So, I'm a web developer, been doing this for, like, more than ten years. I’ve experienced quite a bit over the years! My experience spans early PHP and SQL, then moving fully into the .NET stack, and eventually into the modern JavaScript ecosystem. I've been at web agencies, big companies like Jaguar Land Rover, and now this startup that's all about security (RBI). I'm always trying to make everything just right! pixel perfect design, make sure it's accessible, and, yeah, keep it secure.
But here's the thing, the SaaS news today: I'm finding it hard to, you know, ship fast.
The trouble with being experienced: Too much thinking in B2B SaaS
I've learned that everything should be scalable, secure... the whole shebang. Working on real products will teach you that. Security, scalability and accessibility in B2B SaaS It's a must! But all that... it takes a lot of time, right?
And that's the problem! Today, with all the competition, especially in SaaS sales, being quick can be the most important thing!
AI is everywhere! Why "Good Enough" can win
Now you have AI, and everyone can make apps, basically. Even the kids next door can launch full-stack apps. Maybe their code isn't the prettiest, maybe they take longer to fix bugs, maybe they spend too much on those tokens, you know? But they are doing it.
They're trying things, finding new spots in the market, and maybe they get lucky, find something great. Then they have money to make it even better.
You could have the nicest product in the whole world! But if you're too late... tough luck! So, how does someone like me, who has experience and all that, keep up?
Unlearning, then relearning: Be More Agile
I think the answer is to, how do you say, "unlearn" a little bit. You need to try to be faster without just forgetting everything good you know.
I knew I couldn't just say, "forget it all!" I needed a way to be fast, but still have things secure and scalable, you see?
Solution: My "Best of Both Worlds" kit
So, I made this thing! a starter kit. Took me a few weeks. It's got all the good stuff: scalability, security.
I’ve added Stripe product integration, Redis for cache validation to avoid weird Stripe webhook edge cases, a simple API layer, and even a nice CLI that bootstraps the whole project. Just configure a file and done! ready to ship.
With this, I can make quick prototypes without, you know, being scared that everything will fall apart in the end!
Building my own… stuff
I'm also building some tools for myself, you know, to go faster:
An app to make logos
A way to manage waitlists
A framework to build more profitable landing pages
A simple dashboard
"Why make these?" you might ask. "There are already apps for this!"
Listen, it's not about making a fortune. I'm building my perfect workshop, things that let me launch things in days.
This works out in two ways:
It's quick! I can see if ideas are good.
It's ready for the future! If something gets popular, I can hire someone to make it even better, without starting from zero.
The Bottom Line: "Good Enough" Is Alright!
The thing is, "perfect" can be bad for you. You need to launch!
If I build a strong base to start from and focus on being "good enough", then I can use all my skills and still be quick, try different markets, and keep up with what's new in SaaS. It keeps me up to date with the SaaS sales and everything else!
FAQ Section - Questions You Might Have
Why so important to be fast in SaaS now?
Because now, everybody can make stuff easy, with the AI and everything! More competition, right? You need to be there first to get people to use it. And see what people like, and change it quickly!
What's important in a starter kit?
It needs to have a good structure so it's not a mess! Also, security is important. And a way to get to the database. And some nice things to use for the UI. And it should be easy to make changes later.
How can I make something secure BUT quick?
Start with the important security stuff. Checking the data people put in, make sure things don't get hacked, and save your data safe. Then do the extra security later.
What tools can help me make SaaS things faster?
Things that make code for you, libraries of pieces you can use, UI tools, testing things, and ways to put it online automatically. So you don't have to do the boring stuff!