So I built an online productivity tools website, a small collection of browser-based tools. It includes an online notepad where you can write and save notes right in your browser, a cornell notes tool available in more than 20 languages, and more coming soon like a pomodoro timer and a simple blank page for focused writing.
Everything works entirely in-browser using localStorage — no accounts, no cloud sync, no tracking. The site uses only minimal ads (anchor and vignette) to keep it free.
I built it mostly for myself to have a clean, private place to write and study, but I figured others might find it useful too. Feedback, bugs, and suggestions are all welcome.
Congrats on building this for yourself, I can certainly see the benefit of building writing tools to suit your own needs.
Also, the privacy pop-up is actually the default from Google, and it varies by region — users in the U.S. see a slightly smaller version than in the EU. Still, I understand it can disrupt the experience, so I’ll explore ways to make it smoother.
IMO: if your goal is to attract users or to make money, you have too many strong free competitors to be using ads like this, especially if your audience read Hacker News. It's not the right business model. Any amount of time spent making these ads 'smoother' is better spent on the product, because you won't earn enough ad revenue to make it worth it.
If you need revenue to pay for hosting, you'd be better off making it open source or self-hostable.
If your goal is getting feedback, you have to recognise that people are doing it for you, not for them. Don't make them pay you to do it.
I really appreciate your thoughts on monetization. I’ll definitely keep improving the notepad, Cornell notes, and other productivity tools to be added to the website to be as smooth and distraction-free as possible.
About making it open source or self-hostable, I might consider that later as more people suggest it instead of the current model.
I'm a bit baffled about what interest this would hold for the HN audience. Does it solve unusual technical challenges? Is it open source?
Seems to be no to both questions. Just another commercial site, like many others. No shade, but baffling.
I hope you might consider giving the site another try in the future — I’m committed to making it as smooth and enjoyable as possible.