Shipping early and keeping the scope tight

One of the easiest ways to kill a small product is to keep adding features before the first version is solid.

We try to do the opposite. Get a focused version live, put it on its own domain, and then improve it based on real use. PortSnap, Snaparc, and the current websites all followed that path.

Shipping early forces clarity. You find out quickly whether the tool is actually useful and where the rough edges are. It also stops the product from growing in too many directions at once. Keeping the scope tight isn’t about being minimal for its own sake — it’s about making sure each product stays good at the job it was meant to do.

It’s not the most glamorous way to work, but it keeps the results honest.