Building Software Products Alone:
Developing alone bled me. I’d repeatedly bolt forward to try and make something happen, only to realize I should’ve gone another way. I’d mix this with some desperation and a deadline, and end up hurt. Like hammers to my soul, delay and doubt would strike. They’d stab at my sleep; puncture my resolve; then leave me with shame.
As time passed, I retaliated with simple tricks like timing things and making notes. Like chisels to a complex design problem, they helped carve out a a solution with many small cuts. These tricks had to be orchestrated with everyday work, and that formed a practice. A practice that:
This is a guide and software tool for solo-development using that practice. The guide describes the practice, and the software tool helps you try it out. This is not about project management or picking product features, but about working everyday while alone and under pressure.
I thought of a younger me while making this, and so, I thought of someone disheartened. If that’s you, I doubt you’ll find comfort in your turmoil, but I promise you can defend your effectiveness. When your instincts get tired, you’ll always have procedure.
