This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/selfhosted by /u/zipsm15 on 2025-02-24 14:18:42+00:00.
One year ago, I was a high school student with an idea, a passion for adventure, and a vision to build a self-hosted adventure tracking app—something I felt was missing. I remember clicking the post button on Reddit, sharing my project with the world, and hoping for the best. I will never forget that day, the excitement, the uncertainty, and the thrill of putting my work out there. Fast forward to today, now in college, and that idea has become a reality. AdventureLog has officially hit 100,000 downloads just six months after launch!
In case you are new, AdventureLog is a travel tracker and trip planner that allows users to log their adventures, create custom itineraries, and share their experiences with others.
I've learned so much along this journey—from tackling unfamiliar programming languages like Python and TypeScript, to diving into modern frameworks such as Svelte, and most importantly, from building a community around a project I truly believe in. Here, I want to share my experiences and key lessons learned, hoping to help others who are just starting out or looking to build their own projects.
Key Lessons Learned
1. Find Your Niche
Instead of building another clone, I spotted a gap in the market—a need for a self-hosted adventure tracking app that I would use myself. Focusing on a niche I was passionate about made every feature more meaningful and authentic.
2. Listen to Community Feedback and Requests
AdventureLog wouldn't be where it is today without the incredible community that has formed around it. By actively listening to feedback and feature requests, I've been able to shape the app to better serve its users.
3. Think Scalability from Day One
Anticipating growth early on was crucial. By planning for scalability and refactoring code to be flexible, AdventureLog can handle the increasing number of users without a hitch.
Looking Ahead
I'm thrilled about what the future holds for AdventureLog. Upcoming features include AdventureLog Discover—a public template repository for seamless trip planning—and a mobile client for on-the-go adventure tracking. More integrations are on the horizon, aiming to make the app even more powerful for adventurers everywhere.
Thank You!
I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has downloaded, contributed, or provided feedback. Your support is the driving force behind AdventureLog's growth. Developers, feel free to share your own experiences and lessons learned in the comments below!