That's one of the problems with going solo -- it's way too easy to chalk it all up as a good experience and move on to the next "killer idea," armed with what you supposedly learned last time.
I can say this because I'm just as guilty of doing this as this guy -- if not more so. And that's one of the reasons I'm now no longer going solo.
FALSE. This has nothing to do with going solo. What he didn't do was go through a concrete thinking process in selecting the idea. He probably just "jumped right into coding" -- I've done this before too, we all have.
When you go through a real thinking process and tether yourself to a set of goals that your idea tries to solve, and write down why your solution is valuable, it will do MORE THAN SUFFICIENTLY pull you up during the down slopes, and will also help you objectively analyze your next steps.
He's not failing because he doesn't have another dumb shit next to him telling him to "keep going!" He's failing because he didn't start with a solid foundation and vision.
One suggestion: post your project on HN and see if someone contacts you about taking over, with a fresh perspective.
Definitely doing it alone is a recipe for failure. Two people are way better than one. When you get discouraged (which you are right now), it's the end because you have no moral support.
well to me by admitting he was using smoke and mirrors, doesn't seem like he had a compelling product in the first place. After looking at his product objectively, he should of carried out his own evaluation, of moving it to a service or facebook app, rather than abandoning it. As others have pointed out, he gave up to early
I can say this because I'm just as guilty of doing this as this guy -- if not more so. And that's one of the reasons I'm now no longer going solo.