Hey guys,
Making software for programmers is a tough sell. They’re well-paid but would rather spend 3 years tinkering before paying 5$ for your saas. I learnt this the hard way with my first startup -create-new-startup - a React framework designed for technical founders.
However, I think I cracked the code. I turned my latest saas into a VS Code extension!
I make custom file formats for internet companies and I must admit, finding my first batch of customers was super difficult.
While searching for users, I came to a sudden realization. My target audience spent almost all their time writing code inside Visual Studio! If I wanted to interact with programmers then I had to bring myself closer to them!
Honestly, this conclusion changed my life! I looked at the VS Code documentation and I must admit, it was a mess! So I just opened Visual Studio Code and brute forced my way into an extension.
In one week, I got my first customer. I put my email on the extension download page and a programmer reached out! 🥳
I loved the experience and I wish someone told me earlier. Furthermore, **there existed a VS Code Marketplace where you can list your extension for FREE!**To turn your Saas into an extension. You only need to know Javascript. It’s super-easy to learn. I made a course for anyone interested in exploring VS Code as an entrepreneur. Here’s a coupon!
VS Code is like a browser. Making a website is analogous to making an extension. You should explore the IDE as a marketing avenue. Please ask me questions if you have any. I’d be happy to help get you started!
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Hi, that’s pretty dope!
I’ve recently launched a new service which is an API that does IP and URL reputation checking. Do you reckon there’s a place for something like this as a VS Code Extension? For security reasons it requires an api key, I assume subscription can all be organized from within the extension?