So the problem is that “people” writ large can be lazy, it only takes one person with initiative to open source your closed source software.

I just got let go from my job, and I was thinking yesterday about trying to start a startup around a piece of software I wrote on the side that I think has a market. But I also know that if my marketing page gets posted on HN it’s curtains for that business (since the main thing I’d be selling is software).

I think we can all agree that software is valuable, in that it provides value to us. And I know a lot of us hate when a company that should be “just providing software” tries to “pivot to services” or find another unnecessary way to get their hooks into us. But if making good software is no longer a way to make money, then the only companies left will be the ones providing “services”.

> But I also know that if my marketing page gets posted on HN it’s curtains for that business (since the main thing I’d be selling is software).

Why can't you have an edge in marketing your product?

In fact, seems like you assume they'll have the edge.

You probably have a network, too--even if small, it puts you above 99% of others.

Ship it!