As long as you don't write low level algorithms, you will most likely not be affected as an engeneer. Imagine you call list.sort() now and in the future.
To your first question: I had the exact situation with one of my former clients. The product didn't take of but still, i support them and if changes have to be made on their product i am still the one who does it. I guess, i would treat this new customer the same. This is basicly one of the reasons that i cannot assure more than 3 days - i sometimes want / need to work for my previous customers.
Second: my feeling is that there was nothing bad going on and the reason that he left is that he had to travel 2h twice every day. But i certainly will check that.
Third: I don't like to compare salaries but i think it is beyond avarage in this town. The problem is, that Hamburg is not quite the tech city, it is really hard to find good devs here.
My feeling is that there was nothing bad going on with his decision. He lives quite far and had to travel every day two times about 2h, which i suppose is the main reason. However, your questions and concernes are reasonable and i will try to ask him.
of course i already talked to him. That's one of the reasons that i cannot guarantee more than 3 days/week. With two days i could keep my own thing up and running - but obviously progress or growth is more or less impossible then.
>Freelancing is the only way I know how to maintain my work-life balance.
my biggest "fear" is to be stuck there for years... so your way is currently my best option i guess.
I think such an "aquihire" ist not currently possible. They would certainly need to either sell a couple of systems or get VC.
But hey, didn't i just write that i should stop thinking for them, too? I may take this into account talk it through.
good point. I should try not to see it with their eyes and stop thinking for both sides. I tend to think i am too expensive for such a small company and stuff like that. But that kind of thinking makes it hard for me to decide what I want.