This month I started my own DevRel advisory business and it's super fun tbh. Such an experience already, and it's not yet even properly launched.
It literally takes less than 2 days to set EVERYTHING up for static parts of your website.
This is the URL of my website: developuls.com.
It's quite a simple one, but it will grow over time.
Here is a quick walkthrough on how can you build your own
(or expand your presence from any of the platforms you are relying on to your own website).
Website components
CI/CD
Vercel is an open-source platform for hosting and deploying web applications and websites.
You can seamlessly use it as a part of your CI-CD pipeline. This is also where you'll connect your domain and never have to worry about it again.
Create a Vercel hobby (read: free) account (make sure to check if it works for you here).
Click the Add new... button on the right-hand side of your dashboard, then select Project.
If you already have your website code, just connect the Git repository with your Vercel account.
Otherwise, either start coding it or do what I did and check some of the many templates available and pick what best suits you.
After you're done with your site (or a part of it), and you want to deploy it just go to your project (on the dashboard), click the ..., and select Create deployment option.
Website Framework
As I mentioned in the intro, my website is fairly simple.
I built my website relying on the Astro and their template available on Vercel.
Astro is an open-source framework designed for content-driven websites.
Luckily, the framework itself was super easy to play with and to adjust the template to my specific needs.
I did struggle a little bit with in-project image rendering as it relies on Sharp whose v0.33.0 release doesn’t really play the best, but it was an easy workaround with simply storing my images on the cloud instead of the website repository.
Other than that it was joyful to use it, and I iterated super fast.
Contact form
As with any business, you want to be able to communicate with your (potential) clients.
I chose another open-source tool to hook up my business email address with my website's contact form.
Web3forms is an open-source solution (and completely free one) that sends HTML contact form submissions directly to your email inbox using their contact form api service without any server or backend code.
And you don’t even have to log in. Just go to their website and click the Create your Access Key button.
Then insert your email address.
Then copy the HTML form (which you can adjust per your needs).
and paste it wherever on your website you want your clients to contact you that way.
Finally, go to the inbox of the email you inserted above, copy the access key sent to you by notify@web3forms.com, and paste it instead of the YOUR_ACCESS_KEY_HERE placeholder of the contact form you previously placed.
Calendar integration
While I appreciate people reaching out via email, I find it much easier to understand their needs and pains while chatting with them.
Being a techie, I used another open-source solution here: Cal.com.
Cal.com is an open-source event-juggling scheduler for everyone, and is free for individuals.
You just create an account, connect it with your email calendar, and start getting calls scheduled.
The coolest part of it is it comes with a couple of embeddable templates you can simply add to your website. I chose the floating widget at the bottom right corner of my website so people can book a call with me to discuss a potential partnership.
Here is what it looks like on my website (see the bottom right):
It works with Google, Outlook, Apple, Notion, and plenty of other calendars, and you can schedule calls in any of the +20 options.
Real-time communication platform
If you're an open-source lover such as myself, you might go and connect Cal.com with the Mirotalk.
Mirotalk is an open-source, free, browser-based Real-time communication (video) solution, that you can use to replace Google Meet or any other commercial alternative you might've been using beforehand.
Wrap Up
Nowadays is super easy to get started with an online presence of a business. And most of the things we can think of exist in the form of open-source solutions.
How crazily good is that?!?
In my endeavor, I used a bunch of open-source solutions because it:
1) saves me some time from reinventing the wheel
2) is free
3) usually has a healthy community of contributors and people willing to help in case you get stuck anywhere.
Let's support some these open source tools on GitHub:
- Vercel - [ Star on GitHub ]
- Astro - [ Star on GitHub ]
- Web3Forms - [ Star on GitHub ]
- Cal.com - [ Star on GitHub ]
- Mirotalk - [ Star on GitHub ]
What open-source projects helped you bring your project to the top level?
Top comments (20)
Hello @kiselitza,
Thank you for acknowledging our WebRTC project, MiroTalk SFU. It's indeed a significant endeavor, and we appreciate your recognition.
For clarity, MiroTalk operates as an open-source solution under the AGPLv3 License, which necessitates the public availability of any modifications made. Additionally, we've developed two alternative licenses tailored for private or commercial projects, available for purchase directly from CodeCanyon. You can explore the complete suite of Mirotalk WebRTC offerings via this link:
codecanyon.net/user/miroslavpejic85
Your enthusiasm for open-source solutions resonates with our ethos. Leveraging such solutions not only saves time by circumventing the need to reinvent existing technologies but also offers the benefits of cost-effectiveness and robust community support, which are invaluable assets in navigating any development challenges.
Once again, thank you for highlighting MiroTalk in your endeavors. Should you require any further information or assistance, please don't hesitate to reach me out.
Warm regards,
Miroslav Pejic
MiroTalk Team
It is really cool to see that open source is more and more front of mind. It already was , of course, but the growth seems to be accelerating! I enjoyed reading your piece, thanks!
Much appreciated bud!
I hope it keeps growing sincerely.
Just the other day I talked to a buddy of mine, building a devtool and considering making it open source.
Just needs a nudge in proper understanding how to monetize the venture if the tooling is free. We’re working on it. 😎
Neat project. All the best.
It's so easy to get started these days.
Rembember when we had to code almost all those bits and pieces just to get the contact form submitted to the proper inbox... not to even mention the complex stuff.
:D
@kiselitza Whoaaah!!! 😳🤯🤯
Good Lord, I am gobsmacked. SO impressive, yet fairly simple and straightforward!
I really need to jump into the action myself. Would you be okay with a DM-outreach, re: any further tips you can kindly share?
And if any other fellow newbies (F.R., or in spirit—I believe I’m the latter) are interested, I feel like this initiative is worth a new Discord server (…no)?!
Thanks-a-mul for sharing, and (has this become a cliché / regardless) happy coding!
😊🙏
Yep, that’s the idea.
The developer experience is so high with some tools that you barely need any CS basics even to set up a proper website.
And there are templated stores, paying services, sooo many different things out there, you just need to want to find them :)
Nice idea . bro.
Thx!
We can all start a business nowadays. Crazy how easy did it become. :D
Wow congrats on the venture and it's great you stuck with open source!
I look forward to hearing updates in the future.
Thx Nathan!
Remember back in November when I was on the fence about this? 😂
Seems so distant now.
Ofc, the open source is the way to go for me.
I feel it’s the most sincere way to build a proper community - making the community a part of the solution.
good stuff Aldin, congrats on going solo! :)
Heard of this open source project but never used them before, I will try and do that on my next projects. They sound fun to use
Make sure to check them out.
They can save you a bunch of coding and integration time.
Hey, your article is excellent! It's like a bible for dummies like me! Know, I am a Jr web programmer with only three years of experience and 44 years of life! I was wondering, following your excellent presentation: "could it be possible to set up/create a consulting business for small businesses"?
I mean, I would like to teach the stores / street businesses, who ignore the use of GOOGLE-MAPS (business card), ignore the power of social networks and ignore the escalation in sales of an e-commerce and the craziest thing, they ignore the administration of a CRM! Here where I live (Uruguay), I still disbelieve in the digitalization of traditional businesses.
Do you think you can help me with the roadmap, through OPENSOURCE solutions?
Oh, I somehow missed this one.
So, not sure how to tackle the education of traditional business owners on going digital, other then offering them a decent explanation on how it would boost their numbers (of orders, reservations, sales - whatever). Depending on what exactly you'd want to tackle, I am fairly confident it is possible to writeup a piece that would cover it. Not sure if it would be entirely based on open source, but then again, if your audience is traditional, not sure if they would care as long as the solution solves their issue while them not having to learn anything new hahh.
this is my comment
Going for those badges, huh?
Best of luck! :D