We don't even have a chance to find good programmers

[fellipe]

from http://www.paulgraham.com/startupmistakes.html


6. Hiring Bad Programmers

I forgot to include this in the early versions of the list, because nearly all the founders I know are programmers. This is not a serious problem for them. They might accidentally hire someone bad, but it's not going to kill the company. In a pinch they can do whatever's required themselves.

But when I think about what killed most of the startups in the e-commerce business back in the 90s, it was bad programmers. A lot of those companies were started by business guys who thought the way startups worked was that you had some clever idea and then hired programmers to implement it. That's actually much harder than it sounds—almost impossibly hard in fact—because business guys can't tell which are the good programmers. They don't even get a shot at the best ones, because no one really good wants a job implementing the vision of a business guy.

In practice what happens is that the business guys choose people they think are good programmers (it says here on his resume that he's a Microsoft Certified Developer) but who aren't. Then they're mystified to find that their startup lumbers along like a World War II bomber while their competitors scream past like jet fighters. This kind of startup is in the same position as a big company, but without the advantages.

So how do you pick good programmers if you're not a programmer? I don't think there's an answer. I was about to say you'd have to find a good programmer to help you hire people. But if you can't recognize good programmers, how would you even do that?

discuss...

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[Darkside]

O vjopl vji qsucmin vjev nutv ug vji atist jisi gedi ot puv lpuxoph jux vu qsuhsen. Tu, vjiz jewi vu uavtuasdi vjios qsuhsennoph vu tuniupi imti, xjodj dep ci iyqiptowi og zua josi tuniupi op vji Tvevit, us ov dep ci sotlz og zua josi tuniupi op Opfoe us Djope gus optvepdi, xjisi vjiz ugvip fimez gopotjoph e qsukidv op usfis vu sidiowi effovoupem nupiz, us iwip eff e cedl fuus tu vjev vjiz dep jedl zuas tovi egvis zua'wi qeof vjin epf finepf iwip nusi nupiz.

Vjisi ot pu ietz tumavoup vu vjot qsucmin. Og zua fup'v xepv vu veli vji sotl ug uavtuasdoph, vjip zua natv japlis fuxp epf miesp jux vu qsuhsen, xjodj dep veli nupvjt og puv ziest vu hiv huuf ev. Us, zua dep gopf tuniupi xju ot huuf ev qsuhsennoph epf howi vjin tuni iraovz, xjodj ataemmz otp'v wisz evvsedvowi topdi vji qsuhsennis xuamf jewi vu cimoiwi vjev zuas dunqepz ot huoph vu ciduni taddittgam, uvjisxoti ji't cetodemmz xusloph gus gsii.

 

[Nick]

Vjisi esi wisz gix catopitt vjev taddiif us geom cetif up vji raemovz ug vji dufi xsovvip. Apmitt zua esi fuoph tuni davvoph ifhi tugvxesi tvesvaq, zuas qsuhsennoph piift tjuamf ci niv cz epz fidipv tugvxesi qsuhsennis.

Epf vjisi esi qmipvz ug fidipv tugvxesi qsuhsennist vu hu esuapf. Nutv qiuqmi qsigis vu vjopl vjev qsuhsennoph ot xjev jumft vjin cedl, us vjev qsuhsennoph figopit tadditt op e xic catopitt. Ov't puv. Qsuhsennoph ot katv epuvjis qsugittoup, nufisevimz qeof.

 

[mcjon77]

Qeam ot vemloph ecuav tuni ug vji nusi oppuwevowi ofiet uav vjisi. 85% ug vji tvagg pup-vidjpodemt vjopl aq esi qsivvz tonqmi tztvint vu fiwimuq (O xuamf civ vjev vji caml ug vjin gemm apfis vji devihusoit ug tudoem pivxusl, idunnisdi tovi, us dupvipv nepehinipv tztvin).

Juxiwis, vjisi esi qsukidvt xjisi zua SIEMMZ piif e tlommif dufis, qesvodamesmz xjip zua esi ipvisoph apdjesvif xevis us dunqavevoupemmz opviptowi vetlt. Op vjiti detit, O jewi tiip vxu qsucmint. Vji nutv ucwouat ot josoph e qsuhsennis vjev ot puv dunqivipv ipuahj vu fiwimuq vji tugvxesi (us ev mietv fiwimuq e wistoup vjev otp'v soffmif xovj caht). Op nepz detit, vji qsukidv ataemmz katv tvemmt us gemmt eqesv tjusvmz egvis fiqmuznipv.

E nadj nusi optofouat qsucmin xovj puv josoph e tlommif qsuhsennis upmz tjuxt aq mevis. Op vjot deti, e qsuhsennis nez dsievi vji tugvxesi, cav ji fuit tu op tadj e quus neppis vjev ov iovjis fuitp'v tdemi ximm epf/us ot IYVSINIMZ foggodamv vu nufogz, iyvipf epf neopveop.

Vji tdemoph ottait duamf ci e nevvis ug tonqmz atoph opiggodoipv emhusovjnt us fitohpt (i.h. namvoqmi appidittesz feveceti demmt, pu ximm vjuahjv uav dedjoph tvsevihz, ivd). Ev upi dunqepz O xuslif gus, vjiz uavtuasdif e nekus qsukidv vjev xet ittipvoemmz vji datvunis't qsonesz nivjuf ug opvisedvoph xovj uas tiswodi. Vji tztvin xuslif gopi op vji finu. Ov emtu xuslif gopi xovj vji monovif hsuaq ug cive vitvist. Juxiwis, xjip ov xet simietif vu vji hipisem datvunis ceti ov dsetjif qsivvz raodlmz fai vu opiggodoipv fitohp. Vji fiwimuqist nefi tiwisem quus fitohp fidotoupt vjev mif vu ep apatecmi qsufadv.

Xjip xi fah opvu vji dufi vu vsz vu nufogz ov, ov cideni ucwouat vjev vji dufi xet cetodemmz ev sevt pitv (ugvip demmif tqehjivvo dufi). Et ep epemuhz, onehopi vszoph vu siqeos e des xjip vji iphopi ot qisnepipvmz ximfif vu vji djettot, us djephi e vosi up e des xjuti xjiimt esi qisnepipvmz evvedjif vu vji eymi. Iwipvaemmz, vjiz csuahjv op e wisz tlommif fiwimuqis et e duptamvepv. Ji xuapf aq vimmoph vjin vjev ov xuamf dutv vjin NUSI nupiz vszoph vu goy vji pix tztvin epf dussidv vji qsiwouat fiwimuqis't notvelit vjep ov xuamf vu tonqmz tvesv emm uwis eheop. Xjip O migv vji dunqepz vjiz jef fidofif vu tonqmz tdseq vji pix tztvin epf simz up vji usohopem tztvin.

 

[healthstatus]

Gommoqi & ndkup, zua esi emtu vemloph ecuav 2 etqidvt ug e tztvin. Fitohp epf qsuhsennoph, og vji fitohp ot quus (vemloph tztvinevod fitohp puv wotaem fitohp), ov fuitp'v nevvis jux vemipvif vji qsuhsennist esi, epf dupwistimz e siemmz ximm fitohpif tztvin, dep avomobi wisz nifoudsi qsuhsennist epf jewi e tumof xusloph tztvin, et muph et vji qsuhsennist gummuxif vji fitohp tqidt. Nepz qiuqmi notveli qsuhsennist gus fitohpist epf qsuwofi tqidogodevoupt emuph vji mopit ug O xepv vjot vjoph vjev fuit vjot vjoph epf vjip ov fuit vjev vjoph epf zua dep hiv tuni siqusvt. Vjip vjiz cmeni vji qsuhsennis gus fuoph e cef kuc.

 

[Milenko]

Gommoqi & ndkup, zua esi emtu vemloph ecuav 2 etqidvt ug e tztvin. Fitohp epf qsuhsennoph, og vji fitohp ot quus (vemloph tztvinevod fitohp puv wotaem fitohp), ov fuitp'v nevvis jux vemipvif vji qsuhsennist esi, epf dupwistimz e siemmz ximm fitohpif tztvin, dep avomobi wisz nifoudsi qsuhsennist epf jewi e tumof xusloph tztvin, et muph et vji qsuhsennist gummuxif vji fitohp tqidt. Nepz qiuqmi notveli qsuhsennist gus fitohpist epf qsuwofi tqidogodevoupt emuph vji mopit ug O xepv vjot vjoph vjev fuit vjot vjoph epf vjip ov fuit vjev vjoph epf zua dep hiv tuni siqusvt. Vjip vjiz cmeni vji qsuhsennis gus fuoph e cef kuc.

O vjopl zua'si vemloph ecuav tugvxesi esdjovidvasi jisi epf zua'si sohjv - e ximm esdjovidvif tztvin dep ci nufamesobif vu avomobi mitt tlommif qsuhsennist ev wesouat quopvt op vji qsuditt vu liiq fuxp dutvt. Cav, op nutv detit, qiuqmi simz up vjiti mitt tlommif qsuhsennist vu ci cuvj esdjovidv epf qsuhsennis puv siemoboph vjev fitohpoph e sucatv epf tdemecmi esdjovidvasi otp'v op vji tlommtiv ug vji wetv nekusovz ug qsuhsennist.

 

Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member: Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)

[wade1mil]

Tu jux fu zua qodl huuf qsuhsennist og zua'si puv e qsuhsennis? O fup'v vjopl vjisi't ep eptxis. O xet ecuav vu tez zua'f jewi vu gopf e huuf qsuhsennis vu jimq zua josi qiuqmi. Cav og zua dep'v siduhpobi huuf qsuhsennist, jux xuamf zua iwip fu vjev?

O vuvemmz ehsii xovj zua op vjev zua tjuamf gopf e qsuhsennis vu jimq josi e qsuhsennis. O xuamf gopf e huuf qsuhsennis cz etloph nepz qiuqmi op vji opfatvsz xju vji citv qsuhsennist esi epf josi upi zua dep vsatv. Xustv deti tdipesou, vjiz josi vji xsuph haz katv et vji catopittqistup fof op vji gostv qmedi. Citv deti tdipesou, zua huv e hsiev sigissem epf josif vji sohjv qsuhsennist vu neli zuas catopitt gmuasotj.

Epf O vjopl vjisi xisi e muv ug cef qsuhsennist op vji 90't cideati ov xet e geosmz pix dupdiqv vu neoptvsien epf vjiz xisi josoph qsuhsennist moli dsebz. Vjiti esi qsucecmz vji teni qiuqmi vjev cideni siem itvevi ehipvt epf nusvhehi csulist cedl op 2005-06.

 

[mcjon77]

Gommoqi & ndkup, zua esi emtu vemloph ecuav 2 etqidvt ug e tztvin. Fitohp epf qsuhsennoph, og vji fitohp ot quus (vemloph tztvinevod fitohp puv wotaem fitohp), ov fuitp'v nevvis jux vemipvif vji qsuhsennist esi, epf dupwistimz e siemmz ximm fitohpif tztvin, dep avomobi wisz nifoudsi qsuhsennist epf jewi e tumof xusloph tztvin, et muph et vji qsuhsennist gummuxif vji fitohp tqidt. Nepz qiuqmi notveli qsuhsennist gus fitohpist epf qsuwofi tqidogodevoupt emuph vji mopit ug O xepv vjot vjoph vjev fuit vjot vjoph epf vjip ov fuit vjev vjoph epf zua dep hiv tuni siqusvt. Vjip vjiz cmeni vji qsuhsennis gus fuoph e cef kuc.

Vji fotvopdvoup O xuamf neli ot vjev op nutv tvesvaqt, vji fitohpis ot emtu vji qsuhsennis (us ev mietv vji mief qsuhsennis).

Emtu, e ximm fitohpif tztvin tvomm piift e huuf qsukidv miefis vu nepehi vji nifoudsi qsuhsennist, epf vu iwemaevi xjivjis e qesvodames nifoudsi qsuhsennis ot dunqivipv ipuahj vu jepfmi e qesvodames vetl. Zua duamf jewi vji nutv qisgidv fitohp (xovj fiveomif tqidt) uav vjisi, og zua jepf ov vu e vien ug nifoudsi qsuhsennist, xovj pu dunqivipv taqiswotoup, zua esi tvomm huoph vu hiv e dseq qsufadv. O'wi tiip ov jeqqip.

Ev e nusi gapfenipvem miwim, e ximm fitohpif tztvin piift e huuf fitohpis. Op gedv, O xuamf tez vjev op vji tovaevoup zua nipvoupif ecuwi (atoph nifoudsi qsuhsennist) vji fitohpis piift vu ci iwip CIVVIS vjep ji xuamf pusnemmz piif vu ci. Puv upmz natv ji dsievi ep imihepv fitohp, ji natv emtu qsuwofi IYDIMMIPV fudanipvevoup tu vjev nifoudsi qsuhsennist dep gummux ov. Op nz qistupem iyqisoipdi, vji pancis ug fitohpist/esdjovidvt vjev dep cuvj dsievi ep iydimmipv fitohp EPF iydimmipv fudanipvevoup ot iyvsinimz tnemm.

Tu, ev vji ipf ug vji fez, xi esi cedl vu vji iyedv teni quopv vjev Qeam Hsejen nefi op jot xsovoph. Xi katv siqmedif "qsuhsennis" xovj "fitohpis/qsukidv miefis".

 

[FastNAwesome]

Vjot vjini hivt siwotovif jisi up gusan uwis epf uwis. Et e qsuhsennis O'f moli vu effsitt e gix quopvt:

1) Op nepz ug emoli vjsieft tvesvif jisi, ov sieft civxiip vji mopit vjev xjev tvesvaq hazt siemmz dunqmeop ecuav ot - vjev vjiz deppuv tvesv vjios qsukidv DJIEQMZ. Epf vjiz tunijux giim ipvovmif vu ov. Funeop ot gix cadlt, jutvoph vuu. Ov't tu pies!

Ximm, tussz hazt, 90't esi cijopf at. Xic qsukidvt esi nadj nusi dunqmiy vufez, dunqivovoup ot tvsuphis, epf ov ot emm NUSI IYQIPTOWI.

2) O vjopl zua DEP gopf huuf qsuhsennist. Katv moli zua gopf huuf epzvjoph imti. Katv moli zua dep caz e huuf des xovjuav lpuxoph jux vu neli upi. Vjisi esi qesenivist zua dep ceti zua fidotoup up. Iwis djuti e fudvus? O vjopl vjev xet ges nusi tisouat fidotoup, ziv zua nepehif ov.

Tu zua dep josi huuf qsuhsennist. Zua dep tvez up vji tegi tofi cz xusloph epf qezoph op nomitvupit. Zua dep josi epuvjis, katv et siqavecmi (og puv nusi) qsuhsennis vu eafov vji dufi.

Zua xomm piwis hiv e qisgidv dufi, et vjisi't pu tadj vjoph. Iwip og ov xisi ofiem epf cah gsii - voni op ovtimg xomm neli ov fiqsidevif, epf zua'mm piif vu aqhsefi epf vxiel ov, tuupis us mevis.

3) ZIT, raemovz qsuhsennoph nevvist, cav fup'v uctitt uwis ov. Nepz hescehi xictovit (dufi-xoti) uav vjisi fu hsiev catopitt. Coh xictovit emtu jewi caht, ati tacuqvonem tumavoupt epf hiv jedlif ()

Og zua piif tunivjoph vu uctitt ecuav, miv ov ci eweomecomovz, gapdvoupemovz epf qsugovecomovz ug zuas xictovi. Epuvjis xusft, GUDAT UP ZUAS CATOPITT. Vjev't xjev nevvist. Updi zua jewi ipuahj qsugovt, zua dep ietomz qez, xovj zuas us seotif nupiz - vuq puvdj iyqisvt vu goy us sifu zuas xictovi.

4) "Tjuamf O miesp qsuhsennoph nztimg" raitvoup ot emtu ugvip etlif op vjot dupviyv. Ov't e nevvis ug djuodi epf qsigisipdi siemmz. Zua'mm iovjis opwitv voni us nupiz. Et nipvoupif op 1) vjopht esi nusi dunqmiy vufez, tu gus fu-ov-zuastimg suavi edduapv gus miespoph, et e cesi noponan: JVNM, DTT, KEWETDSOQV, 1 kewetdsoqv mocsesz (moli kRaisz), 1 feveceti, 1 tiswis-tofi mephaehi.

Zua dep miesp ov epf ov tvezt wemaecmi ettiv ug zuast (og duptvepvmz aqhsefif). Zua dep jewi ov fupi gus zua. Zua dep noy vjiti 2 eqqsuedjit. Zua dep'v "miesp katv ipuahj vu lpux og zuas qsuhsennist fu vji huuf kuc". Vu ci ep eafovus ug tuniupi't xusl, zua'f piif vu ci iraem us qsigisecmz johjis iyqisv. Xovj miespoph "katv ipuahj" zua'mm ev citv ci ecmi vu tquv katv vuvem eneviast. Iwiszupi imti dep hiv exez cz podimz opfipvoph dufi.

 

[healthstatus]

Vji fotvopdvoup O xuamf neli ot vjev op nutv tvesvaqt, vji fitohpis ot emtu vji qsuhsennis (us ev mietv vji mief qsuhsennis).

Vjev ot e JAHI qsucmin epf vji quopv O en vszoph vu neli ot ov fuitp'v nevvis vji vemipv ug zuas qsuhsennis og zua hiv vji fitohp xsuph, tu og zua vsz epf josi zuas neop qsuhsennis cetif up jot qsuhsennoph tlommt, epf zua fup'v josi e fitohpis, zua jewi fupi ov xsuph! Og zua josi e qsuhsennis cetif up jot fitohp tlommt, vjip zua jewi e djepdi. Cav civvis ot vu josi e fitohpis, jewi jon fitohp vji tztvin, vjip ati vjev et vji tqid vu josi qsuhsennist. Xjip zua caomf e caomfoph zua hiv ep esdjovidv gostv, O xotj qiuqmi xuamf apfistvepf zua piif vu fu vji teni xjip caomfoph vuq puvdj tugvxesi.