3k users, 0 revenue: a Google Sheets add-on postmortem
I built ForecastSheets, a Google Sheets forecasting add-on that hit 3k downloads but earned nothing. A retrospection of the startup journey.
developerWithACat
A generalist software engineer's blog on random startup, business, and tech topics.
Latest posts
Trying to get Claude to help me buy a car
I tried using AI to search Autotrader and check MOT history - stale data, bot blocks, and CAPTCHAs got in the way. Chrome extension finally worked.
A free solution to the GitHub Actions supply chain crisis
After major GitHub Actions supply chain attacks, commit SHA pinning is no longer optional. Here's how to manage it without losing Dependabot security alerts.
What I learned trying to block web scraping and bots
I tried to stop web scrapers and bots. My notes on IP blocks, ASNs, fingerprinting, and using CAPTCHAs or Turnstile services.
A failed wantrepreneur's view on common startup advice
A failed entrepreneur's reflections on never giving up, market research, and corporate challenges.
Commit hash pinning in GitHub Actions: secure, but at a cost
Should you pin GitHub Actions by commit SHA? Weigh the security benefits against actual toil, Dependabot limits, and pragmatic alternatives for enterprises.
Can Cloudflare's AI pay per crawl succeed? I doubt it.
Cloudflare's pay-per-crawl lets publishers charge AI bots. But it will struggle overcoming issues with pricing, bot-blocking limits, and incentives.
How I get people talking about my personal blog posts
I was scared no one would read my personal blog. Turns out, sharing real experiences and posting in the right places works. Here's what I did.
Hey potential cofounder, I won't sign your NDA
Why I refuse to sign NDAs when potential cofounders ask. Execution matters more than protection, and I'm taking risks working with you too.
Should you join the Antler startup incubator program? It depends...
Deciding whether to join Antler's startup incubator / accelerator? Learn key scenarios to consider: the VC-funded lifestyle, startup basics, and when you're simply stuck.
My experience going through a startup incubator
What it was like joining Antler's startup incubator / accelerator program in London - my personal experience, and struggles.
Is it worth launching a form limiter app on the Google Workspace Marketplace?
Exploring the crowded space of form limiter apps on the Google Workspace Marketplace, and their business models.
Postmortem for my UK company database startup
A candid postmortem of my failed UK company database startup. What I learned, and some insights into how private equity acquires businesses.
Searching for startup opportunities on the Google Workspace Marketplace, part 2
Filtering 5,300 Google Workspace Marketplace apps with AI to uncover 205 high-value opportunities while skipping low-value, hard-to-sell niches.
Searching for startup opportunities on the Google Workspace Marketplace, part 1
Part 1 of my Google Workspace Marketplace research: analyzing 5,300 apps to identify startup opportunities. Methodology and data collection.
Postmortem for TikTok trends startup idea
A retrospective on building and shutting down a TikTok trend-tracking startup. Lessons learned, validation attempts, and insights into social media tooling.
I chose CSV uploads over complex UI for my MVP, and I'm proud
I skipped fancy UI and went with simple CSV uploads. It saved me days of work and kept user data secure.
My case against running containers in tests
Beware of setting up service tests using containers; it involves a lot of work, and the benefits are minimal.
The filesystem - a quick & dirty way to store temp data in your API
You don't need to set up an entire database if you want to store some data temporarily inside your API. You can just use the filesystem.
How I switched to a software engineering career, for free
5 years ago, I decided to switch careers and become a software engineer. This is how I did it in 4 months, completely for free.