indie devbuilding in publicstartup

Building in Public: Why Transparency Hits Different

Gaurav••3 min read

The Old Way is Dead

Remember when companies would hide in stealth mode for years before launching? Yeah, that's giving 2010 energy. The new wave is all about building in public, sharing your wins AND your Ls, and growing with your community.

I've been shipping products in the shadows for years, and honestly? It's lonely. You're basically screaming into the void hoping someone notices when you finally launch.

Why Building in Public Actually Works

Accountability Hits Different

When you tweet about shipping a feature, you can't just ghost your project. Your audience keeps you honest. It's like having a gym buddy, but for your side project.

// This is what accountability looks like in code
const shipFeature = async () => {
  await writeCode();
  await tweet("Just shipped X feature 🚀");
  // Now you HAVE to maintain it
};

Free Marketing, Fr Fr

Every update is content. Every bug fix is a story. You're not just building a product, you're building an audience that's invested in your journey. They'll be your first users, your biggest fans, and your best marketers.

Learning in Public is OP

When you share your process, people with more experience will slide into your DMs with advice. I've gotten better feedback from random Twitter mutuals than from expensive consultants.

The Downsides Nobody Talks About

Look, I'm not gonna sell you a dream. Building in public can be rough:

  • Haters gonna hate: Someone will always think your idea is mid
  • Comparison is theft of joy: Watching others blow up while you're grinding can hit hard
  • Burnout is real: Feeling pressure to constantly ship can be exhausting

How to Start (Without the Cringe)

  1. Pick your platform: Twitter/X for tech, Instagram for design, LinkedIn for B2B
  2. Be real: Share failures, not just wins. Vulnerability > fake perfection
  3. Consistency > Quality: Don't overthink it. Ship daily updates, even if they're small
  4. Engage: This isn't a broadcast channel. Reply to comments, ask questions, build relationships

Final Thoughts

Building in public isn't for everyone, and that's cool. But if you're an indie dev trying to make it, it's probably the best leverage you have in 2024.

Stop hiding. Start shipping. Share the journey.

The worst that happens? You learn a ton and meet some cool people. The best? You build a community that carries your product to the moon.

Now stop reading and go tweet about what you're building. 🚀

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