The change of direction after 18 years of working as a PHP programmer.

Marcin Fratczak
Marcin Fratczak
Aug 9, 20255 min read

Recently, I realized that I have eighteen years of commercial experience. During this time, I managed to create two products. One of them was available for free, while the other, after two years of joint development, did not generate any profits.

What went wrong?

I focused mainly on product creation, neglecting marketing. I never conducted effective product validation in a short time, nor did I implement a strategy requiring quick payment for the product to verify its feasibility.

It's time for a different approach.

  • The first step will be to create a product within 1-3 months.
  • Then, I will systematically learn marketing, step by step.
  • I will use platforms where I can place my applications to gain initial interest and customers.
  • I will develop a simple offer that will be easily understandable for potential customers.
  • I will build the project publicly, regularly summarizing progress and sharing information in real-time.
  • Additionally, I will strive to develop my personal blog and brand, if possible.

What threats do I see?

  • I have decided to use a new technological stack, writing everything in Next.js. This is a minor change after several years of working in PHP, but it will bring long-term benefits.
  • Daily work consumes time and energy.
  • The need to work on mindset to maintain motivation and continuous progress.
  • It is also worth dedicating time to learning effective use of free time to counteract professional burnout that may occur.

Time to start!

Marcin Fratczak

Marcin Fratczak

Solo founder building SaaS products. 18+ years in software, now focused on shipping fast, learning marketing, and sharing the journey.

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The change of direction after 18 years of working as a PHP programmer.