Dev Tools · 1h ago
Why 'Building in Public' Can Backfire for Developers
The practice of announcing projects before they exist can drain productivity and trust, as the dopamine from posting replaces actual building. Pre-announcements borrow attention against unfinished work, risking the Osborne effect where hype kills demand. Shipping first and then sharing builds credibility through real artifacts.
Meridian48 take
The article makes a valid point about the hidden costs of pre-ship hype, but the advice is most relevant for solo devs and small teams, not large companies where marketing timelines are separate from engineering.
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