Note

The past week, I have been working on 2 new apps that I hope will benefit the local community.

My goal is to get away from big tech as much as possible and when I can't find something that fits my needs, I build it. Not only do I build it but I also share it.

I know getting away from big tech is a challenging task but there is a growing movement to a less centralized digital environment.

Both of these apps are something I needed our was curious about.

First, I wanted something to track by bike rides and did not really want to buy another gadget for my bike. I rarely, if ever, go without my phone so I had an idea of using my phone as my way of tracking my rides. This is how Sluip was born.

Sluip?

Yes, Sluip (pronounced Sloyp). It is very Dutch. Every cyclist knows a "sluiproute" -- a back road, a shortcut or a quiet path through the neighborhood that skips a busy intersection. So the app is named after this idea where you ride without being track, profiled or have to create an account.

I pride myself in building privacy-first tools that only delivers what it needs to. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Let's keep building

This generated more ideas and one that has come up several times since moving to the Netherlands; when is that store open again?

Some stores are closed on Sundays, others on Monday and some varying hours throughout the week. It is hard to keep track and while it is not the end of the world, it is a little easier to check before going.

Nog Open, or now open in Dutch, shows real-time status for shops, cafés, restaurants, pharmacies, bakeries, and markets across seven Dutch cities.

I didn't just want a list of places, I wanted to make it personalized where you can create a route planner that sorts by closing time. There is also an option to favorite stores, create wishlists and get recommendations based on your selections.

The best part, there is no algorithm. No ads, per se, except businesses who want to be seen get stickied to the top.

This is just the beginning and I plan on building more apps that make life a little better for everyone.

Track my projects both personal and professional.