One month ago I decided to spend one month for building the very first version of my new product.
I had in my mind that I can work approximately 5-6 hours.
I created a list of all the features I want to implement for the month. I estimated each requirement and calculated the sum - totally it was around 120 hours. I thought I would be able to finish it earlier if I would work 5-6 hours in a day. The reality was I managed to spend only 4-5 hours, sometimes even less.
Another problems were:
Having spent a better part of the last 2 decades building software products, I must say that for you to finish a month-long sprint with only 2-3 days time budget slippage is a very good result, especially for a brand new product.
Here's how I would think about the next steps:
Hope this helps.
Did you hear this from more than two actual potential users?
If yes, then you know what to do: work on making it “not ugly”
If no, then go out, find a handful of potential users and listen to what they tell you.
If you get potential user’s opinions and they say nothing about “ugly”, then you know what to do.
2 things:
To make it psychologically easier to gather this sort of feedback, do the following thought experiment: assume that 99% of potential users find your software unusable and will never ever become actual customers. You are not losing them, because you have never “had” them. Then ask for their honest feedback and listen without reacting or getting defensive.
Last thing: did you read the IH interview with the author of Keygen, the part about not having the admin UI? What does that story tell you?
Welcome to the software building. For every feature you implement, you add another. And as the other commentators stated, only needing 2 to 3 days more is pretty damn good planning.
I on the other hand have been off by months. Luckily im actually releasing my app in about two days (again probably a huge understimate, to be more exact - roughly a week)
You started, meaning you already won :) besides, most time estimates are usually under-estimates so you did well
Mine was underestimated too :))
It seems to me you did pretty well to get as far as you did.
It's a challenge to define your MVP and stick to it. Adding features is probably the biggest problem for all product creators, especially those working alone because you don't have somebody to pull your back. There's no accountability and you want to push the best product you can.
I would relax a little about it. Put the time into finishing the product, if the website is critical then build it but prioritize getting your first users above all else and iterate from there.
I don't think you lost at all.
Thanks!
I'm trying to stop rushing and relax, not easy though :)))