Reddit r/SideProject Post Strategy¶
Date: November 6, 2025 Target: Supportive feedback + 5-10 beta testers Expected Reach: 200-1,000 views Expected Conversion: 5-10% = 10-50 interested people
Why r/SideProject?¶
Different audience than r/devops: - More supportive, less critical - Founders/makers (not just engineers) - Love seeing indie hacker journeys - Will give constructive feedback - Often beta test each other's products
Benefits: - Easier to get traction (less competitive) - Can post about the journey, not just the product - Community upvotes based on effort, not just polish - Good for morale (Reddit can be harsh, r/SideProject is friendly)
Post Version 1: Founder Journey (Recommended)¶
Title:
Body:
Hey r/SideProject!
I've been lurking here for months, watching you all ship amazing things. Finally ready to share mine.
**What I built:**
CodeSlick - Automated security analysis for GitHub PRs
**What it does:**
- Scans PRs for 79+ security vulnerabilities (SQL injection, XSS, hardcoded secrets, etc.)
- AI-powered fix suggestions
- OWASP Top 10 compliance
- Works for JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, Java
**The journey:**
**Month 1 (July):** Wrote first JavaScript analyzer. Found 5 SQL injection patterns. Thought I'd be done in a month. LOL.
**Month 2 (Aug):** Added Python support. Realized false positives are brutal. Rebuilt analyzer 3 times.
**Month 3 (Sept):** GitHub App integration. Learned webhooks the hard way (missed events, duplicate processing, etc.). Rewrote queue system twice.
**Month 4 (Oct):** Added dependency scanning, UI polish, billing (Stripe), authentication (NextAuth). Somehow it all works now.
**Stats:**
- 15,000+ lines of code
- 536 passing tests
- A- OWASP security rating
- 0 beta users (hence this post!)
**Tech stack:**
- Next.js 15 + TypeScript
- Neon Postgres
- Vercel hosting
- Stripe for billing
- GitHub App API
**What I learned:**
1. **Shipping is harder than building** - Product has been "done" for 3 weeks. Marketing it? No idea how.
2. **Pricing is the hardest part** - Changed pricing model 4 times:
- Per-repo ($29/mo) - nobody bought
- Per-analysis ($0.50 each) - too confusing
- Per-developer ($19/mo) - competed with Snyk ($98/mo), felt cheap
- Per-team (€99 for 5 devs) - current model
3. **False positives will kill you** - First version had 30% false positive rate. Users hated it. Now down to 5-10% but still working on this.
4. **Solo is lonely** - No cofounder to bounce ideas off. No team to celebrate wins. Just me and ChatGPT.
**Current challenge:**
I need beta testers. Like, badly.
I've built this whole thing, it works, but I have no users. My LinkedIn posts got 2 likes (one was my mom). Reddit r/devops was better but still only got 3 signups.
So I'm here, asking for help.
**If you're a developer/founder who:**
- Uses GitHub (JavaScript, Python, Java, TypeScript)
- Has a team of 2-5 people
- Cares about security (or should care)
- Is willing to test a new tool for 20 mins
**I'll give you:**
- Free for 3 months (no credit card)
- Priority support (I'll fix bugs immediately)
- Your feedback shapes the product
- 50% off forever if you like it (€49/month)
**Demo:** [link to demo video if you have one]
**Live site:** https://codeslick.dev
**Honest limitations:**
- I'm solo, so no 24/7 support
- GitHub only (no GitLab yet)
- 4 languages only (no Go/Rust yet)
- Some false positives (~5-10%)
**Why I'm posting here:**
r/SideProject has been inspiring me for months. Seeing people ship, fail, learn, and ship again. That's what I've been doing.
Now I need help taking it from "working product" to "real business."
Thanks for reading. Any feedback welcome (even brutal).
---
**UPDATE:** If you're interested, comment or DM me. I'll send you setup instructions (takes 5 mins).
Post Version 2: Numbers-Focused (If You Want Metrics)¶
Title:
Body:
Solo dev sharing my 4-month journey building CodeSlick.
**What it is:**
Automated security analysis for GitHub PRs. Think Snyk but 80% cheaper.
**By the numbers:**
- 15,000+ lines of code written
- 536 automated tests (100% passing)
- 79+ security check patterns
- 4 programming languages supported (JS/TS/Python/Java)
- 3 pricing model changes
- 2 complete architecture rewrites
- 1 solo founder (me)
- 0 users (need beta testers!)
**Time breakdown:**
- Month 1: Core analyzers (50 hours)
- Month 2: False positive reduction (60 hours)
- Month 3: GitHub integration (70 hours)
- Month 4: UI/billing/auth (40 hours)
- Total: ~220 hours (nights + weekends)
**Money spent:**
- Vercel hosting: €20/month
- Neon Postgres: €0 (free tier)
- GitHub App: €0 (free)
- Stripe: €0 (pay as you go)
- Domain: €12/year
- Total: ~€100 so far
**Biggest mistakes:**
1. **Built for 3 months before talking to users** - Should have validated idea first. Now I have a product and no users.
2. **Over-engineered everything** - 536 tests? Really? Could have launched with 50 tests and iterated based on feedback.
3. **Changed pricing 4 times** - Cost me 2 weeks of dev time updating Stripe, billing UI, docs, etc.
4. **Didn't build an audience** - Zero Twitter followers, 50 LinkedIn connections. Should have been building in public from day 1.
**What went right:**
1. **Shipped** - Many people plan forever. I shipped in 4 months.
2. **Quality** - A- OWASP security rating, 536 tests, production-ready.
3. **Learned a ton** - AST parsing, static analysis, GitHub APIs, Stripe webhooks, all new to me.
**Need help:**
Looking for 10 beta testers:
- GitHub-based workflow
- JavaScript/Python/Java/TypeScript code
- Team of 2-5 developers
- 20 mins to test + give feedback
Free for 3 months, priority support, shape the roadmap.
**Comment or DM if interested.**
Also open to feedback on:
- Pricing (€99/month for 5 devs - too high? too low?)
- Positioning (how to market this?)
- Distribution (where should I post this?)
---
Solo founder learning as I go. Thanks for reading!
Post Version 3: Vulnerable & Personal (Highest Engagement)¶
Title:
Body:
Not sure if this is the right place, but I need advice.
**Situation:**
I quit my consulting gig 4 months ago to build CodeSlick (security scanner for GitHub PRs).
Worked nights + weekends. Launched 2 weeks ago. Got... 3 users (all from Reddit).
**The product:**
- 79+ security checks (SQL injection, XSS, etc.)
- Works for JavaScript, Python, Java, TypeScript
- GitHub App (auto-scans PRs)
- €99/month for 5 developers
**What I've tried:**
- Posted on LinkedIn (2 likes, both friends)
- Posted on r/devops (10 upvotes, 3 signups)
- DMd 20 people (5 responses, 1 signup)
- Built demo video (15 views)
**What I'm stuck on:**
1. **No idea how to market** - I'm a developer, not a marketer. Should I hire someone? Learn marketing? Pivot?
2. **Pricing feels wrong** - €99/month seems reasonable (vs Snyk at $800/month), but nobody's buying. Too high? Too low? Wrong model?
3. **Can't tell if it's the product or the marketing** - Is CodeSlick solving a real problem? Or am I just bad at explaining it?
4. **Starting to doubt myself** - Did I waste 4 months? Should I have validated the idea first?
**Questions for r/SideProject:**
1. How did you get your first 10 users?
2. When did you know if your product was good or bad?
3. Should I keep pushing or pivot?
4. Any advice for a technical founder who sucks at marketing?
**If you want to try it:**
I need beta testers. Badly.
Free for 3 months, no strings attached. Just need honest feedback.
https://codeslick.dev
**Tech stack** (in case anyone cares):
Next.js 15, TypeScript, Neon Postgres, Vercel, Stripe, GitHub App API
**Stats:**
- 15,000+ LOC
- 536 tests
- 220 hours spent
- €100 spent
- 3 users acquired
Any advice appreciated. Even brutal honesty.
---
Feeling lost but not giving up yet.
My Recommendation: Use Version 3 (Vulnerable & Personal)¶
Why?
- ✅ r/SideProject loves vulnerability - The community rallies around struggling founders
- ✅ You'll get genuine advice - Not just "cool product", actual helpful feedback
- ✅ Higher engagement - People want to help, not just consume
- ✅ More likely to convert - "I'll try it to help you out" vs "meh, another tool"
- ✅ You'll learn what's actually wrong - Marketing? Product? Positioning?
Expected responses: - "Here's how I got my first users..." - "Try posting in [community]..." - "Your pricing seems high/low because..." - "I'll test it, DM me the link"
r/SideProject Posting Strategy¶
1. Best Time to Post¶
- Saturday-Sunday, 9 AM-12 PM EST (when founders browse r/SideProject)
- Weekends = higher engagement (people have time to read/respond)
- Weekdays work too, but less traffic
2. Engage Immediately¶
- Answer every comment within 10 minutes
- Thank people for advice
- Ask follow-up questions
- Show you're listening ("Great point, I'll try that!")
3. Be Genuinely Vulnerable¶
- Don't hide struggles
- Admit what's not working
- Ask for real help (not just "try my product")
- Show you're learning
4. Offer Value Back¶
- If someone shares advice, thank them publicly
- If they have a side project, check it out and give feedback
- r/SideProject = supportive community, not transactional
5. Update Your Post¶
After 2-3 hours, edit with update:
EDIT: Wow, thank you all for the advice!
Top suggestions I'm trying:
1. [Advice 1 from comments]
2. [Advice 2 from comments]
3. [Advice 3 from comments]
Also got 5 beta testers from this thread - thank you!
Still responding to comments. Keep them coming!
Expected Results from r/SideProject¶
Realistic Scenario:¶
- 20-50 upvotes
- 15-30 comments (advice + support)
- 5-10 "I'll test it" responses
- 3-7 actual beta signups
- Lots of marketing/positioning advice
Optimistic Scenario:¶
- 100+ upvotes
- 50+ comments
- 20+ "I'll test it" responses
- 10-15 actual beta signups
- Connections with other founders
Worst Case:¶
- 5-10 upvotes
- 5-10 comments
- 2-3 beta signups
- Some good advice
Even worst case = Worth it for the advice alone!
Comment Response Templates¶
"Here's how I got my first users..."¶
This is gold. Thank you!
I'm going to try [specific tactic they mentioned] this week.
Quick question: How long did it take you to get from 0→10 users? Trying to set realistic expectations.
"Your pricing seems too high/low"¶
Really helpful feedback.
What price point would make sense for your team?
Also - would you pay monthly or annually? (Considering offering annual discount)
"Have you tried [marketing channel]?"¶
I haven't! Adding to my list.
Do you have any tips for [that channel]? (e.g., best time to post, what format works, etc.)
Appreciate the suggestion!
"I'll test it for you"¶
Thank you! DMing you the setup link.
Takes 5 mins to install. Let me know if you hit any issues - I'll fix them immediately.
What GitHub repo should I expect to see? (So I can monitor for issues)
"Did you validate the idea first?"¶
Honestly? No. I just assumed it was a problem.
Looking back, I should have:
1. Talked to 20 DevOps engineers first
2. Built a landing page to gauge interest
3. Pre-sold before building
Live and learn. What's your validation process?
"Don't give up!"¶
Thanks for the encouragement. Really needed this today.
Some days I feel like I wasted 4 months. Other days I'm proud I shipped something.
Today's a good day thanks to this community.
Pro Tips for r/SideProject¶
1. Share Real Numbers¶
- Hours spent
- Money spent
- Lines of code
- Test count
- User count (even if it's 0)
People respect transparency.
2. Ask Specific Questions¶
Don't just say "need advice."
Ask: - "How did you get your first 10 users?" - "Should I pivot or push harder?" - "What's a reasonable timeframe to get traction?"
3. Respond to Everyone¶
Even if someone says "cool idea" - say thanks.
Every engagement = Reddit algorithm shows your post to more people.
4. Cross-Promote Others¶
If someone comments about their side project:
Just checked out your project - really cool! [Specific thing you liked].
DM me if you want to trade beta tests (I'll test yours, you test mine).
5. Be Patient¶
r/SideProject posts can take 6-12 hours to get traction.
Don't panic if you have 2 upvotes after 1 hour. Check back after 6 hours.
After r/SideProject Post¶
1. Compile Advice¶
Create a doc: "Marketing advice from r/SideProject" - List all suggestions - Prioritize top 3 - Execute them next week
2. Thank Helpers Publicly¶
After 24 hours, comment:
Update: Thanks to everyone's advice, I'm trying:
1. [Tactic 1]
2. [Tactic 2]
3. [Tactic 3]
Will report back in a week with results!
3. Connect with Other Founders¶
DM people who gave great advice:
Hey [name], your comment about [topic] was really helpful.
Can I ask you a follow-up question about [specific thing]?
Also happy to help with your side project if you need feedback/testing.
4. Track What Works¶
Spreadsheet: | Advice | Source | Tried? | Result | |--------|--------|--------|--------| | Post in r/devops | u/username | Yes | 3 signups | | Try Twitter | u/username | No | - |
Posting Schedule Recommendation¶
This Weekend: - Saturday 9 AM: Post Version 3 on r/SideProject - Stay online for 2 hours, answer comments - Check back every 3-4 hours
Next Week: - Implement top 3 pieces of advice from r/SideProject - Post update on r/SideProject (if allowed)
Success Metrics¶
Minimum Success:¶
- 10+ comments with advice
- 2-3 beta signups
- Learn 3 new marketing tactics
Good Success:¶
- 30+ comments
- 5-7 beta signups
- Connect with 2-3 other founders
Great Success:¶
- 50+ comments
- 10+ beta signups
- Get featured on Indie Hackers or Twitter
Combined Strategy: All Three Channels¶
Here's how to use LinkedIn + Reddit (r/devops + r/SideProject) together:
Week 1 (This Week):¶
- Wednesday: LinkedIn post (Version 3: Founder Vulnerability)
- Thursday: Reddit r/devops (Technical Deep-Dive)
- Saturday: Reddit r/SideProject (Vulnerable & Personal)
Expected Total Results:¶
- LinkedIn: 1-3 beta testers
- r/devops: 5-10 beta testers
- r/SideProject: 3-7 beta testers
- Total: 9-20 beta testers ✅
Week 2:¶
- Follow up with all beta testers
- Get feedback
- Fix bugs
- Collect testimonials
Week 3-4:¶
- Post on Hacker News (after you have testimonials)
- Reach out to ProductHunt (if you want)
Final Thoughts¶
r/SideProject is the friendliest community.
- They won't judge you for having 0 users
- They'll give genuine advice
- They'll actually test your product to help you out
- Great place to practice "founder vulnerability"
Use it to: 1. Get beta testers (3-7 signups expected) 2. Get marketing advice (you'll learn a ton) 3. Build confidence (the community is supportive) 4. Make founder friends (DM people with similar projects)
Then use those learnings for r/devops and Hacker News.
Ready to post this weekend? Let me know if you want help with: 1. Finalizing the post 2. Responding to comments 3. Tracking results
You've got this! 🚀