James 🚀 Building in Public

Solo dev shipping AI tools & SaaS 🛠️
Just launched my first overseas product
Sharing the journey here 📖
Currently: Cleanproof (

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

Just shipped SnappyKit — 40+ free image tools that run entirely in your browser.
No uploads. No accounts. No server processing.
Your photos never leave your device. 🔒
https://t.co/iT57HWBfTf

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@anupamrjp Just shipped SnappyKit — 40+ free image tools that run entirely in your browser.
No uploads. No accounts. No server processing.
Your photos never leave your device. 🔒
https://t.co/iT57HWBfTf

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@Nephiegem Built CleanProof for this! WhatsApp photos get buried, no timestamps, hard to trace who cleaned what. One link per turnover — cleaners upload timestamped room photos & check tasks, no app needed. You get an organized report, not scattered chat. https://t.co/UIygis6CWY

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@ardele7648 A checklist keeps you on track, but how do you prove it's done? Remote hosts especially need photo evidence — without it, a bad guest claim is your word against theirs.

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@ChrisK_STRs That $150 cleaning deal hurts twice: bad review AND no proof to fight it. When guests complain about cleanliness and you have zero photo evidence, you eat the cost. How do you verify your cleaners' work now?

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@LoganARobison Systems for scheduling are a game changer. Do your cleaners also submit photo proof through Breezeway, or is that still a separate workflow?

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@cleanbizguy Airbnb cleaning isn't cleaning, it's property management — you nailed it. The linens, damage reports, being the host's eyes... that's a whole job on top of the clean. When you were doing 20 properties, how did you track all the non-cleaning stuff?

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

Good STR cleaners want to send photo proof. Not because they're monitored — because it protects them too.
Guest complains about a stain? "Here's my timestamped photo from before check-in."
Photo proof isn't distrust. It's protection for both sides.

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

Cleanproof v0.0.3 is live.
Cleaners submit photos from their phone. Hosts get a printable report. Zero app installs.
New: mobile-first flow, binder-friendly print layout, auto status tracking.
https://t.co/UIygis6CWY

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

Building in public doesn't mean being online 24/7.
Spent the weekend hiking. No Wi-Fi for hours. Came back with more clarity on my product than a week of scrolling ever gave.
Sometimes the best way to ship is to unplug first.

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@mscode07 hello

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

Remote Airbnb hosts: how do you verify your cleaner finished every room?
I built a tool: send your cleaner one link, they submit photos + checklist, you get a timestamped report. No app for cleaners.
https://t.co/jNS6YGHuLu

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@YassineZaanouni @X AI

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@theohandsh hello

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

Day 5 building Cleanproof
Joined Airbnb host FB groups and asked how hosts verify cleanings
Early signal: many still rely on cleaner photos in text / WhatsApp
Found more competitors too
Scary, but useful
Now testing:
remote hosts + independent cleaners + messy photo communication

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@ChrisK_STRs 4 stars from a new guest is tough 😔
Pool hosts: Do you get photo proof of the pool condition each turnover?
Wondering if that helps with unfair review disputes.

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@poochlucci @Airbnb Sorry to hear! 😔
Question as an experienced host: Do you get photo proof from cleaners after turnovers?
Exploring whether a "photo checklist" tool would help hosts. Would love your input!

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@harjjotsinghh Wow, this is incredibly generous. The kit is super detailed — positioning, X posts, landing critique, even a 100-user playbook.
Really appreciate you taking the time. That cleaner-as-distribution insight is gold — I was so focused on hosts I completely missed that angle.
Thanks !

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

Just shipped my first overseas product — Cleanproof 🧹
Airbnb hosts: Send your cleaner a link → get photo proof of every room. No app, no sign-up.

Would love feedback 👇
📷https://t.co/pK6CI5uL7L
#buildinpublic #airbnb #solodev

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

@Ashishog Hey! Thanks so much 🙏
https://t.co/vsOc7Xnh36 looks interesting! What are you building?
Would love to chat and compare notes. Are you on a similar journey — trying to help hosts with cleaning/turnover?

[James 🚀 Building in Public @JamesZhang_dev]

Day 2 of launching Cleanproof 🧹
Goal: Validate if Airbnb hosts need this.
So far:
Reddit: banned for spam 😅
Posted here, got some interest
1 Superhost said "this is smart"
Still 0 users. But learning a lot about marketing.
If you know an Airbnb host, would appreciate a share