Advice From 2 Developers Who Launched a Side Hustle | Golden Record

Nov 11, 2024

Danny Peck, a seasoned programmer and musician, and John Ostler, co-founder of Golden Record and web design expert, share their fascinating journey of launching the Golden Record app. They discuss turning personal memories into audio time capsules while navigating unexpected challenges like technical issues and marketing hurdles. The duo emphasizes the importance of genuine passion in product development, the complexities of building a Ruby backend, and innovative marketing strategies that resonate emotionally with audiences. Their candid insights on transforming side projects into sustainable ventures offer invaluable advice for aspiring developers.

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ANECDOTE

Cassette Inspiration

John Ostler gifted cassette recorders to family members to capture their stories.
This personal experience inspired the creation of Golden Record, aiming to digitize this process.

INSIGHT

Platform Pivot

Golden Record initially aimed for an iOS-only launch.
They later prioritized web accessibility for broader reach and market validation.

ADVICE

Parallel Development

Develop web and native platforms in parallel for cross-pollination of ideas.
This approach leads to independent explorations and better solutions.

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In this episode, I talk with two senior developers, Danny Peck and John Ostler, as they share the real story behind their side project journey—the good and the bad. They delve into their experiences building Golden Record, an app designed to preserve personal memories through audio recordings. Despite their extensive backgrounds in development, Danny and John discuss the unexpected challenges they faced, from technical hurdles to marketing struggles, and the reality of making little revenue in the early stages.

If you're a developer contemplating starting your own side project or looking to turn a hobby into a business, this conversation is packed with invaluable insights. Learn from their successes and failures as they offer candid advice on what it truly takes to bring a project to life, maintain momentum, and navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship in the tech world.

Watch this episode to gain knowledge, inspiration, and a realistic perspective on transforming a developer side hustle into a viable startup.

Website: https://www.goldenrecord.app

Danny Peck (guest):
Twitter - https://x.com/dep

John Ostler (guest):
Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnwostler

Digital Disruption with Geoff Nielson
Discover how technology is reshaping our lives and livelihoods.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

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