Published: 7/30/2025
From a developer's notebook to a live product, the journey from an idea to your first user is a thrilling and often chaotic ride. It’s a path I’ve walked many times, not with a grand master plan, but by simply trying to solve my own problems. This is the story of how I stumbled into indie development and turned personal pain points into products like JobGo AI, ComFound.
Every developer has a list of things they wish were better. For me, these frustrations were the seeds of my projects. I didn't set out to build a business; I just wanted to build a tool that made my life easier.
The most important user is always the first one. For me, that was myself. By building something to solve my own problems, I had a built-in feedback loop. I was the user, the tester, and the evangelist all in one. This personal connection to the product's purpose is invaluable.
The journey to the first real user is a lesson in humility. It’s not about a massive launch or a viral campaign. It's about finding that one person who says, "Yes, I feel that pain, and your solution helps." It's about a conversation, a shared frustration, and a small moment of connection.
My first users weren't found through paid ads or a huge marketing budget. They were found on Reddit threads, in developer Discord servers, and by simply talking to people about my projects. I offered my tools for free, asked for honest feedback, and listened intently to their suggestions. This not only provided crucial feedback but also helped build a small, dedicated community around each product.
The journey from idea to first user is not a race. It's a series of small, intentional steps. It’s about solving a problem, sharing your solution, and building a bridge from your own experience to someone else's.