Jake Manger
@jakemanger.bsky.social
A broke PhD student turned indie developer building mini startups like a madman
https://howtoconvert.co ($5k/mo)
https://pictiler.com ($30/mo)
+2 failures
All my projects 👉 https://merlinsbeard.ai
https://howtoconvert.co ($5k/mo)
https://pictiler.com ($30/mo)
+2 failures
All my projects 👉 https://merlinsbeard.ai
This month my side project made $4,000 in a single day
and I grew a moustache
and I grew a moustache
November 12, 2025 at 9:00 AM
This month my side project made $4,000 in a single day
and I grew a moustache
and I grew a moustache
How to Convert has a new update!
It includes a new auto-update checker, which will notify you if there is a new version of the app available (no longer will you have to check manually or look out for these posts!).
It also includes professional RAW camera formats and a bunch of...
It includes a new auto-update checker, which will notify you if there is a new version of the app available (no longer will you have to check manually or look out for these posts!).
It also includes professional RAW camera formats and a bunch of...
November 10, 2025 at 11:39 AM
How to Convert has a new update!
It includes a new auto-update checker, which will notify you if there is a new version of the app available (no longer will you have to check manually or look out for these posts!).
It also includes professional RAW camera formats and a bunch of...
It includes a new auto-update checker, which will notify you if there is a new version of the app available (no longer will you have to check manually or look out for these posts!).
It also includes professional RAW camera formats and a bunch of...
How to Convert has a new update!
It includes a new auto-update checker, which will notify you if there is a new version of the app available (no longer will you have to check manually or look out for these posts!).
It also includes professional RAW camera formats and a bunch of...
It includes a new auto-update checker, which will notify you if there is a new version of the app available (no longer will you have to check manually or look out for these posts!).
It also includes professional RAW camera formats and a bunch of...
November 10, 2025 at 7:37 AM
How to Convert has a new update!
It includes a new auto-update checker, which will notify you if there is a new version of the app available (no longer will you have to check manually or look out for these posts!).
It also includes professional RAW camera formats and a bunch of...
It includes a new auto-update checker, which will notify you if there is a new version of the app available (no longer will you have to check manually or look out for these posts!).
It also includes professional RAW camera formats and a bunch of...
I did some marketing today
November 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I did some marketing today
I made an app that does 3,902 document, video, image, audio and email file conversions.
It does it all locally, not on some random website and it just crossed 1,600 users!
It does it all locally, not on some random website and it just crossed 1,600 users!
November 8, 2025 at 11:40 AM
I made an app that does 3,902 document, video, image, audio and email file conversions.
It does it all locally, not on some random website and it just crossed 1,600 users!
It does it all locally, not on some random website and it just crossed 1,600 users!
I made an app that converts almost any file locally.
And it just had its best day of sales ever!
And it just had its best day of sales ever!
November 6, 2025 at 7:36 AM
I made an app that converts almost any file locally.
And it just had its best day of sales ever!
And it just had its best day of sales ever!
Just read this article about my file converter app! Thanks for the amazing review and spotlight!
It's brought in a surge of new audio engineer users, so I will be adding even more audio conversions to the app in the coming weeks.
It's brought in a surge of new audio engineer users, so I will be adding even more audio conversions to the app in the coming weeks.
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Just read this article about my file converter app! Thanks for the amazing review and spotlight!
It's brought in a surge of new audio engineer users, so I will be adding even more audio conversions to the app in the coming weeks.
It's brought in a surge of new audio engineer users, so I will be adding even more audio conversions to the app in the coming weeks.
Made an app to convert almost any file locally.
And now it has adjusted pricing for 95+ counties (depending on purchasing power)
And now it has adjusted pricing for 95+ counties (depending on purchasing power)
November 2, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Made an app to convert almost any file locally.
And now it has adjusted pricing for 95+ counties (depending on purchasing power)
And now it has adjusted pricing for 95+ counties (depending on purchasing power)
Just rolled out localised pricing across 95+ countries!
Now everyone can access the app at a fair price for their region
Now everyone can access the app at a fair price for their region
November 1, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Just rolled out localised pricing across 95+ countries!
Now everyone can access the app at a fair price for their region
Now everyone can access the app at a fair price for their region
I made an app that converts almost any file locally. And it’s on sale for Halloween 🎃
October 31, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I made an app that converts almost any file locally. And it’s on sale for Halloween 🎃
🎃 Only 1 day left of How to Convert's Halloween Sale!
October 30, 2025 at 11:30 AM
🎃 Only 1 day left of How to Convert's Halloween Sale!
Not all projects work out.
Sometimes you've got to take them around the barn and put them out of their misery
Sometimes you've got to take them around the barn and put them out of their misery
October 30, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Not all projects work out.
Sometimes you've got to take them around the barn and put them out of their misery
Sometimes you've got to take them around the barn and put them out of their misery
Microsoft just launched Mico and hit the top of Product Hunt
Aaaaannd all the comments are AI bots
I’ve heard people say Product Hunt is pay to win. Now I believe it.
You seriously can’t detect bot votes and comments that obvious?
Aaaaannd all the comments are AI bots
I’ve heard people say Product Hunt is pay to win. Now I believe it.
You seriously can’t detect bot votes and comments that obvious?
October 29, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Microsoft just launched Mico and hit the top of Product Hunt
Aaaaannd all the comments are AI bots
I’ve heard people say Product Hunt is pay to win. Now I believe it.
You seriously can’t detect bot votes and comments that obvious?
Aaaaannd all the comments are AI bots
I’ve heard people say Product Hunt is pay to win. Now I believe it.
You seriously can’t detect bot votes and comments that obvious?
A damn good feeling
October 29, 2025 at 3:25 AM
A damn good feeling
The emotions of a week as an indie developer
October 28, 2025 at 10:11 PM
The emotions of a week as an indie developer
Top of r/macapps again!
October 26, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Top of r/macapps again!
Just shipped some usability updates 🚀
1. The app now resizes to smaller windows
2. You can set your save location before converting (super helpful for big files)
1. The app now resizes to smaller windows
2. You can set your save location before converting (super helpful for big files)
October 26, 2025 at 6:46 AM
Just shipped some usability updates 🚀
1. The app now resizes to smaller windows
2. You can set your save location before converting (super helpful for big files)
1. The app now resizes to smaller windows
2. You can set your save location before converting (super helpful for big files)
🧛♂️ Don’t let your files get sucked into the cloud.
Convert them safely on your device.
My app How to Convert is on sale for Halloween 👻
3,902 conversions supported.
Convert them safely on your device.
My app How to Convert is on sale for Halloween 👻
3,902 conversions supported.
October 26, 2025 at 12:21 AM
🧛♂️ Don’t let your files get sucked into the cloud.
Convert them safely on your device.
My app How to Convert is on sale for Halloween 👻
3,902 conversions supported.
Convert them safely on your device.
My app How to Convert is on sale for Halloween 👻
3,902 conversions supported.
I used to Google “convert X to Y” every time I needed a file conversion.
Got tired of shady sites.
Now I just drag & drop into my own app.
Supports 3k+ conversions. Runs locally.
Got tired of shady sites.
Now I just drag & drop into my own app.
Supports 3k+ conversions. Runs locally.
October 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I used to Google “convert X to Y” every time I needed a file conversion.
Got tired of shady sites.
Now I just drag & drop into my own app.
Supports 3k+ conversions. Runs locally.
Got tired of shady sites.
Now I just drag & drop into my own app.
Supports 3k+ conversions. Runs locally.
One year ago today, I decided to go for it and register my own company.
1 year later - I have two profitable products, over 100,000 site visitors and $45k in revenue!
Best decision I've ever made
1 year later - I have two profitable products, over 100,000 site visitors and $45k in revenue!
Best decision I've ever made
October 23, 2025 at 11:29 AM
One year ago today, I decided to go for it and register my own company.
1 year later - I have two profitable products, over 100,000 site visitors and $45k in revenue!
Best decision I've ever made
1 year later - I have two profitable products, over 100,000 site visitors and $45k in revenue!
Best decision I've ever made
My local file conversion site just crossed 100,000 visitors!
It feels great after making the site to sell my app all on my own, no 30% Apple cut!
It feels great after making the site to sell my app all on my own, no 30% Apple cut!
October 22, 2025 at 8:59 AM
My local file conversion site just crossed 100,000 visitors!
It feels great after making the site to sell my app all on my own, no 30% Apple cut!
It feels great after making the site to sell my app all on my own, no 30% Apple cut!
HN sent ~11k visitors in a day to Pictiler and nearly melted my server.
What I learned: people on HN love cool algorithms that process data and make something (in this case, photomosaics). It's a nerdy audience, so be a nerd.
Shipping more along that axis next
What I learned: people on HN love cool algorithms that process data and make something (in this case, photomosaics). It's a nerdy audience, so be a nerd.
Shipping more along that axis next
October 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
HN sent ~11k visitors in a day to Pictiler and nearly melted my server.
What I learned: people on HN love cool algorithms that process data and make something (in this case, photomosaics). It's a nerdy audience, so be a nerd.
Shipping more along that axis next
What I learned: people on HN love cool algorithms that process data and make something (in this case, photomosaics). It's a nerdy audience, so be a nerd.
Shipping more along that axis next
What happened next was amazing.
I got so many feature requests that I couldn't keep up.
People were thrilled that I listened to them. They bought the product just to support me.
I made $10,000 in 2 months.
Now at $45,000 9 months later!
I got so many feature requests that I couldn't keep up.
People were thrilled that I listened to them. They bought the product just to support me.
I made $10,000 in 2 months.
Now at $45,000 9 months later!
October 19, 2025 at 10:56 AM
What happened next was amazing.
I got so many feature requests that I couldn't keep up.
People were thrilled that I listened to them. They bought the product just to support me.
I made $10,000 in 2 months.
Now at $45,000 9 months later!
I got so many feature requests that I couldn't keep up.
People were thrilled that I listened to them. They bought the product just to support me.
I made $10,000 in 2 months.
Now at $45,000 9 months later!
People loved it and my posts did better because of it.
They wanted to be heard by the creator - an actual person, not some large corporation.
They wanted to be heard by the creator - an actual person, not some large corporation.
October 19, 2025 at 10:56 AM
People loved it and my posts did better because of it.
They wanted to be heard by the creator - an actual person, not some large corporation.
They wanted to be heard by the creator - an actual person, not some large corporation.
I built my first successful side project by building features my users wanted.
Before then, I would waste hours on things that didn't matter.
I spent 2 years on my last project - building tests, tweaking styling, optimising page load times and what did that get me?
$0 😔
What changed is...
Before then, I would waste hours on things that didn't matter.
I spent 2 years on my last project - building tests, tweaking styling, optimising page load times and what did that get me?
$0 😔
What changed is...
October 19, 2025 at 10:56 AM
I built my first successful side project by building features my users wanted.
Before then, I would waste hours on things that didn't matter.
I spent 2 years on my last project - building tests, tweaking styling, optimising page load times and what did that get me?
$0 😔
What changed is...
Before then, I would waste hours on things that didn't matter.
I spent 2 years on my last project - building tests, tweaking styling, optimising page load times and what did that get me?
$0 😔
What changed is...