Sheet 3 of 4 · On the bench · Spec sheets

Things I build for myself.

Three builds on the bench, each with its own spec sheet and log. They are how I test ideas before I use them on a client, and where most of the lab notes come from.

On the bench

3 builds

Build 01 · Mk I

Low Bar

A habit tracker that sets the bar low on purpose. Show up, mark the day, keep the streak honest. Unlimited habits for free; sync across phones, audio and image notes, and every widget in the paid tier.

Notes from this build

Spec

PlatformiOS · Android

AppReact Native · Expo

BackendNext.js API

InfraHetzner · Terraform · Cloudflare

Sign-inApple · Google

StatusPre-launch

Build log

Accounts and sync moved before launch; sync needs a sign-in, so it ships first.

Home-screen widget in progress; App Store listing name decided.

Build 02 · Mk I

Deslopping

Proof that an engineer read the AI-written code before approving the pull request. Questions generated from the diff, a merge that waits for the answer, and a team-level picture of how the AI is doing on your codebase. Engineers as conductors of the AI, not its typists.

Notes from this build

Spec

PlatformWeb · GitHub app

StackNext.js · PostgreSQL · Drizzle

JobsRedis · BullMQ

InfraHetzner · Terraform

Pricing€12 / reviewer / month

StatusIn progress

Build log

Comprehension questions chosen over scroll tracking as the proof mechanism; reading itself cannot be measured.

Managers see aggregates only. Individual attempts stay with the individual.

Build 03 · Mk I

Bookleys

Booking and client memory for creative and service professionals. The calendar that remembers who people are, what they asked for last time, and what to ask them this time.

Notes from this build

Spec

PlatformWeb · SaaS

ForCreative · Service pros

InfraHetzner · Terraform

StatusExploring

Build log

Note 1 · Why the bench exists

A client's deadline is the wrong place to try a new queue library. The bench is where I try it first, break it, and write down what happened. By the time it reaches a commission it has already failed somewhere that did not matter.

Note 2 · How a build graduates

Mk I is the version I use myself. Mk II is the version other people pay for. A build that never reaches Mk II is retired with its log intact, because the log was the point.

Note 3 · Want one of these for your business?

Everything on the bench started as someone's problem. If one of them is yours, the shop is open.

Commission a build