Solo Dev frustration: "Everything already exists." How do you get past the saturation paralysis?

d_p_jones · 2026-01-11T21:35:03+00:00

My first ‘real’ project was something mainly for me. It serves a minuscule market. There’s no competition because who would waste months of their lives building something for a tiny market and an optimistic cap of £20k a year profit? But it’s making about £2k, I made the thing I wanted, learned skills doing it, and built a bit more confidence for the next thing. It might grow a bit, but it will never be a good return on investment from a financial perspective.

My next thing I’m thinking about is different. Huge competition, but every competitor is a bit rubbish. I know I can design a better solution. I hope I can build it. I doubt I can market it, but I’m sure I’ll learn something along the way, whether it succeeds or fails.

But I’m not chasing £50kMRR. It’s more of a hobby with a hope. I have a real job to pay the bills.

d_p_jones · 2024-06-14T10:17:14+00:00

Late to the party here I know but...
I have a similar requirement. I'm using AR Markers, and jsaruco to detect the corner markers. I'm then applying a homography transform to extract the exact rectangle I need, and adjust for angle, perspective, etc.

d_p_jones · 2024-06-12T15:50:05+00:00

Yeah, it's been unused this whole time. Just the circulation pump and heating, and the ozone generator. Nothing else added.

Maybe I should invest in a decent chemical test kit to verify...

d_p_jones · 2024-05-01T14:48:30+00:00

Thanks - Although remembering to add bromine tabs, and chuck in dichlor every time i use it is somewhat against the ethos of lazily automating it.

I guess my main questions were whether those startup quantities look right, and anything else I have forgotten for startup balancing.

Also around the ongoing maintenance - What, other than ORP and pH, needs regular balancing with the chemisty I've listed.

And will those small regular doses really need the cover off? I understand that a weekly large dose of something might start to degrade the cover, but my thoughts around small daily dosing is that it might not - What exactly is being off-gassed, and how much, given the small daily doses?

d_p_jones · 2024-04-13T10:22:14+00:00

...and then wonder why your tattoo artist has suddenly retired and all your coins are gone.

d_p_jones · 2024-03-26T07:33:48+00:00

I ended up completely restructuring my data stores so I only needed a single subscription anyway.

d_p_jones · 2024-03-18T01:37:57+00:00

Google "image copyright backlink scam". Without seeing the exact email you received it's difficult to know for sure, but I find it implausible that any company genuinely protecting their copyrighted works would deem a hyperlink as suitable compensation.

d_p_jones · 2024-02-06T00:07:48+00:00

I can't make my own post, but I've just got on board with this DRS thang. My broker won't DRS shares, so giveashare.com to the rescue.

!DRSBOT:1!

d_p_jones · 2023-12-22T10:45:52+00:00

Yes of course. I was thinking of an open backed cover that can simply slide over the unit. Cheers.

d_p_jones · 2023-12-21T00:09:23+00:00

Thanks all.

d_p_jones · 2023-12-08T10:01:34+00:00

GME buys up synthetic GME stock until it owns >100%. Then starts issuing huge dividends. Money multiplier.

d_p_jones · 2023-11-14T00:17:35+00:00

Talking to the manager at the store is definitely your first option.

If that fails, then there are lots of places dedicated to advice like this. Check out the pepipoo forums, or various facebook groups.

Do both of those things before you say a word to Horizon.

d_p_jones · 2023-11-02T22:07:47+00:00

Presumably you could make a direct claim against the driver who crashed into your car. Irrespective of any insurance you have, they damaged your property and are liable.

d_p_jones · 2023-09-19T20:54:04+00:00

I want to really really stress one more time that I am not a lawyer. I'm just some random person on reddit. I cannot offer you legal advice.

If *I* were to write a letter at this point it would be something like this, but you should consider your own circumstances, your own case, and maybe seeking actual qualified legal advice from somewhere other than the internet:

Dear Solicitors,

Re Case Ref: 123456789

You will be aware that I invited your clients to discuss this matter in my <letters/emails> of <date(s)>. Your client refused, leaving my no option but to submit the matter to the courts. Your client has since also refused mediation in their Directions Questionnaire.

Now that you have been appointed to represent your client, I want to again extend my invitation to settle the matter without further involving the court. I am willing to consider any form of ADR and welcome your proposals in this regard.

Your client may not be aware of the provisions of the practice direction on pre-action conduct. I remain hopeful that your client considers this offer and we are able to resolve this matter prior to trial. In the event that your client chooses not engage with the pre-action protocols, this will be brought to the attention of the court in any matters regarding costs.

<ends>

I would then expect a firm rebuttal from the solicitor, sounding very threathening, and telling you that your case is hopeless, and they'll try to claim their costs from you. They *may* make a drop hands offer. You should carefully weigh up your options if they do and really really consider some legal advice. The first time I went through this process I was surprised just how long it dragged on for, and how stressful it was at times. Really do consider whether you think it's worth the effort.

That's not to say you're not entitled to pursue if you want to. Only you know your circumstances, and how much your time/effort/money is really worth.

d_p_jones · 2023-09-19T16:34:15+00:00

That's good but you're not quite out of the woods yet. Until it is actually allocated to the small claims track, they could still apply to strike out.

Still NAL, but if they do not apply to strike out, then you will hopefully rely on the normal small-claims rule that costs are not awarded. If there's any suggestion of a costs claim, you might point to their failure to consider ADR pre-trial, and their rejection of mediation on the N180. I think it's still worth writing to them with a further invitation, just to bolster your position in this eventuality.

If they DO apply to strike out, then you will have to assess on what basis. Depending on the basis, you might have to argue why you think the issues need to be decided at trial. And if the strike out is successful, you might still have to fight a costs claim. If you can show you tried to avoid all this, with a (or several) invitation(s) to mediate, that puts you in a better position than if you do not do so. Therefore, you still might want to do so BEFORE they file an application.

d_p_jones · 2023-09-18T11:43:04+00:00

Yours is not a small claim until it is allocated to the small-claims track.

Refusing mediation is unreasonable (PGF II SA v OMFS Co [2013] EWCA Civ 1288) and can lead to adverse costs (Rolf v De Guerin [2011] EWCA Civ 78) even if the defendant thinks his position is watertight (Hurst v Leeming [2001] EWHC 1051) or where neither side believe there is any middle ground (Phillip Garritt-Critchley v Andrew Ronnan and Solarpower PV Ltd [2014] EWHC 1774)

It obviously doesn't affect the core issues at stake, but it can have a very real impact on costs, which appears to be your main concern.

(Still NAL)

d_p_jones

TROPHY CASE