Code and Conquer - The Indie Hacker Podcast

#024 Launch, Market, Automate with Thomas Sanlis

Jul 19, 2024

Thomas Sanlis, a seasoned Indie Hacker with over six years of experience, shares his inspiring journey in the world of indie hacking. He discusses his successful projects, Uneed.best and Vue Developers, and the challenges of launching platforms amid fierce competition. Sanlis emphasizes the significance of automation for efficiency and the importance of a resilient mindset. He also reveals strategies for marketing and growing projects, personal experiences with DDoS attacks, and the balance between passion and profit in maintaining a sustainable indie business.

55:13

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Episode guests

Thomas Sanlis

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Thomas Sanlis emphasizes the importance of balancing passion with sustainable income in the indie hacking journey.

He advocates for automation in workflows, allowing projects to operate efficiently and organically without constant oversight.

Deep dives

Thomas Saungli's Indie Hacking Journey

Thomas Saungli has been an indie hacker for six years, focusing on projects driven by passion rather than profit. His main projects, Unit Best and Vue Developers, showcase his approach to product development, where he values enjoyment over competition and financial gain. Unlike the typical fast-paced hacker mentality found on Twitter, Thomas views his work as a hobby, akin to biking or spending time with friends. This perspective allows him to nurture his projects organically without succumbing to the pressures of rapid success.

Intro

2min

Navigating Indie Hacking and Product Launches

13min

Navigating Indie Hacking: Passion, Automation, and Community

9min

Exploring the Effectiveness of a Weekly Newsletter

2min

Navigating Indie Hacking Challenges

18min

The Unexpected Journey into Teaching and Social Connection

2min

Navigating DDoS Attacks and Indie Hacking

8min

Finding Balance Between Passion and Profit

2min

In this episode of the Code & Conquer podcast, I sit down with Thomas Sanlis, a seasoned Indie Hacker with over six years of experience. Thomas shares his journey into indie hacking, discussing his successful projects Uneed.best and Vue Developers.

He delves into the challenges of maintaining a directory and launching platform, handling competition from giants like Product Hunt, and the importance of automation in his workflow.

We talk about the mindset required for indie hacking, balancing passion projects with sustainable income, and the realities of freelancing and teaching. Thomas offers valuable insights into the indie hacking world, touching on themes of patience, resilience, and the quest for a balanced life.

Thomas also shares his experience handling DDoS attacks, migrating platforms, and his strategies for marketing and growth. Whether you're an aspiring indie hacker or a seasoned entrepreneur, this conversation is packed with lessons and inspiration. Don't miss it!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Background

02:49 Pivoting UnitBest: From Tools Directory to Product Hunt Alternative

07:07 Automating Processes on UnitBest for Efficiency

10:47 Vue Developers: A Reverse Job Board for Vue.js Developers

19:32 The Mindset of an Indie Hacker

28:47 The Power of Newsletters: Driving Traffic to UnitBest

31:08 The Idea Behind Vue Developers

33:12 The Value of Automation in Product Development

36:16 Different Approaches to Indie Hacking

53:19 The Benefits and Challenges of Self-Hosting

58:51 Finding a Balance Between Work and Personal Life