Glossary
What does "build in public" mean?
Building in public means sharing what you are building as you build it: progress, decisions, numbers and mistakes, usually on social media or a blog.
The short definition
To build in public is to work on a product openly. Instead of launching after months of silence, you post along the way: what you shipped this week, what you learned, how many users you have, sometimes what you earn.
The term became popular among indie hackers in the late 2010s, alongside "open startups" that published live revenue and traffic dashboards.
Why people do it
- Audience before launch. People who watched you build are more likely to try what you ship.
- Accountability. A weekly update is a deadline.
- Feedback. Problems get spotted early by people who care.
- Trust. Real numbers, including bad months, make you credible.
It is not for everyone. Some products have competitors who would happily copy, and some people simply prefer quiet.
What to share
A useful starting set: what you shipped, one lesson, one number (users, revenue or traffic), and what is next. Keep the number consistent from update to update so trends are visible.
Verified numbers beat screenshots. Read how to build in public and building in public: sharing revenue and failures.
Tools that help
makerhandle gives each project a public status, verified revenue from Stripe or Shopify and an optional public stats page. Link it from every update and the latest numbers are always one tap away. See makerhandle for building in public.
Questions
What is an example of building in public?
Posting a weekly update with what you shipped, one lesson and your current revenue or user count.
Do I have to share revenue to build in public?
No. Many people share progress and lessons only. Revenue is optional.
What is an open startup?
A company that publishes key metrics, like revenue and traffic, openly and continuously.
Where should I build in public?
Wherever your audience is: X, LinkedIn, Indie Hackers, a newsletter or a blog, with one link that collects it all.
Start building in public
Free for up to 5 projects. Pro is $20/year.