Ask HN: I'm a software developer with 3 years of runway. What do I build?

[yuanhao]

I quit my job 6 months ago because my family of four travels a lot and bosses couldn't handle me working async (although I delivered very well).

I'm also kind of tired of working for someone else. I did SEO for 10 years very profitably and it was a dream life.

I was going to take at least one year off to take care of my health and my little one (she's 3) but as my wife correctly pointed out, I go crazy when I don't do something that exercises my brain.

Lost 30 pounds, and been doing a lot of hiking, sports, salsa, which is great, but it's not enough. Finally I understand why rich people seldom retire.

I'm reasonably productive (big fan of Cal Newport, Deep Work, Slow Productivity).

The dream is to have a profitable SaaS but it's been overwhelming to see the amount of stuff out there.

My strengths are FE and I can handle design and marketing reasonably okay. Don't want to brag but likely 90 or 95% top talent doing FE , based on the CTOs and investors we used to work with. I was Eng Manager at some point but hated the endless meetings.

I'm also over the fence with everything related to AI (I think it's powerful, but it's a double-edged sword to build in such a competitive industry that I don't find that enticing and I am not too knowledgeable of).

What would you do in my position if you had 3 years of runway?

That's if we continue spending as we are now (very comfortable living), but it could be extended to 4-5 years if we decide to live a bit on a tighter budget, provided I find a mission on what to build or do.

I know myself, and by the time I only have 1 year of runway I'm going to start stressing out. So I have some time.

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EDIT: My ideas so far.

1) Try a few micro SaaS ideas. Fail a lot and figure it out. FAFO.

2) Grow my socials so I have a bigger network. It's going well but I'm just not a big fan of all the shallow work.

3) Try one or two BIG SaaS ideas. Slow and steady, focus on quality. Very enjoyable but the risk of failing miserably haunts me.

4) Work on open source projects. I have a few that I started and have a tiny bit of traction. If nothing can be done for profit, use it as leverage to find a great job in the future and learn a ton

[HaQT11]

First and foremost, I'd identify a problem that I care about or have domain knowledge in and focus on solving that problem. Maybe it's something related to your current interests - hiking, sports, salsa, etc. But, based on the problem you pick, it'll become clear if SaaS or Open Source or a different approach makes the best sense. Growing your network is generally a good idea, but depending on the problem you end up tackling maybe the audience you built is different than the clients you need to attract.

But, if you nail down a good problem

[rpicard]

The short answer is build something people want. It’s really good advice from YC, and applies whatever your goals are (big software company or smaller niche businesses).

I’d just focus on finding problems and solving them, while getting people to pay to use them. Don’t overthink it!

You could also look for some part time contracting work in the meantime to keep an income and stay in touch with a professional network.

Congrats on the weight loss and fitness, that’s huge.

[yuanhao]

Thanks!

Doing something part time is a good idea indeed. Finding it is kind of hard though, that takes time, but it would be worth it.

[beardyw]

When I was financially comfortable and not busy I did my very worst work and ultimately wasted my time. I didn't come up with a solution, but I think aggressive timelines which you always keep to are probably the answer.

[yuanhao]

That happened to me before. But two children to feed and entering midlife are a strong enough motivation to keep me working every day

[jqpabc123]

Short cut to figuring it all out --- tech is only about half of the total equation needed to produce a successful and profitable product.

If tech alone was enough, Linux would be on everyone's desktop.

The reason it is not is because those involved are for the most part disconnected from and disinterested in the social and humanistic aspects of creating a "product".

I suggest a division of talents. Step away from keyboard and start looking to form an informal partnership with someone who has contacts and inside knowledge of some specific industry.

You focus on the tech, they focus on the business and "humanistic" stuff and you split the profits.

This is what I did over 25 years ago and I have been running my own successful business ever since.

[yuanhao]

Good points.

It would be nice to know people in different industries with real problems. I had my real problems as a developer before but many tools are already built for that.

A friend who works in marketing has a lot more issues with bad solutions and terrible or overpriced tools

[jqpabc123]

A friend who works in marketing has a lot more issues with bad solutions and terrible or overpriced tools.

Someone with a problem is an opportunity for you.

And most of the opportunity available today involves some industry/domain specifics that you're probably not going to run across on the internet.