Hacker News: e10jc

New comment by e10jc in "Startup Anti-Patterns"

e10jc — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 22:52:41 +0000

Is there an N=1 anti-pattern on the list? I built an enterprise platform on a low 6 figure annual contract for my first customer. It’s looking like there are no other customers who desire the same type of platform.

New comment by e10jc in "Claude Opus 4.7"

e10jc — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:06:55 +0000

Regardless of the model quality improvement, the corporate damage was done by not only ignoring the Opus quality degradation but gaslighting users into thinking they aren’t using it right.

I switched to Codex 5.4 xhigh fast and found it to be as good as the old Claude. So I’ll keep using that as my daily driver and only assess 4.7 on my personal projects when I have time.

New comment by e10jc in "Fastest Front End Tooling for Humans and AI"

e10jc — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 20:13:10 +0000

Very cool list but why no mention of biome? I’ve been using that on a recent project and it’s been pretty great. Also bun test instead of vitest.

New comment by e10jc in "The only moat left is money?"

e10jc — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:14:25 +0000

I really like this article, particularly the part about the gravitational threshold. My overall thoughts about launching products is that there will just be more products with smaller audiences, similar to how streaming broke down linear cable. As a software entrepreneur, this means going wider not deeper. Use your human skills to build relationships with people who have that gravitational pull. If you don’t have those relationships, go create them IRL. For context, I’ve founded and sold a social network to AOL, helped raise over $100m, and had 2 other acquisitions.

New comment by e10jc in "Has the cost of building software dropped 90%?"

e10jc — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:22:37 +0000

I totally agree with you. I am working on a new platform right now for a niche industry. Maybe theres $10m ARR to make total in the industry. Last year, it wouldn’t be worth the effort to raise, hire a PM, a few devs, QA, etc. But for a solo dev like myself with AI, it definitely is worth it now.

New comment by e10jc in "Gradientism: Persistence and growth is the root of all morality"

e10jc — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 02:25:23 +0000

I'm a longtime tech lead-level engineer, but I'd rather retire from the industry and work towards this instead! Please share this url with anyone you know who is interested in the combination of physics and ethics, and please let me know your thoughts, both positive and negative. Thanks!

Gradientism: Persistence and growth is the root of all morality

e10jc — Wed, 12 Nov 2025 02:25:23 +0000

Article URL: https://gradientism.org/

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45895723

Points: 3

# Comments: 2

Neural Networks Validate Thermodynamic Theory of Complex Systems

e10jc — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:18:11 +0000

I've been developing a framework extending Prigogine's dissipative structures theory to explain how systems organize around energy gradients. The unexpected validation came from AI research: neural networks spontaneously exhibit the same organizational principles I observed in biological and economic systems.

Key findings: The Lottery Ticket Hypothesis demonstrates what I call Dissipative Capital Formation—systems investing resources to build structures enhancing future capacity. Emergent abilities in LLMs at critical scales match predicted phase transitions. Information Bottleneck Theory aligns with how biological systems manage gradients.

The framework (Gradient-Coupled Systems Theory) proposes that systems sharing energy/information gradients become thermodynamically coupled, creating the hierarchical organization observed everywhere from cells to markets. I've outlined mathematical pathways using information theory, optimal control, and statistical physics.

Looking for collaborators to formalize the mathematics and validate predictions in specific domains. Early stage, no institutional backing. Welcome skeptical analysis.

Documentation: https://creordics.org

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44491286

Points: 1

# Comments: 0

New comment by e10jc in "Ask HN: Those of you who've left the SWE world, what did you transition into?"

e10jc — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 22:07:32 +0000

I company a cofounded went bankrupt last winter, and then my first child was born a few months later. I was depressed about the bankruptcy, but it was nice to be able to focus on being a parent.

New comment by e10jc in "Kristen Bell's Diaper Startup Hello Bello Filing for Bankruptcy"

e10jc — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 03:00:53 +0000

We had revenue around $250m per year, so it wasn’t a question of market fit…

New comment by e10jc in "Kristen Bell's Diaper Startup Hello Bello Filing for Bankruptcy"

e10jc — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 13:06:57 +0000

I was the founding CTO here, and will probably walk away with $0. You can AMA, in the hope that I can help someone else avoid this fate in their future.

Kristen Bell's Diaper Startup Hello Bello Filing for Bankruptcy

e10jc — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 13:06:56 +0000

Article URL: https://www.theinformation.com/articles/kristen-bells-diaper-startup-hello-bello-filing-for-bankruptcy

Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37985072

Points: 3

# Comments: 3

New comment by e10jc in "The Era of Startups Is Over"

e10jc — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 18:46:25 +0000

I agree with the vibe of this article. The difference between today versus historical periods of high interest rates is that today there are multiple mature billion/trillion-dollar tech companies, and also a huge population of entrepreneurs who have either tried your idea already, or are in a better position to execute your idea than you.

New comment by e10jc in "Ask HN: Is it appropriate to ask a startup to let me see their cap table?"

e10jc — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 21:27:58 +0000

It’s a red flag because they could sell their shares and exit way too early. In my experience, said founders basically cashed out at the A round, while everyone else was left to try and grow the company with little to no leadership.

New comment by e10jc in "Ask HN: Is it appropriate to ask a startup to let me see their cap table?"

e10jc — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 19:39:30 +0000

I’ve been both a cofounder and early stage employee. I think it’s definitely appropriate to ask, but also fine for the company to deny. The cap table can contain some red flags: founders with A class shares and no vesting schedule, for example.

New comment by e10jc in "Ask HN: Something you’ve done your whole life that you realized is wrong?"

e10jc — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 20:55:03 +0000

I feel you on this! As a follow up: what are some of the top tips you would recommend?

New comment by e10jc in "California’s population shrinks for third straight year"

e10jc — Sat, 24 Dec 2022 18:34:50 +0000

Sounds like me! I'm moving back to CA after ~2 years in Dallas. I didn't hate Dallas, but my fiancee does. But yeah the weather is awful: 115 degree summers, below-freezing winters.

New comment by e10jc in "Is wine fake?"

e10jc — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 21:52:34 +0000

I've had a lot of red wine in my life; like, probably too much. The only bottle with a memorable taste came from a wine tour in Napa Valley where they said half the field was destroyed in a fire, so they were getting rid of the rest for cheap. The wine was super smoky... and absolutely delicious. I wonder why that never became a thing.

New comment by e10jc in "Tech CEO fired two engineers for having second full-time jobs"

e10jc — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 14:32:27 +0000

In my past, I have both worked multiple jobs as a developer, and employed developers working multiple jobs. I have seen it bring a lot more benefits than drawbacks.

To say to someone, "you are not allowed to make money elsewhere", when they are able to fulfill their job obligations without issue, is rooted in jealousy, and creates a worse working environment for both employee and employer.

New comment by e10jc in "Ask HN: Why are JavaScript dependencies so messy?"

e10jc — Sun, 09 Oct 2022 17:49:05 +0000

I feel your pain on this. As an occasional NPM library author, I feel that Typescript can help with this, although NPM itself is not structured in a way that compliments Typescript: it’s awkward to write in Typescript, publish to javascript, then consumers fetch your library and go back to writing in Typescript.