Appaveli Mode: Shipping Every 7 Days Like Makaveli
How Tupac’s 7-Day Theory Album Inspired My Solo Developer Sprint Strategy
In 1996, Tupac recorded The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory under the alias Makaveli—a raw, powerful album finished in just seven days. He wrote and recorded every track in three days and spent the next four mixing and mastering it. No excuses. No delays. Just focused output with lasting impact.
That energy inspired what I now call Appaveli Mode—a mindset where I build, refine, and ship something every 7 days as a solo developer.
Why the Name “Appaveli”?
By day, I’m the Director of Software Engineering at a sports tech company—leading teams, architecting scalable solutions, and driving delivery at the enterprise level.
But outside the 9–5, I step into Appaveli Mode—a solo developer mindset inspired by Tupac’s Makaveli era.
When I started releasing apps weekly, hip-hop legend Def Jef—a pioneering MC and producer known for his work in the golden era of hip-hop—gave me the nickname Appaveli, saying my work ethic reminded him of 2Pac during The 7 Day Theory era.
That comparison stuck — and so did the mindset.
Makaveli wasn’t just a stage name—it symbolized relentless focus, raw creative output, and urgency. I started channeling that same energy into how I build software.
Now I’m stepping back into that mode—taking a break from dating and shutting out distractions to focus entirely on execution and momentum. That’s why my company is named AppaveliTech Solutions: it’s not just about building apps. It’s about building legacy.
Why 7-Day Sprints?
Most dev teams run on 2-week sprints. But as a solo dev, that rhythm can feel sluggish and bloated. I needed something sharper—leaner.
That’s when I looked to Makaveli.
Inspired by Tupac’s 7-day album sprint, I built a structure where I start every Monday and ship by Sunday. One sprint. One outcome. No excuses.
Here’s why it works:
- Urgency breeds momentum.
- Decisions get made faster.
- Perfection gives way to progress.
My Sprint Structure
Each sprint follows this cadence:
| Day | Focus |
|---|---|
| Monday | Sprint planning + backlog grooming |
| Tuesday | Build core features |
| Wednesday | Development + small test cycles |
| Thursday | UI polish + refactor |
| Friday | Final dev + prep release notes |
| Saturday | Code freeze + test + deploy |
| Sunday | Ship + reflect + light grooming |
Tools I use:
- Jira for sprint planning and dev tasks
- Todoist for personal routines and non-dev priorities
Staying in Appaveli Mode
Makaveli was more than a name—it was a creative philosophy. Lock in. Shut out distractions. Let the work speak.
I’m not just building software—I’m building like I’m running out of time. This mindset fuels consistency, intensity, and a higher standard.
What I’ve Shipped So Far
- ✅ Appaveli CLI: A code scaffolding tool for Java devs
- ✅ Sprint-based blog posts and retrospectives
- ✅ Backend features across my Apps and other internal tools
- ✅ Early release features for DAO and domain generation
Each week builds momentum. Each Sunday is a checkpoint.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're making albums or writing code—create with urgency. The Makaveli mindset taught me that done is better than perfect, and focused energy can change your output forever.
Don't wait. Create. Ship. Repeat.
Inspired by Makaveli. Built by Appaveli.
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