From rebuilding engines to building digital ones — my Indie Hacker story 🚀
Hey Indie Hackers 👋
About 15 years ago, I taught myself to code (back when Stack Overflow was the new shiny thing 😅).
After a few years, I became a head developer at an international company — but eventually realized I needed a change of pace.
My other passion had always been engines and motorcycles, so I stepped away from the screen and opened an engine rebuilding workshop. I ran it for years, loved the craft, and learned a ton about running a business hands-on.
Last year, after selling that business, I came back to coding — but this time with a different mindset. I’ve spent the past year diving deep into modern web tech, automation, and AI, and it feels amazing to rediscover why I fell in love with building things in the first place.
Now I’m focused on combining what I’ve learned from both worlds: the precision and problem-solving of mechanical work, with the creativity and speed of software.
Wow this is interesting. Tell me how you are applying knowledge from your mechanical business into coding? Is it the business running part only or there are some other things that’s helping from the past job?
Welcome back Oskars. Similar path here — I'm a developer who builds tools for mechanical engineers (SolidWorks add-ins, CAD automation). The mechanical world teaches you things about real constraints that pure software never does. That combo of hands-on and code is rare and underrated. What are you building?
That’s an incredible journey ....from mechanical precision to digital creativity.
What a fascinating journey! From head developer to engine rebuilding and back again. That's a unique blend of experiences. The "precision and problem-solving of mechanical work, with the creativity and speed of software" sounds like a powerful combination.
Love this journey, Oskars! 🔧💻
The shift from mechanical engines to digital ones is such a cool crossover — both require a builder’s mindset. Great to see you back in tech with a fresh perspective. Excited to follow what you create next! 🚀
That's a great story going from physical engines to digital ones. To keep those new engines running you'll need a steady stream of projects. A targeted email machine can act as your fuel pump, automatically finding people who need your new tech skills so you can stay focused on building. We've seen this bring 3-4 new projects monthly for other devs.
Happy to go for a partnership here :)