I wanted to try something different for updates, so I’m writing these like Steam patch notes. Less “marketing post,” more “here’s what actually changed.”
This is all still pre-launch work ahead of the Clean Core Kickstarter on February 27 — basically, me locking in the foundation before I put it in front of everyone.
What’s new in this build
Projects system (working end-to-end)
You can create projects, see them show up instantly, and everything persists locally. No account required. It’s the first time Clean Core feels like it has a real “core loop.”
Project details modal (finally polished)
This is the screen where you can edit the important stuff without the UI fighting you. I built custom controls instead of relying on default dropdown/date styling, so it actually matches the dark theme.
Dashboard logic is smarter now
The dashboard reacts properly depending on whether you have active projects or not. It sounds obvious, but it makes the app feel way more “real.”
Improvements
Layout consistency
I fixed a bunch of small layout issues that were making screens feel slightly off. Headers, dividers, spacing, alignment — all the little stuff that adds up.
State updates across the app
Projects update reactively now, so you don’t have to refresh or click around to see changes. I’m keeping the architecture clean because I’m trying to avoid building myself into a corner later.
Multi-window flow is stable
Welcome → signup/login flows work correctly. The window handling/permissions stuff in Tauri can get weird, but this build is finally behaving as it should.
Fixes (the annoying stuff)
A lot of this build was just “remove friction” work:
- duplicate divider issues on the dashboard
- native dropdown/date styling breaking the theme
- popovers clipping inside the modal
- small interaction bugs when changing statuses/dates
- window label/rendering issues causing the wrong screen to show
Nothing glamorous, but the app feels noticeably cleaner now.
What I’m watching
- the empty state experience needs to feel more premium and less placeholder
- some UI interactions could use softer transitions
- overall the app needs more “native app” feel in the details
Why I’m building it like this
I’m trying to be strict about not taking shortcuts. Speed is cool, but it doesn’t matter if the codebase turns into something I can’t maintain.
I’ll use AI for brainstorming or quick sanity checks sometimes, but I’m not letting it drive the product. I want Clean Core to be something I genuinely understand end-to-end.
Next build
- 0.3.1 — Quality pass: spacing, typography, small UX friction, better onboarding/empty states, and tightening everything.
- 0.4.0 — “real product” step: more structure, more organization, more settings, and a more real-world usage flow.
If you want to follow along, follow my socials! I’m building this for small studios and solo people like me, so feedback actually matters here.
Thanks again for all the support!
- Jack