TL;DR

The beta prototype is ready! I’m actively looking for folks to use it in their side projects. Maybe you! How you can help: let me know if you or someone you know is working on a React app in need of a backend.

Out of left field, I am also considering joining my friend JP’s startup, Zaplib, a Rust/WASM framework. I’m working on both projects this month to see which I can build more conviction around. How you can help: let me know if you or someone you know is working on a web app facing performance issues.

Finishing the Compose beta

It took a bit longer than expected to get the beta over the finish line – squash all the bugs, get the docs in tip top shape, and polish the Compose Community – but I got there by mid Dec! It feels really good to finally ship.

The Docs

I based our docs off ProseMirror’s, and copied their three section layout: Guide, Examples, and API. (Thanks Tanishq and Michael for the idea!)

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People have been saying nice things about the docs so far, i.e. “Docs are great. Clear, well-organized.” (Thanks Alexander Obenauer!)

The Compose Community

As I remember from starting the Future of Coding Slack, the first few weeks of a new community can be really lonely. In this case it’s doubly hard to bear because I actually built the community myself! Anyways, at least one person signed up and sent a couple messages:

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We shall see if I can convince early users to move our convos to there instead of my personal DMs.

Failed to find users in Dec

It has not been fun or productive looking for early users. Part of the issues is that it’s way less fun than building, so I don’t spend enough time on it. Another issue is that I finished the beta right when everyone disconnected from tech to be with family during the holidays. Another issue is that I was trying to be clever in last month’s update and called this a search for a “founding programmer” instead of a “first user” as many of you thought I was looking to hire my first engineer. Excuses, excuses... I know it’s the hardest and most important part of a startup, so I resolve to do better in Jan.

As it stands I have two folks actively reviewing the docs and kicking the tires. We shall see if I can iterate with them to get it integrated into one of their existing or upcoming side projects, but I am still looking for someone who can really commit to building something in it.

Looking for a pilot user in Jan