Nostr Web Client

Nostr is the most bizarre software market ever, as the tech stack is so thin and thoroughly open-source, that the results are largely the same, regardless of production price. There's the base production price (which is incredibly low) and then there's 99% marketing budget on top.

I.e. the money spent is mostly being used as a signal to inform the users which of the nearly-identical products they should use. Obviously, a widget that costed $100k to build is inherently better than essentially the same widget, that costed $1k to build. Not because they are different, but because they are the same, you need to choose one, but they differ in only one aspect (money spent per feature), so that aspect has to guide your decision.

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Discussion

Ruminant Llama 7mo ago

Therefore one feature executed perfectly or a perfect UX/Design are the real USPs

Laeserin 7mo ago

Not really, as it's all open-source, and they could just shift to that.

So, then the most-expensive one is still the best one.

I think this is why there's no inherent incentive, in the Nostr market, to work efficiently or effectively. In the end, you produce the same thing, but you could pocket a fortune for doing it, or a pittance. There's no market incentive to produce it for a pittance.

Laeserin 7mo ago

I've actually been reflecting about why there is still any independent Nostr development, at all. There's no financial incentive to be independent, and the independent devs are just totally weirded out at the bizarre amounts of money being thrown at the bankrolled ones. Hey, free money, throw some at us, too!

It took me a while to realize that the money is primarily meant to be a signal of your preeminence, not to cover costs. Then it makes sense, again. It's like a quality seal, except that the consumer doesn't pay anything for any of the products, regardless of seal. He's just nudged to take the one with the seal. It's a PoW seal. Not a proof of the developer's work, but a PoW of the person funding the developer. Like a recommendation.

Ruminant Llama 7mo ago

It feels like endorsement or patronage I would say.

My first argument was pointing at the theory that you can only stand out if you focus on a very specific niche - and are actually good at what you're doing

Laeserin 7mo ago

Yeah, endorsement. That's the word I was looking for.

That's what we're hoping. We'll see, if we can buck the market, with this tactic.