DEV Community: Daniel.dev

How a Tool I Built for Finding Businesses on Google Maps Grew From a Personal Solution to 10,000+ Users

Daniel.dev — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 10:00:18 +0000

I didn't set out to build a product with thousands of users.

I was just trying to solve a problem for myself.

As a developer, one of the hardest parts of freelancing isn't always building the website. Sometimes, it's finding the businesses that actually need one.

There are thousands of businesses on Google Maps.

Restaurants. Barbershops. Gyms. Law firms. Hotels. Salons. Repair shops. Real estate businesses. Small companies of every kind.

And a lot of them don't have websites.

That sounded like an opportunity.

So I built a small tool for myself.

It started as a simple scraper

The first version of GMapLeads was nowhere near what it is today.

The idea was simple:

Search Google Maps for businesses in a particular niche and location, find the ones without websites, and give me their contact information.

Instead of spending hours manually searching Google Maps, opening listings, checking whether they had websites, copying phone numbers, and repeating the process, I wanted the computer to do the boring part.

So I built it.

The first version ran on my own VPS and delivered leads to Telegram.

I could tell it what kind of businesses I wanted and where I wanted to find them, and it would start sending me potential prospects.

At the time, I wasn't thinking about users.

I wasn't thinking about subscriptions.

I wasn't thinking about building a SaaS.

I just wanted a tool that could help me find clients.

And it worked.

Then I realized other developers had the same problem

Once I started using it, I began thinking:

"I'm probably not the only developer who needs this."

There are countless freelancers and agencies trying to sell websites, apps, marketing, SEO, and other digital services.

The problem isn't always finding businesses.

It's finding the businesses that actually have a reason to talk to you.

A business that already has a good website probably isn't your easiest prospect for a website project.

But a business with a Google Maps listing, a phone number, customers, and no website?

That's a much more interesting lead.

So I started sharing the tool.

And people started asking to use it.

From my personal script to GMapLeads

That's when the project started changing.

What began as a personal tool slowly became an actual product.

I had to think about things I never needed to think about when it was just running for me.

User accounts.

Lead limits.

Searches.

Duplicate prevention.

Automated rescans.

Infrastructure.

Payments.

Telegram delivery.

And, most importantly, making the experience simple enough that someone who didn't build the system could use it immediately.

The goal became:

Find a niche. Pick a location. Get businesses that don't have websites.

No complicated dashboard.

No giant spreadsheet.

No spending hours manually searching Google Maps.

Just leads.

Today, GMapLeads scans Google Maps for businesses without websites and delivers the information directly through Telegram. Each lead can include the business name, category, phone number, address, and listing information. Businesses that already have websites are filtered out before they reach the user.

Then something unexpected happened

The numbers started moving.

More people started signing up.

Then more.

Then even more.

At some point, I realized this wasn't just a little tool I built for myself anymore.

People were actually using it.

Today, GMapLeads has crossed 10,000 users.

That's still crazy to think about.

10,000+ people have used something that started as a small personal tool running on my own infrastructure.

And what's even more interesting isn't just the number.

It's what people are doing with it.

People are using it to find real opportunities

The original reason I built GMapLeads was to help myself find potential clients.

Now other people are using it for the same reason.

Developers use it to find businesses they can pitch websites to.

Agencies use it to discover prospects.

Freelancers use it to build their outreach lists.

People are taking these leads and turning them into conversations.

And some users have even told me they've gotten jobs from leads they found through GMapLeads.

That part means more to me than the 10,000-user milestone.

Because it means the product isn't just producing numbers in a database.

It's helping someone find an opportunity they probably wouldn't have found otherwise.

Someone searches for restaurants in a city.

Another person searches for gyms.

Someone else looks for salons.

They find businesses that don't have websites, reach out, make an offer, and potentially turn that lead into a client.

That's the entire point.

Building for users changed the way I think about products

One of the biggest lessons I've learned from GMapLeads is that you don't always need to start with a huge idea.

You can start with a problem you personally have.

Build the smallest thing that solves it.

Use it.

Then let other people use it.

Listen to what they complain about.

Watch what they actually do.

And keep improving.

GMapLeads didn't become what it is today because I had everything figured out from day one.

It evolved.

The first version solved my problem.

The next version solved the problem for a few other people.

Then more people started using it.

And eventually, I had to build the infrastructure and product around the demand.

That's a completely different experience from building something nobody asked for and hoping people eventually discover it.

What I'm building now

GMapLeads is still evolving.

The core idea hasn't changed:

There are businesses everywhere that need digital services.

The hard part is finding them.

GMapLeads is meant to make that process easier.

Today, users can search for a niche and location, receive qualified no-website leads through Telegram, and have their searches automatically rescanned so they continue discovering new opportunities. The current free tier provides 30 alerts, while the subscription tier removes the monthly cap.

And I'm still improving it.

Because 10,000 users isn't the finish line.

It's proof that the problem is real.

From one developer's problem to thousands of users

If there's one thing I'll take away from building GMapLeads, it's this:

Don't underestimate the small tools you build for yourself.

That little script you build because you're tired of doing something manually might be useful to hundreds of other people.

Maybe thousands.

You don't know until you put it in front of people.

GMapLeads started because I wanted an easier way to find businesses without websites.

It became a product because other people wanted the same thing.

And now, thousands of people are using it to find potential clients and opportunities.

That's probably my favorite part of the whole story.

I didn't start by trying to build a 10,000-user startup.

I started by solving my own problem.

Everything else came after.

GMapLeads started as a tool I built for myself.

Now it's a tool thousands of people use to find their next opportunity.

And we're just getting started.

Try GMapLeads

If you're a developer, freelancer, or agency looking for businesses that need a website, you can try GMapLeads yourself.

Find businesses without websites on Google Maps and turn them into potential clients.

Try GMapLeads: https://gmapleads.0xdaniiel.space/

If you enjoyed the story or want to follow along as I continue building GMapLeads and other products, you can find me on X:

Follow me on X
Thanks for reading!

LinkedIn Is Boring but Here’s How to Actually Use It

Daniel.dev — Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:33:51 +0000

Let’s be honest.

LinkedIn is boring.

Not because it has to be, but because most people use it like a stage instead of a tool.

Endless motivational posts. Fake humility. Long stories that say nothing.

If you are a developer, this gets old very fast.

But here’s the thing.

LinkedIn still works. Just not in the way people tell you it does.

This post is about using LinkedIn quietly, strategically, and without turning into a personal brand mascot.

Why LinkedIn Feels So Bad

LinkedIn feels boring because it rewards the wrong behaviors.

Performative productivity
Forced inspiration
Generic career advice
Copy pasted success stories

None of this helps you as a developer.

And none of it is required to benefit from the platform.

The mistake is thinking LinkedIn is a social network.

It isn’t.

What LinkedIn Actually Is

LinkedIn is a search engine for professionals.

That’s it.

Recruiters are not scrolling for vibes. They are searching for:

Keywords
Titles
Tech stacks
Signals of competence

If your profile is empty, vague, or trying to sound impressive instead of clear, you are invisible.

The goal is not to go viral.

The goal is to be findable.

Fix Your Profile Before You Post Anything

Before writing a single post, do this.

Headline

Stop writing:

Software Engineer | Passionate about tech | Lifelong learner

Write what you actually do:

Frontend Developer building React and Next.js applications

Backend Developer working with Node.js and PostgreSQL

Clarity beats creativity.

About Section

This is not your life story.

Answer three things:

What you do
What you work with
What problems you solve

Short paragraphs. Plain language. No buzzwords.

If a recruiter skims it in 10 seconds, they should understand you.

Experience

Do not list responsibilities.

Show outcomes:

What you built
What you improved
What you shipped

Even personal projects count if they are real.

Stop Posting Like a LinkedIn Influencer

You do not need to:

Post every day
Write long emotional threads
Share fake lessons from basic experiences

That content performs.

It does not convert.

Instead, post when you have something concrete.

Good examples:

A short breakdown of a bug you fixed
A lesson from building a real feature
A screenshot of something you shipped
A clear opinion about a tool you actually used

One solid post a week beats daily noise.

Use Comments Better Than Posts

This is the most underrated tactic.

Commenting does three things:

Puts your name in front of people
Shows how you think
Builds familiarity without self promotion

Find:

Founders
Engineers
Hiring managers

Then comment like a normal human being.
Add insight. Ask good questions. Disagree respectfully.

People remember commenters more than posters.

Use LinkedIn as a Radar, Not a Stage

Scroll less. Observe more.

Pay attention to:

Who is hiring quietly
Who just raised funding
Who keeps talking about the same technical problem

That is signal.

When you reach out, reference something real:

I saw your post about scaling X. I’ve worked on something similar and found Y helpful.

This works because it is contextual, not random.

A Simple Weekly System

You do not need to live on LinkedIn.

Here’s enough:

10 minutes updating profile when needed
2 to 3 thoughtful comments a few times a week
1 post when you genuinely have something to say
Occasional direct messages with context

That’s it.

No burnout. No cringe.

If You Need To Remember One Thing

LinkedIn is boring if you treat it like a personality test.

Used correctly, it is just infrastructure.

A searchable profile. A visibility layer. A quiet leverage tool.

You do not need to love LinkedIn.

You just need to use it on your own terms.

If you found this useful, I share more thoughts like this on X.

Find me on Here

Written by 0xDaniiel

How to Use the Network Tab in Chrome DevTools to Debug Web Requests

Daniel.dev — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:02:03 +0000

If you’ve ever said “the API isn’t working” without knowing why, the Network tab in Chrome DevTools is the first place you should look.

It shows you every request your app makes, what was sent, what came back, and where things went wrong.

Here’s how to actually use it.

Opening the Network Tab

Open your site in Chrome
Right-click anywhere → Inspect
Click the Network tab
Reload the page

Make sure the red recording dot is on, otherwise you won’t see anything.

What You’re Looking At

Every row represents a network request.

Key columns to understand:

Name → the request URL or file name
Status → HTTP status code (200, 404, 500, etc.)
Type → request type (fetch, xhr, document, script)
Size → response size
Time → how long the request took

If something is red, that’s usually where the problem is.

Filtering Requests (Very Important)

Real apps make lots of requests. Use filters to stay sane.

At the top, click:

Fetch / XHR → for API requests
JS / CSS / Img → for assets

Or type part of the endpoint into the filter input to narrow it down.

Inspecting an API Request

Click any request and you’ll see multiple tabs:

Headers

This is where you debug most issues.

Request URL
HTTP method
Request headers
Response headers
Status code

This is where you catch:

Wrong HTTP method
Missing auth headers
CORS issues

Preview

Shows a formatted version of the response (JSON, HTML, etc.).

If your UI is broken but the preview looks fine, the bug is likely frontend logic, not the API.

Response

Raw response body.

If the API returns an error message, it’ll usually be here.

Timing

Shows how long each part of the request took.

Useful for diagnosing:

Slow APIs
Backend performance issues

Common Problems You Can Debug Instantly

404 errors → wrong endpoint
401 / 403 → auth or permission issues
500 errors → backend bug
CORS errors → missing headers on the server
Requests never firing → frontend logic issue

Instead of guessing, the Network tab gives you proof.

Power Tips Most Devs Miss

Enable Preserve log to keep requests after page navigation
Enable Disable cache while DevTools is open
Right-click a request → Copy as cURL to test it in the terminal
Compare request headers between working and broken calls

Why This Matters

Most “frontend bugs” are actually network problems:

Wrong data
Failed requests
Unexpected responses

Once you learn the Network tab, debugging becomes faster, calmer, and way more precise.

If you’re a developer and you’re not using the Network tab daily, you’re working harder than you need to.

I share practical frontend and debugging insights like this on X (Twitter). Follow me if you’re building real-world apps.

Portfolio Tips Nobody Talks About (But Clients Notice Immediately)

Daniel.dev — Sun, 16 Nov 2025 04:31:06 +0000

After going through many portfolios and seeing how clients react, I realized there are a few things most people don’t talk about but really matter.

These are the details that make a portfolio easy to read, professional, and immediately trustworthy.

Here’s what I think everyone should know.

1 🧭 Your homepage must answer one question instantly

Most developers build their portfolio for other developers.

But clients do not think like developers at all.

They are not impressed by animations.
They are not analysing your gradient choices.
They are not checking what CSS framework you used.

They are quickly scanning and asking themselves

Can this person solve my problem without stress

Clients want three answers within three seconds

Who are you
What do you do
How do I contact you

If your homepage starts with long poetic intros they bounce.

Keep it simple.

A clean opener like :
I build clean and reliable web apps for businesses

works far better than any dramatic storytelling.

No mystery. Just clarity.

2 📝 Clients pay attention to how you write about your projects

Most portfolios show project stacks like a shopping list

React → Tailwind → Node → MongoDB

This tells the client absolutely nothing.

Clients care more about the story behind the project

They want to know

What problem it solved
How someone used it
What result it produced

A single honest paragraph is more powerful than twenty buzzwords.

If your work saved someone time

If it reduced manual steps

If someone actually used what you built

Say it clearly.

That is what clients remember.

3 🖼️ Your screenshots matter more than your code

Clients judge your work visually long before they judge your logic.

If the UI looks cluttered they assume you work in a cluttered way.

If your UI looks calm clean and intentional they assume your code follows that pattern too.

Better screenshots follow simple rules

Full width clean images
No loud backgrounds
No strange crops
Clear typography and spacing

Screenshots are your first impression without words.

Treat them like portfolio gold.

4 💡 Clients love clarity more than cleverness

Developers try to show how advanced they are.

Clients just want to understand things quickly.

Clarity shows

You think clearly
You communicate well
You won’t complicate their project

Clarity builds trust immediately.

Clients feel it long before they mention it.

5 👤 Your About page should feel human

Not overly poetic

Not robotic

Just human

What your About page should highlight

How you think about building
How you work with people
Why you are reliable

Clients hire people not programming languages.

Your About page should sound warm real and confident.

6 📩 Make contacting you extremely easy

If someone has to hunt for your email the project is gone.

Make it effortless

One clear email
One simple button
No maze of forms

Clients often decide they like you long before reaching the site’s bottom.

Make sure they can reach you without stress.

7 🎯 Your portfolio isn’t for showing everything you know

It is for showing only the parts that make a client say

Yes this person understands my problem

When you build with this mindset

Your writing
Your visuals *Your structure
Your tone

All start working together in your favour.

🙏 Thanks for reading

If you want more practical insights I share them on X

Has AI Reduced the Cost of Hiring Freelance Software Developers?

Daniel.dev — Sun, 05 Oct 2025 13:22:45 +0000

With the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and even no-code platforms, a big question has started circulating:

Has AI actually made freelance software developers cheaper to hire?

Let’s unpack this.

💰 The Assumption: AI = Lower Costs

Many clients think:

"If AI can generate code, I don’t need to pay as much for a developer."
"Why hire a dev when AI can build the basics?"

This creates a perception that developer fees should go down because “AI is doing the heavy lifting.”

🔍 The Reality: AI Changes the Game, Not the Players

Here’s the catch: AI speeds up parts of development, but it doesn’t replace critical skills like:

Understanding requirements
Structuring an application
Debugging complex errors
Integrating APIs and systems
Ensuring security and scalability

A freelance dev with AI is faster and more productive, but that doesn’t mean their value drops. In fact, it can increase, because projects get delivered quicker.

📉 When Prices Do Drop

AI can reduce costs in certain cases:

Small businesses needing basic websites or MVPs → AI tools + a junior dev may be enough.
Low-skill, repetitive coding tasks → these can be automated or sped up by AI.

This puts pressure on freelancers who rely only on basic coding as their selling point.

📈 When Prices Stay the Same (or Rise)

Skilled freelancers who:

Use AI to speed up their workflow
Offer strategy, architecture, and consulting
Handle complex integrations or scaling challenges

…are still charging the same rates (sometimes higher).

Clients don’t just pay for code; they pay for clarity, speed, and outcomes. AI doesn’t replace that.

🧭 The Future of Freelance Dev Rates

Low-skill gigs → cheaper. Expect AI to undercut simple “build me a landing page” projects.
High-skill gigs → stable or rising. Developers who position themselves as problem-solvers, not just coders, will remain in demand.
AI as leverage, not replacement. Smart freelancers will use AI to justify premium rates because they deliver results faster.

✅ Conclusion

AI hasn’t made all freelance developers cheaper.

Instead, it’s creating a split market:

Cheaper, entry-level projects
Same or higher fees for experienced developers who use AI as a power tool
AI doesn’t devalue developers. It devalues basic coding without strategy.

✍️ What do you think?

Has AI pressured you (as a dev) to lower your rates, or helped you increase your value?

👉 I share thoughts like this daily on X (Twitter). Follow me if you want more insights on dev, freelancing, and AI.

How to Use the Network Tab in Chrome DevTools to Debug Web Requests

Daniel.dev — Wed, 17 Sep 2025 21:59:33 +0000

If you've ever wondered why a request is failing, why your API isn't returning data, or why your assets are slow to load, the Network tab in Chrome DevTools is your best friend.

Let's break it down step by step.

1️⃣ Open Chrome DevTools

Shortcut:
- Windows/Linux: Ctrl + Shift + I
- Mac: Cmd + Option + I
Or right-click anywhere on the page → Inspect → go to Network tab.

2️⃣ Reload the Page with Network Recording

Make sure the red circle at the top-left of the Network tab is recording (it’s red by default).
Reload your page (F5 or Ctrl/Cmd + R) to capture all network activity.

3️⃣ Understand the Columns

Name → file name or request URL
Status → HTTP status (200, 404, 500, etc.)
Type → resource type (document, script, xhr, fetch, etc.)
Initiator → what triggered the request
Size → file size transferred
Time → how long the request took

4️⃣ Filter Requests

Use the filter buttons at the top:

All / XHR / JS / CSS / Img / Media / Font / Doc / WS
Or type part of a URL in the filter bar to narrow down requests.

5️⃣ Inspect a Request

Click on any request to see:

Headers → Request & Response headers, cookies
Preview → parsed response (JSON, HTML, etc.)
Response → raw response
Timing → DNS, TCP, request, and response timing
Cookies → cookies sent or received

6️⃣ Check for Errors

Look for red entries → failed requests.
Status codes help identify issues:
- 404 → Not Found
- 500 → Server Error
- 403 → Forbidden / CORS issue

7️⃣ Useful Tips

Right-click a request → Copy → Copy as cURL to test in terminal.
Check Preserve log if you want network requests to persist across page reloads.
Enable Disable cache while DevTools is open to test fresh requests.

Debugging web requests has never been easier. Mastering the Network tab will save you hours chasing down errors, slow-loading assets, or broken APIs.

👉 Want more quick dev tips? Follow me on X (Twitter) for daily insights.

When useParams Breaks Your Next.js App (And How I Fixed It)

Daniel.dev — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 16:41:28 +0000

You know when you drop useParams() into a client component in Next.js… but the server parent still throws an error?

Error: useParams only works in a Client Component.

Even though you added "use client", Next.js refuses to play nice.

I hit this exact wall — and here’s what’s actually happening, plus the fixes that worked.

Why This Happens

In the App Router, components are split into two worlds:

Server Components → render on the server, no browser-only hooks allowed (useParams, usePathname, etc.).
Client Components → run in the browser, can use those hooks.

The problem: if a server component depends on a client one that uses useParams, the server still tries to evaluate early. Without the right setup, you get hydration mismatches or runtime errors.

Fix #1 — Wrap in `<Suspense>`

The easiest fix is to tell the server: “hey, this client bit might suspend, wait for it.”

// app/[slug]/page.tsx
import { Suspense } from "react";
import SlugClient from "./SlugClient";

export default function Page() {
  return (
    <Suspense fallback={<div>Loading…</div>}>
      <SlugClient />
    </Suspense>
  );
}

// app/[slug]/SlugClient.tsx
"use client";

import { useParams } from "next/navigation";

export default function SlugClient() {
  const { slug } = useParams();
  return <div>Slug is: {slug}</div>;
}

Now the parent server component won’t choke — it streams the client side once it’s ready.

Fix #2 — Force Dynamic Rendering

Sometimes you want runtime rendering instead of static. That’s when you tell Next.js explicitly:

// app/[slug]/page.tsx
export const dynamic = "force-dynamic";

This skips static pre-rendering and makes sure params resolve at runtime.

Fix #3 — Pass Params From Server → Client

If you don’t actually need useParams inside the client, just forward params down:

// app/[slug]/page.tsx
export default function Page({ params }: { params: { slug: string } }) {
  return <SlugClient slug={params.slug} />;
}

// app/[slug]/SlugClient.tsx
"use client";

export default function SlugClient({ slug }: { slug: string }) {
  return <div>Slug is: {slug}</div>;
}

Cleaner, safer, and avoids the hook altogether.

Which One Should You Use?

✅ Want SEO + predictable params? → generateStaticParams or pass them down.
⚡ Need runtime flexibility? → force-dynamic.
🎯 Stuck with client-only hooks (useParams, usePathname)? → wrap in <Suspense>.

I turned my little “why is this broken?” moment into a fix that saved me hours. Hopefully, it saves you too.

👉 Have you hit this bug before? How did you solve it?

Let’s continue the conversation on X (Twitter).

How I Went From Writing My First Lines of Code to Running a Team

Daniel.dev — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 14:31:44 +0000

When I wrote my first lines of code, I was convinced everyone else was smarter than me.

Every bug felt like proof I didn’t belong. That was imposter syndrome whispering in my ear every day

But over time, something shifted. I want to share that journey — not because it’s special, but because I know a lot of devs are on the same path.

🟢 Stage 1: Beginner (Imposter Everywhere)

I doubted myself constantly
Compared my messy code to polished projects on GitHub
Avoided calling myself a “developer” for months

The lesson: your confidence grows from doing, not waiting. No course or tutorial can replace building real things, even small ones.

🟡 Stage 2: Building Confidence

After dozens of small projects and a few freelance gigs, I noticed:

I could debug faster than before
Clients were actually happy with my work
I could explain my choices instead of hiding behind StackOverflow links

Confidence didn’t hit me overnight — it quietly piled up with every bug I fixed and every client who said thanks.

🟠 Stage 3: Mid-Level (From Code Monkey to Problem Solver)

At this point, I wasn’t just coding features. I was:

Asking better questions about why we were building something
Suggesting simpler solutions
Thinking about scalability and maintainability

The lesson: mid-level devs don’t just write code, they think about the business too.

🔵 Stage 4: Agency & Leadership

Eventually, freelancing turned into something bigger.

I hired collaborators, set up systems, and started leading.

That’s when the real growth happened:

Learning to delegate
Keeping clients happy while protecting the team
Balancing vision with execution

I realized leadership had nothing to do with writing the cleanest code, it was about making sure my team had the space to shine.

🎯 What I’d Tell My Beginner Self

Looking back, it’s wild how far things have come — from imposter syndrome to leading projects and people.

If you’re just starting, remember this: every dev you admire once felt clueless too.

Keep building, keep learning, and one day you’ll look back and realize you’ve leveled up more than you thought possible.

✍️ Written by Daniel — I share real stories on freelancing, software, and growing from dev to leader. Follow me for more.

AI or Blockchain: What Should You Learn?

Daniel.dev — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 20:28:45 +0000

Let’s be honest: choosing what to focus on next in tech feels like walking into an ice cream shop with 50 flavors. You know you can’t try them all, but the FOMO is real.

Right now, two flavors dominate every conversation: AI and Blockchain.

Everyone’s either building the next ChatGPT-powered tool 🤖 or trying to launch “the future of decentralized finance” ⛓️.

So the real question is: where should you place your bet?

The Case for AI 🚀

AI isn’t just hype. It’s here to stay and already baked into how businesses run.

Low barrier to entry: You don’t need a PhD in machine learning. APIs and open-source models make it plug-and-play.
Immediate value: Companies already pay for AI-driven features—chatbots, copilots, automation.
Momentum: Investors are pouring billions into AI startups. That means jobs, funding, and opportunities are everywhere.

If you want quick wins, freelancing gigs, or to bootstrap a startup that actually lands customers, AI is the fastest lane.

The Case for Blockchain 🌍

Blockchain isn’t screaming in the headlines like it did in 2021, but don’t mistake silence for death. It’s quietly maturing.

Less crowded: Most people left after the hype cooled. That’s an opportunity for builders who stick around.
Infrastructure shift: Payments, identity, ownership—more and more of it is moving on-chain.
Long-term upside: When blockchain hits its “AI moment” again, those who’ve been here will win big.

If you’re patient, willing to survive cycles, and think in decades, blockchain is the slow burn worth your attention.

So, Which One? 🤷

Here’s the truth:

If you want short-term relevance, clients, and fast monetization, lean into AI.
If you’re after long-term innovation and asymmetric upside, bet on Blockchain.

The smart move? Learn just enough about both so you’re not blind—but double down on the one that matches your goals.

Want clients tomorrow? 👉 AI.
Want to be early to the next wave? 👉 Blockchain.

If You Ask Me 🤔

You don’t have to marry one technology forever. Tech evolves too fast for that. The advantage comes from knowing why you’re picking a path, not just following hype.

Pick, commit, and build something real. That’s how you win.

✍️ Written by Daniel — I share raw insights on tech, startups, and building products that don’t flop. Follow me there for more.

The Developer’s Guide to Pricing Your Work (Without Underselling Yourself)

Daniel.dev — Thu, 14 Aug 2025 18:34:57 +0000

You ever send a proposal, hear nothing for a week…

…and then see the client post the exact same job on Upwork for $50?

Yeah, me too.

Pricing your work as a developer isn’t just math — it’s psychology, positioning, and knowing when to walk away. If you’ve ever underpriced yourself because you “just wanted the project,” this is for you.

Why Developers Struggle With Pricing

You think clients are judging your skill solely by price.
You compare yourself to cheaper devs online.
You forget that clients aren’t buying hours; they’re buying outcomes.
You want the gig so badly you negotiate against yourself.

The “3 Numbers” Pricing Method

Here’s a framework that’s saved me more times than I can count:

Your Survival Rate – The bare minimum to cover bills.
Your Market Rate – What similar devs at your skill level charge.
Your Value Rate – What the solution is worth to the client’s business.

Example:

If your code will help a SaaS company earn $10k/month, charging $800 isn’t “reasonable” — it’s robbery (against yourself).

Pricing Models That Work for Developers

Hourly – Good for unpredictable work. Bad for scope creep if you don’t set limits.
Project-Based – Best for defined outcomes. Price based on value, not hours.
Retainers – Get paid monthly to be “on call” for a client’s needs. Great for stability.

💡 Pro Tip: Always quote a range, not a fixed number at first — it leaves you room to negotiate up, not down.

Red Flags That Mean You Should Walk Away

“We don’t have a budget, but…”
“It’s just a simple job” (famous last words)
“We’ll pay you in exposure”
Any client who flinches at fair prices

How to Confidently State Your Price

Stop apologizing before saying your rate.
Say it, then pause — let them process.
Anchor your price with the value they’re getting, not just the hours you’ll spend.

Example:

“This feature will allow your customers to purchase without leaving the app, which should increase conversions by at least 15%. I can deliver that for $3,500.”

The Mindset Shift

Pricing isn’t just about money. It’s about respect — for your time, your skill, and the results you deliver.

When you stop underselling yourself, you stop attracting clients who undervalue you.

📌 Key Takeaways

Price for the value you bring, not just the hours you work.
Use anchor pricing to set the tone in negotiations.
Always have a rate range — it gives you flexibility and confidence.
Don’t be afraid to say no to lowball offers.

✍️ I write about freelancing, software, and working better with clients. Follow me on X for more practical tips and real stories from the dev world.

🧲 What Kind of Content Should You Post as a Developer to Attract Clients?

Daniel.dev — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 05:55:07 +0000

You're sharing GitHub links and “just shipped this” posts, but no clients are reaching out.

Here’s why:

You’re posting to impress developers. Clients are not developers.

Clients don’t care about React or API rate limits. They care about outcomes: revenue, leads, conversions, speed, trust.

If you want clients (not likes), here’s what to post:

🧠 1. Show How You Think

Clients hire problem-solvers, not just coders.

“Before writing code, I asked the client about their goal. The real issue wasn’t site speed — users weren’t reaching the product page. We fixed that first.”

That earns trust.

📈 2. Share Results, Not Tech Stacks

Don’t say:

“Built a landing page with Next.js.”

Say:

“Bounce rate dropped 30% after rebuilding the landing page. Here’s why it worked.”

Results matter more than tools.

🗣️ 3. Write for Non-Tech People

Clients are founders, marketers, PMs. Skip the jargon.

✅ “We simplified signup, and conversions went up 18%.”

❌ “Refactored the auth flow using Supabase.”

🛠️ 4. Use High-Trust Formats

"If I were hired to..."

→ "If I were hired to fix your onboarding, here’s my week 1 plan."
Process breakdowns

→ "Here’s how I choose dependencies."
Post-mortems

→ What you’d do differently, and why.

💬 5. Use Client Language

Replace:

"Built reusable components"
"Used serverless functions"

With:

"Reduced dev time by 40%"
"Launched 2x faster without backend rebuild"

📅 6. Be Consistent

One smart post won’t earn trust. A few weeks of useful content will.

Clients reach out after they’ve seen enough to trust your thinking.

✅ TL;DR

Stop posting to impress developers. Post to attract buyers.

Show outcomes
Write like a problem-solver
Speak the client’s language

If a founder sees your post and thinks, "I wish our dev thought like this," you’re doing it right.

✍️ I write about freelancing, software, and working with clients.

Follow me on X or read more on client communication and product-building.

How I’d Answer: 'Why Should We Hire You?'

Daniel.dev — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:19:56 +0000

“Why should we hire you?”

It’s one of those questions that feels weird at first, almost like you have to pitch yourself as a product. The more I’ve been asked this (directly or indirectly), the more I’ve learned it’s not a trap but a test of clarity.

Let me break down how I think about it, and how I’d answer it if a founder, team lead, or client asked me today.

🧠 First: It’s not just about skills

Everyone you’re up against probably ticks the skill boxes. That’s not the hard part.

Clients and founders are asking:

Can you actually help us reach our goals?
Will you work like a partner, not a task-taker?
Will you save us from wasting time or money?

Your answer needs to make them feel understood — and show how you’ll be useful.

💡 Here’s how I answer it

I’ve done my research on [your product, mission, and the users you’re building for] — and as someone who’s worked on both the business and user side of similar products, I work closely with teams to build the right features that solve real user and business problems, faster.

In past roles, I contributed to product planning, shaped business decisions, and aligned dev work with company goals — which led to referrals and repeat contracts.

That’s the kind of value I’d bring here.

I ask the right questions, anticipate blockers, simplify complex ideas, communicate clearly, and document well — so teams don’t just build faster, they build smarter.

🛠 Want to write your own version?

Try answering these 3 prompts:

What pain do you remove for your clients?
What’s something clients say after working with you?
What makes your work smooth and reliable — not just “done”?

Put those into a 1-2 sentence value statement.

That’s your answer. Keep it honest. Keep it sharp.

🧩 Final thought

“Why should we hire you?” isn't an insult.

It’s an opportunity to position yourself — not just as a service provider, but as someone who gets it.

You don’t need the flashiest portfolio.

You just need to show you’re the calm, reliable hand in a noisy, risky process.

✍️ I write about freelancing, software, and working better with clients. Follow me on X or check my other blogs on client communication and building products that work.

DEV Community: Daniel.dev

How a Tool I Built for Finding Businesses on Google Maps Grew From a Personal Solution to 10,000+ Users

It started as a simple scraper

Then I realized other developers had the same problem

From my personal script to GMapLeads

Then something unexpected happened

People are using it to find real opportunities

Building for users changed the way I think about products

What I'm building now

From one developer's problem to thousands of users

Try GMapLeads

LinkedIn Is Boring but Here’s How to Actually Use It

Why LinkedIn Feels So Bad

What LinkedIn Actually Is

Fix Your Profile Before You Post Anything

Headline

About Section

Experience

Stop Posting Like a LinkedIn Influencer

Use Comments Better Than Posts

Use LinkedIn as a Radar, Not a Stage

A Simple Weekly System

If You Need To Remember One Thing

How to Use the Network Tab in Chrome DevTools to Debug Web Requests

Opening the Network Tab

What You’re Looking At

Filtering Requests (Very Important)

Inspecting an API Request

Headers

Preview

Response

Timing

Common Problems You Can Debug Instantly

Power Tips Most Devs Miss

Why This Matters

Portfolio Tips Nobody Talks About (But Clients Notice Immediately)

1 🧭 Your homepage must answer one question instantly

2 📝 Clients pay attention to how you write about your projects

3 🖼️ Your screenshots matter more than your code

4 💡 Clients love clarity more than cleverness

5 👤 Your About page should feel human

6 📩 Make contacting you extremely easy

7 🎯 Your portfolio isn’t for showing everything you know

🙏 Thanks for reading

Has AI Reduced the Cost of Hiring Freelance Software Developers?

💰 The Assumption: AI = Lower Costs

🔍 The Reality: AI Changes the Game, Not the Players

📉 When Prices Do Drop

📈 When Prices Stay the Same (or Rise)

🧭 The Future of Freelance Dev Rates

✅ Conclusion

How to Use the Network Tab in Chrome DevTools to Debug Web Requests

1️⃣ Open Chrome DevTools

2️⃣ Reload the Page with Network Recording

3️⃣ Understand the Columns

4️⃣ Filter Requests

5️⃣ Inspect a Request

6️⃣ Check for Errors

7️⃣ Useful Tips

When useParams Breaks Your Next.js App (And How I Fixed It)

Why This Happens

Fix #1 — Wrap in <Suspense>

Fix #2 — Force Dynamic Rendering

Fix #3 — Pass Params From Server → Client

Which One Should You Use?

How I Went From Writing My First Lines of Code to Running a Team

🟢 Stage 1: Beginner (Imposter Everywhere)

🟡 Stage 2: Building Confidence

🟠 Stage 3: Mid-Level (From Code Monkey to Problem Solver)

🔵 Stage 4: Agency & Leadership

🎯 What I’d Tell My Beginner Self

AI or Blockchain: What Should You Learn?

The Case for AI 🚀

The Case for Blockchain 🌍

So, Which One? 🤷

If You Ask Me 🤔

The Developer’s Guide to Pricing Your Work (Without Underselling Yourself)

Why Developers Struggle With Pricing

The “3 Numbers” Pricing Method

Pricing Models That Work for Developers

Fix #1 — Wrap in `<Suspense>`