Notes on building.
Guides on mobile apps, web platforms and AI products. Cost breakdowns, stack comparisons and how we ship.
Zod vs Valibot vs ArkType: TypeScript Schema Validation in 2026
Three libraries dominate TypeScript validation in 2026, and the right choice now depends on whether you care more about bundle size, raw speed, or ecosystem gravity. Here's how they actually compare.
Technology · Mar 4, 2026 · 12 min read
SQLite for Production: Turso vs LiteFS vs Cloudflare D1 in 2026
SQLite used to be the database you embedded in a mobile app. In 2026 it is a legitimate production option. Here is how Turso, LiteFS, and Cloudflare D1 actually compare.
Technology · Mar 4, 2026 · 13 min read
React 19 Features Every Startup CTO Should Know in 2026
React 19 is the biggest release in a decade. Here's an opinionated CTO take on what actually matters for startups, what to adopt now, and what to wait on.
Technology · Mar 4, 2026 · 13 min read
How to Build an AI Phone Receptionist for SMBs in 2026
An opinionated 2026 guide to building an AI phone receptionist for restaurants, clinics, and home services using Vapi, Bland.ai, Retell, Twilio, Deepgram, and ElevenLabs.
AI & strategy · Mar 4, 2026 · 14 min read
How to Build an AI Video Generation Product in 2026
An opinionated, engineering-first playbook for building an AI video generation product in 2026, covering Sora, Veo, Runway, Pika, Luma, Kling, pipelines, GPU costs, and real unit economics.
AI & strategy · Mar 4, 2026 · 14 min read
AI Memory and Context Engineering for Production Agents in 2026
Prompt engineering got you a demo. Context engineering gets you a product. Here is how serious teams actually manage memory for AI agents running in production in 2026.
AI & strategy · Mar 4, 2026 · 14 min read
Build vs Buy AI: A Decision Framework for Startup Founders in 2026
Every founder I talk to in 2026 is stuck on the same question: should we build our own AI or just buy Intercom Fin and move on? Here's the framework I use to decide.
AI & strategy · Mar 4, 2026 · 13 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Build an HR and Payroll Platform in 2026?
Building an HR and payroll platform is two hard products in one box: employee data that everyone else in the company touches, and a payroll engine where a single math error can trigger IRS penalties. Here's what it actually costs.
Cost & planning · Mar 4, 2026 · 13 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Language Learning App in 2026?
After Duolingo's IPO made gamified language learning look easy, every founder thinks they can ship a Spanish app in 90 days. Here's what it actually costs to build one people will use for more than three days.
Cost & planning · Mar 4, 2026 · 12 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Cannabis Dispensary App in 2026?
Cannabis apps look like normal e-commerce until you realize you cannot use Stripe, you must file weekly reports with Metrc, and your customers must be ID-verified on every visit. That is where the cost gap comes from.
Cost & planning · Mar 4, 2026 · 12 min read
How Non-Technical Founders Can Lead AI Product Development
67% of startup founders are non-technical. AI is becoming core to every product. Here is how to lead AI development without writing a single line of code.
AI & strategy · Mar 3, 2026 · 14 min read
How to Build a Salon and Spa Booking App in 2026
Salon owners are drowning in no-shows, DMs, and a patchwork of spreadsheets. Here is how to build a booking app that actually reduces cancellations and grows revenue.
How to build · Mar 3, 2026 · 14 min read