Would you call your product a success if you are the only active user of it?
What do you think?
Do you have a product which solves a problem but you are the only one currently using it? Is it a good thing or a bad thing?
In my case, I have a product which has over 50 users but they are NOT active users.
Interestingly, I am using my product more than anyone because I can see that in stats ð (of course, its logging the development time but still).
I would love to know what you guys have to say about this?
I would say it depends. If you have a business plan, and one of your goals is to have 2 paying customers by a certain date and you have not achieved that goal, then you need to work harder or smarter to achieve it. If your product is just a side product and helps your main business, then perhaps you can count on it as a success.
This also implies that we should know the difference between a side project and a product. right?
Depends whether you consider your side project a product or not. If it is, then there is no difference. All up to he who defines it.
Nope, the goal of most indie hackers is to replace their income. If it doesn't do that it is a failure (hopefully you learnt something with it and can either pivot or start a new project)
I understand. And what would you do if you have a failure project? What would you do with it? Just close it down?
Depends, if it requires a lot of servers and maintenance sure.
If it doesn't then i would keep it up, but focus else where.