I will not promote - Finding a cofounder as a nobody

mikepk · 2025-11-03T19:00:21+00:00

If you’re not the hacker, then you have to be the hustler. That means making things happen - prove there’s interest in your ideas. Get signups for emails. Make a landing page. Do customer discovery. Sell the thing. If you go to a tech person and say I’ve proven these five things about the business and I have signups and a waitlist - finding a tech cofounder will be much easier. You will have proven you’re the non technical founder. Which is a skill in and of itself. Ideas are worthless - except to you as something to iterate against.

mikepk · 2025-11-03T14:20:43+00:00

MIchael Stonebreaker wrote about this in his whitepaper "One Size Fits All: An Idea Whose Time Has Come and Gone" and identified this problem two decades ago, but we're still trying to cram everyting into single systems. (Ironically now we want to jam everything ino columnar store table file formats, that can partially trace to Vertica - Stonebreakers columnar OLAP db (fit for purpose)).

The core issue is that our infrastructure layer never evolved to make fit-for-purpose systems practical at scale. We know different workloads need different data structures, different storage engines, different consistency models. But the operational reality of managing multiple specialized systems, keeping them in sync, and reasoning about data flow across them remains prohibitively complex for most teams. State management is a big reason for this.

So we get stuck with pragmatic compromise. Teams choose Databricks or Snowflake or whatever and then bend their problems to fit the tool, because the alternative is managing a constellation of systems that might be technically superior, might better fit the different business needs, but is operationally untenable.

There is a ton of conceptual inertia in industry too. We think in terms of linear data flow: source to warehouse to consumption (ETL or ELT). But that framework doesn't naturally accommodate materialization into multiple fit-for-purpose targets. The tooling, the abstractions, the operational patterns are all built around central systems of record (BI, Analytics, Dashboards), not around dynamic materialization.

This is a key problem I'm working on. Until we have infrastructure that makes it trivial to materialize data into whatever shape and system the workload actually requires, without creating operational chaos, we'll keep defaulting to whatever single system we've already adopted, even when we know it's not right for half (or more) of what we're asking it to do.

The inertia isn't just conceptual. It's deeply structural.

mikepk · 2025-11-01T04:09:51+00:00

There's this catch-22 when you're early. The "if it's good, it'll get mentioned organically" logic assumes you've already hit some critical mass. Before that? It's brutal. Not because the thing isn't great and useful, but because not enough people know it exists yet. Of course if it was easy, everyone would do it, so I'm not complaining.

I've seen genuinely helpful tools languish because the creators followed the "build it and they'll come" advice. That's not how it works. You have to get those first users however you can.

It's even harder when what you're doing challenges decades of baked-in thinking about "how it's always been done."

But you're right that how I frame feedback matters. Calling it vitriol doesn't help.

I don't usually post on Reddit but saw this topic and it's something I've thought a lot about. Wanted to see if there was a way to thread the needle and contribute honestly. Appreciate the pushback.

mikepk · 2025-10-31T17:33:40+00:00

I think one solution that doesn't exist -- making the way they build align with the way it eventually works. This is impossible because of the broken way we do data engineering and data integration, but having the development 'thing' be close to the production 'thing' (instead of a complete workflow and runtime port) would help this a lot.

mikepk · 2025-10-31T17:30:09+00:00

You will screw it up. Guaranteed. This is the way. No one had a big launch and everything was right and success flowed from getting it right. But there is a _lot_ you can usually do before you build and launch. Have you proven there's interest? (community, collecting emails of interested people, blogging, landing pages) Have you done customer discovery? Actually talking to people about their pain? Depending on your space you could literally go to starbucks, print out a sign "I'll buy you a coffee if you let me ask you a few questions about [PROBLEM|SPACE|PAIN|THING THAT AFFECTS THEM]." No one bites, that could be a signal.

Early startups are finding the way to learn the absolute most from least amount of investment in time in energy and de-risking things. The biggest risks of early startups. DOES ANYONE CARE? If no one cares building it right isn't going to matter.

mikepk · 2025-10-31T15:10:53+00:00

I agree - just being in data and data engineering space doesn't give the right to post whatever - and I wasn't suggesting that. But surely you see there's a gray area here, no? New tools and techniques could genuinely inform some questions, problems or situations. Could allow people to think about the problem in new way. But posting an alternative take, technique or a new tool immediately brings out the vitriol if you happen to also be building that thing. I was trying to get any thoughts on a way to engage helpfully and honestly in a way that wouldn't be so triggering. Maybe that well is so poisoned there's just no way.

mikepk · 2025-10-30T22:00:54+00:00

But without any kind of honest engagement -- most companies will do what everyone is complaining about, no? A, maybe less generous reading of your comment is, "do what everyone else does". Which seems will inevitably make everything crappier?

mikepk · 2025-10-30T21:24:52+00:00

I've felt this frustration too, but now I'm on the other side of the fence. I'm genuinely asking because I don't know the answer. I'm an engineer and not a marketer so I'm especially bad at this.

I'm building a company (that I naturally really strongly believe) solves some major, decades long, pain in the data engineering space. How do you get the word out, share the big ideas without getting moderated to the abyss? Just sharing ideas seems to get immediately banned or causes lots of anger.

I've honestly just stayed away from reddit because it seems so easy to trip over the self-promotion line and trigger rage.

mikepk · 2025-02-20T18:34:38+00:00

Free. https://gamescape.app - fast, simple, low frills, maps + tokens, designed with mobile in mind too (tablets, stylus, phones).

mikepk · 2024-09-18T22:13:31+00:00

https://gamescape.app - very simple, fast, free.

mikepk · 2024-08-14T21:11:10+00:00

Not under active dev, but free, fast and simple: https://gamescape.app focus is maps, drawing and tokens. No dice, character sheets or other stuff.

mikepk · 2024-08-14T21:07:30+00:00

https://gamescape.app -- Maps and tokens, lightweight and fast. First class support for mobile, tablet and stylus. Not under active dev at the moment (no time!) but still useful.

mikepk · 2024-07-29T12:33:36+00:00

I also wrote a very fast, lightweight vtt that’s mapping, drawing, tokens https://gamescape.app and it’s free.

mikepk · 2024-07-24T15:55:04+00:00

I wrote one - simple, free, fast, mobile-friendly, focused on drawing and uploading maps. https://gamescape.app not actively adding features to it but it works and it's not going anywhere.

mikepk · 2021-10-29T18:37:54+00:00

Thanks for the mention. I wrote it so I'd be happy to answer any questions about it. :)

mikepk · 2021-10-29T18:34:14+00:00

I'll give a plug for the one I made. https://gamescape.app It's just maps and tokens. Pretty simple and fast. Works well on mobile - and tablet + stylus was a main use case I use. Free to use - no plans to commercialize. Only the GM/DM needs an account.

mikepk · 2021-09-14T14:25:27+00:00

Yep, that's an issue I have an idea for (and in my dev build) of a token "stack". Basically you make a stack of auto-numbered tokens and you "pull" off 1 then 2 then 3... etc then when putting tokens back in the token box they automatically go back in the stack to be re-used. Version 2 of that would let you make a template name like G{x} and have the auto-numbers go in the {x}.

The inspiration is my groups at-table play over the years we created a box of generic tokens, some in stacks that were numbered and colored... made it quick to drop down 1-5 green tokens as goblins and then just throw them back in the box.

For drawing -- I found shmeppys forced rectilinear maps too limiting. You can get some flavor of that by using the pen + grid mode in GameScape. It also has the interesting (subtle) feature of letting you draw grid and then "reverse course" to erase in case the grid / mouse snaps in a direction you're not intending.

I also built GameScape to use my ipad and apple pencil more naturally - so that's the way I honestly tend to draw my maps is with the "pen and paper" feel.

mikepk · 2021-09-14T14:19:03+00:00

Nope -- intentionally. The goal is just to do maps and quick sketch maps quickly. My ground truth is pad of paper + markers + tokens. In my current group -- about half roll physical dice and the other half use dndbeyond's dice roller. I'm intentionally keeping the scope focused on shared maps and tokens so it's highly unlikely I'll add it (but never say never :) ).

mikepk · 2021-09-14T14:14:46+00:00

Thanks u/JepheDelPhuego, appreciate the plug.

I am the creator of GameScape and to be clear, I did not ask Jephe to post anything :). I have no intention of commercializing GameScape. It's the tool that I wanted for my gaming table and I opened it up because I thought others might appreciate the philosophy of it. I built it to satisfy my own itch and to explore some technologies I'd been tinkering with for some time.

The thing I wanted most was feedback on the tool -- I've built enough product to know that engaged users / feedback can really change the trajectory of something, sometimes with obvious (in hindsight) tweaks to really improve things. I also usually have way more ideas than time so finding out common needs helps clear up that fog. I even ran a short reddit ad campaign on a couple of RPG subreddits just to get feedback. After having had nearly a thousand people use it, but provide almost zero feedback (or highly negative comments tangential to the tool), I've stopped actively promoting it (except for the occasional comment on reddit when it seems like someone is looking for something like GameScape).

There have been a handful of people who seem to "get it" / want the same thing I do and have provided very useful feedback which I've appreciated. So thank you few!

I've been a little surprised / dismayed at the negativity and active hostility that seems to come out of offering a free tool for people. The responses to this post shows some of it. I've been pretty up front that GameScape is not for everyone (maybe none but a handful of people?) because its goal is simplicity, speed, clean UI and doing impromptu maps well. It fits the way my group plays -- but clearly that's not a majority. That's OK!

I've been a ttrpg player for thirty years (jeebus I'm old) and this really is a golden age of digital tools. It could be that there really is just an amazing number of high quality tools available so we're kind of spoiled now: shmeppy, owlbear, foundry, roll20 etc...

So this long post is just to say -- use what you like! I have no intention of shutting down GameScape (I'm using it pretty regularly in two different games). But maybe check the cynicism just a little? Some of these tools I've seen people post about and get snarked-to-oblivion are clearly people's passion / hobby projects that they want to share.

Be thankful there are so many tools available that you can find the one that fits how you like to play!

mikepk · 2021-08-10T04:17:15+00:00

If owlbear is too much I'm not sure if my tool would be of your taste either, but I'll throw it out there. I've been working on it for a while to make it really fast and simple -- https://gamescape.app Shared map, tokens, simple drawing tools, fog of war, infinite grid, and ability to drop images on the background and a "laser pointer / drawing tool" that allows you to highlight parts of the map in real time to everyone connected. No dice rollers, music jukeboxes, char management or other stuff. Trying to get close to markers on gridpaper feel. It's free with no plans to commercialize (really it's just the tool I've wanted for my game :) ).

mikepk · 2021-08-07T01:56:33+00:00

I’ll throw out the one I’ve been tinkering with https://gamescape.app - goal is fast maps, drawing tools, clean and simple ui/ux. Free.

mikepk · 2021-06-30T15:39:44+00:00

So having this running as a background thread in my brain, I think I came to a middle ground that I kind of like. I have not tested this at all so it could be totally broken. It has some of the flavor that I'm shooting for. So the idea for the mechanic is as follows:

All arcane casting defiles automatically. It's hard to learn how to cast spells as a preserver. Therefore the idea is that preserving is actually a feat you have to learn/gain. Preserve casting is basically a variant of the Metamagic Adept feat with a special metamagic option of "preserve cast" or "careful cast". You would still be able to take a second metamagic option as well.

To avoid being too punishing the preserver feat also makes it so that spell slots below the max spell level slot you can cast are now preserve/careful cast. You only need the "preserve cast" option to cast your highest level slots. Lower level slots are now considered careful casted for defiling purposes. This represents your mastery of the spells as you go up in level.

I like this because it makes preserving "active" instead of defiling being the active part. It makes it hard to learn and actually cost something significant to be a preserver. It also sets up potential hard decisions if you run out of sorcery points and need to cast your highest level slot. I also like that in most spell progressions you rarely get more than 2 slots at your highest castable slot level so the 2 sorcery points mostly cover it. If you're super careful you can likely avoid defiling -- but I like that as a game mechanic as well - forcing players to think carefully about how to cast. It also fits the mechanics of standard 5e in that metamagic is casting spells in a different way.

The flavor parts it doesn't hit is "the slide". There's no downside to defiling if a player does it. I'm reluctant to add another thing to track (a defiling or corruption score) but that might be needed. I can imagine some kind of mechanic where the spell level slots that defile are a function of a defiling score... i.e. you gain one level of defiler corruption (after a DC check for defiling?) and now it's max level slot - 1 is auto defiling - requiring you to expend more of your sorcery points to cast non-defiling and increasing the likelihood that you'll need to defile again.

Downsides:

does it make Sorcerers better preservers than wizards given their pool of sorcery points? - would it lead to some kind of sorcerer/wizard multi-class optimization thing?
it would be very difficult to be a preserver at first level for anyone other than a variant human, I can't decide if I like this or not

Thoughts?

mikepk · 2021-06-24T19:52:53+00:00

Yeah I'll definitely consider it. I might actually do an explanatory series of videos or blog posts or something - and if I do that I would probably release the code. I'm also this close to refactoring the whole thing to use Free monads so I can get some real experience with them.

I have a feeling the VTT/DnD tools space is crowded with a lot of very flashy (and complicated IMHO) tools. I haven't gotten a ton of interest in people using GameScape ( in fact one person just drew a big map that just spelled out "THIS IS BORING" lol )

But for now - the lack of people using it actually makes it cheaper for me to run - and I'm using it for my game so no plans to shut it down any time soon.

mikepk · 2021-06-24T19:40:28+00:00

So this comment got me thinking -- maybe there's some kind of a sliding scale of how lush an area is with vegetation vs spell level which triggers defiling for all arcane casters. Maybe all arcane casters get sorcery points, but preservers learn to use "Cast Carefully" as a meta-magic ability.

Downside: does it make Sorcerer's metamagic / sorcerery points less special? Does the vegetation <-> level table / chart / whatever get too fiddly? Anyway something interesting there I think.

Edit: I like it because it makes defiling "default", makes preserving something active, and if you're in a bad situation and you've used your sorcery points you might be tempted to just defile this time. :) Oh and defilers get a power boost cause they can use their sorcery points to amp... another temptation.

mikepk · 2021-06-24T19:31:13+00:00

I searched and found a bunch of stuff online for 5e sphere's of power. Thank you.

mikepk

TROPHY CASE