My first user, and eight versions in a day
I shipped eight versions today (v0.6 to v0.13).
Right after midnight I added EPUB e-books. Then came red, yellow and blue highlights, each color with a name you choose (like "look this up"), plus saving AI answers and a reading timer.
Around noon I started looking for my first users to test the idea. The first one quickly sent me 13 pieces of feedback: remember the last color I used, let me bookmark favorite chapters, let me highlight inside AI answers, generate a mind map on export, make an iPad version… Whatever I could do, I did the same day. Anything that needed more information went on a list.
In the afternoon I added an English interface and "Translate". Chinese is my first language, so when I read English papers, one click translates the page paragraph by paragraph, with the original and the translation side by side. Then I started keeping a changelog and put the code on GitHub, so every version is on record from now on.
In the evening came bookmarks, a help button, and a built-in tutorial that replaces the user manual, and replaces me explaining things over and over. The bookshelf now looks like a real one, with covers facing out on wooden shelves. Last came a notebook that collects the notes from every book in one place.
Somewhere in the middle I ran out of usage once and had to wait a while before continuing.
The real problem I hit today: to let anyone else try the tool, I'd have to give them my own AI key. And Claude isn't available in mainland China. Both problems are for tomorrow.
Versions today: v0.6 EPUB · v0.7 three highlight colors, reading timer · v0.8 first user's feedback · v0.9 English interface, Translate · v0.10 bookmarks, help, tutorial · v0.11 visual bookshelf · v0.12 resizable translation divider · v0.13 notebook