[gernest]

This question has also been in my head for a while.

I suggest maybe we stop looking for problems to solve and start solving problems we have.

A simple problem that I have right now is ,

I am in need of a high quality technical text book that is in my local language (swahili).

First I can't buy anything from amazon or the other online retailers because I don't have a credit card.

Second, even if I am able to order from amazon I wont be able to get a Swahili version of the book ( Due to a myriad of corporate reasons).

Third, I'm broke I can't afford the dollars that also accompany the shipping costs and the tax that my government has just raised.

So, I sit down and think. Maybe it is about time, we start giving some love to the millions os swahili speakers eager to contribute to the recipes of this big cake called internet.

I find static sites cheap, and elegant. I mix the solution with strong security, and use modern tools to bring speed and relevancy. Many people start to use my platform, a new eco system is born and bam there goes a new amazon, solving a real problem and I'm sure as hell I can afford to pay in my local currency.

The company gets acquired by, guess who? Then you zero the clock and start the whole process again.

From the example above, you can notice, I never looked for a problem to solve but I just solved the problem I had.

[icebraining]

But how would your startup make money, if your customers don't have credit cards and are broke?

How do you make something for the hand-to-mouth working class, who are neither so poor that you can coax the wealthier into donating, nor have any disposable income?

[gernest]

The customers are broke because the quotes are in dollars, and the TSH is less valuable than USD. Which again another startup problem waiting to be solved.

The lack of credit card, is another problem that I have. Which is another startup problem waiting to be solved.

People pay if there is value in what you are offering.

[thebenedict]

How is the value of the Tanzanian shilling relative to the dollar a problem to solve with a startup?

[gernest]

I admit to over each on that statement. But my point still stands, with context of the example.

Buying things with local quotations might be good for the scenario.

[duiker101]

This is usually the tip I give to people that want to learn programming. Find a problem you have and try to solve it or make a routine easier. It will make you more passionate about the topic and you will be your own audience making sure you understand more what is needed.

[gernest]

I'm enjoying programming because of this.

Though at some point, it become harder to convince someone else to help with your cause.This happens to me most of the times, I become too immersed in the problem as the problem keeps expanding bringing more problems along the way.

I had to master all aspects of the web development, from dev ops, backend to frontend so I wont be disappointed by spending hours convincing a frontend guy to contribute to a very complex backend( mind that it is not complicated ) where the guy lacks the back story on the original problem I had.