Hello everyone. Today I want to share who I am, what I'm building, and why.
You might ask: "Do we really need another developer building tools? Aren't there enough companies already?" Yes, there are. But to understand Mendex, we need to go back — long before it existed.
The Beginning
17 years ago, I started my career as a developer at a large company in Europe. Everything began well — I had discipline, ambition, and a hunger to grow. I worked full-time during the day and attended university at night.
Things were going well. But day by day, I started feeling tired. A tiredness that wouldn't go away with sleep. That wouldn't fade with weekends or vacations. Nothing stopped it.
Until one day, I wasn't myself anymore.
I couldn't control my emotions. I cried. I couldn't get out of bed. I couldn't work. For the first time, a doctor sedated me. I spent days sleeping.
That was my first burnout. It came silently and changed my life forever.
The same thing would happen three more times over the years.
The Search for Answers
For years, I consulted specialists trying to understand what was wrong with me. The answers were always the same. I felt like a lab rat — medication X, then Y, then Z. Nothing worked.
I never stopped trying to figure out why I was different. Why I seemed weaker than everyone around me. Why I couldn't reach my goals.
The Fall
In 2017, while recovering from my second major burnout, the worst happened.
I was hospitalized with severe respiratory failure. Critical values. I fought to survive. I fought to keep trying.
But I came out carrying something new: severe asthma.
I don't know if there's a connection between years of fighting burnout and my respiratory condition awakening. But here I was.
Fast forward to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being extremely careful, I was infected four times. Each time, I managed to overcome it — with difficulty, but I survived.
The Discovery
In 2025, after countless professionals and years of searching, my answers finally arrived.
I discovered I'm neurodivergent. I have AuDHD — both autism and ADHD.
For 37 years, I had been playing life's game with the wrong rulebook.
The news made me incredibly happy. Finally, I had my answer. But it also brought immense sadness. I had lived my entire life the wrong way. That's why I never achieved what I wanted. And now, finding work would be even harder.
The Final Blow
I thought I was ready to start again. But life had one more thing to throw at me.
Its name: PRISm.
After fighting so hard to integrate into society the right way, my body said enough. I don't know if it did it for me or against me. It's hard to understand when your lung capacity is reduced by 31% — and likely progressing.
This one took me to the bottom.
I survived so much, and now I'm facing a condition that requires me to protect myself at all costs. I cannot risk another burnout — the implications could accelerate the PRISm.
And my country, which promises to care for its people? It considered me a disposable asset and discarded me accordingly. I have no right to any support. No concern for helping me. In their eyes, I'm no longer useful to society.
Why Mendex Exists
The sadness. The anger. They led me to start Mendex.
I will work for myself. By myself. With one mission:
To help people like me — solo developers, startups, small businesses — the right way.
Self-hosted tools that respect privacy in a world where privacy becomes harder to maintain every day.
I will never compromise my principles:
- Open source first
- Privacy by default
- Fair pricing for those who need advanced features
- No venture capital, no growth-at-all-costs mentality
How Do I Survive?
Right now, on the absolute minimum. No going out. No treatments I can't afford. Not spending a single cent I don't have to.
With open source, my only path to sustainability is people who want to join the Mendex community. Follow my story. Use my products. Become sponsors of this journey.
There are many surprises to come.
"What If It Doesn't Work?"
It will work.
Unfortunately, I have no other options. My health is degraded. But giving up? I will never do that.
Because if I were going to give up, I might as well not be here at all.
And I'm here. Alive. Fighting.
Where to Find Me & My Work
🌐 Website: mendex.io
🐙 GitHub: github.com/mendexio
𝕏 Twitter/X: @mendexio
Support the Journey:
☕ Ko-fi
Every star, follow, and share keeps this dream alive.
— Filipe, Founder of Mendex
"To give up, I might as well not be here."
Top comments (2)
😲 What a story! I can’t wait to use your products, because I know they will be awesome. Why I know that? Like you said.. you don't have a plan B.
Keep strong!
Always Strong! It's time to live 💪🏻