Introduction: The Spark of Indie Hacking
I’m Gaël, a 25-year-old software program engineer who’s been working in a startup setting in Southeast Asia for a couple of years. 🌏
Working remotely has its perks, and whereas hopping from one unique location to a different, I’ve been nurturing a bit of dream: to kick-start my journey as a solopreneur.
I genuinely love my job—there’s a sure thrill in startup life that I feel everybody ought to expertise not less than as soon as. Sure, it’s a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but it surely’s the place I’ve realized the ropes of product growth and caught the bug for making issues folks love (and can hopefully pay for!). I typically consider coding as grownup LEGO—countless prospects and simply plain enjoyable. 🤓
After two years of nomadic life, I selected to plant my ft firmly on the bottom to strike a greater work-life steadiness and eventually carve out time for my facet initiatives.
But right here’s the kicker: settling down didn’t magically make time seem. Between the 9-5 grind and weekend exhaustion, I struggled to search out the vitality and perception wanted to start out one thing of my very own.
Embarking on this solopreneur journey, I made a decision to harness the instruments and applied sciences I used to be already conversant in: HTML, CSS, Tailwind, JavaScript, together with React and Next.js for creating web sites.
This selection was not nearly consolation however was additionally about making use of greatest practices in internet growth that I’ve realized over a couple of years of expertise.
In the next sections, I’ll clarify why I selected these explicit applied sciences. I’ll additionally present steering on how one can choose essentially the most appropriate instruments in your personal initiatives, balancing studying curves, productiveness, and mission necessities.
Expect to search out sensible suggestions and classes from my hands-on expertise, which you’ll be able to apply to boost your coding expertise or streamline your growth course of.
Realizing the Need for Change
Until lately, my every day routine was disordered. I juggled work with late-night telephone scrolling classes till 1-2 AM, solely waking simply in time for a hurried breakfast earlier than beginning my day.
Frequent use of meals supply apps led to overeating and unhealthy habits, which, regardless of my total good life, I knew wasn’t sustainable.
I used to be trapped in a cycle, fearing that slicing again on my late nights would cut back my life to simply work, work, and work. 💻
Then, one thing clicked a month in the past. Motivated by all of the suggestions I’ve seen about going to the fitness center, I contacted a private coach and began my first few classes. Initially skeptical about lifting weights, I used to be shocked by the surge in vitality it introduced me.
This burst of vitality triggered a sequence response: I started paying extra consideration to my eating regimen, selecting more healthy, lighter meals. Sleep, too, turned a precedence. Influenced by the insights from “Why We Sleep” I reworked my sleep routine, focusing on eight hours an evening. This shift turned my mornings from a rush right into a peaceable, productive time. 😴
Now, a month later, these practices have virtually change into pure. Waking up earlier, I really feel extra energized, and I’ve found valuable time within the morning earlier than work.
How Improved Health Boosts Coding Productivity
For these on a coding journey or balancing work with studying new expertise, I can not stress sufficient the significance of excellent sleep and common train. These aren’t simply life-style selections – they’re important instruments for enhancing your cognitive perform and focus.
After integrating higher sleep and train into my routine, I seen a major enchancment in my coding productiveness. I used to be capable of be taught sooner, keep centered for extra prolonged intervals, and deal with complicated issues with extra readability. It felt like unlocking a cheat code for my mind!
Coding is an thrilling but demanding journey. With the extra vitality gained from these adjustments, you may be extra outfitted to face the challenges and joys of studying easy methods to code.
Taking the First Step: BooksByMood
The idea for BooksByMood had been growing in my thoughts for months, impressed by Mood2Movie, an app developed by Marc Lou.
The concept of discovering books primarily based in your temper captivated me, and I envisioned a platform with my very own twist on design and strategies. This marked the start of my indie mission journey with BooksByMood. 📚
Getting began on this new journey was daunting. My Twitter feed was filled with tales of polished apps and good earnings, which heightened my stress and anxiousness about beginning. At that point, I did not absolutely understand that all of us have to start out someplace, and even the well-known folks on the market began at first someday.
To handle my expectations and focus, I established clear, achievable targets:
- To create an easy web site centered round a single, compelling function.
- To hold the web site free, guaranteeing accessibility and consumer engagement (IMO, additionally simpler to get began with–notably as a 1st mission).
- To dedicate every week to studying promotion methods, aiming to drive visitors to the location.
These targets weren’t simply milestones – they have been my dedication to myself to show that I might carry an concept to fruition and appeal to guests. 🎯
How I Chose My Technical Stack
As talked about earlier, I utilized applied sciences I used to be proficient in: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, together with Tailwind for styling and Next.js for the framework. I selected this stack for its familiarity and effectivity.
I particularly opted for Next.js resulting from its handy options:
- server-side rendering and static web site era, resulting in improved web site efficiency
- the file-based routing system
- varied optimizations similar to web site navigation utilizing the
<Link>part or the<Image>part - it is nice for search engine optimisation
- total it helps craft a greater consumer expertise
This stack allowed me to quickly prototype and deploy, enhancing the location’s efficiency with out extra effort.
Takeaways: Stick to applied sciences you recognize effectively when validating an concept shortly. This method helps you progress sooner and concentrate on the mission’s core worth. That’s why you’ll find many solopreneurs on-line utilizing the identical applied sciences for years (for instance, Pieter Levels is utilizing HTML, CSS, JS (with JQuery) and PHP for years).
App Development Process and Challenges
The journey of growing BooksByMood was iterative, beginning with a fundamental, barely purposeful model.
I encountered a number of challenges, similar to sourcing dependable e book information and crafting a user-friendly interface. Overcoming these obstacles required analysis, trial and error, and steady iteration.
Challenge 1: Finding Reliable Books Data
Finding a reliable supply for e book information was unexpectedly difficult.
I initially needed to make use of some APIs. Unfortunately, Goodreads closed its API on December eighth, 2020. OpenLibrary was not unhealthy, however the information wanted to be extra constant. Google Books API was alright, however I might have additionally curated manually in the long run, and typically some data might have been higher.
This made me understand that it is exhausting to discover a good books API on the market (most likely resulting from Amazon proudly owning Goodreads and ensuring it is exhausting for opponents to have good information as they do).
There was one factor I knew: it would be complicated to fulfill everybody with the suggestions, however I might do my greatest. My greatest was to make sure that what was really helpful was effectively rated by the neighborhood (for instance, it had an excellent score on Goodreads).
You could surprise what’s going to occur sooner or later, if the web site is rising? In that case, it will undoubtedly want enchancment. But, for a primary launch, it does the trick!
Takeaways: When dealing with a problem on a brand new mission, all the time take your time to think about all choices and discover the precise steadiness between transport quick, high quality and reliability.
As an instance, I’m 95% certain that curating books manually in JSON recordsdata with the assistance of AI has been an excellent selection. It resulted in transport in an inexpensive time, solely exhibiting books appreciated by the neighborhood, and controlling the info (for instance, cowl, title, description, tags, authors, and so forth).
Challenge 2: Designing a user-friendly interface
As a full stack developer who’s been engaged on the backend for some time, designing an interesting entrance finish was my second main hurdle. Ensuring the location was not solely purposeful but additionally aesthetically pleasing was essential for consumer engagement.
I’m nonetheless within the technique of studying about design, and it’s miles from excellent. But I found Dribbble and it has been an excellent place to get inspiration. Also, I’ve been utilizing Excalidraw to sketch an preliminary structure model exhibiting how I’d like to arrange the data.
Takeaways: For non-designers, drawing inspiration from design-focused platforms like Dribbble could be extremely useful. Combining this with UI part libraries, like DaisyUI, can considerably improve the design course of, making it more practical.
Releasing the App
With the additional time my new morning routine afforded me, I devoted 1-2 hours every weekday and extra weekend time to growing BooksByMood. After every week of centered effort, I opted for a gentle launch: I added the mission on Twitter by updating my bio hyperlink.
The following day marked the start of extra assertive promotion throughout varied platforms, together with Twitter, Reddit, and HackerNews. ✍️
Takeaways: Feel free to launch your mission all over the place you may. It can sound scary, however you by no means know what’s going to occur. Doing that can enable you to in some ways, similar to beginning to appeal to guests, getting suggestions, getting backlinks, and so forth. There’s nothing to lose!
Learning and Growing: Early Lessons from the Journey
Personal and Business Lessons
It may sound a bit cliché, however these factors have genuinely resonated with me:
- Believe in Yourself: Doubt was a relentless companion, however taking the leap confirmed me the significance of religion in my skill to show an concept into actuality.
- Ship That Idea: After all, there could possibly be solely positives in doing so. Releasing a product, irrespective of how small, is a victory in itself.
- Building Publicly Is Rewarding: Engaging with the Indie Hackers neighborhood has been a blast. Their help and encouragement have been pivotal, making the method not nearly constructing a product but additionally about being a part of an inspiring collective.
- Believe within the Internet’s Magic: Sharing my mission on HackerNews was a leap into the unknown. To my astonishment, we hit the primary web page, and the inflow of tourists exceeded my expectations. Indeed, the web can work wonders, turning small actions into vital impacts.
Technical classes
On the technical entrance, the mission has been a wealthy supply of studying:
- Choosing the Right Stack: Leveraging acquainted applied sciences like Next.js and React facilitated a smoother growth course of and faster iterations. This actually underscored the significance of selecting the best instruments for the job. I’ve mentioned it many instances on this article: Use what you recognize. Don’t attempt to overthink utilizing the most recent shiny expertise. I’d advise you to focus in your product, not the way it’s being constructed.
- Data Handling and AI Utilization: The problem of sourcing dependable e book information compelled me to think about options, together with utilizing AI for content material curation. This expertise highlighted the necessity for flexibility and creativity in problem-solving. Sometimes, in tech, you may not discover precisely what you need, and you will have to judge potential tradeoffs to search out options.
- Design for the User: As a backend-focused developer, delving into front-end design was difficult. But prioritizing consumer expertise and using design sources like Dribbble for inspiration proved essential in creating an enticing interface. Also, do not be too apprehensive about your design. Your first model will most likely be “ugly,” however over time and iterations, you may begin having one thing visually pleasing. Everything takes time!
- Iterative Development: Start with a minimal viable product with just one centered function. It’s tempting for a developer so as to add many options, similar to a darkish mode, a consumer account, fancy filters, and so forth, however that is pointless. Instead, use your technical expertise to make that one function work completely.
To wrap up this reflection, I can’t emphasize sufficient the satisfaction of crafting a mission, releasing it, and seeing folks utilizing it. It’s a tremendous expertise that I like to recommend to everybody. If you’ve been sitting on an concept, cease overthinking and begin constructing it now. 🚧
Looking Ahead: The Road to Indie Hacking
I plan to remain dedicated to the indie hacking path for the upcoming months, balancing it alongside my 9-5 job.
An unlimited panorama of information awaits me, particularly in areas like design and advertising and marketing, the place my expertise is restricted. Objectively, I do know it isn’t gonna be straightforward. Yet, the concept of buying new expertise is thrilling. 🎨
The Indie Hackers neighborhood has been a goldmine of insights, with members generously sharing their suggestions and success tales. This collective knowledge, together with a wealth of books and sources, will proceed to information and encourage my journey. 🔖
In the approaching months, my focus is on steady studying and constructing. I intention to diversify my initiatives, incorporating paid options to discover totally different enterprise fashions and market wants.
Regarding the tech stack, I plan to stay with my present instruments, that are versatile sufficient to fulfill most of my wants. While I’m open to integrating new libraries like NextAuth for streamlined authentication processes, my main focus can be studying advertising and marketing. Understanding and getting higher at advertising and marketing is essential for any indie hacker, because it’s typically required to remodel a facet mission into one thing larger.
Whether it results in success or failure, each step ahead is one step towards. I’m excited to see the place this path will take me and to share the journey’s story with you all.
Takeaways: Your journey needs to be considered one of steady iteration and exploration. While growing your mission, by no means underestimate the ability of selling—it is important for gaining traction and turning your concepts into actuality. To understand your full potential, embrace each the technical and enterprise sides.
Conclusion: An Invitation to Join the Journey
As this chapter of my journey unfolds, I invite you to return alongside. I’d like to navigate the ups and downs of indie hacking collectively.
Join me on Twitter the place I share real-time updates, insights, and milestones of this journey, all within the hope of inspiring a few of you to embark by yourself adventures. 👀
Explore BooksByMood
Curious about what I’ve been engaged on? Check out BooksByMood, my first indie mission that helps you discover books primarily based in your temper. 👇
BooksByMood – Find Books Based on Your Mood
Find books to learn primarily based in your temper (e.g., what to learn after I’m drained). Suggested books have a mean score of 4.09/5 on Goodreads.
