Soon I learned about Hackernews and made a post that got 1 vote. I then decided to contact HN to ask how can I get more traction to my projects and they told me about the Show HN, a tag design to share small and even unfinished projects. Soon I was posting every idea I ever had made into a project. After InvaderZ - a space invaders clone that uses genetic algorithm (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21577659) - people started liking my projects and I started to gain some attention. That was very important cause I was being approached by some companies.
I don't do projects to gather attention, I do cause I have fun doing them. I already had a lot of things done when I decided to upload them to GitHub. Well, in one of those times when my post was in top 10, a cool company from São Paulo saw me and called me for an interview. They liked my project so much they offer me a job.
I'm living in São Paulo now, it's a huge city full of things to do and places to visit. It's been really cool so far and I have a huge appreciation for Hackernews and the good people that work here. They provide a cool platform where people can share relevant news. They provide tools for people to start their own startup. They share job openings. They share companies that are hiring. It's a neat place for programmers, hackers and tech enthusiasts in general. I wrote this cause you never know when your story will inspire others and maybe there's someone on the struggle right now looking for a job. This was my experience. HN help me a lot and I think it might help you too. Thank you all and have a wonderful year.
The world is truly filled with good people.
I'm not surprised and very glad to read about this story.
I’m grateful to hear your story. These days, it seems all too easy to see only the bad sides of the internet.
It feels like news breaks every day about yet another way that the advertising industrial complex robs us of agency, another insensitive corporate gaffe goes uncorrected, or a CEO ousted for their malignant influence on a company lands on their feet with no repercussions — sometimes at the same company.
I grew attached to my computer at a young age — It felt like a chance to make real all of the possibilities that felt so out of reach in the rest of my life. It’s been a really hard road to face the current state of the net, like one of my childhood dreams has turned sour.
So, when I see a story like yours, I’m grateful to be reminded of the ways that the promise of a more connected world is not yet lost, we can still do some good. I hope you enjoy your new job and São Paolo and that this is the beginning of an exciting next chapter!
For what it's worth -- this industry and community, unlike any other is one in which I've most seen people willing to give world-class advice, thoughts and help for free. Maybe it's the communal roots of open source culture, not sure... but it's rare and amazing. So I am also thankful.
Keep it going! A lot of times we keep positive feedback for ourselves, or close friends, but we don't share it back online.
It means a lot about you as a person that you think of posting this back to HN. You must be a pleasure to work with! I'm sure you will enjoy your time in São Paulo!
To be sure, this sentiment is being pushed out of the industry by people with little interest in those communal roots.
Although nothing has worked out for me yet, this is a welcome change from the run of the mill recruiters. You just know that you will be a cog in the wheel if you are hired in those companies.
I guess that the majority of people here want to work on something that adds value to the lives of others.
You showed yourself that you were a worthy programmer when you decided to code a lot of cool projects for fun.
You showed the world once you put them online.
I find the #1 measurable determinant of great programmers is enough true joy from programming that they create many sub-projects just for fun. I'm so glad you found a venue to show it.
I hope you enjoy your new role and an amazing career to come. You earned them.
I'd echo other commentators that it's heartening to hear these stories of real connection found via the web.
I had a similar experience some years ago; a blog post I wrote about a side project connected me the SF-based startup I still work for. I couldn't have predicted how that post, churned up by a fortuitous google ranking, would impact my life. I'd be remiss to not also credit the generosity of the blogger who shared it as a guest post.
If we're going to rediscover what the web should have been, then celebrating stories like yours seems a good place to start.
There are teams formed, love found, and minds changed for good -- all via the web. Perhaps it's in part by studying these connection stories that we'll find our way to a healthier, more human web for everyone.
Another great example of the positive web: https://twitter.com/michael_nielsen/status/97588463553510195...