Building in Public: What I’ve Learned So Far

Building in public is a term that’s often thrown around in the tech community, especially among developers. Simply put, it means sharing your development journey, struggles, wins, and progress openly with the public. It’s about putting your work out there, receiving feedback, and being transparent about your process. But why is this something I chose to do? How has it affected my career and growth as a developer? Let’s dive into what I’ve learned so far from building in public.

The Power of Accountability

One of the most significant benefits of building in public is accountability. When you announce your projects, goals, and deadlines to the world, you’re not only holding yourself accountable to yourself but also to your audience. This external accountability can push you to stick to deadlines, push through difficult challenges, and keep working even when motivation wanes.

For example, I once committed to building a new feature for one of my projects and shared it with my followers on Twitter. The pressure of having told others about it made me work harder to deliver. Every time I logged into Twitter, I saw people asking about progress, which motivated me to finish it on time.

When you keep things private, it’s easier to give up or procrastinate. But when you tell others what you’re doing, there’s an extra layer of motivation to follow through. It’s a simple but effective way to stay on track.

Gaining Feedback from Your Audience

Building in public also opens up a channel for feedback. When you share your work with others, whether it's through social media, GitHub, or blog posts, you’re inviting people to offer their thoughts and suggestions. This feedback is invaluable because it comes from a variety of perspectives, including users, developers, and even non-technical people who might provide unique insights.

For instance, after sharing a version of an article I was working on, I received feedback on a better way to structure my article. I hadn’t noticed the issue myself, but after looking at it again through the lens of the feedback, I understood how it could be improved. I tweaked the article, making it simpler and more user-friendly. The feedback didn’t just help me improve; it also helped me become a better writer by teaching me how to take criticism constructively.

Building a Community and Network

Another powerful outcome of building in public is the community and network you can build. When you consistently share your work and ideas, people with similar interests or goals start to notice. Some of them will reach out to collaborate, offer advice, or even just encourage you to keep going. You’ll form connections with other developers, designers, and creators who can help you grow in ways you didn’t expect.

The Challenges of Building in Public

However, building in public isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There are challenges that come with being transparent. For one, there’s the pressure of constantly sharing your work, even when it’s not perfect. You might feel like you're exposing yourself to criticism or that your work isn’t good enough. This can lead to imposter syndrome, especially when you see others producing high-quality work while you’re still figuring things out.

Another challenge is managing your time and energy. Sharing progress and updates takes time and effort. You need to balance working on your project with creating content for your audience. It can be draining at times, especially if you’re not prepared for the amount of engagement that might come your way.

The Upsides You Don’t Expect

While there are challenges, there are also upsides that you might not expect. For one, building in public opens up unexpected opportunities. You might get job offers, collaborations, or even project partnerships simply by sharing your work. People notice when you put yourself out there, and some of those people may have opportunities that could help you grow.

Additionally, building in public often leads to personal growth. You get better at explaining your work, documenting your progress, and engaging with others. These are all skills that go beyond coding and can make you more well-rounded as a developer.

How I Approach Building in Public (My Process)

When I build in public, I try to keep things simple. I focus on sharing meaningful content, whether it’s a quick update on a feature I’ve just completed, a lesson I’ve learned, or a piece of code that I think others will find useful.

Here’s how I approach it:

• Twitter: I share short updates, lessons, and snippets of my work. I engage with others by commenting on their posts or sharing my thoughts.

• LinkedIn: Go deeper into my work process

• Blog: I write longer, more in-depth posts about the projects I’m working on or lessons I’ve learned along the way.

The key is consistency. Whether it’s tweeting once a day or writing a blog post every week, the important thing is to keep showing up.

How to Start Building in Public (For Beginners)

If you’re new to building in public, don’t worry about being perfect. Start small, and share something simple. It could be a progress update, a snippet of code, or a lesson you learned. The key is consistency. Try posting once a week and see how it feels. As you get more comfortable, you can share more and engage with your audience more frequently.

Here are a few tips for getting started:

• Pick one platform: Whether it’s Twitter, LinkedIn, or a blog, start by sharing on one platform.

• Be transparent: Share both the good and the bad. People appreciate authenticity.

• Don’t overthink it: Just start sharing. You’ll improve along the way.

Conclusion

Building in public has been one of the most rewarding things I’ve done in my career. It’s helped me stay accountable, get feedback, build a community, and open up unexpected opportunities. If you’re considering building in public, go for it! It may seem daunting at first, but the benefits far outweigh the challenges.