I have been building a fun project for a niche (of which I am a member) [2] and have found the process very relaxing. I have found it helps me ship more, because it narrows down the features you consider and the vocabulary you use. I have to think less about big picture stuff to some degree.
It's also very useful being a member of the target niche as you come up with new ideas for features going about your daily life. I'm building a browser based Markdown renderer for developers who use CLI-based agents and today at work had a great experience with a mermaid diagram [3] to explain some architecture. I didn't think the renderer I had to paste my diagram code in was that great (tried to upsell me), so this evening I worked on an (unreleased) feature to render mermaid diagrams beautifully + embedded in a Markdown file.
[1] https://counterslayer.com/
[2] https://sdocs.dev, Show HN: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47777633
I built Counter Slayer specifically for 3D board game inserts, and that's really all I use it for. It sits on the shoulder of Svelte and Threlte (Three.js) for most of the hard stuff.
Being a user of your own product is everything. Every designer I've ever hired were good, not so much because they were a great designer, but because they understood the product and could sit in the user's seat.
I set them all aside for several Leopold FC660C Topre keyboards with the Hasu mod supporting QMK firmware.
Then I started getting ulnar nerve issues, either the gym or too many AI prompts. I discovered MoErgo's keyboards, and their custom Cherry Blossom switches. I honestly believe they have subtle design genius pervading their work, beyond anything I have ever experienced. Quiz me; I've also tried X.
Their Glove80 could use a bit of the "door slams like a Rolls-Royce" quality that many of these bespoke keyboard makers apply to more conventional designs. The design nevertheless triumphs.
Their second generation Go60 is my "Stay60" I can't give up. The build quality, and I don't want more keys.
At first it feels like the Cherry Blossom switches fire from a breeze with the window open. One adapts.
How do you solve that?
