> Cloudflare Durable Objects really is generous, not often can you get replicated database and realtime sync for such low barrier in cost and implementation.
BEAM gives it to you for free, and you don't rely on an Internet-scale monopoly to run it.
Not OP, but TS (as in TypeScript, right?) is not even in the same universe as Elixir with Phoenix when it comes to building backend services.
It's a very productive and readable programming language with excellent documentation and conventions, and the most ergonomic way of handling concurrent operations (thanks BEAM) I've encountered.
The VM it runs on was originally designed for telephone switches, which, it turns out, cleanly translates to the internet/http era.
It makes it trivial to do soft-realtime because it's just actors (GenServers) passing messages.
I invite you (and others) to try it out and do a small weekend project. It'll make you reconsider reaching for TS on the backend :)
I'm working on an app called Limberly. It focuses on health and ergonomics for sedentary workers - probably most of us here :)
It is scientifically proven[1] that sitting is detrimental to our health, with increased mortality rates. The primary way to reduce the negative effects of sedentary work is to move.
This means doing sessions of resistance training (gym), running, biking, but also taking micro-breaks during work sessions and performing light exercises and stretches.
Research has shown[2] that taking short breaks during work reduces fatigue, and in some cases actually boosts performance.
There are plenty of running and gym apps out there, so Limberly focuses on the last part - helping you take micro-breaks, reminding you to change your posture between sitting and standing, changing which hand holds the mouse (if you're into that) etc.
It is still in early development, so if you'd like to help test and shape the app as we go, please sign up for the waitlist and I'll add you to the testers group. Feel free to also DM me here with any questions or feedback.
I wrote an article about the negative effects of sedentary work, how I wanted to reduce them, and the solution I ended up building.
The idea is not to scare you into doing something by quoting scary research numbers, but to increase awareness of the dangers that desk work is exposing us to, and to hopefully inspire people to take their health more seriously. I'd also love to discuss what works and what doesn't work for people who are already trying.
For transparency:
- The article mentions Limberly, an app I am building. It's not publically available yet, but I'll happily invite you to be a tester if you get on the waitlist.
- I'm not a native English speaker (writer), so I used Claude and LanguageTool as an editor/proofreader. The actual content, research, and thinking is done by me.
- Limberly is built with Flutter and is NOT vibecoded. I do use Claude Code for being faster at building widgets and quickly testing things out, but I am strict about building the core myself. I want to always understand the codebase so I can maintain and develop the app.
This is my first HN submission, so if I've broken any rules, sorry; I'll happily edit or resubmit an updated post if required.
I dont think the parent comment was complaining, just pointing out the "written in rust" meme. Being the top comment, seems like plenty of people enjoyed it!
Hey all, this is a cool idea for a thread! I've found some intriguing projects I will be following.
After being a web-focused dev for my whole professional career, I am now developing a mobile app with Flutter.
The app is called Limberly, and it focuses on health and ergonomics for sedentary workers. Us, who sit for a living.
It is scientifically proven[1] that sitting is detrimental to our health, with increased mortality rates. The primary way to reduce the negative effects of sedentary work is to move, and scrolling through feeds on your phone doesn't count as moving :)
This means performing sessions of resistance training, running, biking, but also taking micro-breaks during work sessions.
Research has shown[2] that taking short breaks during work reduces fatigue, and in some cases boosts performance.
Limberly is still in early development, so it's basically a glorified collection of timers (for taking microbreaks, for switching between sitting and standing, and for switching your "mouse hand"), but I do have a clear vision of having a smart system that recommends specific activities to do during breaks, ergonomically setting up your workspace, coach you on correct posture, track statistics etc.
If you'd like to help me test and shape the app as we go, please sign up for the waitlist or DM me here.
P.S.
I guess this is a required disclaimer these days:
The landing page is static and mostly vibe-coded, but the app itself is not. I do use Claude Code to speed up certain plumbing and widget implementations, but the core architecture and logic are designed, vetted and programmed by myself. Being a solo dev, it is important for me that I understand what every class and function is doing.
P.P.S.
I don't like using scare tactics like "SITTING IS KILLING YOU!!" but it is sadly a fact. Also, I'm not selling you anything, as the app is free to use :)
Investing in standing desks, HM chairs and split keyboards is definitely a good idea, but what matters most is movement and changing your pose constantly.
Additional reading (use a LLM to summarize these if you don't feel like reading it all):