diff --git a/content/posts/2025-09-22-lessons-from-the-solo-developer-trenches.md b/content/posts/2025-09-22-lessons-from-the-solo-developer-trenches.md index 15f9c821..57c00a39 100644 --- a/content/posts/2025-09-22-lessons-from-the-solo-developer-trenches.md +++ b/content/posts/2025-09-22-lessons-from-the-solo-developer-trenches.md @@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ slug: locallygrown-lessons _Advanced Developer Tools, Real Tradeoffs_ -> **Note:** This isn't about the "AI" that generates blog spam or copies artists' styles. This is about a new generation of developer tools that understand code structure, maintain consistency, and amplify human expertise rather than replacing it. +{{< callout type="info" title="Important Context" >}} +This isn't about the "AI" that generates blog spam or copies artists' styles. This is about a new generation of developer tools that understand code structure, maintain consistency, and amplify human expertise rather than replacing it. +{{< /callout >}} --- @@ -195,8 +197,12 @@ Me (next day): "Another DB call in a route. Are you even reading CLAUDE.md?" Claude: "I apologize, I should have used the UserService..." ``` +{{< callout type="warning" title="Pattern Recognition Limitation" >}} If Claude were a human intern, I'd have fired them for repeatedly ignoring the CLAUDE.md rules: DB calls in routes, inconsistent naming, bypassed service layers. But as a research assistant, test generator, and documentation writer? The value far outweighed the frustration of constantly correcting architectural violations. +**Key Lesson**: These tools excel at specific tasks but struggle with consistent architectural patterns. Use them for their strengths, but maintain strict human oversight for system design. +{{< /callout >}} + By the end of week 3, we had: - **27 TypeScript services** matching Rails models @@ -262,7 +268,9 @@ Me: "Perfect! And we'll set a deadline 6 months out for forced reset This wasn't a real discussion. Claude doesn't truly understand the human impact of forcing password resets on farmers at 5 AM trying to print harvest sheets. But the rubber ducking process (and yes, rubber ducking with actual rubber ducks works for a reason) helped me think through an elegant solution. -The result: **Zero support tickets** about passwords during migration. Users never knew their security was being upgraded behind the scenes. +{{< callout type="success" title="Migration Success" >}} +**Zero support tickets** about passwords during migration. Users never knew their security was being upgraded behind the scenes. The seamless password upgrade system silently migrated thousands of users from MD5/bcrypt to modern Argon2 without a single forced reset. +{{< /callout >}} ### Month 2: The Methodical Page-by-Page Clone @@ -560,8 +568,12 @@ Carver: "Designing subscription architecture: ### Why Human Names Matter +{{< callout type="quote" title="Philosophy" >}} Most guides recommend technical names for sub-agents like "css-design-agent" or "auth-flow-agent." I deliberately chose to name mine after real people, and this decision shaped the entire development experience. +Every time I worked with Ray, I remembered Ray Eames and the design revolution she helped create. When Agatha found security holes, I thought of Agatha Christie's meticulous attention to detail. These names kept me grounded, aware that I stand in a long line of innovators and problem-solvers. +{{< /callout >}} + First, it was my way of acknowledging gratitude. Every time I worked with Ray, I remembered Ray Eames and the design revolution she helped create. When Agatha found security holes, I thought of Agatha Christie's meticulous attention to detail. These names kept me grounded, aware that I stand in a long line of innovators and problem-solvers. More importantly, human names constantly reminded me who this platform serves. This isn't a faceless SaaS product. It's a community platform. My market managers are people with names and stories. The farmers wake up at 4 AM to harvest vegetables. The customers are neighbors feeding their families. I am a person, building tools for people. @@ -699,6 +711,7 @@ Almost every bug in the frantic two weeks after launch traced back to this paral ### No Regrets +{{< callout type="success" title="Parallel UI Success Metrics" >}} Despite the complexity and the post-launch firefighting, this parallel approach proved essential: - 15 markets opted into modern UI within first week @@ -706,6 +719,14 @@ Despite the complexity and the post-launch firefighting, this parallel approach - Markets reported some customer confusion, but it was minimal - Gradual migration path preserved trust +The modern front-end fixed LocallyGrown's biggest weakness while respecting its greatest strength: each market's unique identity. +{{< /callout >}} + +- 15 markets opted into modern UI within first week +- Mobile usage noticeably increased in first month +- Markets reported some customer confusion, but it was minimal +- Gradual migration path preserved trust + The modern front-end fixed LocallyGrown's biggest weakness while respecting its greatest strength: each market's unique identity. Without the agent orchestra giving me confidence to attempt this parallel universe approach, we'd still be forcing markets to choose between mobile usability and their customizations. --- @@ -930,25 +951,15 @@ Can launch with monitoring for remaining issues. ### Day 7: Cutting Scope to Ensure Stability -``` -Me: "Agents are flagging Paraglide build warnings. Review needed." +{{< callout type="example" title="Real Launch Decision" >}} +**Situation**: Agents flagging Paraglide/inlang build warnings +**Problem**: Internationalization library creating compilation noise +**Decision**: Remove entire i18n system 7 days before launch +**Rationale**: "Better to launch with solid English-only than risk instability from unused future features" +**Result**: GO recommendation - Reduced scope = reduced risk -Claude: "Build warnings from internationalization library: -- Paraglide/inlang throwing compilation errors -- Not breaking builds but creating noise -- Library for future multi-language support" - -Me: "We're 7 days from launch. This is for future features. - Ripping it out completely. Multi-language can wait." - -[Removes entire i18n library and dependencies] - -Me: "Better to launch with solid English-only than risk - instability from unused future features." - -Recommendation: GO -Reduced scope = reduced risk. Focus on what matters now. -``` +This exemplifies a critical launch principle: be ruthless about cutting non-essential features when approaching deadlines. Multi-language support could wait; stability couldn't. +{{< /callout >}} ### Day 3: Final Systems Check @@ -1008,13 +1019,17 @@ Claude Code doesn't understand business requirements, can't make product decisio ### How to Keep ML Tools Safe in Production -✅ **Write specs first**: Markdown in-repo. Tools get the what; you keep the why. -✅ **Enforce architecture with lint rules + CI**: e.g., "no DB calls in routes" -✅ **Require tests for every business logic change**: No exceptions -✅ **Security agent + human review** for auth, payments, data exports -✅ **Treat generated code like a junior dev's PR**: Review, annotate, refine -✅ **Maintain a "red file"** of irreversible actions (deletes, refunds) with extra checks -✅ **Monitor metrics**: If an endpoint is 10x slower, investigate +{{< callout type="tip" title="Production Safety Checklist" >}} +- ✅ **Write specs first**: Markdown in-repo. Tools get the what; you keep the why. +- ✅ **Enforce architecture with lint rules + CI**: e.g., "no DB calls in routes" +- ✅ **Require tests for every business logic change**: No exceptions +- ✅ **Security agent + human review** for auth, payments, data exports +- ✅ **Treat generated code like a junior dev's PR**: Review, annotate, refine +- ✅ **Maintain a "red file"** of irreversible actions (deletes, refunds) with extra checks +- ✅ **Monitor metrics**: If an endpoint is 10x slower, investigate + +Remember: The human is always the architect, product manager, and quality gatekeeper. +{{< /callout >}} ### 2. Trust but Verify @@ -1080,9 +1095,15 @@ Explaining problems clearly to Claude forced me to think more clearly. Reviewing ## A Critical Warning: The "Vibe Coding" Disaster Waiting to Happen +{{< callout type="danger" title="Critical Security Warning" >}} I need to address something that terrifies me: YouTube videos of non-technical entrepreneurs using these tools to "build a SaaS in 10 minutes" and then immediately deploying to production. -Yes, it's amazing that someone with no coding experience can prompt their way to a working demo. But watching them charge customers for these applications fills me with horror. Here's what those videos don't show: +Yes, it's amazing that someone with no coding experience can prompt their way to a working demo. But watching them charge customers for these applications fills me with horror. + +**These tools can generate convincing-looking disasters** - code that appears professional but contains fatal security flaws, data loss bugs, and liability nightmares. +{{< /callout >}} + +Here's what those videos don't show: ### What "Working" Actually Means