Blog / build in public
Build in public or build in private? How to decide
You do not have to choose all or nothing. Many builders share the process and keep some things back.
What building in public gives you
- Feedback while it is cheap to act on.
- Accountability: it is harder to quit when people are watching.
- A record of your work that doubles as a portfolio.
- People who want to build with you, and users who find you.
What it costs
- Time spent writing instead of building.
- The pressure of being watched.
- Ideas that others can copy.
A middle path
Share what you learned and what you decided, and keep sensitive details private: customer data, keys, and anything under agreement. Ideas rarely win on secrecy. They win on execution and on the people who care about them.
Questions to ask yourself
- Would feedback change what I build?
- Do I need people to know this exists?
- Is there something I must not reveal?
You can change your mind
Start small, share a little, and see how it feels. You can share more as you get comfortable.
Keep your own build log
Write numbered entries, follow other builders, and let people watch your idea become real.
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