In this episode of Debugging Dan, I share my latest milestone: integrating video recordings into my podcasts and live streaming for the first time. Inspired by a friend, I decided to jump in despite not having a perfect setup. I provide an update on my recent GitHub activities and discuss how the accountability page on my website is helping me stay on track. I also delve deep into my tech stack, explaining the tools and frameworks I use, like Preact, Express, Svelte, and more. Additionally, I discuss my deployment strategy using Docker, managing servers, and how I handle different applications and projects like Teletron. Whether you're a seasoned developer or just curious about tech stacks, this episode provides an in-depth look at my approach and experiences.Read more
In this episode, I provide an update on the tasks I set for myself two weeks ago and share my progress. I successfully completed all four tasks, which helped me get better organized. I discuss the improvements made to my Notion Todo app, the challenges faced with the Watch Your Numbers app, and my ongoing work with the AnyQuery application. Looking ahead, I outline new accountability tasks for the next two weeks, including updates to my project boilerplate, enhancements to DebuggingDan.com, and exploring better mail hosting solutions. I also touch on learning about SEO and potential changes to my GitHub username.Read more
In this episode, I walk through my latest pet project, Chunky To Do, a personal task management system I’ve built on top of Notion. I share how I divide my projects into "chunks" and interleave tasks to better prioritize and manage them across various projects. I explain the challenges of integrating this with Notion and how I’ve tackled issues like task ordering, visual organization, and planning. While this app is a hobby project, I’ve made it accessible for anyone interested in using it for their own task management.Read more
In this episode, I experimented with a hybrid approach, combining both video and audio updates to ensure that podcast listeners receive the same information as those watching on YouTube. I provide an accountability update, discussing the goals I've set for the next two weeks and reflecting on past performance. My main focus is getting organized, from using Notion for project management to improving my podcasting process. I also share some surprising analytics and discuss future plans for my various projects, including a personal chatbot and data management tools. Your feedback is welcome as I continue to iterate and evolve.Read more
During my two-week camping holiday, I reflected on my current projects and decided to shift my focus from large, complex projects to smaller, more manageable ones. Inspired by discussions on Reddit, I realized that smaller projects allow for faster iterations and easier marketing. While away, I started developing Aspire Dan, an AI assistant for goal tracking, and planned another AI project for team-based search and information sharing. I also bought the domain Foundertooling.com, considering its potential as either an informational site for founders or a hub for micro products.
Encouraged by positive feedback on Reddit, I’m committed to maintaining my podcast’s weekly schedule and adding accountability episodes to track my progress and goals. I also plan to create video content for platforms like Instagram and TikTok to enhance engagement. This strategy change aims to make my projects more effective and my content more personal and interactive.Read more
In this episode, I explore the stair-step approach by Rob Walling from "Startups for the Rest of Us." This strategy involves three phases: starting small with your first product, owning your time as your business grows, and achieving recurring revenue. I discuss my struggles with side projects and how this method could help gain traction. Moving forward, I plan to focus on smaller initiatives and leverage SEO for long-term growth. I'm excited to apply the stair-step approach and see where it takes me.Read more
In this episode, I share my journey from building side projects to learning how to effectively market them. With over 20 years of experience as a developer, I've embarked on numerous projects, from personal tools to potential products for others. I delve into my experiences with various side projects, such as an RSS reader named Ferret Feed, a home display system inspired by Wall-E, and a social media metrics tool called Reslytics, later rebranded as Watch Your Numbers. Each project taught me valuable lessons about the importance of marketing and engaging with potential users.
I discuss the challenges of marketing, including my struggles with social media presence and completing the final stages of a project. I also talk about my current projects, like Observalyze, an analytics platform with gamification elements, and my goals of building a more active social media presence and launching video content by September. This podcast serves as a tool for accountability and sharing my ongoing journey with listeners, hoping to learn and grow together.Read more
In this episode of Debugging Dan, I reflect on the journey so far, having recorded and published five episodes. I discuss the challenges and learnings from recording during my commute, including background noise and the divided focus while driving. Editing these episodes has been time-consuming due to removing filler words and background noises. Recently, I improved my process using my wife's Stream Deck for quicker edits.
Moving forward, I'll record at home to enhance content quality and focus. I also plan to introduce more project updates and live updates, making the podcast content richer and more dynamic. Additionally, I'm exploring video recordings using my smartphone and considering a green screen for a better visual setup. Upgrading my microphone is also on the agenda to improve audio quality. Despite the delays in getting on Apple Podcasts, I remain enthusiastic and hopeful for listener feedback to shape future episodes.Read more
In this episode, I delve into the concept of being stuck, sharing my personal experiences and struggles with procrastination and hesitation. Despite already being on episode five, I explain how starting this podcast has been a significant challenge for me, largely due to my inexperience with editing and producing audio content. I discuss how breaking tasks into smaller pieces and setting deadlines can help overcome these obstacles. I also touch on the importance of letting go of perfectionism, finding motivation, and recognizing that it’s okay to take breaks and allow for a slow pace when balancing work, family, and side projects. Join me as I navigate through these challenges and share tips that have helped me get unstuck.Read more
In this episode I discuss the challenges of completing a side project. Adding gamification to Observalyze is used as an example, as is starting this podcast.Read more
In this episode, I share my experience of completing Observalyze and preparing to launch this podcast. Today is significant as it's the European elections in the Netherlands, highlighting the political climate and its impact. After discussing the elections, I delve into the final steps of Observalyze's development, including my plans for its marketing and integration with other projects. I explain my goals for the podcast, my approach to recording and editing, and my plans to create a smooth workflow for future episodes. I also touch on the challenges of marketing and my commitment to staying authentic in my promotional efforts.Read more
In today's episode, I discuss my approach to project ideation, focusing on solving my own problems rather than traditional validation methods. With nearly 20 years of software development experience, I quickly build projects using a boilerplate setup to address issues I encounter personally. Read more