Notes
Notes from building
I post what I'm building a few times a week, including the parts that aren't working. The longer ones live here: founder stories, tech solutions, tutorials and tips.
- Founder stories14 Oct 20263 min readRunning four products as the only developerXavierStack, LocalUncle, BookMeDrive and mydockspace, with one developer. The rules that keep it from falling apart.
- Tutorials13 Oct 20263 min readDeploy Django with Docker and GitHub ActionsPush to main and your Django app rebuilds and redeploys itself. A Dockerfile, a compose file and one GitHub Actions workflow.
- India and Tricity12 Oct 20263 min readIs self-drive car rental legal in India?Yes, but not with your private car. What the Rent a Cab Scheme says, what a black number plate means, and what to check before you rent out a vehicle.
- Founder stories11 Oct 20263 min readFrom web design to AI: eleven years of switching stacksHTML and Photoshop in 2015, Laravel, React, testing, automation, Python and now AI. What each stage taught me that I still use.
- Tutorials10 Oct 20263 min readNext.js frontend with a Django REST backendThe setup I use for BookMeDrive: Django REST Framework for the API, Next.js for the site, and the three settings that trip everyone up.
- Tech solutions9 Oct 20263 min readOne account, two workspaces: renters and hosts in one appOn BookMeDrive, the same person can rent a car and list one. How to model that without two sign-ups or a mess of flags.
- Tips and tools8 Oct 20262 min read7 Django settings I change on every new projectThe default settings.py is fine for a tutorial. These are the seven changes I make before writing any real code.
- Tech solutions7 Oct 20262 min readWhatsApp-first enquiries instead of in-app chatWhy BookMeDrive sends enquiries straight to WhatsApp, and how to build pre-filled WhatsApp links that tell the owner exactly what the renter wants.
- Tips and tools6 Oct 20262 min readn8n vs Make vs Zapier for small businessesI've built automations in all three. Here's how they differ, and which one I'd pick for a small business, a developer, or a team that never wants to think about servers.
- India and Tricity5 Oct 20262 min readDPIIT startup recognition: what it actually gives youXavierStack is DPIIT recognised. Here's who qualifies, what the recognition really gets you, and the one tax benefit that needs a separate approval.
Work with me
Two ways to work together
If you run a business in Tricity
XavierStack builds websites, apps and booking systems for local businesses. That's the better door for you.
If you're outside India
I take a few remote projects at a time. Django, Laravel, React, Next.js, and deployment, built end to end by the person who'll actually maintain it. I've shipped two live marketplaces, so I know what breaks once real users show up.
Projects start at $150. Also open to remote full-stack roles.