#productivity

Most project management tools are built for teams. As a solo developer, Jira and similar tools feel overwhelming, while simple to-do apps lack structure. I need something in between, but existing options don’t fit.

When I need to pick a new SaaS tool (project management, CRM, etc), I open 20+ tabs comparing features, pricing, and reviews across: - Product Hunt - G2 - Capterra - Reddit threads - Individual product websites Then I copy-paste everything into a Notion table. Takes 3-4 hours. Existing tools either: - Only compare 2-3 tools at once - Focus on one category (only CRMs, only email tools) - Don't include real user complaints from Reddit/HN I want: Paste 5 tool names → See side-by-side comparison with pricing, features, and aggregated reviews in one page.

During lectures, I take notes in different ways depending on the situation: handwritten notes, typed documents, photos of the board, or quick voice notes. Over time, these notes get scattered across multiple apps and folders. When exam time comes, it becomes hard to find all notes related to a single topic. Even when I know I wrote something down, I often don’t remember where or in what format. Existing note-taking apps are powerful but assume a single input method. There is no simple way to unify notes from different sources into one clear, searchable structure per course.

As a student, I use many different platforms at the same time for my courses. Lecture slides are shared via email or Google Drive, assignments are posted on a separate learning management system, deadlines are announced in messaging apps, and additional resources are sometimes shared in group chats. The main problem is that everything is scattered. There is no single place where I can clearly see what materials belong to which course, what is due soon, and what I should focus on next. I currently try to manage this by manually creating folders and reminders, but this quickly becomes outdated and difficult to maintain. Existing tools are either too complex, designed for institutions rather than students, or require a lot of manual setup. I want a clear overview of my academic workload, but there is no simple tool that fits how students actually work today.

Most project management tools are built for teams with multiple roles, meetings, and complex workflows. As a solo developer, tools like Jira or ClickUp feel overwhelming and slow me down instead of helping. On the other hand, simple to-do list apps lack structure and don’t help me track progress across features, bugs, and long-term goals. I need something that helps me stay organized without forcing me to adopt a heavy process. Right now, I’m constantly switching between notes, task apps, and mental reminders, which leads to lost context and unfinished work.

Many tools try to be all-in-one platforms. I often just need a small utility that solves one specific problem well. Discovering these niche tools is difficult because marketplaces promote big products instead.

I spend a lot of time studying, but I struggle to understand how productive that time actually is. I don’t know which subjects I spend the most time on, which topics I struggle with, or whether my study habits are improving over time. My current workaround is guessing based on how tired I feel or how confident I am before an exam. Some tools allow time tracking, but they require constant manual input and don’t reflect real study behavior. There is no simple way to connect time spent, topics studied, and actual learning progress in a way that is easy for students to use. This makes it hard to adjust study strategies or identify weak areas early.

As a student, I often try to create study plans at the beginning of a semester or before exams. At first, the plan looks perfect on paper, but as soon as real life happens — unexpected assignments, quizzes, or personal issues — the plan becomes outdated. Most study planners assume a fixed schedule and do not adapt when I fall behind or need to reprioritize topics. Updating the plan manually takes time and effort, so I usually abandon it altogether. What I need is a flexible system that adjusts based on progress, deadlines, and available time, instead of forcing me to constantly redesign my plan from scratch.

As a student, I apply to many internships, part-time jobs, and programs over time. Each application has different deadlines, requirements, and follow-up steps. After sending applications, it becomes hard to remember where I applied, when I applied, and whether I received a response. I currently try to manage this with notes or spreadsheets, but they require constant updates and provide no reminders or clear status tracking. It is easy to forget to follow up or miss important emails. Most existing tools are designed for recruiters or full-time professionals, not students who apply occasionally and need a lightweight way to stay organized.

I work on multiple projects and often forget recurring manual tasks like renewals, backups, or reports. Calendar reminders are too generic, and task managers don’t handle recurring project-specific actions well.

When building an early-stage product, users send feature requests through emails, DMs, Discord, and Twitter. There’s no single place to collect, organize, and prioritize these requests. Existing tools are either too complex or designed for large teams, not indie builders.

I work with multiple freelance clients every month, and keeping track of who has paid, who hasn’t, and which invoices are overdue has become increasingly chaotic. I currently rely on a messy Google Sheet combined with manual bank account checks. This means constantly switching between tools, updating rows by hand, and setting calendar reminders that I often forget to adjust. The biggest issue is that this system doesn’t scale. As the number of clients grows, mistakes become more frequent—missed payments, forgotten follow-ups, or sending reminders to clients who already paid. Existing accounting tools feel overkill, expensive, or packed with features I don’t need. I just want clarity and peace of mind, not a full accounting suite.

In group projects, it is often unclear who is responsible for what and whether tasks are actually completed. Communication usually happens through messaging apps, shared documents, or quick verbal updates, which makes it very easy for important information to get lost. Right now, we rely on messages like “I’ll handle this” or “I finished my part,” but there is no structured way to track progress. If someone joins the project later or misses a discussion, they have no easy way to understand what has already been done. Project management tools exist, but most of them feel too heavy for small student projects and are rarely adopted by the entire group. As a result, coordination becomes stressful and inefficient, especially close to deadlines.