2) As for priorities, I've been a software engineer since 1999 (CTO of two YC companies, W06 and S11). And the biggest thing holding me back? Not enough people using the things I make. You express as much with the XDP article. So I've realized I need to get a lot better at spreading my ideas than just programming them. Build it and they won't come.
3) Somehow I got good watching TV in the background while I program. Got a lot of practice doing things like math homework in front of the TV as a kid. I built Draft (http://draftin.com) the writing software while I watched West Wing in the background for like the 10th time. Some people like going to cafes. Listening to music. I like putting on inspiring/fun TV that I don't have to think a lot about. I can't do this with cerebral shows.
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I don't usually reply to comments like these because it came across almost like a personal attack? You'll lose it when I tell you, one of my favorite pastimes is just watching Sesame Street with my kid :) instead of programming.
Who cares what I do with my time? It's my time. I don't play golf. I don't go out. I don't paint. What I do do though in my free time is write, make movies, and look for inspiration everywhere.
But I do hope the above did shed some light on why I think writing the article above was important to me and why it's subject matter I bother with at all beyond just programming.