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chadwilken's comments

chadwilken | 6 years ago | on: Stripe records user movements on its customers' websites

Stripe is cheaper than most other processors and charges a flat rate for the transaction, regardless of the upstream cost. Amex is more expensive than Visa for example. A fact of doing business is that things will go up in price, as I'm sure your company also raises prices from time to time.

chadwilken | 6 years ago | on: Ask HN: Are you ok?

I am the CTO of a semi-successful startup but I believe, this is actually my biggest cause of stress and depression. I have been a software developer for roughly 8 years so I am still learning a lot. I was able to scale the company to handle hundreds of thousands of photos a day but the second I hired a more senior developer I find myself feeling like an imposter. I am always second-guessing myself, how I name things, how I am organizing my code to the point where I really start to become unproductive. I worry that the more senior developer is judging me or something, even though he is pretty laid back. In my personal life, I am spread way too thin due to debt from medical bills and a growing family. I find it takes a toll on me physically, which ironically, leads to more medical bills. I feel like I am stuck at my current company and in my current position. I wish I could get back to just being a software developer without all of the CTO stuff. I always feel bad complaining about these things because they seem so first-world, but it is constantly on my mind. I am just waiting for the day we make an exit and I can do something else.

chadwilken | 6 years ago | on: Light Year One

Is it just me or this is thing ugly? I think the price tag associated with it will make it hard for most to justify when you can, in my opinion, get a much better-looking car for less money that has a proven track record and AutoPilot. I am happy to see more EV companies popping up, but I think they need a consumer grade car or something really game-changing to get their start.

chadwilken | 6 years ago | on: Switch from Chrome to Firefox

I use a Mac because they come with a bunch of tools that I need out of the box and are easy to use. The interface is nice and I am comfortable with it. On top of that, I have had the same MBP for 7 years. I have never been able to make a computer last 7 years before buying a MBP.

chadwilken | 7 years ago | on: Interviews with developers who became managers

I recently went through a change where I manage people but still try to code and I don't enjoy it at all. I also prefer to code rather than manage the politics and emotions of the developers I manage. I hope I can move back to coding full time at some point but we're a startup and I'm the CTO so I'm nervous that won't be the case. If you're able to make the change back I would just tell them you don't enjoy your current role and go back to being a developer. You don't have to be unhappy just to make your team happy. There are others that will manage them just as well and will enjoy it.

chadwilken | 8 years ago | on: US startups don’t want to go public anymore

Equity aside I don’t see any good reason to go public other than raising some capital. You no longer are free to operate as you wish and instead have to focus on dividends and pleasing the holders.

chadwilken | 8 years ago | on: G.M. Wants to Drive the Future of Cars That Drive Themselves

I quit buying American cars because they are always a "me too", this seems like another case. Every American made car that I have boughten in the last 10 years has crapped out way before any Japanese car of similar value. The one caveat I have is Tesla, I would gladly buy one of those.

chadwilken | 9 years ago | on: Ask HN: What are your greatest tips to learn coding?

I would also add to my previous post to read through open source projects. Simpler projects are better. You probably don't want your first dip to be a web framework or anything that complex. It will show you how professionals organize code and separate concerns.

chadwilken | 9 years ago | on: Ask HN: What are your greatest tips to learn coding?

I've been programming for several years professionally now and the things I noticed make a difference between good and mediocre developers are: - Always be reading, you should always be reading about areas that are new or outside of your day to day work. Example, GraphQL instead of REST and why. - Don't prematurely optimize, Going off the last one, you don't always need to do the things the big guys are doing, they are hitting problems that you may hit in the future. - When you hit something you can't figure out go for a walk or take a break. This is when your subconscious mind will work on connecting the dots. - Read everything you can get your hands on about your interested language, framework, role, etc. - Don't be afraid to ask questions. Don't ask for help with every little thing, but if you honestly can't figure it out within an hour of tinkering then ask stackoverflow or a co-worker to see if you are missing something. - Don't give up. You would be surprised how many people hit an issue and then stop trying. That is after all what makes programming fun and rewarding. You will at times feel very down and question your choice to be a developer, it will pass and the high of figuring it out will make it worth it. - Go to meet ups, no better way to see others work and ideas than attending meet ups.

I'm probably missing a few things but hey I'm writing this on the toilet so I think I deserve a break.

chadwilken | 9 years ago | on: Microsoft to acquire LinkedIn for $26B

Two shitty companies merge. I can only imagine what Microsoft has planned for LinkedIn. Hopefully this is one of those acquisitions where they purchase it and shut it down months later.
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