Blog

Notes, thoughts, and things I learn while building.

• Premium vs Non-Premium Domains: What You’re Really Paying For 1/10/2026 Explore the differences between premium and non-premium domains, including pricing models, technical considerations, and product tradeoffs to make informed decisions.
• Planning the Chaos: Why I Spent My 27th Birthday Coding 12/30/2025 Group chats are where good plans go to die. Here is why we're building Squad In Sync to fix social logistics for good.
• From "Bad Period" to #1 on Product Hunt: How I Built PH Wrapped in 24 Hours 12/28/2025 How a rough patch led to a 24-hour build, a #1 Product of the Day, and a renewed sense of momentum.
• Stop Validating Ideas. Start Validating Pain. 12/22/2025 Most founders validate ideas through landing pages and signups. But those signals measure curiosity, not pain. Learn why testing pain points first leads to faster, clearer validation.
• I moved my portfolio website from Next.js to Astro. Best decision ever. 12/16/2025 After running my portfolio on Next.js for almost three years, I decided to move it to Astro. Less complexity, faster builds, better SEO, and a setup that lets me focus on shipping instead of maintaining.
• No Mouse 30: A Small Experiment in Working With the Keyboard 12/16/2025 After dealing with wrist pain caused by constant mouse use, I’m running a 30-day experiment to work keyboard-first. This isn’t about extreme productivity or purity. It’s about noticing friction, reducing context switching, and building better habits.
• The Strange Reality of Hiring Right Now 12/11/2025 This week I had an interview that seemed promising. The interviewer told me there were strong chances I could get hired before Christmas. The recruiter had already sent my profile to the client, the client liked me enough to schedule the interview qu...
• Creators Are Losing Hours Chasing Trends. I’m Building a Fix. 12/8/2025 If you create content, you already know the struggle Every creator knows this feeling: You sit down ready to film or write…but first you have to figure out what is trending right now. So you open:Google TrendsYouTube TrendingX exploreReddit Popular A...
• Let’s talk about vibe coding 9/27/2025 Hello once again, everyone! My name is Alex Cloudstar, and I am thrilled to share a bit about myself and my journey in the world of technology. For those of you who might not be familiar with me (which is quite likely), I am a seasoned software engin...
• The Waitlist Illusion 9/9/2025 The Promise of a Waitlist Every indie hacker has experienced the same enticing thought: “I’ll create a landing page, add a waitlist form, and voilà, I’ll instantly know if my idea has demand.” At first glance, this approach seems brilliant. It appear...
• Stop Obsessing Over the Perfect Stack 9/2/2025 The Setup: A Familiar Scene You have a brilliant idea, and excitement bubbles within you. You open your code editor, create a repository, and even design a logo. But then a familiar dilemma arises: “Should I choose Next.js or Remix?” “Do I need TypeS...
• 🚀 My First Real Startup: The Rise (and Flatline) of CoLaunchly 8/7/2025 I never thought I’d write a post like this. But here we are. This is the story of my first real startup. It’s called CoLaunchly. A tool I built to help devs like me actually market their apps instead of letting them die in silence. Let’s rewind a bit...
• The Domain Graveyard Problem (And How to Avoid It) 6/7/2025 If you have been in the indie hacker or startup world for a while, you probably know this feeling. You get a new idea. You get excited.You check if the domain is available. It is.You buy it.Then nothing happens. A year later, you look at your domain ...
• How I Got #4 on Product Hunt - My First Launch Story 5/14/2025 Hi! I’m Alex Cloudstar, founder of CoLaunchly.io, a launch co-pilot that helps indie makers and developers market their products better. On May 13, 2025, I officially launched CoLaunchly on Product Hunt. In this post, I want to share how it went, wha...
• Lynx vs React Native vs Flutter: TikTok’s New Framework in Perspective 3/17/2025 Cross-platform mobile development in 2025 has a new contender. ByteDance (TikTok’s parent company) recently open-sourced Lynx, joining Meta’s React Native and Google’s Flutter as frameworks for building iOS and Android apps from one codebase (Cross-P...
• How to Build a Referral Program with Node.js 3/4/2025 A referral program is a great way to acquire new users and retain existing ones by encouraging them to share your service. In this article, we will walk through building a simple referral system using Node.js, Express, and MongoDB. Prerequisites Befo...
• How to Create a Discord Bot 2/24/2025 Discord bots are a great way to automate tasks, moderate servers, and enhance user engagement. Whether you want a bot for moderation, games, music, or other utilities, creating a bot is simpler than it may seem. This guide will walk you through the s...
• A Comprehensive Introduction to Vue.js 2/18/2025 What is Vue.js? Vue.js is a progressive JavaScript framework used for building user interfaces and single-page applications (SPAs). It was created by Evan You and first released in 2014. Vue is known for its simplicity, flexibility, and ease of integ...
• What’s New in Next.js 15: A Comprehensive Overview 2/4/2025 As web development evolves, frameworks like Next.js continuously innovate to meet the growing needs of developers and businesses alike. The release of Next.js 15 brings exciting new features, performance optimizations, and developer-friendly updates ...
• Understanding Scala: A Modern and Powerful Language for the JVM 1/20/2025 Scala is a multi-paradigm programming language that combines the best features of both object-oriented and functional programming. It is a powerful language that runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and is interoperable with Java. In this article, ...
• Zig Programming Language 1/13/2025 In the vast landscape of programming languages, where each claims to solve unique problems, Zig has emerged as a rising star in the systems programming domain. Created by Andrew Kelley in 2016, Zig is a general-purpose programming language that empha...
• A Deep Dive into React 19: New Features, Improvements, and Best Practices 1/6/2025 React 19, released in December 2024, marks a significant step forward in modern web development. Packed with innovative features, React 19 is designed to make web applications faster, easier to maintain, and more powerful. This article explores the m...
• Getting Started with Prisma and Neon DB: A Modern Approach to Database Management 1/5/2025 In the world of modern application development, managing your database effectively is as critical as writing clean code. Developers today are looking for solutions that are powerful, flexible, and easy to integrate into their workflows. Prisma and Ne...
• Dotfiles: The Secret Weapon for Effortless Configuration Management 1/4/2025 As a developer, there’s nothing more satisfying than setting up a new machine and having all your favorite tools and settings ready to go in minutes. That’s where dotfiles come in—a developer’s best-kept secret for managing and syncing configurations...
• Why Every Developer Should Learn Algorithms and Data Structures 1/2/2025 In the world of software development, algorithms and data structures are the backbone of efficient programming. While many developers focus on learning the latest frameworks or languages, mastering algorithms and data structures can give you a deeper...
• 5 Common Mistakes Freelancers Make With Invoicing (And How to Fix Them) 1/1/2025 Invoicing is a critical part of freelancing, yet it’s often overlooked or mismanaged. Mistakes in this area can delay payments, strain client relationships, and disrupt your cash flow. Below are five common invoicing mistakes freelancers make—and act...
• Letting Go: Lessons Learned from My Startup Journey with Taskpad.io 12/14/2024 Hi, internet friends! Today, I want to share my journey of starting and eventually letting go of my first startup. About six months ago, I launched Taskpad.io, a product designed to help freelancers manage their clients, projects, timesheets, invoice...
• NextJS for Web Apps: A Technical Perspective 9/2/2024 Why NextJS? NextJS has gained significant popularity for its hybrid approach to web development, blending SSR (server-side rendering) and SSG (static site generation) with client-side rendering. This flexibility makes it an attractive choice for deve...
• Blue light glasses. My experience 2/25/2024 Hello everyone! My name is Alex Cloudstar Today I want to tell you about one of the lessons I learned during my career as a software engineer. Health is above all else, which is why I try to maintain it as much as possible, while also maintaining my ...
• A day in the life of a programmer. New challenges or a routine? 2/22/2024 Hello everyone! My name is Alex Cloudstar Today I want to tell you about a day in my life as a senior programmer with 5 years of experience. I’m sure that many of you are curious if programmers really only work 3 hours a day, if we sit non-stop at th...
• Typing Towards Health: The Benefits of Split Keyboards 2/9/2024 Hello everyone! My name is Alex Cloudstar and for the past months I’ve been using a split keyboard. Even though I was highly uncertain if it would be a good investment, it was. Therefore, I want to convince you too. This article is meant for people w...
• A Software Developer’s Struggles in the 8-Hour Office Marathon 1/20/2024 Hello Everyone! My Name is Alex Cloudstar I want to share with you today one of the problems that aren’t really specified in any JDs. In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, software developers find themselves at the forefront of innovation, ti...
• From Novice to Ninja: The Art of Skillful Software Development in a Dynamic World 1/13/2024 Staying Ahead in the Fast-Paced World of Software Development In the fast-paced world of software development, staying ahead of the curve is not just a competitive advantage but a necessity for professional growth. As technology evolves at an unp...
• Senior Developer’s Crystal Ball: Tech Predictions for 2024 1/6/2024 Hey there, fellow tech enthusiasts! My name is Alex Cloudstar and today I want to share with you some insides of mine. As a seasoned developer who’s seen the ebb and flow of the digital tide, let’s dive into the swirling vortex of what the future mig...
• Why JavaScript Is My One and Only: A Senior Developer’s Perspective 12/16/2023 Hello everyone! Today I want to share with you the answer to the never-ending question Why do I work with JavaScript? As a senior software developer with years of experience in the ever-evolving landscape of programming languages, one language stands...
• Embracing the Advent of Code: A Primeagen Tradition 12/7/2023 About Vimeagen Vimeagen stands tall in the realm of tech innovation, an organization revered for its groundbreaking contributions to the coding community. Founded on the principles of creativity, collaboration, and cutting-edge technology, Vimeagen h...
• To Remote or Not to Remote: Chronicles of a Developer’s Journey 12/2/2023 Hello everyone! My name is Alex Cloudstar and today I will tell you my experience regarding going to the office or working remote. Ah, remote work—the realm where sweatpants reign supreme. I’ve been dancing in this domain long before the pandemic mad...
• The book that changed my life 11/27/2023 Hello, fellow knowledge seekers! My name is Alex Cloudstar and today I want to talk about a book that changed the way I think, so therefore it changed my life. Are you ready to shake up your learning game and take on the world of ultralearning? Strap...
• My Setup: A Step-by-Step Journey 11/18/2023 Hello everybody! My name is AlexCloudstar and today I want to take you in a journey in which you will see my full setup. As a tech enthusiast focused on efficiency, I’ve assembled a collection of tools that have significantly improved my work experie...
• How Good Are My Math Skills? 11/11/2023 Debunking Myths: Math and IT Hey there, fellow self-learners and curious minds! My name is Alex Cloudstar and I just really like to debunk myths. Here’s a common one, the relationship between maths and IT. Can you become a software developer without ...
• I’ve Been to Over 500 Interviews... and Here’s What I’ve Learned 11/4/2023 Hello everyone! My name is Alex Cloudstar, and I’ve been to over 500 interviews, and let me tell you, it’s been quite a journey. Okay, maybe not exactly 500; I obviously didn’t count them, but there could actually be more. Whether you’re a fresh grad...
• Setting Up NextJS 13 with Auth0 and Sub-Domains: A Guide to Multi-Tenancy Web Apps 10/21/2023 Hi guys! In the article today we’ll discuss and also I’ll show you how to set up NextJS 13 (with app folder), Auth0 and sub-domains. I’m currently working on a web multi-tenancy app. So we need multiple sub-domains. For security reasons, we decided t...
• I Tried Zustand… and It’s Awesome! 6/7/2023 Hi, guys! A few days ago, I started rewriting the apps from my portfolio. For now, I have only rewritten one, but the others will follow soon. You might wonder why I’m doing that. Well, there are a couple of reasons. The first reason is that I love t...
• Here’s why everyone who tells you that you need a college degree to work in IT is lying. 4/25/2023 Hello everyone! My name is Alex Cloudstar and today I want to debunk something. One of the fears of those who wish to have a career in IT is that they either do not have higher education or they have a degree in a different field unrelated to technol...
• Solid.js: A Powerful and Reactive JavaScript Library for Building Efficient Web Applications 4/15/2023 Introduction Web development has seen an incredible evolution over the years, with an abundance of libraries and frameworks emerging to improve the developer experience and optimize performance. One such library that has been gaining popularity recen...
• Harnessing the Power of TypeScript: Top Utility Functions You Need to Know 4/14/2023 TypeScript, the popular open-source programming language, has become a crucial tool in modern web development. As a superset of JavaScript, TypeScript brings powerful static type checking and expressive types, leading to cleaner, more maintainable, a...
• What is Ember.JS 4/10/2023 Ember.js is a popular open-source JavaScript framework used to build scalable and maintainable web applications. Developed by Yehuda Katz in 2011, Ember.js has become a popular choice among developers due to its powerful features and simplicity in cr...
• What is Backbone.JS 4/9/2023 Backbone.js: A Lightweight and Flexible JavaScript Framework Backbone.js is a popular open-source JavaScript framework that provides structure to web applications by offering models, collections, views, and events. It is a lightweight framework that ...
• What is Pug (HTML Preprocessor) ? 4/8/2023 Pug, formerly known as Jade, is a popular HTML preprocessor that simplifies HTML coding by allowing developers to write cleaner and more efficient code. In this article, we will explore what Pug is, its benefits, and how to use it in web development....
• What is Mustache JS? 4/3/2023 If you’re a developer looking for a simple and efficient way to manage templates in your JavaScript application, then Mustache JS might be the right tool for you. Mustache JS is a popular templating engine that allows you to render HTML templates usi...
• What is jQuery? 3/15/2023 jQuery is a popular JavaScript library that simplifies web development by allowing developers to easily manipulate HTML elements and events. It was created in 2006 by John Resig and has since become one of the most widely used JavaScript libraries on...
• ChatApp V2: The Next Generation of Chatting 1/22/2023 ChatApp V2 is the upgraded version of KSChat, a chat application that offers a variety of features for users to enjoy. With ChatApp V2, users can easily create an account, log in and out, view their own and other users’ profiles, customize their prof...
• How i earned my AWS Cloud Practioneer certification 11/27/2022 Hi! 👋🏻 In today’s story, I will share my experience on how I’ve earned my AWS Cloud Practioneer certification. If you want to have some background of who I am, I invite you to see this series of stories first. Let’s get into it. First things fir...
• My Story, how it all started (part 1) 11/21/2022 Introduction Hi guys! Today , I want to present my story. Before I’m going to start telling you my path and all of the obstacles I encountered, I’ll tell you a few words about me. At this very moment, when I’m writing this article, I am wor...
• What I learned from building a chat project with sockets.io and React 8/24/2022 A few days ago I’ve built a React application with socket.io. It’s a chat app. *Sidenote: The repo and youtube video will be at the down of the article. Now, when you’ll see it you may ask a few questions like, “why didn’t use any DB or firebase?” or...