now, but I've been programming for about 6 years prior to that. Both as a hobby, but also as a side-effect of my education in mathematical modelling and decision making. I love programming and developing applications, but due to my background in mathematics-economics I tend to have a very economical focus on the impact of what I do. To be frank, it is making me depressed. It's not that I can't generate positive ROI for my time spent. The problem is how it affects society. My job (and education) seems primed to benefit shareholder at the cost of other stakeholders. Automating people away seriously affects the livelyhood of those affected. To make it worse, cuts in costs often never make a difference to the price of end products, unless the market for those products are very competitive. Prices doesn't simply
Why it failed: I've been a professional software developer for 3 years now, but I've been programming for about 6 years prior to that. Both as a hobby, but also as a side-effect of my education in mathematical modelling and decision making. I love programming and developing applicatio
undreren
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: Tips on hiring a “life manager” or coach to be productive?
Long story short, I work remotely, am building a few side projects, trying to get in shape, learn a foreign language and a million other things. Unfortunately, like everyone else, I end up wasting time on the internet and making excuses. Self-motivation has its limits. Specifically as a remote worker, I’ve found it’s easy to fall into an “unstructured abyss.” I recently had the idea of hiring someone to ‘keep me on track’, so to speak. A cross between an assistant and a coach. Has anyone done something like this? I’m even thinking a 60 minute session once a week to just review my goals, make sure I’m getting stuff done, and being accountable to someone is a good start.
Why it failed: Long story short, I work remotely, am building a few side projects, trying to get in shape, learn a foreign language and a million other things. Unfortunately, like everyone else, I end up wasting time on the internet and making excuses. Self-motivation has its limits. Specifical
keiferski
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: What are your “brain hacks” that help you manage everyday situations?
I'm incredibly fortunate to have a chairman on our board who brings so much clarity of thought to the business. He's unemotional yet thoughtful. If he doesn't have an immediate answer for something, he instinctively understands how to search for the answer. He has a natural sense of the real priority of work and discussions. So I asked him for some of his favourite brain hacks...simple tricks he uses when he has a mental challenge to overcome. A couple of his insights were very useful to me, so I thought I'd share them here and ask HN for their personal brain hacks in response. Artificial deadlines He has a clever technique for bringing tough choices to a conclusion and avoiding procrastination. This is especially useful for life changing decisions such as moving country or taking that new job. To put an end to the decision making process he sets a deadline for the de
Why it failed: I'm incredibly fortunate to have a chairman on our board who brings so much clarity of thought to the business. He's unemotional yet thoughtful. If he doesn't have an immediate answer for something, he instinctively understands how to search for the answer. He has
simonswords82
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: Has Google released a public post-mortem for Oct. YouTube outage yet?
If they have not, maybe an insider could tell us if they are planning to release one? I've tried googling for one, but all I find is youtube videos of dead guys being cut up (not my cup of tea, apparently).
Why it failed: If they have not, maybe an insider could tell us if they are planning to release one? I've tried googling for one, but all I find is youtube videos of dead guys being cut up (not my cup of tea, apparently).
uniformlyrandom
- startupShut down2018
Ask HN: How little work can you get away with and still have the basics?
My goal in life is to have maximum freedom: minimal obligations, minimal stress, minimal responsibilities, while maintaining a private room to live in with basic utilities and food. Then I want to spend my life working on my own projects in my own time, on my own terms, at my own pace, in solitude. This is practically how I've lived for years under my parents' roof until recently when we were displaced. Now I want to regain what I lost. Maybe I'm greedy, spoiled, and undisciplined, but the idea of having to spend a large amount of my time and energy working in order to have these fundamental needs met is unacceptable to me. The pressure to regularly exhaust myself with financial obligations that I'm fundamentally not interested in makes it too difficult for me to live comfortably enough to comfortably pursue the things I actually care about, thus defeating the purpose
Why it failed: My goal in life is to have maximum freedom: minimal obligations, minimal stress, minimal responsibilities, while maintaining a private room to live in with basic utilities and food. Then I want to spend my life working on my own projects in my own time, on my own terms, at my own
aardbei