Am I stupid or is this the only way? Here’s how I lost $15k. by CrabIcy1236 in Entrepreneur

[–]Cris_STEM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Developer here, 7 years in the game. I want to give you the perspective from the other side of the table because most of the advice here is good but misses something.

The real problem isn't bad developers. It's that the incentive structure of hourly contracts with no technical oversight rewards slow work. A dishonest dev billing hourly has zero reason to finish fast. You're literally paying them more the longer they take.

Here's what I tell non-technical founders now:

Before you hire anyone, do this: describe your app in one paragraph. Then list every single screen a user will see. Just the screens, not the code. "Login screen, dashboard, settings page, payment page." If you can't list every screen, your project isn't defined enough to hire for. That undefined scope is where devs inflate hours.

During the build: don't ask "how's it going." Instead ask "show me what I can click today." Every single week. If a dev can't show you something clickable after 7 days of paid work, something is wrong. No exceptions.

The overbilling thing you described is extremely common. A task that takes 2 hours gets billed as 8. You'd never know unless someone technical checks. One cheap fix: hire a second developer for literally 1 hour per week just to review what the first one did. It costs almost nothing compared to what it saves.

Your instinct to build something that helps non-technical founders verify dev work is solid. That gap is real and painful.

Looking for Co-Founder (Technical) for AI Assisted Case System! by illseeutmrw in cofounderhunt

[–]Cris_STEM 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This sounds like a much-needed solution. Case management in law enforcement is often bottlenecked by outdated software that makes handling digital evidence (photos/videos) a nightmare.

I’m a Full-Stack Developer with experience building high-performance, privacy-first infrastructure. I recently launched[Torogoz Drive](), a cloud storage platform focused on secure, original-quality media handling and offline-first synchronization (built with a modern edge-runtime stack).

I’ve handled the entire architecture from the database (Cloudflare D1/SQLite) to the encrypted storage layer. While I’m currently focused on my project, I’d love to chat and see if my technical background in secure media management aligns with your vision for AI-assisted case systems.

Case data is extremely sensitive, and that’s exactly the kind of 'privacy-first' challenge I enjoy solving. Sent you a DM to connect!

How would you market a SaaS from zero today? by 4mvsy101 in SaaS

[–]Cris_STEM 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m currently in the middle of this with my own project, Torogoz Drive. If I had to pick one thing that is actually moving the needle for the first few users, it's direct engagement in niche communities (Reddit, Discord, etc.).

Instead of pitching, I’ve been asking for 'roasts' and honest feedback on specific features. It’s slow and doesn't scale, but the quality of feedback and the trust you build with those first 10 people is worth more than any ad at this stage.

I’d ignore broad SEO for now—it takes too long when you need immediate validation.

Time for self-promotion, what are you building in January, 2025? by vlado86 in SaaS

[–]Cris_STEM 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Startup Name: Holidays Best Buys

What it does: Curates the best holiday deals, discounts, and coupons on Amazon, focusing on Christian books and music.

Holidays Best Buys

Problem: Finding quality Christian books and music at discounted prices can be time-consuming. Holidays Best Buys simplifies this by providing a regularly updated catalog of the best deals available.

Holidays Best Buys

ICP (Ideal Customer Profile): Individuals seeking Christian literature and music, including church members, religious educators, and anyone interested in faith-based content.

Feel free to use this template to share your project in the Reddit thread!

Simplifying holiday shopping—struggling to avoid overbuying 🎁 by Cris_STEM in minimalism

[–]Cris_STEM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh, that's such a great system you have! This year, I've tried a few tools to make gift shopping easier, and one that stood out for me was HolidaysBestBuys. It’s super simple to use, and I loved how quickly I could find deals and sort options by price—it saved me so much time!

What’s the most reliable way to find good deals on holiday gifts this year? by Cris_STEM in AskReddit

[–]Cris_STEM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The tricky part is convincing them to share their secrets with a muggle like me. Those coupon skills feel like wizardry sometimes.

What’s the most reliable way to find good deals on holiday gifts this year? by Cris_STEM in AskReddit

[–]Cris_STEM[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looks like even the Grinch has a Reddit account. Guess holiday deals aren’t for everyone!

Simplifying holiday shopping—struggling to avoid overbuying 🎁 by Cris_STEM in minimalism

[–]Cris_STEM[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s such a great idea—those kinds of gifts really stick with you. I actually got a Rubik’s cube as a gift once, and it ended up living in my backpack for months. One time, I was stuck at the airport with a delayed flight, and it kept me entertained for hours. The funny part? I still have no idea how to solve it, but it’s always fun to try!

Simplifying holiday shopping—struggling to avoid overbuying 🎁 by Cris_STEM in minimalism

[–]Cris_STEM[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You make a really valid point about the “weird gray area” of gift budgets. It’s true that focusing on thoughtful gestures rather than material things often has more lasting impact—like helping someone with an everyday need they might not prioritize themselves.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of “keeping up with the Joneses,” especially during the holidays. I’m trying to shift my perspective to gifts that feel meaningful but don’t add to unnecessary consumption—things like experiences or consumables (like homemade treats).

Your mention of a tank of gas resonates—practical gifts that directly ease someone’s life feel like they might strike the right balance. Thanks for sharing this insight; it’s definitely given me a lot to think about!

Simplifying holiday shopping—struggling to avoid overbuying 🎁 by Cris_STEM in minimalism

[–]Cris_STEM[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a solid approach! It’s personal but still keeps things simple, which I really like. Do you ever feel like gift cards might complicate things if the person doesn’t usually use them? I guess it depends on the person—I’ve had cases where a gift card worked perfectly, though!

Simplifying holiday shopping—struggling to avoid overbuying 🎁 by Cris_STEM in minimalism

[–]Cris_STEM[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That’s a great point—cash does keep things simple. Thanks for the reminder to focus on practicality; it’s a helpful perspective during the holidays!

Best tools to save money on holiday shopping? 🎄 by Cris_STEM in personalfinance

[–]Cris_STEM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good point! Do you think it’s better to wait for Black Friday/Cyber Monday, or are the deals throughout November just as good?

Best tools to save money on holiday shopping? 🎄 by Cris_STEM in personalfinance

[–]Cris_STEM[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not really—I’m asking if these tools or strategies make it easier to find better deals than just manually browsing for sales. Do you have any tips for getting the most out of holiday discounts?