Glossary
What does build in public mean?
Building in public means sharing a product's progress openly while you build it: revenue, metrics, decisions, mistakes and lessons, usually on X, LinkedIn, Indie Hackers or a blog. It builds an audience and trust before and after launch, and many indie founders use it as their main distribution.
What people share
- Revenue and user numbers, often monthly.
- Product decisions and why.
- Failures and what they learned.
- Launch results, including bad ones.
- Screenshots of new features.
Benefits
An audience that follows the journey shows up on launch day, gives feedback early and often becomes the first customers. Public numbers also attract other founders, journalists and podcasts looking for real stories.
Risks
Competitors can copy what works, and public metrics invite pressure. Many founders share percentages, lessons and screenshots rather than every number.
Example
An indie founder posts weekly updates on building a niche tool for six months: first user, first $100, a failed feature. When she launches on Product Hunt, 400 followers come to comment, and the launch places in the top three.
FAQ
Where do people build in public?
Mostly X, LinkedIn, Indie Hackers and personal blogs or newsletters.
Do I need to share revenue?
No. Many share progress and lessons without exact numbers.
Does building in public help launches?
Yes, it creates an audience that shows up on launch day.
How often should I post when building in public?
Weekly is common; consistency matters more than frequency.
What should I not share when building in public?
Customer data, security details and anything that would hurt users or partners if made public.