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Times are changing rapidly for developers.
A few years ago, if you wanted to make money with code, you had two solutions. The classical low risk-low reward method was to get a 9–5 job. However, if you wanted more control, the only other way was to go self-employed and take a much higher risk.
This is not the case anymore. As the online ecosystem evolved, more and more companies have realized that they would rather pay to use a properly developed and maintained external solution, instead of developing it internally for hundreds of times the cost.
On the supply side, this had created ample opportunities for developers to turn their tools into fully fleshed out services and charge users based on a subscription fee. Digital channels, such as Twitter or Facebook, were established to sell digital products, making things simpler for coders with an entrepreneurial side. Creating an app from your bedroom has never been easier and the SaaS model (Software as a Service) was thriving.
Evolution of products and distribution channels
Thus, starting a business had become an aspiration for many. However, just building an excellent product is not enough. As the product distribution channels had become accessible for everyone, the competition intensified. Coding, devops, product development, sales, marketing, branding: they all require different skill sets. To be successful in a saturated market, all must be extraordinary.
SaaS was built to match the demand of non-technological companies to use advanced software solutions without having to build them. On top of this, developers with intentions to build SaaS products have created a new demand: services for setting up and monetizing their products, allowing the creators to focus on the software.
Enter API marketplaces.
#software-development #api #data-science #entrepreneurship
