You have to start somewhere. .NET is out because IMO Java is more open standards based than .NET. PHP - because it's fairly quick to learn and write in addition to being fast.
I haven't looked at all options yet, but I'd like to get more opinions on Java vs PHP first. You are welcome to suggets more.
PS: Friendster rewrote their site in PHP (from Java)
Use what you know best. I don't like the feel of writing Java personally and never had to take any Java programming classes to force me into it. PHP on the other hand is very easy and natural to write, but the code can end up damn ugly. I also haven't looked into it too much, but I think Java beats out PHP for performance speed. Both have pros and cons.
If it were me I'd suggest Python. I need to look into web.py some more, but I currently use Django for most web things. It's easy to write the code and doesn't end up looking like ass so it's easier to maintain.
Don''t get me wrong - I didn't mean to say she isn't doing anything "cool". However, the fact remains that one can be so much more innovative and nimble in a "real" startup. Given a choice, a truly smart person would prefer to work for a cool starup vs Yahoo! Brickhouse.
The level of motivation one has in a startup is simply not there in a public company.
'... Given a choice, a truly smart person would prefer to work for a cool starup vs Yahoo! Brickhouse. ...'
Probably making the choice of sticking around for the stock vesting period. If you are ever asking yourself a question about someone, especially web/software related go to the source [0]. Here is what 'Fake' had to say not long ago about startups v's the SoftCo's of the world ...
'... Having worked at startups for my entire career, I had never worked at a company larger than 100-150 people. On a normal day, we would walk around patting ourselves on the back for how brilliant we were, how innovative, how fast we could ship, how much attention we paid to our customers, how WE were the rock stars and the people at those big companies? slow, dull, stupid wankers! ...' [1]
and goes on to explain that innovation is happening at large companies but needs to build a process withing the corporate framework.
'... But then I started working at a 10,000 person company and began to realize we weren't all that after all, the real Peter Framptons were the ones innovating at big companies. You build something brilliant while simultaneously serving literally billions of customers? Party on, you TRULY rock. ...' [2]
So this is what Fake is up to. Working out a process within the context of a large company to allow continual innovation. After doing a startup, waiting for vesting and having access to working capital and authority to execute it seems a natural progression.
Reference
[0]
Katerina Fake, 'Big Companies, Small Companies, Innovation and Brickhouse'
It's an interesting attitude but I think she's wrong. A big company is already serving billions of customers so they have a lot to lose. If a big company launches a service and its not an immediate success people will attack the brand. Also you get a lot of exposure at an early stage and the users aren't as sympathetic.
Why would a VC firm specializing in oil/energy invest in an internet startup? VCs generally have specific areas they invest in.. if they don't "Specialize" in internet, they won't invest in you.
I know this can get into a hot debate - like anything else there are pros and cons for each. But my question is really simple. When building a web-based application/service, would you use PHP even when you know that the application can potentially become huge and scalability and maintainability can become a nightmare if the application is written in PHP?
Funny you say that. She's currently leading Yahoo!'s technology development group, and is behind their internal "startup" incubator, Brickhouse. Their first product was Pipes, which is actually quite cool.
Couldnt they come up with a simpler/shorter name? I couldn't figure out the name while I was reading th OM article - it was only when I saw their website I realized the name was i'm in like with you!
Do not have an accoun yet - can't comment on the service. On the surface, looks like an interesting idea.
I think all my life I've been trying to figure out what I love to do and even though I liked technology, I was never convinced that I loved it. Now I'm 32, but my resume is w/o any startup experience/personal ventures. At the same time, I strongly feel like I want to start a start-up (yes, I'm aware that many fail and that I have to support my wife).
Assuming I come up with a convincing idea/prototype and a co-founder, what are my chances of getting funding from Y Combinator? Will there be a bias against me because:
(negatives)
1. I'm 32
2. My experience is no start-up experience
3. My experience has mostly been in enterprise s/w, which according to PG is not software :)
(positives)
1. Determined
2. Reasonably smart :)
3. Willing to risk my career/lifestyle
I would love to get Y Combinator funding because, it will give me the connections and credibility I need for VC funding.
I know that eventually it depends all on my idea/prototype/team, but I'd love to hear your thoughts. Startup school did nothing but deepened my fear that 30s are not so welcome. At least not the ones who haven't done anything significant in their lives before.
That's not a very "founder-y" type question. If you're relying on external approval and motivation you're going to have a hard time shouldering a startup. Fierce determination means not letting anything (including age or "rules") stop you. Joe Kraus is fond of saying: "The beginning of the discussion is when someone says 'no' -- that's where the fun begins."
Why don't you save up, build your startup prototype, get users loving it, and THEN give YC or a VC a call. There's nothing like hard evidence you have a clue to get someone's attention.
I'll be a bit harsh and suggest you might just be searching for an excuse why you can't do it.
By the way: PG and co. were around 30 when they did Viaweb.
You shouldn't be asking. Suppose YC had an official "don't trust nobody over 30" policy. Would that stop you?
Build it on the nights and weekends. If you need to keep your day job, do so. If you've never run a business before, start at least a small one. You don't have to go whole hog in a bet the farm type situation... if your wife stays at home, a small home base business might just be the ticket (software or not...) The reason I advise this is a business, any business, will put you thru the business school of hard knocks... and it might be easier to learn those lessons on a venture that has a lower risk of failure rate.
Despite the admonition against single founder businesses, there's nothing to stop you from building something on your own. Don't wait for a co founder to show up (or build the lower risk business while you're waiting.)
I think finding a cofounder is like finding a wife- you can't order one thru the mail.
Your deterimination is a bigger factor than any of the pluses or negative you listed (well, and you can program.)
For what its worth, I'm 38, have been working for startups since 1991, started my first company (and online service that was also a franchise) in 1994, and sold it in 1997. That was my MBA. And for a programmer, dealmaking may seem weird or too "social"... but doing it helps you develop a taste for it, and doing it in any form makes it easier.
So you absolutely, positively should start a business, any business. I think you might be too late for YC this summer, so finish the year with a working prototype of a product... I'm sure that helps in your application for the next round of YC. But if not that, start something.
I doubt it. Most evidence from people of various ages seems to indicate that your all-nighter capacity (a proxy for general age-variant startup capacity) only seriously falls off after late-30's early-40's, not early-30s.
By the way, the light-gray-on-white font in the comment field bugs me.
I haven't looked at all options yet, but I'd like to get more opinions on Java vs PHP first. You are welcome to suggets more.
PS: Friendster rewrote their site in PHP (from Java)