In this video, the host John from Joyfill sits down with Hasan, creator of Shadcn Form Builder, to walk through the project’s journey—from the first idea to its open‑source traction and beyond.
Where it all began
Hasan explains that the project started as a personal project: he noticed a lack of quality with the current open-source form builders on the web. He began building one himself. He framed it simply: a weekend experiment to see if he could scratch his own itch and build a better tool.
He describes how this led to an initial prototype, and then a decision to open source it publicly. The turning point came when developers started to find it useful and giving him positive feedback.
The unexpected momentum
After publishing the project and sharing it online, Hasan was surprised by how quickly people responded. Within days, the repo gained stars and the conversation spread. He reflects that the project had resonated because it was solving a real problem he had—but one shared by many others.
John asks what surprised him most — Hasan says it was the consensus that yes, there is a need for a tool like this in the community. He emphasizes that he didn’t expect viral growth; he just built something he thought was useful and the community did the rest.
Keeping the project manageable
Hasan is candid about the fact that he has a full‑time job and this is a side effort. He explains how he handles the balancing act:
- Keeping the scope tight rather than trying to build everything all at once.
- Prioritizing sustainability: not burning out.
- Responding to feedback and contributions rather than owning every detail himself.
John presses on how open‑source maintainers often feel the pressure of being the “owner” of the project, and Hasan acknowledges that. His mantra: “Keep it useful, keep it fun.”
Key takeaways for devs and founders
Throughout the conversation, a few recurring lessons emerge:
- Build what you yourself need. Your personal pain can point to something that many others share.
- Ship early rather than waiting for “perfect”. By putting something out there you start the feedback loop.
- Open source fosters community momentum: once other developers find value, they become contributors, advocates.
- Balance ambition with sustainability: keeping things small and focused helps maintain momentum without burnout.
Looking ahead
When asked “what’s next”, Hasan doesn’t commit to a large roadmap. Instead, he shares his mindset: evolve the project as the community uses it, listen to what people ask for, and ensure the tool continues to align with what developers actually want. He sees open‑source as a living ecosystem, not a finished product.
Final reflections
By the end of the interview, the story of Shadcn Form Builder reads less like a typical startup narrative and more like what happens when a developer takes matters into his own hands: notices a friction, builds a simple solution for himself, shares it openly—and discovers that the problem exists for many. For technical people and entrepreneurially minded developers, the take‑away is clear: you don’t need a massive plan to build something meaningful. You need curiosity, willingness to ship, and openness to community.
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