Why I Started Timmit Notes

Hi, I’m Tim.

I started Timmit Notes because I wanted one place where I could share what I’m building, what I’m learning, what I’m getting wrong, and what I’m planning next with people who are genuinely interested in following the journey.

I’ve always liked that the coding world is built around sharing. People exchange ideas, improve each other’s thinking, challenge assumptions, refine patterns, and help one another grow. That is a big part of what I want this newsletter to become over time.

I do not want this to be a one-way stream of updates. I want it to feel like an open door. If you follow along and ever want to share feedback, ask a question, challenge an idea, or simply tell me what you are building yourself, that is very welcome.

A bit about me

My name is Tim. I’m 34, and I started this current chapter of my journey as an independent builder about a month ago, in early February 2026.

Before that, I spent around five to six years working as a private tutor in the UK. Alongside that, I also worked with private clients as a consultant, building websites and applications as a full stack developer. In some cases, I was the only developer involved, which meant a lot of responsibility, a lot of pressure, and a lot of learning.

That experience taught me how to work independently, how to think practically, and how to manage real projects without hiding behind endless theory. It also taught me how to use AI tools properly: not as magic, not as replacements for thinking, but as tools that can speed up parts of the work when they are used critically and checked properly afterward.

That matters to me. I care about clean work, clear logic, and building things that are actually useful.

Why I started this newsletter now

I started Timmit Notes now because the foundation is finally in place.

My portfolio website is about 90% done. The beginning of my API website is already there, and my first API is nearly ready. I have also already built two Windows applications where the MVPs are in a good place, and I expect both the applications and the API to be ready for release around the beginning of April 2026.

That made this feel like the right time to begin.

I did not want to wait until everything was already polished, packaged, and finished. I wanted to start sharing the journey while it is still real, still messy in places, and still open to feedback. Anyone joining early will be able to see the process unfold, follow the launches, and, in some cases, get early access for free for a while so I can gather real feedback before pushing things further.

That is much more interesting to me than pretending everything appeared overnight in perfect condition.

What I’m building

Right now, I’m building an ecosystem rather than one single thing.

That includes my portfolio, a tutoring website, APIs for developers, Windows applications, and this newsletter, which I see as the glue between everything else.

One example is a Windows app built around a simple but important problem: sitting too long. A lot of people, especially developers, gamers, and anyone working long hours at a desk, can easily spend too much time glued to a chair without drinking water, moving, or taking proper breaks.

There are already plenty of reminder apps out there, but many are easy to ignore. My goal is to create something more intentional: a tool that encourages proper breaks in a way that actually changes behaviour, rather than just flashing a notification you instantly dismiss. If you choose to enable it, the app can actively enforce a pause, block your screen for a moment, and guide you toward doing something useful during that break, whether that is stretching, moving, or simply drinking water.

That is the kind of thing I want to build: practical tools that solve real problems in a useful way.

I also want to build APIs that make life easier for other developers, and I want to keep experimenting with products, systems, and ideas that can genuinely help people in situations similar to my own.

Why I’m building this way

One thing I care about a lot is not relying on a single path.

I believe strongly in building multiple income streams over time instead of betting everything on one product, one client, one trend, or one fragile idea. That does not mean trying to do everything badly. It means building a structure that is more resilient, more realistic, and more sustainable.

For me, that includes software products, APIs, writing, selective client work, and other practical services. This newsletter is part of that wider system, but more importantly, it is also the place where I can connect all of those parts together in public.

I want Timmit Notes to document not just the wins, but also the mistakes, the tradeoffs, the reasoning, and the slower parts of building something meaningful from scratch.

What you can expect here

Over the next few months, I want to use Timmit Notes to share:

• practical updates on the apps, APIs, and tools I’m building
• lessons from mistakes, progress, and experimentation
• honest thoughts on AI, development, workflows, and product-building
• the reasoning behind decisions, not just the final polished result
• occasional reflections on how I work and how I try to build a more sustainable life around that work

I currently plan to publish two to three issues per week, mixing shorter updates with longer articles when there is something worth exploring in more depth.

I do not want this to become a stream of empty content for the sake of volume. I would much rather share useful signal than noise.

My view on AI

Since AI is now impossible to avoid in development conversations, I should say this early: I am neither in the “AI will solve everything” camp nor in the “AI is ruining everything” camp.

I have been using these tools since the early GPT days, and I regularly test different systems including GPT, Claude, Gemini, and Copilot. My view is simple: they can be genuinely useful, but only if used properly.

AI is not a magical replacement for thinking. It does not remove the need for logic, review, architecture, judgment, or responsibility. Used badly, it creates laziness, confusion, and technical debt. Used well, it can speed up the right parts of the process and help you move faster without giving up quality.

That is the kind of perspective I want to bring here: practical, critical, and experience-based.

Who this is for

Timmit Notes is for people who like building.

That includes developers, solo builders, independent workers, curious learners, and practical-minded people who care about creating useful things and improving over time.

It is also for people who may not be developers themselves but who find my applications, APIs, or ideas useful in their own lives.

I am not trying to build a massive, vague audience. I would much rather build a smaller and more focused community of people who genuinely care about the same kinds of things: useful tools, honest thinking, good feedback, real progress, and sustainable growth.

What comes next

The next few weeks should be interesting.

I’ll be sharing progress on my Windows applications, the launch of my first API, and the broader Timmit ecosystem as it continues to take shape. I also want to share more of the real day-to-day side of this journey, including the mistakes, the adjustments, and the lessons that come from trying to build something seriously as an independent developer.

More broadly, I want this newsletter to reflect something I care about personally: building a good life, not just a full screen.

I spend a lot of time at the computer, but I do not think it is healthy to live there. Over time, I also want to share more about balance, habits, and the importance of having things in life outside the screen. That matters just as much as productivity.

And if some of what I build, learn, or struggle with can help someone else avoid unnecessary mistakes or move a little faster in their own journey, then this will be worth doing.

Final thought

If you’ve joined early, thank you.

You’re arriving at the beginning, while things are still taking shape, which is exactly how I wanted this to start.

I’m looking forward to sharing the journey properly.

Tim