1. An Unexpected Surprise: My First Paying User on Day Two
About a month ago, I made a decision that turned out to be one of the best I’ve made lately — I decided to build a browser extension.
What surprised me even more was that the extension, called NoTab, got its first paying user just one day after being published on the Chrome Web Store.
I was both thrilled and nervous — thrilled that someone was actually willing to pay for something I built, and nervous because I wasn’t sure how I’d handle things if more users started coming in.
From idea to the first usable version, the entire process took just three days. Looking back, the lessons I learned from this short sprint far outweighed the time and effort I put in.
2. Why I Built NoTab: Solving My Own Frustration
NoTab does one thing, really well: it lets you preview link content in the current tab without opening a new one. The idea came straight from a pain point I faced almost every day as a developer.
During work, I constantly read technical documentation. A typical scenario would be: I’m reading an API doc, click on a related link, it opens a new tab, I read it, then go back to the original. After doing this a dozen times, I’d end up with a mess of open tabs.
Worse, I’d often forget which page I started on or where I left off.
Same story on dev forums. I’d click on interesting threads, each one opening in a new tab, and by the end, I’d be completely lost in a sea of tabs.
It was overwhelming — and frankly, really annoying.
Then one day, while staring at yet another overloaded browser window, I thought:
“Why can’t I just preview these links right on the same page?”
It would let me stay in flow, get the info I need, and avoid the tab chaos. I searched for existing tools, but most were too bloated or clunky. So I figured: why not build it myself?
3. Fast & Focused: From MVP to Launch in 3 Days
Day 1: Define the MVP & Build the Core
I gave myself a strict rule: ship something in 3 days. That meant cutting every non-essential feature and just focusing on the core.
The first version of NoTab did one thing only: when you hover over a link, it shows a small preview window of the content — no styling, no options, just raw functionality.
Day 2: Basic UX Improvements
With the core working, I focused on improving usability:
- Smart positioning for the preview window (so it wouldn’t spill off screen)
- A simple loading indicator
- Basic styling to make it feel less hacky
Day 3: Package & Publish
On the final day, I:
- Wrote a short “how to use” blurb
- Took a few screenshots
- Used my existing Chrome Developer account (if you’re publishing for the first time, you’ll need to pay a one-time \$5 fee)
- Packaged everything and submitted it for review
That night, NoTab went live.
Post-launch Iteration
Based on early user feedback, I started adding more useful features:
- Multi-link preview — compare multiple pages at once
- Quick translate — drag text to translate instantly
- Quick search — drag text to search
- Custom settings — preview size, position, trigger behavior, and more
None of these were part of the original plan. They all came from real users telling me what they wanted.
4. Advice for Indie Developers
Here are a few lessons that might help if you’re building something on your own:
1. Find Real, Frequent Pain Points
NoTab gained traction quickly because it solved a real, common problem. The best product ideas often come from your own daily struggles. If you keep bumping into the same issue and existing tools aren’t cutting it — that’s a sign of opportunity.
2. Launch Fast with an MVP
Don’t try to make it perfect. Just build the simplest version that solves the core problem. My first version didn’t even have a settings page — every value was hardcoded. But it worked. Real user feedback will show you where to go next.
3. Let Your Users Shape the Product
Some of NoTab’s best features came straight from user suggestions. Set up an easy way for people to give feedback (even just an email address works). Listen carefully, but don’t blindly add everything — focus on the requests that come up repeatedly.
4. Keep Pricing Simple
I went with a freemium model: core features are free, advanced features require a one-time payment (not a subscription). It gives people a chance to try the value first, and only pay if they really need more.
The price? $5.90 for lifetime access. Honestly, I think that’s pretty fair.
Final Thoughts
NoTab now has a few hundred active users every day. It’s not making me rich, but it’s proven that solo developers can create real value — and get rewarded for it.
Most importantly, I realized something along the way:
You don’t need a “revolutionary” idea to build something meaningful.
Start with a small pain point from your own life.
Build fast.
Listen to real users.
Keep iterating.
That’s often all it takes to make something people are actually willing to pay for.
If you’ve been thinking about building something — I hope this encourages you to start today.
Make the simplest version you can. Shipping matters more than perfection. And feedback from the real world beats any guesswork.
Oh — and if you want to give NoTab a try, you can check it out here.
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