My Rpi runs a startup script that full screens a C++ program. So to the user it feels like it's the only user interface for the Pi, they don't see the desktop (except for a brief flash during startup, but then it's covered by the running startup script.

That makes sense you're controlling the whole environment.

Out of curiosity though, why keep a DE at all if the user won't ever interact with it? What prevents you from getting rid of it entirely?

But as for my case, I don't have access to the user's device. I'm giving them an experience through a website on their phone once they're connected to a Wi-Fi network, so I can't really control their screen or go beyond the browser limitations.

It is about finding balance between building in your shed and building skyscrapers.

Could I even remember 1000 versions of a thing and still distinctly know which one is which?

If I read the fine print correctly, you could receive 15k relocation assistance!

I had no ideas this was a thing and now I can almost endlessly scroll through possibilities. Another reason for a 3d printer.

This is one of those who would have thought about it as a problem stories. It's great to read because it helps you think about the problems most of us already have solutions we take for granted. At the bottom it does have some AI sprinkles... Use an AI tool to figure out the colors of bricks to fill in the missing link.

Just yesterday I was using Claude to whip up a prototype, and before it would complete it Claude asked if I wanted a low code/no code version or if I was a give me the source code type. So I think you still have plenty of customers, it's just that Claude might be driving some of them to you now.

I'm into innovation in HCI as a hobby, but it does get expensive so I would like to bring in some additional financial support for my unusual builds.

I didn't really plan to build HCI as a hobby, but I have a strong interest in hardware engineering and eventually I wanted to switch back to building things that anyone can physically see.

Years ago I built a hemisphere keyboard and now I've built an LED globe with a viewing portal. I started building visible things again because I had a vision and it's very satisfying to use the result. I spend more time using it now than I did originally building it, although it is definitely a work in progress. I want to build it again for a 2.0 version.

HCI innovation is definitely an interesting hobby - anything you can share or point me towards?

I don't really know the answer you are looking for. I think it's different from one product to the next. I haven't managed to gain massive traction from the things I've built so far, but one thing I'm doing differently this time is treating marketing like the gym. I mean, don't expect overnight results, but make a consistent plan and continue to implement it over months and years not weeks and days.

ETA: based on your profile you started March 20 but in 2025 and your domain name expired. Did you build a product that has a fixed cost to remain live? I found your video, your YT seems popular. You can make a free website with GitHub pages and point your URL at that at least. Keep persisting, you can do it.

No, that was one of the products I slowly did let die, and kinda modified the product to be open-sourced, cli first tool.

Thanks for the words of support. I will definitely try to be more active on youtube and leverage that.

I recently switched for m the developer mindset of build websites for everything to make apps if I can. My logic is that an app never needs to go back and forth with me, it's something the user can have without me managing hosting and constantly having a relationship with the user.