🌍 Public

Ecosystems Extend Platforms

Rinse. Cycle. Repeat.

Jan 25, 2012 1-min read

Twitter has spawned many products and services—many of which aren't terribly useful, original, or even functional. Put Tweetdeck in the "useful" camp—so much so that Twitter bought it.

Open APIs and free SDKs let developers take platforms in interesting directions. From there, developers form ecosystems. They create new products and services. That is, they externalize innovation. Rinse. Cycle. Repeat.

Once you get your mind around this, you truly understand the power of the platform.

Google's New Privacy Policy Platform Myth #1

Before You Go...
If you'd like to support my writing efforts, I'd appreciate it.

𝗧𝗜𝗣 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗔𝗨𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗥

Member discussion

Communication

🎁 Free

The Year's Laziest Marketing Email

If you're going to engage with potential customers, offer something other than a transparent, pathetic reminder that you exist.

09/23/25

🎁 Free

Adios, Algorithms. Hello, Email. Remember Me?

My custom system for consuming information wasn't ideal. I solved the problem by reevaluating my relationship with my longtime foe.

09/16/25

➕ Plus ⭐️ Premium

AI as an English-to-English Translator

Claude helped me solve a longstanding problem.

09/10/25

➕ Plus ⭐️ Premium

I Asked AI How My Writing Has Evolved Since 2009. Here's What It Found.

Claude weighs in on my nearly 1,500 blog my posts. Its findings were scary accurate.

07/30/25

🎁 Free

Why Most Niche Software Vendors Will Soon Perish

AI is making many execs at smaller companies nervous. They should be.

07/25/25

The Joy of Diversification and New Endeavors

Communication

🎁 Free

The Joy of Diversification and New Endeavors

I reflect on my decision to leave my teaching position and channel my inner Billy Beane.

02/05/25

Filed Under

View more like this

The Year's Laziest Marketing Email

Adios, Algorithms. Hello, Email. Remember Me?

AI as an English-to-English Translator

I Asked AI How My Writing Has Evolved Since 2009. Here's What It Found.

Why Most Niche Software Vendors Will Soon Perish

The Joy of Diversification and New Endeavors